The news of Andre Braugher's sudden passing on Dec. 11 2023 shocked fans around the world. His publicist shared that he had died following a "brief illness," and later revealed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer just a few months before his death. The 61-year-old actor was intensely private, but in a 2014 interview, he stated that he had “stopped drinking alcohol and smoking years ago.” Braugher was best known for playing the beloved Captain Raymond Holt in the comedy series 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' for its eight seasons. He had previously played another stoic police officer in the drama series 'Homicide: Life on the Street' throughout the 1990s. Braugher is remembered fondly by countless co-stars as kind, joyful, and full of music.

1 / 32 Fotos

Joe DiMaggio -

The American baseball legend who played for the New York Yankees died of lung cancer on March 8, 1999, aged 84.

2 / 32 Fotos

Paul Newman -

The Oscar-winning actor, known for movies such as 'The Color of Money' (1986), lost his battle to lung cancer on September 26, 2008. Paul Newman was 83.

3 / 32 Fotos

George VI -

King George VI's official cause of death was coronary thrombosis, but it has been suggested that the blocking of blood flow to the heart was a result of complications caused by a carcinoma in his lungs. The king died on February 6, 1952, at the age of 56.

4 / 32 Fotos

Walt Disney -

The iconic animator, entrepreneur, and film producer, died of "circulatory collapse" caused by lung cancer on December 15, 1966. He was 65.

5 / 32 Fotos

Donna Summer -

The Queen of Disco died of lung cancer on May 17, 2012. Donna Summer was 63.

6 / 32 Fotos

Steve McQueen -

The "King of Cool" died of pleural mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Steve McQueen left us on November 7, 1980, at the age of 50.

7 / 32 Fotos

Duke Ellington -

Th iconic jazz pianist, composer, and band leader, died of lung cancer and pneumonia on May 24, 1974, at the age of 75.

8 / 32 Fotos

Desi Arnaz -

The actor, best known for costarring with his then-wife Lucille Ball on the sitcom 'I Love Lucy,' was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1986, and died shortly after on December 2. He was 69.

9 / 32 Fotos

Claude Monet -

The French impressionist painter lost his battle with lung cancer on December 5, 1926. Monet was 86.

10 / 32 Fotos

George Harrison -

The lead guitarist of The Beatles passed away on November 29, 2001 following a battle with lung cancer. The "quiet Beatle" was 58.

11 / 32 Fotos

Cantinflas -

Mexican comedian and actor Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes, best known as Cantinflas, died of lung cancer on April 20, 1993. He was 81.

12 / 32 Fotos

Pat Nixon -

The wife of Richard Nixon and former First Lady of the United States, died of lung cancer on June 22, 1993, aged 81.

13 / 32 Fotos

Nat King Cole -

The legendary American jazz pianist and singer died of lung cancer on February 15, 1965, aged just 45.

14 / 32 Fotos

Bob Marley -

The Jamaican reggae legend was diagnosed with melanoma (skin cancer) on his toe in 1977. The melanoma then fatally spread to his brain and lungs. Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981. He was 36.

15 / 32 Fotos

George Peppard -

The 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961) and 'The A-Team' (1983–1987) actor died of pneumonia after battling lung cancer and emphysema on May 8, 1994. Peppard passed away at the age of 65.

16 / 32 Fotos

Bugs Moran -

The infamous Prohibition-era Chicago mobster died of lung cancer in prison on February 25, 1957. Bugs Moran was 63.

17 / 32 Fotos

Jesse Owens -

The American track and field athlete Olympic gold medalist died of lung cancer on March 31, 1980. The Olympic gold medalist was 66.

18 / 32 Fotos

Dean Martin -

The famous American singer was diagnosed with lung cancer in September 1993 and died of acute respiratory failure resulting from emphysema on December 25, 1995. He was 78.

19 / 32 Fotos

Dmitri Shostakovich -

The famous Russian composer died of heart disease and lung cancer on August 9, 1975. Dmitri Shostakovich was 68.

