Almost twenty years after director James Mangold gave us the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," he's returned to the space with a look at Bob Dylan's transition from acoustic to electric.

As much as the music will dazzle Dylan fans, it's the acting that's the highlight. Timothée Chalamet delivers one of the best performances burgeoning career, getting Dylan's voice and mannerisms down perfectly. — Jason Guerrasio

Sebastian Stan gives one of two standout performances this year in "A Different Man." The surreal, twisty psychological thriller follows Stan as Edward, an introverted, struggling actor with neurofibromatosis (a disorder causing facial differences) who is cured through an experimental procedure. Reinventing himself as "Guy" doesn't quite give him the dream life he'd hoped for, though.

The darkly comic film from writer-director Aaron Schimberg also features great supporting performances from Renate Reinsve (who had her breakthrough in 2021's "The Worst Person in the World") and Adam Pearson as Oswald, a confident and charismatic man who also has neurofibromatosis. — Caralynn Matassa

For this latest trek back into the sci-fi world of "Alien," director Fede Álvarez takes full advantage of the IP by weaving a story that touches on the original movie and the world of "Prometheus." The result is a thrill ride that will satisfy fans of the franchise and scare the hell out of the newbies who have never seen an "Alien" movie. — JG

Sean Baker made a name for himself as one of the most acclaimed independent filmmakers, and for good reason. He excels at slice-of-life movies (2017's "The Florida Project" and 2021's criminally underrated "Red Rocket") that spotlight marginalized communities.

His latest, "Anora," centers on the titular sex worker played by "Scream 5" standout Mikey Madison. The film landed the Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's highest honor, thanks to Madison's subtly powerful performance and Baker's propulsive script. — CM

It shouldn't come as a shock that the most polarizing movie of the year was one about Donald Trump's rise to power as a New York City real estate tycoon.

But take away your political views and opinions on Trump (which, I know, is hard), and this movie from director Ali Abbasi is a fascinating exploration of how those with power and influence move through the world.

And then there are the performances by Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Trump's fixer and mentor Roy Cohn, both of which should be recognized during award season. — JG

Nicole Kidman gives one of the best and boldest performances of her decadeslong career in "Babygirl." The erotic thriller, written and directed by "Bodies Bodies Bodies" filmmaker Halina Reijn, puts the female gaze on a distinctly male, often-problematic genre, tackling female sexuality, gender, and power dynamics as Kidman's Romy Mathis, a high-powered CEO, pursues a secret affair with her intern (Harris Dickinson). — CM

I wasn't expecting a "Beverly Hills Cop" sequel made on Netflix to give me some of the biggest laugh-out-loud moments this year, but that's exactly what happened.

Director Mark Molloy certainly understood the assignment: lean in to what made the first two movies so beloved (let's not talk about the third one).

Focusing on Eddie Murphy's jokes, big action sequences, and that memorable soundtrack, the fourth movie in the franchise became one of the surprise delights at the movies this year. — JG

One of the boldest epics made in some time, this three-and-a-half-hour drama shot on VistaVision is an exquisite exploration of one immigrant's drive for the American Dream in post-World War II America.

Directed and co-written by Brady Corbet ("Vox Lux"), "The Brutalist" follows fictional character László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-born Jew who survives the Holocaust and emigrates to the US in the late 1940s. Over three decades, Tóth, a talented architect, struggles to make a living and get his wife (Felicity Jones) to the States. Then a wealthy man (Guy Pearce) changes his life.

With masterful production design, photography, score, and performances, this is a movie that will stay with you long after you've seen it. — JG

Zendaya dazzles in Luca Guadagnino's sporty, steamy drama.

As a former tennis great thrust into a love triangle with two other players, her now-husband Art (Mike Faist) and her ex-boyfriend Patrick (Josh O'Connor), Zendaya delivers one of the most layered performances of her career as she navigates love, lust, and mind games. — JG

Alex Garland's latest showcases a United States that has been ravaged by civil unrest.

Kirsten Dunst is magnificent as a hardened war journalist in an existential crisis who travels from New York City to Washington, D.C. to cover the story. The war scenes are brutal and devastating, but that's the point. — JG

Ralph Fiennes leads a drama filled with Shakespearian-level mystery, backstabbing, and intrigue as the Cardinal-Dean in charge of the papal conclave. In the process, he finds himself investigating scandals and secrets as the choices narrow for who will become the next pope.

Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini are also outstanding in supporting roles. — JG

After a bevy of delays that included Fox being bought by Disney, COVID, and the strikes by the writers and actors in Hollywood, we finally got the third "Deadpool" movie. And it was worth the wait.

From the brawls with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the endless Disney IP jokes, and a fight with countless Deadpools, the movie is the rare payoff for fans of superhero movies in the post-"Endgame" era of the MCU. — JG

Denis Villeneuve's continuation of his adaptation of Frank Herbert's beloved sci-fi novel takes us back to Arrakis, where Paul (Timothée Chalamet) goes from the hunted to the hunter as he teams with the Fremen to fight his enemies and becomes a Messiah in the process.

Like the first movie, the visuals are stunning, but the sequel also features more Zendaya as Paul's love interest, heightening the stakes by the end. — JG

Though "The Fall Guy" underperformed at the box office, David Leitch's love letter to stunt performers is one of the most enjoyable movie-watching experiences of the year.

A big reason for that is the performances from Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, whose chemistry as they navigate an on-and-off relationship while coping with movie-making madness is off the charts. — JG

George Miller's latest trek into the Wasteland may not be as jaw-dropping as his magnum opus "Mad Max: Fury Road," but the auteur of action still dazzles with breathtaking shots of desolate sandy vistas and ultra-violent car chases.

The major highlight is Anya Taylor-Joy as Imperator Furiosa (originally played by Charlize Theron in "Fury Road"). With very little dialogue, Taylor-Joy must use facial expressions and a multitude of stunts to convey her character's origin story and complex emotional arc. It's well worth the ride. — JG

Twenty-four years after the Oscar-winning original, Ridley Scott returns to the Coliseum with a new star (Paul Mescal) and bigger fights. The result is an enjoyable mix of blockbuster thrills and nostalgic callbacks to the first movie.

But what sets "Gladiator II" apart is Denzel Washington, whose devilish, scenery-chewing performance as a gladiator owner with plans of getting his hooks into the Roman Senate elevates the movie whenever he's on the screen. — JG

The song "We Are The World" brought together the greatest musicians in pop and rock, but the story of how it came together makes the song even more remarkable.

This Netflix documentary from Bao Nguyen features never-before-seen footage and candid interviews recounting a single evening in Los Angeles that would become a defining moment for pop culture in the 1980s.

The documentary is replete with fascinating details about how the song and its ensuing celebrity spectacle came to be. From seeing how Michael Jackson created the hook to watching musicians like Cyndi Lauper and Huey Lewis give it their all recording long into the night, "The Greatest Night in Pop" is a must-see for anyone who lived through or loved the '80s music scene. — JG

On a surface level, Pansy Deacon, the lead character of "Hard Truths," isn't someone you'd root for. She's a deeply depressed, angry middle-aged British woman who takes her fury out on anyone and everyone around her, from fellow shoppers at the supermarket to her own browbeaten husband and adult son.

The film starts out almost comically, as Pansy finds every imaginable reason to rant and rave at everything from babies with pockets (what do babies need pockets for anyway?) to the salesperson attempting to help her buy a couch. Marianne Jean-Baptiste infuses Pansy with so much heart and deep-seated pain that you can't help but feel for her, even as you're horrified by her behavior.

Writer-director Mike Leigh's unique filmmaking process (he and his cast start off without a script and collaboratively develop the characters) results in one of the most stunning performances of the year. — CM

Hollywood is still trying to perfect this generation's high school movie. "Incoming" gets pretty close.

Following a group of friends who are the only freshmen invited to a party thrown by a senior, this raunchy comedy uses staples from the high school genre and mixes them with today's culture to concoct a hilarious movie. — JG

After a lot of confusion and frustration within the walls of Pixar over its COVID-era release strategy, the beloved animation house is having a much-deserved big-screen resurgence thanks to "Inside Out 2."

In the sequel to the Oscar-winning 2015 original, we catch up with Riley's key emotions like Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) right when Riley hits puberty. And just like that, new emotions like Anxiety (Maya Hawke) and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) show up wanting to be in control of Riley's feelings.

The movie is a funny and emotionally charged journey that highlights those impressionable years when we can no longer lean on our parents to make the right choices; it's now on us. — JG

Beyond having the most brilliant marketing campaign of the year, "Longlegs" is also genuinely freaky.

Osgood Perkins channels "Silence of the Lambs," mixed with devil worship and possessed dolls for good measure, for a crazy genre mashup: a police procedural horror movie. Maika Monroe gives an understated performance as traumatized FBI agent Lee Harker, who's investigating a series of murder-suicides that all point back to one mysterious figure: Longlegs.

The eventual reveal of what's going on — and the physical reveal of Nicolas Cage's Longlegs, a noteworthy entry in the actor's list of batshit roles — is disturbing and memorable. — CM

Pamela Anderson gives a career best performance as an aging Las Vegas showgirl who must come to terms with losing her job when her revue abruptly closes.

Anderson holds nothing back as she plays a character who still is intoxicated by the glitz and glamour of the strip of yesteryear but comes to the harsh realization that show business has nothing left for a woman her age.

Ironically, after decades in the limelight, this is the role that is finally getting Anderson the recognition for her acting that she deserves. — JG

Originally planned as a TV series, Disney made the right move by turning this instead into a feature-length sequel to the beloved 2016 original.

This time, Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) must defeat an evil God who controls an island so that all islands across the sea can be reconnected.

