10 One-of-a-kind People the World Said Goodbye to in July 2024

Regardless of the age of an individual, death brings both a profound and unsettling impact. Even after a long life, the passing of someone remains painful, especially when that person has made significant contributions to the world or left a lasting legacy. Their departure not only brings about a deep sense of loss but also brings the end of an era. The fate of death becomes seemingly even more cruel when an individual’s life is cut short, leaving a void that is difficult to fill and depriving the world of their potential promise.

Although the unpredictability of death is a harsh reminder that none of us are promised tomorrow, within just the first half of July alone, the world bid farewell to several notable figures whose contributions spanned the realms of entertainment, sports, and beyond. Each departure marked not just a passing but a deep moment of reflection on their lives and their legacies that will never be forgotten.

Here are ten one-of-a-kind people that the world said goodbye to in July.

Related: 10 People Who Only Found Fame After Their Death

10 Shannen Doherty

While Shannen Doherty is best known for her roles in the hit television shows Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, her acting career actually started nearly a decade before she became the ’90s icon in her role as Brenda Walsh.

In 1978, at the age of seven, Doherty’s parents, John Thomas and Rosa Doherty, moved the family from Memphis, Tennessee, to Los Angeles, California. While the purpose of the move was initially for Doherty’s father to start a West Coast branch of the family transportation business, the move would also lead to Doherty’s acting debut and a career that would span 40 years, earning her critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase.

At the age of 10, Doherty made her television debut in 1981 with a guest role on the TV series Father Murphy—a warm family drama created by Michael Landon which was centered around an 1870s frontiersman who poses as a priest to care for a group of orphans whose parents were killed when their mining town was destroyed. It was in this role that Landon took notice of Doherty’s charisma and natural acting ability, leading him to cast her in an ongoing role as Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie in 1982.

The exposure Doherty gained from Little House led to a succession of television roles in the 1980s—Magnum P.I., Airwolf, Highway to Heaven, Outlaws, and Our House—as well as movie roles such as Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Heathers, all before the age of 15.

From there, Doherty’s acting career only blossomed as she captivated audiences with her dynamic performances and strong screen presence in both Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed. Not only was Beverly Hills, 90210 one of the biggest hits of the 90s, but the New York Times credited the show with single-handedly inventing the teen soap opera. Doherty continued acting well into adulthood with television and movie roles and appearances on reality TV programs.

Unfortunately, Doherty was dealt a devastating blow when, in March 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Doherty underwent a mastectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy, and in April 2017, she revealed she was in remission. However, the cancer returned in 2020.

Despite such heartbreaking news, Doherty had a steadfast determination to live life to the fullest—continuing to work, raising money for breast cancer awareness, supporting animal rights charities, and choosing to spend time with those closest to her. Then, in June 2023, Doherty shared an emotional video on Instagram, revealing that the cancer had spread to her brain.

Doherty’s remarkable journey ended on July 13, 2024, at the age of 53, after losing her battle with cancer.^[1]

9 Jacoby Jones

New Orleans native Jacoby Jones had a remarkable career, both on and off the field. While he is best known for the “Mile High Miracle”—a 70-yard touchdown reception that ultimately led the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl in 2013—Jones proved that his talent was not limited to the football field.

Jones attended Marion Abramson High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In fact, Jones was an All-Metropolitan and All-area selection in both basketball and track, particularly excelling in the 200-meter and long jump. Therefore, in 2002, Jones enrolled at Southeastern Louisiana University on a track scholarship.

However, in 2003, Jones transferred to Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, where he played for the Dragons before being drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft. Jones remained with the Texans through 2011 before being selected for the Pro Bowl in 2012 and signing with the Baltimore Ravens the same year, where he would play a vital role in the franchise’s championship title.

During Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013, Jones caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco in the second quarter and then returned the opening kickoff of the second half 108 yards for a touchdown. Not only did the Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 and become Super Bowl champions, but Jones also set two NFL records—the only player in Super Bowl history to score a receiving touchdown and return a touchdown in the same game and the longest-scoring play in Super Bowl or postseason history at that time.

Jones went on to have a nine-year NFL career with four teams (he also played for the San Diego Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015) before retiring on September 29, 2017, signing a one-day contract with the Ravens to retire as a member of the AFC North franchise.

