The older I get, the sappier I become and the more I realize how deeply connected we all are, whether we admit it or not. There is a poem by Chicano playwright Luis Valdez that draws heavily from the Mayan philosophy of Lak’ech. Part of the poem reads: “Tú eres mi otro yo. You are my other me.” That philosophy rings true to me and helps me understand how we can so deeply mourn the deaths of people like celebrities whom we have never met. You know what I mean? It’s because we are all connected, and these people gifted us with their talents, and when they die, it feels personal because it is personal, regardless of whether we knew them or not.
More from MamásLatinas: Famous stars we lost in 2021
Sometimes it’s surprising how strongly the death of a celebrity will hit you. Like when I heard that Louie Anderson died on January 22, 2022, I started sobbing immediately. You wouldn’t think that Louie and I would have much in common, but I read his book Hey Mom a few years back, and I was deeply touched by the love he expressed for his mother. Sadly, Louie is joined on the list of celebrities we’ve lost in 2022 so far like Kirstie Alley, Irene Cara, Bob Saget, Sidney Poitier, Ana Bejerano, and Ivana Trump. Let’s take a moment to appreciate these celebrities for their contributions, and may their passing remind us, in the words of Luis Valdez:
In Lak’ech
Tú eres mi otro yo.
You are my other me.
Si te hago daño a ti,
If I do harm to you,
Me hago daño a mi mismo.
I do harm to myself.
Si te amo y respeto,
If I love and respect you,
Me amo y respeto yo.
I love and respect myself.
Kirstie Alley died on December 5.
“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” her children, William True Stevenson and Lillie Price Stevenson, shared via Instagram. The actor was known for her work on Cheers, the Look Who’s Talking movies, and many more. She died at the age of 71.
Irene Cara died on November 25.
The singer, songwriter, and actor of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent started performing when she was a child. She played Coco Hernandez in the 1980 film Fame and sang the film’s title track, which reached No. 1 in multiple countries. In 1983, she won an Academy Award for best original song for “Flashdance…What a Feeling,” which she cowrote. She died at the age of 63.
John Aniston died on November 11.
The soap opera veteran, known for his portrayal of Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives, also appeared on many other shows, including The West Wing and Gilmore Girls. “Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace – and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now ️I’ll love you till the end of time Don’t forget to visit ❤️,” daughter Jennifer Aniston wrote via her Instagram. He died at the age of 89.
Gallagher died on November 11.
The stand-up comic was known for using his “Sledge-O-Matic” to smash watermelons and other foods while performing. He toured up until his farewell tour—“The Last Smash”—in 2019. He died at the age of 76.
Aaron Carter died on November 5.
Aaron was also a singer like his brother, Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter. He released his first album in 1997 and would even tour with the Backstreet Boys. He was found unconscious in his bathtub by his housekeeper. He died at the age of 34.
Takeoff died on November 1.
Kirsnick Khari Ball, whose artistic name was Takeoff, was one of the three members of the hip-hop group Migos, alongside Quavo and Offset. He was shot during a private event at a bowling alley in Houston, Texas. He died at the age of 28.
Jerry Lee Lewis died on October 28.
Known for his wild performances, he was nicknamed “The Killer.” His hits include “Whole Lotta Shakin,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” He started his career in the 1950s and continued performing through 2019. He died at the age of 87.
Leslie Jordan died on October 24.
Leslie started his acting career on commercials and went on to appear in many shows, including Ally McBeal, Desperate Housewives, and perhaps most notably Will and Grace. He suffered a medical emergency while driving and crashed into a building. He died at the age of 67.
Mauricio Garza died on October 23.
The singer, who was a member of the group Dos Garza and known as Maucho, drowned. He was found by his family unconscious in his pool at his home in Monterrey, Mexico. He died at the age of 26.
Robbie Coltrane died on October 14.
