Remembering the Stars We Lost in 2019

[IceWizard]

Don Imus
The iconic radio shock jock died at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, on Friday, December 27, after he was admitted on Christmas Eve. His cause of death was not immediately publicized, but he was survived by his wife of 25 years, Deirdre, and children Wyatt, Zachary, Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth and Toni. He was 79.



Danny Aiello (pictured here at Gigino restaurant in Manhattan) died Dec. 12 after a brief illness, according to his publicist. The blue-collar character actor's long career playing tough guys included roles in "Fort Apache: The Bronx," "The Godfather, Part II," "Once Upon a Time in America" and his Oscar-nominated performance as a pizza man in Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing." He was 86.



Caroll Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on "Sesame Street," died Dec. 8 at age 85 at his home in Connecticut, according to the Sesame Workshop, which added in a statement that that the legendary puppeteer lived for some time with dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle contractions.



TV and film actor John Witherspoon (pictured left, with actor/rapper Ice Cube in 2005) died suddenly at his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif., on Oct. 29, according to a family statement to media outlets. Witherspoon, 77, appeared in all three films in the "Friday" franchise, as well as "The Wayans Bros." sitcom on The WB.



Actress/singer Diahann Carroll, who broke barriers when she starred on the TV series "Julia" by portraying American television's first black female leading character in a role other than a servant, died Oct. 4 at her home in West Hollywood, Calif. from breast cancer complications, according to her rep. Carroll was 84.



Long Island-raised rock star Eddie Money died on Sept. 13, after he recently announced he had stage 4 esophageal cancer. The husky-voiced, blue collar performer -- who grew up in Plainedge and is a Long Island Music Hall of Famer --was known for such hits as "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Take Me Home Tonight."  He was 70.



Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, a pioneer and reigning giant of modern literature whose imaginative power in "Beloved," ''Song of Solomon" and other works transformed American letters by dramatizing the pursuit of freedom within the boundaries of race, died Aug. 5, 2019. Morrison, shown in a 1993 photo, was 88.



Harold Prince, the daring producer and director who earned a record 21 Tony Awards and helped shape much of the significant musical theater in the second half of the 20th century, died July 31, 2019. Prince, shown in a 1995 photo, was 91.



Rip Torn, the veteran actor of stage and screen and perhaps best known as Zed in "Men in Black" or Artie in "The Larry Sanders Show" died "peacefully" at his home in Lakeville, Connecticut on July. Torn, shown in this 1995 photo, was 88.



Beth Chapman, the wife and co-star of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" reality TV star Duane "Dog" Chapman, died on June 26. A family spokeswoman, Mona Wood-Sword, said in a statement that Chapman died early Wednesday at Queen's Medical Center after an almost 2-year battle with cancer. She was 51.



Gloria Vanderbilt, the heiress and "poor little rich girl" in a sensational 1930s custody trial who survived a famously disjointed childhood to become an actress, artist, designer and author, has died. She was 95. Her death was announced on June 17, via a CNN report voiced by anchor Anderson Cooper, her son.



Grumpy Cat, whose sour puss became an internet sensation, has died at age 7, according to her owners. Posting on social media May 17, her owners wrote Grumpy experienced complications from a urinary tract infection and died peacefully in the arms of her mother on May 14.




More to come

[IceWizard]

Tim Conway, the stellar second banana to Carol Burnett who won four Emmy Awards on her TV variety show, died May 14, after a long illness. Conway, seen in a February 1983 photo, was 85, according to his publicist.



Doris Day, the honey-voiced singer and actress whose film dramas, musicals and innocent sex comedies made her a top star in the 1950s and '60s and among the most popular screen actresses in history, died May 13. Day, seen in a January 1989 photo, was 97.



Peggy Lipton, right, a star of the groundbreaking late 1960s TV show "The Mod Squad" and the 1990s show "Twin Peaks," died May 12, of cancer. Lipton, shown in a 1968 photo with "Mod Squad" co-stars Michael Cole, left, and Clarence Williams III, was 72.



Jim Fowler, a naturalist who rose to fame on the long-running television program "Wild Kingdom" and who famously bantered with Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show," died May 8. Fowler, shown in a July 1998 photo, was 89.



