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It's inevitable that as time goes by, we will lose some of our favorite stars. And yet, year after year, it never gets any easier to look back on the great entertainers who had died over the previous 12 months.

Still, it's important to remember the legacies of the people who enhanced our own lives over the years with their talent, style and love of cinema. Here's a look at some of the many wonderful Hollywood talents who passed away in 2012.

Whitney Houston

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One of the most successful, beloved and influential pop stars of the last quarter century, Whitney Houston also became a Hollywood power in the '90s thanks to her roles in blockbusters like "The Bodyguard" and "The Preacher's Wife." Though she had her very public ups and downs over the past decade, Houston was in the process of making a career comeback on the big screen with the musical "Sparkle." It ended up serving as the posthumous cap to her legacy after she accidentally drowned in her hotel bathtub on February 11 at the age of 48. A great talent who left us far too soon.

Tony Scott

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Considering his older brother, Ridley Scott, is one of the most acclaimed and successful directors of all time, you would think that Tony Scott had lived in his shadow. But nothing could be farther from the truth, as the younger Scott carved out an amazing career as a film director in his own right, helming the all-time classic "Top Gun" as well as hits like "Beverly Hills Cop II," "Crimson Tide" and "Unstoppable." Sadly, just as he and star Tom Cruise were preparing the long-awaited "Top Gun 2," Tony Scott took his own life on Aug. 19 at the age of 68.

Ernest Borgnine

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Few stars were ever as unlikely — or prolific — as Ernest Borgnine. A late bloomer who didn't get interested in acting until his mid-30s, Borgnine went on to star in literally hundreds of television shows, movies and stage productions over the course of a career that spanned seven decades. Among the many classics he appeared in were "The Dirty Dozen," "The Wild Bunch," "Escape From New York," "The Poseidon Adventure" and "Marty," which earned him an Oscar for Best Actor in 1955. Borgnine, who was still working in films right up until the time of his death, died on July 8 at the age of 95.

Nora Ephron

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Just how influential was Nora Ephron over the course of her long and amazing career? Pretty much the entire modern romantic comedy genre is just one industry-wide attempt to replicate the success of her many classic films about relationships, such as "Sleepless in Seattle," "When Harry Met Sally" and "You've Got Mail." But while many have tried to copy Ephron, nobody has yet managed to capture the essence of her singular writing and directing style, which earned Ephron three Oscar nominations. Ephron died on June 26 after a six-year battle with leukemia at the age of 71. Often imitated, never equaled.

Michael Clarke Duncan

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Renowned for his gregarious and gentle demeanor as much as his incredible physical stature, Michael Clarke Duncan lived a true Hollywood rags-to-riches story, beginning his career as a bodyguard to the stars before being discovered in the mid-'90s. His first major role in a motion picture would make for enough of a legacy for any actor, as Duncan was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 1999's "The Green Mile." He didn't stop there, though, going on to become a fan favorite due in part to his easygoing nature, which led him to take numerous comedy roles. Duncan died on September 3 from complications following a heart attack in July at the age of 54.

Ben Gazzara

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Beginning his career as a television player in the early '50s, Ben Gazzara made the leap to the big screen by the end of the decade, appearing in such major projects as Alfred Hitchock's 1959 classic "Anatomy of a Murder." But he became a indie legend thanks to his numerous collaborations with director John Cassavetes in the '70s, including films like "Husbands" and "Opening Night." He went on to even greater mainstream success, with his most famous roles probably being the bad guy in the 1989 cult classic "Road House" and a small but memorable turn in 'The Big Lebowski." He died of pancreatic cancer on February 3 at the age of 81.

Adam Yauch

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Adam Yauch is best known, of course, as MCA in the legendary rap group The Beastie Boys. But as impressive as his musical legacy is, his work in film is also considerable. As the founder and creative force behind Oscilloscope Laboratories, Yauch distributed more than 40 independent films worldwide, including Academy Award nominees like "The Messenger" and "Exit Through the Gift Shop" as well as his own directorial debut, the basketball documentary "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot." Yauch died on May 4 at the age of 47 after a three-year battle with cancer.