The higher stakes, new characters, and catchy songs make the movie a worthwhile continuation of a story audiences couldn't wait to return to. — JG

Some viewers criticized RaMell Ross's bold decision to shoot "Nickel Boys," an adaptation of Colson Whitehead's 2019 novel, in a first-person point-of-view, where we see through the eyes of the character speaking. To that, I politely say: You're wrong, sorry.

The immersive filming style works perfectly to put the audience right in the mix as Elwood and Turner, two Black boys sent to a reform school called the Nickel Academy (based on an actual school in Florida), struggle to survive amid the racist institution's many often deadly abuses.

Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson give a pair of breakout performances as Elwood and Turner, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is devastating as Hattie, Elwood's devoted grandmother. It's a tough watch, but a worthy one. — CM

Looking back on the work of Robert Eggers, his obsession with telling stories set long ago has led up to this: an adaptation of the iconic gothic vampire tale.

With exquisite production design, makeup, and effects to transform Bill Skarsgård into the creature of the night, and a tour-de-force performance by Lily-Rose Depp as a woman overcome by a spell that fills her with desire and fear, this is Eggers' masterwork. — JG

Yep, both of Luca Guadagnino's 2024 releases made this list. "Queer" is a very different film from "Challengers" in many ways, but both cement Guadagnino as a filmmaker with an innate understanding of desire and a master at evoking it onscreen.

Based on William S. Burroughs' 1985 novella, the movie follows William Lee, a gay American expat living in 1950s Mexico City, who becomes obsessively infatuated with the much younger Eugene Allerton. Daniel Craig's no-holds-barred performance as Lee, a stand-in for Burroughs himself, establishes him as one of the most talented and versatile working actors today. It's also gorgeously shot, courtesy of Guadagnino's go-to cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom. — CM

There's always one Netflix movie that comes out of the blue every year and grabs attention. This year, it was "Rebel Ridge."

Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier ("Blue Ruin"), this impressive action movie gives a jolt to the genre with its gritty take. It's also a showcase for Aaron Pierre, who is on his way to big-screen stardom (he also voiced the title character in Disney's end-of-year release, "Mufasa.") — JG

JT Mollner's thriller "Strange Darling" flew under the radar this year, but boy, is it a trip.

The story is told in a destabilizing nonlinear format; it's a clever narrative trick to make you think the movie is something it's not. Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner are knockouts as the two leads, keeping viewers transfixed and with our hearts in our throats. It's also beautifully shot by Giovanni Ribisi (yes, the actor) in his feature debut as a cinematographer. — CM

"The Substance" is not for the faint of heart. French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat established herself as a genius of phantasmagoria with her debut feature, 2017's "Revenge," but she takes things up several notches in her follow-up.

The satirical feminist body-horror movie is completely insane, in the best way. It's a disgusting, disturbing, and extremely real fable of female self-hatred that goes off the rails (complimentary) like few movies I've seen before.

Demi Moore grounds it all as Elisabeth Sparkle, a washed-up middle-aged celebrity who's driven to try the mysterious drug dubbed The Substance after being fired from her aerobics show on her 50th birthday. Margaret Qualley is positively demonic as Elisabeth's younger and more perfect self Sue, the product of that black market serum fated to be Elisabeth's downfall. — CM

This summer, we learned that if you mix Glen Powell and tornadoes, you've got yourself a hit.

This sequel to the 1996 hit "Twister" features more GGI-fueled storms and chemistry so hot between Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones that audiences were bummed they didn't kiss at the end — everything you need from a hit summer blockbuster. — JG

I was prepared to be a hater heading into "Wicked." After all, how could someone successfully adapt one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time? After being blown away by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's performances, I'll gladly admit I was wrong.

As the movie's seemingly endless press tour has demonstrated, Erivo and Grande have incredible chemistry as Elphaba and Glinda, two witches who were once best friends before their paths diverged. Erivo is devastating as the lost, deeply lonely but resolute Elphaba, while Grande imbues so many layers into her performance as Glinda. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable movie experience with a showstopping finale, even if it's not the most technically impressive film on this list. — CM

Based on Peter Brown's popular books, "The Wild Robot" weaves one of the most emotional yarns of the year. The movie tells the story of Roz (Lupita Nyong'o), a robot who washes up on a deserted island and learns the ways of the wildlife that inhabits it, leading to her becoming the guardian of an orphaned gosling.

Beautiful to look at, with animation that has a watercolor quality, it's the uplifting story that elevates this movie from an impressive fantasy tale to a work that will be cherished by audiences for years to come. — JG

1. "The Wild Robot"
2. "The Apprentice"
3. "The Brutalist"
4. "The Substance"
5. "Conclave"

1. "The Substance"
2. "Hard Truths"
3. "Queer"
4. "Anora"
5. "Nickel Boys"

Kevin, played by Culkin, is the bratty youngest kid of the McCallister family, who, after being left home by mistake when his family rushes off on a flight to Paris, learns to appreciate them.

His mea culpa occurs after he spends days alone, having to fend for himself. Oh, and he also has to ward off burglars Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), known as the Wet Bandits.

The performance by Culkin, who was 10 at the time of filming, was so good it would define his career.

Culkin, 44, had unbelievable fame through most of his childhood due to "Home Alone" and its sequel, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." He continued to be one of the top child actors in Hollywood with movies such as "My Girl" and "The Good Son."

His fame was also heightened due to his friendship with Michael Jackson. Culkin even starred in his 1991 music video for "Black and White."

In 2005, at Jackson's trial for sexual child abuse, Culkin testified that he slept in the same bed with Jackson, but was never molested by the pop star, per Vanity Fair.

In 1994, he took a pause from acting and wasn't seen on screen again until 2003 when he made a guest appearance on "Will and Grace."

Since then, he's occasionally appeared on TV, even parodying himself in "Home Alone" for a Google Assistant commercial in 2018. Since 2019, he's appeared in episodes of shows such as "Dollface," "American Horror Story," "The Righteous Gemstones," and will appear in the second season of "Fallout."

He also is the cofounder of the pizza-themed comedy rock band Pizza Underground and the CEO of a satirical pop-culture website and podcast called Bunny Ears.

In terms of his personal life, Culkin has been in a relationship with fellow former child star Brenda Song since 2018. They have two children.

Pesci starred as Harry, a burglar obsessed with the McCallister house.

Pesci's Harry is the perfect villain for a kid-friendly movie. One-half of the "Wet Bandits" (because they flood the houses they steal from), Harry thinks he's got all the angles figured out. That includes how to do the big score of robbing a block of big fancy houses as their owners are all away for Christmas.

But Harry, with his shiny gold tooth, didn't count on Kevin to ruin his plans to rob the McCallister house, which he's always had his eye on.

When "Home Alone" came out, Pesci was known best for his tough guy roles in Martin Scorsese movies such as "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas," which opened the same year as "Home Alone" and would earn Pesci an Oscar.

Pesci's silly performance as Harry showed a different side of the actor and led to more comedic movies, such as "My Cousin Vinny," and playing the bumbling sidekick to Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the "Lethal Weapon" movies.

Since "Lethal Weapon 4" in 1998, Pesci, 81, has appeared in fewer movies. In 2019, he teamed up with Scorsese once more for the director's Netflix epic "The Irishman." Four years later, in 2023, he had a main role in the Peacock series "Bupkis," which was loosely based on the life of its star, Pete Davidson.

Stern played Marv, the other half of the "Wet Bandits."

Stern's Marv is so memorable because he plays perfectly across from Pesci's Harry.

Though Harry is the leader, Marv thinks he's his intellectual equal (though what neither of them know is that they are both idiots) which leads to great comedic moments as the two try to outsmart Kevin.

And then there's Stern's physical comedy, which is the secret sauce of this movie.

Stern has been a Hollywood fixture going all the way back to his first movie, 1979's "Breaking Away." But around the time of the "Home Alone" release, Stern was at the height of his fame.

He was the narrator of the hit TV show "The Wonder Years," and a year after "Home Alone," he starred in another hit comedy, "City Slickers."

Most recently, the 67-year-old starred in the Hulu series "Shrill" and the Apple TV+ series "For All Mankind."

O'Hara played Kevin's mom, Kate, who, after realizing he's home alone, travels back to be with him.

Kate, along with her husband Peter (John Heard), are definitely up there as a pair of the worst parents in movie history.

Not only do they not double-check the head count to make sure all the kids are with them as they rush to their flight to Paris in the first "Home Alone," but they also lose track of Kevin again in the sequel, "Lost in New York."

O'Hara, 70, has gone on to have an incredible career playing a wide range of characters.

For years, she was best known for her work on Christopher Guest mockumentaries, such as "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind." She also frequently collaborated with Tim Burton, with voice roles in "A Nightmare Before Christmas," "Beetlejuice," and "Frankenweenie."

More recently, she's found huge acclaim for her role on the hit TV show "Schitt's Creek." At the 2020 Emmys, she won for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her performance in the final season.

Since "Schitt's Creek" wrapped, she's busier than ever. Since 2020, O'Hara has appeared in "Elemental," "Pain Hustlers," "Argylle," "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," and "The Wild Robot." In 2025, she's joining the cast of "The Last of Us."

Heartwarmingly, O'Hara was on hand to help present her on-screen son, Macaulay Culkin, with his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2024. He even called her "mama," and she called him "darling baby."

Ratray played Kevin's older brother Buzz, who loved to bully and scare his younger sibling. In other words, the perfect evil older brother.

With no care at all for Kevin, he spends most of the beginning of the movie teasing, tormenting, and scaring his younger brother.

Buzz even tells Kevin that their neighbor Old Man Marley kills people with his shovel, which turns out not to be true.

As an adult, Ratray, 47, starred in Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" and has worked multiple times with Steven Soderbergh ("Side Effects," "Mosaic," "Kimi"). He also had a cameo role in the Disney+ sequel to "Home Alone," "Home Sweet Home Alone" as an older Buzz — he's a police officer now.