Once his playing days were over, Jones transitioned into several coaching positions—his alma mater, Lane College, Calvert Hall High School in Baltimore, Maryland, Morgan State University, and Alabama State University—as a way to share his knowledge of the game with younger players. In April 2024, Jones joined the professional indoor Texas football team, the Beaumont Renegades, as their head coach and offensive coordinator. Aside from coaching, Jones also participated in motivational speaking events and was an active participant in charity events and community service.

Unfortunately, the young athlete whose “charisma, joy, and love created a one-of-a-kind presence that could light up any room or brighten any dark day” died in his sleep on July 14, 2024, just three days after his 40th birthday. No cause of death was given.^[2]

8 Joe Bonsall

With a music career that spanned over 50 years, it’s no surprise that tenor singer Joe Bonsall developed a love for music early on. At just four years old, Bonsall began singing, and by his mid-teens, he “fell in love with Southern Gospel music harmony.”

As a teenager, Bonsall sang with a gospel group called the Faith Four and befriended Richard Sterben, who, at the time, was a member of J.D. Sumner and the Stamps—a gospel quartet that sang backup for none other than the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley. The two later joined another gospel group, the Keystone Quartet, before joining The Oak Ridge Boys—Sterban in 1972 and Bonsall in 1973—alongside Duane Allen and William Lee Golden.

Bonsall brought an infectious energy to the quartet. His unmistakable deep voice became a trademark for the group as the guiding voice on some of their biggest hits, such as “American Made,” “Bobbie Sue,” and “Elvira.”

The Oak Ridge Boys would go on to sell more than 41 million records and win every major music award in the country, including three Platinum albums, ten Gold albums, five Grammys, and several Billboard awards. In recognition of their exceptional career, the quartet received the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award in 2007 and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2011 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Bonsall was also inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

In addition to Bonsall’s contribution to music, he was also a prolific author, writing a total of 11 books, which included a 2003 book about his parents titled GI Joe & Lillie, a four-part book series titled The Molly Books, On the Road with The Oak Ridge Boys, and his memoir, I See Myself, which is set to be released in November 2024.

Despite such a successful decades-long career, on January 3, 2024, Bonsall shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) announcing that he would be retiring from touring with the vocal quartet due to a neuromuscular disorder he’d been battling privately for four years. Twenty-seven-year-old singer and songwriter Ben James was to take Bonsall’s place.

However, less than seven months after the announcement, 76-year-old Bonsall died on July 9, 2024, due to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.^[3]

7 Ruth Westheimer

Ruth Westheimer was a walking dynamo. Bundled in a 4-foot, 7-inch (1.3 meters) frame with a voice that was “a cross between Henry Kissinger and Minnie Mouse,” the petite sex therapist approached her work with gusto and a sense of fun. This would lead her to become a pop icon, media star, and best-selling author thanks to her frank talks about once-taboo bedroom topics. However, Westheimer’s optimistic outlook on life emerged from a childhood of unimaginable loss and struggle.

Born Karola Ruth Siegel in 1928, Westheimer was the only child of Orthodox Jewish parents—Julius Siegel, a haberdashery wholesaler, and Irma Hanauer, a housekeeper—who settled in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, when she was just a year old. When Westheimer was 10, her father was taken by the Nazis in November 1938 after Kristallnacht and taken to a labor camp.

Westheimer stayed with her mother and grandmother, but in 1939, she was sent to Switzerland as part of the kindertransport, an organized rescue effort that allowed thousands of Jewish children to escape from the country. Westheimer remained there for the rest of World War II but, sadly, never saw her parents again.

Unfortunately, Westheimer’s life continued to be filled with upheaval. After the war ended, at 17, Westheimer emigrated to Palestine in 1945 and began going by her middle name, Ruth. Westheimer joined the Haganah—a Jewish paramilitary organization—to fight for Israeli independence. As a member of the Haganah, Westheimer was trained as both a sniper and a scout. Unfortunately, just three weeks after Israel declared independence in 1948, and on her 20th birthday, Westheimer’s legs were severely wounded when a bomb exploded in her dormitory.

