By Wonderwall.com Editors
8:00am PDT, Apr 6, 2024
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Well-known persons are not resistant to the tragedies of life, together with dropping a partner. Be a part of us as we check out Hollywood’s most well-known widows and widowers… beginning with this singer-actress, who misplaced her partner 30 years in the past this week…
In February 1992, Gap singer Courtney Love married Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. Barely two years in a while April 5, 1994, Kurt died by suicide at their residence in Seattle, Washington, forsaking Courtney and their 19-month-old daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. His physique was discovered by an electrician engaged on the property three days later.
Preserve studying to see extra celebrities who’ve handled the tragic lack of their companion…
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After nearly 15 years of marriage, Liam Neeson turned a widower when his spouse, actress Natasha Richardson, died on March 18, 2009, after sustaining a head damage in ski accident in Canada. The mom of two was 45 when she died. “That is the bizarre factor about grief. You may’t put together for it. You suppose you are gonna cry and get it over with. You make these plans, however they by no means work,” Liam instructed Esquire in 2011. “It hits you in the midst of the night time — properly, it hits me in the midst of the night time. I am out strolling. I am feeling fairly content material. And it is like instantly, increase. It is such as you’ve simply performed that in your chest.”
On the fifteenth anniversary of his mom’s demise in 2024, Daniel Neeson — the youthful of Liam and Natasha’s two sons — took to Instagram to honor Natasha. “15 years since you’ve got left this airplane onto perpetually extra. I sit up for reuniting someday however for now I take solace in figuring out you are beside me each step of the way in which,” he captioned a photograph of his mother. “Hopefully, I am making you proud. I believe you’d positively be happy with my margarita abilities. She was the OG margarita mama! As a child, I used to ask her for a sip of hers, and she or he would gently say not until you are older. Little did she know I’d someday begin my very own tequila model and have method too many margaritas at my fingertips.”
Daniel continued, “My aunt, @joelyrichardsonsinsta who at all times brightens my day, mentioned to me this week that we generally neglect that we’re on an ever spinning planet. Change is inevitable, and we should embrace it with open arms. For those who’re a believer or not in quantum physics, the previous, future and current coexist. We’re all interconnected right here and over there by means of love. The best life drive. Select it above all else.”
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On March 18, 2021, actor Richard Gilliland handed away, forsaking his spouse of practically 34 years, “Designing Girls” co-star Jean Good. “He was a fantastic dad, and he made me chortle on daily basis,” the “Hacks” actress instructed Selection months after Richard’s sudden demise from a coronary heart situation. “Him passing away was simply not ever even a thought. And it is modified each second of my on a regular basis life; each atom of my existence I really feel like is altered.”
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On Jan. 24, 1998, Katie Couric’s husband of 9 years, lawyer and NBC Information authorized analyst Jay Monahan handed away at 42 from colon most cancers.
“I used to be so nervous about letting go of hope, as a result of I did not need Jay to spend no matter time he had left simply ready to die,” Katie instructed Folks journal in 2021. “I believe it takes extraordinary braveness to have the ability to face demise, and I believe I used to be too scared, truthfully.”
The journalist has moved on, marrying John Molner in 2014, however lives with the teachings of being a widow. “I perceive the fragility of life in a method that can at all times be with me,” she says. “It additionally makes me understand the futility of being mad at someone, of petty arguments. I at all times take into consideration what David Cassidy mentioned on his deathbed: ‘A lot wasted time.'” Katie sought remedy for the illness herself after being recognized with breast most cancers in 2022.
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Actor Steve Buscemi misplaced his spouse of 31 years, artist and filmmaker Jo Andres, on Jan. 6, 2019, to ovarian most cancers.
After being recognized in 2015, she went into remission after present process chemotherapy, however her most cancers returned in 2017. “The ache was the toughest factor,” the “Reservoir Canine” and “Large Lebowski” actor later instructed GQ. “People who find themselves going by means of that, it is painful. It is painful to die from most cancers. There’s simply no method round it.”
Jo’s demise led the widower to consider his personal. “If I ought to occur to go not instantly, I hope I might be as current as Jo was,” he mentioned. “She led the way in which. She was surrounded by family and friends. She actually confronted it. I actually do not suppose she was afraid of dying. I believe it was only a complete collection of ‘Oh, I do not get to do that anymore.'”