Ralph McQuarrie

Empire Online

Ralph McQuarrie is a household name, but only in very specific households — that is, those that belong to "Star Wars" fans. McQuarrie was already a successful commercial artist in his mid-40s when he was approached by George Lucas to draw up some concept art for a little sci-fi film Lucas was planning. McQuarrie went on to define the look of "Star Wars," designing characters like Chewbacca, R2-D2 and Darth Vader. "Star Wars" springboarded him to a career in Hollywood, which culminated in a Best Visual Effects Oscar for "Cocoon" in 1986. McQuarrie died on March 3 at the age of 82 from complications of Parkinson's Disease.

Robert B. Sherman

MouseClubhouse.com

Along with his brother Richard, Robert B. Sherman formed half of the legendary Sherman Brothers who, beginning in 1961, defined the sound of Disney. Besides the numerous TV specials and theme park rides they created music for, Robert and his brother crafted songs for such classic films as "The Jungle Book," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" and, of course, "Mary Poppins," which earned them two Oscars. Robert, who is probably most famous outside of film circles for also co-writing the legendary earworm "It's A Small World," died on March 5 at the age of 86.

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Michael Clarke Duncan and Tom Hanks are forever linked in Hollywood history and in the minds of movie fans thanks to their performances together in the hit 1999 film "The Green Mile." So it's only fitting that following Duncan's tragic death earlier this month, Hanks was asked to present a eulogy at Duncan's memorial service on Monday.

And Hanks certainly did his big friend proud, delivering a moving and hilarious speech that has already gone viral.

Hanks, of course, began his career as a comedian, so it's only fitting that the centerpiece of his eulogy was a side-splitting story about Duncan's days as a teen on the tough side of Chicago. When Duncan decided to join a local gang, it turns out that he made the mistake of telling his mother about it and, well, let's just say that the course of Hollywood history — and Duncan's dinner plans — were changed as a result.

Courtesy of The Huffington Post, here's a look at Hanks' tale. We miss you, big guy.

Warner Bros.

Michael Clarke Duncan was a big actor in every sense of the word, a former bodyguard who got a huge break at the age of 41 with a stunning performance in "The Green Mile," and turned in an eclectic range of memorable roles in action, comedy, and dramas.

After tragically dying of a heart attack yesterday at age 54, we're paying tribute to the man by laying out his five career-best filmic turns.

Do you agree with our picks? Leave your thoughts and share your sadness at this great loss in the comments.

5. 'The Whole Nine Yards' (2000)

Famously, it was tough guy Bruce Willis who gave Duncan his big breakthrough, recommending to director Frank Darabont that he cast the 6-foot-5 behemoth in "The Green Mile," even after Willis himself had been turned down for the Tom Hanks lead. It was this act of generosity that perhaps led Duncan to return the favor by appearing as mob enforcer Franklin "Frankie Figs" Figueroa in "Nine Yards," a surprise hit caper comedy co-starring Matthew Perry. Thankfully the actor didn't stick around for 2004's sequel "The Whole Ten Yards," as the extra yard proved a major fumble.

"Michael Duncan was a great actor, a great human being, and he was my very dear friend," Willis told E! News. "I will miss Big Mike in a Big Way."

Dimension Films

4. 'Sin City' (2005)

Counting the bizarre, experimental "Breakfast of Champions," this is the fourth Bruce Willis film to feature Duncan, and is was a great get for the actor, as he cuts the perfect exaggerated comic book look. The adaptation of Frank Miller's sprawling noir anthology graphic novel cast him as Manute, a towering mercenary who has the honor of being killed by Benicio del Toro's exploding severed head. Duncan's other forays into the comic book world include fanboy-pleasing turns as big baddie The Kingpin in "Daredevil" as well as the voice of Corps training officer Kilowog in "Green Lantern."

