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Netflix Star Busisiwe “Busi” Lurayi Has Died

We are already more than halfway through 2022, and sadly this year alone we have lost a lot of memorable celebrities.

And now, Netflix Star Busisiwe “Busi” Lurayi has tragically died aged 36…

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The star who played Tumi in the hit series How to Ruin Christmas and Phumzile in City Ses’la reportedly “passed away suddenly.”

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And fans are distraught by the sudden unexpected news…

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Lurayi had a large following of fans on social media and often posted about being a mom and “storyteller.”

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After learning of her tragic death, the SAFTAs tweeted: “At this time of loss, we are deeply saddened by the passing of #BusiLurayi. We’ll remember her as an incredibly talented actress who was a winner of her first #Safta for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy in 2006. #RIPBusiLurayi.”

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One fan wrote on Twitter: “What an injustice. #BusiLurayi is the FLAME that caught my eye and lured me to the artistic fire that is How to Ruin Christmas. All loss is painful, but to have such a bright light snuffed out at just 35, as her star was cresting, seems deeply unfair.”

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Another added: “I. Am. Not. OK. For those of us who don’t watch much television, less so Mzantsi’s small screen, Ms. Busisiwe Lurayi changed everything. Her talent and work ethic radiated. Rise in glory Afrikan Womyn. Deepest, deepest condolences to the family and friends.”

Her family announced the tragic news on eyemediaartists Instagram page, captioning their post: “Rest in peace
@busi_lurayi.”

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They wrote: “The reason for her death is still unknown as we await the results of the autopsy report. We humbly request that you allow us as the family to come to terms with this tragic news. We thank you for the support that has been given so far and will provide further information as soon as it has been made available.” 

According to reports, medics arrived at her home on July 10 after she was found unresponsive, and was pronounced dead upon their arrival.

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Rest in peace, Busisiwe “Busi” Lurayi.

Sadly, Lurayi isn’t the only star we’ve lost this year, some of our most beloved celebrities have also died in 2022, and we’d like to take some time to remember the greats.

Scroll on to commemorate those we lost…

Who better to start the tributes of our most loved celebrities than James Caan.

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Caan most notably played the role of Santino “Sonny” Corleone in the hit movie The Godfather, which earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared in Misery and Elf which just proves what great range he had. He passed away on July 6, aged 82.

Tony Sirico…

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Sharing Caan’s love of gangsta roles, Sirico, who started out on the big screen in 1974, appeared in Goodfellas as Tony Stacks. He also famously played the character Paulie Walnuts in The Sopranos. He died on July 8 aged 79.

Ray Liotta…

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We have sadly lost another star from Goodfellas this year, Liotta played the mobster Henry Hill and most recently appeared in Shades of Blue, with Jennifer Lopez. He died on May 26, aged 67.

Mary Mara…

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Mara was a TV and theatre actor. Police believe she drowned while swimming in the St. Lawrence River. She was 61.

Margaret Keane…

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Keane was a famous painter, who only received acclaim for her work 20 years after her husband rose to fame for passing her work off as his own. He was eventually found out. She continued to paint until her death at the age of 94.

Naomi Judd…

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Judd was a well-known country singer who performed with her daughter in the band Judds, together the pair won 5 Grammy Awards and even made it into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She died on April 30, aged 76.

Robert Morse…

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Morse started out on Broadway way back in 1955, which catapulted his career in showbiz, later on in his career he took to acting on TV and won many accolades for his performances. His most notable TV performance was as Bertram Cooper in Mad Men. He died on April 20, aged 90.

Gilbert Gottfried…

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We all know Gottfried as the incredible comedian with the iconic shrill voice. He notably appeared on Saturday Night Live, and also played the parrot Iago in Disney’s Aladdin. Sadly, he died on April 12, aged 67.

Estelle Harris…

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Harris was most well known for her role as Estelle Costanza on the sitcom Seinfeld. She also took on voice work for Mrs. Potato Head in the animated movie Toy Story. She died on April 3, aged 93.

Tom Parker…

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Parker was a singer from the popular British boyband The Wanted. Sadly, in 2020, he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. He died on March 30, aged just 33.

Taylor Hawkins…

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Hawkins was famously known for being the drummer for Foo Fighters, he played with the band for 25 years, and gained a lot of fans in the process. He died on March 25, aged 50.

Scott Hall…

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Hall, known as Razor Ramon, was a pro wrestler who founded the New World Order, with Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash. He died on March 14 shortly after getting a hip replacement, suffering multiple heart attacks before he passed. He was 63.

