In 2018, we've paused to note celebrity deaths such as actress/director Penny Marshall, former President George H.W. Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, Sen. John McCain, actor Burt Reynolds, singer Aretha Franklin, and physicist Stephen Hawking.
Celebrity deaths have ranged from the loved and admired to the notorious, still popular or whose 15 minutes of fame ended long ago, from entertainment to politics to music to sports.
Some of the famous people who left us in 2017 include musicians Tom Petty, Chuck Berry, and Chris Cornell, actors Miguel Ferrer, Roger Moore, David Cassidy, and John Hurt, actresses Mary Tyler Moore, Erin Moran, Glenne Headly and Della Reese, and comedians Don Rickles and Ralphie May.
Here are the notable people we've said goodbye to so far in 2018.
Alabama-born singer Ray Sawyer, who sang lead vocal on Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show's "Cover of the Rolling Stone," died on Dec. 31 at age 81.
Actor Frank Adonis, also known by his birth name Frank Scioscia, died on Dec. 27 at age 83 from kidney related health problems. He was best known for his roles in "Goodfellas," "Casino," and "Raging Bull," but also appeared in several movies and TV shows in gangster roles.
Veteran actor Donald Moffat, who portrayed presidents, acted in soap operas and more, died on Dec. 20 at age 87 from complications due to a stroke. Moffat appeared as presidents in "The Right Stuff" and "Clear and Present Danger," spent time on "One Life to Life," as well as the John Carpenter's "The Thing." IMDB credits him with 121 acting appearances between movies and TV shows.
Actor/director Penny Marshall died on Dec. 18 at age 75 from complications due to diabetes. Marshall debuted as an actress and made her mark on TV's "The Odd Couple" as a secretary, then exploded on the scene after getting her own show with Cindy Williams, "Laverne and Shirley." She later became a high-powered director with movies such as "Big," "A League Of Their Own," and "The Preacher's Wife."
Songwriter Jerry Chesnut, whose work has been recorded by legends such as Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Travis Tritt, Willie Nelson and Elvis Costello, died on Dec. 15 in Nashville at age 87. His best known hit was "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" for both Elvis Presley and Travis Tritt; he went to No. 1 with Faron Young in 1972 and "It's Four in the Morning."
Three-time Grammy winning artist Nancy Wilson died on Dec. 13 at age 81 after a long illness. Wilson earned a Best R&B Grammy in 1964 for "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am." She also won Grammys in 2005 and 2007.
Former Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Bill Fralic died on Dec. 14 of cancer at age 56. Fralic, a three-time All-American at Pitt was the first offensive lineman to finish in the top-10 of Heisman voting, something he did twice. He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame, and was a four-time Pro Bowler with the Falcons.
Actress Sondra Locke, who received an Oscar nomination for her role in "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", died Nov. 3 at age 74 of breast and bone cancer. It wasn't announced until Dec. 13. Locke appeared in several movies, many with Clint Eastwood such as "Outlaw Josey Wales," "The Gauntlet," and "Bronco Billy" during a 10-year relationship.
Actor Tim Rossovich, who turned a career as a football player into one as a character actor, died in Sacramento, California at age 72 on Dec. 7 after a long illness. Rossovich was an All-American at USC (where he roomed with Tom Selleck) and played seven years in the NFL and two more in the WFL. He changed careers and spent two years as an actor and stuntman.
Former Major League Baseball players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo died on Dec. 6 after a car accident in Venezuela. Valbuena, 33, and Castillo, 37, had left the ballpark in Caracas and were driving when the car went to the opposite side of the road to avoid a sliding rock. Valbuena played 11 seasons with five teams while Castillo played with three teams in a five-season career.
Tony-winning actor Philip Bosco died on Dec. 5 at age 88 after complications of dementia. Bosco, who won the Tony in 1989 for his role in "Lend Me a Tenor," also appeared in several films, including "Working Girl," and "The Savages."
Actor Ken Berry, famous for roles in "F-Troop," "Mayberry R.F.D.," and "Mama's Family," died on Dec. 1 at age 85. Berry, also a song and dance man, appeared in several Disney movies as "Herbie Rides Again," and guest roles on TV shows such as "Love Boat," "Fantasy Island," and "The Golden Girls."
NOVEMBER
Former President George H.W. Bush died on Nov. 30 at age 94. The 41st president and father of President George W. Bush had been in failing health; his wife Barbara Bush died on April 17 at age 92. He was a career public servant, as UN ambassador, CIA director and vice-president under Ronald Reagan.
Vanderbilt football player Turner Cockrell died of cancer on Nov. 29 at age 21. Cockrell, a tight end from Acworth, Ga., had fought cancer for more than a year -- having two cancerous lymph nodes removed last December.
"SpongeBob Squarepants" creator Stephen Hillenburg died on Nov. 26 from complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at age 57. Hillenburg was diagnosed in March of 2017. The series has won several awards, including U.S. and British Emmy Awards, and been translated into more than 60 languages.
Oscar-winning director Bernardo Bertolucci died on Nov. 25 at age 77 of cancer. Bertolucci directed "Last Tango In Paris" and "The Last Emperor" -- the latter earning nine Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director.
Actor/magician Ricky Jay, best known for his roles in "Boogie Nights" and "Tomorrow Never Dies", died on Nov. 24 at age 72. In addition to his acting roles, Jay was also a well-known magician who wrote an hosted his own TV specials.
Houston Texans owner Bob McNair died on Nov. 23 at age 81 after battling leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma in recent years. McNair's group was awarded the Texans in 1999 after the Houston Oilers left for Tennessee, and the Titans began play in 2002.
LFO singer Devin Lima died on Nov. 21 at age 41 about a bout with cancer. Lima was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in October, 2017, after the removal of an adrenal tumor from his stomach.
Screenwriter William Goldman, who won Oscars for "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid," and "All The President's Men," died on Nov. 16 at age 87 due to complications from colon cancer and pneumonia. Goldman also wrote screenplays for "The Princess Bride," "Marathon Man," and "Magic" among others.
Roy Clark, the guitar virtuoso and singer who headlined the cornpone TV show "Hee Haw" for nearly a quarter century, died on Nov. 15, at age 85. Clark was "Hee Haw" host or co-host for its entire 24-year run. Clark played the guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica and more.
Katherine MacGregor, who played Harriet Oleson on long-running TV show "Little House on the Prairie," on Nov. 14 at age 93. She appeared in the entire run of the series, from 1974 to 1983.
Stan Lee, the legendary founder, writer, editor, publisher and more for Marvel Comics, died on Nov. 12 at age 95. Lee began in the business in 1939 and was responsible for characters such as Thor, Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man, Hulk and more.
NASCAR legend David Pearson died on Nov. 12 at age 83. Pearson was a three-time Cup champion and won 105 times in his career on NASCAR's major circuit, trailing only Richard Petty on the all-time win list. The two finished 1-2 some 63 times in their careers.
Douglas Rain, the voice of HAL 9000 in "2001: A Space Odyssey" died on Nov. 11 at age 90 of natural causes. Most of Rain's work came on TV or stage, at the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario. He did receive a Tony nomination in 1972.
Jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove died on Nov. 3 at age 49 of cardiac arrest. The Texas native was nominated for six Grammy Awards with wins for 1998's "Habana" and 2002's "Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall."
Mari Hulman George, matriarch of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, died on Nov. 2 at age 83. She served as the IMS chair from 1988 to 2016 and gave the cry to "Start Your Engines" at the beginning of the Indianapolis 500. Her father purchased the track in 1945, and she spent her life involved in racing.
Former Sports Illustrated football writer Paul Zimmerman died on Nov. 1 at age 86 after years of failing health. Zimmerman worked for SI for nearly 30 years and was the most recognizable football writer of his time as "Dr. Z." approaching the coverage from an insider's level.
OCTOBER
Mobile native and Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey died on Oct. 31 at age 80, after battling ongoing health issues. McCovey teamed with Fairfield native Willie Mays to give the Giants a potent hitting attack in the 1960s and 70s. He played 22 seasons and hit 521 homers -- good enough for 20th on the all-time list.
Gangster Whitey Bulger, subject of Jack Nicholson's character in the movie "The Departed", died in federal prison on Oct. 30. Cause of death was not listed, but the FBI was investigating. Bulger led a mob and was an FBI informant who ratted on another mob. He also spent 16 years on the FBI's most-wanted list when he fled Boston before his indictment.
Rapper Young Greatness was shot to death outside a New Orleans Waffle House on Oct. 29. The 34-year-old rapper, whose real name was Theodore Jones, was known for his 2015 song "Moolah," which made it to the Billboard Top 100.
Billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, owner of the Premier League's Leicester City club, died Oct. 27 after his helicopter crashed on takeoff near the team's stadium. The 60-year-old brought the Foxes from a lesser league to the Premier League championship in two years.
Artist/playwright Ntoazake Shange died on Oct. 27 at age 70; she had been in poor health after suffering a series of strokes years ago. Shange wrote "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf," which was nominated for a Tony award in 1976.
Former National Hockey League commissioner John Ziegler died on Oct. 25 at age 84. The suburban Detroit native started working with the Red Wings in 1959 and became commissioner in 1979. He served until 1992 and helped the league grow from 18-to-24 teams including the addition of four franchises from the World Hockey Association.
Singer/songwriter Tony Joe White died of a heart attack at his home on Oct. 24 at age 75. White, best known for writing "Poke Salad Annie" (made famous by Elvis Presley) and "Rainy Night in Georgia" (Brook Benton), had his own solid career as a blues/swamp rock musician; his songs were hits with the likes of Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Jr., Tina Turner, Ray Charles and Waylon Jennings among others.
Actor James Karen, whose work spanned an era from Buster Keaton to American Dad!, died at age 94 in Los Angeles on Oct. 23. Karen was a career character actor who appeared in more than 200 roles on TV and movies, including "Poltergeist," "Any Given Sunday," and "The China Syndrome"; his TV roles included "As The World Turns," and "Little House on the Prairie" where his character was the reason Walnut Grove was blown up.
Microsoft co-founder and Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen died on Oct. 15 at age 65 of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Allen, also owner of the Seattle Seahawks and the 21st richest person in the world according to Forbes Magazine, had battled cancer three times; his total philanthropic contributions were estimated at $2 billion.
Bill Coors, head of Coors Brewery for many years and grandson of founder Adolph Coors, died Oct. 13 at age 102. Coors spent 65 years with the brewery and helped turn it from a regional to a national company. Under his watch, the company also introduced the recyclable aluminum beer can in 1959.
Former NBA and Kansas State basketball coach Tex Winter died on Oct. 10 at age 96. As an assistant with the Chicago Bulls in the 1980s and 90s, Winter developed the "Triangle Offense" that helped Phil Jackson-coached teams to nine NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
George Taliaferro, the first African American selected in an NFL draft, died on Oct. 8 at age 91. Taliaferro, who was a three-time All-American at Indiana, was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 1949 draft, but wound up playing for the Los Angeles Dons in the All-American Football Conference. He wound up playing for four NFL teams, and played in three Pro Bowls.
Los Angeles Chargers owner Alex Spanos died on Oct. 9 at age 95. Spanos bought a controlling interest in the NFL club in 1984 and eventually owner all but three percent. He turned over day-to-day management of the club to his son Dean in 1994; Dean made the decision to move the club to L.A. from San Diego last year.
Producer Arnold Kopelson died on Oct. 8 at age 83 of natural causes. Kopelson produced such films as "Porky's," "The Fugitive," and "Platoon."
Emmy-winning actress Peggy McCay died Oct. 7 of natural causes at age 70. McCay appeared in the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" for three decades and won her Emmy in 1991 as a guest star in "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill."
Betty Grissom, wife of Original 7 astronaut Gus Grissom, died on Oct. 7 at age 91. After her husband's death in the 1967 Apollo 1 fire, Betty Grissom successfully sued a contractor for wrongful death.
Veteran actor Scott Wilson, who most notably played Hershel Greene in "The Walking Dead" died Oct. 6 of cancer at age 76. Wilson, a 50-year veteran, also appeared in "The Right Stuff," "In Cold Blood," "Monster," and "The Right Configuration" where he received a Golden Globe nomination in 1980.
John Gagliardi, the winningest college football coach in history, died Oct. 6 at age 91. Gagliardi had a 489-138-11 record in 64 seasons -- 60 of them at St. John's (Minn.) in either Division III or NAIA. He coached from 1949-2012 and won NAIA titles in 1963 and 1965, and D-III titles in 1976 and 2003.
Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter Dave Anderson died on Oct. 4 at age 89; he had been in an assisted living facility. Anderson, who wrote for the New York Times for more than three decades, won the Pulitzer for commentary in 1981.
Former Clemson running back C.J. Fuller, whose kickoff return started the winning drive in the College Football Playoffs championship game, died on Oct. 3 at age 22. No cause of death was given. Fuller played for the Tigers from 2015-17.
SEPTEMBER
French actor/singer/songwriter Charles Aznavour died on Sept. 30 at age 94. He was often referred to as the French Frank Sinatra, and appeared in more than 60 films and sold more than 180 million records.
Former Philadelphia Eagles safety Wes Hopkins died on Sept. 28 at age 57. The Birmingham native played at John Carroll Catholic, walked on at Southern Methodist University, and played 10 years for the Eagles. No cause of death was given, although a former teammate believes he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Jefferson Airplane co-founder Marty Balin died on Sept. 27 at age 76 on the way to the hospital. Balin formed Airplane in 1965 and stayed with the group as it changed to Jefferson Starship in the 1970s, singing lead or writing (or both) hits such as "Miracles," "With Your Love," and "Count On Me." He also had a solo hit with "Hearts." Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Tommy McDonald, a 12-year NFL veteran who played in six Pro Bowls and helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the 1960 NFL Championship, died on Sept. 24 at age 84, but had been suffering from dementia-related illness for some time. McDonald, a two-time All-American at Oklahoma, had 84 touchdowns in his career.
Producer Gary Kurtz, who worked with George Lucas on "Star Wars" and "American Graffiti," died on Sept. 24 of cancer at age 78. Kurtz and Lucas parted ways after the series' second movie -- "The Empire Strikes Back."
Guitarist Felton Pruett, who played with Hank Williams in the 1950s, died in Shreveport, La., on Sept. 19, at age 89. Pruett had played with Williams when the latter performed in Nashville, but turned down the opportunity to go to Nashville with Williams. Instead, he stayed in Shreveport and backed up such musicians as Minnie Pearl, Buck Owens, and Slim Whitman.
Actor Peter Donat died on Sept. 17 at age 90 from complications of diabetes. Donat was a mainstay on crime and mystery TV series in the 1970s and 80s such as Mannix, Hawaii Five-0, and Murder She Wrote, and appeared as Agent Fox Mulder's father in the X-Files.
Actress Marin Mazzie, a three-time Tony Award nominee, died on Sept. 13 of ovarian cancer at age 57. Mazzie, a staple on Broadway and in London's West End, received nominations for "Ragtime," "Passion," and "Kiss Me, Kate."
Actor Bill Daily, who played second fiddle on such TV comedies as "I Dream of Jeannie" and "The Bob Newhart Show," died on Sept. 7 at age 91 of natural causes. In addition to playing Maj. Roger Healey and Howard Borden on those two shows, Daily played a comic foil on many shows and movies, and was a semi-regular on "Match Game." He battled dyslexia his whole career.
Rapper Mac Miller died Sept. 7 of a suspected overdose at age 26. Miller, who had a long-term relationship until earlier this year, had substance abuse issues in the past including a DUI in May. His most recent album, Swimming, debuted last month at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
Actor Burt Reynolds died on Sept. 6 of cardiac arrest at age 82. Reynolds, the former Florida State football player turned actor, was a Hollywood icon for his work in action films and comedies such as "Semi-Tough," the "Smokey and the Bandit" trilogy, "Deliverance," "Hooper," and more. He received his only Oscar nomination for the 1997 film "Boogie Nights."
Amway co-founder Richard Devos died on Sept. 6 at age 92. DeVos, father-in-law of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, owned the NBA's Orlando Magic and was a large donor to the Republican Party. He was also one of the leading philanthropists in the U.S.
Christopher Kennedy Lawford, son of actor Peter Lawford and Patricia Kennedy Lawford -- sister of former President John F. Kennedy -- died on Sept. 4 in Vancouver, B.C. of a heart attack at age 63. He worked as an actor, producer and executive for more than two decades.
Lydia Heston, wife of actor Charlton Heston, died on Sept. 3 at age 95. The two had been married for 64 years prior to his death in 2008.
AUGUST
Soap opera actress Susan Brown died on August 31 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease at age 86. Brown appeared on "General Hospital" from 1977-85, and on "Port Charles" until 2004. She won a Daytime Emmy in 1979 for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Actress Vanessa Marquez was shot and killed by police on Aug. 30 at her home in South Pasadena, Calif., at age 49. Police had been called to the house on a welfare check and, after a period of time, Marquez armed herself with a handgun according to police and police shot her. The gun turned out to be a BB gun. Marquez appeared on "ER" from 1994-97, and also had a role in the movie "Stand And Deliver."