Peter Mayhew, the towering actor who donned a huge, furry costume to give life to the rugged-and-beloved character of Chewbacca in the original "Star Wars" trilogy and two other films, died April 30. Mayhew, right, seen in a 1978 photo with "Star Wars" castmates Harrison Ford, left, Anthony Daniels and Carrie Fisher, was 74.



John Singleton, the filmmaker whose groundbreaking 1991 drama "Boyz n the Hood" made him the first black director to receive an Academy Award nomination, died April 29. Singleton, shown in a February 1997 photo, was 51.



Georgia Engel, who played the charmingly innocent, small-voiced Georgette on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and amassed a string of other TV and stage credits, died April 12. She was 70.



Seymour Cassel, the live-wire pillar of independent film known for his frequent collaborations with John Cassavetes and Wes Anderson, died April 7, following complications from Alzheimer's disease. Cassel, shown in a November 2008 photo, was 84.



Rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed outside his clothing store in Los Angeles on March 31. Hussle, shown in a February 2019 photo, was 33.



Keith Flint, lead singer of influential British dance-electronic band The Prodigy, was found dead March 4, at his home near London. Flint, seen in a July 2015 photo, was 49.



Luke Perry, who starred on "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Riverdale," died March 4, after a massive stroke the week before. Perry, seen in an August 2018 photo, was 52.


Chanel's iconic couturier, Karl Lagerfeld, whose accomplished designs as well as trademark white ponytail, high starched collars and dark enigmatic glasses dominated high fashion for the past 50 years, died Feb. 19. Lagerfeld, seen in a February 2006 photo, was 85.


More to Come

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Actor Kristoff St. John, best known as a longtime cast member of the CBS soap, "The Young and the Restless," was found dead at his home on Feb. 3. St. John, seen at a February 2013 awards show, was 52.



James Ingram, the Grammy-winning singer who launched multiple hits on the R&B and pop charts and earned two Oscar nominations for his songwriting, died Jan. 29. Ingram, shown in a May 2011 photo, was 66.



Comedian, writer and actor Kevin Barnett died from complications of pancreatitis during a vacation in Mexico on Jan. 22. Barnett, co-creator and writer for the new Fox sitcom "Rel," who also wrote episodes of "The Carmichael Show" and other series, was 32.



Kaye Ballard, the boisterous comedian and singer who appeared in Broadway musicals and nightclubs from New York to Las Vegas and starred with Eve Arden in the 1960s TV sitcom "The Mothers-In-Law," died Jan. 21. Ballard, shown in a January 2013 photo, was 93.



Jo Andres, left, a filmmaker and choreographer married to actor Steve Buscemi, died on Jan 6. Andres, best known for her 1996 short film, "Black Kites," which won several film festival awards, was 64. Andres is seen with Buscemi in a June 2014 photo.



Pegi, the ex-wife of Neil Young, passed away on January 1 at 66 years old. The musician was battling cancer for about a year. “With great sadness, we confirm that on January 1, after a year-long battle with cancer, Pegi Young — mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, musician, activist, and co-founder of the Bridge School — passed away surrounded by her friends and family in her native California,” read a message from Pegi’s Facebook page.



GENE OKERLUND
The WWE Hall of Famer died at the age of 76 on January 2. He was known by fans as “Mean Gene” and interviewed many wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and more. Gene hosted several shows including All-American Wrestling, Tuesday Night Titans, Wrestling Challenge, and Prime Time Wrestling.



DARYL DRAGON
Daryl, one half of the popular ’70s duo The Captain and Tennille, passed away on January 2 at 76 years old. According to his publicist, Harlan Boll, he died from renal failure. Daryl and Toni’s most popular songs were “Do That to Me One More Time” and “Love Will Keep Us Together.” The pair were married for 39 years, but unfortunately they couldn’t make it work. However, Toni was by his side until the end, Harlan confirmed. “He was a brilliant musician with many friends who loved his great,” she said in a statement. “I was at my most creative in my life when I was with him.”



SHIRLEY BOONE
The actress passed away on January 11 at the age of 84 after suffering from congestive heart failure. “My sweet wife of 65 years is in the arms of the Lord now,” her husband, Pat, said of the news at the time.



CAROL CHANNING
Actress, singer, and Broadway legend Carol Channing passed away on January 15 at the age of 97 at her home in California. Possibly her most famous role was that of Dolly Gallagher Levi, a matchmaker, in the musical Hello, Dolly! Her publicist, B. Harlan Boll, said in a statement, “It is so very hard to see the final curtain lower on a woman who has been a daily part of my life for more than a third of it.”