Many know Robbie Coltrane for his excellent portrayal of Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies. He had many other acting credits as well. The Scottish actor died at a hospital in Scotland. He died at the age of 72.
Angela Lansbury died on October 11.
Five days before her 97th birthday, Dame Angela Lansbury “died peacefully in her sleep.” She started her acting career in the movie Gaslight in 1942. Many know her from the show she starred on for 12 seasons, Murder She Wrote. She also starred in the Broadway musical Mame.
Loretta Lynn died on October 4.
In 1967, the legendary country music icon who gave us “Coal Miner’s Daughter” was the Country Music Association’s first female vocalist of the year. Then, in 1972, she was the first female CMA entertainer of the year. According to her family, she “passed away peacefully” in her sleep. She died at the age of 90.
Coolio died on September 28.
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., Coolio died after suspected cardiac arrest. He was nominated for six Grammys. His song “Gangsta’s Paradise” reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won a 1996 Grammy for best solo rap performance. He died at the age of 59.
Kenneth Starr died on September 13.
A lawyer whose name will forever be linked with the names of former President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Kenneth Starr led the investigation regarding the nature of their relationship that resulted in the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton in 1999. In 2020, he represented Donald Trump and argued against impeachment, saying that “impeachment is hell.” He died at the age of 76.
Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8.
She was only 25 years old when she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. She reigned for 70 years, making her the longest-ruling monarch in British history. She appears to have died of natural causes at the age of 96.
Mikhail Gorbachev died on August 30.
The former president of the Soviet Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. “In 1989 the Berlin Wall fell, and the Cold War between East and West was brought to a halt. In 1990, the Nobel Committee gave President Gorbachev the main credit for this by awarding him the Peace Prize,” states the Nobel Prize website.
Anne Heche died on August 11.
She was in a car accident on August 5, and on August 11, she was declared legally dead, although she remained on life support until August 14 for organ donation. She started her acting career in soap operas and went on to appear in movies including Donnie Brasco, Wag the Dog, and Six Days, Seven Nights. She died at the age of 53.
Olivia Newton-John died on August 8.
She captured many hearts when she starred as Sandy opposite John Travolta in the movie Grease. She won four Grammys and had five No. 1 hits on Billboard’s charts. Her biggest hit was “Physical,” which spent 10 weeks in the No. 1 spot. She died at the age of 73.
Issey Miyake died on August 5.
The Japanese designer’s pieces are often called “origami-like” because of his innovative ways of folding fabric. You know that black turtleneck that Steve Jobs would wear as part of his uniform? That was designed by Issey Miyake. The designer died at the age of 84.
Nichelle Nichols died on July 30.
She played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on both the TV show and movie franchise of Star Trek. She was one of the first Black women to star on a network TV show. And what a role! Her character was intelligent, educated, and professional in an era when Black women were seldom depicted favorably on TV. She died at the age of 89.
Tony Dow died on July 27.
Tony played Walley Cleaver on the popular TV show Leave It to Beaver. He was only 12 years old when he took on the role of Beaver’s older brother. Later in life he went on to play other roles, direct, produce, and even sculpt. He died at the age of 77.
Paul Sorvino died on July 25.
A talented actor with a long, successful career on both the big screen and small screen, he played Paulie Cicero in Goodfellas and Sergeant Phil Cerreta in Law & Order. He could also sing and did so as a tenor in 2006 at the Lincoln Center. He died at the age of 83.
Ivana Trump died on July 14.
She was born in what is now the Czech Republic and moved to New York in 1976. One year later she married Donald Trump, and they had three kids together: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She died at the age of 73.
Tony Sirico died on July 8.
Fans of The Sopranos know Tony as Paulie Walnuts. He played the character with memorable style and swagger. “It pains me to say that my dear friend, colleague and partner in crime, the great TONY SIRICO has passed away today,” wrote Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos, via Instagram. The actor died at the age of 79.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died on July 8.
