On This Day - Obituary

Home . Portsmouth FC . Celebrity . Music Technology . On This Day . Concerts . Movies . Obituary

Obituary

Rest In Peace

2024

2010

1975

Those celebrities I have included in "On This Day" who are sadly no longer with us.


Bastedo, Alexandra	Brendon, Nicholas	Cross, Chris	Curry, Tim	Doherty, Shannen	Hartnell, William
Head, Anthony	Knight, Alan	Panettiere, Hayden	Pitt, Ingrid	Trachtenberg, Michelle

2026


	ALAN KNIGHT (65)
	DIED:	1 SEPTEMBER 2026
	BORN:	3 JULY 1961
	Born in 1961, English goalkeeper Alan Knight died at the age of sixty-five. His professional career spanned over two decades, entirely spent playing for Portsmouth Football Club. He made 801 total appearances for the club, featuring in all four professional divisions of English football across four separate decades. Career highlights included three promotions, a Division Three title, reaching the top flight in 1987, and an FA Cup semi-final run in 1992.
	▲


	TIM CURRY (80)
	DIED:	25 AUGUST 2026
	BORN:	19 APRIL 1946
	Timothy James Curry was born in 1946 and passed away at the age of 80. He built a career spanning stage, film, and television, entering the public consciousness through his theatrical work. He originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the stage production of The Rocky Horror Show and reprised it in the 1975 film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Curry expanded his career with numerous prominent film and television appearances. His cinematic and television highlights include portraying Rooster Hannigan in the movie adaptation of Annie, playing Wadsworth in the mystery-comedy Clue, and taking on the role of Pennywise the Clown in the television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's It. He maintained an active presence in theatre, performing extensively on London's West End and Broadway. His stage work earned him major award nominations, including performances in productions such as Amadeus, My Favourite Year, and Monty Python's Spamalot.
	▲


	HAYDEN PANETTIERE (36)
	DIED:	16 AUGUST 2026
	BORN:	21 AUGUST 1989
	Hayden Panettiere, born in 1989, passed away at the age of 36. She established her career highlights primarily through television and film work, starting her professional journey as a child actor in commercials before securing multi-year contract roles on daytime soap operas such as One Life to Live and Guiding Light. She achieved widespread international recognition through major television career highlights, most notably starring as Claire Bennet in the NBC superhero drama series Heroes and as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama series Nashville. Her television milestones also included voice acting work, such as voicing Princess Dot in Pixar's A Bug's Life. Alongside her television accomplishments, her career highlights featured prominent feature film appearances, including roles in the sports drama Remember the Titans and the slasher horror franchise Scream. Her professional milestones spanned decades across diverse media formats, establishing her lasting footprint in the entertainment industry.
	▲


	ANTHONY HEAD (72)
	DIED:	1 JUNE 2026
	BORN:	20 FEBRUARY 1954
	Anthony Head, born in 1954, passed away at the age of 72. He established his career highlights primarily through television work, starting with a prominent series of coffee commercials in the United Kingdom during the late 1980s and stage performances including theatrical productions. He achieved international recognition through major television career highlights, most notably portraying Rupert Giles in the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He further cemented his status as a versatile television icon with key roles including the Prime Minister in Little Britain, Uther Pendragon in Merlin, and Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso. His professional journey encompassed extensive television milestones that allowed audiences to watch him span multiple decades across British and American screens. From his early breakthrough advertising work to major recurring roles in defining network television series, his body of work established his lasting footprint in entertainment.
	▲


	NICHOLAS BRENDON (54)
	DIED:	20 MARCH 2026
	BORN:	12 APRIL 1971
	Nicholas Brendon, born in 1971, passed away at the age of 54. He established his career highlights primarily through television work, most notably starring as the underdog Xander Harris in the hit supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1997 to 2003. He further expanded his television career highlights by taking on a recurring role as FBI tech analyst Kevin Lynch in the procedural series Criminal Minds between 2007 and 2014. Alongside his television milestones, his career highlights featured appearances in independent feature films, including starring roles in Coherence and Big Gay Love, as well as contributing as a writer for the Buffy comic book series.
	▲

