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Boon Gould , an original member of the band Level 42 , has died aged 64.
Bassist and vocalist Mark King revealed the news on Twitter, writing: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to tell you of the passing of our dear friend and brother Boon Gould. You are at peace now Boon, no more pain mate. Thank you for everything.”
Gould, a guitarist and saxophone player for the British group, was found dead by Dorset Police at his home on Tuesday morning. He was one of the band’s founding members.
Level 42 formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979. They had a number of successful hits during the 1980s and 1990s, including “Lessons in Love” and “Something About You”.
After several lineup changes, the band broke up in 1994 and reformed in 2001.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Darius Perkins The actor was best known for playing the original Scott Robinson on Neighbours when the show launched in 1985 on Australia's Channel Seven. Perkins died from cancer on 2 January, aged 54
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Bob Einstein The Emmy-winning writer appeared in US comedy shows Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development, becoming known for his deadpan delivery. He died on 2 January, shortly after being diagnosed with leukemia, aged 76.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Mark Hollis As the frontman of the band Talk Talk, Hollis was largely responsible for the band's shift towards a more experimental approach in the mid-1980s, pioneering what became known as post-rock, with hit singles including “Life’s What You Make It” (1985) and “Living in Another World” (1986).
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Janice Freeman Freeman appeared on season 13 of the TV singing competition The Voice, making a strong impression early on with her cover of 'Radioactive' by Imagine Dragons, performed during the blind auditions. She had an extreme case of pneumonia and had a blood clot that travelled to her heart. She died in hospital on 2 March.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Jed Allan Allan was best known for his role as Rush Sanders, the father of Ian Ziering’s Steve Sanders, on Beverly Hills, 90210; Don Craig on Days of Our Lives; and CC Capwell on Santa Barbara. He died on Saturday, 9 March, aged 84.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Pat Laffan The Irish-born actor had roles in almost 40 films and 30 television shows, including in BBC’s Eastenders, Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, and RTE’s The Clinic. He died on Friday, 15 March, aged 79
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Agnès Varda French New Wave filmmaker Agnès Varda died on 29 March, aged 90. She was best known for the films "Cléo from 5 to 7" and "Vagabond" and was widely regarded to be one of the most influential experimental and feminist filmmakers of all time.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Boon Gould (right) One of the founding members of Level 42, Boon Gould, died on 1 March, aged 64. He was a guitarist and saxophone player.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Freddie Starr Comedian Starr was the star of several eponymous TV shows during the 1990s such as Freddie Starr, The Freddie Starr Show and An Audience with Freddie Starr. Starr was the subject of one of the most famous tabloid headlines in the history of the British press, splashed on the front page of The Sun in 1986: "Freddie Starr ate my hamster." Starr was found dead in his home in Costa Del Sol on 9 May 2019.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Peggy Lipton Twin Peaks star Peggy Lipton died of cancer, aged 72 on 11 May.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Carmine Cardini Carmine Cardini, who was most famous for playing two different roles in the Godfather franchise, died on 28 May, 2019 at Cedars Sinai Hospital, aged 85. He played Carmine Rosato in The Godfather Part II (1974) before returning to the franchise in 1990 as Albert Volpe in The Godfather Part III.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Judith Kerr Judith Kerr, the author and illustrator best known for The Tiger Who Came to Tea, died at the age of 95 on 23 May. Born in Berlin in 1923, the daughter of a German-Jewish theatre critic, Kerr was forced to flee Germany with her family after the rise of the Nazi Party because her father had been openly critical of the Nazis. His books were burnt shortly after they left the country. The Kerrs travelled first to Switzerland, then to France and finally to Britain, where Kerr remained for the rest of her life. Although she had always wanted to be an author, she only began to write and draw when her own children were learning to read. Alongside The Tiger Who Came to Tea – which concerns a young girl and her mother, whose afternoon tea is interrupted by the arrival of said feline – Kerr is also known for her 17-book Mog series, which details the adventures of an ordinary house cat.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Dr John The celebrated pianist and musician who for decades delighted audiences and fans around the world using the stage name Dr John, died aged 77 on 6 June. The man who combined blues, honky-tonk and elements of ragtime to create a style as memorable and captivating as his home city of New Orleans, died early on Thursday from a heart attack.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Peter Mayhew Peter Mayhew, best known for his role as Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series, died at the age of 74. The film star stood over seven feet tall and played the fictional character who serves as a loyal friend to the franchise’s protagonist, Han Solo.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Leon Redbone Leon Redbone died on 30 May, 2019, aged 69. The singer-songwriter, who was noticed by Bob Dylan in the Seventies and was an early guest on Saturday Night Live, released more than 15 albums over the course of four decades.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Paul Darrow Blake’s 7 and Doctor Who star Paul Darrow died in June aged 78 following a short illness. The Surrey-born actor was best known for playing Kerr Avon in BBC sci-fi series Blake’s 7 during the 70s and 80s, but also appeared in more than 200 other shows including The Saint, Z Cars, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Little Britain.