Deaths So Far (and it's just July)

[IceWizard]

Actress Priscilla Pointer, best known for her roles in the 1980s soap opera "Dallas" and
horror film classic "Carrie," died on April 28 at age 100, Pointer's son David Irving
confirmed to USA TODAY. Pointer died of natural causes at an assisted-living facility in
Ridgefield, Connecticut.Pointer's children also included fellow actress Amy Irving, left,
who Pointer co-starred with in the 1976 supernatural horror "Carrie." Amy played Sue Snell,
a classmate of Carrie's who is scarred by the girl's deadly rampage,
while Pointer portrayed Snell's mother.







Ruth Buzzi, a variety-show veteran most famous for her role on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In,"
died May 1. She was 88. Buzzi died at her Texas home, her agent Michael Eisenstadt confirmed
to USA TODAY in a May 2 statement. A female comic from an era when they were scarce, Buzzi
"died peacefully in her sleep" following several years of hospice care for Alzheimer's disease,
a neurodegenerative condition.







Soap opera veteran Denise Alexander, best known for her role as Dr. Lesley Webber on
"General Hospital," died on March 5 at her nephew's home in Boulder, Colorado, her stepson
Anthony Colla told The Hollywood Reporter in an article published May 11. The actress
reportedly died of natural causes. "General Hospital" executive producer Frank Valentini
also confirmed Alexander's death in a May 9 Instagram post.
Alexander had a decadelong stint as Dr. Webber from 1973-1984 and returned for a
recurring role from 1996-2009, in addition to a handful of guest appearances from 2013-2021.
"She broke barriers on-screen and off, portraying Dr. Lesley Webber — one of the first
female doctors on Daytime Television — for nearly five decades," Valentini said.
"It meant so much to have her reprise her role in recent years and I am honored to
have had the opportunity to work with her."









George Wendt, best known for his role as beer-quaffing bar regular Norm Peterson on the NBC
hit comedy "Cheers," died May 20. He was 76.
His publicist confirmed the actor's death to USA TODAY, writing in a statement that he'd
"died peacefully in his sleep while at home."







Professional hunter and TV personality Phil Robertson, best known for his role on the reality
series "Duck Dynasty," has died following a recent Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, Robertson's
son Willie and daughter-in-law Korie confirmed in a May 25 social media post. Robertson,
pictured here with wife Marsha Kay "Miss Kay" Carroway Robertson, was 79.
"Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life
saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the
Good News of Jesus," Willie and Korie wrote. "We are grateful for his life on earth and
will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again."








Actor Ed Gale, best known for playing Chucky in 1988's "Child's Play," died at 61, his representative
confirmed to USA TODAY on May 28. Among Gale's dozens of film and TV credits were "Spaceballs,"
"Howard the Duck" and "The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle," per IMDB.







According to reports, guitar hero and rock 'n' roll legend Rick Derringer — of "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo"
and "Hang On, Sloopy" fame — died in Ormond Beach, Florida at age 77. TMZ, Variety and
The Hollywood Reporter were among the outlets that confirmed his death.
Derringer's wife, Jenda, told TMZ the rock icon died "peacefully" on May 26 after being
taken off life support following a medical episode.







Loretta Swit, the Emmy-winning actress best known for playing head nurse Maj. Margaret
"Hot Lips" Houlihan on the classic TV series "M*A*S*H," died May 30 of suspected natural
causes, her publicist said in a statement shared with USA TODAY. She was 87.
Through all 11 seasons of CBS' Korean War dramedy, Swit infused humanity into the highly
capable head nurse for the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.









Actor Devin Harjes died on May 27 at age 41 after a battle with cancer, his representative,
David Williams, confirmed on June 1. "He was an artist of great conviction who never gave
less than one hundred percent to any role he undertook," Williams said. Harjes starred as
Pete Baylor on "Manifest" and played boxer Jack Dempsey on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire."








Renée Victor, an actress and singer known for her roles in films like "Coco" and shows like "Weeds,"
died on May 30 at age 86. Victor voiced Abuelita in the 2017 Pixar animated movie "Coco" and
starred as housekeeper Lupita on Showtime's "Weeds." She also had roles on shows like
"Dead to Me," "Snowpiercer," "Vida" and "ER." Pixar paid tribute to Victor in an Instagram post,
writing, "We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice Abuelita in
'Coco' and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you."








Sly Stone, a onetime San Francisco DJ turned pop and funk music innovator who was the frontman
of Sly and the Family Stone, died at 82. The news was shared in a statement released by his family
June 9. His death came "after a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues,"
his family said. "Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend,
and his extended family. After huge chart-topping success in the 1960s and 1970s, Stone had
become an enigmatic and largely reclusive figure plagued by homelessness and health issues.
But despite such misfortunes, the music created by the Texas-born California transplant and his
trendsetting multi-racial, multi-gendered Bay Area band, the Family Stone, had never stopped
being a touchstone for generations of musicians.










Brian Wilson, an eclectic genius whose sunny Beach Boys songs helped define a revved-up era of
American popular music, has died at age 82.Wilson's family announced his death on social media
June 11, and did not cite a cause. Wilson's epic career arc spanned most of his life and was as
defined by prolonged bouts of mental illness as it was by meticulously constructed pop confections.







To Be Continued