Black Celebs We Lost in 2022 [UPDATED]

Lola Mitchell, AKA Gangsta Boo — a former member of Three 6 Mafia and a pioneer of female rap — has died at age 43.

The hip hop star’s passing was confirmed by her former labelmate DJ Paul. Circumstances around her death are still being investigated.

Anita Pointer, of The Pointer Sisters, died on December 31, 2022, surrounded by her family at her Beverly Hills home in California. Her family said they were deeply saddened by her passing. “Heaven is a more loving beautiful place with Anita there,” they said in a statement. The second oldest of the four sisters, Ms Pointer and her siblings rose to fame with hits including Jump (For My Love) and Fire.

Pelé, the Brazilian soccer legend who won three World Cups and became the sport’s first global icon, has died at the age of 82. “Everything that we are, is thanks to you,” his daughter Kely Nascimento wrote in a post on Instagram, under an image of family members holding Pelé’s hands. “We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.” Pelé was admitted to a hospital in São Paulo in late November for a respiratory infection and for complications related to colon cancer, according to CNN. Last week, the hospital said his health had worsened as his cancer progressed. He died on Thursday from multiple organ failure due to the progression of colon cancer, according to a statement from Albert Einstein Hospital.

The Root founder and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., remembers Pelé this way: “Pelé introduced the art of African dance to the world’s most democratic sport, and the result was a sublime blend of physical prowess, professional acumen and shrewdness, and the sheer magic of poetry-in-motion. His trademarked bicycle kick tested the laws of gravity on the soccer pitch long before Michael Jordan decided to give Newton a run for his money on the basketball court. Pelé—a prince both on and off the pitch— was the world’s greatest player of the world’s most popular game; his successors compete in his shadow. Soccer mourns the loss of the genius who profoundly remolded an entire sport in his own image.”

Respected singer and songwriter Thom Bell died on December 22 at the age of 79. A Philadelphia legend, Bell was behind a multitude of hits for artists in the 1960s and 70s including the Spinners, the Delfonics, the Stylistics and most notably the O’Jays. He wrote the arrangement for the classic 1972 hit “Backstabbers.”

Super Bowl-winning running back for the Denver Broncos, Ronnie Hillman, tragically passed away at the age of 31 from a rare form of kidney cancer on December 21, 2022.

Franco Harris, NFL legend and Steelers Hall of Famer, Franco Harris, passed away at the age of 72 on December 21, 2022. His death comes only a couple of days before the Steelers were going to retire his jersey. He was known for the “Immaculate Reception”, an iconic NFL play that he did 50 years ago.

Sonya Eddy, famously known for her role as Epiphany Johnson in General Hospital, passed away at the age of 55 on December 20, 2022. Eddy starred in over 500 episodes of General Hospital and has made appearances in other shows and movies such as A Black Lady Sketch Show, Black Jesus, Fresh Off the Boat, Seven Pounds (2008), Everybody Hates Chris and many more.

Known for being the longtime DJ on Ellen Degeneres’ famed talk show, Stephen “tWitch” Boss died on Dec. 13 at the age of 40. According to TMZ, it looks to be a suicide. Stephen started as DJ for Ellen in 2014 and was on the show until it ended in 2022. In 2008, he was runner-up on the show So You Think You Can Dance.

Paul Silas, former professional basketball player and longtime coach in the NBA, died on Dec. 11 at the age of 79 of cardiac arrest. As a player, he was a three-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and a two-time NBA All-Star. As a coach, he was the first head coach in LeBron James’ career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Silas’ son, Stephen, is the current head coach for the Houston Rockets.

The co-founder of Ms. Magazine, Dorothy Pitman Hughes, died on Dec. 1 at the age of 84. The cause of death was old age. Hughes was a feminist and community activist that advocated for the rights of women, small Black business owners and child welfare beneficiaries.

Janis Hunter Gaye, the second wife of legendary singer Marvin Gaye, died on Dec. 3 at the age of 66. The cause of her death is still unknown. While her husband was alive, she served as the inspiration for a multitude of songs throughout Marvin’s career.