Playwright Neil Simon, who wrote 30 plays, had 17 Tony Nominations and three wins, died on August 27 at age 91. It was reported that he had a failing kidney, along with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Simon wrote such classic plays or movie scripts such as "The Odd Couple," "The Goodbye Girl," "The Sunshine Boys," and "Biloxi Blues." He had also won two Emmys and the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for drama.
Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who was a presidential nominee in 2008, died on August 25 at age 81 of brain cancer. McCain, a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1981 and in the Senate from 1986 until his death.
Robin Leach, whose hopes for champagne wishes and caviar dreams for those watching his TV show 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' thrilled audiences for years, died at age 76 on August 23. He had suffered his second stroke on Monday. The show ran from 1984-95.
Former Lynryd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King, who co-wrote the band's iconic classic "Sweet Home Alabama," died on August 23 at age 68. King had been battling cancer in recent months. He played for the band from 1972-75 and 1987-96, and was inducted with the group into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Actress Barbara Harris, known for her roles on Broadway and in movies, died on August 21 at age 83 of lung cancer. Harris won a Tony Award in 1967 and had two other nominations. She also appeared in movies such as the original "Freaky Friday," "Nashville," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," and "Peggy Sue Got Married." She also co-founded the Second City comedy group in Chicago in 1968.
Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan died in his sleep on August 18 at age 80. Annan, the body's first black African secretary-general, served from 1997-2006 and shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the UN in 2001.
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, died at her suburban Detroit home on August 16 at age 76 of advanced pancreatic cancer. Franklin, who joined the Motown label in the 1960s, was raised on gospel music in her father's church and became one of the industry's most popular and enduring stars. Her hits included "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Baby I Love You," "Chain of Fools," "Think," and "Freeway of Love," among others.
Lead singer of the heavy metal band Huntress, Jill Janus, died on August 14 at age 43. Janus, who had struggled with mental illness, is believed to have killed herself. Janus had been the lead singer since the band began in Los Angeles in 2009.
Former Marshall University quarterback Reggie Oliver, part of that school's return to football after a 1970 plane crash that killed most of the team, died in Huntsville on Aug. 14 after suffering a head injury. The Tuscaloosa native connected on a late touchdown pass that was immortalized in the movie, "We Are Marshall."
Pro wrestler Jim Neidhart, who partnered with brother-in-law Bret Hart in the tag team The Hart Foundation, died Aug. 13 at age 63 after hitting his head in a fall at his Florida home. The Hart Foundation became two-time tag-team champions in the World Wrestling Federation. Neidhart's daughter, Natalya, is also a WWE star.
Hockey Hall of Famer Stan Mikita, who spent his entire 22-year NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks, died on August 7 at age 78. No details of his death were announced by he had been suffering from Lewy body dementia. He was a four-time NHL scoring champion, is the Hawks career leader in assists, points and games played and was the first player in team history to have his jersey retired.
Veteran actress Charlotte Rae, best known for her role as Mrs. Garrett in the TV show "Facts of Life," died on August 5 after fighting cancer for many years. Rae also was nominated for two Tony Awards and had appeared in TV shows such as "Car 54, Where Are You," and had an Emmy nomination for "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom."
JULY
Pro wrestler Brian Christopher Lawler died on July 28 after being found hanging in a Tennessee jail cell. The 46-year-old son of WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Jerry Lawler had been arrested on July 7 for driving under the influence, driving on a revoked license and evading arrest.
Golfer Bruce Lietzke died on July 28 at age 67 of brain cancer. He competed in more than 700 tournaments in his career on the PGA and senior tours, with 20 wins and a 1981 Ryder Cup spot.
Josip Peruzovic, better known in his pro wrestling days as Nikolai Volkoff, died at age 70. He had a history of heart issues. He was known as one of the greatest wrestling villains ever, and known for his alliance with The Iron Sheik; his career spanned 40 years.
Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne died on July 25 at age 66 after complications from shoulder surgery earlier in the month. Marchionne had revived Fiat by 2009 and was chosen by the U.S. government to help save Chrysler from bankruptcy.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano died suddenly on July 22 at age 56. Sparano was the offensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings and had coached the Dolphins from 2008-11, and also served as the interim head coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2014.
Pulitzer Prize-winning restaurant critic Jonathan Gold died on July 21 at age 57 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this month. Gold, who wrote for the Los Angeles Times, won the award in 2007 and was a finalist again in 2011.
Former Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland died on July 21 after a longtime battle with cancer. She led the Nittany Lions with 606 wins and 21 NCAA appearances, with a runner-up finish in 2000. She also coached at St. Joseph and Colorado, and played on three AIAW champions at Immaculata.
Adult Swim 'Metalocaplyse" writer and director Jon Schnepp died on July 19 at age 51 from complications of a stroke suffered earlier in the week. The program aired on Comedy Central from 2006-2012 and keyed around a death metal band, Deathklok.
Adrian Cronauer, the Air Force disc jockey whose exploits were the basis for the movie "Good Morning, Vietnam" starring Robin Williams, died July 18 at age 79.
Actor Gary Beach, who won a Tony Award for his work in the musical "The Producers," died July 17 at age 70.
Director Stan Dragoti died on July 13 at age 85 after complications of pneumonia. He directed such films as "Necessary Roughness," Mr. Mom," and "Love at First Bite."
Nancy Sinatra, first wife of singer Frank Sinatra, died on July 13 at age 101. They married in 1939 as Frank started his career in Jersey City, N.J.; the marriage ended in 1951 after having three children together -- including daughter Nancy, and son Frank Jr.
Former college and NFL coach Darryl Rogers died on July 11 at age 83. Rogers coached at San Jose State, Fresno State, Michigan State and Arizona State during the 1970s, and also coached the Detroit Lions between 1985-88.
Actor Tab Hunter died at age 86 on June 8 after a blood clot caused cardiac arrest. Hunter was a leading man in the 1950s and 60s with movies such as "Damn Yankees," and "Battle Cry." But his career cooled after rumors he was gay surfaced. Hunter came out in his 2005 autobiography.
Musician Richard Swift, who worked with the Black Keys, the Arcs and other groups, died on July 3 at age 41.
JUNE
Former Ole Miss football coach Billy Kinard died after an extended illness on June 30 at age 84. Kinard, a former Ole Miss defensive back/half back in the 1950s coached the Rebels for two seasons and part of a third in the 1970s and had a 10-2 mark in 1971.
Professional wrestler Matt Cappotelli died on June 29 at age 38. He had been battling cancer. Cappotelli was a winner of the WWE reality series "Tough Enough" in its third season.
Joe Jackson, leader of the Jackson family, died on June 27 at age 89 of pancreatic cancer. Jackson guided the musical career of seven of his children, including Michael and Janet Jackson, starting in the 1960s in Gary, Indiana, with the Jackson 5 as well as daughters Janet and LaToya.
Richard Harrison, patriarch of the family on The History Channel's "Pawn Stars," died on June 25 at age 77. Harrison and his son Rick founded the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in 1989 and the show began 20 years later. It is in its 15th season;
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Donald Hall died at his New Hampshire home on June 23 at age 89. In his 70-plus year career, Hall not only wrote poetry but bigraphies, children's books, essays, and a book for writers "Writing Well." His love of baseball was also documented in Ken Burns' "Baseball," and the HBO series, "When It Was A Game."
Vinnie Paul, co-founder of the heavy metal band Pantera, died in his sleep June 22 at age 54. Paul, the band's drummer, founded the group in 1981 with his brother "Dimebag Darrell" Abbott, Paul's given last name. After the band broke up, the two formed Damageplan in 2003.
Pulitzer-prize winning columnist Charles Krauthammer died on June 21 at age 68 of intestinal cancer. Krauthammer, a Washington Post columnist and contributor to Fox News, Time, The New Republic and other publications, championed neoconservative causes -- including those that led to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Koko the gorilla, who learned how to communicate with humans, died in her sleep at age 46. Koko was chosen at an early age to work on a language research project and picked up American Sign Language to communicate with humans. She also became fast friends with the late Robin Williams.
Birmingham native and World Golf Hall of Famer Hubert Green died on June 19 at age 71 of throat cancer. Green, a 19-time winner on the PGA Tour, won the U.S. Open in 1977 and the PGA Championship in 1985, as well on playing on three Ryder Cup teams. He won four times on the Senior Tour -- the first in Birmingham -- and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
Five-time British Open champ Peter Thomson died on June 19 at age 88. He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than four years. Only one golfer in history, Harry Vardon, had won more Open titles than Thomson -- who won in 1954, 55, 56, 58 and 1965.
