To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

11 Love Actually stars have died 21 years since iconic Christmas movie

11 Love Actually stars have died 21 years since iconic Christmas movie

Love Actually was made all the more special thanks to its stellar cast

Love Actually is and always will be an iconic Christmas film, and it was made all the more special thanks to the cast and crew on set.

However, not everyone knows that in the 21 years following its release, 11 cast members have died.

The legendary Christmas classic has been blessing our screens for years now and it’s somewhat of a tradition to pop it on each year and cry, laugh and love all over again.

Love Actually is a flick which features a number of couples and couples-to-be and follows their journeys through the holidays, with it ultimately ending with love.

Audiences fell in love with those who appeared on their screens throughout the flick and will be devastated to know what some of those people are no longer with us.

Let’s take a look at who we’ve loved and lost through the film...

Michael Parkinson

Michael Parkinson played himself (Universal Pictures)
Michael Parkinson played himself (Universal Pictures)

Parkinson played himself as the beloved TV host who interviewed Bill Nighy’s character, Billy Mack.

The presenter was known for his BBC career as well as being one of the original presenters on Good Morning, Britain before his death on 16 August 2023 following a brief illness aged 88.

Jeanne Moreau

Moreau had a brief moment on the film as taxi passenger Marseille Airport who went uncredited in the film.

She died on 31 July, 2017 at her home in Paris at the age of 89 and was discovered by her maid.

Meg Wynn Owen

Owen got her part in the film as Mary, the PM's secretary and we got to see her attempt to deal with Hugh Grant’s personal affairs in the flick.

The actress she suffered from dementia and died in June 2022, aged 82.

Wyllie Longmore

Wyllie Longmore played the PMs associate (Universal Pictures)
Wyllie Longmore played the PMs associate (Universal Pictures)

Longmore plated an associate of the Prime Minister called Jeremy in the film and also worked on Coronation Street in the 80s.

The actor sadly died of cancer on 4 January 2023, aged 82.

Sheila Allen

Allen played the role of as Jamie's (Collin Firth) mum in the flick, and was seen briefly by fans.

It was when Jamie decided to ditch his family on Christmas to chase after his soon-to-be fiancé, that we saw Allen beg her son: “But, Jamie, darling!”.

Allen tragically died in London on 13 October 2011, aged 78.

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman played Harry in the iconic festive flick (Universal Pictures)
Alan Rickman played Harry in the iconic festive flick (Universal Pictures)

Rickman’s death was something that shocked the TV and film industry, and probably led to people no longer hating his character, Harry, who tried to cheat on his wife, Karen with his office assistant.

Rickman was known for his decades of work on screen, including the Harry Potter franchise in which he played Professor Snape.

Sadly, in 2015, Rickman had a minor stroke, which then led to his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer which was terminal.

Less than a year later, the actor died from his cancer at the age of 69.

Gillian Barge

Barge played the cabinet minister in the film, and this would be her last film role ever.

Such as the case with Hall, Barge also unfortunately passed away in 2003 after being diagnosed with cancer. She was 63.

Margery Mason

You’ll remember when Grant’s character was frantically trying to find out where Martine McCutcheon’s Natalie lived when he ended up at Harris Street where an old lady answered and clocked who he was. Yep, that was Mason.

She was 90 at the time and retired from acting that same year before her death at the amazing age of 100 in 2014.

Lynden David Hall

Lynden David Hall had an incredibly memorable role in Love Actually (Universal Pictures)
Lynden David Hall had an incredibly memorable role in Love Actually (Universal Pictures)

You’ll know Hall if you heard his voice, as he was the man who was enlisted as the wedding singer for Kiera Knightley and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s characters, singing the Beatles' ‘All You Need Is Love’.

However, the same year that the film was released, Hall’s life was tragically cut short.

In October 2003, Hall was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and he died on 14 February 2006, aged 31, from complications from a stem cell transplant he received the year before.

Caroline John

John was Sam's (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) grandmother in the film who we briefly saw on screen. Little did you know that John previously played the role of the Doctor's companion in 1970 alongside Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor.

Unfortunately, John would too be diagnosed with cancer and die in 2021 at age 71.

Edward Hardwicke

Hardwicke was young Sam's grandfather, and was well known for his theatre work.

Sadly, Hardwicke died on 16 May 2011 of cancer at a hospice.

Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Topics: Health, Film, TV and Film, Celebrity, Cancer