8 Most Tragic Celebrity Deaths of 2021

Life is short, and we are reminded of this sad fact every time we see news of a celebrity whose talent and creativity have become a part of our life, passing away. This year has not been kind to us, as we’ve lost hundreds of thousands of people to COVID and other diseases, but they’re just pips in the statistics. The true tragedy comes when a movie star or a rock idol dies unexpectedly, and the whole world mourns.

Here are the most tragic celebrity deaths of 2021.

1. The New York Dolls’ Sylvain Sylvain — January 15

Guitarist Sylvain Sylvain, one of the founders of the famous 1970s rock band New York Dolls, passed away at the age of 69. Sylvain Mizrahi, which was his real name, had been fighting cancer for the past 2.5 years, but alas, the sickness won. The New York Dolls band was one of the earliest glam rock bands in the world, and Rolling Stone listed their first album as one of the Best 500 Albums of All Time.

2. TV Journalist Larry King — January 23

Larry King passed away at the Los Angeles Medical Center at the age of 87 after previously being hospitalized and testing positive for coronavirus. King was known for many things, but the backbone of his fame was always the Larry King Live show, which he hosted on CNN for 25 years, from 1985 to 2010.

Larry King during Bette Midler on “Larry King Live” at CNN Studios in Hollywood, CA, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)

3. The Animals’ Hilton Valentine — January 30

British rock musician, member of the classic line-up of The Animals, Hilton Valentine, died at the age of 77. The cause of death was not specified. Valentine first performed with The Animals as a guest musician and then, along with vocalist Eric Burdon, joined the band, helping them perform their biggest hits like House of the Rising Sun and We Gotta Get Outta This Place.