Richard Valeriani, long-time NBC News correspondent who was once beaten at a civil rights demonstration in Alabama, died on June 18 of congestive heart failure at age 85. He worked for NBC from 1961-88 and spend most of his career in Washington, although he also covered civil rights demonstrations in Mississippi and Alabama, including one in Marion, Alabama, in 1965 where he was beaten and hospitalized.
Rapper XXXTentacion was shot and killed in south Florida on June 18 at age 20. He earned his first Billboard 200 No. 1 album in March with "?." He was also facing a dozen felony charges and domestic violence allegations.
Film producer Martin Bregman died June 16 at age 92 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Bregman was producer on such Al Pacino films as "Serpico," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Sea of Love," and "Scarface," as well as others like "Four Seasons," "Betsy's Wedding," and "The Bone Collector."
Matt "Guitar" Murphy, known best for his role in "The Blues Brothers" band, died on June 14 at age 88. Murphy appeared in the film as the husband of diner owner Aretha Franklin, but was more than a studio musician for that band. The Sunflower, Miss., native also played with Chuck Berry, Etta James, and Muddy Waters, and formed his own band in 1982.
Longtime Elvis Presley drummer D.J. Fontana died at his home in Nashville at age 87 on June 13. He was the last of Presley's original group of musicians and first worked with him in 1954. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
Basketball Hall of Famer Anne Donovan died June 13 of heart failure at age 56. Donovan was a national champion at Old Dominion in 1980 in the AIAW, which governed women's athletics before the NCAA took over; a two-time Olympic gold medalist and Donovan picked up a third as a coach.
Dorothy Cotton, a top aide to civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., died June 10 at age 88. Cotton helped organize the 1963 civil rights marches in Birmingham, and was education director for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1960-68, the top female leader in an organization founded by King and other ministers.
Actor Jackson Odell was found dead at his home in California at age 20 on June 10. Odell appeared in the ABC comedy "The Goldbergs" and Nickelodeon's "iCarly"; he had also appeared in the movie "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer," and had just provided the soundtrack for the movie "Forever My Girl."
Food writer and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain was found dead of an apparent suicide in a French hotel room on June 7 at age 61. Bourdain was filming part of his CNN series "Parts Unknown" in Strasbourg.
"Sons of Anarchy" actor Alan O'Neill was found dead at his Los Angeles apartment on June 6 at age 47. He had a history of heart problems and was a heavy smoker, and had struggled with alcohol. O'Neill, who played Hugh on the series, appeared in several movie and TV roles in the U.S. and U.K.
Former St. Louis Cardinals second baseman and manager Red Schoendienst died on June 6 at the age of 95. Schoendienst played for the Cardinals from 1945-56 and served as a coach or manager from 1961-95. He led the team to a World Series title in 1967 and a National League title in 1968. Schoendienst was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1989.
Fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead in her New York apartment on June 5 at age 55 of an apparent suicide. Spade started working at Mademoiselle in the 1980s, then started a line of handbags in her name in 1993. The line took off into a clothing and jewelry line; she sold the company in 2007 but started a new line named after her daughter in 2016 -- Frances Valentine.
Former San Francisco 49ers receiver Dwight Clark, whose 1982 NFC Championship touchdown catch was one of the most memorable in NFL history died on June 4 at age 61. He had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis since 2015. Clark played on two Super Bowl champions and was named to two Pro Bowls.
Former Alabama basketball coach, Kentucky athletic director and USA Basketball president C.M. Newton died June 4 in Tuscaloosa at age 88. Newton coached the Tide from 1968-80 with a 211-126 record. After retiring, then coaching at Vanderbilt, he became the AD at Kentucky, and led USA Basketball from 1992-96. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 200 and College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Clarence Fountain, founding member of the Blind Boys of Alabama gospel group, died on June 3 in Baton Rouge at age 88. He had been taken to the hospital two days earlier. Fountain and other formed their first group in 1938 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Deaf and Blind in Talladega, and changed their name to the Blind Boys of Alabama in 1948. The group won Grammys in 2001 through 2004 and a lifetime achievement award in 2009.
Blues guitarist Eddy Clearwater died of a stroke on June 2 at age 83. While Clearwater's work was best known in Chicago, his career started in Birmingham with gospel groups, including the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. Clearwater, born Edward Harrington in Mississippi, received a Grammy nomination in 2003.
MAY
Atari cofounder and video game pioneer Samuel "Ted" Dabney died of esophageal cancer at his home in California on May 26 at age 81. Dabney and Nolan Bushnell co-founded Atari in the early 1970s. After an early game flopped, the company came up with Pong in 1972.
Former astronaut Alan Bean, the fourth person to walk on the moon, died May 26 at age 86 two weeks after falling ill on a trip to Fort Wayne, Ind. Bean and Pete Conrad were the lunar landing crew for Apollo 12, which went to the moon in Nov. 1969. Bean, who also flew Skylab, was an accomplished painter after retirement.
Blake Painter, who appeared in the Discovery Channel series "Deadliest Catch," was found dead on May 25 at his home in Astoria, Oregon, at age 38. Painter was an engineer for the F/V Maverick, before coming its captain. He later acquired his own vessel.
Former college football coach Bill Mallory died on May 25 at age 83, a day after suffering a brain injury after a fall at home. While the head coach at Miami (Ohio), Colorado and Northern Illinois, he was best known for his 12-year stint at Indiana, where he went 69-77-3 and took the Hoosiers to six of the 11 bowls in their history.
Jerry Maren, the last surviving member of the Munchkins from the "Wizard of Oz," died at 98 on May 24; he had suffered from dementia. His death had been erroneously been reported in 2016. Maren was 18 when he appeared in the Wizard of Oz as one of the three members of the Lollypop Guild. He appeared in many movies, TV shows and commercials over his career.
Muscle Shoals drummer Roger Clark died May 24 at his home. He was 67. Clark worked at FAME and Wishbone recording studios in the 1970s and 80s, recording with Lou Rawls, Tom Jones, and Hank Williams, Jr., among others. he also toured with Steve Miller Band, Journey, and the Pointer Sisters.
Veteran actor Clint Walker died on May 22 at age 91 of congestive heart failure. Best known for his title role in the TV series "Cheyenne" in the late 1950s and early 60s, Walker also appeared in "The Dirty Dozen," "The Ten Commandments," and as a voice actor in "Small Soldiers." .
Novelist Philip Roth died May 22 at age 85 of congestive heart failure. The author of 25 books, the most famous was the 1969 offering "Portnoy's Complaint," which sold millions of copies. Other works included "American Pastoral," "The Plot Against America," and "Nemesis."
Thirty-eight time LPGA tour winner Carol Mann died on May 20 in Texas at age 77. Mann also served as LPGA president from 1973-76 and was a golf analysts on ABC, ESPN, and NBC. in 1968, Mann won 10 tournaments on the circuit; she was inducted into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977.
Former presidential aide and speechwriter Richard Goodwin died on May 20 at age 86 after a short bout with cancer. Goodwin served under John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and was credited with coining the term "the Great Society" for Johnson. Goodwin was also immortalized in the movie "Quiz Show" for his work investigating television game shows in the 1950s.
LSU football legend Billy Cannon died on May 20 at age 80. Cannon won the 1959 Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to a national title in 1958. Cannon also played running bck with the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs. Cannon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983, but it was rescinded after a federal conviction for counterfeiting in the late 1980s. He was reinstated by the Hall in 2008.
Veteran character actor Joseph Campanella died on May 16 at age 93. He appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows, such as The Bold Ones, Mannix, One Day at a Time, Baywatch, Days of Our Lives and The Colbys. He won an Emmy for his work in Mannix and a Tony nomination in 1962.
Former SEC commissioner Mike Slive died on May 16 in Birmingham at age 77. Slive had undergone treatment for prostate cancer in recent years. Slive served as commissioner from 2002 to 2015 as the league won 81 national championships in 17 sports in that time.
Former Georgia quarterback Andy Johnson died at age 65 on May 16. He became the Bulldogs' starting QB in 1971, led them to a Gator Bowl win and an 11-1 record. The three-year starter rushed for 1,799 yards in his career, then a record. He played in the NFL for the New England Patriots, and the USFL's Boston Breakers.
Author and journalist Tom Wolfe died on May 15 at age 87 in a New York hospital. Wolfe was best known for his novels "The Right Stuff," which chronicled the space race through the Mercury astronauts, and "Bonfire of the Vanities," a satire of Manhattan-style power and justice in the 1980s.
Former Masters and PGA champion Doug Ford died on May 14 at age 95. Ford won the Masters in 1957 -- two years after winning the PGA Championship -- and had 19 tour wins overall. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
Actress Margot Kidder died at her home in Montana on May 13. Kidder starred in several movies, including "The Amityville Horror," but was best known for her 1970s and 1980s role as Lois Lane in "Superman" and its sequels.
