Poet, musician and writer Benjamin Zephaniah dies
He also appeared in TV show Peaky Blinders
Last updated 7th Dec 2023
Birmingham-born poet and writer Professor Benjamin Zephaniah, who also appeared in the TV show Peaky Blinders has died after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The dub poet, known for his works about refugees and healthy eating and who played Jeremiah Jesus in Peaky Blinders had been diagnosed with the tumour eight weeks ago.
A post on his Instagram account said: “It is with great sadness and regret that we announced the death of our beloved husband, son and brother in the early hours of this morning 7th December 2023.
“Benjamin was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.
“Benjamin’s wife was by his side throughout and was with him when he passed.
“We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news.
“Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator, he gave the world so much. Through an amazing career including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television, and radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy.
“Thank you for the love you have shown Professor Benjamin Zephaniah.”
The Birmingham-born poet was nominated for autobiography of the year at the National Book Awards for his work, The Life And Rhymes Of Benjamin Zephaniah, and it was also shortlisted for the Costa Book Award in 2018.
Famous faces we've lost this year
Fred White
Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White passed away at the age of 67 in January. His brother and band mate Verdine White confirmed the sad news in a statement.
David Gold
Joint-chairman of West Ham, David Gold, sadly died at the age of 86 following a short illness in January. West Ham confirmed the news in a statement, revealing he passed away peacefully surrounded by his daughters and fiancee.
Gianluca Vialli
Former Chelsea and Italy footballer Gianluca Vialli sadly lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer in January, at the age of 58. Tributes from fans and football clubs across the world poured in following the news.
Jeff Beck
Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck sadly died at the age of 78 in January, after contracting bacterial meningitis. His family confirmed the news in a statement.
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley, US singer and only child of Elvis Presley, sadly died at the age of 54 in January, after being rushed for medical treatment earlier in the same day.
Robbie Bachman
Bachman-Turner Overdrive drummer and co-founder Robbie Bachman sadly died at the age of 69 in January. His older brother Randy Bachman confirmed the news in a social media statement.
Paco Rabanne
Spanish-born fashion designer Paco Rabanne sadly died at the age of 88 in February. A statement on Twitter read: 'The House of Paco Rabanne wishes to honour our visionary designer and founder who passed away today at the age of 88. Among the most seminal fashion figures of the 20th century, his legacy will remain a constant source of inspiration.'
Burt Bacharach
Composer of some of the best known pop songs of the 21st century, Burt Bacharach, sadly died at the age of 94 in February. Having written over 500 songs in his career, Burt was often described as one of the 'greatest songwriters'.
John Motson
Legendary football commentator John Motson sadly died at the age of 77 in February. Tributes from around the world of sport poured in for him.
Steve Mackey
Pulp bassist Steve Mackey sadly died at the age of 56 in March, following a number of months in hospital. His family and former band mates paid a touching tribute to him online.
Gary Rossington
Gary Rossington, the last original member of band Lynyrd Skynyrd, sadly passed away at the age of 71 in March. The band released a statement to pay tribute to Gary.
Tom Sizemore
Actor Tom Sizemore, who appeared in Saving Private Ryan, sadly died at the age of 61 following a brain aneurysm in March.
Margaret Lake (Mystic Meg)
Mystic Meg, real name Margaret Lake, sadly died at the age of 80 in March, following a short illness. The astrologer was famed for her horoscopes and her appearances on the National Lottery TV show.
Lance Reddick
The Wire and John Wick actor Lance Reddick died suddenly from natural causes at the age of 60 in March, his family confirmed in a statement.
Paul O'Grady
Paul O'Grady passed away 'unexpectedly but peacefully' at the age of 67 according to his partner Andre Portasio. The comedian and TV star was well-known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage.
Bernadette Hunt (Falcon)
It was announced in March that Gladiators star Falcon, real name Bernadette Hunt, sadly passed away at the age of 59 following a battle with cancer.
Paul Cattermole
Just weeks after S Club 7 announced a reunion tour in March, sad news was announced that singer Paul Cattermole had sadly passed away. His family released a statement confirming the shock news.
Mark Sheehan
The Script's lead guitarist Mark Sheehan sadly passed away at the age of 46 in April. The band released a statement to confirm the shock news, revealing he'd passed away following a short illness.
Barry Humphries
Comedian Barry Humphries, creator of Dame Edna Everage died aged 89 on the 22nd April. He suffered from complications after hip surgery in Sydney.
Len Goodman
Former Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman died in April aged 78. His agent confirmed the news saying that Goodman was "A much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him."