However, Ratray has also experienced legal troubles. In 2021, he was arrested in Oklahoma while attending a fan convention for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, per Deadline. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence, People reported.

After his arrest in 2021, another woman came forward accusing Ratray of raping her in 2017. CNN reported in 2022 that the NYPD was investigating the case. Ratray denied the accusations in a call with the outlet. He did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

In one of the first roles of her career, Davis plays the French airport ticket agent who has to give the McCallisters the bad news that there are no flights back to Chicago.

Though she has a great French accent, Davis is not French — she's from New Jersey.

Since her small role in "Home Alone," Davis, 60, has built a successful acting career.

She's best known for her dramatic work in movies such as "About Schmidt" and "American Splendor." Davis also played Tony Stark's mother, Maria, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In 2022, she was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding guest actress in a dramatic series for her performance as Sandi Furness in "Succession."

This year, she had a guest role in the Apple TV+ thriller miniseries "Before," which starred Billy Crystal and Rosie Perez.

Culkin played Fuller, Kevin's youngest cousin.

Fuller is best known as the family bedwetter (and the character tasked with shameless product placement as he sips a can of Pepsi at the dinner table).

Unlike his brother, Macaulay, Kieran didn't experience the early pressure of superstardom, making it possible to steadily build a career in Hollywood — though he did appear in "Father of the Bride" and "She's All That" while he was still a kid.

Along with scoring great roles in movies such as "Igby Goes Down" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," he found his stride playing the despicable (and somehow lovable) Roman Roy in "Succession."

He received four Golden Globe nominations in a row for playing Roman, winning on his fourth try for the final season. He also received three Emmy nominations, winning for the final season as well.

In 2024, he co-starred in the dramedy "A Royal Pain" alongside Jesse Eisenberg as a pair of cousins trekking through Poland on a Holocaust tour. He's receiving plenty of buzz for his portrayal of Benji.

Old Man Marley, Kevin's creepy-looking neighbor who Buzz says is a killer but turns out to be a nice grandpa, was played by character actor Roberts Blossom.

Having close to 60 roles over his career, including "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "The Last Temptation of Christ," Blossom will forever be known for his role in "Home Alone."

Blossom died at the age of 87 in 2011, per the Los Angeles Times.

John Heard played Kevin's dad, Peter, who stays back with the family in Paris when Kate returns to Kevin.

Heard starred in countless hit movies, including "Big" and "Awakenings," and TV shows. He earned an Emmy nomination for his role as Detective Vin Makazian on "The Sopranos."

Heard died in 2017 at the age of 71, according to The New York Times.

John Candy was good friends with "Home Alone" producer John Hughes, so he agreed to do a cameo in the movie.

In it he plays Gus Polinski, "the polka king of the Midwest," who helps Kate get back to Kevin by driving her home.

Director Chris Columbus told Business Insider in 2020 that most of the lines Candy said as Gus were improvised. Candy's contribution led to some of the funniest moments in the movie.

Candy was an established star when he showed up on "Home Alone." He had already starred in hits such as "Splash," "Trains, Plains, and Automobiles," "Spaceballs," and "Uncle Buck."

Candy died in 1994 at the age of 43.

Jim Henderson (Mark Duplass) is back in his hometown to sell his late mother's house when he bumps into his high-school girlfriend, Amanda (Sarah Paulson). They end up spending the day together, leading to a lot of laughs and some shocking revelations.

Duplass, who also wrote the screenplay, and Paulson are fantastic together. If you're looking for a different kind of love story, this is for you.

If you can't get enough of Netflix's new docuseries "Cold Case: Who killed JonBenét Ramsey," we recommend this fiction/doc hybrid the streamer made in 2017.

"Casting JonBenet," Kitty Green's directorial debut ("The Assistant," "The Royal Hotel"), explores the unsolved murder in a unique way: by filming the casting of a fake movie about the JonBenét murder.

Green hires actors who live in the region of Colorado where the Ramseys lived. Some of them even know the family. The movie is made up of actor auditions and reenactments of key events, like the police news conference after the murder, and JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy, being interviewed by police. A handful of actors portray the main figures of the case in these moments — yes, even young girls as JonBenét.

The movie is a fascinating study of our own obsessions about the case rather than a search for answers.

If you're looking for something very different, check out this movie.

Written and directed by Craig Zobel ("Mare of Easttown," "The Penguin"), this disturbing movie is based on "strip search phone scams" that went on in the early 2000s.

In the movie, like the real-life instances, someone calls a fast-food restaurant claiming to be a police officer, and then convinces the manager over the phone to conduct a strip search of a female employee.

The movie stars Dreama Walker as the employee, Ann Dowd as the manager, and Pat Healy as the caller impersonating a police officer.

After a nonexistent theatrical release in 2022, this thriller has found a second life on Netflix.

Aubrey Plaza plays a woman crippled by student debt and unable to find a good job due to a criminal record. She decides to get into the credit-card scam game, leading her down a dark path in the Los Angeles crime scene.

No, we're not talking about that Will Ferrell soccer movie. This 1995 movie was Noah Baumbach's feature directing debut, showcasing his talent for mixing comedy with middle-class malaise. Here, he looks at a group of college graduates who are having trouble becoming real adults.

Josh Hamilton, Parker Posey, and Eric Stoltz round out the ensemble cast.

Park Chan-wook's beloved film follows a man who seeks revenge after being imprisoned for 15 years. Get ready for a fun and twisted tale with an impressive single-shot fight sequence.

In 2018, 48 years after Orson Welles began production on what would become his final feature film, Netflix finally released what was meant to be Welles' Hollywood comeback. 

Chronicling the last day of a filmmaking legend's (John Huston) life, the movie plays with a film-within-a-film storytelling style, rapid editing, and numerous types of film stock to tell a moving story about life and legacy.

Keep an eye out for a Dennis Hopper cameo, a stunning performance by Oja Kodar, and a scene-stealing role from Welles' longtime friend, fellow filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich.

This late-1980s erotic neo-noir thriller stars Al Pacino as Frank Keller, a New York detective trying to track down a serial killer who is using a singles' column in the newspaper to find victims.

Ellen Barkin plays Helen Cruger, a woman at the top of Frank's suspects list. There's just one problem: he's falling in love with her.

John Goodman, Richard Jenkins, and Michael Rooker all give great performances, too.

This classic 1985 Western from director Lawrence Kasdan ("The Big Chill") follows a group of misfit friends as they try to clean up the town of Silverado.

Filled with great gunfights and banter, it's highlighted by an ensemble cast that includes Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Rosanna Arquette, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, Jeff Fahey, and Linda Hunt.

Noah Baumbach's acclaimed early 2000s dramedy stars Jesse Eisenberg as a young man living in Brooklyn in the early 1980s who is dealing with the divorce of his parents, played by Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney.

Errol Morris' acclaimed documentary proved a man was wrongly convicted of murder and also uncovered the man who actually did the crime.

Using beautifully shot reenactments and engaging interviews, this chilling exploration inside the mind of a killer is considered one of the best non-fiction works ever created.

Marking one of The Rock's earliest movie roles after ending his wrestling career, here he plays an ex-con who sets out to avenge his brother's death.

This comedy stars Marsai Martin, Issa Rae, and Regina Hall.

Hall plays Jordan, a bossy businesswoman who finally goes too far when she insults a child. The child wishes that Jordan would become a kid again, and Jordan then becomes her 13-year-old self.

Comedy ensues as now bossy teen Jordan goes through school. Rae plays Jordan's assistant who now pretends to be her aunt.

In the Oscar-nominated film, director Kathryn Bigelow chronicles the nearly decadeslong manhunt to track down and kill Osama bin Laden.

Jessica Chastain delivers one of the best performances of her career as Maya, a CIA intelligence analyst who has spent her career trying to track down bin Laden.

Marking the directorial debut of Emma Seligman ("Bottoms"), this comedy follows the dysfunctional life of Danielle (Rachel Sennott) as she goes to a shiva where her ex-girlfriend (Molly Gordon) and her sugar daddy (Danny Deferrari) are both in attendance.

Based on the popular Colleen Hoover novel, this romantic drama stars Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, who finds herself in a toxic relationship that reminds her of what she witnessed her parents go through when she was a child.

After decades in development hell, director George Miller finally made the fourth title in his "Mad Max" franchise in 2015.

Tom Hardy took over for Mel Gibson in the role of Max, a loner in a postapocalyptic wasteland. But it's the eye-popping action sequences and introduction to a new character in the franchise, Furiosa (Charlize Theron), that turned this movie into an instant classic.

Maximus Decimus Meridius was the lead character in "Gladiator." At the movie's start, he's the general of a dominant army for the Roman empire and emperor Marcus Aurelius' successor to his throne. After Aurelius is murdered by his son, Commodus, Meridius is thrown into slavery, and his family is murdered. Meridius seeks out his revenge as a gladiator.

Crowe won the best actor Oscar for his performance as Maximus.

From there, the New Zealand-born actor would become one of the biggest movie stars of the 2000s, starring in acclaimed titles like "A Beautiful Mind," "Cinderella Man," and "American Gangster."

In June, Crowe appeared on the podcast Kyle Meredith With... and discussed his movie's sequel, "Gladiator II."

"I'm slightly uncomfortable with the fact they're making another one — because, of course, I'm dead, and I have no say in what gets done," Crowe said at the TK minute mark, referring to his Maximus character dying at the end of the first movie.

"But a couple of the things I've heard, I'm like — no, no, no, that's not in the moral journey of that particular character, but I can't say anything. It's not my place; I'm six foot under. So we'll see what that is like."

Commodus is the main villain in "Gladiator." He kills his father, Marcus Aurelius, after learning that he has decided to make Maximus Decimus Meridius his successor to the throne. He then takes full power of the Roman Empire.

