‘He will be deeply missed’: Music and film communities grieve two beloved stars
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The entertainment world has been shaken by the loss of two beloved figures, each leaving behind a legacy of talent and impact.
As fans reflect on their contributions, the industry mourns the passing of an iconic musician and an acclaimed actress, both of whom shaped their respective fields in unforgettable ways.
Stedman Pearson, a member of the 1980s pop group Five Star, has died at the age of 60.
His sister Deniece confirmed his passing on 10 March, revealing that he had been ‘on dialysis and had diabetes’ before his death.
‘He was a gentleman to the very end–in every way and an amazing son/brother and uncle,’ she told PA news agency.
‘May the memories and love he gave to us and the world be our greatest comfort. He will be deeply missed.’
Pearson and his siblings—Delroy, Lorraine, Deniece, and Doris—formed Five Star in 1983, gaining fame for their coordinated dance routines and glamorous costumes.
The group achieved major success in the UK charts, securing six Top 10 hits, including ‘Rain or Shine’, which peaked at number two in 1986 but was kept from the top spot by Madonna.
Other hit singles included ‘Can’t Wait Another Minute’, ‘Find the Time’, ‘Stay Out of My Life’, and ‘The Slightest Touch’.
Managed by their father, Buster Pearson, the band won a Brit Award for Best Group in 1987, beating Pet Shop Boys and Eurythmics.
That year, they performed ‘Can’t Wait Another Minute’ at the awards ceremony, which also featured acts such as Simply Red, Spandau Ballet, and Whitney Houston.
Their album Silk & Steel was nominated for Best Album but lost to Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms.
By 2001, Five Star had become a trio, with Pearson continuing to perform alongside Deniece and Lorraine.
In 2012, the original five members briefly reunited, but Lorraine retired later that year.
Deniece remained the only active member, while the last performance featuring Pearson and his siblings took place in 2016.
Just days after his passing, the entertainment industry mourned another devastating loss with the death of Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne, best known for her award-winning performance in Rosetta, at the age of 43.
Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne, best known for her award-winning performance in Rosetta, has passed away at the age of 43.
Her family and agent confirmed to Agence France-Presse that she died on March 17 at a hospital near Paris.
In 2023, Dequenne revealed she had been diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare form of cancer.
Representatives for the actress did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Born in Belœil, Belgium, in 1981, Dequenne discovered her love for acting early on and trained at the Académie de Musique de Baudour.
She gained international recognition at just 18 when she starred in Rosetta, a film by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, portraying a teenager fighting to escape poverty while caring for her alcoholic mother.
The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1999, and Dequenne took home the Best Actress award for her raw and powerful performance.
She became a familiar name in French cinema after appearing alongside Catherine Deneuve in The Girl on the Train, a 2009 drama based on the true story of a woman who falsely claimed to have been the victim of an antisemitic attack.
Her television work included playing police officer Laurence Renauld in the French series The Missing.
In 2012, she won the Un Certain Regard Best Actress award at Cannes for Our Children, a psychological drama inspired by a real-life case in which a Belgian woman took the lives of her five children.
Throughout her career, she received several César Award nominations before finally winning Best Supporting Actress in 2021 for Love Affair(s).
Reflecting on her challenging role in Our Children, she shared: ‘For my part I went home every weekend, and stayed with my family, which is a very safe place. Making a film like that is something that you have to survive.’
Dequenne returned to Cannes in 2022 for Close, a coming-of-age film by Lukas Dhont, and reflected on how the experience mirrored her own journey as a young actress.
‘For me to be here and to come back here after 23 years, it's very emotional and there is like a reflection between Eden (Dambrine) and myself because I remember when I was here the first time with Rosetta,’ she told The Associated Press.
‘It was like a very powerful movie with this main character, which is in every scene, every, every shot. And that's the same for him.’
She made another appearance at the festival in 2024 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rosetta.
Her final role was in Frédéric Jardin’s Survive, a post-apocalyptic thriller released earlier this year.
Despite her success in European cinema, Dequenne had little interest in working in Hollywood.
‘I have been to Hollywood and had meetings, but really they don't do the kind of films I like to make. And everything is kind of boring, no?’ she said.
‘Honestly, it's not a fun place, or at least not my kind of fun.’
She is survived by her husband, director and producer Michel Ferracci, and their daughter, Milla Savarese.
As fans remember these two remarkable talents, their legacies continue to inspire.
May Stedman and Émilie rest in peace.
