Several famous figures in the entertainment, fashion, sports, and media worlds passed away in the last week of February 2024.

From a British royal family member to a comedy icon, here are the 10 celebrities who died in the past week.

1. Chris Mortensen - March 3

Chris Mortensen, a longtime NFL reporter and senior analyst at ESPN, died Sunday morning, the network announced, He was 72.

ESPN announced Mortensen's passing via X, formerly Twitter, Sunday. A cause or place of death was not disclosed.

In 2016, Mortensen announced that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. In the same year, he was honored with the Dick McCann Award by the Professional Football Writers of America for his contribution to the game through his coverage.

Mortensen retired after the NFL draft last year to "focus on my health, family and faith."

In a statement, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Mortensen was "widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hardworking teammate."

"He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades," Pitaro continued. "He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones."

2. Mark Dodson - March 2

"Gremlins" and "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" voice actor Mark Dodson died Saturday. He was 64.

Dodson suffered a "massive heart attack" in his sleep, his daughter Ciara told TMZ.

The actor's agent told Entertainment Weekly that Dodson died just hours before he was set to appear at Evansville Horror Con in Indianapolis.

Dodson lent his voice to several movies, video games, and commercials. In addition to voicing Salacious Crumb in "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" and the Mogwai in two "Gremlins" movies, Dodson was also featured in "Day of the Dead" and "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."

Dodson also voiced characters in "Star Trek Online," "Ghostrunner," Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga," and several other video games.

3. Iris Apfel - March 1

Iris Apfel, a fashion icon known for her eccentric style, passed away Friday, according to a statement shared on her Instagram account. She was 102.

Fashion designer Donna Karan honored the textile expert and interior designer on Instagram, calling her "the best dressed woman in the world."

In her own tribute, Christie Brinkley described Apfel as an "unforgettable legend, undeniable Icon, unbelievably creative, and unlike anyone I've ever met!"

Apfel and her husband, Carl Apfel, owned a textile manufacturing company, Old World Weavers. They specialized in restoration work, according to Time magazine. Her clients included Estee Lauder and Greta Garbo.

Apfel continued working even after celebrating her 100th birthday in 2021. She released a clothing collection with H&M and a beauty collection with Ciáte London in 2022.

In a tribute posted on X, Maria Shriver also shared that Apfel worked on a book about her life and important moments called "Colorful," which is set to be released in August.

4. Michael "Virgil" Jones - Feb. 28

Former pro wrestler Michael "Virgil" Jones died Wednesday. He was 61.

The WWE shared the news of his passing via a tribute on X. His cause of death was not announced.

Jones, who went by the ring name Virgil and several other monikers, had previously been diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer, according to EW.

He made his wrestling debut in 1985, playing under the name Soul Train Jones in the Championship Wrestling Association. A year later, Jones began using the name Lucius Brown when he transferred to the WWF. He started going by Virgil in 1987.

Jones notably teamed up with Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant to face Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage at Summerslam 1988.

Following appearances in the National Wrestling Conference and World Championship Wrestling, Jones retired from wrestling in 2000.

5. Cat Janice - Feb. 28

TikTok star Cat Janice passed away Wednesday following a battle with sarcoma, a form of cancer that affects soft tissue and bones. She was 31.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the musician's family said Janice passed away "peacefully" at her childhood home, surrounded by her family.

"Cat saw her music go places she never expected and rests in the peace of knowing that she will continue to provide for her son through her music," they wrote. "This would not have been possible without all of you."

Before her passing, Janice's final song, "Dance You Outta My Head," went viral on TikTok.

Last month, she encouraged her followers to pre-save and stream the song as she hoped to leave behind a legacy for her son, Loren, 7.

"My art is all I have to leave behind and I'm leaving it behind for my son to profit on," Janice wrote alongside photos of her and her family.

On Feb. 15, "Dance You Outta My Head" reached the top 10 of Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

6. Dave Myers - Feb. 28

TV chef and "Hairy Bikers" star Dave Myers died at age 66 Wednesday, two years after revealing his cancer diagnosis.

His "Hairy Bikers" co-star Si King announced via a statement on Instagram Thursday that Myers passed away "peacefully" at his home, surrounded by his loved ones.

"Personally, I am not sure I can put into words on how I feel at the moment. My best friend is on a journey that for now, I can't follow. I will miss him every day and the bond and friendship we shared over half a lifetime," King wrote.

"I wish you god's speed brother; you are and will remain a beacon in this world," he added. "See you on the other side. Love ya."

Myers rose to fame 20 years ago as one of half of the Hairy Bikers TV presenting duo.

"The Hairy Bikers Go West," his latest BBC series with King, just recently premiered in the U.K.

7. Richard Lewis - Feb. 27

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Richard Lewis took his last breath Tuesday after suffering a heart attack. He was 76.

Publicist Jeff Abraham confirmed the comedian and actor passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home, Entertainment Weekly reported.

Lewis retired from doing stand-up comedy last year, revealing that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease two years prior.

He starred in several films, including "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and "Leaving Las Vegas."

In addition to "Curb Your Enthusiasm," his TV credits include "7th Heaven," "The Simpsons," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Alias," and "Bojack Horseman," among others.

Lewis can currently be seen in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" Season 12 on HBO.

8. Ole Anderson - Feb. 26

The wrestling world lost another legend as Ole Anderson died on Feb. 26 at the age of 81.

The WWE announced the passing of Anderson, whose real name was Alan Robert Rogowski, last week.

"Ole's hard-nosed style and gruff demeanor helped define the group as one of the greatest stables in sports-entertainment history," WWE officials said in a statement.

Anderson founded the iconic stable The Four Horsemen alongside Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard. and manager J.J. Dillon.

The group faced off against Dusty Rhodes, The Rock 'N Roll Express, and The Road Warriors, among many others.

9. Thomas Kingston - Feb. 25

British royal family member Thomas Kingston, the husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston and ex-boyfriend of Pippa Middleton, died on Feb. 25. He was 45.

Thomas, who was the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, died by suicide at his parents' home in the Cotswolds, England, The Telegraph reported.

His cause of death was determined to be a "traumatic wound to the head," a spokesperson for the coroner's office told People.

Senior coroner for Gloucestershire Katy Skerrett said a gun was found in the locked outbuilding where Thomas was discovered with "a catastrophic head injury," Sky News correspondent Dan Whitehead reported.

Thomas was a director at Devonport Capital and a former hostage negotiator in Iraq.

He tied the knot with Lady Gabriella, the only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, who was first cousins with Queen Elizabeth II, in May 2019.

Thomas and Lady Gabriella were seen alongside Queen Camilla at a Celebration of Shakespeare event on Feb. 14, less than two weeks before his death.

10. Charles Dierkop - Feb. 25

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" actor Charles Dierkop passed away on Feb. 25 after suffering a heart attack and pneumonia. He was 87.

He was hospitalized at Sherman Oaks Hospital at the time of his death, according to statement from his publicist Ananda Friedman to EW.

In addition to playing outlaw George "Flat Nose" Curry in "Butch Cassidy," the character actor appeared in several other films, including "The Sting," Paul Newman's "The Hustler," "The Pawnbroker," and "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre."

As for his TV projects, Dierkop portrayed undercover investigator Pete Royster in "Police Woman."

He also appeared in series such as "Star Trek," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Mission: Impossible," "Batman," "MacGyver," and "ER" in the '60s, '70s, and '80s.

If you or someone you know is struggling or has had suicidal thoughts, confidential help is available for free at the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. The line is available 24 hours, every day.

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Celebrity deaths, Celebrity Deaths 2024