Passages 2021: Betty White, DMX, Joan Didion, Larry King, more stars we lost this year

Director and producerJean-Marc Vallée, who won an Emmy for directing the hit HBO series “Big Little Lies” and whose 2013 drama “Dallas Buyers Club” earned multiple Oscar nominations, died at 58. Vallée was acclaimed for his naturalistic approach to filmmaking, directing stars including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal over the past decade.

Wayne Thiebaud, the dean of California painters who specialized in food and cityscapes rendered in neon colors, died at 101, although Acquavella, his gallery, did not say where or when he died. "Even at 101 years old, he still spent most days in the studio, driven by, as he described with his characteristic humility, this almost neurotic fixation of trying to learn to paint," the gallery's statement said. 

Drakeo the Ruler (aka Darrell Caldwell), the West Coast rapper who developed the subgenre "nervous music," died Dec. 19 after being involved in a backstage altercation at Once Upon a Time in LA, a music festival where he was slated to perform. The 28-year-old hip-hop star, who recorded his 2020 mixtape "Thank You for Using GTL" while in jail, was known for his darkly comedic lyrics and deadpan delivery. "LONG LIVE THE GREATEST," he captioned a photo of himself on Instagram, posted a day before his death.

Eve Babitz, the author who captured Los Angeles culture in her semi-fictionalized memoirs, died Dec. 17 from complications of Huntington’s disease at age 78. Her writing appeared in Rolling Stone and Vogue, and her books included "Eve's Hollywood," Slow Days, Fast Company" and "Sex and Rage." She was romantically linked to Harrison Ford and Jim Morrison, and designed album covers for The Byrds and Linda Ronstadt.

One of the few remaining actresses from Hollywood's Golden Age, Cara Williams, died of a heart attack Dec. 16, 2021, said her daughter, Justine Jagoda. Williams was 96.  

Her role as Billy's (Kevin Coughlin) mother in Stanley Kramer's 1958 drama "The Defiant Ones" earned her a nomination for best supporting actress at the Academy Awards. A few years later, she also received a nomination at the 1962 Emmy Awards for lead actress in a series for her role on CBS's comedy "Pete and Gladys," in which she starred opposite "M*A*S*H" star Harry Morgan.

Beloved author, professor and feminist bell hooks, known for titles including "Aint I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism" and "All About Love," died Dec. 15 at age 69. 

"We sadly confirm that our sister Gloria Jean Watkins (bell hooks) passed away at her home," her family said in a statement to USA TODAY. 

Ralph Tavares of the musical group Tavares died, it was announced Dec. 10, at his home in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, the group said. 

The Grammy-award-winning soul group featured Ralph Tavares and his four other brothers, Antone Laurence "Chubby" Tavares, Perry Lee "Tiny" Tavares, Feliciano Vierra "Butch" Tavares Jr., and Arthur Paul "Pooch" Tavares. Ralph Tavares was the eldest of the brothers.

Michael Nesmith, guitarist of the '60s pop group The Monkees, died from natural causes at age 78 on Dec. 10. The Monkees cemented themselves as pop culture icons with their hits songs and their eponymous Emmy-winning NBC sitcom, and Nesmith is name-checked as the inventor of the music video format that led to MTV.

Carlos Marín (left), 53, the suave baritone of the classical crossover vocal quartet Il Divo, has died, the group announced on Dec. 19. No cause of death was given, though the group previously shared he had been hospitalized and canceled its holiday tour. Bandmates David Miller, Sebastien Izambard and Urs Buhler called him a "dear friend" and "beautiful soul," adding, "There wiIl never be another voice or spirit like Carlos."

Kangol Kid, member of the legendary hip-hop group UTFO, died in December after a battle with colon cancer. He was 55. 

The family of Kangol Kid (real name Shaun Shiller Fequiere) said in a statement that he died peacefully at a hospital in Manhasset, New York. He was diagnosed with cancer in February.

Kid was known for often sporting the popular Kangol headwear and being a member of UTFO, which stands for Untouchable Force Organization. The four-member group was known for 1980s hits including "Roxanne, Roxanne" and "Ya Cold Wanna Be With Me." One of his beloved newsboy-style Kangol hats is included in the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

Leonard Hubbard, former bassist and founding member of the Grammy-winning hip-hop group The Roots, died after a long battle with cancer on Dec. 16, 2021. He was 62. 

The musician joined The Roots  – then called the Square Roots – in 1992, when he played with Black Thought and Questlove at a gig. Hubbard - or "Hub" as he was known - stayed with the band until 2007, the same year he was diagnosed wtih the blood cancer multiple myeloma. Hubbard continued to make music and, according to his wife, Stephanie, finished working on a piece titled "The Awakening" the week before his death.

Anne Rice, the trailblazing writer of popular vampire fiction widely known for her best-selling novel "Interview With the Vampire," died Dec. 11 at age 80 from complications of a stroke, said her son, writer Christopher Rice.

Rice was famed for her book series “The Vampire Chronicles,” which launched with the 1976 novel "Interview With the Vampire," later adapted into a movie starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst (with a script by Rice) in 1994. 

Robbie Shakespeare, the legendary reggae bassist of Sly and Robbie, died at age 68 in December. Born in Jamaica, Shakespeare helped cement reggae as a sonic force to be reckoned with and played with Black Uhuru, Peter Tosh, Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger. Shakespeare's friend, manager and producer Guillaume Bougard told CNN the two-time Grammy winning reggae star died in Miami and called him "absolute musical wizard."

Virgil Abloh, the pioneering fashion designer behind Louis Vuitton and Off-White and a frequent collaborator of Kanye West, died Nov. 28 after a two-year behind-the-scenes battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He was 41. LVMH hailed him “a genius designer” and “a visionary” in the luxury brand’s statement confirming his death, calling him “a man with a beautiful soul and wisdom.” Abloh made history in 2018 as the first Black designer to lead Vuitton’s menswear line and founded his savvy streetwear label Off-White, a celeb favorite, in 2012. 