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On Jan. 10, 2016, supermodel Iman turned a widow when her husband of just about 24 years, music star David Bowie, died at 69 following an 18-month battle with liver most cancers. “I do not suppose it’ll ever go away, however the acceptance of it, and the remembrance of the enjoyment, moderately than saying each reminiscence that, ‘Oh, I want he was right here, I want we might expertise this collectively.’ Now I bear in mind the 26 joyful years I had with my husband,” the supermodel — who welcomed daughter Lexi with the music icon — mentioned on the “Right now” present in 2021, including that she might by no means remarry. “Folks say to me once they discuss, ‘Oh, I beloved your late husband,’ and I mentioned, ‘He isn’t my late husband, he is my husband,’ in order that’s how I really feel about it. This was really the love of my life, and I simply wait till I meet him once more.”
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Kellie Pickler — the nation music singer who got here to fame on season 5 of “American Idol” in 2006 — misplaced her husband of 12 years, nation music songwriter and producer Kyle Jacobs, to suicide on Feb. 17, 2023. Kyle, who penned tunes for everybody from Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and his spouse to Kelly Clarkson, Wynonna Judd and Hint Adkins, was 49.
Six months after Kyle’s demise, Kellie broke her silence in an announcement to Folks journal, telling followers, “One of the crucial lovely classes my husband taught me was in a second of a disaster, if you do not know what to do, ‘do nothing, simply be nonetheless.’ I’ve chosen to heed his recommendation.“
She continued, “Thanks to my household, associates, and supporters, for the numerous letters, calls, and messages that you’ve got despatched my method,” Kellie continued. “It has really touched my soul and it is serving to me get by means of the darkest time in my life. As lots of you may have instructed me, you’re all in my prayers.”
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“Solely Murders within the Constructing” star Martin Brief turned a widower on Aug. 21, 2010, when his spouse of 30 years, Nancy Dolman, handed away from ovarian most cancers. “Our marriage was a triumph. So it is powerful,” the “Saturday Evening Stay” alum instructed AARP in 2019. “She died in 2010, however I nonetheless talk together with her on a regular basis,” he famous. “It is ‘Hey Nan,’ you understand? How would she react to this resolution or that, particularly concerning our three youngsters.” Martin and Nancy are seen right here in 2009 — lower than a yr earlier than he misplaced her.
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“Marvel Lady” star Lynda Carter misplaced her husband of 37 years, Robert Altman, on Feb. 3, 2021. The lawyer, who was 73, died of myelofibrosis — a uncommon kind of blood most cancers. “It’s very horrifying. I do not know who I’m with out Robert,” Lynda instructed Folks journal later that yr. “It nonetheless will get me. I simply can’t consider I’ve misplaced him.”
MORE: Stars who’ve misplaced kids in recent times
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John Travolta misplaced his spouse of 28 years, actress Kelly Preston, on July 12, 2020, after a two-year battle with breast most cancers that was not publicly revealed till she handed away. “I mentioned [to my son], ‘Ben, you may have at all times beloved the reality, and I’ll let you know the reality about life. No one is aware of when they’ll go or when they’ll keep,” John mentioned on Kevin Hart’s discuss present, revealing how he spoke to the youngest of his three kids about demise. “Your brother [Jett] left at 16. Too younger. Your mom left at 57. That was too younger. However who’s to say? I might die tomorrow. You would. Anyone can. So let’s take a look at it prefer it’s a part of life. You do not know precisely. You simply do your finest at attempting to stay the longest you’ll be able to.”
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Dancer, health teacher and “The Discuss” co-host Amanda Kloots misplaced her husband, Tony-nominated Broadway actor Nick Cordero, on July 5, 2020, after a 95-day battle with COVID-19 and ensuing issues. The couple had been married for simply wanting three years when Nick handed away. “I miss having somebody to return residence to, and I miss laughing with someone,” Amanda — who’s now a single mother elevating their son, Elvis, who was born in 2019 — instructed CBS Information in 2022, sharing that she hopes to seek out love once more. “I wanna have one other individual in my life. I need Elvis to have a father determine in his life. You understand, you are not taking the place of Nick. It isn’t ever that. It is simply that Nick was part of my life.”
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“The Dukes of Hazzard” star John Schneider misplaced spouse Alicia Allain at 53 on Feb. 21, 2023. “My lovely Smile is ache free, dwelling in her new physique alongside Jesus,” the “Smallville” actor — who married the actress-producer, who was additionally his indie filmmaking companion, “earlier than God” in 2019 (they reportedly made their union authorized later that yr after his lengthy divorce from his second spouse was finalized) — wrote on Fb alongside photographs of Alicia, who had battled breast most cancers in recent times, and their wedding ceremony rings. “Please respect our privateness throughout this time of grief. Please don’t ask any questions.” He additionally requested his followers to share “any footage of us and our apparent love and adoration for one another” within the feedback part of his publish. “Lastly,” he added, “hug these you like tight and allow them to know the way you are feeling. We at all times did.”
