Whether due to suicide, accidents, old age, illness or murder, there has been a concerning rise in reported celebrity deaths recently. Earlier this month, three global figures, Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella, actor William Yap Tze Cheng and voice actor Jim Ward, were all reported to have passed away within the same week.
Over the weekend, news broke that American actor James Ransone, best known for his roles in “The Wire” and “It Chapter Two,” had passed away. Now, two more names have been added to the growing list of recent celebrity deaths: “Call of Duty” co-creator Vince Zampella and singer Chris Rea.
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the popular video game franchise “Call of Duty” and co-founder of Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment, reportedly died in a car accident at the age of 55. According to multiple reports, the video game designer was driving a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS when the vehicle veered off the road while exiting a tunnel along the Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles, before crashing into a concrete barrier.
The car subsequently caught fire, and it was also reported that a passenger was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. At the time of writing, it is unclear what could have caused the accident, as investigations are still ongoing. “As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history. Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones upon this terrible tragedy,” Infinity Award wrote in a statement.
Singer-songwriter Chris Rea, best known for his hit song “Driving Home For Christmas,” passed away at 74 years old due to an undisclosed illness. A spokesperson for the artist’s family confirmed the news in an official statement, writing, “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Fans and fellow artists took to social media to mourn the Grammy nominee shortly after learning of his passing. It remains unclear how long he had been ill. We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of Vince Zampella and Chris Rea. May they find the strength to get through this difficult time.
Sources: NST (1)(2), BBC (1)(2)