William Hurt…

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Hurt worked in TV, Theater, and Film during his illustrious career in Hollywood. He was nominated for four Academy Awards and won an Oscar for Best Actor in 1985. He died on March 13, aged 71.

Emilio Delgado…

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The Mexican-American actor worked on the children’s TV show Sesame Street for over 40 years and was a huge part of our lives growing up. He also appeared in other TV shows, such as Law & Order. He died on March 10, aged 81.

Sally Kellerman…

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Kellerman was in the spotlight for over 5 decades, starring in TV shows before going on to play notable parts such as Margaret Houlihan in MASH, and recently the mother of Mark Maron in Maron. She died on February 24, aged 84.

Ivan Reitman…

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Reitman was an incredible director, working on such movies as Ghostbusters, and Twins. He died at home in California on February 12, aged 75.

Betty Davis…

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Davis needs very little introduction, the funk singer was well known for her incredible vocals. After less than a decade in the industry, she decided to leave. But she’s still famous for her iconic hits. She died on February 9, aged 77.

Manfred Thierry Mugler…

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Mugler was a well-known French fashion designer who worked with some of the greats during his career. He was most notably responsible for creating Kim Kardashian’s wet-look dress for the Met Gala in 2019. He died on January 23, aged 73.

Marvin Lee Aday (Meat Loaf)…

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Meat Loaf sold over 100 million albums worldwide. The rock music icon not only had incredible skill with words, but his theatrical performances were next level. He died on January 20, aged 74.

Louie Anderson…

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Anderson had a long career as a stand-up comedian and also worked in television for a short time, gaining an Emmy for his role on Baskets. He sadly died from cancer on January 21, aged 68.

Gaspard Ulliel…

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The French actor was best known for playing young Hannibal in Hannibal Rising and was scheduled to make an appearance in the Marvel series, Moon Knight. However, he sadly died in a freak skiing accident on January 19, aged 37.

Bob Saget…

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Saget was best known for his role as Danny Tanner in the hit TV show Full House, and appeared in a range of TV shows and movies over the years. Although fans know him best as a stand-up comedian. He died on January 9 aged 65.

Michael Lang…

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Lang was the co-creator of the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival which began in 1969. It was a hugely historic event for the music industry. He died on January 8, aged 77.

Sidney Poitier…

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Poitier was the first black actor to win an Academy Award for his role in Lillies of the Field, in which he won best actor. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Poitier died on January 6, aged 94.

Lenny Von Dohlen…

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The actor played the character Harold Smith on the original Twin Peaks, he also appeared in the movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. He died on July 5 at the age of 63.

Joe Turkel…

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Turkel was best known for his roles in The Shining and Blade Runner, and over the course of his career appeared in over 100 films and TV shows! He died on June 27, aged 94.

Lil Keed…

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Keed was a rapper and only starting out in his career when he suffered sudden liver and kidney failure leading to his tragic death. He died on March 13, aged just 24.

Bruce MacVittie…

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The veteran stage actor also dabbled in TV and is famously known for his appearances in The Sopranos and Law & Order. He died on May 7 at the age of 65. 

Mike Hagerty…

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Hagerty was best known for playing the janitor Mr. Treeger on Friends, but more recently appeared on the sitcoms; The George Carlin Show and Lucky Louie. He died on May 5, aged 67.

Joanna Barnes…

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Barnes was an actress and writer best known for her roles in hit movies The Parent Trap and Auntie Mame. She died on April 29, aged 87. 

Jossara Jinaro…

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Jinaro appeared on a range of TV shows such as ERThe Young and the Restless, and Judging Amy. She died after a battle with cancer on April 27, aged 48. 

Liz Sheridan…

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Sheridan was a veteran actress, who played Jerry’s overbearing mom on the show, Seinfeld. She also appeared in several theatre and TV productions over her career. She died on April 15 of natural causes. Sheridan was 93. 

Rae Allen…

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(Rae Allen, right)

Allen was best known for her roles in The Sopranos and A League of Their Own. She died on April 6, aged 95. 

Cheslie Kryst…

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Kryst was Miss USA back in 2019 and worked with Extra. She died on January 30, aged 30, after allegedly jumping from a building in New York. 

Moses J. Moseley…

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Moseley worked on the hit TV show The Walking Dead as one of Michonne’s guard zombies. He died on January 26, aged 31.