Joaquin Phoenix received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for "Gladiator."

Since the movie, Phoenix has forged a career filled with acclaimed work that often showcases his attraction to daring and challenging roles.

After starring in M. Night Shyamalan's blockbusters "Signs" and "The Village" and receiving a best actor Oscar nomination for the 2006 Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," Phoenix focused more on unique projects during the 2010s.

Phoenix was Oscar-nominated for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 drama "The Master." He also found acclaim for playing a lonely guy who falls in love with an operating system in 2013's "Her."

Phoenix would win an Oscar for the 2019 movie "Joker," in which he played the beloved DC Comics villain in a movie that gave the comic book genre a more dramatic feel. The movie would become one of the highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time. It'd later be beaten by 2024's "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Since then, Phoenix's received praise for performances in indie films like "C'mon C'mon" and "Beau Is Afraid." However, he got mixed reactions for playing Napoleon Bonaparte in "Gladiator" director Ridley Scott's biopic on the French military commander, "Napoleon," and the "Joker" sequel, "Joker: Folie à Deux," which was a box office bust.

She is Marcus Aurelius' oldest child. Throughout the movie, she fights off the incestuous advances of her brother, Commodus. She is also the mother of Lucius.

At that point in her career, "Gladiator" was the biggest hit the Danish actor had starred in.

She went on to star in the 2002 thriller "One Hour Photo" opposite Robin Williams and the 2013 Lars von Trier erotic drama "Nymphomaniac."

In 2017, she landed a role in another box office hit by playing Queen Hippolyta in "Wonder Woman." Later that year, she would reprise the role in "Justice League" and 2020's "Wonder Woman 1984."

She returns as Lucilla in "Gladiator II."

The gruff gladiator trainer buys Meridius and turns him into a gladiator worthy of fighting in Rome.

Reed was one of the most acclaimed actors of his era. He was known for playing macho roles in movies from the 1960s and 1970s, such as "Oliver!" "The Three Musketeers," and "Tommy."

Reed died in 1999 while filming "Gladiator." Known for his heavy drinking, his hard-partying reputation led to his passing.

During a break from filming in Malta, Reed encountered officers from the Royal Navy on shore leave at a bar who challenged the actor to a drinking contest.

"He dropped down dead in the floor of a pub," Scott told Variety in 2020 for an oral history of the movie. "He probably had a couple of pints and said, 'I don't feel good,' laid on the carpet and died."

According to the Variety oral history, Reed had promised Scott he wouldn't drink while shooting, leading to the 61-year-old actor drinking on the weekends.

His official cause of death was a heart attack.

Jaba is the gladiator who befriends Meridius.

Three years before "Gladiator" opened in theaters, Hounsou landed his big break when Steven Spielberg cast him as the lead in his 1997 drama "Amistad."

Following the success of "Gladiator," Hounsou continued to land steady work, highlighted by costarring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2006 thriller "Blood Diamond," for which he received an Oscar nomination.

Since then, he's played Korath the Pursuer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was The Wizard in "Black Adam" and the "Shazam!' movies, and most recently starred in Netflix's "Rebel Moon" movies as General Titus.

The Roman emperor whose decision to make Meridius his successor leads to his power-hungry son killing him.

Like Reed, Richard Harris was a legend on the screen.

The Irish actor was a star from the late 1960s through the 1980s. He played various roles, from King Arthur in the 1967 musical "Camelot" to an English aristocrat in the 1970s Western "A Man Called Horse." Harris' talents made him not just a box office draw but a beloved actor of critics.

Along with receiving two Oscar nominations over his career (1963's "The Sporting Life" and 1990's "The Field"), Harris also won a Grammy in 1968 for his rendition of "MacArthur Park."

For many, he's best known for the role he took a year after "Gladiator." He played Professor Albus Dumbledore in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

The latter would mark his final role before his 2002 death. Michael Gambon would take over the role in the acclaimed series.

Proximo's chief gladiator who befriends Meridius and Jaba.

Moeller began bodybuilding at 17 and was the German national champion in 1984.

He turned to acting four years later and quickly found work in Jean-Claude Van Damme's action movies "Cyborg" and "Universal Soldier."

Moeller would follow "Gladiator" by starring opposite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in 2002's "The Scorpion King."

Since then he's starred in a bevy of B-level action movies.

The loyal servant of Meridius is killed while trying to help him.

This Scottish actor often gets cast in tough guy roles due to the scars on his face, the result of a knife fight he got into while working as a DJ before his acting career took off.

His first movie role was in Mel Gibson's 1995 epic "Braveheart." He also starred in "Face/Off" and "The Game" before landing the Cicero role in "Gladiator."

Since then, he's starred in "Sin City," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," but is most remembered for playing Filip "Chibs" Telford on the hit FX series "Sons of Anarchy."

A Roman army commander who betrays Meridius (though comes around to be back on his side at the movie's end).

Arana has made a career of playing the bad guy onscreen.

From "The Hunt for Red October" to "The Bodyguard," that dastardly stare has made him perfect for the villain role.

Since "Gladiator," he's starred in smaller roles in "The Bourne Supremacy," "The Dark Knight Rises," and "Guardians of the Galaxy."

The Roman senator opposes Commodus' rule and tries to free Meridius from slavery.

Jacobi has an esteemed career on the stage and screen, leading to him receiving two Emmys, a Tony, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth in 1994.

Since "Gladiator," he's been one of the go-to British actors whenever Hollywood produces period movies, starring in "Gosford Park" to "The King's Speech."

He reprises his role in "Gladiator II."

Lucius, the son of Lucilla, idolizes Meridius.

The year 2000 was a breakout one for Clark. The same year he played Lucius opposite Russell Crowe in "Gladiator," he was also seen alongside Bruce Willis as his onscreen son in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller "Unbreakable."

Since then, he's starred in TV shows such as "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D," "Animal Kingdom," and "Manhunt." He also returned for the "Unbreakable" sequel, 2019's "Glass."

When word about a "Gladiator" sequel came out, which focused on the Lucius character now all grown up, some online questioned why Mescal was taking over the role and not Clark.

Scott addressed the recasting in a 2023 interview with Deadline on why Mescal, who became a hot commodity in Hollywood after starring in the 2020 series "Normal People," was right for the Lucius role.

"I'm always looking for someone, something new and fresh," he told the trade. "I mean, fresh is terribly important. So they're not carrying … baggage is a terrible word for what they've done before because it's great stuff, but you will remember he just did this character already."

Clark, who is now 37, is taking all this in stride. In an interview with People in October, he fully supported Mescal.

"The movie looks so good, and Paul's going to do such a great job," he said. "I've actually heard great things about the movie."

Yes, The Rock is in "Jem and the Holograms." This disastrous movie has a scene where big names like Chris Pratt and Alicia Keys say how much they love the band, and Johnson is among them. Either he was doing this as a favor, or someone involved with the movie really has something on The Rock.

Yeah, we've never heard of this movie, either. But Johnson is in it for a split second playing a mugger. It was never released theatrically in the US, instead finding a home on the Disney Channel and DVD hoping to attract fans of Britney Spears and NSYNC, who also make cameos.

Johnson has another blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in this Tyler Perry movie. Johnson shows up at the very end of the movie as a dashing philanthropist who introduces himself to Janet Jackson's character. The movie ends implying that sparks may be flying between the two.

This forgettable comedy also sports a Johnson cameo. In this one, he plays an air marshal who has to calm down a frantic Kristen Bell. If anything, it shows Johnson's ability to hold his own doing some comedic work.

Right when Johnson was kicking his movie career into high gear with the release of "Fast & Furious 6" in May 2013, Lionsgate put this movie out four months later — straight to DVD. Starring alongside Emma Roberts and Liam Hemsworth, Johnson plays an NYPD detective trying to stop a heist planned by Hemsworth's character. It's really not worth your time.

This one isn't worth your time, either. Johnson reprises his role as The Scorpion King from "The Mummy Returns" for this standalone movie. Though it hit No. 1 at the box office its opening weekend, the movie is so forgettable that Johnson didn't even come back for the sequel, which recast his role and was released on DVD (a third movie went straight-to-DVD, too).

Throughout his career, Johnson has tried to capture the hearts of the family audience. This was round one, as Johnson signed on to voice the lead character for this animated movie, about an astronaut who lands on an alien planet. The movie was another forgettable attempt to get Johnson to branch out of his WWE bubble.

Johnson plays a tough guy only known as "Driver" who, following a 10-year prison sentence, sets out to avenge his brother's murder.

It makes a lot of sense that Johnson signed on to this movie, which is loosely based on the hit video game. But it turned out to be the wrong choice. The movie bombed, and only made it harder for Johnson to find respectability in Hollywood.

However, in the same year "Doom" opened, Johnson starred in the "Get Shorty" sequel playing a gay bodyguard. The movie is forgettable compared to the original, but Johnson is one of its few highlights.

Playing Roadblock in the live-action version of the iconic toy and Saturday morning cartoon, Johnson jumped on the sequel. But even he couldn't give the franchise the jolt it needed to be successful.

Marking the final time Johnson would include his WWE ring name, "The Rock," in a movie's credits, this stale Disney movie was another attempt by Johnson to get families to trust him with their kids. It shows him going in the right direction, but he's not there yet.

Johnson and Vin Diesel put their past drama aside for the good of the franchise. Johnson's Hobbs character returned for a brief cameo in the latest "Fast" movie.

We'll see if Johnson returns for the final movie in the franchise, and if he'll share screen time with Diesel.

Nothing about this movie works. Even with all his jokes and physical feats, he couldn't save this one.

A remake of the 1973 film starring Joe Don Baker, Johnson plays a former US soldier who comes home to clean up the crime and corruption there (with Johnny Knoxville by his side). Like most of Johnson's movies, especially earlier in his career, the critics hated it. At this point in his career, The Rock getting top billing in movies was good, but he wasn't getting the top projects.

