25 heartbreaking celebrity deaths of 2017, from Mary Tyler Moore to Tom Petty

On Oct. 2, the iconic rocker and Heartbreakers frontman died, after being found unconscious and in cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu, Calif. It was a loss that left the music world reeling. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, whose many hits include “I Won’t Back Down,” “Free Fallin’,” and “Learning to Fly,” was 66. “It’s shocking, crushing news,” Bob Dylan, Petty’s bandmate in the Traveling Wilburys, said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “I thought the world of Tom. He was a great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him.” (Photo: Getty Images)

While she first came to prominence as a jazz and gospel singer, Reese was best known for playing Tess in Touched by an Angel from 1994 to 2003. She died on Nov. 19 at the age of 86. “She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer,” Roma Downey, Reese’s Touched by an Angel co-star, said in a statement. “Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people.” (Photo: Getty Images)

The Emmy Award-winning actor died Oct. 24 following a struggle with prostate cancer. He was best known for playing Benson on the TV series Soap and its spinoff, Benson, as well as being the voice of Rafiki in The Lion King. Guillaume was 89. (Photo: Getty Images)

The 45-year-old standup comedian died after suffering cardiac arrest on Oct. 6. May, who launched his career on NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2003, “had been battling pneumonia and had canceled a handful of dates over the last month in an effort to recover,” his publicist, Stacey Pokluda, said in a statement. During his all-too-short career, the comedian appeared on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, The Wayne Brady Show, and many others. (Photo: Getty Images)

The man behind Playboy died Sept. 27 at the age of 91. His rep said Hefner was surrounded by loved ones and passed away peacefully in the Playboy Mansion, which was sold for $100 million in August 2016 with the stipulation that Hefner be allowed to remain there until his death. Hefner was laid to rest at L.A.’s Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery — in a position next to Marilyn Monroe, who appeared on the first cover of Playboy in 1953. (Photo: Getty Images)

Whether portraying Andie’s dad in Pretty in Pink or a crazed bigamist prophet in Big Love, the actor — and sometimes singer — always turned in a memorable performance. He died of natural causes on Sept. 15 at the age of 91. (Photo: Getty Images)

On Aug. 24, the Emmy-winning actor best known for roles on Murphy Brown and Cheers, but also for his funny holiday appearances on The Late Show With David Letterman, died at 69. He had been struggling with cancer. (Photo: Getty Images)

The famed comedian died at the age of 91 in his Las Vegas home on Aug. 20. Lewis starred in more than 50 movies, including The Nutty Professor, which he also wrote and directed. The “King of Comedy” had a history of heart conditions, and that’s what ultimately caused his death. Officially, the cause was listed as ischemic cardiomyopathy. (Photo: Getty Images)

Gregory began working as a standup comedian in the ’50s but evolved into a fierce — and fiercely funny — civil rights activist in the following decade. He died on Aug. 19, at the age of 84, reportedly following a severe bacterial infection. (Photo: Getty Images)

The “Rhinestone Cowboy” singer died Aug. 8, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The country music legend had 21 top 40 hits throughout his versatile career. Campbell announced his diagnosis in June 2011 and said his disease was in an early stage at that time. He was 81. (Photo: Getty Images)

Shepard was known to audiences for his work in movies, such as The Notebook, The Right Stuff, and Steel Magnolias, and for his longtime relationship with Jessica Lange, which ended in 2009. But he was also an acclaimed playwright who, in 1979, won the Pulitzer Prize for drama. He died July 27 following complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. (Photo: Getty Images)

Heard, best known for his roles in popular ’80s and ’90s movies, such as Home Alone and Big, died at 72 on July 21. Cardiac arrest was the cause of death. (Photo: Getty Images)

The music world mourned the death of the Linkin Park rocker, who had been open about his struggles with addiction and depression and who died of suicide by hanging at 41. His July 20 death fell on the birthday of Bennington’s late friend Chris Cornell, who had died two months earlier. (Photo: Getty Images)