Veteran actor Clarence Gilyard Jr. died on Nov. 28 at the age of 66. Before his passing, he was a film and theater professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Fine Arts. Prior to his career as a professor, Gilyard was an accomplished actor who appeared in a multitude of successful movie and TV shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger, Matlock, Die Hard and Top Gun.

Legendary singer and actress Irene Cara died on Nov. 25 at the age of 63 in her home. The cause of her death is unknown. Irene was a beautiful singer who was known for a multitude of classic songs including “Fame” and Flashdance.” She rose to fame by appearing in the 1970’s children series, “The Electric Company.”

B. Smyth was a young and talented R&B singer who was extremely popular on TikTok and Instagram. Born Brandon Smith, Smyth died at the age of 30 on Nov. 17 from respiratory failure after a battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Born Kirshnik Khari Ball, Takeoff was a popular Atlanta rapper who was best known for being a member of the hip-hop trio Migos, along with his cousin, Offset, and cousin, Quavo. He was fatally shot on Nov. 1 at a Houston bowling alley while he and Quavo were playing a dice game.

Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts, the pastor of Harlem’s historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, died on Oct. 28 at the age of 73. This year, he was celebrating 50 years with the church that he joined in 1972 as a youth pastor. Butts was also known for his work in the political and social activist world.

Joyce Sims was a longtime singer and songwriter who was known for her 1987 hit, “Come into My Life.” Her family confirmed on Facebook that she died on Oct. 15 at the age of 63. No cause of death has been shared.

Spence was a singer who was the runner-up on season 19 of American Idol. He died on Oct. 12 at the age of 23 after sustaining injuries in a car accident in Tennessee.

Veteran Actor Austin Stoker died of renal failure at a Los Angeles hospital on Oct. 7. He was 92 years old. Stoker was known for his roles in a plethora of movies and television shows including Assault on Precinct 13, Horror High, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, Abby and Sheba, Baby.

Joyce Chiles was a Mississippi prosecutor who was one of the main figures during the renewed investigation of the 1955 lynching of Black teenager Emmet Till. Childs was the first Black person and woman to serve as district attorney for three Mississippi Delta counties — Leflore, Washington, and Sunflower. She passed away on Sept. 22 at the age of 67.

Adreian Payne was a former Michigan State basketball star and NBA player who was fatally shot in Orlando, Fla. at the age of 31 on May 9. Payne was in the NBA for four years and played for the Atlanta Hawks, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Orlando Magic.

Roderick “Pooh” Clark was a member of the 90s boy band Hi-Five. In 1993, he was paralyzed after he was involved in a car crash. He died this year at the age of 49.

YouTuber Kevin Samuels died at 56 on May 5 at his Atlanta home due to hypertension. While he was alive, Samuels was a controversial figure who often received a lot of hate from women due to his harsh dating advice.

DJ Kay Slay, a Harlem graffiti artist-turned-DJ whose work transcended multiple generations of hip-hop culture while others of his era faded, died at the age of 55 due to COVID-19 on April 17. Many of hip-hop’s greatest attended his funeral including LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Fat Joe.

Cedric McMillan, an accomplished bodybuilder, died at the age of 44 due to complications caused by COVID-19 and a road accident in which he was involved. While he was alive, he was the 2017 winner of the Arnold Classic.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins died on April 9 at the age of 24. Haskins was driving on a South Florida highway when his car ran out of gas. When trying to cross Interstate 595, he was hit by a dump truck. Haskins was a former first-round pick for the franchise now known as the Washington Commanders.

LaShun Pace, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer and songwriter, died on March 21 at 60. For five years, she was on dialysis waiting for a kidney. The cause of death was organ failure.

Traci Braxton lost her battle with cancer at the age of 50 on March 12. Shortly after her death Traci’s sister, Towanda, penned a touching tribute to her writing, “No one will ever know just how we were as sisters. Behind the screen, living and loving our truth.”