What a difference a decade makes! Here Johnson was the lead of a major studio tentpole playing a character known the world over. The critics still hated it, but it was a respectable global performer at the worldwide box office, earning close to $250 million.

Jumping on a project that had been in development for years, Johnson did the most with what he was given, playing a father who goes undercover to save his son. The movie was another bust, but it showcased Johnson's evolving acting abilities.

Family audiences began to accept Johnson after this Disney hit, which is a remake of the 1975 movie "Escape to Witch Mountain."

In Johnson's first major movie role, he plays the Scorpion King. At one point in the movie, he shows up in probably the worst CGI form ever to appear onscreen. Despite that, this was the first step for Johnson in building a movie career.

The cameos aren't over yet! Johnson shows up in this movie as a confident S.W.A.T. team member who's supposed to be the savior of the overwhelmed Reno officers. Instead, he blows himself up with his own grenade. Johnson shows off his wit and brings a cool factor to this appearance, finally showing he knows how to do cameos right.

Trying out his dramatic chops, Johnson plays a counselor to juvenile teens who gets them to rethink their lives through playing football.

Filling in for Brendan Fraser in this sequel to 2008's "Journey to the Center of the Earth," Johnson holds his own as the lead of a larger-than-life 3D action movie.

Johnson finally cracked the family market with this hit comedy about a minor-league hockey player (Johnson) who must be a tooth fairy for a week.

The most ambitious role Johnson has taken in his career to date, Richard Kelly's cult classic has him doing things that were beyond anything he'd previously attempted on screen.

Johnson masters the cameo with this one. Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson play hero cops whose egos take them too far. While chasing suspect, they jump off a building aiming for the bushes and find life-ending cement.

Starring in a movie alongside the likes of Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway had to be a confidence booster for Johnson, who proves here he can play alongside some of the biggest stars in the world.

Johnson reteams with his "Jumanji" reboot franchise director Jake Kasdan for this big-budget Christmas movie from Amazon.

Johnson costars with Chris Evans as the two set out on an adventure to rescue Santa (J.K. Simmons).

Like many of Johnson's movies, there's a lot more focus put towards the CGI effects and action sequences than the story.

Johnson voices Superman's best friend, his dog Krypto, in this animated movie in which all the legendary superheroes' pets save the day. It's fun, but not very memorable.

This is the movie that made everyone in Hollywood realize that Johnson could be a global star. The disaster movie didn't just make a profit, it was Warner Bros.' biggest box office hit of 2015.

Johnson was a producer on this biopic on the rise of real WWE wrestler, Paige, so of course he shows up in a cameo. Here, he brushes off his "The Rock" persona to lay some hilarious smackdown on the lead (played by Florence Pugh) and her brother after they ask for advice. 

This movie wasn't a commercial success (though found its audience on DVD and when it hit cable TV), but after the "The Mummy Returns" and "The Scorpion King," Johnson was finally able to play a modern-day role and showed that he could do more than show off his physique and say a couple of one-liners.

After years of developing his first foray into the superhero genre, Johnson gives everything he's got to bring Black Adam to the screen, but it's hardly as rewarding as the other characters we've seen him portray.

In this heist movie/buddy comedy, Johnson must not only play the hero, but also match comedic wits with Ryan Reynolds and play a romantic lead opposite Gal Gadot.

Though not always on the mark, Johnson delivers a solid performance overall.

As a dad determined to save his family from a burning 240-story building, Johnson plays this disaster movie with a lot of vulnerability. It proves that even on top, he's always challenging himself.

Coming off the successful original in 2017, Johnson returns in a sequel that's even more wacky. In a twist, this time Johnson has to imitate Danny DeVito, who has taken over his game avatar. Thankfully, there are also some great action sequences.

Johnson takes on a bunch of mutants with the help of a super-sized ape, cementing his place as one of the very few profitable action stars left in the business.

Despite his obvious real-life beef with the holder of the "Fast and Furious" flame, Vin Diesel, Johnson's work is a highlight of the movie — especially alongside Jason Statham.

Johnson truly joined the "Fast and Furious" family with this one, as he teams with Dom and Brian to go on "one last job."

Johnson shows off both his action and comedy chops in this expansion of his Hobbs character from the "Fast and Furious" franchise. His chemistry with costar Jason Statham is a highlight, but we're really paying to see Johnson kick butt — and he does a lot of that in this movie. 

Starring opposite Emily Blunt in Disney's latest adaptation of one of its theme park rides, Johnson plays a boat captain with a lot of awful puns and a big secret.

Once again, Johnson shows he can hold his own opposite a major star.

Maui is again by Moana's side in the sequel to the hit 2016 original, complete with new songs to groove to.

Johnson once again is perfect in the demigod role, bringing a mix of comedy and heroics to another Disney hit.

Johnson always gives Hobbs a comic book character quality, but in this one he goes all out, breaking the cast on his arm by just flexing and walking around shooting a massive gun.

Starring alongside Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Mackie as bodybuilders who get caught up in an extortion and kidnapping scheme, Johnson is the highlight as the coke-snorting, born-again loose cannon Paul Doyle.

Johnson's comedic timing is perfect while starring opposite Kevin Hart. Audiences thought so, too, as the movie was one of the biggest box office hits of 2016.

Not only did this movie put Johnson on the path to top-level superstardom, but his casting also gave new life to the "Fast and Furious" franchise. After a string of roles that went against type, Johnson dove in head first to a part that focused on his tough guy strengths. The audience responded. The rest is history.

Thanks to the magic of Disney and the songwriting talents of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Johnson voicing the character of Demigod Maui is perhaps one of his most touching performances to date. All those years of trying to get into the family market finally paid off. Pulling off the singing is icing on the cake.

This role is everything Johnson wants to show he's capable of in a movie: he's tough, he's funny, and he's vulnerable. It's a multi-layered performance that, by the end, you hate to see disappear once the kids leave the Jumanji game.

Along with his boyhood friends, Jerry and David Zucker, Jim Abrahams is responsible for some of the funniest movies ever made.

Known in Hollywood as "Abrahams, Zucker, and Zucker," the trio wrote and directed memorable movies in the slapstick comedy genre of the 1980s, such as "Top Secret!" and the "Airplane!" and "Naked Gun" franchises. They also were behind the popular TV show "Police Squad!", which preceded "Naked Gun."

Abrahams found success on his own in the 1990s when he directed the "Hot Shots!" franchise.

Abrahams died on November 26 of natural causes.

John Amos delivered legendary performances on TV and in movies for over five decades.

After starting his acting career playing weatherman Gordon "Gordy" Howard on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," his career took off with memorable roles like James Evans Sr. on "Good Times" and Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots," the latter of which earned him an Emmy nomination.

He also appeared in films like "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song," "The Beastmaster," and "Die Hard 2," and even made a surprise cameo opposite Adam Sandler in "Uncut Gems."

But his most memorable performance was as Cleo McDowell in Eddie Murphy's beloved comedy "Coming to America."

Amos died on August 21 of natural causes.

Ashton made memorable turns as the grumpy LAPD sergeant in the "Beverly Hills Cop" movies, a concerned father in "Some Kind of Wonderful," and a stubborn bounty hunter in "Midnight Run."

Along with his work in movies, he also appeared in numerous TV shows over the '70s and '80s, including "Dallas," "The A-Team," and "M*A*S*H."

Ashton died on September 26 of cancer.

Beverly's iconic R&B music was a staple for decades.

The lead singer, songwriter, producer, and founder of the band Frankie Beverly and Maze, the group was responsible for such hits as "Before I Let Go," "Joy and Pain," and "Happy Feelin's."

"Before I Let Go" would be covered by Beyoncé for her 2019 album "Homecoming."

Beverly died on September 10. No cause was given.

With his tattoos, frosted tips, and high energy, Crazy Town lead singer Shifty Shellshock was the epitome of the late 1990s-early 2000s rap-rock front man.

With that also came a hit song: 1999's "Butterfly," which hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was a staple on the radio and MTV's "Total Request Live."

By 2003, the band had disbanded, and despite an attempt to reunite a few years later, Crazy Town was relegated to one-hit-wonder status.

Shifty Shellshock, whose real name is Seth Binzer, appeared on the first season of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" in 2007 and the spin-off "Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House" a few years later.

Binzer died at his home in Los Angeles on June 24 from an accidental drug overdose, according to his manager.

Carmen was a rock ballad king whose songs still get constant play to this day.

"All by Myself" was a hit in the mid-1970s. It became an even bigger hit when Celine Dion did her own rendition in 1996.

The Grammy-nominated "Almost Paradise" from the soundtrack to the hit 1984 movie "Footloose" became a staple at school dances and weddings.

Carmen repeated the feat when his song "Hungry Eyes" showed up on the soundtrack for the 1987 classic "Dirty Dancing."

Carmen's death was announced on his website on March 12, stating he "passed away in his sleep, over the weekend." No cause was given.

The Italian fashion designer was known for his flamboyant designs and game-changing innovations.

Cavalli's use of leopard prints beginning in the 1970s became one of his trademarks. His revolutionary method of printing leather and patchwork denim was beloved by everyone from Madonna to Gwyneth Paltrow.

Cavalli died on April 12. No cause of death was given.

From playing the concerned manager opposite Whitney Houston in "The Bodyguard" to the kind-hearted coach in "Air Bud," Bill Cobbs' ability to play the voice of reason in his roles made him a memorable character actor for decades.

Cobbs' other titles include "The Color of Money," "New Jack City," "The Hudsucker Proxy," "Demolition Man," and "Night at the Museum."

He died at his home in California on June 25 following a recent bout of pneumonia.