Former NFL coach Chuck Knox died May 12 at age 86 after battling dementia. Knox coached the Rams, Seahawks and Bills, posting a 186-147-1 record over 22 years and was the NFL coach of the year three times.
Former Ole Miss player and football coach Billy Brewer died May 12 at age 83. Bright had been in poor health after suffering a stroke earlier this year. Brewer, who played for the Rebels in the late 1950s and also coached at Southeastern Louisiana and Louisiana Tech, coached at Ole Miss for 11 seasons with a 67-56-3 record.
Scott Hutchinson, frontman for the Scottish indie rock band Frightened Rabbit, was found dead in Scotland on May 10 at age 36. He had given interviews about mental health issues and had addressed them in some of his songs. The group was scheduled to appear at the Meltdown Festival in London next month.
Scientist David Goodall died on May 10 by assisted suicide in Switzerland at age 104. The Australian, who was not terminally ill, fought to end his life at the time of his own choosing. In his career, the botanist and ecologist edited an 30-volume set called Ecosystems of the World and, at age 102, fought to keep working at a Perth university.
Film editor Anne Coates, who won an Oscar for her work on "Lawrence of Arabia," died on May 9 at age 92. She also received nominations for her work on "Becket," "The Elephant Man," "In The Line Of Fire," and "Out Of Sight."
Rapper Big T died on May 7 at age 52 of what was believed to be a heart attack. Big T, whose real name was Terence Prejean, appeared on on Lil' Troy's hit "Wanna Be A Baller" in 1999.
Bill Torrey, former general manager of the New York Islanders and the architect of their Stanley Cup wins from 1980-83, died May 2 at age 83. Torrey was the first employee of the Islanders and worked for the franchise from 1972-1993, when he became the president of the Florida Panthers
Drummer John "Jab'o" Starks, who keyed the drum section for James Brown in the 1960s and 70s with Clyde Stubblefield, died in Mobile on Wednesday at age 79. He had entered hospice care for a bone marrow disorder and cancer. Starks, born in Jackson, worked with Stubblefield and the two were considered among the greatest drummers of all time. He performed on hits such as "The Payback," "Super Bad," and "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine."
APRIL
Actor Robert Mandan, who started in the 1970s comedy "Soap," died April 29 at age 86 after a long illness. In addition to his portrayal of the womanizing Chester Tate, Mandan also stared in the TV adaptation of "Private Benjamin," appeared in soap operas, and smaller roles in movies and on stage.
Former NASCAR driver and 1966 Rookie of the Year James Hylton died on April 28 at age 83. Hylton and his son James Jr. died in Carnesville, Ga., in a traffic accident. Hylton won two races in his 602 race, 30-year career -- including the 1972 Talladega 500 where he led 106 laps -- and was second in points three times.
Larry Harvey, co-founder of the Burning Man Festival, died on April 28 at age 70. Harvey suffered a stroke earlier this month.
Producer Paul Junger Witt died on April 27 of cancer at age 77. He was producer of such TV shows as the "Golden Girls," "Benson," and "Soap" as well as movies like "Dead Poets Society," and "Insomnia."
Saxophonist Charles Neville died April 26 of pancreatic cancer at age 79. Neville was one of four brothers in the legendary New Orleans-based group, The Neville Brothers, and early in his career backed performers such as B.B. King, Johnny Ace and Jimmy Reed. The group won a Grammy in 1989 for best pop instrumental performance.
Director Michael Anderson died on April 25 at age 98. Anderson directed such films as "The Dam Busters," "Logan's Run," and the original "Around The World in 80 Days."
Bob Dorough, the musical director for the "Schoolhouse Rock" educational cartoon series, died on April 23 at age 94 of natural causes. The series, which ran on ABC from 1973-1985, taught children about how Congress passes bills, conjunctions, numbers, adverbs, and more.
Actor Verne Troyer, best known for playing "Mini-Me" in the Austin Powers' movie series, died on April 21 at age 49. Troyer, reportedly 2-foot-8, appeared in 57 movies, videos or TV shows during his career, including "Men In Black," "How The Grinch Stole Christmas," and "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."
Award winning artist, DJ, and producer Avicii died on April 20 in Muscat, Oman, at age 28. The electronic dance music artist hit No. 4 on the Billboard charts in 2013 with "Wake Me Up," a collaboration with Aloe Blacc. He also worked with Madonna, Carlos Santana, Wyclef, and others.
Former Ohio State football coach Earle Bruce died on April 20 at age 87. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017. Bruce, who also coached at Tampa, Colorado State, Iowa State and Northern Iowa, replaced Woody Hayes at OSU and compiled a 154-90-2 overall record. He was also the only man who fired Nick Saban from a coaching job, when Saban was the Buckeyes' secondary coach in 1981.
Erin Popovich, wife of San Antonio Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich, died on April 18 after a long battle with respiratory issues.
Pro wrestler Bruno Sammartino died on April 18 at age 82. A mainstay of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (which evolved into the WWE), Sammatino held the World Heavyweight Championship for more than 2,800 days and headlined the first wrestling event at Madison Square Garden when it opened in 1968.
Barbara Bush, wife of President George H.W. Bush and mother to President George W. Bush, died on April 17 at age 92. She had been in failing health with congestive heart failure, and had gone home to live out her days in comfort. Barbara Bush met her husband when she was 18 and he was 17. They married two years later and had been married for 73 years. She was one of two women in American history to be the wife and mother of a president.
Retired Bishop David Foley, former head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham from 1994-2005, died April 17 at age 88. Foley had suffered from a form of bone marrow cancer for several months.
Longtime National Public Radio announcer Carl Kasell died on April 17 at age 84 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Kasell started as a newscaster for NPR's "Morning Edition" in 1979, and also served as the judge and scorekeeper for "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!"
Actress Pamela Gidley, best known for her work in the Twin Peaks prequel "Fire Walk with Me," died on April 16 at age 52. She also had smaller roles in TV series such as "MacGyver," ''The Pretender," ''Tour of Duty," ''CSI" and "The Closer."
Actor Harry Anderson, who was nominated for three Emmy awards during a nine-year stint on the NBC comedy "Night Court," was found dead at his Asheville, N.C., home on April 16. Anderson had roles on "Tales from the Dark Side," "Cheers," and "30 Rock," during his career and turned his ability as a magician into opening doors for his TV work.
Former Duke basketball coach Vic Bubas died on April 16 at age 91. Bubas went 213-67 in 10 years with the Blue Devils and led them to Final Fours in 1963, 64 and 66. He also served as commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference for 14 years.
R. Lee Ermey, a former Marine turned actor, died on April 15 at age 74 from complications of pneumonia. Ermey made his mark in "Full Metal Jacket" playing Gunnery Sgt. Hartman, and was often cast in military roles. He also appeared in such films as "Se7en," "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and "Saving Silverman." He also had voice roles in the "Toy Story" movies, as well as "Family Guy," "The Simpsons," and "SpongeBob SquarePants."
Former Tennessee women's basketball standout Daedra Charles-Furlow died on April 14 at age 49. She played for the Lady Vols from 1988-91 and won the Wade Trophy as the nation's best player in 1991. She won an Olympic bronze medal with the United States in 1992 and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. Charles-Furlow also served as an assistant coach at Detroit Mercy, Auburn and Tennessee.
NBA legend Hal Greer died April 14 in Arizona at age 81 after a brief illness. Greer -- a Hall of Fame guard, the Philadelphia 76ers all-time leading scorer, and member of the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time team -- played 15 seasons with the Syracuse Nationals, and 76ers. He ended his career with 21,586 points after being selected in the 1958 draft from Marshall.
Oscar-winning director Milos Forman died on April 14 at age 86. Forman won Oscars for direction and best picture with 1975's "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" and again with 1984's "Amadeus." The Czech-borne filmmaker also directed such films as "Hair," "Ragtime," and "The People Vs. Larry Flynt."
Radio host Art Bell, whose "Coast to Coast AM" radio show dealt with conspiracies and the paranormal, died Friday, April 13, at age 72 with an autopsy scheduled. Bell geared his shows around UFOs, conspiracies and cover-ups for over 15 years from his home in the Nevada desert, and had close to 10 million listeners before his sudden retirement.
Mitzi Shore, mother of comedian Pauly Shore and founder of iconic Los Angeles landmark, The Comedy Store, died April 11 at age 87. The Comedy Store helped give comedians such as David Letterman, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and Chris Rock their start.