In 1950, Westheimer followed her first husband, David, to France, then moved to the United States, where she married for a second and third time. She later earned a Ph.D. in education from Columbia University’s Teacher College in 1970 before becoming a licensed sex therapist with a private practice and teaching jobs.

In 1980, Westheimer was hired for a weekly radio show in New York called “Sexually Speaking.” The program, which initially began as a 15-minute broadcast where Westheimer would respond honestly to a variety of sex and relationship-related questions, became an overnight sensation. Westheimer’s extensive knowledge and training, coupled with her humorous, nonjudgemental manner, catapulted the local radio program, which later expanded into an hour-long, nationally syndicated broadcast where Westheimer became known as “Dr. Ruth.” Westheimer never advocated for risky sexual behavior on the program but, instead, encouraged open dialogue on previously closeted issues that affected her audience of millions.

Beyond her work as a sex therapist, Westheimer became a cultural icon—she was a regular on the late-night television talk-show circuit, made several appearances in movies and TV shows, hosted Playboy videos, sang on Tom Chapin’s This Pretty Planet album, wrote more than 40 books on sex and sexuality, and even had her own board game!

Westheimer also received numerous awards for her life’s work. She received the Liberty Medal in 1986 (an award that recognizes immigrants who have made major contributions to New York City and the United States), the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2002, The Teachers College Medal from Columbia University in 2006, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Margaret Sanger Award in 2013. In 2019, she was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.

On July 12, 2024, 96-year-old Westheimer died at her New York City home, surrounded by her family.^[4]

6 Bob Newhart

Soft-spoken Bob Newhart never planned on becoming a household name. In fact, the comedian who would later become known for his deadpan style received a degree in business management and served in the Army during the Korean War prior to landing a job as an accountant.

In time, Newhart became bored with his $5-an-hour accounting job for the state department of unemployment in Chicago, Illinois. In order to pass the time, he and a friend, Ed Gallagher, began making funny phone calls to one another. Eventually, the two men decided to record their calls as comedy routines and sell them to radio stations.

Unfortunately, their efforts failed, and Newhart quit accounting. However, thanks to a DJ pal of Newhart’s, those silly office recordings came to the attention of Warner Bros., which signed Newhart to a record contract and booked him into a Houston, Texas, club in February of 1960.

Newhart was given just two weeks to develop material for his first record, but despite such time constraints, the album was a huge success! The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was released on April Fool’s Day in 1960, sold 750,000 copies, and became the first comedy album to hit No.1 on Billboard’s album chart. The album remained at No.1 for 14 weeks, was a multiple Grammy Award-winner, and even beat out Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, and Nat “King” Cole for album of the year. Another comedy album followed—The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!along with appearances on TV shows and movies.

However, it wasn’t until 1972 that Newhart landed the first of his two classic TV sitcoms, The Bob Newhart Show, where he played the role of a Chicago psychologist, Bob Hartley, who lived in a penthouse with his schoolteacher wife and ministered to a host of eccentric patients. In 1982, he embarked on a second sitcom venture, Newhart, which centered on the life of a Vermont innkeeper and TV talk show host, Dick Loudon, along with a variety of oddball clients and staff.

Over the years, Newhart also appeared in several movies—Catch 22, In and Out, Legally Blonde 2, Horrible Bosses, and Elf—along with TV series such as ER, Desperate Housewives, The Librarians, The Big Bang Theory, and the spin-off, Young Sheldon.

While Newhart was nominated for a total of nine Emmys throughout his career, it wasn’t until 2013 that he won an individual acting Emmy for his portrayal of Professor Proton on The Big Bang Theory. Newhart, however, was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1993, had his material added to the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and won the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2002.

On July 18, 2024, the 94-year-old actor and comedian died in Los Angeles, California, after a series of short illnesses.^[5]

5 Joe Engle

Joe Engle stated he couldn’t “ever remember wanting to do anything else but fly an airplane.” Not only would Engle fulfill his dreams of flying an airplane, but his journey would take him from the small town of Abilene, Kansas, to the vast expanse of space.

As Engle patiently made his way through aeronautical engineering at the University of Kansas, he worked summers as a draftsman for Cessna aircraft. There, his supervisor, Henry Dittmer, gave Engle flying lessons in a two-seat Cessna 120 taildragger. In exchange for the lessons, Dittmer made Engle sweep hangar floors. However, Engle’s determination to fly would certainly pay off.