He was the longest serving prime minister in modern Japan. He was shot twice with a homemade gun while giving a speech. "It is barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated," said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Shinzo Abe died at the age of 67.
James Caan died on July 6.
James Caan had a long and successful acting career in Hollywood. He made his feature film debut in 1963 and pretty much worked for the rest of his life. He is known for his memorable performances in The Godfather, Misery, and Elf. He died at the age of 82.
Ray Liotta died on May 26.
Ray was a Hollywood icon who started off on daytime TV and went on to have a great film career starring in movies like Goodfellas. He also starred opposite Jennifer Lopez on the show Shades of Blue. “Ray was the epitome of a tough guy who was all mushy on the inside … I guess that’s what made him such a compelling actor to watch,” Jennifer shared on Instagram. He died at the age of 67.
Naomi Judd died on April 30.
Naomi, mother to Wynonna and Ashley, had 20 top 10 hits in her lifetime. She and her daughter Wynonna won five Grammy Awards as the mother-daughter duo The Judds. The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2021. She died at the age of 76.
Gilbert Gottfried died on April 12.
His voice was unmistakable. Once you heard it, you could not forget it. He started off as a standup comic and went on to do voiceover work. He played the role the parrot Iago in Disney’s Aladdin. He died at the age of 67.
Estelle Harris died on April 3.
You may know her as Estelle Costanza from Seinfeld or Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 2, 3, and 4. Her unique high-pitched voice gave her performances a quality that only she could deliver. She died at the age of 93.
Taylor Hawkins died on March 25.
He drummed for Alanis Morissette, and then in 1997 he joined the Foo Fighters. He was with that band for 25 years. “The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” the band wrote via Twitter. “His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time.” He died at the age of 50.
Madeleine Albright died on March 23.
She served as secretary of state from 1997 to 2001. Her tenure was historic because although she was the 64th person to hold that office, she was the first woman in that position. That made her the highest-ranking woman in US government at that time. She died at the age of 84.
William Hurt died on March 13.
He won the best actor Oscar in 1985 for his role in Kiss of the Spider Woman. He was a highly respected actor in both film and theater. He was in over 50 theater productions during his lifetime. He died at the age of 71.
Emilio Delgado died on March 10.
An actor and a singer, Emilio Delgado was on Sesame Street for over 40 years. Generations of children grew up seeing his friendly face on TV. This was particularly important to so many Latino children, who rarely saw themselves or their families represented in a positive way on TV. He died at the age of 81.
Betty Davis died on February 9.
The funk singer was born in North Carolina, was married to Miles Davis for a year, recorded with The Chambers Brother, and is the titular subject of the documentary Betty: They Say I’m Different. She died at the age of 77.
Monica Vitti died on February 2.
The Queen of Italian Cinema worked with Michelangelo Antonioni and won many awards throughout her career. Her death was attributed to complications form Alzheimer’s disease. She died at the age of 90.
Cheslie Bryst died on January 30.
She was crowned Miss USA in 2019. She also represented the US in at the Miss Universe competition that year and finished in the top 10. She went on to become an Emmy-nominated correspondent for Extra. Her death was ruled a suicide. She died at the age of 30.
If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or the Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), both of which are staffed by certified crisis response professionals, or call 911.
Howard Hesseman died on January 29.
He played the role of disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati from 1978 to 1982, for which he received two Emmy Award nominations. He was also on the TV show Head of the Class and in the movies About Schmidt and This Is Spinal Tap. He died at the age of 81.
Designer Thierry Mugler died on January 22.
The French fashion designer was known for his fantastical creations that at times resembled sculptures. Remember the dress that Cardi B wore to the Grammys in 2019 that made her look like she was a pearl coming out of an oyster? He died at the age of 73.
Comedian and actor Louie Anderson died on January 21.
He died in Las Vegas, where he'd been hospitalized. The cause of his death was due to complications of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which is a form of blood cancer. He won an Emmy for his extraordinary performance in the series Baskets. He died at the age of 68.