Dabney Coleman became a captivating scene stealer in the 1980s thanks to his gruff demeanor and booming voice. Whether he was playing the mean boss opposite Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin in 1980's "9 to 5," or the nasty TV producer in "Tootsie," or chasing Matthew Broderick in "WarGames," Coleman had a talent for playing the heel.

The Emmy winner most recently starred in the HBO hit series Boardwalk Empire from 2011 to 2014 and a 2019 episode of Yellowstone.

Coleman died on May 16. No cause was given.

As the wife of Francis Ford Coppola, Eleanor had to navigate the stress and complexities of living with one of the greatest directors of all time.

She channeled that by filming her husband while he made his landmark 1979 Vietnam movie "Apocalypse Now."

Her documentary, "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse," has gone down as one of the most honest accounts of the making of a movie.

Eleanor died on April 12. No cause of death was given.

To say Roger Corman was the king of B-movies is too simple of a characterization.

For decades, Corman made ultra-low-budget genre movies that featured everything from cheesy monsters to crazed bikers. Corman-produced titles almost always made a profit, and many of them became proving grounds for the directors and actors who would go on to change Hollywood.

After directing the 1967 acid-trip fantasia "The Trip" starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda and written by Jack Nicholson, the trio went on to make "Easy Rider," which would usher in the New Hollywood era of the 1970s.

Corman also produced titles directed by then-unknowns like Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese before they went on to mainstream studio success.

Corman died on May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., surrounded by family members.

Known for his energetic performances, Creel was a fixture on Broadway. He won a Tony in 2017 for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in the revival of "Hello, Dolly!," which was headlined by Bette Midler.

His other credits include recent runs of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Hair," and "Into the Woods."

Creel died on September 30 after being diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, in July.

It was hard to separate the characters Shannen Doherty played from who she was in real life, and that genuine quality led to her becoming an icon to a generation growing up in the 1990s.

Teens were glued to their TV sets every week to see the latest drama on "Beverly Hills, 90210" between Doherty's character Brenda Walsh and heartthrob Dyan McKay (played by Luke Perry, who died in 2019).

The on-screen drama spilled into Doherty's personal life, with tabloids chasing her to find who she was dating; she ultimately left "90210" after season four.

Though her star would never return to the heights of her "90210" days (she reprised her role for the revival series "BH90210," which lasted for one season), Doherty worked steadily, starring in the popular series "Charmed," making an appearance on "Dancing with the Stars," and appearing in a TV reboot of the 1988 cult classic "Heathers" after starring in the original movie.

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015; two years later she announced it was in remission. In 2019, it returned and spread to her brain.

She died on July 13 due to cancer, according to her publicist.

Before there was Oprah Winfrey, Geraldo Rivera, or Jerry Springer, there was Phil Donahue.

For close to 30 years, he ruled daytime talk with "The Phil Donahue Show," asking the biggest celebrities probing questions about everything from politics to abortion.

Donahue's style of mixing his own running commentary with questions from audience members became the blueprint for talk shows going forward. His efforts led to 11 Daytime Emmy wins.

Donahue died on August 18 following a long illness.

With her striking features and formidable acting talent, Shelley Duvall was born to be on the big screen.

A muse of Robert Altman, Duvall appeared in seven of his films, including "Nashville," in which she played teen groupie, "L.A. Joan," and "Popeye," as Olive Oyl.

The two-time Emmy nominee also became a horror icon when she starred opposite Jack Nicholson in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining."

Duvall died on July 11 due to complications from diabetes.

As one of the original cast members of the Canadian sketch comedy show "SCTV" in the late 1970s, Joe Flaherty — alongside the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Martin Short, and Rick Moranis — created a brand of comedy that was edgier and more outlandish than their competition "Saturday Night Live."

In later decades, Flaherty made scene-stealing appearances as the Western Union worker who gives Marty McFly the 70-year-old letter from Doc Brown in "Back to the Future Part II" and the heckler Donald in "Happy Gilmore."

He was also a regular on TV through the decades, with roles in "Married… with Children," "Freaks and Geeks," and "The King of Queens."

Flaherty died on April 1 following a brief illness.

After making a name for himself as a DJ around New York City in the 1980s, DJ Clark Kent produced some of the biggest rap hits of the mid-1990s.

He was responsible for hits like Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s "Players Anthem," Jay-Z's "Brookyln's Finest," and "Loverboy" by Mariah Carey. 

Over his career, he also produced tracks for Slick Rick, Queen Latifah, Doug E. Fresh, the Fugees, Rakim, Ice Cube and 50 Cent. 

DJ Clark Kent, whose real name is Rodolfo Franklin, died on October 24 after a bout with colon cancer.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, Teri Garr showed her range as a budding star. 1974 marked her breakout year, as she starred in two very different movies. In Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation," Garr gave a beautifully subtle performance as a woman ending her relationship with the main character, played by Gene Hackman. She then showed her comedic side playing the female lead opposite Gene Wilder in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein."

From there, Garr landed roles in "Oh God!" opposite John Denver, Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Tootsie" opposite Dustin Hoffman (for which she earned an Oscar nomination), and the female lead opposite Michael Keaton in "Mr. Mom."

Garr died on October 29 after battling multiple sclerosis since 1999.

Giovanni was an acclaimed poet, author, and activist.

She found initial acclaim in the 1960s during the civil rights movement, when her writing led to her being called the "Poet of the Black Revolution."

She's written dozens of volumes of poetry since then, and 10 children's books.

Along with holding 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities, she also was awarded the NAACP Image Award seven times over her career.

Giovanni died on December 9 of lung cancer.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Louis Gossett Jr. made his stage debut at 17. After building his craft onstage through the 1960s, Gossett Jr. made the jump to screen and in 1977 was cast in the acclaimed miniseries "Roots" opposite the likes of Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, and John Amos. He went on to win an Emmy for his performance as Fiddler.

He was nominated for seven more Emmys after that, most recently in 2020 for playing William Reeves in the HBO limited series "Watchmen."

He made history in 1983 when he won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the strict drill instructor Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." It would mark the first time a Black actor won the prize in that category.

Gossett Jr. went on to star in hit movies and TV shows like "The Principal," "Toy Soldiers," "Iron Eagle," and "Boardwalk Empire."

Gossett Jr. died on March 29. No cause was given.

Emily "Cissy" Houston, the Grammy award-winning singer and mother of Whitney Houston, died on Monday at 91.

The soul singer was surrounded by family while in hospice, Gwendolyn Quinn, a representative for Whitney Houston's estate, told Business Insider.

Cissy Houston had Alzheimer's disease, according to a statement from Quinn.

"Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family," Houston's daughter-in-law Pat Houston said in a statement shared with BI. "Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives.

"A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community," the statement continued. "Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts."

Cissy Houston got her musical start at church before joining her siblings in a family gospel act. She gained commercial success in the 1960s as part of The Sweet Inspirations, a backing group that sang for soul singers like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Elvis Presley.

She later pursued a solo career and recorded hundreds of songs throughout her career as a popular session singer.

Cissy Houston frequently sang with her daughter, including backup on Whitney Houston's successful first album.

Jackson was one of the original members of The Jackson Five.

The group comprised his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. They found fame as kids in the 1960s thanks to hits like "Big Boy," "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There."

They would go on to sell millions of albums and perform alongside their famous brother Michael once he launched his solo career.

Jackson, who played guitar for the group, went on to have a solo career as a blues musician in the early 2000s.

Jackson died on September 15. No cause was given.

The legendary director was best known for his eclectic filmography that included the drama "In the Heat of the Night," the musical "Fiddler of the Roof," and the beloved comedy "Moonstruck," all of which garnered him best director nominations at the Oscars.

The Canadian filmmaker's specialty was getting top-notch performances out of A-list actors like Steve McQueen ("The Thomas Crown Affair") and Denzel Washington ("The Hurricane").

It often led to Oscar glory for his movies and their stars. Twelve actors received nominations over his 40-year career, with five of his movies earning best picture noms.

Jewison died on January 20. No cause of death was given.

The English actor starred in over 60 films and 30 plays, and is known best for playing Mrs. Banks in the beloved 1964 Disney movie "Mary Poppins."

Legend has it that Johns originally thought she landed the role of Poppins. To let her down easy, Walt Disney made sure that she got to sing a big musical number in the movie. It led to the famous "Sister Suffragette" sequence.

In 1973, Johns' breathy voice caught the attention of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who cast her in the original Broadway production of "A Little Night Music." Sondheim wrote "Send in the Clowns," the song she performs, with her in mind. Johns would earn a Tony Award for her performance.

She was also nominated for an Oscar for her work in "The Sundowners" (1960).

Johns died on January 4. No cause of death was given.

The legendary voice behind iconic characters like Darth Vader and Mufasa died on Monday, September 9, at 93.

James Earl Jones is also known for his roles in "Field of Dreams" and "The Great White Hope," for which he was Oscar-nominated.

The actor overcame a childhood stutter to become a star of the stage and screen, working for more than 60 years in Hollywood and on Broadway.

Jones is also a rare EGOT winner. He won an Emmy, Grammy, honorary Oscar, and Tony.

Quincy Jones was one of the most successful producers in the history of the music business. Over his eight decades in music, he worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Will Smith, and his work resulted in 28 Grammy Award wins.

But Jones will forever be linked with Michael Jackson.

He produced Jackson's iconic solo albums, "Off the Wall," "Thriller," and "Bad," which launched the artist into becoming the King of Pop.

And only Jones could pull off the star-studded charity single "We Are The World," which featured the likes of Jackson, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, and Ray Charles.

Jones died on November 3. No cause was given.

Keith became prominent in the 1990s thanks to his hit single "Should've Been a Cowboy."

It would make him one of the decade's top draws in country music.

Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and dozens of songs that topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in his career.

Keith died on February 5 following a bout with stomach cancer.