2025


	MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG (39)
	DIED:	26 FEBRUARY 2025
	BORN:	11 OCTOBER 1985
	Michelle Trachtenberg, born in 1985, passed away at the age of 39. She established her early career highlights as a child actor in commercials and television projects, securing prominent starring roles in the family film Harriet the Spy and the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete. She achieved international recognition through major television career highlights, most notably portraying Dawn Summers in the cult classic series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and playing Georgina Sparks in the hit teen drama series Gossip Girl. Her film work featured major appearances in features like EuroTrip and Ice Princess, establishing a prolific entertainment footprint that spanned diverse comedic and dramatic roles across television and film.
	▲

2024


	SHANNEN DOHERTY (53)
	DIED:	13 JULY 2024
	BORN:	12 APRIL 1971
	Shannen Doherty, born in 1971, passed away at the age of 53. She established her early career highlights as a child actor, securing notable roles such as Jenny Wilder in the final season of the family drama Little House on the Prairie and appearing in the comedy film Girls Just Want to Have Fun. She achieved international recognition through major television career highlights, most notably starring as Brenda Walsh in the hit teen drama series Beverly Hills, 90210 and as Prue Halliwell in the supernatural series Charmed. Alongside her television milestones, her career highlights featured prominent feature film appearances, including roles in the dark comedy Heathers and Kevin Smith's comedy Mallrats. Her professional journey spanned decades across diverse television and film formats, establishing her lasting footprint in the entertainment industry.
	▲


	CHRIS CROSS (71)
	DIED:	25 MARCH 2024
	BORN:	14 JULY 1952
	Chris Cross, born in 1952, passed away at the age of 71. He established his career highlights primarily through music, starting as a founding member of the glam rock band Tiger Lily in 1974, which subsequently evolved into the influential new wave and synth-pop band Ultravox. He achieved international recognition through major musical career highlights, most notably serving as the bass guitarist and co-writer for the band's landmark 1980 studio album and hit single Vienna. His core contributions spanned genre-defining records throughout the 1980s, including albums such as Rage in Eden and Quartet. Alongside his primary work with Ultravox, his career milestones featured directing music videos for other artists and participating in the band's 2009 reunion tour alongside the release of their final studio album, Brilliant, in 2012.
	▲

2014


	ALEXANDRA BASTEDO (67)
	DIED:	12 JANUARY 2014
	BORN:	9 MARCH 1945
	Alexandra Bastedo, born in 1946, passed away at the age of 67. She established her career highlights primarily through television work, rising to international prominence as the secret agent and scientist Sharron Macready in the 1968 British espionage and science fiction adventure series The Champions. She further expanded her television and film career highlights with appearances in international productions, including a role in the 1967 spy parody film Casino Royale, the television series The Aphrodite Inheritance, and later guest roles in popular programs such as EastEnders and Boon. Her professional journey encompassed extensive media milestones, including multilingual presentation work and co-hosting the Miss World competitions during the 1980s. From her breakout success in 1960s adventure television to diverse roles across stage and screen, her body of work established her lasting footprint in the entertainment industry.
	▲

2010


	INGRID PITT (73)
	DIED:	20 NOVEMBER 2010
	BORN:	21 NOVEMBER 1937
	Ingrid Pitt was born in 1937 and passed away at the age of 73. She built a prominent career as an actress and writer, establishing herself as a notable figure in British horror cinema during the 1960s and 1970s. Her career highlights include starring roles in cult classic Hammer Horror productions such as The Vampire Lovers (1970) and Countess Dracula (1971). In addition to these defining performances, she appeared in other notable feature films including Where Eagles Dare (1968), The House That Dripped Blood (1971), and The Wicker Man (1973). Beyond her work on screen, her professional output extended to writing. She authored several books, including novels, autobiographies, and non-fiction titles like The Ingrid Pitt Bedside Companion for Vampire Lovers, alongside contributing columns to British film and horror publications.
	▲

1975


	WILLIAM HARTNELL (67)
	DIED:	23 APRIL 1975
	BORN:	8 JANUARY 1908
	William Hartnell was born in 1908 and passed away at the age of 67. Over a prolific acting career spanning multiple decades, he established himself as a prominent fixture of British stage, film, and television. Initially recognized for playing tough military men, policemen, and gritty cinematic characters, his early career highlights included standout performances in films such as The Way Ahead (1944), Brighton Rock (1947), and Carry On Sergeant (1958), as well as his television role as Company Sergeant Major Percy Bullimore in The Army Game. He achieved his most iconic career milestone later in life when he was cast as the First Doctor in the landmark BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. He later reprised this defining role in the 1973 tenth-anniversary serial The Three Doctors.
	▲

Updated - 02/09/2026