3. 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' (2006)

Duncan proved he could score laughs with the best of them in this brilliantly off-kilter southern racecar satire. As Lucius Washington, pit crew chief for arrogant racing star Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell), Duncan got to share the movie's funniest scene where a delusional Bobby stabs himself in the leg to prove he's not psychosomatically paralyzed, which he is. Duncan's great improv of using a second knife to remove the first one from a hysterical Ferrell's leg was so spontaneous it was included in the movie despite being shot out of focus. The comedy's co-writer/director Adam McKay Tweeted last night, "RIP Michael Clarke Duncan. You were a talented gentle giant."

2. 'Armageddon' (1998)

This was the first real mainstream blockbuster in which America got to experience the awesomeness of Michael Clarke Duncan who plays Bear, right hand man of oil driller Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) trying to save the world from a 6-mile wide, Texas-sized asteroid. Audiences loved Duncan's scene sobbing in front of a psychiatrist, or the part where he requests to spend the summer in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House. His quirkiness would not go underutilized by director Michael Bay, who also cast him in 2005's "The Island" as the clone of a famous football player.

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1. 'The Green Mile' (1999)

Frank Darabont was only able to bring Stephen King's serialized Depression-era tale of murder and miracles on death row to life thanks to Duncan existing, as it's hard to imagine anyone else but the distinctively large and sweet man acting such a mythic role. Already a big guy, Duncan's size was exaggerated further with special effects, platforms, and other camera tricks to create John Coffey, the prisoner with healing/telepathic powers. The part of Coffey transcends "magical black man" clichés due to the depth of sensitivity Duncan brings to his role, imbuing the tortured inmate with a deep melancholy after the depths of human evil he has had to bear witness to.

"Our experience making 'The Green Mile' together was immersive and incredible, a once-in-a-lifetime journey," Darabont told AintItCool. "Never has an actor more richly deserved the recognition of an Academy Award nomination than Michael did for his performance as John Coffey." His co-star Tom Hanks also remarked to The Telegraph, "He was magic. He was a big love of man and his passing leaves us stunned."

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Film.com is reporting that Michael Clarke Duncan, the gentle giant who became an overnight sensation for his Oscar-nominated turn in "The Green Mile," has died today, nearly two months after suffering a heart attack.

He was 54.

A former ditch digger, Duncan followed his dream and moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a bodyguard before getting his big break in the 1998 action film "Armageddon." Less than two years later, in a true Hollywood success story, he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

For a full look at Duncan's life, head to Film.com.

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Warner Bros.

You talk a big game about your love of long-haired stars — your Johnny Depps, your Viggo Mortensens, your Hugh Jackmans — but there's something about a bare head that adds to the menace and allure of our favorite action stars.

Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises" is definitely one of the baddest baldies we've ever seen. Seeing all of the havoc he will wreak on Gotham in the upcoming movie encouraged us to dig deeper. Below, check out 14 guys — and one girl — whose naked scalps have scared and intimidated us for years.

Jason Statham

No one has tied his name more to a particular type of movie more than Jason Statham, to the point where all you have to say is, "It's a Jason Statham movie" and everyone knows exactly what you're talking about. Sometimes you're in the mood for Kurosawa. Other times, you want to see a man ram a shotgun up someone's ass. Everyone has their place.

Lions Gate

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy usually sports a full head of hair, but for his most terrifying role yet, as Batman baddie Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises," Hardy is hairless with only the most sinister-looking headgear covering his head. His lack of a 'do in the movie helps transform the suave British actor into a cold-hearted, maniacal villain ready to take down Gotham and Batman in the process. The deep inhuman unintelligble voice doesn't hurt either.

Warner Bros.

Vin Diesel

The former club bouncer has made more than 20 films, most involving the recital of pithy James Bond-esque catchphrases followed by some sort of beatdown via weapon or fist. As both a bouncer and action star, the bald head is essential to your image, especially if you're not exactly a thespian when it comes to acting.

Universal

Yul Brynner

We'll admit playing the title character in the romantic musical "The King and I" is not exactly the stuff of renegades, but Yul Brynner redeemed himself with Michael Crichton's 1973 dystopian western "Westworld." Although Brynner covered up his most powerful feature – his glistening head – with a cowboy hat, it couldn't stop his character -- a robot at an amusement park -- from turning on its creators and going apes**t. Sweet.