20 / 32 Fotos

John Updike -

The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer lost his battle with lung cancer on January 27, 2009. John Updike was 76.

21 / 32 Fotos

Andy Kaufman -

The American entertainer died of large-cell lung carcinoma (a rare type of lung cancer) on May 16, 1984, at the age of 35.

22 / 32 Fotos

Ann Miller -

The American actress and dancer, best know for starring in Hollywood musicals in the '40s and '50s, died of lung cancer on January 22, 2004. Ann Miller was 80.

23 / 32 Fotos

Vincent Price -

The American actor, best known for his performances in horror films, died of lung cancer on October 25, 1993. Price was 82.

24 / 32 Fotos

Robert Mitchum -

The award-winning actor died from complications of lung cancer and emphysema on July 1, 1997, at the age of 79.

25 / 32 Fotos

Gary Cooper -

The Academy Award-winning actor died after his prostate cancer spread to the colon, bones, and lungs. Cooper left us on May 13, 1961, at 60.

26 / 32 Fotos

Don Knotts -

The actor, best know for his role in the sitcom 'The Andy Griffith Show' (1960–1968) died of complications of pneumonia related to lung cancer on February 24, 2006. Knotts was 81.

27 / 32 Fotos

Joe Cocker -

The English singer, best known for songs such as 'Unchain My Heart' and 'You Can Leave Your Hat On,' passed away from lung cancer on December 22, 2014, at the age of 70.

28 / 32 Fotos

Chuck Connors -

The actor, writer, and professional baseball and basketball player died of lung cancer on November 10, 1992. He was 71.

29 / 32 Fotos

Buster Keaton -

The silent film star died of lung cancer on February 1, 1966, aged 70.

30 / 32 Fotos

Chad Everett -

The actor lost his battle with lung cancer on July 24, 2012, at the age of 75.

Sources: (Ranker) (On This Day) (World Health Organization)

31 / 32 Fotos

0 / 32 Fotos

Andre Braugher -

Getty Images

1 / 32 Fotos

Joe DiMaggio -

The American baseball legend who played for the New York Yankees died of lung cancer on March 8, 1999, aged 84.

Getty Images

2 / 32 Fotos

Paul Newman -

The Oscar-winning actor, known for movies such as 'The Color of Money' (1986), lost his battle to lung cancer on September 26, 2008. Paul Newman was 83.

Getty Images

3 / 32 Fotos

George VI -

Getty Images

4 / 32 Fotos

Walt Disney -

The iconic animator, entrepreneur, and film producer, died of "circulatory collapse" caused by lung cancer on December 15, 1966. He was 65.

Getty Images

5 / 32 Fotos

Donna Summer -

The Queen of Disco died of lung cancer on May 17, 2012. Donna Summer was 63.

Getty Images

6 / 32 Fotos

Steve McQueen -

The "King of Cool" died of pleural mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Steve McQueen left us on November 7, 1980, at the age of 50.

Getty Images

7 / 32 Fotos

Duke Ellington -

Th iconic jazz pianist, composer, and band leader, died of lung cancer and pneumonia on May 24, 1974, at the age of 75.

Getty Images

8 / 32 Fotos

Desi Arnaz -

The actor, best known for costarring with his then-wife Lucille Ball on the sitcom 'I Love Lucy,' was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1986, and died shortly after on December 2. He was 69.

Getty Images

9 / 32 Fotos

Claude Monet -

The French impressionist painter lost his battle with lung cancer on December 5, 1926. Monet was 86.

Getty Images

10 / 32 Fotos

George Harrison -

The lead guitarist of The Beatles passed away on November 29, 2001 following a battle with lung cancer. The "quiet Beatle" was 58.

Getty Images

11 / 32 Fotos

Cantinflas -

Mexican comedian and actor Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes, best known as Cantinflas, died of lung cancer on April 20, 1993. He was 81.