LEE RADZIWILL
The socialite passed away on February 15 at the age of 85. She was Jackie Kennedy’s younger sister and also the mother of Carole Radziwill, The Real Housewives of New York City star.



KARL LAGERFELD
The world-renowned fashion designer passed away on February 19 in Paris. He was 85 years old.

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PETER TORK
The Monkees’ member died at the age of 77 on February 21. His death was announced on his official Facebook page with no indication of how he passed. However, he was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare tongue cancer, in 2009.



JAN-MICHAEL VINCENT DEAD
The Airwolf alum, 74, passed away on February 10 after suffering cardiac arrest. The news wasn’t reported, however, until March 2019.



KING KONG BUNDY
The pro wrestler, (real name: Christopher Alan Pallies), 61, died on March 4. He was known by WWE fans as the “walking condominium” due to his 6-foot-4 stature and weight of 458 pounds.



JED ALLAN
The soap star, best known for his roles on General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, died on March 9 at 84. “So sorry to post the very sad news of my father’s passing tonight,” his son Rick Brown wrote on Facebook. “He died peacefully and was surrounded by his family and loved so much by us and so many others.”



DICK DALE
The musician, 81, who’s best known for songs including “Jungle Fever” and “Ghost Riders in the Sky” died on Sunday, March 17. His bassist Sam Bolle confirmed the news.



TANIA MALLET
The British model, actress and cousin of Helen Mirren died on March 30 at 77 years old. The official James Bond Twitter account announced the heartbreaking news on March 31: “We are very sorry to hear that Tania Mallet who played Tilly Masterson in Goldfinger has passed away. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.”



HARRY ABDUL
Paula Abdul‘s father, Harry, 85, died at his home outside Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 17, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. A friend told Radar Online, “First, Paula’s mom dies and now her dad is gone. It’s like an emotional one-two punch.” Paula, 56, later confirmed the news in a tweet.



CHUY BRAVO
According to reports, the longtime Chelsea Handler sidekick and friend passed away on December 15, after being hospitalized in Mexico City. Currently, his exact cause of death has not been confirmed.


Hopefully , This will be All

[IceWizard]

Ok .. Maybe a few more



Allee Willis
Songwriter Allee Willis died on December 24 in Los Angeles at the age of 72. The prolific talent was famous for penning the Friends theme song and for her work with Earth, Wind & Fire. The cause of death was cardiac arrest.



Junior Johnson
The former NASCAR racer died on December 20 at an assisted living facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 88.



Claudine Auger
The French actress died on December 19, in Paris, her agent confirmed to AFP. She was 78. Auger was the first French actress to play a Bond girl, starring as Domino opposite Sean Connery in 1965’s Thunderball. Her first acting job was in 1958 and she acted until 1997, finishing her career with the TV movie, The Red and the Black.



Philip McKeon
The former child actor, best known for his role of Tommy Hyatt on the ‘70s sitcom Alice, died on December 10 in Texas after battling a longtime illness. McKeon was 55. The late actor was the older brother of Facts of Life star Nancy McKeon. The actor was also a producer and director, working most recently on 2005’s The Jacket and 2003’s Edge of Nowhere.



Marie Fredriksson
The Roxette singer died at age 61 on December 9 after a 17-year battle with cancer. Her hits included “It Must Have Been Love” and “Listen to Your Heart.” Fredriksson’s team at Dimberg Jernberg Management remembered her in a statement that read, “Marie leaves us a grand musical legacy. Her amazing voice — both strong and sensitive — and her magical live performances will be remembered by all of us who was lucky enough to witness them. But we also remember a wonderful person with a huge appetite for life, and woman with a very big heart who cared for everybody she met.”



Peter Frates
The former Boston College baseball player, who helped popularize the viral Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 after being diagnosed with ALS in 2012, died at age 34. His family announced the news on December 9. “A husband to Julie, a father to Lucy, a son to John and Nancy, a brother to Andrew and Jennifer, Pete passed away surrounded by his loving family, peacefully at age 34, after a heroic battle with ALS,” their statement read. “Pete was an inspiration to so many people around the world who drew strength from his courage and resiliency.”