Yvonne Staples, member of the Staple Singers along with his sisters Mavis and Cleotha, died April 10 in Chicago at age 80. Their mid-1970s trademark song, "I'll Take You There" was the group's first No. 1 hit. The gospel group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and received a lifetime achievement award from The Grammys in 2005.
Comedian and character actor Chuck McCann died of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles on April 8 at age 83. McCann was also known for his commercial work with Right Guard deodorant and was the voice of Sonny the Cuckoo Bird for Cocoa Puffs. He also appeared in "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", "The Projectionist," "Silent Movie" and "Foul Play."
Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Kahikina Akaka, the first Native Hawaiian elected to Congress, died on April 6 at age 93. Akaka served 14 years in the House before winning his Senate seat in 1990. He served until 2012 when he decided not to seek re-election. Akaka had been hospitalized for several months.
Alabama civil rights leader F.D. Reese, who first invited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to come to Selma, died on April 5 at age 88. The member of Selma's "Courageous Eight" had been pastor of the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church for 50 years.
Former WWE wrestler "Luscious" Johnny Valiant died on April 4 in Pittsburgh when he was struck by a truck while crossing the street. He partnered with James Fanning to win the World Tag Team title in 1974 and with "Gentleman" Jerry Valiant to regain the crown in 1979. Valiant, 71, also managed Hulk Hogan in the 1980s.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela,anti-apartheid activist and the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, died on April 2 after a long illness. Madikizela-Mandela was married to Mandela from 1958-96. Through most of their marriage, he was imprisoned, and her activism against apartheid led to her being imprisoned or under house arrest.
Actress Susan Anspach died on April 1 of coronary failure at age 75. She was known for roles in films such as "Five Easy Pieces," "Blume in Love" and "Play It Again, Sam."
Steven Bochco, creator of "Hill Street Blues" and "NYPD Blue" died in his sleep on April 1 at age 74. He had been fighting leukemia. Over the years, Bochco won 10 Emmy awards and was nominated 30 times.
MARCH
Former Major League Baseball player Rusty Staub died March 29 at age 73 of organ failure as a result of cellulitis. Staub played with the Houston Astros, Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and New York Mets, and had more than 2,700 hits over 23 seasons. He was a six-time all-star.
Longtime NFL quarterback David Humm died on March 28 at age 65. Humm, who played for the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Colts, had suffered for multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years. A three-year starter at Nebraska, he was fifth in the 1974 Heisman Trophy voting.
Mel Rosen, longtime Auburn track coach, died on March 25 at age 90. Rosen served as Auburn's track coach from 1963-1991, then served as the U.S. track coach for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. in 1993, Rosen was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and two years later, the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Linda Brown, the Kansas schoolgirl at the heart of the historic 1954 Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education case that ended school segregation, died on March 25 at age 76. Brown's father had sued the Topeka school board for her to attend an all-white school and was denied. Three years later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in their favor on the grounds that "separate but equal" was a violation of the 14th Amendment.
Alabama gambling magnate Milton McGregor died in his sleep on March 25 at age 78. McGregor owned Victoryland Casino and Birmingham Race Course; over the years, McGregor faced many attempts to shut down his casino. In 2012, he was found not guilt of conspiracy to buy and sell votes in a 2010 gambling bill.
Seo Minwoo, member of the K-pop band 100% died March 25 in Seoul, South Korea at age 33. His death was reported to be from cardiac arrest.
Actress DuShon Monique Brown, known for her role as Connie in NBC's "Chicago Fire," died on March 23 at age 49. Brown turned the one-line one-off role into a reoccuring character in the series. The longtime stage actress also had appearances in "Electric Dreams", "Prison Break" and "Empire".
Former Georgia Gov. Zell Miller died on March 23 at age 86 after being in failing health for years. Miller was a two-term governor (1991-99) as well as a U.S. senator (2000-05), and also gave keynote speeches at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
Delores Taylor, who appeared in all five Billy Jack movies and was married to star Tom Laughlin in real life, died on March 22 at age 85. She had been suffering from dementia.
H. Wayne Huizenga, who built a business empire that included Waste Management Disposal, Blockbuster Video, AutoNation and three Miami-area professional sports franchises, died on March 22 at age 80. Huizenga was a founding owner of the NHL's Florida Panthers and baseball's Florida Marlins and also purchased the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 1994. By 2009, he had sold all three franchises. He was "CEO of the Year" from Financial World five times.
Toys R Us founder Charles Lazarus died on March 22 in Manhattan at age 94. The toy store could trace its roots back to 1948 when Lazarus converted his father's store from bicycles to baby furniture. In 1978, the chain's successor's emerged as Toys R Us, with Lazarus as CEO. The firm was sold in 2005 and is undergoing liquidation.
Pulitzer Prize winner and Tuscaloosa native Les Payne died suddenly on March 19 at age 76. Payne, who was at New York's Newsday for nearly four decades, was part of that paper's team that won the 1974 Pulitzer for "The Heroin Trail."
Sixteen-term Congresswoman Louise Slaughter died on March 16 in Washington at age 88. The upstate New York Democrat was an advocate of health privacy and abortion rights, and was ranking member of House Committee on Rules. She had sustained an injury at home the week before she died.
New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson died on March 15 at age 90. Benson, who bought the team in 1985 and also owned the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, had been hospitalized with the flu for the last month. Benson, one of the richest men in Louisiana, made his fortune by building a chain of auto dealerships.
Former college baseball coach Augie Garrido, who won the most games in NCAA history, died on March 15 at age 79. He had suffered a stroke recently. Garrido won 1,975 games -- mostly with Texas and Cal-State Fullerton -- and five NCAA championships.
Stephen Hawking, the renowned British astrophysicist, died on March 14 at age 76. Hawking had suffered from a degenerative motor neuron disease since he was 21. His book "A Brief History of Time" brought science to the masses; he also described how Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity traced the beginning of the universe to the Big Bang, some 13.7 billion years ago.
Nokie Edwards, former lead guitarist for the 1960s surf rock band "The Ventures," died on March 13 at age 82. Edwards was instrumental in the development of tunes such as "Walk, Don't Run," and the theme from Hawaii Five-0. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
Matt Dike, music producer for acts such as The Beastie Boys, Tone Loc, and Young MC, died on March 13 at age 55 after a brief illness. Dike also founded record label Delicious Vinyl.
Craig Mack, 1990s rapper known for his hit "Flava in Ya Ear," died March 12 at age 46 of natural causes. The song was nominated for a Grammy for best rap solo performance, and featured performances from Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes.
Famed fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy died March 10 at age 91. Givenchy founded his design house in 1952, and was long associated with fashion for Audrey Hepburn in films such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and "Funny Face." His designs were also favored by Princess Grace of Monaco, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Jane Fonda, among others.
Chris Gedney, former Syracuse and NFL tight end with Chicago and Arizona, died on March 9 at age 47. After playing in the NFL, he returned to Syracuse, where he did color commentary and in 2011, became senior associate athletic director.
Floyd Carter Sr., one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen, died on March 8 at age 95. He also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and served as a New York City policeman for 27 years. He received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
John Buchanan, an eight-term Congressman from Alabama, died on March 5 at age 89 from complications due to dementia. Buchanan represented the state's 6th district.
Tower Records founder Russ Solomon died of a heart attack on March 4 at age 92, drinking whiskey and watching the Oscars. Tower Records changed the retail music industry and turned the company into a $1 billion business before digital music spelled the firm's demise in 2006.
Italian soccer star Davide Astori died on March 4 of cardiac arrest in his hotel room. Astori was 31; he was due to sign a new contract the next day that would have tied him to his Italian League club Fiorentina "for life."
Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Sammy Stewart was found dead at a residence in Hendersonville, N.C. on March 2. He was 63; no cause of death was given but Stewart had battled crack cocaine addiction after he retired and served time in prison. Stewart was 59-48 in his career with a 3.59 ERA in 10 seasons, and helped lead the O's to the 1983 World Series over Philadelphia.
Roger Bannister, the first runner to break the 4-minute mile, died in his sleep on March 3 at age 88. Bannister, who had been slowed by Parkinson's disease in recent years, broke the 4-minute mile in 1954. He was Sports Illustrated's first Sportsman of the Year.
Actor David Ogden Stiers, best known for playing Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III on the TV show "M*A*S*H," died on March 3 in Oregon at age 75. Stiers had been dealing with bladder cancer. Stiers was a veteran of movies and TV, and had done voiceovers for several Disney movies such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Pocahontas," and "Lilo & Stitch." He also provided narration for several episodes of "American Experience" on PBS.
FEBRUARY
William "Bucky" Bush, brother of President George H.W. Bush and uncle to President George W. Bush, died on Feb. 28 in Florida at age 79.
