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Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall, who starred in Laverne & Shirley and directed hit films like Big and A League of Their Own, died on Dec. 17 due to complications from diabetes at the age of 75. In 1988, with Big, she became the first woman in Hollywood history to direct a movie that grossed more than $100 million at the box office — and in 1992, she did it again with A League of Their Own. She also directed Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Awakenings, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

Sondra Locke

The Oscar-nominated actress and director died of bone and breast cancer on Nov. 3. She was 73. Locke rose to fame at the age of 24 with her award-nominated turn in the adaptation of Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. She also had memorable roles in The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Gauntlet, Every Which Way But Loose, Any Which Way You Can, and Sudden Impact. Locke also had a notable personal and professional relationship with Clint Eastwood, eventually ending in a publically acrimonious split in 1989. She also was noted for her skills as a director and stepped behind the camera for three films — Ratboy, Impulse, and Do Me a Favor.

George H.W. Bush

George H.W. Bush
The 41st president died on Nov. 30 at the age of 94. Bush served as the vice president for eight years before acting as commander in chief from 1989 to 1993 for one term. He marked the last veteran of World War II to serve as president, and his term was highlighted by helping to usher the United States out of the Cold War. His son George W. Bush also served as the nation’s 43rd president.

Roy Clark

Country music trailblazer and Hee Haw host Roy Clark died at his home on Nov. 15. He was 85. Clark hosted Hee Haw for its entire 24-year run; the show ended in 1993. In addition to his hosting gig, Clark was a notable country musician himself, opening a theater in Branson, Missouri. His biggest hit was 1969’s “Yesterday When I Was Young.”

Katherine MacGregor

Katherine “Scottie” MacGregor, the actress who played the villainous Harriet Oleson on the long-running TV show Little House on the Prairie, died Nov. 13 at 93. While Oleson was originally intended to be an occasional guest character, MacGregor’s performance was so well received that she became a regular on the series, which aired from 1974 to 1982.

Stan Lee

The torch-bearing writer, editor, and longtime Marvel Comics head honcho died Nov. 12 at 95. Lee’s innovations pushed comic books from the edge of obscurity to the cultural forefront as a legitimate American art form. And he helped usher in an era when superhero movies, including such global blockbusters as Marvel Studios’ Iron Man and Avengers franchises, rank as Hollywood’s most reliably bankable entertainment properties. Lee helped oversee the creation of countless iconic superheroes, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, Black Panther, and The Fantastic Four. Modern audiences remembered him fondly for his winking cameos in Marvel films over the years.

Dennis Hof

Thee owner of the Nevada brothel where Lamar Odom was found unconscious from a drug overdose three years ago, was found dead at the Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada on Oct. 16. He was 72. Hof owned several legal brothels Nevada, including the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, which served as the prime location for the HBO reality show Cathouse: The Series. He was also running for a seat in the Nevada State Assembly.




Scott Wilson

Wilson, who rose to fame playing murderer Robert Hickock in 1967’s In Cold Blood and more recently was a series regular playing veterinarian-turned-farmer Hershel Greene on The Walking Dead, died Oct. 7 from complications from leukemia. He was 76.




Gary Kurtz

The producer behind hits including Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back died Sept. 23 of cancer. Kurtz was an early collaborator of George Lucas’, producing American Graffiti and the first two Star Wars films before going on to produce Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal. He was 78.





Peter Donat

The character actor perhaps best known for his role on The X-Files died Sept. 10. Donat played William Mulder, father of David Duchovny’s Fox Mulder, on six episodes of The X-Files, opposite Rebecca Toolan as Teena Mulder. On the big screen, he appeared in The Godfather Part II, War of the Roses, The Game, and Tucker: The Man and His Dream. He was 90.





Bill Daily

The comic actor, who found breakout success as Major Healey on the hit 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie and also had notable roles on The Bob Newhart Show and Alf, died Sept. 8. He was 91.





Burt Reynolds

The movie star famous for his macho swagger in films of the ’70s and ’80s died Sept. 6, at age 82. After early success on the TV Western Gunsmoke, Reynolds later ruled the box office in films like Cannonball Run and Smokey and the Bandit. In the late ’90s, he had a career resurgence, earning an Oscar nomination for his work in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights.

Michael Pickwoad

The Doctor Who production designer died in late August. He had signed on to the British time travel show in 2010 and oversaw the look of the series for 71 episodes in all, while the titular character was portrayed first by Matt Smith and then Peter Capaldi. He was 74.