Stephen Sondheim, the musical theater legend, died Nov. 26 at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, according to The New York Times and The Washington Post. The composer and lyricist was 91.

Sondheim rose to fame in the 1950s as a wunderkind wordsmith, writing lyrics for "West Side Story" and "Gypsy" before he turned 30. Over his career, he created such groundbreaking musicals as "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," "Company," "Follies" and "Sunday in the Park with George."

Young Dolph, a high-profile Memphis-based rapper, has died. Dolph was killed in a shooting Nov. 17 at age 36. According to The Associated Press and FOX13 in Memphis, the shooting occurred at the renowned local bakery Makeda's Cookies in Tennessee. 

Dolph, born Adolph Thornton, Jr., broke into the scene in 2016 with his debut album "King of Memphis." The rapper was also known for mixtape hits like "Preach," and radio hits like "Major." 

In 2020, the rapper spoke to GQ magazine about what he had accomplished during the pandemic and how he was spending time with his family, which he said was "the No. 1 reason why I've been enjoying" lockdown. Dolph said it made him "realize how much good times I've been missing out on, just around the house. It ain't got nothing to do with money. … It's all about your happiness." 

Art LaFleur, the character actor beloved for his role as the ghost of "Great Bambino" Babe Ruth in "The Sandlot," died Nov. 17 at age 78. His wife, Shelley LaFleur, told USA TODAY he had battled Atypical Parkinson’s disease for a decade.

“Remember, kid: There's heroes, and there's legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die," his "Sandlot" character told Benny, one of the film’s young baseball players.

LaFleur’s TV and movie career spanned almost 40 years and included roles in "Lou Grant," "M*A*S*H," "Hill Street Blues," "thirtysomething," "Doogie Howser, M.D.," "Boy Meets World," "The Santa Clause 2," "The Bernie Mac Show" and “Key & Peele.”

Heath Freeman, who made appearances on several 2000s-era dramas like "Bones" and "NCIS," died, it was announced Nov. 16. He was 41. No further details were given about his cause of death. 

"We are truly devastated at the loss of our beloved Heath Freeman. A brilliant human being with an intense and soulful spirit, he leaves us with an indelible imprint in our hearts," his manager Joe Montifiore wrote in a statement. "His life was filled with deep loyalty, affection, and generosity towards his family and friends, and an extraordinary zest for life." 

Graeme Edge, the lone original member of The Moody Blues, has died. He was 80. The drummer of the band, renowned for its sweeping '60s and '70s symphonic prog-rock hits "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon" and "I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)," co-founded the group in 1964 in Birmingham, England.

Frontman Justin Hayward, confirmed the news Nov. 11 in a Facebook post on the band's account, saying that "Graeme’s sound and personality is present in everything we did together and thankfully that will live on."

Jerry Douglas, who starred as family patriarch John Abbott in "The Young and the Restless" for more than 30 years, died Nov. 9, at 88. Douglas joined the cast of the CBS daytime drama in March 1982.  After leaving the show in 2006 following his character's death, Douglas made appearances as Abbott's ghost through 2016.

Dean Stockwell, known for his role as Admiral Al Calavicci on the late ‘80s NBC series "Quantum Leap," died Nov. 7. He was 85. 

Agent Jay Schwartz told The Associated Press Stockwell died of natural causes at home Sunday. Stockwell started his acting career as a child actor with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, he later became notable for his Emmy-nominated roles in NBC's science fiction show "Quantum Leap." Stockwell is survived by his wife, Joy, and their two children, Austin Stockwell and Sophie Stockwell.

Brazilin singer Marília Mendonça died Nov. 5 along with four other people in a plane crash in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. She was 26. The rising star and Latin Grammy winner performed country music, called sertanejo. Mendonça was known for tackling feminist issues in her songs, such as denouncing men who control their partners, and calling for female empowerment. 

Jazz guitarist and composer Pat Martino, born Patrick Azzara, died Nov. 1, his longtime manager Joe Donofrio confirmed in a statement. He was 77. "I am so saddened to announce (his) passing," Donofrio said. "His legacy is a gift to us all, from the moment he first picked up the guitar to his last day on earth, Pat never wavered from his true calling."

According to his manager, Martino had been suffering from a chronic respiratory disorder since 2018. Martino, whose career spanned six decades, had to relearn to play the guitar after suffering a brain aneurysm in 1980. 

"Friends" star James Michael Tyler, best known as Central Perk manager Gunther, died Oct. 24 after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer. Tyler appeared on 150 episodes of "Friends" as fan-favorite Gunther, who carried an unrequited love for Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). "The world knew him as Gunther, the seventh 'Friend,' but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband," a statement reads from his longtime manager, Toni Benson.

Jay Black, lead singer of the 1960s hitmakers Jay and the Americans, died from pneuomnia complications on Oct. 22, according to the band's statement. He was 82. "We shared both wonderful and very contentious times, and much like an ex-wife, we are so proud of the beautiful children we created,” the band wrote on Facebook. “We’ll always remember The Voice.”

Emmy-winning actor Peter Scolari, who co-starred with Tom Hanks in ABC's comedy "Bosom Buddies," died Oct. 22 at age 66, according to his manager, Ellen Lubin Sanitsky, at Wright Entertainment. He had battled cancer for two years.

"No better partner," wrote his "Newhart" co-star Julia Duffy. "There wasn't a sweeter man on the planet," added Harvey Fierstein of Scolari. They  played Tracy Turnblad's parents in "Hairspray" on Broadway. 

