THE MAN of 1,000 voices and even more childhood memories. The loss of Robin Williams this year made global news for days.
It hit people across the world hard. People didn’t realise the emotional connection they had to him until he was no longer there.
His wasn’t the only tragic death during 2014.
Peaches Geldof lost her life at the tender age of 25 under distressing circumstances, while Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York apartment in February.
Later in the year, Australia was shocked at the untimely death of cricketer Phil Hughes in a freak accident.
Ireland also mourns some of its own heroes – Christine Buckley, Dr Jack Kyle and former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.
Let’s remember them all, together, here.
His real name was James Avery but we we grew up with him as Uncle Phil. The death of the Fresh Prince of BelAir actor was announced on 1 January following complications after heart surgery. Here is a moving speech he gave to students at his alma mater:
Singer Phil Everly passed away on 3 January. He was one of the men behind smash hits Wake Up Little Susie and Bye Bye Love, rising to fame in the 1950s and 1960s with his brother Don as one half of The Everly Brothers.
Portuguese soccer legend Eusebio died a day later from cardio-pulmonary arrest. Nicknamed the Black Panther and the Black Pearl, the Benfica striker was one of the best of his generation.
Called the father of kung fu films, Run Run Shaw died in Hong Kong at the ripe old age of 106 on 7 January. His flagship Shaw Brothers Studio helped shape Asian cinema in the 20th century and went on to influence directors such as Quentin Tarantino.
After eight years in a coma, Ariel Sharon, the former Prime Minister of Israel, died on 11 January after a career which was marked with controversies. He was 85.
Roger Lloyd-Pack was loved for his depiction of dopey road sweeper Trigger on BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. The London actor passed away following a battle with pancreatic cancer on 15 January. Here he is at his comedic best:
Folk legend Pete Seeger, who was a champion of political activism and the folk music revival in the US, died at the age of 94 in a New York hospital on 27 January. Seeger had the words ‘This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender’ inscribed on his banjo and spent his life advocating for the music and the causes he believed in.
Former TD and writer of Nealon’s Guide to the Dáil and Seanad, Ted Nealon died on 28 January.
A day later, businessman Jim Mansfield passed away. Having left school at 14, Mansfield made his fortune in salvaging equipment and machinery from the Falklands War. This netted him £100 million in the early 1980s.
Also on the 29 January, ex-Fianna Fáil TD John Carty died. The party remembered him as “one of life’s true gentlemen”.
Anna Gordy Gaye, ex-wife of the late Marvin Gaye, passed away at the age of 92 on the last day of January. The songwriter and businesswoman was married to Gaye from 1964 to 1977 and helped compose two songs on classic album What’s Going On?. She was also the inspiration for his hit Pride and Joy.
(Image: Nick Ut/AP/PA)
Spain's Euro 2008-winning coach Luis Aragones died on 1 February. He was 75 years old.
Hollywood great Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in a New York City apartment on 2 February from an accidental drug overdose. He was best known for his roles in Capote, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, Magnolia, Charlie Wilson's War, Doubt, The Master and Boogie Nights.
The death of Mary Dunne, the O'Connell Street dancer, was announced in early February and she was laid to rest on the 5th of the month.
On 10 February, the family of former child star and US diplomat Shirley Temple released a statement confirming that she had died peacefully in her sleep at home at the age of 85. Temple had started acting at the age of 3, and later went on to serve as the US Ambassador to Ghana and the Chief of Protocol for the US. Look back on her amazing life in pictures here.
On the same day, Irish musician and co-founder of the Chieftains, Seán Potts, passed away. He was 83 and is remembered as a 'wonderful and sensitive' whistle player.
Comic showman Sid Caesar died on 12 February. He was 91 years old.
English footballing legend Tom Finney passed away, also aged 91, on 14 February.
Ralph Waite played the beloved dad - John - on The Waltons during the 1970s. His death was announced on 14 February.
Ghostbusters actor and Groundhog Day director Harold Ramis died on 24 February. Here are just some of the things you should remember him for.
Gerry Collins, a father-of-three who appeared in a hard-hitting anti-smoking HSE campaign, died on 2 March, months after he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. More than one quarter of a million people watched Gerry's video about his diagnosis.
RTÉ led tributes to Irish actress Eileen Colgan - best known for her roles as Esther Roche in Fair City and Mynah in Glenroe - following her death on 10 March.
She could be funny, poignant, tragic in the wide variety of roles she played. In the highly demanding world of Fair City Eileen was an inspiration to those she worked with. She will be greatly missed by cast and crew.