MGM

Michael Clarke Duncan

At 6'5'' and the size of a tank, Michael Clarke Duncan doesn't need a lot more to be one of the most intimidating actors around. But the shaved head doubtlessly added to the mystique and appearance of convicted rapist and murderer John Coffey in "The Green Mile." Duncan snagged an Oscar nom for that role. The head didn't hurt his chances.

Warner Bros.

Michael Ironside

Even before he was bald, dependable villain Ironside, best known as the dick in "Total Recall," the dick in "Top Gun" and the dick in "The Perfect Storm," could do this. With his mind.

That is all.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Sure, there's the unforgivable "Tooth Fairy" and "The Game Plan," but any bald former college football player-turned-professional wrestler-turned-action hero deserves a spot on the list. Judging by his increasingly receding hairline, we're guessing the baldness was more a function of necessity than style, but as long as Johnson has one raised eyebrow, he'll be fine.

Universal

Ben Kingsley

Few actors can simultaneously pull off evil and affable as Sir Ben Kingsley. Whether it's portraying a beloved international figure ("Gandhi") or a ruthless gangster ("Bugsy"), Kingsley's head emits an authoritative glow and aura that says, "Hey man. It's cool. You can trust me. I'm here to help." Even if he turns out to be full of s**t like in "Sexy Beast."

Warner Bros.

Samuel L. Jackson

Our favorite overly emotive actor doesn't need to be bald to revel in the histrionics that have made him both an acting icon and target of countless parodies. Still, we can't picture Neville Flynn in "Snakes on a Plane," Nick Fury in "Iron Man "or any of the three upcoming Marvel films as anything less than hairless.

Paramount

John Malkovich

He's not as strong as Michael Clarke Duncan. Not as evil as Ben Kingsley. And not as cool as Samuel L. Jackson. But the Nirvana of actors — each scene starting off in hushed tones and eerily building up to a bellowing roar — has created so many indelible characters, you can't front on a man who inspired a movie that took place inside his own brain.

Relativity Media

Natalie Portman

She only went bald for one role – Evey Hammond in the film adaptation of Alan Moore's dystopian epic "V For Vendetta" – but if you can look just as good bald as with flowing tresses, you've made our Eternal Hotness list. Having a shaved head is an important function of the film, and as the only female on this list, seeing a bald Portman run at you, gun in hand, simultaneously scares and endears us.

Warner Bros.

Ving Rhames

How manly is Ving Rhames? Go back to "Pulp Fiction," where dude is violated against his will and immediately comes back for revenge. Seriously, Maynard and Zed. Why would you provoke this guy of all people? Did you really think that would end well? Rhames would go on to play similar menacing figures in "Con Air," "Bringing Out the Dead" and the "Mission: Impossible" series.

After Dark Films

Patrick Stewart

Like his countryman Ben Kingsley, Sir Patrick Stewart's voice can emote a more diverse range of expressions than most people's faces. But as Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" franchise and numerous Shakespearean productions, Stewart's head gives each role an added gravitas that his more hirsute peers can only attempt to emulate.

Paramount

Verne Troyer

Everyone knows Troyer as Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" franchise, but the 2'8'' actor makes this list more for his stunt work, doubling for a 9-month-old in "Baby's Day Out" and hurling 32 inches of badassness in classics such as "Dunston Checks In" and "Jingle All the Way." And there's a confirmed sex tape floating around the Net. Have fun getting that image out of your head.

New Line

Bruce Willis

Our most outwardly surly member has only been permanently bald for a few years, but in some of his most memorable roles, Willis' shiny head has augmented his insanity (James Cole in "12 Monkeys") and viciousness (Butch Coolidge in "Pulp Fiction"). Now that his hair choice seems to be out of his hands, look for the grumpy visage to only intensify.

Fox

(Originally published on April 28, 2011)

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School is back in session and the summer movie season has wrapped, which means the pop-culture focus temporarily shifts to television until the annual slate of Oscar contenders and holiday blockbusters hit theaters.

This fall, though, you'll notice the new television season has a host of big movie stars transitioning to primetime, either for the first time, like Luke Wilson, or in a splashy return, like Ashton Kutcher.