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was working on "Rust," died Oct. 21 when Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun on the set, investigators say. 

Hutchins worked as an investigative journalist in her first career for British documentary productions in Eastern Europe. In 2015 she graduated from the American Film Institute and was named a “rising star” by American Cinematographer in 2019. In 2020 she served as director of cinematography for the action film "Archenemy," starring Joe Manganiello.

"I was so lucky to have had Halyna Hutchins as my DP on Archenemy. An incredible talent & great person," Manganiello wrote. 

Actor William Lucking,best known for his role as Piney Winston in the FX TV series "Sons of Anarchy," died in his Las Vegas home on Oct. 18, his rep Mike Eisenstadt confirmed in a statement. He was 80. 

His wife, Sigrid Insull Lucking, remembered him as "an elegant man with a brilliant intellect."

Lucking is survived by his wife Sigrid of 25 years, a former costume designer, as well as his two daughters, Marjet Lucking and Juliana Ryan, and two granddaughters, Quinlan and Lilian Ryan. He is also survived by his sister, Ellen Fournier.

Betty Lynn, known for her portrayal of the red-headed, freckle-faced Thelma Lou, Barney Fife's beloved sweetheart on the classic "The Andy Griffith Show," died at age 95 on Oct. 16. The late actress appeared in 26 episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" from 1961 to 1966. 

The Andy Griffith Museum museum announced Lynn's death on their website on Oct. 17, adding that she died peacefully due to an undisclosed but brief illness. 

"I had seen the 'Griffith' show twice before I went to read for the part," Lynn said, according to her obituary. "I remember that I laughed out loud — it was so funny. I didn't do that very often. I thought, Gee, this is really unusual." 

Ronnie Tutt, drummer for Elvis Presley and an original member of the TCB Band, has died at 83. 

In a Facebook post on Oct. 17, Terie Tutt confirmed that her father died at home surrounded by his family. "It’s with deep sadness that my family and I share the loss of our beloved dad," she wrote. "The Legendary Drummer, Ronnie Tutt, 'has left the building.' " 

Tutt played drums in the TCB Band (short for "Taking Care of Business," a famed Elvis catchphrase) from 1969, when the star began his residency in Las Vegas, until Presley's death at age 42 in 1977. He later toured with Neil Diamond's band, and recorded or performed with Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Nicks, Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, Jerry Garcia, Roy Orbison, The Carpenters and many others. 

Ruthie Tompson, a trailblazing Disney animator who worked on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Pinocchio" and countless other animated features during her 40-year tenure with the company, died at age 111. 

Tompson "passed away peacefully in her sleep" on Oct. 10 at her home at the Motion Picture and Television Fund in Woodland Hills, California, the Walt Disney Company announced in a statement on Oct. 11. "While we will miss her smile and wonderful sense of humor, her exceptional work and pioneering spirit will forever be an inspiration to us all," former Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger shared on Twitter.

Granville Adams, who played Zahir Arif in the HBO prison drama "Oz," died following a prolonged battle with cancer.

Co-star Dean Winters, who spearheaded a GoFundMe fundraising page in January 2021 to help pay off Adams' hospital bills, paid tribute to the late actor on Instagram on Oct. 10, calling him "a humble, beautiful soul who just elevated the afterlife to a whole new level. You will be missed my friend."

Alan Kalter, the longtime voice of the "Late Show with David Letterman," died Oct. 4 at age 78. He was surrounded by his family at a hospital in Stamford, Connecticut, Rabbi Joshua Hammerman of Temple Beth El in Stamford, Connecticut, told USA TODAY. No cause of death was immediately provided.

"Whatever else, we always had the best announcer in television," Letterman said of Kalter in a statement to USA TODAY. "Wonderful voice and eagerness to play a goofy character of himself. Did I mention he could sing? Yes he could. He enthusiastically did it all. A very sad day, but many great memories."

Tommy Kirk, a child star who played in Disney films such as “Old Yeller” and “The Shaggy Dog,” was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Sept. 28. He was 79.

Kirk started his career with several television shows including the Mickey Mouse Club’s serialized adventure “The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure” and “The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm,” which aired in 1956-1957. His big break came when he starred as Travis Coates in the 1957 film “Old Yeller,” a story about a teenage boy and his heroic yellow dog.

George Frayne, who as leader of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airman enjoyed a cult following in the 1970s with such party and concert favorites as "Hot Rod Lincoln" and "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)," died Sept. 26 in Saratoga Springs, New York, according to his wife Sue Casanova. He was 77 and had been diagnosed with cancer several years ago. 

"As I lay my head upon his shoulder/George's soul took to flight/I am heartbroken and weary/And I know your hearts break too," Casanova wrote on her Facebook page on.

Sarah Dash, former member of 1970s diva rock group Labelle known for hits like "Lady Marmalade" has died, according to her business manager John Dash. Dash worked alongside Patti LaBelle and Nona Hendryx and went on to have a successful solo career, while also working closely with Keith Richards and The Rolling Stones. She was 76. 

Former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and “Weekend Update” anchor Norm Macdonald died Sept. 14 after a private, nine-year battle with cancer. He was 61. The Canadian comedian, known for his impressions of Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood and David Letterman, appeared on “SNL” from 1993 to 1998. He got his start writing for “Roseanne” and “The Dennis Miller Show,”  and later starred in his own ABC sitcom “The Norm Show” and Netflix series “Norm Macdonald Has a Show.”

Michael K. Williams, best known for his role as Omar Little in "The Wire" died Monday, September 6. He was 54. 

The actor was found dead in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment, the New York City Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY. Williams appeared on many HBO acclaimed series, including "The Wire," "Boardwalk Empire," "The Night Of" and most recently, "Lovecraft Country." William's film credits included "Inherent Vice," "12 Years a Slave," "Gone Baby Gone," and "The Road." 