Johnny Brown was an actor who was known for his role as Nathan Bookman on the hit show Good Times. He was 84 years old and died on March 2.

Charley Taylor was a former NFL wide receiver and coach who died on Feb. 19 at the age of 80. Throughout his career, he made eight pro bowls playing for the team now known as the Washington Commanders. In 1984, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Moses J. Moseley was an actor who was known for his role as Mike on the show The Walking Dead. He also appeared in the film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and USA Network’s popular TV series Queen of the South. He died at the age of 31 on January 26.

Bill Owens was a politician who in 1975 became the first Black state senator in the Massachusetts State Senate. He served multiple terms before retiring in 1992. He died on Jan. 22 at the age of 84.

The legendary queen of funk and soul singer Betty Davis died at the age of 77 on Feb. 9 of natural causes. Davis was once married to the jazz legend, Miles Davis.

Brothers Syl and Jimmy Johnson who were soul musicians both died within a week of each other. Syl died on Feb. 6 at 89 while Jimmy died on Jan. 31 at the age of 93.

Donny Gerrard was a member of the pop/rock band Skylark in the 1970s. A native of Vancouver, Canada, Gerrard died on Feb. 3 and was under hospice care while he was battling cancer.

Decorated Airman Charles McGee was known for flying more than 400 missions over the span of three wars for the Tuskegee Airmen. He also helped shine a light on the racism Black pilots were facing at home while those same pilots were fighting battles overseas. McGee lived a long life, dying at the age of 102 on Jan. 16 2022.

Legendary fashion icon and former Vogue creative director André Leon Talley died on Jan. 18 at the age of 73. Talley was a larger-than-life figure in the fashion industry, quite literally standing at six-foot-six. After his death, friends, family and fashion icons gathered at a Harlem-area church to remember the style icon.

Lusia Harris, the “Queen of Basketball,” who was the first and only woman to be drafted into the NBA in 1977 died on Jan. 18 at the age of 66. Simply put, she is one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the sport.

Born Veronica Bennet, Ronnie Spector was a pop music singer who was part of The Ronnettes during the 1960s. Born and raised in New York City, Spector died on Jan. 12 at the age of 78.

Born James Forman, James Mtume was a Grammy-award-winning jazz and R&B musician and songwriter. He was known for his work with jazz legend Miles Davis. James also had his own R&B group, Mtume. He died at the age of 76 on Jan. 6.

Singer Jessie Lee Daniels of the R&B group Force MDs died on Jan. 6 at the age of 57. He and the group were most known for their 1985 single “Tender Love.”

Calvin Simon was a singer who was a founding member of Parliament Funkadelic. He died on Jan. 6 at 80. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Simply one of the most legendary actors in the history of cinema, Sidney Poitier was an incredible artist who became the first Black actor to win the Best Actor Oscar for his role in Lilies of the Field. He died at the age of 94 on Jan. 7.

Born Maxwell Julien Banks, he was best known for his role as Goldie in the 1973 Blaxploitation film The Mack. Member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Julien died on Jan. 1 at the age of 88.

Lani Guinier was a Black Jewish Caribbean American legal scholar who challenged lawmakers to rethink the weight and distribution of voting rights among minorities. She died at the age of 71 on Jan. 7 after losing her battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hop’s biggest names in the 1990s with hit songs such as “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” died in Los Angeles Wednesday at the age of 59. Coolio’s agent Sheila Finegan confirmed the rapper’s death to Eyewitness News. Manager Jarez Posey said he died at a friend’s home in Los Angeles.

The award-winning broadway actress and singer died on Sept. 17 at the age of 66. From Petersburg, Virginia, Hicks performed in multiple shows on Broadway including The Lion King and Motown: The Musical. She also sang duets with the likes of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.

A former UCLA basketball player, Jalen Hill died on Sept. 21 at the age of 22. Hill played for the UCLA men’s basketball team for three years until February 2021. He later revealed that he was going through anxiety and depression.