Within the days that adopted, John continued to publish amid his grief, captioning photographs of himself kissing his late spouse, “I merely haven’t any phrases however… I miss you desperately Mrs. Schneider” and “For me, that is what love appears to be like like.” He additionally shared one other pic of himself holding Alicia, writing, “This can be a time of unimaginable sorrow for me. Grief is far too small a phrase. I’ve heard it mentioned that ‘with nice love comes nice sorrow.’ I had no thought what that meant till now.”
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Ginnie Newhart — the spouse of comedy legend Bob Newhart — died on April 23, 2023, at 82. A rep for the household confirmed to Folks journal that she handed after an extended sickness. Bob took to Twitter to mourn his spouse of greater than 60 years, writing, “She was our rock and we miss her terribly.
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Punk music legend John Lydon’s spouse of 44 years, Nora Forster, died at 80 on April 6, 2023, after dwelling with Alzheimer’s since 2018. The previous Intercourse Pistols singer’s band, Public Picture Ltd., introduced the heartbreaking information in an announcement the identical day. “It’s with a heavy coronary heart that we share the unhappy information that Nora Forster — John Lydon’s spouse of practically 5 a long time — has handed away. Nora had been dwelling with Alzheimer’s for a number of years. Through which time John had develop into her full time carer.”
A couple of months earlier than Nora’s demise, John — aka Johnny Rotten — mirrored on Nora’s Alzheimer’s analysis in an interview with London’s Sunday Occasions. “All of the issues I believed had been the last word agony appear preposterous now,” he mentioned of his love, a German publishing heiress, actress and mannequin who was a widely known music promoter. “It is formed me into what I’m. I do not suppose I will ever recover from it. I do not see how I can stay with out her. I would not need to. There is no level.”
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5-time Emmy winner Stanley Tucci misplaced his first spouse, social employee Kate Spath, with whom he had three kids, to breast most cancers at 47 on April 27, 2009, simply days after they celebrated their 14th wedding ceremony anniversary. The “Prizzi’s Honor” actor later opened up about how her demise turned his life “utterly the other way up” and the way “unhappy” and “troublesome” it was to finally go away the house the place Kate died, he mentioned on Justin Lengthy’s “Life is Brief” podcast.
Although the “Looking for Italy” host finally moved on, marrying British literary agent Felicity Blunt — the sister of his “The Satan Wears Prada” co-star Emily Blunt — in 2012, “You by no means cease grieving,” he instructed “CBS Sunday Morning” in 2021. “And it is nonetheless arduous after [all these] years … and it at all times shall be arduous. However you’ll be able to’t let it, and she or he would by no means need any of us to ever wallow in that grief and let it take over our lives. She would by no means need that. She wasn’t like that.”
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Comic Patton Oswalt’s first spouse, true crime writer Michelle McNamara, died in her sleep on April 21, 2016, at 46. The “I will Be Gone within the Darkish” author’s demise was later attributed to an undiagnosed coronary heart situation mixed with the “results of a number of medication” together with Adderall, Xanax and fentanyl, the coroner confirmed. “After all I considered her at this time,” Patton posted on Instagram on the five-year anniversary of her passing. “And I additionally considered [our daughter] Alice, and the way the loss formed her and continues to form her. And the way Meredith [Salenger, whom I married in 2017] swooped into our lonely, damaged lives and helped put the items again collectively, stronger and sleeker than they had been earlier than. This darkish day will get rather less darkish yearly after I see how Alice — a dwelling piece of Michelle secure within the arms of Meredith — retains strolling in gentle. I am there to catch the shadows that attempt to creep in on the edges, or from behind. I am good at recognizing them, after which Alice helps me chortle them away. And what’s left is that this lovely, dwelling reminiscence.”
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When the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, died from a stingray assault on Sept. 4, 2006, he left behind spouse Terri Irwin and their two youngsters, Bindi Irwin and Robert Irwin.
“I hold saying this, and I believe possibly 15 years later persons are lastly beginning to consider me, Steve was it for me,” Terri — who runs the Australia Zoo together with her youngsters — instructed QWeekend in 2021. “That is simply the way in which it’s. I had a giant, huge love and it was sufficient to final a lifetime.”