Williams' Omar Little, a "stick-up boy" based on real figures from Baltimore, was probably the most beloved character among devoted fans of "The Wire," which ran from 2002 to 2008. Because his character on "The Wire" was so loved, people often conflated the actor and the role he played. "People didn't even call me Mike, they called me Omar," he told The (Newark) Star-Ledger in a 2012 interview. "That mixed with my identity crisis and my addiction – and it was not a good mix. I had to stop trying to be Omar and just be Mike."

Jean-Paul Belmondo, craggy star of the iconic 1960 French New Wave film "Breathless," who went on to become one of France's most recognizable leading men, died Sept. 6 at age 88. No cause of death was given. The unconventional star, who appeared in more than 80 movies, worked with major directors such as Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, and played everything from a police officer to a priest.

Sarah Harding of the British pop group Girls Aloud died after a battle with breast cancer, her mother said Sept. 5. She was 39.

The singer said last August that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and it had spread to other parts of her body.

“Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day. She slipped away peacefully this morning,” her mother Marie said on Instagram. She added that Harding was a “bright shining star” and would have wanted to be remembered for that, rather than for her fight against cancer.

Former child star Matthew Mindler, who starred in "Our Idiot Brother," was found dead after being missing since Aug. 26. He was 19. 

Mindler was enrolled in Millersville University in Pennsylvania, which reported him missing two days after he did not return to his room. University president Daniel A. Wubah announced Aug. 28 that Mindler had been found dead. His body was discovered in a wooded area near campus, according to Millersville University spokesperson Janet Kacskos. 

"This is a time of grief for the family, our campus and the community," Wubah wrote in a letter on Twitter. "I ask that the campus community come together to support each other, and our students, during this difficult time."

Charlie Watts, the drummer who provided the backbone of The Rolling Stones' songs for more than half a century, died August 24 at a London hospital surrounded by his family, his publicist said. He was 80. 

"Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation," publicist Bernard Doherty said. 

Brian Travers, saxophonist and founding member of UB40, died Aug. 22, 2021, at the age of 62 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. The band's hits over the decades included reggae versions of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine" and The Temptations' "The Way You Do The Things You Do." The band confirmed the news on their official Twitter account on Aug. 23, 2021.

Don Everly (right), one-half of the trailblazing duo Everly Brothers, whose harmonies helped shape rock 'n' roll, died Aug. 21 in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 84. His younger brother Phil Everly (left) died in 2014 at 74. The pair’s lengthy string of top 40 hits, including “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream” and “Wake Up Little Susie,” influenced a generation of rock stars, among them The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. The Everlys were ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as part of the inaugural class, alongside Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard.

Carl "Chucky" Thompson, a music producer who helmed hits for artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige, has died. He was 53.

Thompson's publicist Tamar Juda confirmed the news in a statement to USA TODAY on Aug. 9. She did not disclose his cause of death.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm the passing of Chucky Thompson," she wrote. "To anyone in his orbit, you know how generous he was with his energy, creativity and love. Both the music industry, and the world has lost a titan."

Thompson got his start in go-go music as part of Chuck Brown's band The Soul Searchers. As a producer, he had a hand in bringing forth hit songs like Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa" and Faith Evans' "Soon As I Get Home," as well as Blige's 1994 album "My Life." 

Jane Withers, a major child star of the 1930s, who starred alongside James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson as an adult in "Giant," died on Aug. 7 at age 95. Withers found renewed popularity in the 1960s as Josephine the Plumber in classic Comet cleanser commercials.

Her daughter, Kendall Errair, confirmed that Withers died surrounded by loved ones in Burbank, California. 

"My mother was such a special lady. She lit up a room with her laughter, but she especially radiated joy and thankfulness when talking about the career she so loved and how lucky she was," Errair said in the statement. 

"General Hospital," "Days of Our Lives" and "Port Charles" actor Jay Pickett died July 30 on the set of the Western movie "Treasure Valley" in Idaho.

The veteran daytime drama actor, 60, starred in 372 episodes of "Port Charles as Frank Scanlon. Pickett, an excellent horseback rider, became a Western movies actor. "Treasure Valley" director Travis Mills wrote on the film's official Facebook page "He was doing what he loved: acting, riding horses, making movies. And he was magnificent."

Dusty Hill, a founding member of ZZ Top and the iconic band's bassist, died in his sleep at his Houston, Texas home, according to a statement shared with USA TODAY. He was 72. 

"We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top'...You will be missed greatly, amigo," bandmates Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard said in a statement. 

Former Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison died in his sleep on July 26 at age 46, according to a statement from his family. "Joey’s death has left us with empty hearts and feelings of indescribable sorrow," the statement read. "To those that knew Joey, understood his quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart and his love for all things family and music." 

Jordison played with the heavy metal band as its drummer since its formation in 1995 alongside percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray but left the group in December 2013. 

Mike Howe,middle, the lead singer of the heavy metal band Metal Church, died on July 26 at age 55, the band confirmed on its official Facebook page. "It is with our deepest regrets that we must announce the passing of our brother, our friend and true legend of heavy metal music," the statement read. "We are devastated and at a loss for words."

Howe joined the American heavy metal band in 1988 as lead vocalist. The band is widely considered a formative influence on the thrash metal genre.

Violinist Robert E. “Robby” Steinhardt, who served as emcee and shared lead vocal duties in Kansas with Steve Walsh, died July 17 at age 71 from complications of pancreatitis. Steinhardt, a native of Lawrence Kansas, played for 18 years with the progressive rock group known for hits like “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.” He had just recorded his first solo album, his wife, Cindy Steinhardt, wrote on Facebook.