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Cameron Boyce Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce died in his sleep on 6 July, aged 20. His family later confirmed the actor, who appeared in Jessie and descendants, had epilepsy.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Rip Torn Rip Torn, the film, TV and theatre actor, died on 9 July, 2019, aged 88. His career spanned seven decades.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Freddie Jones Emmerdale actor Freddie Jones died aged 91 in July. The British star was most recently known for playing Sandy Thomas in the soap from 2005 until 2018. He also starred in Hollywood films Dune, The Elephant Man and Firefox.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Rutger Hauer Dutch actor Rutger Hauer famously played replicant Roy Batty in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. As Batty, he delivered the iconic "tears in the rain" monologue. Hauer died on 19 July, 2019 aged 75.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Paula Williamson Actor Paula Williamson, who starred in Coronation Street and married criminal Charles Bronson, was found dead on 29 July, 2019.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Toni Morrison Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison died at the age of 88 on 6 August. Her death was confirmed “with profound sadness” by the Morrison family, who said she had passed away in the Bronx, New York, “following a short illness”. The celebrated writer of 11 novels was known for her searing works about slavery and the experiences of black women, including 1987’s Beloved, the story of a runaway female slave – for which she won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction the following year. She became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 David Berman David Berman, frontman of Silver Jews and Purple Mountains, died by suicide on 7 August, 2019, aged 52.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Peter Fonda Peter Fonda died of respiratory failure due to lung cancer on 16 August, 2019. aged 79, his family said. He was the co-writer and star of counterculture classic Easy Rider (1969).
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Ben Unwin Home and Away star Ben Unwin was found dead aged 41 on 14 August, according to New South Wales Police. He starred as 'bad boy' Jesse McGregor on the popular Australian soap between 1996-2000, and then 2002-2005 before switching to a career in law
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Franco Columbu Italian bodybuilder, who appeared in The Terminator, The Running Man and Conan the Barbarian, died on 30 August, 2019, aged 78. The former Mr Olympia enjoyed a successful career as a boxer and was best friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Kylie Rae Harris The country singer died in a car crash on 4 September, 2019, at the age of 30. Harris, of Wylie, Texas, she was scheduled to perform at a music festival in New Mexico the next day.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 LaShawn Daniels Songwriter and producer LaShawn Daniels died 4 September aged 41. He was best known for his collaborations with producer Darkchild, and had songwriting credits on a number of pop and R&B classics by artists including Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Janet and Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Brandy and Whitney Houston.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 John Wesley John Wesley, the actor who played Dr Hoover on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, died in September 2019 aged 72 of complications stemming from multiple myeloma, according to his family. His other acting credits included Baywatch as well as the the 1992 buddy cop comedy film 'Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot'.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Robert Hunter The lyricist, who's behind some of the Grateful Dead's finest songs, died on 23 September at the age of 78. His best known Grateful Dead songs include 'Cumberland Blues,' 'It Must Have Been the Roses,' and 'Terrapin Station'.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Ginger Baker Ginger Baker, the legendary drummer and co-founder of rock band Cream, died at the age of 80 on Sunday 6 October after being critically ill in hospital. The musician co-founded Cream in 1966 with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Jill Galloway Heitz Jill Galloway Heitz died at the age of 78 from congestive heart failure on 13 November. Her TV appearances included Glee and Prison Break, and she also starred in David Lynch film The Straight Story.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Goo Ha-ra South Korean singer and actor Goo Ha-ra died in November 2019 at the age of 28.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Godfrey Gao Godfrey Gao died on 27 November, aged 35. He suffered a cardiac arrest after collapsing on set of a game show in China. Gao was considered the first Asian supermodel, and appeared in 2013 Hollywood film The Mortal Instruments.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Juice Wrld Chicago-born rapper Juice Wrld, real name Jarad Anthony Higgins, died 8 December at the age of 21. The Associated Press confirmed that the “Lucid Dreams” rapper suffered a "medical emergency" at Chicago's Midway International Airport, and was later pronounced dead in hospital.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Caroll Spinney Puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who portrayed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the children’s programme Sesame Street, has died at the age of 84. Spinney died 8 December at his home in Connecticut after suffering from Dystonia for some time, the Sesame Workshop confirmed.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Rene Auberjonois Prolific character actor Rene Auberjonois died 8 December at the age of 79. His credits included the Robert Altman film MASH and TV shows Benson and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Marie Fredriksson Marie Fredriksson, one-half of the pop duo Roxette, died 9 December after suffering a long illness. Roxette's most famous hits include "It Must Have Been Love" and 'Listen to Your Heart".