While the majority of film actors are headlining high-profile series, a couple of them are lining up for key supporting roles in ensemble casts. Take a look at these 15 familiar faces and find out where you can catch them on the small screen this year.

Zooey Deschanel, 'New Girl'

FOX

There's no other actress who can combine beautiful and quirky with adorable and dorky (adorkable) like Deschanel can. The "500 Days of Summer" actress joins her sister Emily (of "Bones" fame) on FOX to headline a comedy about Jess, a broken-hearted twenty-something whose devastating breakup leads her to move in with three male roommates she finds on Craigslist. She's newly single, bad at making decisions, sings to herself, and loves "Dirty Dancing." We're there.

Ashton Kutcher, 'Two and a Half Men'

CBS

The last time Kutcher appeared in a comedy ensemble, it made him a star. Then he crossed over to films and from there, he bounded up to general celebrity status. He still has the tabloid-fabulous life, but he's gone back to his sitcom roots, replacing Charlie Sheen (you may have heard?) in the revamped "Two and a Half Men." As CBS revealed earlier this summer, Kutcher will play Internet tycoon Walden Schmidt, a depressed divorcé who buys the beach pad from Sheen's deceased character and takes on grieving Alan (Jon Cryer) and Jake (Angus T. Jones) as his roommates.

Kat Dennings, '2 Broke Girls'

As a teen, Dennings appeared in Bob Saget's short-lived series "Raising Dad," but as a young woman, she's appeared in movies such as "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Thor." Now 25, she's taking her streetwise charisma back to sitcom land. On CBS' new series, Dennings plays Max, a working-class Brooklyn waitress who takes in Caroline (Beth Behrs), an Upper East Side heiress who's just lost her fortune. The show's been described as "The Odd Couple" meets "Laverne & Shirley" on crack. We're not sure about the laugh track, but Dennings is a doll, so we'll give it a shot.

Luke Wilson, 'Enlightened'

The "Old School" actor co-stars in HBO's new offbeat comedy about Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern), a health-and-beauty exec who has a mental breakdown, goes to rehab, and comes back a little too zen for comfort. Wilson plays Amy's slacker ex-husband Levi, who's only ambition is to use recreational drugs. Wilson last graced the small screen in a recurring guest spot as Ashton Kutcher's older brother Casey in "That 70s Show," but this is his first full-time TV deal.

Amber Heard, 'The Playboy Club'

NBC

Even though legendary feminist Gloria Steinem has called for a boycott of the provocative NBC series, we'll reserve judgment until we actually watch the period drama, following a group of '60s Bunnies at the legendary club. Front and center is Heard, a slightly naive new Bunny who gets in over her head after she fatally fends off a powerful client her first night on the job. On the big screen, Heard is a horror vet, having appeared in "The Stepfather," "Zombieland," and "And Soon the Darkness." Next, she stars opposite Johnny Depp in "Rum Diary."

Patrick Wilson, 'A Gifted Man'

HBO

The talented Mr. Wilson is indeed a gifted man, whether he's sexing up Kate Winslet ("Little Children"), battling "The A-Team" or wooing Rachel McAdams ("Morning Glory"). On television, Wilson earned his acclaim on HBO's award-winning "Angels and America" mini-series. This fall, he's once again on primetime as narcissistic, hyper-ambitious surgeon Michael Holt, whose life begins to unravel when his dead ex-wife, who ran a health clinic, visits him from the beyond and asks him to help her former patients.

Christina Ricci, 'Pan Am'

ABC

If "Mad Men" chronicles a group of Madison Avenue men changing America, ABC's new ensemble drama promises to show how a select group of girdled stewardesses from the same era changed the workplace for (attractive) women everywhere. Ricci, who's only done half a dozen TV spots since she started acting at age 9, suits up to play Maggie, a Pan-Am flight attendant who suddenly finds a way to see the world without the constraints holding back other women of her generation.