Biz Markie, the rapper-producer-actor who became a pop culture staple following his platinum-selling Top 10 1989 hit “Just a Friend,” died July 16. He was 57. Born Marcel Theo Hall in Harlem, Markie was known in the music industry as the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop."

Author and illustrator Floyd Cooper, who often focused on Black history in his award-winning children’s books, died July 16 at age 65 after a battle with cancer. He got his start working on Hallmark greeting cards and illustrated his first book, Eloise Greenfield’s “Grandpa’s Face,” in 1988. He went on to illustrate books about Frederick Douglass, Venus and Serena Williams, Billie Holiday, the Tulsa Race Massacre and the civil rights movement. He also wrote several books, including “Juneteenth for Mazie” and “The Ring Bearer.”

Charlie Robinson, a veteran actor whose career spanned five decades and more than 125 roles including court clerk Mac Robinson on the NBC sitcom "Night Court" and makeup artist Newdell on NBC's "Buffalo Bill," reportedly died June 11 of cardiac arrest with multisystem organ failures due to septic shock, and metastatic adenocarcinoma. He was 75. 

Suzzanne Douglas, the actress known for her roles in "The Parent 'Hood" and "When They See Us," died on July 6. She was 64. Douglas appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career, including "Bones," "The Good Wife," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," 2003's "School of Rock," 1998's "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" and 2015's "Whitney."

Richard Donner, the directer of beloved films like "Superman" and "The Goonies," died July 5. He was 91. Donner also directed the 1988 Christmas classic "Scrooged," featuring Bill Murray as a selfish television executive, and 1992’s coming-of-age drama "Radio Flyer."

Stuart Damon, best known for playing Dr. Alan Quartermaine on "General Hospital" for more than three decades, died June 29 at 84.

Damon landed the "General Hospital" role in 1977 and played the character regularly until Quartermaine's death in 2007. He made sporadic appearances as deceased Dr. Quartermaine for years afterward. Damon was nominated for seven Daytime Emmys for his portrayal of the physician, finally winning for best supporting actor in 1999.

Former Skid Row singerJohnny Solinger died June 26, a month after revealing he was suffering liver failure. His wife, Paula Marcenaro Solinger, confirmed his death to USA TODAY. Solinger, 55, was the hard rock band’s longest-running vocalist (1999 to 2015), replacing Sebastian Bach, who left the group in 1996. He embarked on a solo career after parting ways with with the band. “Prognosis is not so good,” Solinger wrote on Facebook in May, sharing his health struggles with fans. “As with most musicians I do not have health insurance and it’s very difficult to get proper care without it.”

Joanne Linville, who made a memorable "Star Trek" appearance as a Romulan commander in the original TV series, died June 20 in Los Angeles at age 93. 

In a statement to USA TODAY, her family said Linville "lived a full life. One whose spirit, passion for art and life was an inspiration to all who had the pleasure of knowing her. A loving mother and proud grandmother." 

Linville was a frequent TV guest star and film actor from the 1950s through the 1980s, with roles in more than 100 shows and movies. 

Frank Bonner, who played brash salesman Herb Tarlek on the TV comedy "WKRP in Cincinnati," died Wednesday from complications of Lewy body dementia, his daughter Desiree Boers-Kort confirmed. He was 79.

Loni Anderson, who played empowered receptionist Jennifer on "WKRP in Cincinnati," said she was “heartbroken” over his death.

“Frank Bonner was like family,” Anderson said in a statement. “He was one of the funniest men I had the pleasure of working with and he was the nicest man I have ever known.”

LGBTQ rights pioneer and subject of the acclaimed documentary "Love Wins," Emily Sonnessa, right, died at age 91 on Friday, June, 11, according to her obituary posted by Ely Funeral Home.

She met her wife Jan Moore, left, in 1960, and the two were together for decades before being joined in a civil union ceremony in 2007. New Jersey legalized same-sex marriage in October 2013, and the couple was married the next month. According to their wedding announcement published in the Asbury Park Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, Sonnessa was 84, Moore was 77, and their wedding date, Nov. 20, was their 44th anniversary.

Legendary character actor Ned Beatty died June 13 at age 83 of natural causes. He died in his Los Angeles home surrounded by his family and loved ones, his manager Deborah Miller said. 

The actor broke into movies with 1972's "Deliverence," starred as TV executive Arthur Jensen in "Network," which earned the actor his only Oscar nomination. Beatty portrayed the bumbling henchman Otis in 1978's "Superman," voiced the villainous bear Lotso in "Toy Story 3," and the mayor in "Rango." In the fan favorite sports movie "Rudy," Beatty played the father of Notre Dame walk-on Rudy Ruettiger. 

"The Mod Squad" actor Clarence Williams III (far right) died June 4 of complications from colon cancer. Williams starred as undercover detective Lincoln "Linc" Hayes from 1968 to 1973 on the ABC drama, alongside Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes and Michael Cole as Pete Cochran. Williams portrayed Prince's father in 1984's "Purple Rain."

Veteran TV and stage actor Robert Hogan, who appeared in shows ranging from "All My Children" to "The Wire" in a career spanning six decades, died May 27 at his coastal Maine home, his family announced in The New York Times. The cause of death was complications from pneumonia. He was 87. Hogan appeared in more than 100 primetime shows as well as nearly every daytime drama on the air in his career.

Romy Walthall, who appeared as Sean Archer's (John Travolta) anxious secretary in 1997's "Face/Off" and as trapped Molly McNulty in the 1989 horror film "The House of Usher," died May 18 at age 57 after experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, her son, filmmaker Morgan Krantz, confirmed to USA TODAY. The actress, sometimes credited by her stage name Romy Windsor, burned a village of werewolves in 1988's "The Howling IV: The Original Nightmare and returned for 1995's "Howling: New Moon Rising," and also held significant arcs in a number of 1990s-era TV series.