A multitalented performer, Kristofferson was a country music superstar known for hits like "Me and Bobby McGee" and "For the Good Times" before he became an A-list Hollywood actor with roles in "A Star is Born" and "Blade."

The former US Army pilot had a larger-than-life personality and credited fellow songwriter Johnny Cash with encouraging him to pursue a musical career, the Associated Press reported.

On September 28, the singer-songwriter, age 88, died peacefully in his home on Maui, Hawaii, surrounded by family, his spokesperson confirmed to AP. No cause was given.

Thanks to his unique voice and lyrical prowess, Rich Homie Quan gained fame in the early 2000s in the Atlanta rap scene.

A member of Cash Money Records' spin-off Rich Gang, Quan, whose real name is Dequantes Devontay Lamar, found success with hit tracks like "Type of Way" and "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)."

Lamar died on September 5. No cause was given.

As one of the founding members of The Grateful Dead, Lesh was instrumental in defining rock music for a generation.

As the group's bassist, Lesh brought a steady rhythm to the band's iconic songs. He also sang a few of their classics, including "Pride of Cucamonga," "Unbroken Chain," and "Box of Rain."

When The Dead disbanded in 1995, he went on to jam with bands Phil Lesh and Friends and Furthur alongside Dead bandmate Bob Weir.

Lesh died on October 25. No cause was given.

Alongside James Cameron, producer Jon Landau was behind some of the most successful movies ever made.

Landau won the Best Picture Oscar with Cameron for 1997's "Titanic," which at the time was the highest-grossing movie ever.

He then broke the box office record again with Cameron's "Avatar" in 2009.

Landau also produced Steven Soderbergh's 2002 remake of "Solaris," Robert Rodriguez's 2019 "Alita: Battle Angel," and Cameron's upcoming "Avatar" sequels.

He died on July 5 of cancer.

In an era in the 1970s where stand-up comedy could be a path to superstardom, Richard Lewis was one of the biggest acts.

Often dressed in black and holding his hand up to his temple, his self-deprecating and neurotic style made him a constant visitor to Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show."

By the 1980s, he hit it big on TV, starring opposite Jamie Lee Curtis on the series "Anything but Love," which ran for four seasons.

His movie credits include the Mel Brooks comedy "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "Leaving Las Vegas," and John Candy's final role before his death, 1994's "Wagons East." Lewis has said Candy's death was one of the things that finally got him sober.

Lewis introduced himself to a new generation when Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" premiered on HBO in 2000. For 11 seasons, Lewis played a fictional version of himself as one of David's friends. Though he didn't return as a series regular for the series' final season, season 12, he popped up in a cameo in an episode that aired on February 18.

Back in April, Lewis revealed via a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and would be retiring from stand-up comedy after undergoing four surgeries.

Lewis died on February 27 of a heart attack in his Los Angeles home.

Regarded as one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, Willie Mays was astounding to watch.

He could hit and catch, had speed, and pulled off amazing feats that are still remarkable to this day.

One of his most memorable plays happened in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, which is simply known as "The Catch."

Mays' New York Giants were facing the Cleveland Indians at the Polo Grounds in New York. With the score tied 2-2 in the eighth inning and runners on base, Indians player Vic Wertz hit a towering 420-foot blast to dead center that in today's baseball would be deep in the seats for a homerun. But due to the Polo Grounds' massive outfield, it was in play, and Mays used practically all of it to track down the ball on the run with an incredible over-the-shoulder catch and then threw it into the infield quickly so no runner could score. The Giants went on to win the game in extra innings 5-2, and would go on to win the World Series. Many still regard Mays' catch as one of the greatest moments in baseball history.

Mays would go on to play 21 seasons with the Giants before being traded to the New York Mets for the 1972-73 season, which would be his last. He finished his career with 3,293 hits and 660 home runs.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Mays died on June 18, no cause was given.

A 1980s icon, Morgan found instant stardom in her film debut playing the stunning Lacey opposite Chevy Chase in the classic 1980 comedy "Caddyshack."

Two years later, she found herself in another iconic work, Disney's "Tron." As Dr. Lora Baines in the real world and Yori, who helps Jeff Bridges after he's sucked into the game world, Morgan once again showed she can shine opposite Hollywood's biggest leading men.

Though Morgan worked steadily the rest of her career, including a multi-episode run on the soap opera "Falcon Crest," she'll be forever known for her performances in two of the biggest movies of the '80s.

Morgan's death was first reported on January 6, though she died on December 30, 2023. No cause of death was given.

Mull could expertly play self-deprecating or the know-it-all jerk in everything from hit TV shows and movies to commercials. He was known for his roles in movies like "Clue" and "Mr. Mom," and in TV shows like "Rosanne," as boss Leon Carp, and "Arrested Development," as private detective Gene Parmesan. He was also the voice of Red Roof Inn commercials for many years.

Mull died on June 27. No cause was given.

Over his 18 seasons in the NBA, Dikembe Mutombo was known by many as one of the greatest defensive big men to ever play the sport.

Nicknamed "Mount Mutombo," the 7-foot-2-inch center entered the NBA as the fourth pick in the 1991 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets after an impressive college career at Georgetown. He would go on to lead the NBA in blocked shots three times over his career and was named to eight All-Star teams. By the time he retired in 2009, after playing for six teams and making two NBA Finals appearances, he was second on the list of all-time career leaders in blocked shots.

Outside basketball, Mutombo was also known for his humanitarian work. His work with his foundation improving the living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo made him one of the first global ambassadors of the NBA.

Mutombo died on September 30 following a bout with brain cancer.

Bob Newhart is regarded as one of the funniest men of the 20th century.

With his comedy albums and iconic TV shows like "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Newhart," the comic entertained audiences for generations.

The finale of the eight-season run of "Newhart" is regarded as one of the best in TV history. The last scene revealed that the entire series was a dream and that the show existed within the world of Newhart's other show, "The Bob Newhart Show."

Later in life, he played the heartwarming Papa Elf in the 2003 movie "Elf." Newhart scored his only Emmy win in 2013 for his recurring role on CBS' "The Big Bang Theory."

Newhart died on July 18 following a series of short illnesses.

The face of "CBS Sunday Morning" for over two decades, Osgood became a fixture in Americans' homes at the end of every weekend thanks to his wit, calming demeanor, and that bow tie.

Osgood had been at CBS since the early 1970s, first as a reporter, then the anchor of the "CBS Sunday Night News" from 1981 to 1987. From 1987 to 1992, he was often on "CBS This Morning."

In 1994, he became the face of "Sunday Morning," replacing Charles Kuralt. He would go on to earn two Daytime Emmys and a Peabody for his work on the show. He ended his run 2016, passing the reins to Jane Pauley.

Osgood died on January 23 after suffering from dementia.

Sporting a baritone voice and a flair for the dramatic, Ken Page forged a legendary Broadway career as he crafted some of the most memorable performances featured on The Great White Way.

After making his Broadway debut playing the Lion in 1975's "The Wiz," he went on to play two landmark roles: Ken in the original production of "Ain't Misbehavin'" (1978) and Old Deuteronomy in the original production of "Cats" (1982).

He also made an indelible mark on the big screen by voicing the villain Oogie Boogie in Tim Burton's beloved 1993 stop-motion animated movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

Page died on September 30. No cause was given.

As one of the members of the boy band One Direction, Payne brought joy and excitement to the band's millions of fans around the world.

The band, which was formed after singers Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan were made into a group during the 2010 British talent show "The X Factor," quickly became a sensation.

In 2011, One Direction released their first album, "Up All Night," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. They released another four albums before going on hiatus in 2016.

In 2019, Payne released his solo album, "LP1." He released the song "Teardrops" in March.

Payne died on October 16 after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina.

Perdomo was a rising star in Hollywood, having starred in Netflix's reboot "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and "The Boys" spinoff "Gen V."

The British-American actor died on March 30 as a result of a motorcycle accident, his publicist confirmed.

Perry, a professional surfer, appeared on screen in 2002's "Blue Crush" and 2011's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

Perry died on June 23 after being attacked by a shark while surfing off the island of Oahu in Hawaii, according to the Associated Press. He was brought to shore by paramedics and pronounced dead at the scene.

Rivera was a Broadway legend who originated some of the stage's most memorable characters, including Anita in "West Side Story," Velma Kelly in "Chicago," and Rose in "Bye Bye Birdie." She would go on to be nominated for 10 Tony Awards and win twice.

With Broadway credits spanning seven decades, Rivera's singing and dancing shaped generations of performers.

Rivera died on January 30 following a brief illness.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, was often described as the matriarch of the White House during the Obama administration, but the Chicago-born daughter of seven never felt quite at home on Pennsylvania Avenue, according to her family.

"The trappings and glamour of the White House were never a great fit for Marian Robinson," a statement from former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and other family members said. "'Just show me how to work the washing machine and I'm good,' she'd say."

Robinson's death was announced on May 31.

A cause and place of death was not revealed.

Pete Rose was one of the most polarizing figures in all of baseball history.

First known as "Charlie Hustle" because he never let up — he even famously crashed into catcher Ray Fosse during an All-Star Game — he also gained the nickname "The Hit King" when he passed Ty Cobb for the most hits in a career with 4,256.

But after he hung up his cleats, he was called other names, like "cheat" and "disgrace," when he was given a lifetime ban for betting on games while manager of the Cincinnati Reds (Rose finally admitted to the charge in a 2004 autobiography).

Death may finally give Rose something he was never allowed in life: induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He has the credentials: along with hits, he also holds the record for most games played. He made 17 All-Star Game appearances and won an MVP, three batting titles, two Gold Gloves, and three World Series championships with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rose died on September 30. No cause was given.

For the current generation, Gena Rowlands is known as the older version of Rachel McAdams' character in the 2004 adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook."