Neil Simon

Neil Simon, the prolific playwright whose Broadway hits included the newlyweds-in-Manhattan romp Barefoot in the Park, the prototypical bromance The Odd Couple, and the autobiographical Brighton Beach Memoirs, died on Aug. 25 in New York City of complications from pneumonia. He was 91.




John McCain

John McCain, the Republican senator from Arizona who was the GOP presidential nominee in 2008, died Aug. 25 after a battle with brain cancer. He was 81. While he will be remembered as a GOP maverick and war hero who spent more than five years as a prisoner in Vietnam, McCain spoke to EW in 2008 about his love of pop culture and made several appearances on Saturday Night Live.




Robin Leach

Robin Leach, who showcased the “champagne wishes and caviar dreams” of the rich and famous in his decades of journalism for magazines and TV, died Aug. 24 at age 76. Leach was best known as the host of TV’s Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and also wrote for publications like the New York Daily News, Ladies’ Home Journal, The Star, and PEOPLE.




Ed King

The former guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd who co-wrote the band’s iconic hit “Sweet Home Alabama” died Aug. 23. King’s musical career started in the ’60s as the guitarist for Strawberry Alarm Clock, a psychedelic rock band he co-founded. He was 68.




Aretha Franklin

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, died Aug. 16 at her home in Detroit. She was 76. One of the most successful musicians of all time, the “Respect” singer won 18 Grammys and placed 73 titles on Billboard’s Hot 100 during her seven decades in the music industry.




Charlotte Rae

The actress Charlotte Rae, best known for playing the wise and lovable house mother Mrs. Garrett on The Facts of Life, died Aug. 5 at her home in Los Angeles, her representatives confirmed. She was 92. Rae revealed she’d been diagnosed with bone cancer in April 2017.

Nancy Sinatra Sr.

Nancy Sinatra Sr., the first wife of legendary Rat Pack crooner Frank Sinatra and mother of his three children, died Friday, July 13 at 101. Born Nancy Barbato, she met Frank when they were both teenagers. The pair married in 1939 in Jersey City, New Jersey — Nancy Sr.’s hometown. The couple divorced in 1951, but she chose never to remarry, often speaking publicly of her wish to reconcile with Sinatra.




Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison, a prolific and contentious writer most lauded for his ventures into science-fiction and horror, died June 27, at 84. Across an eclectic 60-year career, Ellison delivered quirky and engrossing sci-fi stories such as A Boy and His Dog, set in post-apocalyptic America, and “Repent Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman, about a futuristic world in which time is strictly controlled by the sinister Ticktockman. Ellison’s television work included such iconic series as Star Trek and The Outer Limits.




Joe Jackson

Legendary manager Joe Jackson died after a battle with pancreatic cancer on June 27, at age 89. The Jackson family patriarch and father of 11 groomed his children for musical success in the Jackson 5 before managing the solo careers of his daughters La Toya, Rebbie, and Janet. Jackson first broke into the music business as a singer and guitarist in the 1950s Chicago-based band the Falcons. In recent years, he faced allegations of abuse by his children but claimed in a 2013 interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight he had no regrets as far as how he raised his children.




Richard Harrison

Richard Harrison, known as the “Old Man” of History Channel’s Pawn Stars, died June 25 at age 77. He was featured with son Rick Harrison on the show, which follows the only family-owned pawn shop in Las Vegas. “He lived a very full life and through the History television show ‘Pawn Stars’ touched the lives of people all over, teaching them the value of loving your family, hard work and humor,” Rick wrote on Instagram. A Navy veteran, Harrison lost $1 million in the real estate market and looked to start fresh in Sin City, where he transplanted his family and opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in 1988.




Vinnie Paul

Vinnie Paul, the drummer for Pantera, Damageplan, and Hellyeah, died June 23 at the age of 54. Paul started Pantera in 1981 with his younger brother, Dimebag Darrell. The beloved groove-metal band rose to greater fame in the 1990s with four consecutive platinum-selling albums. Paul and Dimebag proceeded to form the group Damageplan, and following the tragic death of his brother, Paul re-emerged with supergroup Hellyeah, which released five albums, most recently 2016’s Undeniable. “Today, the world not only lost a legend, but also a genuine human being who lived to put a smile on the faces of everyone he met. May he be reunited with his brother as we all strive to continue his legacy,” Hellyeah’s record label, Eleven Seven Label Group, said in a statement.