Composer Harvey Schmidt died on Feb. 28 at age 88. Schmidt was the composer of 'The Fantasticks," which started under the Eisenhower administration and became the longest running musical in history with mnore than 21,000 shows. He was a two-time Tony nominee and member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
Ensa Cosby, daughter of Bill Cosby, died on Feb. 23 of renal failure at age 44.
Sridevi, the Bollywood actress who set new standards for actresses in India, died Saturday of cardiac arrest in Dubai at 54. She was the first female superstar in India's film industry, and used a combination of dancing skills and comedic timing to the delight of her followers.
Actress Nanette Fabray, who won three Emmy and one Tony award over the course of her long career, died on Feb. 22 at age 97. Fabray appeared in several movies andd TV shows over the years, such as "One Day At A Time", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and "Your Show of Shows"; she also appeared in Broadway's "No, No Nanette" among others.
British actress Emma Chambers, who appeared in movies such as "Notting Hill" and BBC comedies like "The Vicar of Dibley," died on Feb. 21 of natural causes.
Evangelist Billy Graham died in North Carolina on Feb. 21 at age 99. "America's pastor" preached in 185 countries around the world to an estimated 200 million people in his career and was on American's "Most Admired" list of men and women 60 times in his career. Graham long suffered from cancer, pneumonia and other ailments.
TV newscaster Roy Hobbs was found dead in his West Palm Beach, Fla., apartment on Feb. 18 at age 64. Hobbs worked in Atlanta, Boston, Birmingham, Kansas City, and Rehoboth Beach, Del. In 2010, he was arrested on drug charges when Birmingham police found him in possession of crack cocaine and a crack pipe. He later said he was using it to try and commit suicide.
Dallas Mavericks co-founder Don Carter died Feb. 14 at age 84. Carter and Norm Sonju were the original co-founders, but Carter sold his majority interest to Ross Perot Jr. in 1996.
African-American history author and former editor of Ebony magazine Lerone Bennett Jr. died at age 89 on Feb. 15. Bennett was believed to have vasuclar dementia. He attended Morehouse College with Martin Luther King Jr.; he worked at the Atlanta Daily World and Jet magazine before joining Ebony, where he worked for 50 years.
Former Major League Baseball player Tito Francona, father of Cleveland Indians and former Birmingham Barons manager Terry Francona, died suddenly at his home in Pennsylvania on Feb. 13. Tito Francona played 13 years in the majors beginning in 1956, with Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Oakland, and the Chicago White Sox.
Prince Henrik of Denmark, husband to Queen Margrethe, died on Feb. 14 at age 83. He had been diagnosed with dementia and hospitalized last month for a lung infection. Henrik, born a commoner in France, was famous for his public unhappiness at never being named king -- despite the fact that his wife, and not he, was of royal lineage.
Muscle Shoals musician and songwriter Scott Boyer died on Feb. 13 at age 70. Boyer founded the band Cowboy, and wrote and/or recorded with performers like Eric Clapton, Jason Isbell, and Gregg and Duane Allman among others.
Comedian Marty Allen, best known for his pairing with Steve Rossi in the 1960s, died Feb. 12 at age 95 from complications of pneumonia.
Country singer Daryle Singletary died unexpectedly on Feb. 12 at his home in Nashville at age 46. Singletary had played his first show of 2018 on Friday; he reached the top 40 charts five times with "I Let Her Lie" and "Amen Kind of Love" topping out at No. 2.
Singer Vic Damone, considered one of the best singers of the 1940s and 50s, died in Miami Beach on Feb. 11 of complications from respiratory illness at age 89. Damone supposedly got his start at age 14 by singing to Perry Como in an elevator; Frank Sinatra once said he had the best pipes in the business. He reach No. 1 on the charts with "You're Breaking My Heart" and had several other top 10 hits.
Five-time Tony-nominated actress Jan Maxwell died on Feb. 11 at age 61 after a long battle with cancer. She was the fourth performer in Tony history to be nominated in all four acting categories possible.
Former National League Rookie of the Year Wally Moon died at age 87 in Bryan, Texas on Feb. 9. Moon was the top NL rookie in 1954 with the St. Louis Cardinals; after playing for the Cards from 1954-58, he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was part of three World Series winners from 1958-65.
Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe-winning compaser Johann Johannson died Feb. 9 at age 48. Johannson won the Golden Globe for best score for "Theory of Everything" in 2015 and "mother" in 2016. He received an Oscar nomination for "Sicario" with Golden Globe and Grammy nominations for "Arrival."
Actor Reg. E. Cathey, Huntsville native and J.O. Johnson graduate, died Feb. 9 at age 59. Cathey was best known for work on "The Wire," "Oz," and "House of Cards," winning an Emmy for his work on the latter. But he also appeared in such movies as "Born on the Fourth of July," "Clear and Present Danger," and the Cinemax series "Outcast."
John Gavin, who appeared in such films as "Spartacus," "Psycho," and "Imitation of Life," died in California on Feb. 9. Gavin, who came close to playing James Bond in "Diamonds Are Forever," served as the Screen Actors Guild president in the early 1970s and as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico for President Ronald Reagan from 1981-86.
Jill Messick, the manager for Rose McGowan at the time the actress claimed she was allegedly raped by film producer Harvey Weinstein, died on Feb. 7 at age 50. The cause of death was ruled a suicide. She had been battling depression and bipolar disorder for years and had difficulty dealing with being drawn in to the Weinstein scandal.
Character actor Mickey Jones, who portrayed a large, gruff, scruffy type in roles, died on Feb. 7 at age 76 after a long Illness. Jones was known for roles in movies such as "Starman," "Sling Blade" and "Tin Cup" and TV shows such as "Home Improvement" and "Justified." He started his career by playing drums with Bob Dylan, and Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.
John Perry Barlow -- cyberlibertarian, songwriter, poet and internet pioneer -- died in his sleep on Feb. 7 at age 70. Barlow, who wrote songs for the Grateful Dead early in his career, was a founding member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and "saw the Internet as a fundamental place of freedom."
Tony-nominated actor Louis Zorich died Feb. 6 in New York at age 93. Zorich, the husband of actress Olympia Dukakis, played Paul Reiser's father in "Mad About You" on NBC, and movies such as "The Muppets Take Manhattan" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."
Former Alabama and NFL defensive lineman Jeremy Nunley died Feb. 4 of an apparent heart attack. He was 46. Nunley was an All-SEC selection as a senior and played with the Houston Oilers.
Actor John Mahoney, known for his work in the TV comedy "Frasier", died on Feb. 4, in Chicago at age 77. Mahoney, who played father figure Martin Crane for 11 seasons and had two Emmy nominations, also won a Tony Award and appeared in movies such as "Tin Men," "Eight Men Out," "Say Anything" and "Barton Fink."
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson was killed after being hit by a suspected drunken driver on Feb. 4 in Indianapolis. He was 26. Police say Jackson and another man were struck by a F-150 while standing on the shoulder of I-70 about 4 a.m.
Temptations singer Dennis Edwards died Feb. 2 at age 74. Edwards died in Chicago of complications from meningitis, which he was diagnosed with in 2016. As part of the group, he won Grammy Awards for Cloud Nine and Papa Was A Rollin' Stone and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, oldest son of the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, died on Feb. 1 by committing suicide. Diaz-Balart had been seeking medical attention for the last few months.
JANUARY
Former NBA journeyman Rasual Butler and his wife Leah LaBelle were killed in a car accident in Los Angeles on Jan. 31. The 38-year-old played 13 seasons for eight teams and averaged 7.6 points per game before retiring in 2016; she was an R&B and hip-hop artist, who had appeared on American Idol in 2004.
Oscar Gamble, known for his giant Afro and unique left-handed swing from a crouching stance during his days in Major League Baseball, died Jan. 31 at age 68 from a rare tumor of the jaw. Gamble, who graduated from Carver-Montgomery, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1968 and played 17 seasons for the Cubs, the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers. Gamble, who died at UAB Hospital, lived in Montgomery.
Mark Salling, who played bad-boy Noah "Puck" Puckerman in the hit musical-comedy Glee, died of an apparent suicide Jan. 30, weeks after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography. He was 35.
Former San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers, whose 14-year tenure as general manager of the San Diego Padres included an appearance in the 1998 World Series, died Jan. 30, of complications from cancer. Towers, a former first-round draft choice of the Padres, also served as GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010-14.
Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad died in Sweden on Jan. 28 at age 91 after a short illness. Kamprad founded the company at 17 as a small-scale mail-order business and turned it into a worldwide furniture empire.