Singer Meat Loaf died on January 20.
The legendary rock star died at the age of 74. His death was announced via his official Facebook page:
"Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends.
"His amazing career spanned 6 decades that saw him sell over 100 Million albums worldwide and star in over 65 movies, including 'Fight Club', 'Focus', 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' and 'Wayne’s World.'
"'Bat Out of Hell' remains one of the top 10 selling albums of all time.
"We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man.
"We thank you for your understanding of our need for privacy at this time.
From his heart to your souls…don’t ever stop rocking!"
Fashion industry pioneer André Leon Talley died on January 18.
“It is with great sadness we announce the passing of André Leon Talley on January 18, 2022 in New York. Mr. Talley was the larger-than-life, longtime creative director at Vogue during its rise to dominance as the world's fashion bible,” reads part of the sienstatement on his official Instagram account. He died at the age of 73.
Comedian and actor Bob Saget died on January 9.
The Full House star was found dead in a hotel room in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, January 9, 2021. His body was found by hotel security, who called authorities. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He died at the age of 65.
Argentine telenovela star Daniel Guerrero died on January 15.
The actor and radio personality’s death was confirmed by his ex-wife, Zulma Faiad. He had a prolific career as a leading man in telenovelas. In 1983, he starred opposite Verónica Castro in Cara a cara. He died at the age of 76.
French TV star Igor Bogdanoff died on January 3, just days after his twin brother.
French TV personality Igor Bogdanoff died due to complications from a COVID-19 infection on January 3, 2022. This was six days after his twin brother, Grichka Bogdanoff, also died from COVID-19. The brothers died at the age of 72.
Trailblazing actor Sidney Poitier died on January 6.
The Bahamian American actor starred in films such as To Sir With Love, In the Heat of the Night, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. In 1964, he became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award in the best actor category. He died at the age of 94.
Historian, filmmaker, and actor Peter Bogdanovich died on January 6.
He is perhaps best known for directing the 1971 film The Last Picture Show, which was nominated for eight Oscars. He was also an actor who appeared in The Sopranos and The Other Side of the Wind.
Actor Kim Mi-soo died on January 5.
The South Korean actress and model appeared on the Disney+ series Snowbound as well as on Netflix’s Hellbound. "We're having to share an extremely heartbreaking and sad news. Actor Kim Mi-soo has suddenly left us on January 5,” her agency, Landscape Entertainment, announced in a statement. The cause of her death was not revealed. She died at the age of 29.
Broadway star Joan Copeland died on January 4.
Joan Copeland was the younger sister of playwright Arthur Miller, and aside from establishing herself as a Broadway star in plays like Pal Joey and The American Clock, she also made appearances on soap operas including Search for Tomorrow and One Life to Live. She died at the age of 99.
Musician David 'Tololoche' died on January 2.
Regional Mexican musician David Antonio Moreno Grijalva, better known as David Tololoche, died as a result of a car accident that happened on the Sinaloa-Sonora section of the Mexico-Nogales federal highway. He died at the age of 24.
Vocalist Ana Bejerano died on January 1.
The news of the Spanish singer’s death was shared by her team. She died in a hospital in Spain, where she was being treated for a gastric illness that she had been suffering from for a long time. She died at the age of 60.
Bassist Jay Weaver died on January 2.
Jay Weaver was a bassist and vocalist for the Christian band Big Daddy. His death was attributed to complications due to COVID-19. He died at the age of 42. His brother and bandmate, Mike Weaver, shared the news of Jay’s death via social media and thanked everyone for their prayers.
Max Julien died on January 1.
He was an actor, sculptor, and clothing designer. He starred opposite Richard Pryor in the 1973 blaxploitation film The Mack. His PR team shared the following statement with TMZ: “During Julien’s decades-long career, he was known for being bold, honest and straightforward. He would live and speak his own truth both professionally and privately. He was thought of as a rare 'man among men.'”