Danny Kirwan

Fleetwood Mac guitarist Danny Kirwan died June 8 in London at age 68. Kirwan joined Fleetwood Mac when he was still a teenager, and was one of the eight band members inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.




Eunice Gayson

The first ever “Bond girl” in the beloved James Bond franchise died June 8 at age 90. Gayson portrayed the sultry Sylvia Trench in both 1962’s Dr. No and 1963’s From Russia With Love. In Dr. No, she helped set up the famous exchange in which 007 introduces himself as “Bond, James Bond.” Gayson also appeared in Revenge of Frankenstein and Melody in the Dark, as well as television shows such as The Avengers, The Saint, and Secret Agent.

Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain, the chef, author, and host of CNN’s Parts Unknown, died June 8, at 61. “His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink, and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller,” CNN said in a statement confirming his death. “His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much.”




Jerry Maren

Maren, who was the last surviving Munchkin from the cast of The Wizard of Oz, died in early June at the age of 98. The actor appeared in TV bits on popular shows over the years including The Twilight Zone, Seinfeld, and Bewitched, but he is best remembered for his role as the central member of the Lollipop Guild in the 1939 Technicolor’s film’s Munchkinland sequence.




Frank Doubleday

Actor Frank Doubleday died May 30 from complications of esophageal cancer at age 73. Doubleday’s biggest roles came by way of director John Carpenter, starring in the 1976 thriller Assault on Precinct 13 and 1981 distoypia Escape From New York. His later credits include Broadcast News, L.A. Bounty and Dollman. He’s the father of actresses Kaitlin and Portia Doubleday.




Robert Mandan

Robert Mandan, the actor best known for his role as the adulterer Chester Tate on the ABC drama Soap, died April 29, 2018, at the age of 86. Mandan’s TV career included everything from Fantasy Island and The Love Boat to Three’s Company and The Facts of Life, but it was his Soap role that brought him fame. He played the knee-slapping part from 1977 to 1981.




Margot Kidder

The actress best known for portraying Lois Lane opposite Christoper Reeve’s Superman died Sunday, May 13 at the age of 69. Kidder starred in 1978 blockbuster Superman: The Movie and its three sequels. Her many other film credits included Brian De Palma’s 1973 thriller Sisters, 1975’s Robert Redford-starring The Great Waldo Pepper, and the horror classics 1974’s Black Christmas and 1979’s The Amityville Horror. The actress was also an outspoken advocate for mental health following a much publicized manic episode in 1996.




Paul Junger Witt

Producer Paul Junger Witt died from cancer on April 27 in Los Angeles. He was 77. Witt was a respected producer credits include The Partridge Family, The Golden Girls, Brian’s Song, and Dead Poet’s Society. Born in New York City and educated at the University of Virginia, Witt began his Hollywood career in the Columbia Pictures mailroom before going on to work for Danny Thomas Productions in 1973. Two years later, he and Thomas’ son Tony formed Witt/Thomas Productions that later became Witt/Thomas/Harris — a partnership that continues to exist today.




Verne Troyer

Verne Troyer, the actor best known for playing Mini-Me to Mike Myers’ Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers movies, died April 21 at age 49. A statement posted to his social media accounts remembered Troyer as “an extremely caring individual” who “wanted to make everyone smile, be happy, and laugh,” while also acknowledging that he struggled with “his own battles.” Myers said of his costar, “Verne was the consummate professional and a beacon of positivity for those of us who had the honor of working with him. It is a sad day, but I hope he is in a better place. He will be greatly missed.”




Avicii

The Swedish DJ behind hits including “Wake Me Up!” “Levels,” and “You Make Me,” died at age 28 on Friday, April 20. Born Tim Bergling, Avicii rose to international success as a DJ creating hits like “Levels,” “Wake Me Up,” and “Hey Brother.” He announced he would retire from touring in 2016, but continued to release new music like his most recent EP, Avīci (01), which hit number three on the Billboard Electronic Albums chart.

Randy Scruggs

The country songwriter, guitarist, and producer died April 18 at the age of 64. Scruggs won multiple Grammy Awards and was named Musician of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards twice. He penned many celebrated country songs and played on countless albums, most notably Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken and John Hartford’s Aereo-Plain. His only solo album was 1998’s Crown of Jewels.




