The Observer's obituaries of 2020 | World | The Guardian

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Harold Evans remembered by Darren Mansell

The thalidomide campaigner on a ‘true English gent’, the newspaper giant who brought the scandal to the world’s attention

Published: 8:00 AM
John Lewis remembered by Bryan Stevenson

The US lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative pays tribute to the pioneering US civil rights leader and congressman

Published: 5:00 AM

Jack Charlton remembered by Andy Townsend

The former Ireland captain remembers a football legend and an inspirational manager

Published: 8:00 AM
Elizabeth Wurtzel remembered by Nancy Jo Sales

The Vanity Fair writer on the troubled author of Prozac Nation, a strong, supportive woman with a raw streak of honesty

Published: 5:00 AM

Heather Couper remembered by Floella Benjamin

The broadcaster and parliamentarian remembers her friend and fellow TV presenter, a distinguished astronomer and science advocate

Published: 8:00 AM
Little Richard remembered by Bootsy Collins

5 December 1932 – 9 May 2020
The P-Funk star recalls the rock’n’roll trailblazer – and the friend who inspired him to always stay true to himself

Published: 5:00 AM

Paulette Wilson remembered by Patrick Vernon

The historian pays tribute to the modest but powerful woman who became a prominent Windrush campaigner

Published: 8:00 AM
John Sessions remembered by William Boyd

The novelist recalls his friend, the actor and joyful comedian who suffered badly from stage fright and was too shy to publish his own stories

Published: 5:00 AM

Lynn Shelton remembered by Mark Duplass

The actor, writer and director on a film-maker with a generosity of spirit and love for her performers that elevated indie movies and big-budget TV alike

Published: 11:30 AM
Jonathan Sacks remembered by Rowan Williams

The former archbishop of Canterbury recalls the former chief rabbi, a friend and inspiration who was an eloquent defender of classical liberal values

Published: 9:30 AM
Sean Connery remembered by Jackie Stewart

The former F1 racing driver on the iconic James Bond star, who was his friend for 50 years

Published: 6:30 AM
Diana Rigg remembered by Mark Gatiss

The actor-writer, who wrote an episode of Doctor Who for Rigg, recalls the joy of seeing her flit effortlessly between serious drama and pure camp

Published: 3:30 AM

Ruth Bader Ginsburg remembered by Lisa Beattie Frelinghuysen

The revered US supreme court justice’s former clerk recalls a friend who cared passionately about the dignity and rights of all

Published: 1:30 PM
Chadwick Boseman remembered by Ruth E Carter

The Oscar-winning costume designer – who worked with the actor on Black Panther – recalls a kind, self-assured man who would rather crack a joke than talk about his illness

Published: 11:20 AM
Andrew Weatherall remembered by David Holmes

The composer pays tribute to a brilliant polymath with singular musical vision, who was also a warm and wise friend

Published: 9:30 AM
Diego Maradona remembered by Angus Macqueen

The documentary-maker recalls his shrewd intelligence, outrageous behaviour and unalloyed glee

Published: 7:00 AM

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