All The Famous Faces We Lost In 2022

It’s always sad when someone we admire passes away, and 2022 has been particularly brutal. We’ve lost so many famous friends this year — whether they were stars of the screen, legends from behind the camera, or beloved historical icons. But instead of looking back with sadness, let’s celebrate every amazing thing these famous figures accomplished during their lifetimes.

1. Vivienne Westwood

Dame Vivienne Westwood died “peacefully, surrounded by her family” on December 29. The groundbreaking British fashion designer was crucial in defining the punk movement in 1970s London — and remained a vital voice on the fashion scene for the rest of her life. Her designs would sometimes be contentious, sometimes political, and sometimes provoking, but she always celebrated.

2. Pelé

There is little to say about Pelé that hasn't already been said. He scored an unrivaled 1,281 goals in 1,363 games and lifted the World Cup three times. He earned the nickname "the King" and is still often referred to as the greatest player to ever kick a soccer ball. The legend passed away at the age of 82 on December 29. A statement from the hospital said his death was “due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of the progression of cancer of colon associated with his previous clinical condition.”

3. Meat Loaf (1947-2022)

The most surprising thing about Meat Loaf wasn't his stage name! He may have been renowned as a hit-making rocker, but before his Bat Out of Hell trilogy hit the charts, he was better known for his off-kilter acting roles in productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Hair. Of course, Meat Loaf became a household name — as opposed to his real name, Marvin Lee Aday — thanks to songs such as "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)." He died in January.

4. Dame Angela Lansbury (1925-2022)

Was there anything Dame Angela Lansbury couldn't do? Different generations associate her with different career achievements: her Oscar-nominated roles in Gaslight and The Picture of Dorian Gray in the '40s; her Tony-winning performances in Mame and Sweeney Todd in the '60s and '70s; her Emmy-winning turn in Murder, She Wrote in the '80s. And whenever we hear her utter the phrase "Tale as old as time..." from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, we get goosebumps. With such a remarkable career, it's no wonder she became a Hollywood icon. She died aged 96 in October.