Cartoonist Mort Walker, whose "Beetle Bailey" strip was a daily fixture for 68 years, died Jan. 27 of pneumonia in Stamford, Connecticut. Beetle Bailey followed a lazy G.I. and fellow soldiers at Camp Swampy and debuted in 1950. Walker also founded the first museum on the history of cartooning. At its peak, "Beetle Bailey" eventually reached 200 million readers in 1,800 newspapers in more than 50 countries. He also penned the family strip, "Hi and Lois."
Warren Miller, the prolific outdoor filmmaker who for decades made homages to the skiing life that he narrated with his own humorous style, died on Jan. 24 at 93. A World War II veteran, ski racer, surfer and sailor, Miller produced more than 500 films on a variety of outdoor activities. However it was his ski films for which he was best known. His annual movies served as informal kickoffs for the ski season for more than 60 years.
Jack Ketchum, a prize-winning horror and screenplay writer known for such fiction as "The Box" and the controversial "Off Season" and once labeled by Stephen King as likely the scariest writer in America, died on Jan. 24 at age 71.
Country singer-songwriter Lari White died Jan. 23 of advanced peritoneal cancer at age 52. White first won first prize on the Nashville Network's talent competition "You Can Be a Star" and had hits in the 1990s with "Now I Know" and That's My Baby." She also acted and was best known for her appearance in "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks.
Actor Robert Dowdell, best known for his role as Lt. Commander Chip Morton on the 1960's TV series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," died on Jan. 23 at 85 of natural causes.
Discovery Channel reality star Joel Taylor died on Jan. 23 aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean Ocean. The 38-year-old Taylor was known for his work on "Storm Chasers." TMZ reported the death as a suspected overdose.
The Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, who helped assemble the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "Letter From Birmingham Jail" from notes the incarcerated King wrote on paper scraps and newspaper margins, died in Chester, Va., on Jan. 23. Family records differ, but he was either 88 or 89. In 1961, during the Freedom Rider campaign to integrate interstate buses, Walker was one of seven black leaders and four white clergymen arrested in Montgomery, while trying to eat together at a bus station.
Hugh Masekela, the legendary South African jazz musician and anti-apartheid activist, died Jan. 23 at age 78, after a decade-long fight with prostate cancer.
Award-winning science fiction and fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin, who explored feminist themes and was best known for her Earthsea books, died Jan. 22 at 88. Le Guin's work also won the Newbery Medal, the top honor for American children's literature. She was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1997.
Naomi Parker Fraley, called the real "Rosie the Riveter," died in Longview, Wash., at 96. In 2010, a researcher began to try and identify the real personna of the World War II icon. He wound up finding Fraley, who had worked in a Navy machine shop in California.
Bessemer native Jack Whitten, the African-American painter and sculptor, died Jan. 20 at age 78. Whitten made most of his sculptures in Crete, where he spent a great deal of time since the late 1960s. His paintings were called a blend of abstract expressionist meets minimalist.
Jim Rodford, bassist who played with the Kinks and later with the Zombies, died on Jan. 20 after a fall at his home in Herefordshire, England. Rodford played with the Kinks for 18 years; after leaving that band, he joined the Zombies in 1999 and was a member until his death. He was also a member of Argent in the 1970s.
Former Baylor women's basketball player Chameka Scott died of cancer at age 33. Scott helped the Lady Bears win the program's first national championship in 2005, and later played in Europe and the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs. She was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and was thought to be cancer-free after surgery, but it recently returned.
John Coleman, founder of The Weather Channel, died at his home in Las Vegas on Jan. 20 at age 83.
Paul Bocuse, the master chef who defined French cuisine for more than half a century and put it on tables around the world, died Jan. 20 at 91. Bocuse, who underwent a triple heart bypass in 2005, had also been suffering from Parkinson's disease.
Olivia Cole, who won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Matilda, wife to Chicken George in the landmark miniseries "Roots," died of a heart attack in Mexico on Jan. 19. She was 75.
Famed hockey writer Red Fisher, who covered the Montreal Canadiens for more than a half-century, died Jan 19. He was 91.
Actress Dorothy Malone died on Jan. 19 of natural causes at age 93. While she was best known for her role on ABC's soap opera Peyton Place, she also won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in the 1956 film Written On The Wind.
Former CIA director Stansfield Turner died on Jan. 18 at his home in Seattle. Turner, who as a four-star admiral oversaw NATO forces in southern Europe, led the CIA from 1977-81 and oversaw downsizing of its clandestine operations.
Washington State University quarterback Tyler Hilinski died Jan. 16 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Pullman, Wash. Hilinski, 21, appeared in eight games in 2017 and was projected to start in 2018.
Former Boston Celtics great, Olympic gold medal winner and Basketball Hall of Famer Jo Jo White died Jan. 16 at 72.
Hugh Wilson, award-winning writer and producer of movies such as The First Wives Club and the Police Academy series, died at age 72. Wilson was also producer for every episode of the legendary 1970s CBS comedy WKRP in Cincinnati. He was also credited as a writer for several episodes, including the legendary Thanksgiving turkey drop.
State Rep. George Bandy of Opelika died at age 72 on Jan. 16. Bandy died of injuries suffered in an car accident in Georgia earlier that month.
Gospel singer Edwin Hawkins, best known for the crossover hit "Oh Happy Day" and as a major force for contemporary inspirational music, died on Jan. 15 at age 74. He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Dolores O'Riordan, lead singer of the Irish rock band The Cranberries, died suddenly on Jan. 15 in London. The 46-year-old singer is believed to have died of fentanyl poisoning.
Dan Gurney, the first driver to win in NASCAR, Formula One, and Indy Car, died of complications from pneumonia on Jan. 14. Gurney also teamed with A.J. Foyt to win the 24 Hours of Daytona. In 1990, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega Superspeedway.
Doug Harvey, whose 30-year career as a major league umpire led him to become just one of 10 men in blue to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, died Jan. 13 of natural causes at the age of 87.
Sports broadcaster Keith Jackson died on Jan. 12 after a long illness at 89. Jackson worked for ABC from 1966-2006; while he was best known as the lasting voice of college football -- working 16 Sugar Bowls, 15 Rose Bowls and countless rivalry games like Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State and Notre Dame-USC -- he also covered Olympics, World Series, and NBA Basketball.
Former U.S. Sen. John Tunney died of prostate cancer at age 83. Tunney, who served in California for one term in 1970 after six years in the U.S. House, was the son of former heavyweight boxer Gene Tunney and the basis for Robert Redford's character in the 1972 film "The Candidate."
Edgar Ray Killen, a former Ku Klux Klan leader who was convicted in the 1964 'Mississippi Burning' slayings of three civil rights workers, has died in prison on Jan. 12, at the age of 92.
Doreen Tracey, a former child star who played one of the original Mouseketeers on Disney's "The Mickey Mouse Club" in the 1950s, died from pneumonia on Jan. 10, in Thousand Oaks, Calif., following a two-year battle with cancer. She was 74.
Eddie Clarke, guitarist for the original three-piece version of 'Motorhead,' died Jan. 10, of pneumonia. Clarke, who was with the heavy metal band from 1976-82, was 67.
Singer and songwriter Denise LaSalle, whose hit "Trapped by a Thing Called Love" topped the R&B charts in 1971, died on Jan. 9. She was 78.
Dave Toschi, the San Francisco Police detective who worked the Zodiac Killings and was the real-life inspiration for Clint Eastwood's 'Dirty Harry' character, died on Jan. 6 after a long illness. He was 86.
Actor and comedian Jerry Van Dyke died Jan. 5 at 86. Van Dyke, the younger brother of Dick Van Dyke, was best known for his portrayal of the slow-witted assistant football coach Luther Van Dam in the ABC comedy "Coach." He also starred in the short-lived comedy series "My Mother the Car" in 1965 and made guest appearances on shows such as "Yes, Dear," The Middle," and "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
Former astronaut John Young died of complications from pneumonia at 87 on Jan. 5. Young walked on the moon as the commander of Apollo 16, piloted the first space shuttle flight in 1980 and was the only astronaut to go into space as part of Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programs.
Former New Jersey Gov. Brendan Byrne died on Jan. 4, at 93. Bryne was a former prosectutor of whom the mob said was too ethical to be bribed, and authorized the law allowing gambling in Atlantic City.
Bill Bolen, whose six-decade stint as a Birmingham TV newscaster included 40 years at WBRC-TV, died on Jan. 4 at age 89.
Carm Cozza, Yale's football coach from 1965-1996 and member of the College Football Hall of Fame, died on Jan. 4 at age 87.
Thomas S. Monson, the 16th president of the Mormon church, died on Jan. 2 after overseeing the religion for nearly a decade. He was 90.
Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, died Jan. 2 at 85. Hall worked with artists such as Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman and Otis Redding.
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