It’s hard to imagine Hollywood without its brightest stars, but, sadly, as time goes on and they continue to age, we find ourselves mourning their loss. While it can be upsetting to think we’ll never again get to see them in a new film or television series, there’s also the opportunity to celebrate their careers and the lasting legacies they left behind.
The following are the celebrities we’ve lost thus far in 2024.
Frank Ryan
Famed National Football League (NFL) quarterback Frank Ryan passed away on January 1, 2024, at the age of 87. According to his family and the Cleveland Browns, the retired sportsman’s death came after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease, which was exacerbated by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition that likely resulted from his football career.
After playing the sport in high school, Ryan was recruited by college football coaches and even professional teams. However, he wanted to pursue his education and thus declined a spot with the Los Angeles Rams after being selected by the team in the 1958 NFL Draft. He later changed his mind and joined the Rams, opting to study during the off-season.
After his time with the Rams, Ryan joined the Cleveland Browns as a backup quarterback. He remained with the team until 1969, during which time he helped them win the ’64 NFL Championship Game against the Baltimore Colts. After a short stint with the Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins) he continued to pursue his educational aspirations, serving on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University.
Mickey Cottrell
One of Hollywood’s biggest champions of indie films, Mickey Cottrell, died on January 1, 2024, at the age of 79. The actor and PR executive’s passing was confirmed by his sister, Suzie Cottrell-Smith, who told Deadline that it occurred at the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Woodland Hills and follows a battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Born in 1944, Cottrell pursued acting in Minnesota, before moving to California to try his hand at making it big in Hollywood. He found work as a publicist and wound up launching a PR firm with Doug Lindemann, Cottrell and Lindemann Associates, in 1982. While he could have championed larger films, Cottrell chose to promote indie releases, the most notable being Keep the Lights On (2012) and Ballets Russes (2005).
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While a publicist, Cottrell never let his love for acting fall to the wayside. He appeared in several productions over the decades, including Ed Wood (1994), directed by Tim Burton; My Own Private Idaho (1991), alongside River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves; and Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996). As if all that wasn’t enough, Cottrell also produced a handful of films.