After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1955, Engle became a test pilot for the U.S. Air Force. Engle went on to the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School, where he was trained by the legendary Chuck Yeager—the first person to break the sound barrier. Engle graduated in 1962 and went directly into the elite X-15 program, which NASA conducted with the U.S. Air Force, the Navy, and North American Aviation, Inc. to investigate all aspects of piloted hypersonic flight.

As an X-15 pilot, three of Engle’s flights exceeded the 50-mile (80-km) altitude required for astronaut rating, making him the third Air Force winged astronaut, the first civilian to receive astronaut wings, and the youngest pilot to ever qualify as an astronaut at the age of 32. In 1966, Engle was officially selected as a NASA astronaut candidate, launching an incredible space career where he supported the historic Apollo program, piloted the space shuttle Columbia, and commanded the Shuttle Discovery.

During the duration of his career, Engle also flew over 185 different types of aircraft, logging more than 14,700 flight hours. His contributions to aviation and space exploration earned him an extensive list of honors and decorations. Engle also holds the unique distinction of being the only astronaut to have flown two entirely different winged vehicles—the X-15 and the Space Shuttle—into space.

Engle retired from NASA on November 28, 1986, and from the Air National Guard two days later, when he was promoted to major general. However, even in retirement, Engle continued to work as a consultant to various government and corporate aerospace organizations. He was also a technical advisor to NASA’s International Space Station Advisory Committee.

Engle, an astronaut, adventurer, and aviator extraordinaire, passed away on July 10, 2024, at the age of 91.^[6]

4 Richard Simmons

Long before Richard Simmons became an eccentric fitness guru, he actually found himself in an unhealthy physical condition, much like those he would dedicate his life to helping.

While Simmons adopted the name Richard while growing up, he was born Milton Teagle Simmons. Simmons was overweight as a child, which he attributed to growing up in the French quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, “where lard was a food group and dessert mandatory.” By the time Simmons graduated from high school, he weighed 268 pounds (121 kg).

After attending Southwestern University (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and then transferring to Florida State University to study art, Simmons went to Italy as a foreign exchange student. There, Simmons’s life completely changed when he discovered a note on his car that read, “Dear Richard, you’re very funny, but fat people die young. Please don’t die.”

The shock of the letter led Simmons to a starvation diet, causing him to lose 100 pounds (45 kg). While Simmons indeed became thin, he also fell so ill that he was forced to gain back some of the weight. Simmons, however, prevailed in his weight loss battle, learning to control his weight with diet and exercise.

After relocating to Los Angeles, California, in 1973, Simmons quickly realized that the city’s gym culture was aimed at those who were already fit. Unable to find a facility that was welcoming to people of all shapes and sizes, Simmons decided to create that safe haven himself and opened his own gym in Beverly Hills in 1974. The gym was originally called The Anatomy Asylum but was later renamed Slimmons. It attracted a celebrity clientele that included Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross.

Simmons would go on to create a fitness empire that included videos, classes, books, products, infomercials, and his own TV show. He also made a variety of TV appearances. While he was instantly recognizable in his short shorts, tank tops decorated with Swarovski crystals, and frizzy hair, what set Simmons apart was his unrelenting positivity. In his exercise videos, he also put real people—chubby, balding, non-telegenic—to make the fitness goals seem reachable. However, after 40 years in business, Simmons closed Slimmons in November 2016.

Eventually, Simmons disappeared from public view altogether. Simmons’s seemingly vanishing from the world led to media speculation and a podcast regarding his whereabouts and well-being. This resulted in rumors that he was being held hostage by his housekeeper. Simmons later debunked such theories.

On July 13, 2024, just one day after his 76th birthday, Simmons was found dead in his bathroom by his housekeeper. His death is under investigation, but police said no foul play was suspected.^[7]

3 Jon Landau

Born to parents Ely and Edie Landau, who owned Manhattan movie houses, founded the American Film Theater, and produced more than a dozen films such as Long Day’s Journey into Night, The Pawnbroker, The Iceman Cometh, and The Chosen, it’s no surprise that Jon Landau would also find a love for movies and the entertainment industry.

