Stars who died in 2023: part 2

  David Leland

David Leland on the set of the film 'Virgin Territory' in Italy, 2007. 

David Leland. Keith Hamshere/Getty Images

British writer and director David Leland died Dec. 24 at age 82. Leland built his career across film, television, and theater, and he was perhaps best known for his 1987 directorial debut, the BAFTA-winning film Wish You Were Here. He also served as a writer, director, and executive producer on the Showtime TV series The Borgias, and won an Emmy for directing an episode of HBO’s acclaimed miniseries Band of Brothers. A close friend of George Harrison, Leland directed multiple music videos for the Traveling Wilburys and the 2003 memorial documentary Concert for George, which won him a Grammy. He also helped launch the career of a young Pierce Brosnan, directing the future James Bond on stage in Tennessee Williams’ The Red Devil Battery Sign.

Bandit

Drag Race Thailand star Bandit 

'Drag Race Thailand' star Bandit. World of Wonder/WOW Presents+

Drag Race Thailand top-four contestant Bandit — a skilled fashion designer known for her jaw-dropping looks on the queer competition series' runway — died on Dec. 26 at age 38, after garnering a global following of fans on the second season of the Drag Race spinoff in 2019. "We're all completely lost because Bandit has been a light," Drag Race Thailand cohost Pangina Heals told EW of Bandit's impact. "I would not be the same person I am today without Bandit teaching me about fashion."

Henry Sandon

Henry Sandon

Henry Sandon. David Fisher/Shutterstock 

Henry Sandon, a TV personality and longtime fixture of Antiques Roadshow, died on Dec. 25. He was 95. He specialized in knowledge of pottery and porcelain, specifically Worcester porcelain. In that capacity he was a curator at the Dyson Perrins Museum, which became the Worcester Porcelain Museum and then the Museum of Royal Worcester. The museum posted a tribute to Sandon on X (formerly Twitter), writing “it is with great sadness we share the news that Henry Sandon passed away on Christmas morning. Our curator and then patron of the Museum for many years, a much-loved expert who shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for pots and Worcester in person, in books & tv. Sorely missed.” Sandon's son John Sandon, who also appeared on Antiques Roadshow, highlighted one classic moment in his statement: “His joy when he discovered a rare Staffordshire pottery owl jug, nicknamed ‘Ozzie’, was a magic TV moment few will forget.”

Richard Franklin

Richard Franklin

Richard Franklin as Captain Mike Yates on 'Doctor Who'. BBC

Richard Franklin, best known for his role as Captain Mike Yates on Doctor Who, died on Dec. 25 at age 87. The actor made his first appearance in the role in 1971 opposite Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor. He continued to make appearances in specials, video games, and audio plays, and even wrote and narrated a spinoff novel, Killing Stone, featuring Mike Yates as the lead character. The actor also appeared on British shows Crossroads and Emmerdale Farm. More recently, Franklin appeared as Death Star engineer Sirro Argonne in 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Casey Kramer

Casey Kramer in 'Darkness in Tenement 45'

Casey Kramer in 'Darkness in Tenement 45'. A Flying Woman Productions/Everett

Casey Kramer, a stage and screen actress who was the eldest daughter of director and producer Stanley Kramer, died Dec. 24, at 67. Kramer made her big-screen debut in her father’s 1975 drama The Runner Stumbles, which starred Dick Van Dyke. Her television credits included Falcon Crest, Criminal Minds, Dexter, The Young and the Restless, Baskets, and Transparent. She recently appeared in the films Darkness in Tenement 45, Blood of Drago, and Mississippi Requiem. Kramer also acted in stageplays, including a production of My Sister in This House at Los Angeles' Deaf West Theatre.

Kamar de los Reyes

Kamar de los Reyes attends the Immersive Frida Kahlo Preview at the Lighthouse Artspace Los Angeles on March 30, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Kamar de los Reyes. Vivien Killilea/Getty

Kamar de los Reyes, an actor best known for his long-running stint as Antonio Vega on One Life to Live, died Dec. 24 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 56. The actor portrayed Vega, a Llanview police officer and brother of David Fumero's Cristian Vega, from 1995 to 1998 and again from 2000 to 2009, for a total of 287 episodes. He also found love on the soap, marrying costar Sherri Saumn 2007. De los Reyes appeared regularly in films and television, from Jennifer Lopez's 2000 thriller The Cell to stints on Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Blue Bloods, The Mentalist, Pretty Little Liars, and Sleepy Hollow. In 2012, he provided the voice and motion-captured appearance of Raul Menendez, the main antagonist of the popular first person shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Most recently, de los Reyes starred in ABC's The Rookie and had a recurring role on the CW's All American.