Rene Auberjonois
The former Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star, Odo, died on December 8 at the age of 79. His son Remy-Luc Auberjonois told The Associated Press that his father died at his L.A. home of metastatic lung cancer. The Tony award winner also starred in the film M.A.S.H. and on the sitcom Benson and voiced Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, writer Judith Auberjonois, daughter Tessa, son Remy-Luc, two sisters and three grandchildren. “I have just heard about the death of my friend and fellow actor @reneauberjonois,” Star Trek alum William Shatner tweeted. “To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible. To Judith, Tessa & Remy I send you my love & strength. I will keep you in my thoughts and remember a wonderful friendship with René.”



Shelley Morrison
The actress died at age 83 on December 1 from heart failure after a brief illness. She was best known for playing maid Rosario Salazar on Will & Grace from 1999 to 2006.



Walter Mercado
The Puerto Rican astrologer known for his over-the-top televised readings of horoscopes died in San Juan on November 2. He was 87. Mercado, whose readings were featured in the final segment of the Spanish news show Primer Impacto, always ended his appearances by blowing a kiss and saying, “Above all, much, much, much love.” According to an exhibition at the HistoryMiami museum earlier this year, his appearances reached 120 million Latino viewers a day for more than 30 years.



Robert Evans
The Paramount executive, known for producing Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, Urban Cowboy, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and more, died on October 26. He was 89 years old.



Willie Brown
The NFL Hall of Famer died at the age of 78, the Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed on October 22. The former Oakland Raiders defensive back played 16 seasons in the American Football League and the NFL. The Raiders said in a statement that “his legendary performance on the field changed the way the cornerback position was played and his valued guidance as a coach, mentor and administrator permeated the organization and touched countless individuals both on and off the field. Willie’s loss will leave a tremendous void, but his leadership and presence will always be a major part of the Raiders Family.”



Rip Taylor
The comedian known as the King of Camp and Confetti died on October 6 in Beverly Hills at the age of 84. His publicist, Harlan Boll, said that Taylor had been hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a seizure days earlier, according to CNN. Taylor, who hosted The $1.98 Beauty Show, appeared in films including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Indecent Proposal and Wayne’s World 2. According to his official website, he made more than 2,000 appearances on TV, on shows including The Tonight Show, The Gong Show, Hollywood Squares and Match Game. He was also the subject of a 2016 documentary, Rip Rip Hooray!

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Rip Torn, the tenacious, temperamental Texan whose much-admired career was highlighted by his brilliant turn as Artie the producer on HBO's The Larry Sanders Show, died July 9. He was 88.



Kim Shattuck
The Muffs frontwoman and former Pixies bassist died at age 56 on October 2 after a two-year battle with ALS. "I am the man I am today because of her," her husband, Kevin Sutherland, wrote on Instagram. "She will live with all of us through her music, our shared memories and in her fierce creative spirit. I love you always my Kimmy. Thank you for sharing your life with me."



Rob Garrison
The actor died at the age of 59 on September 27 after a monthlong hospitalization for kidney and liver failure. He most famously starred as Tommy, one of the Cobra Kai members, in the 1984 film The Karate Kid.



Aron Eisenberg
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star died at age 50 on September 21. His wife, Malíssa Longo, remembered him on Facebook as “an intelligent, humble, funny, emphatic soul” who lived “his life with integrity and truth.” The late actor was born with one kidney and had received two kidney transplants during his life.



Sid Haig
The legendary horror actor, whose credits included House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects, died at age 80 on September 21. His wife, Susan L. Oberg, wrote on Instagram two weeks earlier that he had been involved in an unspecified accident, calling it a “nasty spill.”



Cokie Roberts
The legendary journalist died at age 75 on September 17, due to complications from breast cancer. "We will miss Cokie beyond measure, both for her contributions and for her love and kindness," her family said in a statement to ABC at the time.



Ric Ocasek
The frontman for The Cars died at the age of 75 on September 15. According to NBC 4, police received a call at about 4 p.m. for an unconscious male at a Manhattan townhouse. Ocasek was pronounced dead at the scene. The New York Post’s Page Six reported that he was found by his estranged wife, Paulina Porizkova. The model announced their split in May 2018 after 28 years of marriage. Ocasek, who was married three times, had six sons, two from each of his marriages.