One of the more shocking deaths of 2017 was rapper Prodigy, half of the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep. The singer was only 42 when he died June 20, after choking on an egg in the hospital. “Prodigy was hospitalized a few days ago in Vegas after a Mobb Deep performance for complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis,” a representative said at the time. “As most of his fans know, Prodigy battled the disease since birth.” LL Cool J, Ice-T, and 50 Cent were just a few of the stars in attendance at his funeral. (Photo: Getty Images)

Shortly after his 89th birthday, the Oscar-winning actor passed away following a brief illness. According to a statement from his reps, Landau died July 15 from “unexpected complications during a short hospitalization.” Some of his iconic roles included his villainous turn in Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, a stint on the original Mission: Impossible TV show, and his unforgettable performance as Bela Lugosi in Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, which won him an Academy Award. (Photo: Getty Images)

West, the star of the 1960s Batman television show, died at the age of 88, after a short battle with leukemia, on June 9. “Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight and aspired to make a positive impact on his fans’ lives. He was and always will be our hero,” his family said in a statement. (Photo: Getty Images)

On May 27, Allman, the rock and blues pioneer who founded the famed Allman Brothers Band with his late brother, Duane, died at 69 due to complications from liver cancer. Amid a career filled with chart-topping hits including “Midnight Rider” and “Melissa,” Allman had long battled drug and alcohol addiction, prompting ex-wife Cher to walk out of their union just nine days after they married. (They reconciled, only to split again years later.) Allman was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1999 and underwent a liver transplant in 2010. (Photo: Getty Images)

After a “short but brave battle with cancer,” Moore passed away at 89 on May 23. The English actor is the longest-serving James Bond, having played the suave superspy in seven films. Moore is also remembered for his TV work in The Persuaders! and The Saint. (Photo: Getty Images)

Fans and fellow rockers were devastated by the passing of Cornell, who died by suicide on May 18. He was 52. His widow, Vicky, contended that prescription drugs were to blame, saying Cornell “wasn’t himself” on them and wouldn’t knowingly take his life. Regardless, the medical examiner found the mix of drugs in his system wasn’t to blame, leaving the music industry to mourn, with more questions than answers. (Photo: Getty Images)

The perennially bright-eyed Happy Days star died of throat cancer on April 22. Having left acting after roles dried up, she passed away at her home in a trailer park in Corydon, Ind. She was 56. (Photo: Getty Images)

Countless comedians were influenced by the funnyman, which is why his death at age 90 was such a blow. To adults, he was a legendary comic and actor, routinely appearing on evening talk shows, such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Show With David Letterman, and was well known for his salty insults. To kids, he was the voice of Mr. Potato Head in Pixar’s Toy Story trilogy. Rickles died from kidney failure at his L.A. home on April 6. (Photo: Getty Images)

The music legend was 90 when he died March 18 from cardiac arrest, at his home in St. Charles County, Mo. The musician, widely credited as a pioneer of rock music, was best known for tunes such as “Johnny B. Goode” and “Maybellene,” influencing a wide range of artists, including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys. Berry’s funeral took place in his hometown of St. Louis at the Pageant, a club where he often performed. (Photo: Getty Images)

The actor from film (Weird Science, Aliens, Twister) and TV (Big Love, Hatfields & McCoys) died from a stroke on Feb. 25. Eleven days earlier, he had undergone surgery to replace a heart valve and repair damage to his aorta. He was 61. (Photo: Getty Images)

The iconic star of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a true acting legend, passed away on Jan. 25. Her family said her death, at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut, was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest after she had contracted pneumonia. Moore was 80. (Photo: Getty Images)

The NCIS: Los Angeles and Twin Peaks star lost his battle with throat cancer on Jan. 19. The 61-year-old, who was the son of Rosemary Clooney, was remembered by cousin George Clooney as a man who “made the world brighter and funnier.” (Photo: Getty Images)