Firebrand UK union leader Bob Crow was known for his strong defence of London Underground workers and disputes that led to several tube strikes. Crow was both a vocal and visbile presence in the UK media and died suddenly aged 52, only a month after a threatened strike by the union halted the closure of 260 ticket offices.
On 11 March, Christine Buckley, an abuse survivor and campaigner, died after a battle with cancer. At the Aislinn Centre, which she co-founded, staff said they were "devastated" at the news. Christine's public sharing of the abuse she suffered at Goldenbridge Industrial School brought on the move towards acknowledging the terrible abuse suffered by Irish children in such institutions.
On 13 March, Hal Douglas, the voice of your favourite movie trailers, passed away.
British Labour MP Tony Benn died at the age of 88 on 14 March after a life spent fighting for the causes that he believed in. The left-wing campaigner had been an MP for 50 years.
Politician and businessman Dr Edward Haughey was killed in a helicopter crash in England on 14 March. Northern Ireland's richest man, his contributions to Irish society were many and varied. His company, Norbrook Laboratories, employs 1,300 people and he was much involved in the peace process during the 1990s.
TV chef Clarissa Dickson Wright, who became famous as part of the BBC's Two Fat Ladies programme, died in Edinburgh at the age of 66 on 14 March. Dickson Wright had been a barrister before she teamed up with Jenifer Paterson in the late 1990s to form the well-known cooking duo.
Fashion designer L'Wren Scott died of suicide at the age of 49 on 17 March. Scott had previously worked as a model and a stylist, and had been in a relationship with Mick Jagger for more than a decade.
Fred Phelps, the head of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas which became notorious for protesting at military funerals and high-profile events, died at the age of 84 on 19 March.
Shane MacThomais, the high-profile resident historian for Glasnevin Cemetery, died at the age of 46 on 20 March. His entertaining and knowledgeable tours of the largest graveyard in the country had made him a popular figure among visitors and staff alike.
Fine Gael TD Nicky McFadden died at the age of 51 on 25 March, just two years after she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The Longford-Westmeath deputy had continued to work serving her constituency after her diagnosis.
Writer, broadcaster, and former Senator Sam McAughtry died on 28 March after a long illness. McAughtry had played a key role in the peace process and the trade union movement.
British actress Kate O'Mara, best known for her role in the 1980s soap opera Dynasty, died on 30 March at the age of 74 after a short illness.
American writer Peter Matthiessen died on 6 April aged 86. He had been diagnosed with leukaemia and was ill for a number of months before he passed away in hospital. Matthiessen was best known for books Snow Leopard - his own spiritual account of the Himalayas - and The Play in the Fields of the Lord.
Veteran US actor Mickey Rooney died aged 93 on 6 April. He had a long career in the movies behind him, having started off as a child star during the silent era of the 1920s Hollywood. Married eight times, he had a long and colourful life.
Former wrestling superstar The Ultimate Warrior died aged 54 on 9 April, just days after he was inducted into the WWE hall of fame.
Sue Townsend, the author of the much-loved Adrian Mole books, died on 11 April at the age of 68. The books, which covered the main character's life from the age of 13 3/4 up to his 40s, sold millions of copies and were praised for their social commentary and sharp humour.
Gabriel García Márquez, the Colombian writer who won the Nobel Prize for literature, died at the age of 87 on 17 April. His 'magical realism' novels and short stories about love, family, dictatorship, violence and inequality in Latin America sold millions of copies.
Promising young Australian footballer, Dylan Tombides, continued to play with West Ham while he received treatment for cancer. He was 20 when he died on 18 April.
Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, the man the authorities came to blame, died on 20 April. The former boxer spent almost two decades of his life in prison for a murder conviction that was twice overturned. His story was highlighted in a Bob Dylan song and a Hollywood film.
Former Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova died at the age of 45 on 25 April after a fight against cancer. The close-knit football club said his death had cast a shadow. "The sadness will stay with me forever," Pep Guardiola said about the death of his close friend.
Former Ireland rugby league international Ryan Tandy died, aged 32, on 28 April.
British actor Bob Hoskins passed away, aged 71, on 30 April. The Londoner was best known for Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Mermaids and The Long Good Friday.
Bestselling author Marsha Mehran was found dead at her Mayo home on 30 April.
British tennis player Elena Baltacha was only 30 years of age when she lost her battle with liver cancer on 4 May.