Lil Loaded, the Dallas rapper behind the 2019 viral summer hit "6locc 6a6y," died at age 20, the Dallas County medical examiner’s office confirmed May 31. A week prior to the death of the young rapper, whose legal name was Dashawn Robertson, his song “6locc 6a6y” was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, after which the rapper dubbed his listeners the "dopest fanbase on earth." 

B.J. Thomas, the versatile Grammy-winning singer who scored hits on the pop, country and gospel charts, died May 29 at age 78 after a battle with lung cancer. His many successes included "Hooked on a Feeling,"  "I Just Can't Help Believing" and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." Robert Redford wasn't big on the latter 1969 hit. “When the film was released, I was highly critical – how did the song fit with the film? There was no rain," Redford told USA TODAY in a 2019 statement. "At the time, it seemed like a dumb idea. How wrong I was, as it turned out to be a giant hit.” 

Gavin MacLeod, known for his TV stardom in shows like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Love Boat," died. He was 90. 

Variety and TMZ reported the longtime TV actor's death after getting confirmation from his nephew, Mark See. 

MacLeod's acting career took off when he was cast as the news writer for the fictional "Mary Tyler Moore Show" WJM-TV news station, earning two Golden Globe nominations for that role. In the late 70s he became the lead for ABC's "The Love Boat." He manned the MS Pacific cruise ship as Capt. Merrill Stubing. 

Two-time Tony Award nominee Samuel E. Wright died May 24 at age 74 after a three-year battle with cancer, the Hudson Valley Conservatory, which Wright and his wife co-founded, confirmed to USA TODAY.

He's best known for voicing Sebastian the crab in Disney's 1989 animated musical  "The Little Mermaid," in which he memorably sang lead vocals in the Oscar-winning song "Under the Sea."⁠ Wright also played Mufasa in the original cast of Broadway's "The Lion King," for which he was nominated for best featured actor in a musical at the 1998 Tony Awards.

Paul Mooney, known for his comedic writing for Richard Pryor and appearances in "Bamboozled" and "Chappelle's Show," died of a heart attack at age 79. The Emmy-nominated comedian, who was the writer behind some of Pryor's greatest hits like "Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip" and "The Richard Pryor Show," offered sage and incisive musings on racism and American life that made him a revered figure in stand-up.

Charles Grodin, known for his work in the family "Beethoven" movies, "Midnight Run" and "The Heartbreak Kid," died on May 18 at his home in Connecticut after a battle with bone marrow cancer. He was 86. The prolific author had his own 1990's CNBC talk show and was a sought-after talk show guest, making 36 appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and 17 on “Late Night With David Letterman.” 

Olympia Dukakis, who won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her role as Rose Castorini, Cher’s mother in 1987’s “Moonstruck,” died May 1 at age 89. The veteran screen and stage actress, celebrated for her roles in “Steel Magnolias” and TV’s “Tales from the City,” nabbed her Oscar the same year that her cousin, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, was the Democratic presidential nominee.

Johnny Crawford, the actor who rose to fame as a child star after being cast as Mark McCain in ABC’s “The Rifleman,” died April 29 at age 75. He had contracted COVID-19 and suffered from Alzheimer's. Crawford launched his career as one of the first Mouseketeers on the Mickey Mouse Club and went on to roles on 1950s TV series including "The Lone Ranger," "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Loretta Young Show."

Producer Anne Buydens Douglas, widow of legendary actor Kirk Douglas, died April 29 at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She was 102 and died 15 months after her husband, who was 103. The couple was married for more than 65 years after tying the knot in May 1954. She famously turned the star down when he first asked her out for dinner. "She was the most difficult woman I ever met," he told USA TODAY in 2017.

Twenty-time Grammy winner Al Schmitt, whose extraordinary career as a recording engineer and producer included albums by Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and many other of the top performers of the past 60 years, died April 26 at age 91.

Israeli designer Alber Elbaz, best known for spending 14 years at the helm of France’s Lanvin fashion house, died April 25 at 59.

Charlie Black, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member who co-wrote chart-topping country hits for Anne Murray, Reba McEntire and Alan Jackson, died April 23 at age 71. 

Les McKeown, former lead singer of the 1970s Scottish pop sensation Bay City Rollers, died suddenly on April 20 at age 65. McKeown, born in Edinburgh to Irish parents, joined the Bay City Rollers in late 1973, replacing founding lead singer Gordon “Nobby” Clark. The band split up in 1978, reuniting in 2015 for a string of sold-out performances, and McKeown continued perform and record solo throughout his life.

Songwriter Jim Steinman, known for penning hit songs like "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," died April 19, according to his brother Bill Steinman. He was 73. Steinman wrote and produced Meat Loaf's hit albums "Bat Out of Hell" and "Bat Out of Hell II." 

Alma Wahlberg (second from right), the famous Wahlberg family matriarch who appeared on their family reality show "Wahlburgers," died at age 78, her children announced April 18. 

"I feel blessed to have been brought into this world by, raised by, taught by and set on my life’s path by, such an amazing woman," Donnie Wahlberg (right) wrote in an Instagram tribute. 

She had nine children: Michelle, Paul (second from left), Arthur, Jim, Tracey, Robert, Donnie, Mark (left), and Debbie, who died in 2003 at age 43. Their father, Alma Wahlberg's ex-husband, Donald Wahlberg, died in 2008. 

Helen McCrory,famed for her roles in the "Harry Potter" film series and the BBC's "Peaky Blinders," died at 52 following her battle with cancer, her husband Damian Lewis announced in a statement on April 16.

DMX, a rap legend known for being at the apex of hip-hop culture in the 1990s and 2000s, died April 9. The iconic performer, seen in 2001, was 50.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died April 9 at the age of 99. He was the oldest and longest-serving royal spouse in 10 centuries.  

