Celebs You May Not Know Died In 2021

Every year, fans are shaken by the deaths of some of their favorite celebrities, and some years, the number of losses can seem staggering. When they happen during a year when there's a global pandemic going on, some deaths may go unnoticed or forgotten, leaving many fans to believe their favorite artists, musicians, actors, writers, and other celebrities are alive and well, when they, sadly, are not.

There's so much news about the spread of COVID-19 that it can be overwhelming, and the passing of a celebrity may not always dominate the headlines. Another side effect of the pandemic is that 2021 seemed to creep by — a death that occurred in February seemed like it had happened ages ago by the end of the year. As a result, more and more celebrity deaths were either missed or soon forgotten. 

2021 was a costly year in terms of celebrity deaths. Most people likely recall hearing about the passing of Cloris Leachman, Jackie Mason, Christopher Plummer, Tanya Roberts, James Michael Tyler, Melvin Van Peebles, and many more. Sometimes, when a "big" star dies, news of their death eclipses that of a celebrity who wasn't as well known. Regardless, plenty of incredibly talented yet less recognizable people have entertained the world before passing on. These celebrities all died in 2021, and, sadly, many of their deaths went unnoticed by the public. 

Gregory Edward Jacobs, best known to his fans as Shock G or "Humpty Hump," died on April 22, 2021, at age 57.

Shock G's road to fame began in 1987 when he co-founded the rap group Digital Underground. They gained popularity in 1990 with the release of "The Humpty Dance," which is when Shock G created his "Humpty Hump" persona. He also helped boost 2Pac's career, co-writing the future superstar's 1993 single "I Get Around," per Vulture.

Shock G found additional success as a producer, working with talented artists including 2Pac, Bobby Brown, Dr. Dre, and Prince, per NBC News. In response to his passing, celebrities from all over the industry posted tributes, including Digital Underground co-founder Chopmaster J, who honored his fallen friend on Instagram. "34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip hop band and take on the world," he wrote. "Through it all the dream became a reality and the reality became a nightmare for some. And now he's awaken from the fame long live shock G Aka Humpty Hump and Rest In Peace my Brotha Greg Jacobs!!!"

News of Shock G's death was shared by his father, who announced that his son was found dead in a Tampa, Florida hotel room, per TMZ. Deadline later reported that his cause of death was "an accidental drug overdose of fentanyl, ethanol, and methamphetamine." He was laid to rest in Parklawn Memorial Cemetery in Tampa.

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Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba, best known for his work on Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" films, died on August 19, 2021. He was 82 years old.

Many western moviegoers were first introduced to the inimitable Chiba via his performance as Hattori Hanzō in both "Kill Bill" films. But before filming those tributes to cult classics, he was already a famous movie star in his native Japan with hundreds of film and television credits to his name, per Variety. Chiba was one of the rare martial artists who made a successful leap into making movies, and his example helped inspire generations of martial artists and filmmakers.

Chiba's work elevated him to international superstardom relatively early in his career. He starred in more than 200 movies and television series, but the role that helped him find international fame came when he was cast as Takuma "Terry" Tsurugi in the 1974 film "The Street Fighter," which was so violent that it earned an X rating in the United States, per The New York Times. Even Chiba thought the violence went too far, but that didn't stop him from appearing in two sequels and a spinoff. 

In early August 2021, Chiba was admitted to a hospital in Kimitsu City, Japan, with COVID-19, per Anime News Network. He remained in the hospital for 11 days and died from pneumonia brought on by COVID-19. His body was cremated, and his ashes were distributed to those closest to him in life.

On October 10, 2021, Ruthie Thompson died. For years, her animation work delighted audiences, and she was declared a Disney Legend in 2000, per Variety.

Ruthie Thompson is a name few people know, but she's definitely someone who touched the lives of people all over the world. She was one of Walt Disney's earliest animators, having worked on the studio's very first animated feature film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." When she began working for the company, she was placed in the Ink and Paint Department, but before long, she became the final checker of animation cels.

After some time in that position, she advanced onto scene planning, which she did alongside her work as an animation checker, per The New York Times. Throughout the course of her long career with Disney, she helped create some of the studio's most prominent feature films. Her résumé includes work on "Fantasia," "Dumbo," "Pinocchio," "Robin Hood," and many others. 

Thompson lived to the impressive age of 111. She worked for Disney for over four decades, and as of this writing, no other employee's tenure has been longer. News of her death brought forth numerous tributes, including one from Disney's co-executive chairman, Bob Iger. "Ruthie was a legend among animators ... While we will miss her smile and wonderful sense of humor, her exceptional work, and pioneering spirit will forever be an inspiration to us all," he wrote on The Walt Disney Company website. 

Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn, known professionally as Betty Lynn, died on October 16, 2021, at the age of 95, The Andy Griffith Museum announced. She is best known for playing Thelma Lou, Barney Fife's girlfriend on "The Andy Griffith Show."

Lynn's acting career spanned 40 years, and she's remembered for a great deal of it. As noted by The Hollywood Reporter, she also appeared alongside Andy Griffith in the television series "Matlock." She found further success on the silver screen, with her roles in such films as the original "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "June Bride" helping her stand out among her peers. Her entertainment career began when she was in her teens, and, as was common at the time, she also worked in radio. She was a U.S.O. performer and found success on the Broadway stage before signing with 20th Century Fox to make the leap to television and film. From there, she worked consistently for decades, entertaining the world with her comedic timing and impressive stage presence.

Per The Andy Griffith Museum, Lynn succumbed to a "brief illness." Before she died, she was writing her autobiography, which will be released posthumously, according to the Associated Press. Regarding her legacy, Lynn told WYMT, "People don't have to remember me. I don't think it's necessary that I be remembered." She went on to say that she hoped people would pray for her. Lynn's body was cremated, and a surviving relative took possession of her remains.

Before her death on October 18, 2021, Jo-Carroll Dennison was the oldest living winner of the Miss America pageant, taking home the crown in 1942, per The New York Times. She was 97 when she died, leaving behind her two sons, Peter and John, and three grandchildren.

Dennison began her modeling career at age 18 after being discovered in the street in Tyler, Texas, per Miss America. She initially declined an opportunity to be "Miss Citizen's National Bank," but went on to compete in and win the Miss Tyler Pageant. She scored another title at the Miss East Texas Pageant in Dallas, Texas, and after she was crowned Miss Texas, she advanced on to the Miss America pageant.

Dennison won her title on September 12, 1942, making her a wartime winner, a position she took seriously. She helped sell war bonds throughout her reign and toured "defense plants, hospitals and service camps." When her time as Miss America ended, she signed a contract with 20th Century Fox, which led to several roles in feature films and television series. According to the magazine Stars and Stripes (via The New York Times), she also became a beloved pinup girl, surpassed in popularity only by Betty Grable.  

The events of her life can be found in her book, "Finding My Little Red Hat," which details her pageant experience and so much more. Per CNN, she expresses support for the Me Too movement and shares her own story as a survivor of sexual assault.

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Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was tragically killed while filming a movie on October 21, 2021.

According to American Cinematographer, Hutchins got her start shooting fashion photography and working "whatever production-assistant jobs she could." After completing her education at the University of California at Los Angeles, per Variety, she studied at the American Film Institute Conservatory. From there, she found work as a cinematographer, which opened doors to a number of high-profile productions. She also found work as a director of photography on the 2020 film "Archenemy." 

Hutchins' career was just getting going when she was shot and killed while working on the production of "Rust," a Western movie starring and co-produced by Alec Baldwin. According to a search warrant (via Today), while Baldwin was rehearsing, he was handed a prop gun. Unbeknownst to him at the time, the weapon held a live round, so when he practiced "drawing his weapon and pointing the revolver towards the camera lens," he inadvertently fired a bullet. Hutchins and the film's director, Joel Souza, were injured.

Hutchins later died from her injuries sustained in the on-set accident. Following her death, the American Film Institute established the Halyna Hutchins Memorial Scholarship Fund in her honor. The impact of her death also sparked a movement in the industry to remove "functional firearms" from film and television production sets, according to The Wrap. The investigation into her death and the circumstances surrounding it was still ongoing as of mid-November 2021. 

Dean Stockwell died of "natural causes" on November 7, 2021, per TMZ. He was 85 years old.

While Stockwell's best-known role was playing Admiral Al Calavicci on "Quantum Leap," that was only one gig in a very long career. During his 70 years in the entertainment business, he played over 200 different characters. He was born to a family of entertainers, including a father who voiced Prince Charming in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Stockwell followed in his dad's footsteps, beginning his own career on Broadway when he was just a child before making the leap to television and film. In 1995, he told Turner Classic Movies that he was unhappy working as a child actor, but he opted to pursue the profession into adulthood.

Stockwell's vast list of film and television roles includes critically-acclaimed performances, such as Anthony "Tony the Tiger" Russo in "Married to the Mob" opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Matthew Modine. That part landed him a nomination for an Academy Award in the best supporting actor category. Outside of film, he's remembered for his work in television, playing characters in popular series that include "Murder, She Wrote," "The A-Team," "Miami Vice," "Mission: Impossible," and "Battlestar Galactica."

In 2017, Stockwell's wife, Joy, told 50+ World that he had suffered a stroke and was retired from acting. In retirement, he focused on visual art mediums and even exhibited his work, per Deadline. He died at his home in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, leaving behind his wife and two kids.