2020 Oscars in memoriam

Ahead of the 92nd Annual Academy Awards, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the filmmakers, screenwriters, actors and actresses we've lost over the last year… starting with John Singleton, who's best known for his movies including "Boyz N the Hood" — for which he earned Oscar nominations for both writing and directing — "Poetic Justice" and "Higher Learning." He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on April 29, 2019, after suffering a stroke 12 days earlier. He was 51.

RELATED: 2020 Grammys in memoriam

Kirk Douglas — the three-time Oscar nominee and honorary Academy Awards recipient who became one of the most famous actors post-World War II — died in Los Angeles on Feb. 5. "It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103," son Michael Douglas announced on Instagram. "To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the Golden Age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to. But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to [my wife] Catherine [Zeta-Jones], a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband." Other Hollywood stars took to social media to pay their respects to the esteemed actor.

RELATED: The most notable celebrity deaths of the decade

On Aug. 16, 2019, Peter Fonda's family confirmed to People magazine that the actor and notable member of the '60s counterculture had passed away at 79. Peter — the son of actor Henry Fonda, brother of actress Jane Fonda and father of actress Bridget Fonda and cameraman-actor Justin Fonda — was a double Academy Award nominee who earned nods for co-writing the screenplay for 1969's "Easy Rider" and for his acting in the 1997 movie "Ulee's Gold," a performance that also earned him a Golden Globe Award. "[Peter] passed away peacefully on Friday morning, August 16 at 11:05 a.m. at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family," his loved ones told People magazine in a statement. "The official cause of death was respiratory failure due to lung cancer. In one of the saddest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our hearts. … And, while we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life. In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom."

RELATED: Stars we lost in 2019

Actor Robert Forster, whose career was revived after Quentin Tarantino cast him as bail bondsman Max Cherry in 1997's "Jackie Brown" — a performance that earned him an Oscar nomination — passed away from brain cancer on Oct. 11, 2019. Robert also appeared in projects like the big screen's "Medium Cool" and "Mulholland Drive" and TV's "Banyon," the "Twin Peaks" revival and "Breaking Bad." He was 78.

Doris Day died on May 13, 2019, at her Carmel Valley, California, home surrounded by close friends. She was 97. "Day had been in excellent physical health for her age, until recently contracting a serious case of pneumonia, resulting in her death," her Doris Day Animal Foundation foundation told ABC News in a statement. The singer-actress with a goody-two-shoes reputation — one she disliked — became one of the most well-known stars in Hollywood as she dominated movie screens in the 1950s and 1960s with films like "Pillow Talk."

Beloved comedian, screenwriter, movie director, poet, medieval historian and author Terry Jones — a founding member of the Monty Python troupe — died on Jan. 31, 2020, "at the age of 77 with his wife Anna Soderstrom by his side after a long, extremely brave but always good humoured battle with a rare form of dementia, FTD," his family said in a statement. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," "Life of Brian" and "The Meaning of Life" are among the most well-known projects that he wrote and directed.

Peter Mayhew, the 7-foot-plus English-American star who originated the role of Chewbacca the Wookiee in the "Star Wars" films, died at 74. "He left us the evening of April 30, 2019, with his family by his side in his North Texas home," his family revealed in a statement released days later. Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the franchise, called Peter "the gentlest of giants" and "a big man with an even bigger heart." Harrison Ford, whose Han Solo piloted the Millennium Falcon with Chewbacca, also praised the actor. "We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him…," he shared. "He invested his soul in the character… I and millions of others will never forget Peter and what he gave us all."

Jack Kehoe, who appeared in "Serpico," "Midnight Run," "The Sting," "Reds" and the cult classic "Car Wash" (seen here), among other notable projects during his 50-year acting career, died on Jan. 10 in a Los Angeles nursing home four years after suffering a debilitating stroke, Variety reported. He was 85.

Singer, Broadway star and movie actor Danny Aiello — who earned an Oscar nomination for his work in "Do the Right Thing" — died at 86 on Dec. 12, 2019. TMZ reported that the "Moonstruck" and "The Godfather: Part II" star passed away at a New Jersey medical facility where he was being treated for a sudden illness.

Diahann Carroll died at her Los Angeles home on Oct. 4, 2019, following a cancer battle, her daughter told The Hollywood Reporter. She was 84. She had memorable roles in the film "Claudine" and on TV's "Dynasty." When Diahann was cast in the NBC comedy "Julia" in 1968, she became the first African American actress to star on a primetime TV series. She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy for her performance as a widowed nurse raising her son. Diahann made history on the Broadway stage too: In 1962, she became the first black woman to win the best actress in a musical Tony Award, for her performance in "No Strings."

Fans and Hollywood mourned when "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Beverly Hills, 90210" star Luke Perry passed away on March 4, 2019, just five days after suffering a massive stroke. The beloved actor was 52.

Actress Sue Lyon passed away on Dec. 26, 2019, at 73. According to a family friend, her health had been in decline for quite some time prior to her death. Sue landed her breakout role in Stanley Kubrick's provocative 1962 film "Lolita," in which a professor becomes infatuated with her character, 12-year-old Dolores Haze. She earned a Golden Globe for her work in the picture at just 15.

Legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans died at his Beverly Hills home on Oct. 26, 2019. He was 89. He was the force behind films including "Chinatown" — for which he earned a best picture Oscar nomination in 1975 — and "Urban Cowboy." His 1994 autobiography, "The Kid Stays in the Picture," was later made into a movie.

Valerie Harper died on Aug. 30, 2019. She was 80. The four-time Emmy winner, who starred as Rhoda Morgenstern on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Rhoda," battled a number of illnesses in recent years including lung cancer and a rare brain cancer. Though primarily known for her work on television, she also earned a Golden Globe nomination in 1980 for her performance in the film "Chapter Two."

Actor Edd Byrnes — who memorably played Vince Fontaine in 1978's "Grease" — died on Jan. 8, 2020, from natural causes. He was 87. The actor rose to fame after landing the role of Kookie on the ABC detective show "77 Sunset Strip" in the 1950s (pictured).

Tim Conway, the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor who shot to fame on "McHale's Navy" (and appeared in the movie of the same name as well as the "Dorf" film franchise in the '80s and '90s) and "The Carol Burnett Show," died on May 14, 2019. He was 85.

Broadway icon and Golden Globe winner Carol Channing — who was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her work in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in 1968 — passed away on Jan. 15, 2019, at 97.

Buck Henry — the screenwriter of 1967's "The Graduate," which garnered him an Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay — passed away on Jan. 8, 2020, at 89 after suffering a heart attack. He was also nominated for a best director Oscar alongside Warren Beatty for 1978's "Heaven Can Wait."

On March 31, 2019, the official 007 Twitter account announced that former Bond girl Tania Mallet, who also happens to be the first cousin of actress Helen Mirren, had died at 77. "We are very sorry to hear that Tania Mallet who played Tilly Masterson in 'Goldfinger' has passed away. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time," the official James Bond account wrote.

Claudine Auger — who's best known to American audiences as Dominique "Domino" Derval in 1965's "Thunderball," the fourth James Bond film — died in Paris on Dec. 19, 2019, her agency confirmed. The French actress was 78.

Nadja Regin — a two-time Bond girl during Sean Connery's reign as Agent 007 — passed away on April 6, 2019. The Serbian actress was 87. She appeared in 1963's "From Russia With Love" (pictured here) as the mistress of MI6's Istanbul station head and as femme fatale Bonita in the opening sequence of 1964's "Goldfinger."

"Descendants" franchise star Cameron Boyce passed away in his sleep on June 6, 2019. His family released a statement explaining that the actor suffered a seizure due to a medical condition for which he was being treated. The former child star was also known for his work in "Grown Ups" and on the Disney Channel's "Jessie." He was 20.

Peggy Lipton, star of '60s-era "The Mod Squad" and the original "Twin Peaks" as well as many films including "The Postman" and "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me," died on May 11, 2019, after a cancer battle. She was 72. Daughters Rashida Jones and Kidada Jones honored their mother in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. "We feel so lucky for every moment we spent with her," they said. "We can't put all of our feelings into words right now, but we will say: Peggy was and will always be our beacon of light, both in this world and beyond. She will always be a part of us."

Albert Finney — a five-time Oscar nominee and three-time Golden Globe winner — died on Feb. 7, 2019, in a London hospital from a chest infection, though the star known for his work in "Tom Jones," "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Erin Brockovich" was also battling cancer, Variety reported. He was 82.

"The Karate Kid" star Rob Garrison passed away on Sept. 27, 2019, in a West Virginia hospital after a month-long stay due to liver and kidney failure, according to TMZ. Rob was 59. "This is a sad day for the 'Karate Kid' / 'Cobra Kai' family," "The Karate Kid" star Ralph Macchio said in a statement shared by People magazine. "Rob Garrison was a kind gentleman from the first day I met him to the last day we spoke. I am so glad he had the opportunity to show his range and genuine heart with his performance last season on 'Cobra Kai.'"

Actor, singer and director René Auberjonois — who played Father Mulcahy in the 1970 "MASH" film — passed away on Dec. 8, 2019, after losing his battle with metastatic lung cancer. The actor landed roles in films including "King Kong," "The Little Mermaid" (he voiced Chef Louis) and "Cats Don't Dance." He was 79.

Belgian-born French director Agnès Varda passed away on March 29, 2019, in Paris from cancer. She was 90. Agnès is credited with pioneering the French New Wave film movement in the 1950s and 1960s. In 2018, she was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary feature.

"Blade Runner" and "Ladyhawke" actor Rutger Hauer, who earned a Golden Globe in 1988 for his work on the British made-for-TV movie "Escape from Sobibor," passed away at his home in the Netherlands on July 19, 2019, following a short illness. He was 75.

"Men in Black" actor Rip Torn — who garnered an Academy Award nomination in 1984 for his performance in "Cross Creek" and won an Emmy in 1996 for his work on "The Larry Sanders Show" — passed away at his home in Lakeville, Connecticut, on July 9, 2019. The actor was 88.