Anne Beats, a groundbreaking comedy writer, who was on the original staff of "Saturday Night Live" and later created the cult sitcom "Square Pegs" featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, died April 7. She was 74. 

Paul Ritter, a Tony-nominated actor known for his work in theater, film and TV, died April 5 at age 54 after suffering from a brain tumor, his representative confirmed to USA TODAY. 

Born in the United Kingdom, Ritter most recently starred as patriarch Martin Goodman in the British television series "Friday Night Dinner," which ran from 2011 to 2020. In 2009, he received a Tony nomination  for his lead role in the play "The Norman Conquests" and appeared as Eldred Worple in the 2009 film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." He also appeared in the 2019 "Chernobyl" miniseries. 

Gloria Henry, best known for her role in "Dennis the Menace," died March 3 at age 98, one day after her birthday. From 1959 to 1963, Henry played the beloved TV mom Alice Mitchell on the CBS family sitcom "Dennis the Menace." She also appeared in films including 1947's "Sport of Kings," 1948's "Triple Threat" and 1952's "Rancho Notorious." 

Linda Torres, who was frequently seen on "Big Ang" and "Mob Wives," died April 1 from COVID-19 complications in New York at age 67. Torres was Angela "Big Ang" Raiola's friend and was diagnosed with COVID-19 nine weeks prior, Raiola's sister Janine Detore told USA TODAY.

Bestselling children’s author Beverly Cleary, who introduced young readers across three generations to the love of reading through such characters as Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins, died on March 25. She was 104. 

Who could forget Ramona, the star of Cleary’s popular book series, which began with "Beezus and Ramona," about a rebellious rugrat who struggles with her father’s unemployment. In 2010, her book was adapted to the big-screen feature "Ramona and Beezus," starring Selena Gomez.

Actor Craig "muMs" Grant, known for his role as Poet on the HBO series "Oz," died March 24, according to his representative. He was 53. 

George Segal, a longtime leading man in movies like "Where's Poppa," "The Hot Rock" and "Blume in Love" who can be still currently be seen as the lovable grandfather on ABC's "The Goldbergs," died March 23. He was 87.

Norton Juster, the USA TODAY bestselling author best known for writing "The Phantom Tollbooth," died March 8 following complications from a recent stroke. He was 91. His first and best-known work, “The Phantom Tollbooth,” about Milo, a bored 10-year-old who comes home to find a magical toy tollbooth sitting in his room, would go on to become a widely-beloved hit. 

Roger Mudd, who had a 30-year career as political correspondent and anchor at CBS, NBC and PBS, died March 9 at age 93 of kidney failure, CBS said. Among his career highlights: Stumping Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy during the 1980 presidential primary season by asking him a simple question: "Why do you want to be president?" 

Cleveland musician legend Michael Stanley, who ruled the local airwaves in the late 1970s and early 1980s, died March 5 after a seven-month battle with lung cancer. He was 72. Stanley had worked for the past 30 years as a disc jockey at WNCX-FM. On Saturday, the Cleveland radio station announced that Stanley had died peacefully “with his family by his side.”

Jahmil French, an actor who appeared in "Degrassi: The Next Generation" from 2009 to 2013, died at age 29, his agent confirmed on March 2. His cause of death was not provided.

"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of a dear friend and client Jahmil French," Gabrielle Kachman told USA TODAY. "He will be remembered by many for his passion for the arts, his commitment to his craft, and his vibrant personality. I ask that you keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time."

Fred Segal, a notable Los Angeles-based celebrity fashion retailer, died Feb. 25 at age 87.
Segal died from the complications of a stroke at a Santa Monica hospital, his publicist said.

Art Cervi, who reached an enormous audience as the iconic Bozo the Clown, died on Feb. 15 at the age of 86. Cervi shaped musical tastes of Detroit baby boomers as talent coordinator for the dance show "Swingin’ Time," then found a new career by hiding in plain sight behind Bozo the Clown’s bulbous red nose, entertaining countless younger fans.

Rush Limbaugh, the talk titan who made right-wing radio financially viable in American media, died on Feb. 17, his wife Kathryn confirmed. He was 70.

Limbaugh, who announced his lung cancer diagnosis in February 2020, succumbed to cancer after battling drug addiction and loss of hearing earlier in his career. Limbaugh's show was the most listened-to talk radio broadcast in the United States, with an estimated cumulative weekly audience of 15.5 million listeners at his peak, according to Talkers' tracking.

Mark Anthony Morales, left, has died, his manager and friend Louis Gregory confirmed on Twitter Thursday. He was 52. Known as Prince Markie Dee, Morales was a pioneering member the Fat Boys, a group that emerged in New York in the 1980s and also included Damon Wimbley and Darren Robinson. The group was known for using beatboxing in their music and for ushering in other hip-hop legends like Biz Markie and Doug E. Fresh.

Lynn Stalmaster, the Oscar-winning casting director whose eye for talent helped launch the careers of John Travolta, Christopher Reeve, Richard Dreyfuss and many other actors,died Feb. 12. He was 93.

Jazz legend Chick Corea died Feb. 9 after battling cancer. He was 79.
"It is with great sadness we announce that on February 9th, Chick Corea passed away at the age of 79, from a rare form of cancer which was only discovered very recently," a statement shared to Corea's Facebook page Thursday read.

In 1968, Corea replaced Herbie Hancock in Miles Davis’ group, playing on the landmark albums “In a Silent Way” and “Bitches Brew.” He formed his own avant-garde group, Circle, and then founded Return to Forever. He’s worked on many other projects, including duos with Hancock and vibraphonist Gary Burton. With 23 Grammy awards, he is the artist with the most jazz wins in the show’s 63-year history.