On 12 May it was confirmed that Swiss surrealist artist Hans Ruedi Giger, who won an Oscar for the monster he created for Ridley Scott's 'Alien', had died aged 74 from injuries sustained in a fall.
Stephen Sutton, the 19-year-old who raised more than £3 million for charity, died of cancer on 14 May. His mother wrote on Facebook that she was "bursting with pride but breaking with pain".
Julia O'Donnell, the much-loved mother of singer Daniel O'Donnell, passed away at a Donegal hospital on 18 May. “Ireland’s most famous mammy” was 94 years old.
Acclaimed American writer Maya Angelou died on 28 May at the age of 86. The author had been hailed as a trailblazer for her work as an author, poet and civil rights activist, drawing deeply on her own life experiences.
Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer died on 28 May, aged 85.
The actress who played Alice in the Brady Bunch, Ann B Davis, died in her Texas home on 1 June, aged 88.
English comedian and actor Rik Mayall died aged just 56 on 8 June. A long career in comedy, which included roles in Bottom and The Young Ones, led to an outpouring of tributes.
Eric Hill, the genius behind Spot the Dog, passed away on 10 June. The illustrator is survived by his wife Gillian, their son Christopher, and his daughter Jane. “We know Spot, and therefore Eric, has had a beloved presence in so many homes and bedtime readings,” they said. “And we know we share our grief with many.”
'Allo 'Allo and Porridge actor Sam Kelly died on 14 June after a long illness. He was 70 years old.
Waterford mourned one of its favourite characters on 16 June after the passing of Tawdy, who used to sit on a specially-made bench on the Tramore road.
He wasn't a instantly recognisable name, but the passing of Gordon Colleary on 17 June was met with much sadness in Irish universities. He was the co-founder of Magill magazine and a former chairman of the Sunday Tribune, as well as being involved with USIT. Have you ever gone on an J1? You were allowed because of this man.
One of the Guilford Four, Gerry Conlon, died after a prolonged illness on 21 June. He had spent 14 years of his life in prison for an IRA bombing that he played no part in.
On 24 June, American actor Eli Wallach died. He was 98 years old. He was known for roles in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and The Magnificent Seven.
Soul legend Bobby Womack died, aged 70, on 27 June. “He had a style that nobody else could ever capture,” longtime friend, gospel singer Candi Staton, said in a statement. “I loved him and I will miss him so, so very much.”
Described by Roddy Doyle as Ireland's greatest writer and by Seamus Heaney as "the heir to Patrick Kavanagh", Dermot Healy died on 29 June. He was 66. The head of the Arts Council said:
Dermot Healy was a gifted writer of prose, drama and poetry. He demonstrated a commitment to literature in all of its forms, and his work was bravely and boldly original. From his very beginning as an editor with The Drumlin, the writer gave voice to places and people often dark or forgotten.
On 5 July, the great Real Madrid man Alfredo Di Stéfano suffered a heart attack and died. He was 88.
The actor who played Fenrir Greyback in the Harry Potter films, Dave Legano was found dead in the California desert on 6 July. He was 50 years old.
The last of the Ramones, Tommy Ramone, died on 11 July.
Alice Coachman Davis was the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal (in the high jump). She died on 14 July, aged 90.
The reclusive founder of Aldi, Karl Albrecht died, aged 94, on 16 July. He started out in business selling buns on the street. He left behind a €20 billion fortune.
James Garner appeared in well-known movies in each of the last seven decades. He is well-known for roles in The Great Escape and The Notebook. He died, aged 86, on 19 July.
Louis Lentin, the director of important documentary Dear Daughter, about the life of Christine Buckley, died on 22 July. Without him, Ireland may never have seen the Ryan or Murphy Reports - and Bertie Ahern may never have issued that State apology to abuse survivors.
Members of Offaly GAA clubs were shocked to hear of the passing of U21 hurling manager Dermot Hogan on 24 July. He died in an accident while working at his home. He was 45 years old.
On 8 August, Belfast actor JJ Murphy passed away just days after filming his first scenes for Game of Thrones. The 86-year-old had signed on to play Ser Denys Mallister.
People across the world joined together to mourn Robin Williams who died by suicide on 11 August. He was 63 years old and is survived by his daughter and two sons. A prolific actor, he was known for a huge number of iconic characters: Mork, Popeye, Mrs Doubtfire, Peter Pan, Patch Adams and the Genie from Aladdin, where his comic genius can be heard here:
Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall passed away just one day later on 12 August at her home in New York. She was 89 years old.
Bks Iyenger, the Indian yoga guru credited with helping to fuel a global explosion in the popularity of the spiritual practice, died aged 95 on 19 August.