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After The Beatles broke up, Paul McCartney went on to document music solo and along with his spouse, Linda McCartney, and their band, Wings. On April 17, 1998 — after nearly 30 years of marriage — the photographer and animal rights activist handed away at 56.
“Each my mum and Linda died of breast most cancers. We had no thought what my mum had died of as a result of no-one talked about it. She simply died,” Paul later instructed the BBC. “The worst factor about that was everybody was very stoic, everybody stored a stiff higher lip after which one night you’d hear my dad crying within the subsequent room. It was tragic as a result of we might by no means heard him cry. It was a quiet personal type of grief.” As Paul mourned Linda, he “cried for a few yr, on and off,” he mentioned. “You count on to see them stroll in, this individual you like, since you are so used to them. I cried quite a bit. It was nearly embarrassing besides it appeared the one factor to do.”
Paul was later married to Heather Mills for 4 years and has been wed to present spouse Nancy Shevell since 2011.
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Rick Moranis turned a widower when his spouse of about 5 years, make-up artist Ann Belsky, died of breast most cancers on Feb. 4, 1991 — someday earlier than her thirty fifth birthday. The “Honey, I Shrunk the Children” and “Ghostbusters” actor subsequently took a 24-year hiatus from Hollywood after her demise to give attention to elevating their twins.
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Beth Chapman, who starred alongside husband Duane “Canine” Chapman on the hit A&E present “Canine the Bounty Hunter” and its spinoffs for years, died at a hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 26, 2019, at 51 from issues of most cancers. Beth was recognized with stage 2 throat most cancers in September 2017 and went into remission, however by late 2018, the illness had returned and unfold. Beth was Duane’s fifth spouse. She had two kids with Duane, with whom she’d been concerned for 15 years earlier than they lastly married in 2006.
“I beloved her a lot,” a grieving Duane instructed Hawaii Information Now, sharing that Beth left little notes round the home — together with in pillowcases, on the sink and in his shaving package — for him to seek out of their residence after she handed. “I am gonna see my honey once more. That is all we will do is hope.” In 2021, he married rancher Francie Frane, a widow who’d additionally misplaced her partner to most cancers. “With Francie, I am allowed to discuss Beth, we discuss her husband. We cry. We maintain one another,” Duane instructed TMZ.
4 years after Beth handed away, Canine revealed an surprising blessing: He’d not too long ago realized that a long time earlier, he fathered a son who was born on the identical day Beth died, June 26. “For the final 4 years, at the present time was a horrible reminder of one of many best losses of my life,” Canine, a father of 13 with a number of ladies, wrote on Instagram in 2023. “However God redeemed at the present time after I found my son Jon, who I simply met not too long ago, was born on at the present time. So now as an alternative of sorrow, at the present time has a brand new which means.”
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Cleaning soap opera icon Susan Lucci misplaced her husband of 52 years, Helmut Huber, on March 28, 2022. He was 84. Practically a yr later, the “All My Kids” actress opened up about her grief, telling “Good Day New York” that the Austrian TV producer had been a “very particular huge presence” and “very take-charge in a great way” in addition to “caring, a caregiver, humorous [and] sensible. … to not point out very good-looking and [he had a] cute accent.” When requested if she felt able to date once more, Susan made it clear she was not. “All people’s totally different, and I simply miss him and he is price lacking,” she mentioned. “He was actually, actually the love of my life.”
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President Joe Biden is aware of ache. He tragically misplaced his first spouse, Neilia, and their 1-year-old daughter, Naomi, in a automobile accident whereas they had been out Christmas purchasing 50 years in the past on Dec. 18, 1972 — simply weeks after he was elected to the U.S. Senate for the primary time. Their sons, Hunter and Beau, survived the crash with minor accidents; Beau died from a mind tumor in 2015. In 1977, Joe married Jill Biden, with whom he had a daughter, Ashley.
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In December 1980, Pierce Brosnan married his first spouse, Cassandra Harris, with whom he shared a son, Sean, in addition to her two kids from a earlier relationship, Charlotte and Chris, whom Pierce adopted after their organic father handed away. In 1987, Cassandra was recognized with ovarian most cancers. She handed away at 43 on Dec. 28, 1991, leaving the “Remington Steele” and James Bond actor a widower. (Sadly, daughter Charlotte succumbed to the identical illness in 2013.) Pierce went on to seek out love once more with Keely Shaye Smith, whom he married in 2001; they share two sons.