But her career stretches back decades. From the late 1960s through the 1980s, Rowlands was one of the most respected and acclaimed actresses working in Hollywood. Thanks to the efforts of her husband John Cassavetes, she also became the muse of the burgeoning American independent film scene.

After conquering Broadway, Rowlands quickly found work in Hollywood in the late 1950s. As her star grew, her husband, a renowned actor himself, began making movies financed outside the Hollywood system, which was unheard of at the time. With Rowlands as his star, the two collaborated on 10 movies, two of which led to Oscar nominations for Rowlands (1974's "A Woman Under the Influence" and 1980's "Gloria").

Rowlands' other standout titles include Woody Allen's "Another Woman" (1988), Jim Jarmusch's "Night on Earth" (1991), and her son Nick Cassavetes' "The Notebook" (2004).

Rowlands died on August 14 following a battle with Alzheimer's.

Richard Simmons would use his drive for weight loss to become one of the most recognizable fitness gurus in the world.

Overweight in his youth, Simmons began opening gyms around Los Angeles in the 1970s after losing 123 pounds. Simmons found fame in the 1980s for his energetic aerobic videos like "Sweatin' to the Oldies" and his Emmy-winning daytime show, "The Richard Simmons Show," which captured the nation's obsession with weight-loss programs.

For the rest of his life, Simmons' celebrity would only grow thanks to his flamboyant personality, which made him a fixture on game shows and late-night talk shows.

Simmons died on July 13. No cause was given.

O.J. Simpson had a life of high highs and low lows.

Finding fame initially on the football field, he became one of the greatest running backs ever to play in the NFL in the 1970s. He had an MVP season in 1973 when he set a single-season rushing record and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985 after his retirement.

He was set to live out his days as a hero and grow even more famous thanks to endorsements, movie roles, and broadcasting.

But all of that changed in June of 1994 after his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside her condo. Days later, Simpson, who was a person of interest in the murders, led Los Angeles police on a slow-speed chase in his Ford Bronco, finally giving up when he got back to his home.

Simpson's televised trial for the deaths of Nicole and Goldman a year later became one of the biggest spectacles in modern-day American history.

Simpson was acquitted of the murders, was found guilty in civil court in 1997.

The story of Simpson's incredible rise and fall still fascinates people to this day. The 2016 ESPN docuseries "O.J.: Made in America" won an Oscar and Emmy, and Ryan Murphy's 2016 scripted series "The People vs. O.J.: American Crime Story" won eight Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.

Simpson died on April 10. He had been diagnosed with cancer, his family said.

Dame Maggie Smith was a two-time Oscar winner and one of Britain's most acclaimed actors. Over her seven-decade career, she played every type of role on the stage and screen.

She'll perhaps be best known for her work later in life, especially her roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" franchise and Violet Crawley on "Downton Abbey."

Smith won an Oscar for best actress for 1969's "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and a best supporting actress Oscar for 1978's "California Suite."

She also won five BAFTAs, four Emmys, three Golden Globes, and a Tony over her career.

Smith died on September 27. No cause was given.

Soul found instant fame in the mid-1970s playing Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson, one half of the hip crime solvers in "Starsky & Hutch."

Before hitting it big on the show, Soul was a folk singer through the 1960s, opening for the likes of Frank Zappa and The Byrds. At one time he even sang while his face was covered with a mask, calling himself "The Covered Man."

After "Starsky & Hutch," Soul went back to music and scored the No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Give Up on Us."

Soul also made appearances on shows like "Star Trek," "Gunsmoke," the Clint Eastwood movie "Magnum Force," and a miniseries adaptation of the Stephen King novel, "Salem's Lot."

Soul died on January 4. No cause of death was given.

In 2004, an unknown documentary filmmaker arrived in Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. Overnight, his life was changed — because he made a movie about eating McDonald's.

If there's one thing Morgan Spurlock knew how to do, it was get people's attention. With a big personality and an unusual idea, Spurlock changed the way we look at fast food when he made "Super Size Me," a documentary in which he ate nothing but McDonald's for a full month, to stomach-churning effect.

The documentary earned an Oscar nomination and became a box-office sensation. Weeks after its release in theaters, McDonald's discontinued its supersize portions.

Spurlock used that success to become one of the stars in the documentary medium, which was growing in popularity in the early 2000s. He would go on to direct and produce dozens of documentaries for the big screen and TV, focused on everything from Osama bin Laden to One Direction.

His legacy would be tarnished in late 2017, at the height of the #MeToo movement, when Spurlock confessed to multiple acts of sexual misconduct in his past.

Spurlock died on May 23 due to complications related to cancer.

Donald Sutherland had the incredible talent to be the life of the party in one performance or a wallflower in the next. Need a dark and disturbing presence for a role? He's your guy. Or he could do a wise-cracking know-it-all character.

What we're trying to say is whatever the role, Sutherland could pull it off. And he did it so well that he delivered some of the most memorable roles ever put on screen over the last six decades.

Playing a Nazi-killing grunt in "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), creating one of the greatest screen duos ever opposite Elliott Gould in "M*A*S*H" (1970), acting as a laid-back professor in "Animal House" (1978), delivering one of the best surprise endings ever in a remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978) — he could do it all. He was both the man who knew the truth behind the Kennedy assassination in "JFK" (1991) and the villain in the "Hunger Games" franchise (2013-2015).

He was a fixture in our lives over generations.

Sutherland died on June 20 in Miami following a "long illness."

Teal had a memorable recurring role in the hit series "One Tree Hill."

Over seven episodes he played Josh Avery, who had a romantic relationship with Jana Kramer's Alex, before revealing he was gay.

Following "One Tree Hill," Teal landed roles in "Dynasty," "The Walking Dead: World Beyond," "USS Christmas," "Fear Street Part 2: 1978," "Deep Water," and "Descendants: The Rise of Red."

On stage, he starred in "Newsies," "Sweeney Todd," and "Rent."

Teal died on November 15 due to pancreatic cancer.

Todd was a fixture in movies for decades, beginning as a grunt in Oliver Stone's 1986 classic "Platoon" followed by memorable roles in "The Crow," "The Rock," and the "Final Destination" franchise.

But he'll forever be known as the haunting figure in the 1992 horror movie "Candyman."

Playing the title character, he torments his victims with his hook hand and bees coming out of his mouth. The performance would cement Todd as a beloved figure in the horror genre.

Todd died on November 6 following a long illness.

Towne is regarded as one of the greatest screenwriters who ever lived thanks to his contributions during the New Hollywood era of the 1970s.

Known best for penning the acclaimed script for Roman Polanski's 1974 classic noir "Chinatown," which earned Towne his only Oscar win, he was also Oscar-nominated for "The Last Detail" (1973), "Shampoo" (1975), and "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (1984). For the latter, Towne famously removed his name from the credits and replaced it with the nom de plume P.H. Vazak, which was later revealed to be the name of his sheepdog.

Towne's other credits include Tom Cruise movies like "Days of Thunder" (1990), "The Firm" (1993), and the first two "Mission: Impossible" movies from 1996 and 2000.

He also was a prolific script doctor, an uncredited but paid position in which the screenwriter helps punch up a movie. Classics like "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Godfather," and "Marathon Man" all received tweaks from Towne.

Towne died on July 1. No cause of death was given.

Wactor was best known for his role as Brando Corbin on the soap "General Hospital." He appeared in more than 160 episodes during his two seasons on the series before leaving in 2022.

His résumé included guest roles on "Westworld," "The OA," "Station 19," "Siberia," "Agent X," "Vantastic," "Animal Kingdom," "Hollywood Girl," "Training Day," "Criminal Minds," "Struggling Servers," "Age Appropriate," "NCIS," "The Passenger" and "Barbee Rehab."

He also starred in the 2016 Mario Van Peebles-directed movie "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage" alongside Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, and Thomas Jane.

His family confirmed that Wactor was shot and killed on May 25 in Los Angeles during a robbery.

You may not know the name, but you definitely know this face.

Character actor M. Emmet Walsh showed up in more than 150 movies over his career, many of which have gone on to become classics: "Blade Runner," "Blood Simple," "Slap Shot," "Fletch," "The Jerk," "Back to School," "My Best Friend's Wedding," and "Knives Out."

He also has appeared in many popular TV shows over the decades, including "Home Improvement," "The X-Files," and "Frasier."

Walsh died on March 19. No cause was given.

Thanks to his bravado and astounding physique, Weathers found fame when he was cast as heavyweight champion Apollo Creed in 1976's "Rocky."

The following years and decades brought more memorable roles, whether he was sizing up biceps with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987's "Predator," or trying to teach Adam Sandler how to play golf in 1996's "Happy Gilmore."

Most recently, he played Greef Karga in the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian." Along with appearing in front of the camera, he also showcased his talents behind it, directing multiple episodes.

You can give several examples to show just how great a basketball player Jerry West was. He won an NBA title, an Olympic gold medal, and is the only player on the losing team of an NBA Finals to be named MVP.

But there's one that overshadows all of these accomplishments: he was the logo.

That's right. The actual NBA logo is a silhouette of Jerry West dribbling a basketball.

Known for his tenacious play and ability to score in the clutch, West was one of the stars in the NBA before its enormous popularity in the 1970s, when players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and later, Michael Jordan, became household names.

After his retirement, West became an executive of the Los Angeles Lakers and was instrumental in the "Showtime" Lakers' championship dynasty through the 1980s. He made the key signings to get Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to the Lakers, creating another dynasty in the early 2000s.

West died on June 12. No cause was given.

Woolery entertained audiences for decades as host of many popular game shows,

After trying to find fame as a musician and actor, he finally found his niche in the burgeoning game show space in the 1970s.

He was the original "Wheel of Fortune" host when it launched in 1975. He followed that hosting "The Love Connection," "Scrabble," and "The Dating Game."

Woolery died on November 23. No cause was given.