Terrence Hardiman
The actor who played the Demon Headmaster, Terrence Hardiman, sadly died at the age of 86 in May, with his agent confirming the news.
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke, bassist of legendary Manchester band The Smiths, sadly died aged 59 in May following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Smiths bandmate Johnny Marr broke the sad news of Rourke's passing in a social media post: 'It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time.'
Tina Turner
Rock 'n Roll legend Tina Turner sadly passed away at the age of 83 in May, following a long illness. Her publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed the singer's death saying she had died "peacefully" in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland.
Meg Johnson
Former Emmerdale actress Meg Johnson, who played the role of Pearl Ladderbanks, sadly passed away at the age of 86 in June, after suffering with dementia.
Coco Lee
Hong Kong-born singer Coco Lee, who starred in Disney's Mulan, sadly died at the age of 48 in July, following a suicide attempt at her home.
Tony Bennett
Legendary singer Tony Bennett sadly died at the aged 96 in July, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016. Tributes for the singer poured in for the singer from around the world following the news.
George Alagiah
BBC newsreader George Alagiah sadly passed away at the age of 67 in July, following a long-term battle with cancer. His agent confirmed the sad news in a statement, revealing George died peacefully around his family.
Trevor Francis
Trevor Francis, famed as Britain's first £1million footballer, sadly died at the age of 69 in July, after suffering a heart attack at his home in Marbella. His family released a statement to confirm the sad news.
Chris Bart-Williams
Former Sheffield Wednesday footballer Chris Bart-Williams sadly died at the age of 49 in July. Tributes from the sporting world poured in following the news.
Sinéad O'Connor
Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor sadly passed away at the age of 56 in July, with her family saying: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad."
Randy Meisne
Founding member of legendary rock band the Eagles, Randy Meisner, sadly died at the age of 77 in July, following complications with a lung disease. In a statement on the band's website they described Randy as an "integral part" of the Eagles adding he was "instrumental in the early success of the band".
Paul Reubens
Actor Paul Reubens, who rose to fame in the 1980s as children's TV star Pee-wee Herman, sadly died at the age of 70 in July, following a six-year battle with cancer.
Angus Cloud
Euphoria actor Angus Cloud, who played the role of Fezco in the series, sadly died at the age of just 25 in July, just one week after burying his father.
Mark Margolis
Actor Mark Margolis, known for his roles in hit TV shows such as Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, sadly passed away at the age of 83 in early August, following a short illness. His son released a statement to confirm the news.
DJ Casper
DJ Casper, real name Willie Perry Jr, passed away at the age of 58 in August after a battle with kidney and liver cancer since 2016. The songwriter was famed for his hit 'Cha Cha Slide'.
Darren Kent
Actor Darren Kent, who played a Goatherd from Slavers Bay in hit series Game Of Thrones, sadly passed away at the age of 36 in August, following a long health battle.
Sir Michael Parkinson
Legendary broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson sadly passed away following a brief illness at the age of 88 in August. His family released a statement to confirm the news, which said: "After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve."
Ron Cephas Jones
Ron Cephas Jones passed away in August from a long-standing illness. The actor was known for his role in This Is Us where he starred as William Hill. Ron's representative said to People: "Beloved and award-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones has passed away at the age of 66 due to a long-standing pulmonary issue.
"Throughout the course of his career, his warmth, beauty, generosity, kindness and heart were felt by anyone who had the good fortune of knowing him."
Jack Sonni
Legendary Dire Straits guitarist Jack Sonni sadly died at the age of 68 in August 2023, with the band sharing a tribute to X (formerly known as Twitter) announcing the news. The cause of Jack's death was not revealed at the time, however tributes poured in for the talented musician.
Mohamed Al Fayed
Former Harrods owner and businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, sadly died at the age of 94 in late August, with his family confirming he's passed away peacefully of old age.
Steve Harwell
Smash Mouth vocalist and co-founder Steve Harwell sadly died aged 56, the band's manager Robert Hayes confirmed in early September. No cause of death has been revealed.
Jean Boht
Actress Jean Boht, who was best known for playing Nellie Boswell in sitcom Bread, sadly died at the age of 91 in September. A statement from the family of Jean Boht said: "It is with overwhelming sadness that we must announce that Jean Boht passed away yesterday, Tuesday September 12. Jean had been battling vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease with the indefatigable spirit for which she was both beloved and renowned.
"She was a resident at Denville Hall, the home for members of the theatrical profession."
Dr Trisha Stratford
Married At First Sight Australia relationship expert Dr Trisha Stratford sadly died aged 72 in September. Trisha was a clinical neuropsychologist and starred on the dating show from 2015 until 2020.
