Every year brings with it something new and wonderful… many things, if we are lucky. But every year something is also taken away. The long, and sometimes not so long lives of the people who have changed the world in some small way are extinguished, leaving behind many who will never forget the impact the dearly departed had on our lives.
For some, the pain is all too personal. The families and friends of the filmmakers we lost in 2014 are no doubt grieving in a very intimate, human way, and we can only imagine their heartache. But for many, the loss is still very tangible: although many of us never met the storytellers who passed away this year, we feel as though we knew them. Their performances and their films were as real to us as anyone we’ve ever met. We grew up with their stories, we lived alongside their triumphs and failures. When they achieved greatness, we all felt great. When they tapped into something undeniably human, they reached out and held us one by one.
By telling their stories, by becoming their characters, by producing these dreams we call movies, they changed the world. They exposed us to new ideas, new points of view, and made us feel what they felt, thought what they thought, and expanded our horizons.
CraveOnline bids a heartfelt farewell to the many filmmakers – actors, directors, producers et al – whom we lost in 2014.
Slideshow: The Filmmakers We Lost in 2014
In Memoriam: The Filmmakers We Lost in 2014
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Run Run Shaw (1907-1914)
Must-See Films: 5 Fingers of Death, Executioners from Shaolin, The 36th Chamber, Legendary Weapons of China, Blade Runner
The founder of the legendary Shaw Bros. studio - which helped define the modern martial arts movie, and introduced the world to many of the biggest stars in the genre - passed away on January 7, 2014 at the age of 106.
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Maximillian Schell (1930-2014)
Must-See Films: Judgment at Nuremberg, A Bridge Too Far, Julia
Academy Award-winning actor Maximillian Schell passed away on February 1, 2014 at the age of 83, leaving behind a lifetime of acclaimed performances and films, and a stage performance of William Shakespeare's Hamlet that is still considered one of the best in history.
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Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014)
Must-See Films: Boogie Nights, Almost Famous, Punch-Drunk Love, Capote, Charlie Wilson's War, The Master
One of the most respected actors of his generation, Philip Seymour Hoffman died unexpectedly on February 2, 2014 at the age of 46. He won an Academy Award for the title role in Capote, but his most beloved roles were often supporting parts in celebrated ensemble movies.
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Shirley Temple (1928-2014)
Must-See Films: Heidi, The Little Princess
Adorable golden age star Shirley Temple won a rare "Juvenile Academy Award" for her heartwarming motion pictures, all of which benefitted from the charismatic young actress and singer. Hollywood has yet to find a child star who could match her. She passed away on February 10, 2014 at the age of 85.
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Harold Ramis (1944-2014)
Must-See Films: National Lampoon's Animal House, Meatballs, Caddyshack, Stripes, National Lampoon's Vacation, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day
The prolific director, screenwriter and actor Harold Ramis helped usher in a new era of underdog comedies, in which witty blue collar schmoes won out over the snooty elite who seemed to dominate American society in the 1970s and 1980s. The modern comedy would not be the same without Harold Ramis. He passed away on February 24, 2014 at the age of 69.
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Alain Resnais (1922-2014)
Must-See Films: Hiroshima Mon Amour, Last Year at Marienbad, Muriel
One of the most acclaimed French filmmakers, Alain Resnais explored complex ideas of memory and the conscious mind in classic, experimental dramas that remain "must see" motion pictures for anyone who cares about the cinematic medium. He left us on March 1, 2014 at the age of 91.
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Mickey Rooney (1920-2014)
Must-See Films: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Captains Courageous, Requiem for a Heavyweight, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
As a youth, he was the biggest motion picture actor in the world. As an adult he became a respected character actor and a voice for Golden Age Hollywood. The world many never see the like of Mickey Rooney again. He passed away on April 6, 2014 at the age of 93.
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Bob Hoskins (1942-2014)
Must-See Films: The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Nixon
Children knew Bob Hoskins as the star of one of the most ambitious live-action/animation movies ever produced, but the actor's career spanned many decades of challenging dramas and important art house films. Bob Hoskins died on April 29, 2014 at the age of 71.
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H.R. Giger (1940-2014)
Must-See Films: Alien, Jodorowsky's Dune
The influential artist H.R. Giger designed one of the most iconic movie monsters in history with the sexualized xenomorphs from Ridley Scott's Alien. He also contributed concept art for Alejandro Jodorowsky's (famously unproduced) adaptation of Dune, the monsters in the cult classic Killer Condom and even a redesign of the Batmobile for Batman Forever which, sadly, was never used. H.R. Giger passed away on May 12, 2014 at the age of 74.
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Gordon Willis (1931-2014)
Must-See Films: The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, All the President's Men, Annie Hall, Manhattan
One of the greatest cinematographers in the history of the medium, Gordon Willis's ability to paint with light helped define the look of motion pictures throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Without him, some of the greatest movies ever made wouldn't be quite so great. Gordon Willis died on May 18, 2014 at the age of 82.
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Ruby Dee (1922-2014)
Must-See Films: A Raisin in the Sun, Do the Right Thing, American Gangster
Ruby Dee was more than a great actress. She was a poet, a playwright, a political activist and journalist as well. But it's her films that we're here to celebrate, and her incredible performances over a nearly 70-year career have already stood the test of time. She passed away on June 11, 2014 at the age of 91.
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Eli Wallach (1915-2014)
Must-See Films: Baby Doll, The Magnificent Seven, The Misfits, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The remarkable screen presence Eli Wallach will probably be best remembered for his powerhouse performances in classic westerns, but his career spanned far beyond that into memorable characters in just about every genre. To us, he was anything but "ugly," although he was brilliant at playing that too. Eli Wallach died on June 24, 2014 at the age of 98.