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Chris Cotton The US comedian Chris Cotton, best known for the Comedy Central web series Every Damn Day, died on 13 December at the age of 32. A cause of death has yet to be announced. Cotton is survived by his wife Ericalynn, who is due to give birth to their first child in February.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Danny Aiello Actor Danny Aiello, best known for his role as Sal in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, died on Thursday, 12 December at the age of 86.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Chuy Bravo Comedian and entertainer Chuy Bravo, who found fame as the sidekick to comic Chelsea Handler, died 15 December at the age of 63. Bravo was taken ill during a trip to his native Mexico, and died in hospital.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Kenny Lynch Entertainer Kenny Lynch, known for roles in Carry On Loving and TV show The Sweeney along with a successful pop career, died aged 81. Lynch was born in east London in 1938, to a Barbadian father and a mother of British and Jamaican heritage. He was one of the UK’s first black pop stars, who toured with The Beatles and achieved two top 10 hits including “Up on the Roof”, which was originally recorded by The Drifters. He was also the first artist to cover a Beatles song, when he released a version of Lennon and McCartney composition “Misery” in 1963.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Jerry Herman The Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist Jerry Herman, who wrote the music and lyrics for shows including Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles, died 26 December at the age of 88. Herman’s death was confirmed by his goddaughter, who told the Associated Press that he died of pulmonary complications in Miami, Florida. Herman created 10 Broadway shows, and won two Tony Awards for Best Musical for Hello, Dolly! (1964) and La Cage aux Folles (1983). He also won two Grammys and, in 2010, became a Kennedy Center honouree.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Andrew Dunbar The extra, who worked as a body double for Theon Greyjoy actor Alfie Allen, reportedly died at his home in Belfast on 23 December. He was in his thirties. Pamela Smyth, head of Crowd Makeup on the hit HBO show, told Belfast Live: “Even among the thousands of extras that came through the crowd room on Thrones – Andrew always stood out.” Dunbar’s co-star and friend Andy McClay said: “Everyone always wanted Andrew. There was just something about him that was special."
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Kelly Fraser Kelly Fraser, the Canadian pop artist who gained worldwide attention for her Inuit-language colour of “Diamonds” by Rihanna, died in December aged 26. Fraser was known for her advocacy efforts for her indigenous culture, and wrote or translated songs into the Inuit language of Inukitut with the aim of using pop music to raise awareness of it.
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Culture stars we lost in 2019 Neil Innes Comedian and musician Neil Innes, who collaborated with Monty Python and played with The Rutles, died on 30 December aged 75. Essex-born Innes wrote music for Monty Python’s albums including Monty Python’s Previous Record and The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief, after becoming involved with the comedy group in the 1970s.
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Boon, real name Rowland Gould, was in the band with his brother, Neil. He was the first to leave in 1987, shortly after the band had a stint supporting Madonna on her tour.
Gould left after suffering from nervous exhaustion and wanted to spend more time with his wife and children, though he remained friendly with the band, even writing lyrics for them following his departure.
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