Getty Images

12 / 32 Fotos

Pat Nixon -

The wife of Richard Nixon and former First Lady of the United States, died of lung cancer on June 22, 1993, aged 81.

Getty Images

13 / 32 Fotos

Nat King Cole -

The legendary American jazz pianist and singer died of lung cancer on February 15, 1965, aged just 45.

Getty Images

14 / 32 Fotos

Bob Marley -

The Jamaican reggae legend was diagnosed with melanoma (skin cancer) on his toe in 1977. The melanoma then fatally spread to his brain and lungs. Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981. He was 36.

Getty Images

15 / 32 Fotos

George Peppard -

The 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961) and 'The A-Team' (1983–1987) actor died of pneumonia after battling lung cancer and emphysema on May 8, 1994. Peppard passed away at the age of 65.

Getty Images

16 / 32 Fotos

Bugs Moran -

The infamous Prohibition-era Chicago mobster died of lung cancer in prison on February 25, 1957. Bugs Moran was 63.

Getty Images

17 / 32 Fotos

Jesse Owens -

The American track and field athlete Olympic gold medalist died of lung cancer on March 31, 1980. The Olympic gold medalist was 66.

Getty Images

18 / 32 Fotos

Dean Martin -

The famous American singer was diagnosed with lung cancer in September 1993 and died of acute respiratory failure resulting from emphysema on December 25, 1995. He was 78.

Getty Images

19 / 32 Fotos

Dmitri Shostakovich -

The famous Russian composer died of heart disease and lung cancer on August 9, 1975. Dmitri Shostakovich was 68.

Getty Images

20 / 32 Fotos

John Updike -

The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer lost his battle with lung cancer on January 27, 2009. John Updike was 76.

Getty Images

21 / 32 Fotos

Andy Kaufman -

The American entertainer died of large-cell lung carcinoma (a rare type of lung cancer) on May 16, 1984, at the age of 35.

Getty Images

22 / 32 Fotos

Ann Miller -

The American actress and dancer, best know for starring in Hollywood musicals in the '40s and '50s, died of lung cancer on January 22, 2004. Ann Miller was 80.

Getty Images

23 / 32 Fotos

Vincent Price -

The American actor, best known for his performances in horror films, died of lung cancer on October 25, 1993. Price was 82.

Getty Images

24 / 32 Fotos

Robert Mitchum -

The award-winning actor died from complications of lung cancer and emphysema on July 1, 1997, at the age of 79.

Getty Images

25 / 32 Fotos

Gary Cooper -

The Academy Award-winning actor died after his prostate cancer spread to the colon, bones, and lungs. Cooper left us on May 13, 1961, at 60.

Getty Images

26 / 32 Fotos

Don Knotts -

The actor, best know for his role in the sitcom 'The Andy Griffith Show' (1960–1968) died of complications of pneumonia related to lung cancer on February 24, 2006. Knotts was 81.

Getty Images

27 / 32 Fotos

Joe Cocker -

The English singer, best known for songs such as 'Unchain My Heart' and 'You Can Leave Your Hat On,' passed away from lung cancer on December 22, 2014, at the age of 70.

Getty Images

28 / 32 Fotos

Chuck Connors -

The actor, writer, and professional baseball and basketball player died of lung cancer on November 10, 1992. He was 71.

Getty Images

29 / 32 Fotos

Buster Keaton -

The silent film star died of lung cancer on February 1, 1966, aged 70.

Getty Images

30 / 32 Fotos

Chad Everett -

The actor lost his battle with lung cancer on July 24, 2012, at the age of 75.

Sources: (Ranker) (On This Day) (World Health Organization)

Getty Images

31 / 32 Fotos

Famous people who died of lung cancer

Some of these stars were diagnosed with lung cancer a few months before their death

19/09/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Deaths

According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide for both men and women. Of course, this also includes famous people who've lost their battle with the disease. While some stars managed to survive their cancer diagnosis, others sadly succumbed to it.

In this gallery, we remember the famous people who died of lung cancer. Click through and find out who they are.