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Paul Mazursky (1930-2014)
Must-See Films: Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Harry and Tonto, An Umarried Woman
Filmmaker Paul Mazursky began his career as an actor in Stanley Kubrick's little seen first film, Fear and Desire, but made a name for himself as the Oscar-nominated writer and director of comedies that tackled relevant social issues AND made us laugh. He died on June 30, 2014 at the age of 84.
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James Garner (1928-2014)
Must-See Films: The Great Escape, Support Your Local Sheriff, Victor Victoria, Murphy's Romance, The Notebook
That rare actor who found just as much success on television as he did on the silver screen, James Garner was one of Hollywood's resident charmers, starring in hit comedies and sensitive dramas and making the world fall in love with him practically every time. He passed away on July 19, 2014 at the age of 86.
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Menahem Golan (1929-2014)
Must-See Films: The Apple, Enter the Ninja, The Delta Force
Prolific producer and director Menahem Golan was largely responsible for the ninja movie craze of the 1980s, and famously directed one of the strangest musicals of all time. With his cousin, Yoram Globus, he ran The Cannon Group, which produced b-movies with wild abandon, contributing to the "badass cinema" genre with a zeal that no other producers could match. He died on August 8, 2014 at the age of 85.
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Robin Williams (1951-2014)
Must-See Films: Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King, Aladdin, The Birdcage, Good Will Hunting, One Hour Photo, World's Greatest Dad
Robin Williams was the face of turn of the century comedy, a father figure to children everywhere and also an impressive dramatic actor, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1998. His comedies were funny, and embraced sentimentality in a manner that no longer seems fashionable. His dramas were involving, and confronted serious emotions directly, and with a believable sincerity. He died on August 11, 2014 at the age of 63.
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Lauren Bacall (1924-2014)
Must-See Films: To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, Key Largo, How to Marry a Millionaire, Written on the Wind, Murder on the Orient Express
Few other actresses ever smoldered like the great Lauren Bacall. She found early acclaim as the co-star of Humphrey Bogart dramas before finding new career possibilities in comedies in the second half of the 20th Century. She was one of the great screen presences. She died on August 12, 2014 at the age of 89.
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Lord Richard Attenborough (1923-2014)
Must-See Films: The Great Escape, A Bridge Too Far, Magic, Gandhi, Chaplin, Jurassic Park
Although best known to younger audiences for his roles as a billionaire dinosaur enthusiast (and Santa Claus), actor-turned-filmmaker Richard Attenborough was most acclaimed for his memorable dramas, which captured significant moments and individuals of the 20th Century with an epic scope. He passed away on August 24, 2014 at the age of 90.
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Richard Kiel (1939-2014)
Must-See Films: Eegah, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Happy Gilmore
Richard Kiel may not have been the best actor in the world, but he was a popular screen presence thanks to his towering physique and lovable turns as the henchmen Jaws in not one but two James Bond movies. His stranger films, including four that were featured on "Mystery Science Theater 3000," only cemented his reputation as a cult icon, along with his memorable performance in the classic "Twilight Zone" episode, "To Serve Man." He left us on September 10, 2014 at the age of 74.
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Elizabeth Peña (1959-2014)
Must-See Films: La Bamba, Jacob's Ladder, Lone Star, The Incredibles
Actress Elizabeth Peña turned heads with memorable and sensual performances in celebrated dramas, and co-founded The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors in 1978. She passed away on October 14, 2014 at the age of 55.
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Ken Takakura (1931-2014)
Must-See Films: Golgo 13, The Yakuza, The Yellow Handkerchief, Black Rain
The four-time winner of the Japanese Academy Prize for Best Actor was celebrated for his many brooding performances as Yakuza gangsters, only to later impress American audiences as a cop on the trail of the crime syndicate in Ridley Scott's 1989 thriller. Ken Takakura passed away on November 10, 2014 at the age of 83.
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Mike Nichols (1931-2014)
Must-See Films: Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf?, The Graduate, Carnal Knowledge, Silkwood, Working Girl, The Birdcage, Primary Colors, Wit, Angels in America, Charlie Wilson's War
Comedian, filmmaker, theatre director and recipient of the rare EGOT (an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony), Mike Nichols directed some of the most rich and dramatic comedies of the 20th Century, influencing filmmakers for generations to come with his intelligent stories and witty direction. Mike Nichols passed away on November 19, 2014 at the age of 83.
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Joseph Sargent (1925-2014)
Must-See Films: White Lightning, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Goldengirl, Something the Lord Made
His most famous thriller, about a hostage crisis on the New York subway, went on to help inspire Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, but Joseph Sargent's smart directorial style graced many motion pictures and TV movies throughout his impressive, 40-year career. He passed away on December 22, 2014 at the age of 89.
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Luise Rainer (1910-2014)
Must-See Films: The Great Ziegfeld, The Good Earth
Luise Rainer was the first actor to earn two consecutive Academy Awards, for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937). Shortly afterwards, she quit the movie business, co-starring in only two films between 1939 and 2014, but she appeared sporadically on the stage and in television shows. She passed away on December 30, 2014 at the age of 104.
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Edward Herrmann (1943-2014)
Must-See Films: The Paper Chase, Eleanor and Franklin, Annie, The Purple Rose of Cairo, The Lost Boys, The Cat's Meow
Edward Herrmann may be best known for co-starring in a teen vampire movie, his role on "The Gilmore Girls," or perhaps as the narrator for The History Channel. But the veteran actor appeared in many movies and motion pictures over the years, repeatedly playing President Franklin Roosevelt to great acclaim. He passed away on December 31, 2014 at the age of 71.