Actor Seymour Cassel died in Los Angeles on April 7, 2019, from complications related to Alzheimer's disease, his son told The Hollywood Reporter. Beloved by filmmakers Wes Anderson and John Cassavetes, Seymour, 84, was often cast in their movies.

Katherine Helmond — the Emmy-nominated actress best known for her work as Angela's man-eater mother, Mona, on "Who's the Boss" and socialite Jessica Tate on "Soap" — died at her Los Angeles home of complications from Alzheimer's disease on Feb. 23, 2019, at 89. In her later years, she voiced Lizzie in the animated "Cars" film franchise.

Two-time best supporting actress Academy Award nominee Sylvia Miles, who earned nods for her work in "Midnight Cowboy" and "Farewell, My Lovely," passed away on June 12, 2019. She was 94.

Billy Drago — the actor known for playing a gangster in "The Untouchables" (pictured here) and appearing in Chuck Norris movies, Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider" and on TV shows including "Charmed" — passed away on June 24, 2019, in Los Angeles due to complications from a stroke, Variety reported. The star, who was born William Eugene Burrows Jr., was 73.

German-American composer and musician André Previn passed away on Feb. 28, 2019. André won an Academy Award for his musical compositions for 1965's best picture winner, "My Fair Lady." He was 89.

Franco Zeffirelli — known for helming Shakespearean movies and religious epics as well as "Tea with Mussolini," "The Champ" and Tom Cruise's cinematic debut, "Endless Love" — passed away at his home in Rome on June 15, 2019, "without suffering," son Pippo told The Hollywood Reporter. The filmmaker was nominated for a best director Oscar for his 1968 adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet." The Italian director was 96.

Swedish actress Bibi Andersson died in Stockholm on April 14, 2019, at 83. She often collaborated with filmmaker Ingmar Bergman — she appeared in 13 of his movies.

Actor Paul Benjamin — who is known for his roles in films like "Do The Right Thing" and "The Station Agent" — died on June 28, 2019, director Spike Lee confirmed. Paul was also recognized from his work in "Escape From Alcatraz" (pictured here with co-star Clint Eastwood), "Midnight Cowboy" and "Across 110th Street." He was 81.

Denise Nickerson — who's best known as gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde in 1971's "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory — passed away on July 10, 2019, in Aurora, Colorado. The former child actress suffered a seizure and later died of pneumonia. She was 62.

Actor Jan-Michael Vincent — who played Stringfellow Hawke on "Airwolf" in the mid-'80s and won fans starring in films including "Hooper," "Hard Country" and "Bite the Bullet" and classic TV shows like "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza" and "Lassie" — died of cardiac arrest at a North Carolina hospital on Feb. 10, 2019, TMZ reported. He was 74.

Three-time Academy Award-nominated producer Steve Golin, who founded the entertainment company Anonymous Content, passed away on April 21, 2019, after losing his battle with cancer. In 2016, he won an Oscar for producing "Spotlight." He was 64.

Actor Larry Jenkins, who appeared in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Fletch," died on April 25, 2019, after suffering a heart attack, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The New York-born actor was 63.

Actor Brian Tarantina, who's appeared in "Summer of Sam" and "Uncle Buck" as well as on "Gilmore Girls" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," died in his New York City apartment on Nov. 2, 2019, from an accidental drug overdose.

Carmine Caridi passed away on May 28, 2019, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering complications from a fall. The actor — who was best known for his role as Carmine Rosato in "The Godfather: Part II" and "The Godfather Part III" — was 85.

Actor John Witherspoon, who was best known for playing Ice Cube's father in the "Friday" film series, died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on Oct. 29, 2019, his family confirmed. He was 77. "Life won't be as funny without him," Ice Cube tweeted.

Oscar-winning French composer Michel Legrand died in his sleep on Jan. 26, 2019. He was 86. During his career, he took home three Oscars and five Grammys.

On Feb. 16, 2019, Bruno Ganz's agent confirmed that the Swiss actor — who won acclaim for his portrayal of Adolf Hitler in the 2004 film "Downfall" — died in Zurich. Bruno, who was 77, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018.

Actor Vinny Vella, who was best known for his work in gangster movies like 1995's "Casino" and on TV shows like HBO's "The Sopranos," died on Feb. 20, 2019, from liver cancer. He was 72.

Taiwanese-Canadian model and actor Godfrey Gao passed away on Nov. 27, 2019, after a long day of filming a sports reality show in China. Godfrey, who is best known as luxury brand Louis Vuitton's first Asian male model and for his work in the film "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones," suffered sudden cardiac arrest on the set of the Chinese variety series "Chase Me" and died in a hospital hour later, Variety reported. Godfrey was 35.

Julie Adams, who's best known for her horror-movie roles in films like "Creature from the Black Lagoon," died on Feb. 3, 2019. She was 92.

"Animal House" actress Verna Bloom died at her home in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Jan. 9, from complications of dementia. She was 80. Verna appeared in many TV shows and movies including three Martin Scorsese films.

Actor Isaac Kappy died by suicide in Arizona on May 13, 2019. Isaac had minor roles in "Thor," "Fanboys" and "Terminator Salvation." He was 42.