As fans reflect on their contributions, the industry mourns the passing of an iconic musician and an acclaimed actress, both of whom shaped their respective fields in unforgettable ways.
Stedman Pearson, a member of the 1980s pop group Five Star, has died at the age of 60.
His sister Deniece confirmed his passing on 10 March, revealing that he had been ‘on dialysis and had diabetes’ before his death.
‘He was a gentleman to the very end–in every way and an amazing son/brother and uncle,’ she told PA news agency.
‘May the memories and love he gave to us and the world be our greatest comfort. He will be deeply missed.’
Five Star's Stedman Pearson dies at 60. Image source: Shutterstock/Eugene Adebari
Pearson and his siblings—Delroy, Lorraine, Deniece, and Doris—formed Five Star in 1983, gaining fame for their coordinated dance routines and glamorous costumes.
The group achieved major success in the UK charts, securing six Top 10 hits, including ‘Rain or Shine’, which peaked at number two in 1986 but was kept from the top spot by Madonna.
Other hit singles included ‘Can’t Wait Another Minute’, ‘Find the Time’, ‘Stay Out of My Life’, and ‘The Slightest Touch’.
Managed by their father, Buster Pearson, the band won a Brit Award for Best Group in 1987, beating Pet Shop Boys and Eurythmics.
That year, they performed ‘Can’t Wait Another Minute’ at the awards ceremony, which also featured acts such as Simply Red, Spandau Ballet, and Whitney Houston.
Their album Silk & Steel was nominated for Best Album but lost to Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms.
By 2001, Five Star had become a trio, with Pearson continuing to perform alongside Deniece and Lorraine.
In 2012, the original five members briefly reunited, but Lorraine retired later that year.
Deniece remained the only active member, while the last performance featuring Pearson and his siblings took place in 2016.
Just days after his passing, the entertainment industry mourned another devastating loss with the death of Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne, best known for her award-winning performance in Rosetta, at the age of 43.
Entertainment world mourns Émilie Dequenne’s tragic passing. Image source: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne, best known for her award-winning performance in Rosetta, has passed away at the age of 43.
Her family and agent confirmed to Agence France-Presse that she died on March 17 at a hospital near Paris.
In 2023, Dequenne revealed she had been diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare form of cancer.
Representatives for the actress did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Born in Belœil, Belgium, in 1981, Dequenne discovered her love for acting early on and trained at the Académie de Musique de Baudour.
She gained international recognition at just 18 when she starred in Rosetta, a film by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, portraying a teenager fighting to escape poverty while caring for her alcoholic mother.
The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1999, and Dequenne took home the Best Actress award for her raw and powerful performance.
She became a familiar name in French cinema after appearing alongside Catherine Deneuve in The Girl on the Train, a 2009 drama based on the true story of a woman who falsely claimed to have been the victim of an antisemitic attack.
Her television work included playing police officer Laurence Renauld in the French series The Missing.
In 2012, she won the Un Certain Regard Best Actress award at Cannes for Our Children, a psychological drama inspired by a real-life case in which a Belgian woman took the lives of her five children.
Throughout her career, she received several César Award nominations before finally winning Best Supporting Actress in 2021 for Love Affair(s).
Reflecting on her challenging role in Our Children, she shared: ‘For my part I went home every weekend, and stayed with my family, which is a very safe place. Making a film like that is something that you have to survive.’
Dequenne returned to Cannes in 2022 for Close, a coming-of-age film by Lukas Dhont, and reflected on how the experience mirrored her own journey as a young actress.
‘For me to be here and to come back here after 23 years, it's very emotional and there is like a reflection between Eden (Dambrine) and myself because I remember when I was here the first time with Rosetta,’ she told The Associated Press.
‘It was like a very powerful movie with this main character, which is in every scene, every, every shot. And that's the same for him.’
She made another appearance at the festival in 2024 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rosetta.
Her final role was in Frédéric Jardin’s Survive, a post-apocalyptic thriller released earlier this year.
Despite her success in European cinema, Dequenne had little interest in working in Hollywood.
‘I have been to Hollywood and had meetings, but really they don't do the kind of films I like to make. And everything is kind of boring, no?’ she said.
‘Honestly, it's not a fun place, or at least not my kind of fun.’
She is survived by her husband, director and producer Michel Ferracci, and their daughter, Milla Savarese.
As fans remember these two remarkable talents, their legacies continue to inspire.
May Stedman and Émilie rest in peace.
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and Émilie 