David McCallum
Scottish actor David McCallum, best known for his roles in NCIS and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., sadly passed away at the age of 90 in September from natural causes. He also appeared in a number of popular films such as The Great Escape, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and A Night to Remember.
Michael Gambon
Actor Michael Gambon, who played the role of Dumbledore in Harry Potter, amongst other huge roles, sadly died at the age of 82 in September, after suffering from pneumonia. A statement on behalf of his wife Lady Gambon and son Fergus Gambon, issued by publicist Clair Dobbs, said: "We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon.
"Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82.
"We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love."
Burt Young
Actor Burt Young was best-known for playing Paulie Pennino in eight Rocky films, alongside Sylvester Stallone. The actor died at the age of 83 on 8th October 2023, according to his daughter Anne Morea Steingieser.
Sir Bobby Charlton
Manchester United and England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton sadly died at the age of 86 in October. He passed away just over three years after he revealed a diagnosis of dementia in 2020.
Angelo Bruschini
Massive Attack guitarist Angelo Bruschini sadly died in October after a battle with lung cancer. The band wrote in a statement: 'RIP Angelo. A singularly brilliant & eccentric talent. Impossible to quantify your contribution to the Massive Attack canon. How lucky we were to share such a life together.'
Bill Kenwright
Everton chairman and theatre producer Bill Kenwright sadly passed away at the age of 78 in October, just weeks after spending time in intensive care after having a cancerous tumour removed from his liver.
Matthew Perry
Actor Matthew Perry, who was best known to millions around the world for playing Chandler Bing in TV show Friends, sadly died after an apparent drowning at the age of 54 in October.
George Brown
Kool & The Gang drummer George Brown sadly passed away at the age of 74 in November, following a battle with lung cancer. As well as being the drummer, George was the songwriter for a number of the band's hits.
Annabel Giles
After being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in July 2023, it was announced in November 2023 that TV host Annabel Giles had sadly lost her life at the age of 64. Her children released a statement, confirming their mum had died peacefully at Martlets Hospice in Hove.
Terry Venables
Former England, Barcelona and Tottenham manager Terry Venables died at the age of 80 in November 2023. In a statement released by the League Managers' Association, his family said:
"We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness. We would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly sad time to allow us to mourn the loss of this lovely man who we were so lucky to have had in our lives."
Dean Sullivan
Brookside actor Dean Sullivan, best known for the playing the role of Jimmy Corkhill, sadly passed away in November following a short illness. His family confirmed the sad news in a statement on social media.
Shane MacGowan
Irish singer Shane MacGowan sadly died at the age of 65 at the end of November. Shane, who was the frontman of The Pogues, was recently discharged from hospital in Dublin where he'd been receiving care for an infection.
His wife released a statement on social media to confirm his sad passing.
Alistair Darling
Former Labour MP Alistair Darling sadly passed away in November just two days after his 70th birthday.
Frances Sternhagen
American actress Frances Sternhagen, famed for playing the role of Bunny MacDougal in Sex and The City, sadly passed away at the age of 93 in November. Her family released a statement to say she died peacefully of natural causes at her home in New York.
Benjamin Zephaniah
Poet and writer Professor Benjamin Zephaniah sadly died at the age of 65 in December, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He also appeared in Peaky Blinders as Jeremiah Jesus.
Andre Braugher
American actor Andre Braugher - famed for his role as Captain Holt in police comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as well as starring in Homicide: Life On The Street - sadly passed away in December 2023 following a short illness. Tributes poured in for the actor, including from his Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-stars Terry Crews and Joe Lo Truglio.
Steve Halliwell
ITV confirmed on Friday 15th December that Emmerdale actor Steve Halliwell had passed away at the age of 77, having portrayed Zak Dingle since 1994. A statement from show bosses said: 'Steve will forever be synonymous with Emmerdale. The proud defender and head of the Dingle family. Heart and humour in all he did, it has been and always will be impossible not to smile when you think of him.'
His family added: "He went to sleep, peacefully with his loved ones around him. He was making us laugh to the end, the most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for, family was everything to him. We would like to thank the wonderful staff at St James Hospital and the Wheatfield Hospice for their love and kindness in his final days. He didn't want sadness, just to rejoice in a life well lived."
Bill Granger
Australian chef Bill Granger sadly passed away in a London hospital on Christmas Day, surrounded by his wife and three daughters. Although Bill's cause of death hasn't been made public, his family released a statement, revealing "he will be deeply missed by all."
Lee Sun-kyun
Actor Lee Sun-kyun, who was best known for his role in Parasite, was sadly found unconscious in a car park at 10.30am on 27th December.
Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.