Kerry Washington, 'Scandal'

ABC

The gorgeous actress ("The Last King of Scotland," "Ray") stars in "Grey's Anatomy" producer Shonda Rhimes' new mid-season replacement for ABC about a group of crisis managers. Washington plays Olivia Pope, a former media relations consultant to the president who starts her own firm of Washington D.C. "fixers," the kind of people who can make any "scandal" big or small disappear for their wealthy clients. Washington's in very good company; her employees include "Lost" brutha Henry Ian Cusick, Columbus Short, and "Weeds" dealer Guillermo Diaz.

Also Check Out: Kerry Washington Hot People Looking Hot Gallery

James Caviezel, 'Person of Interest'

NBC

For a Hollywood minute it seemed the man who played Jesus ("Passion of the Christ") might not resurrect his acting career after the controversial religious drama was released. But after six films in seven years, the actor is channeling his Method skills in this intriguing J.J. Abrams-produced drama on NBC. Caviezel plays Reese, a former government assassin who's contracted by an enigmatic Michael Emerson to kill people who are certain to commit atrocities, a sci-fi concept reminiscent of "Minority Report."

Maria Bello, 'Prime Suspect'

Although she has an impressive big-screen pedigree herself, Bello's still intimidated by taking on Helen Mirren's role in NBC's adaptation of the groundbreaking British procedural. "How could anyone compete with her? Didn’t she do about 10 of them and win an Emmy every time?" she asked EW.com back in February. As Jane Timoney (not Tennison like Mirren's original), Bello's a hard-nosed detective who must investigate crimes in the field and battle a sexist workplace in the New York Police Department.

Jonah Hill, 'Allen Gregory'

FOX

The recently slimmed-down comedian won't be showing off his new physique, because this new FOX series is part of the network's Sunday-night animation bloc. Hill, who'll next make movie audiences laugh in "The Sitter," voices the titular character, a precocious child genius who's described as "the most pretentious 7-year-old of our time." Allen is a condescending, internationally renowned wunderkind who has apparently published novels, mediated peace talks but is finally facing the one thing that could defeat him -- elementary school.

Also Check out: Jonah Hill in 'The Sitter' Trailer

Ashley Judd, 'Missing'

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If any actress has mastered the art of avenging angels, it's Judd, who will star in ABC's espionage thriller as Becca Winstone, a long-retired government agent whose son is mysteriously kidnapped while studying in Europe. Becca -- think Liam Neeson's "Taken" father mixed with "Alias" protagonist Sydney Bristow -- will use anything and everything at her disposal to track down her son and bring his kidnappers to justice. The Golden Globe nominee next stars in the family film "Dolphin Tale," but on the small screen it looks like she'll be fighting baddies around the world.

Laura Dern, 'Enlightened'

Although she's no stranger to TV -- she memorably appeared on "Ellen" and won a Golden Globe for portraying Katherine Harris in the 2008 political drama, "Recount" -- Dern returns to HBO for her first regular TV gig. Dern plays Amy Jellicoe, a dysfunctional woman who has a spiritual awakening in rehab and decides to live an "Enlightened" life -- with hilarious results. Not only is Dern the star, but she created and produces the half-hour comedy with screenwriter/"Year of the Dog" director/"Amazing Race" contestant Mike White.

Michael Clarke Duncan, 'The Finder'

The "Green Mile" star has built his career on playing various takes on the gentle giant (who should nevertheless not be disturbed), and FOX's "Bones" spin-off is no exception. Duncan plays Leo Knox, a once-obese lawyer who completely reinvents his life and his body after the deaths of his wife and children. Now a buff zen lawyer, Leo counsels the show's protagonist, Key West bar owner and Walter Sherman (Geoff Stults, "She's Out of My League"), the country's foremost tracker.

Claire Danes, 'Homeland'

After snagging an Emmy, a SAG, and a Golden Globe Award for her riveting performance in HBO's "Temple Grandin," it's no surprise Danes is returning to premium cable with Showtime's political suspense drama, "Homeland." Danes plays a CIA operative who suspects a recently rescued American POW (Damian Lewis) is actually working undercover for al-Qaeda. If the tick-tock action looks familiar, it's probably because the series' producers -- who also produced "24" -- know how to make wold leaders (and home viewers) break out in a nervous sweats.