Barbara Bush

Barbara Bush, the beloved wife and mother of two former presidents, died April 17 at the age of 92. The former first lady and former President George H.W. Bush had the longest-lasting marriage in presidential history: 73 years. Barbara Bush championed many causes throughout her life, from homelessness to AIDS, but she was most known as an advocate for literacy. She founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and served as its honorary chairperson.




Harry Anderson

Night Court star Harry Anderson was found dead in his home April 16. He was 64. The actor was well known to audiences for his portrayal of Judge Harry Stone on nine seasons of Night Court and earned three Emmy nominations for his work on the show. He went on to play the titular character in Dave’s World, which was based on syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry, for four seasons until 1997. His other TV credits included the original It miniseries, Cheers, Son of the Beach, 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, and Comedy Bang! Bang!.




R. Lee Ermey

Actor R. Lee Ermey, best known for his role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, died April 15. He was 74. Ermey spent 11 years in the Marines before retiring and turning to an acting career. After taking some acting classes, one of Ermey’s first roles was playing a helicopter pilot in the 1979 classic Apocalypse Now. He eventually went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for his memorable performance as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in 1987’s Full Metal Jacket.




DuShon Monique Brown

Chicago Fire actress DuShon Monique Brown died March 23, at the age of 49. A longtime theater actor, Brown was best known to TV audiences for her portrayal of Connie, Chief Boden’s no-nonsense assistant on six seasons of Chicago Fire. Brown’s acting career also included guest spots on Prison Break, Empire, and Shameless.




Frank Avruch

Frank Avruch, who was a beloved fixture of 1960s children’s programming as Bozo the Clown, died March 20 of heart disease. In addition to his enduring legacy as Bozo the Clown, Avruch also served as a UNICEF ambassador, worked as a radio reporter, and appeared in the 1981 made-for-TV movie Summer Solstice.




Stephen Hawking

The famous theoretical physicist and cosmologist died at age 76 on March 14. Hawking is best known for his discoveries in relativity and black holes, which he explored in great detail in his 1988 best-seller A Brief History of Time. His life inspired the Oscar-winning film The Theory of Everything, and Hawking himself appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Simpsons, Futurama, and The Big Bang Theory.




Hubert de Givenchy

The legendary fashion designer died at the age of 91 on March 10. Givenchy was renowned as a designer, but he was best known for his collaborations with actress Audrey Hepburn who, in addition to owning many of his designs in her personal collection, wore his clothes in films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, and Funny Face. He dressed other notable celebrities including, Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The Givenchy fashion house still remains a popular choice for A-list Hollywood talent.

David Ogden Stiers

The actor best known for his role as Maj. Charles Winchester III on M.A.S.H. died March 3 at the age of 75. Stiers earned two Emmy nominations for his role on M.A.S.H. and also had a prolific voice acting career, bringing to life the likes of Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Governor Ratcliffe and Wiggins in Pocahontas, Jumba in Lilo & Stitch, and the narrator in M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water.




Billy Graham

The world-famous evangelist died at the age of 99 on Feb. 28. Known as “America’s pastor,” Graham harnessed the momentum of mass media and modern travel in the 20th century to reach millions with his Southern Baptist message. Radio and television appearances were commonplace for the charismatic preacher, and he embarked on preaching tours across the world throughout his long career.




Emma Chambers

The Notting Hill star died at age 53 on Feb. 24. Chambers was best known for portraying Honey, the younger sister of Hugh Grant’s William Thacker, in Notting Hill. She also had a memorable role on the British comedy The Vicar of Dibley, portraying Alice Tinker from 1994 to 2007.




Ensa Cosby

The daughter of comedian Bill Cosby died at the age of 43 on Feb. 23. She had a brief acting career, appearing in a 1989 episode of her father’s sitcom The Cosby Show as a girl at a party. In recent years, she stood by her father amid mounting allegations of sexual assault.




Nanette Fabray

Star of stage and screen Nanette Fabray died Feb. 22 at age 97. Fabray won a Tony for best leading actress in a musical for 1949’s Love Life. In the 1950s, she won multiple Emmy awards for her work opposite Sid Caesar on Caesar’s Hour. Fabray was perhaps best known to audiences as Grandma Katherine Romano on the original version of Norman Lear’s One Day at a Time.