American journalist James Foley was beheaded by Islamic State militants in August, almost two years after he was kidnapped in Syria. He was the first American citizen killed by ISIS.
Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds died on 21 August after a long illness. The 81-year-old Fianna Fáil man was remembered as a risk taker and deal maker who helped bring peace to the island of Ireland.
Film director and actor Richard Attenborough died on 24 August at the age of 90. For many of us, he WAS Santa Claus.
Fine Gael councillor and former cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council Mary Harty died on 27 August aged in her mid-50s. She had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2012.
Former Fine Gael TD Jim White died on 3 September at the age of 76. Taoiseach Enda Kenny described him as a "man of enormous positivity and generosity with huge credibility in the area of tourism and business".
Hard-hitting US comic Joan Rivers died in a New York hospital on 4 September after suffering complications during a medical procedure. Her daughter Melissa said that her mother's "greatest joy in life was to make people laugh".
Richard Kiel, who played Jaws, one of the most iconic villains in the James Bond films, died on 10 September at the age of 74.
Ian Paisley, whose forceful politics and fundamentalist approach were intertwined with The Troubles in Northern Ireland for almost four decades, died on 12 September at the age of 88.
Actor John Bardon, who played Jim Branning in Eastenders for 15 years, died on 12 September at the age of 75 having been ill for some time.
Horse tracing trainer Oliver Brady died on 15 September following a long battle with cancer. He was 75.
For generations of children, Billie Barry and her stage school were the ultimate aspiration. The Dublin icon who founded her all-singing all-dancing troupe in 1964 died on 30 September, just weeks before the 50th anniversary celebration for the stage school. Her age was a closely-guarded secret to the end.
Actress and television presenter Lynda Bellingham died on 19 October of an aggressive form of cancer. She was best known for her role in the Oxo advertisements in the 1980s and 1990s and on the ITV panel show Loose Women.
He was the man who made women look and feel beautiful with his clothes. Legendary designer Oscar de la Renta, who defined elegance for generations, died on 20 October at the age of 82.
Gavin Glynn, the superhero 4-year-old who sparked a huge campaign of charitable giving, died on 21 October. He had been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer when he was just 17 months old.
"As long as a journalist tells the truth, in conscience and fairness, it is not his job to worry about consequences" - that was the code of Ben Bradlee, the charismatic editor of the Washington Post who guided it through some of the biggest stories of the day, including the Watergate scandal which brought down US President Richard Nixon. Bradley died on 21 October at the age of 93.
Glamrock icon Alvin Stardust, who had a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s, died on 23 October at the age of 72.
South Africa's football captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead near Johannesburg on 27 October. He was 27.
Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old woman who was given a terminal cancer diagnosis in April and who was an advocate for assisted suicide, died on 1 November. She passed away, surrounded by her loved ones, in her own bed.
Former Fianna Fáil TD and Agriculture Minister for two terms Joe Walsh died at the age of 71 on 9 November.
Brian Farrell, who was a journalist, academic and a broadcaster, and who was the face of RTE's politics coverage for many years, died on 10 November. He was 85.
British actor Warren Clarke passed away in his sleep on 12 November after a short illness, aged 67. He had appeared in cult classic A Clockwork Orange and was best known for his role in crime drama Dalziel and Pascoe.
Australian cricketer Phil Hughes died on 27 November, two days after being struck on the head by a ball during a match. He was just 25 years old.
Acclaimed British crime writer PD James died on 27 November at the age of 94. Her books, many of which featured sleuth Adam Dalgliesh, sold millions of copies around the world.
Rugby legend Dr Jack Kyle died at the age of 88 on 29 November. Tributes to him were led by another Irish sporting great...
Former Kerry South Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae, who left Fianna Fáil to start one of the country's best-known political dynasties, died on 5 December at the age of 83.
Dublin GAA chairperson Andy Kettle was remembered for his "infectious enthusiasm" after he passed away on 17 December. He was 68 years old.
Mandy Rice-Davies, a key figure in the 1963 Profumo affair - died on 19 December. She was 70.
On Sunday, 21 December, the death of British actress Billie Whitelaw was announced. She was 82 and remembered as the most "loving mum" by her son.
Rock and soul singer Joe Cocker, whose career spanned six decades and who was best known for his cover of The Beatles' With a Little Help From My Friends, died on 21 December at the age of 70.
Just yesterday, golden era Hollywood actress Luise Rainer died, aged 104.
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