Valerie Harper
The Mary Tyler Moore Show star died at age 80 on August 30. Her cause of death was not known when the news broke. However, she suffered numerous health setbacks following a 2009 lung cancer diagnosis and a 2013 leptomeningeal carcinomatosis diagnosis.



Peter Fonda
The Easy Rider star died at his Los Angeles home on August 16 at age 79. “The official cause of death was respiratory failure due to lung cancer,” his rep said.



Saoirse Kennedy Hill
The 22-year-old granddaughter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was pronounced dead at Cape Cod Hospital in Massachusetts on August 1 after suffering an apparent overdose at her family’s compound. “Our hearts are shattered by the loss of our beloved Saoirse,” the Kennedy family said in a statement to The New York Times. “Her life was filled with hope, promise and love.”



Russi Taylor
The actress best known for voicing Minnie Mouse died in Glendale, California, on July 26, at the age of 75. “Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor,” Walt Disney Company chairman and chief executive officer Bob Eiger said in a statement. “For more than 30 years, Minnie and Russi worked together to entertain millions around the world — a partnership that made Minnie a global icon and Russi a Disney Legend beloved by fans everywhere.”



Rutger Hauer
The Blade Runner actor died at age 75 on July 19 at his home in the Netherlands after a short illness, his agent Steve Kenis confirmed at the time. Hauer is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ineke ten Cate, and his daughter, Aysha Hauer, from a previous marriage.

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John Paul Stevens
The retired United States Supreme Court justice died at age 99, ABC News reported on July 16. He served on the court from 1975 to 2010.



Charles Levin
The Seinfeld alum was found dead at age 70 in Oregon on July 13. The actor, who also had roles on Night Court and NYPD Blue, had been reported missing by his son a week prior.



Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker
The boxing legend died at age 55 on July 14 after a car struck and killed him in Virginia Beach. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident. Whitaker won championship belts in four weight classes during his 17-year professional career, in addition to winning an Olympic gold medal



H. Ross Perot
The billionaire business magnate died at age 89 on July 9 at his home in Dallas, surrounded by family members. He ran for president twice during his life, in 1992 and again in 1996. Both campaigns were considered to be the strongest in U.S. history by an independent or third party candidate.



Lee Iacocca
The automobile executive died at age 94 on July 2. He was best known for putting the Mustang in Ford’s lineup in the 1960s and reviving Chrysler 20 years later. He famously starred in several TV ads with his signature tagline: “If you can find a better car, buy it!”



Bart Starr
The legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback died at age 85 in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 26. The two-time Super Bowl champion had been in poor health since suffering two strokes and a heart attack in 2014. “A champion on and off the field, Bart epitomized class and was beloved by generations of Packers fans,” team president Mark Murphy said in a statement.



Niki Lauda
The Formula One legend died on May 20 at the age of 70. He won world titles in 1975, 1977 and 1984. A crash during the German Grand Prix in 1976 left Lauda with serious burns, but he returned to racing weeks later. He retired in 1985 before becoming an aviation entrepreneur.



Larry ‘Flash’ Jenkins
The Ferris Bueller’s Day Off star died at the age of 63 on April 25 after suffering a heart attack. He also had roles in Fletch and EDtv. He is survived by his son, Jeffrey.


With Any Luck, Hopefully I captured the Top Few We've lost ... May They Rest in Peace

[barq2]

Keith Flint owned a pub in England. It had a fireplace and anyone who made the obvious "fire starter" joke had to donate money to charity as a penalty.

A few others also lost in 2019 (sorry for any duplicates):

Marie Fredriksson - of Roxette "It Must Have Been Love", "Joyride", "The Look"
Juice Wrld - rapper who suffered a seizure aged 21. Fans believe this was caused by benzo withdrawal (but there is yet to be an official tox report).
Gary Rhodes - TV Chef
Clive James - broadcaster and satirist
Ginger Baker - Drummer with a temper and the subject of the documentary "Beware Mr Baker". Co-founded Cream with Eric Clapton.
Peter Fonda - Actor
Rutger Hauer - Actor ("Blade Runner")
Judith Kerr - Author of "The Tiger Who Came for Tea"
Niki Lauda - Formula 1 racing driver (well, he outlived James Hunt). His life is one half of the movie "Rush" (which is very good, even if you know nothing about F1 racing like me).
Freddie Starr - Comedian