Barbara Alston

The singer for the ’60s girl group The Crystals died at age 74 on Feb. 16. Alston sang on many Crystals hits, including “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Then He Kissed Me.” Alston was one of the founding members of the girl group and served as the lead singer




Vic Damone

The legendary crooner died Feb. 11 at age 89. Damone released more than 2,500 records during his seven decades in music, and Frank Sinatra said he had “the best pipes in the business.” Damone topped the charts with hits like “You’re Breaking My Heart,” “My Heart Cries for You,” and “Tzena Tzena Tzena,” as well as Broadway musical numbers like “On the Street Where You Live.”




John Gavin

A midcentury star of films including Psycho and Imitation of Life, John Gavin died Feb. 9 at the age of 86. He was best known for portraying Janet Leigh’s boyfriend in Psycho and starring opposite Lana Turner in Douglas Sirk’s lush remake of melodrama Imitation of Life. Gavin also had memorable roles in films including Spartacus, Midnight Lace, and more. He also served as the President of SAG in the 1970s and as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico under Ronald Reagan.

John Mahoney

The beloved actor, best known for his role as Frasier Crane’s father on sitcom Frasier, died on Feb. 4 at the age of 77 following a brief illness. Mahoney began his acting career in his late thirties, becoming a member of the renowned Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre company. He won a Tony in 1986 for his role in John Guare’s House of Blue Leaves. In addition to his most indelible role on Frasier as curmudgeonly Martin Crane, he made memorable appearances in films including Say Anything, Reality Bites, and The American President.




Mort Walker

Prolific cartoonist Mort Walker as best known for creating lazy private character Beetle Bailey, which he wrote for over four decades. Walker died of natural causes at his home in Connecticut on Jan. 27 at the age of 94. He began publishing comics at the age of 11, and though Beetle Bailey was his most famous creation, he worked on many others including Hi and Lois, Boner’s Ark, and Sam & Silo.




Jack Ketchum

Author Dallas Myer, better known by his pen name Jack Ketchum, died from cancer Jan. 24 at the age of 71. Ketchum was beloved for his horror novels, including 1980’s Off Season, 1989’s The Girl Next Door, and 1995’s Red, the latter two of which were both adapted for the big screen.




Mark E. Smith

Founder and lead singer of The Fall Mark E. Smith died Jan. 23 at the age of 60. Smith formed The Fall in 1976 with fellow original members Martin Bramah, Una Baines, and Tony Friel. But throughout the British post-punk band’s prolific run, which included 32 studio albums, Smith was the only constant.




Dorothy Malone

The Oscar winner for Douglas Sirk melodrama Written on the Wind died on January 19 at the age of 92. Malone was best remembered for her Oscar-winning turn as a man-eating heiress opposite Rock Hudson in Written on the Wind and her more than 400 episodes as Constance Mackenzie on long-running primetime soap Peyton Place. One of the last remaining stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Malone also had memorable roles in projects like The Big Sleep, The Tarnished Angels, and Basic Instinct.




Dolores O'Riordan

The Cranberries frontwoman died suddenly at the age of 46 on Jan. 15. The Irish singer-songwriter released five albums with the band after joining as their lead singer in 1990. The band reunited following a break in the mid-2000s. O’Riordan also released two solo albums, most recently 2009’s No Baggage.




Doreen Tracey

One of the original Mousekeeters on the 1950s iteration of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club, Doreen Tracey died from pneumonia at the age of 74 on Jan. 10. She continued her career as a child star in an Annette Funicello-led spin-off and a Disney Western film with Fess Parker before becoming a publicist in later life. Tracey represented legendary musician/artist Frank Zappa. Despite straining relations with Disney by posing naked in her mouse ears for Gallery magazine in 1976, Tracey maintained a bond with the studio and her fellow Mouseketeers, attending reunions and appearing on television specials.




Eddie Clarke

The Motörhead guitarist died from pneumonia at the age of 67 on Jan. 11. Known to fans as “Fast” Eddie because of his blisteringly fast playing, he was an essential part of the British heavy metal band’s early success. The guitarist co-wrote many of the band’s best-known tracks, including “Ace of Spades.” Clarke left Motörhead following the release of 1982’s Iron Fist and formed the band Fastway. He was the last surviving member of what many deemed the band’s definitive line-up.




Jerry Van Dyke

Beloved for his four-time Emmy-nominated role as Luther Van Dam on the ABC sitcom Coach, Jerry Van Dyke died at the age of 86 on Jan. 5. Brother to song-and-dance-man Dick Van Dyke, Jerry made a career as a comic actor, appearing alongside his brother as Stacey Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Most recently, he earned new fans portraying the father of Patricia Heaton’s Frankie on ABC’s The Middle.