After graduating from the University of Southern California Film School in 1983, Landau began working in assistant roles on movie sets, mostly directing traffic, on a TV movie of the week. These minor set roles, however, didn’t last long. Landau began rising through the ranks as a production supervisor and production manager before receiving his first producer credit on the Paramount movie Campus Man in 1987. From there, Landau co-produced two Disney films, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Dick Tracy.

In 1989, at the age of 29, Landau was named executive vice president of 20th Century Fox, where he oversaw major movie hits including Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Mrs. Doubtfire, and True Lies, which he worked on with filmmaker James Cameron.

When Landau decided to leave Fox, Cameron approached him with a script for a project code-named “Planet Ice.” Landau fell in love with the project, which would eventually become the 1997 blockbuster Titanic. Landau would go on to work with Cameron for the rest of his life—later becoming the chief operating officer of Cameron’s company, Lightstorm Entertainment. Together, the two men would account for some of the biggest blockbusters in movie history, including Avatar and its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water.

Sadly, after a 16-month battle with cancer, the Oscar-winning producer died on July 5, 2024.^[8]

2 Khyree Jackson

Twenty-four-year-old Khyree Jackson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Not only was Jackson’s path to the NFL full of twists and turns, but sadly, his life was also cut short. He would never have an opportunity to even wear his jersey.

After winning two state championships as a wide receiver at Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Jackson’s academic standing unfortunately forced him down an alternative path for college. Jackson initially attended Arizona Western Community College but never played there. Jackson, however, grew homesick and moved back to Upper Marlboro after a couple of weeks. He was so embarrassed by his dropout that he laid low at home “for about six months.”

Jackson went on to work in the deli at a Harris Teeter supermarket, making a living slicing ham and spending his free time playing video games, unsure if he belonged on the football field at all. However, when Jackson received a call from Fort Scott Community College about getting back into football, he decided to give it another try.

Jackson played wide receiver at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas and then switched to defensive back at East Mississippi Community College. Unfortunately, the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading Jackson to the University of Alabama. Jackson’s first start came in the national championship game after the 2021 season, and he transferred to Oregon for the 2023 season, finishing his college career.

Unfortunately, before Jackson could report for his first training camp, he and his two high school teammates—23-year-old Isaiah Hazel and 24-year-old Anthony Lytton—were killed in a three-car crash on July 6, 2024.^[9]

1 Shelley Duvall

Ironically, despite appearing in multiple movies in the ’70s and ’80s, Shelley Duvall never wanted to become an actress. In fact, Duvall wanted to be a scientist and majored in diet and nutrition therapy at South Texas Junior College. However, one fateful meeting with filmmaker Robert Altman would change the course of Duvall’s life overnight.

In 1970, while attending a party for her then boyfriend’s art opening, Duvall came across Altman and his crew members. They fell in love with Duvall’s energetic presence and wanted her to be a part of the film Brewster McCloud. It took some convincing, but Duvall eventually agreed, and her role as Suzanne led to her movie debut. Duvall would go on to even more memorable roles in some of Altman’s other movies, such as Nashville in 1975 and 3 Women in 1977, for which she won a Cannes Best Actress Award.

Known for her thin physique, large expressive eyes, and powerful performances, Duvall was a standout and gave one of her most memorable performances in the iconic 1980 horror film The Shining, where she played the character of Wendy Torrance opposite Jack Nicholson. (Link 70) The same year, Duvall worked with Altman in his big-screen adaptation of Popeye, starring as Olive Oyl opposite Robin Williams in the comedian’s first feature film.

Aside from her acting career, Duvall later turned her attention to children’s television, serving as the narrator, host, and executive producer of Faerie Tale Theater. She would also go on to create and present Tall Tales & Legends, an Emmy-nominated anthology series, Nightmare Classics, Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.

Duvall decided to step away from Hollywood in 2002 and retired in Central Texas. However, more than two decades after leaving Hollywood, Duvall made one last return for the indie horror film The Forest Hills. The film has yet to be released, and sadly, Duvall will never get to see her last piece of film work.

On July 11, 2024, Duvall died in her Blanco, Texas, home at the age of 75 due to complications from diabetes.^[10]