Powell “passed away peacefully” in his Los Angeles home on Sept. 13 at 51. Born in Gary, Ind, the R&B singer was known for his 1990s hit, “You.”

Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock was fatally shot on Sept. 11 while eating at a Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles, Calif. He was 30 years old.

A Chicago-based jazz pianist and compressor who was sampled by countless artists, Ramsey Lewis died on Sept. 12 in his Chicago home at 87 years old.

CNN’s original chief anchor when the network started in 1980, Bernard Shaw died on Sept. 7 of Pneumonia at the age of 82. As a journalist, Shaw was active from 1971 to 2001.

Comedian David A. Arnold died on Sept. 6 of natural causes at the age of 54. Arnold was a beloved comedian who had multiple stand-up specials on Netflix, HBO and BET.

A record producer and songwriter who helped mold the sound of Motown in the 1960s, Lamont Dozier died at 81 on Aug. 22. He worked with the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and the Isley Brothers.

Mosley starred as Theodore “T.C.” Calvin in the classic CBS television series Magnum P.I. He died on Aug. 7 and his death was a result of being injured in a car crash the week before, which he was paralyzed from the shoulders down.

Known for her legendary role as Lt. Uhura in Star Trek: The Orginal Series, Nichelle Nichols died on July 31 at the age of 89. To honor the late actress, her ashes were aboard the Celestis’ Historic Deep Space Mission.

The greatest winner in the history of American team sports, legendary Boston Celtics player Bill Russell died at 88 on July 31. To honor Russell’s legacy, the NBA decided to retire No. 6 across the NBA.

The Tony award-winner actress known for her roles in A Different World, The Matrix: Revolutions, Sparkle and I’ll Fly Away, Mary Alice died on July 28 at the age of 85.

A sideman with Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis, Michael Henderson was a successful funk bassist and crooner who died on July 23 at his home in Dallas, GA. He was 71.

Talented young comedian and actor Jak Knight died on July 14 at the age of 28. His death was later ruled a suicide. Before his death, Knight most recently starred in Peacock’s new comedy Bust Down.

Lead singer of the 1970s Philadelphia Soul group The Delfonics, William Poogie Hart died on July 14 at 77 due to complications from surgery.

Jaylon Ferguson, NFL linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens died on June 21 at the age of 26. It was found weeks later that Ferguson died of a drug overdose in his home.

Caleb Swanigan, a former basketball star at Purdue University and NBA player for three years, died of natural causes on June 20 of natural causes.

Respected Atlanta rapper Trouble who released a plethora of albums and mixtapes throughout his career was fatally shot on June 5 at the age of 34. A suspect turned himself in a day later.

Known for his bruising run style, former NFL running back Marion Barber III who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears died on June 1 at 38 years old. He was found in Frisco, Texas home.

Tytyana Miller, the daughter of rapper and music executive Master P, died on May 28 at the age of 29. While the cause of death was never shared, the Louisiana rapper shared that his daughter struggled with mental health and substance abuse.

Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, cornerback Jeff Gladney died at the age of 26-year-old. Earlier in the summer he signed with the Arizona Cardinals and was set to play for them during the 2022 season.

Singer, songwriter and musician Bernard Wright died on May 19 after he was struck by a vehicle in Dallas while crossing the street. An often sampled artist, Wright was known for his 1985 hit song, “Who Do You Love.”

Up-and-coming rapper Lil Keed was signed to Young Thug’s YSL imprint. At the age of 24, the Atlanta rapper died from kidney and liver failure possibly linked to drug abuse on May 13.

NBA Hall of Famer Bob Lanier died at the age of 73 after a short illness. During his 14-year NBA career, Lanier played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. He was also an eight-time NBA All-Star.

Earth, Wind & Fire Saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk died on April 24 at the age of 71. Outside of his work with EW&F, Woolfolk also worked with Deniece Williams, Stanley Turrentine, Phil Collins, Twennynine, Philip Bailey, and Level 42.