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Actor Damian Lewis misplaced his spouse of 13 years, “Harry Potter” and “Peaky Blinders” star Helen McCrory, 52, in April 2021 after a non-public breast most cancers battle. “She has been completely heroic in her sickness. Humorous, in fact — beneficiant, courageous, uncomplaining, continually reminding us all of how fortunate we have been, how blessed we’re. Her generosity has prolonged to encouraging us three to stay. Stay absolutely, take alternatives, have adventures,” Damian wrote in The Sunday Occasions of his late love, with whom he shares two kids. “She has shone extra brightly within the final months than you’d think about even the brightest star might shine. In life, too, we needed to rise to satisfy her. However her best and most beautiful act of bravery and generosity has been to ‘normalize’ her demise. She’s proven no worry, no bitterness, no self-pity, solely armed us with the braveness to go on and insisted that nobody be unhappy, as a result of she is glad.” He added, “I am staggered by her. She’s been a meteor in our life.”
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On Dec. 8, 1980 — 11 years after they had been married — Yoko Ono turned a widow when John Lennon was shot and killed by a crazed fan of his band, The Beatles. John was Yoko’s third husband; she by no means remarried. She has labored to proceed his legacy, funding the Strawberry Fields memorial in Manhattan’s Central Park, the Think about Peace Tower in Iceland and the since-closed John Lennon Museum in Japan. This portrait of John and Yoko was taken only a month earlier than his homicide.
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Celine Dion’s husband and supervisor, René Angélil, handed away on Jan. 14, 2016, in Las Vegas at 73 after a protracted battle with throat most cancers. “Dropping my husband, for my [three] youngsters to lose their father, it was fairly one thing,” the music star — René’s spouse of 21 years — instructed the “Right now” present in 2021. “I really feel like René has given me a lot by means of the years and nonetheless at this time. I see my youngsters. I have a look at them — we stay with him. We nonetheless stay with him. He is a part of our lives on daily basis…” Celine continues to be not prepared to maneuver on. “I am not occupied with a relationship and falling in love once more. I do not,” she added. “Do I’ve to say that it’s going to by no means occur anymore? I do not know. I do not know.”
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After 73 years of marriage, Queen Elizabeth II turned a widow when husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh handed away at 99 in April 2021. She herself handed away simply 17 months later at 96.
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Vanessa Bryant (seen right here in late 2023) tragically turned a widow on Jan. 26, 2020, when retired NBA star husband Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna and 7 others had been killed in a helicopter crash on their approach to a basketball sport simply north of Los Angeles. “This ache is unimaginable [but] you simply must stand up and push ahead,” Vanessa instructed Folks journal in 2021. “Mendacity in mattress crying is not going to vary the truth that my household won’t ever be the identical once more. However getting off the bed and pushing ahead goes to make the day higher for my [three other] women and for me. So that is what I do.”
Vanessa received her begin as a video vixen showing in music video’s for Snoop Dogg and different rappers — which is how she met Kobe in 1999 when he was 21 and she or he was 17 and nonetheless in highschool.
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In September 2023, ABC premiered the primary season of “The Golden Bachelor” — a “The Bachelor” spinoff starring 72-year-old widower Gerry Turner, a retired restaurateur, father and grandfather from Indiana. The collection chronicled the senior citizen’s seek for somebody with whom he can spend his sundown years, with 22 ladies between 60 and 75 vying for his coronary heart — and some months later, he proposed to the winner, Theresa Nist, 70. The couple married throughout ABC’s “The Golden Wedding ceremony” particular, which aired on Jan. 4, 2023.
Gerry (pronounced like “Gary”) married his highschool sweetheart, Toni, in 1974. They lived a contented and full life, welcoming daughters Angie and Jenny and, later, granddaughters Charlee and Payton. However in 2017 after 43 years collectively — simply six weeks after Toni retired — she instantly fell sick and died, leaving Gerry a widower. “She received robbed, on daily basis that goes by, that is the thought that I’ve,” Gerry instructed “Good Morning America.”
His daughters inspired him to signal on for “The Golden Bachelor,” however Gerry wasn’t certain if he ought to do it. He instructed “GMA” he has a framed picture of his late spouse on the dresser in his closet and “each morning I [would] give her the nod [and ask], ‘So what do you concentrate on this?'” he mentioned. “For some time it was like, I used to be having a tough time determining if she can be OK [with it]. However we at all times instructed one another when one in every of us goes, we would like the opposite one to be glad. She’s up there rooting, she’s saying, ‘Yeah, Gerry, do that.'”