Larry Flynt, ‘King of Smut’ and unlikely free-speech champion, died Feb. 10 at his home in Los Angeles at age 78. Flynt's brother Jimmy Flynt confirmed the death to the USA TODAY Network.

Crude, rude and outspoken, Flynt made his fortune in the early 1970s after he turned a racy newsletter for his Ohio strip clubs into Hustler magazine.

His sexually explicit magazine trampled over boundaries set by competitors, such as Playboy, and set the stage for court battles over obscenity that redefined the meaning of "community standards" and made Flynt a self-styled champion of free speech.

Singer Mary Wilson, who co-founded the legendary Motown group The Supremes, died suddenly Feb. 8 at her home in Henderson, Nevada, according to her longtime publicist Jay Schwartz. She was 76.

"We are devastated," Schwartz said in a statement to USA TODAY. No cause of death was given.

At 15, Wilson was a founding member of the hit-making group that started as a quartet called The Primettes — formed with her Detroit housing project neighbor Diana Ross, Betty McGlown and Florence Ballard. 

Christopher Plummer, the Oscar-winning actor known for his role in "The Sound of Music" died at age 91 on Feb. 5. 

He passed at his home in Connecticut, with his wife Elaine Taylor by his side, ICM Partners talent agency spokesperson Kate Cafaro told USA TODAY.

With over more than 50 years in the industry, Plummer enjoyed varied roles ranging from the “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” to the voice of the villain in 2009′s “Up” and as a canny lawyer in Broadway’s “Inherit the Wind.” But it was opposite Julie Andrews as von Trapp that made him a star. 

Hal Holbrook, the Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor who portrayed Mark Twain for decades, died at age 95, at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Jan. 23, his representative, Steve Rohr, told The Associated Press.

Holbrook's long-running career spanned film, television and stage, though he is perhaps best known for his role as writer Twain, which he began workshopping as a college student and would go on to develop the one man show "Mark Twain Tonight." 

Dustin Diamond, best known for playing Samuel "Screech" Powers on TV's "Saved by the Bell," died Feb. 1 after a short battle with cancer. He was 44 and had been diagnosed just three weeks earlier, his publicist Roger Paul told USA TODAY. Post-Screech, he toured as a stand-up comedian and appeared on reality TV shows (including "Celebrity Big Brother" and "Weakest Link") and in movies ("Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star").

 

Jamie Tarses, the first female president of a broadcast network, died Feb. 1 following complications from a cardiac event last fall, her family confirmed in a statement provided by Sony Pictures Television, where she had a production deal. 
She was 56. The trailblazing TV executive paved the way for women in the entertainment industry as the first woman to head a major broadcast network: ABC. 

Electronic pop artist and musician Sophie Xeon, popularly known as just Sophie died. on Jan. 30. She was 34.

"Tragically our beautiful Sophie passed away this morning after a terrible accident," the artist's family said an emailed statement provided by Sophie's representative, Ludovica Ludinatrice. "True to her spirituality she had climbed up to watch the full moon and accidentally slipped and fell. She will always be here with us. The family thank everyone for their love and support and request privacy at this devastating time."

On Jan. 28, Cicely Tyson, the pioneering Black actress who gained an Oscar nomination for her role as the sharecropper’s wife in “Sounder" and touched TV viewers’ hearts in “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” has died. She was 96. “With heavy heart, the family of Miss Cicely Tyson announces her peaceful transition this afternoon," her family said in a statement provided by manager Larry Thompson.

Eight-time Emmy winner Cloris Leachman, who famously played Mary Tyler Moore’s landlady and dotty neighbor Phyllis Lindstrom on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and “Phyllis,” died Jan. 27 of natural causes at 94. She was known primarily as a TV actress but appeared in several Mel Brooks movies, including “Young Frankenstein” and “High Anxiety,” and won an Oscar for her performance as an adulterous gym teacher’s wife in 1971’s “The Last Picture Show.” In 2008, she became the oldest contestant on “Dancing With the Stars” and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2011.

Song Yoo-jung, a South Korean actress, died at age 26, her agency, Sublime Artist Agency, announced on social media Jan. 25. No cause of death was given.

According to Sublime Artist Agency's website, Song appeared in the Korean show "Make a Wish" from 2014 to 2015. The website also notes that Song acted in the 2013 show "Golden Rainbow," the 2017 show "School 2017" and the 2019 web drama "Dear My Name."

Screenwriter Walter Bernstein, among the last survivors of Hollywood's anti-Communist blacklist, died Jan. 23 at 101. He died from pneumonia, his wife, literary agent Gloria Loomis, told The Associated Press.  His Oscar-nominated script for "The Front," which starred Woody Allen, drew upon his years of being unable to work under his own name.

Jimmie Rodgers, the singer of 1957 hits "Honeycomb" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine," whose career was disrupted a decade later by a severe head injury, died Jan. 18 at 87. He died from kidney disease while also testing positive for COVID-19, his publicist Alan Eichler told The Associated Press. The star also branched out into movies in the ‘60s, starring in "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come" and "Back Door to Hell.”

Phil Spector, the eccentric and revolutionary music producer who transformed rock music with his “Wall of Sound” method and who later was convicted of murder, died Jan. 16. He was 81.

Joanne Rogers, the widow of Fred Rogers of "Mister Rogers Neighborhood," died at age 92, Fred Rogers Productions confirmed in a Jan. 14 statement posted on the company's official Instagram.

The statement said the company was "deeply saddened by the passing" and praised Rogers for continuing her husband's work as the chair of Fred Rogers Productions after her husband died of stomach cancer in 2003.

Duke Bootee (real name Ed Fletcher), the rap pioneer who co-wrote Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's "The Message," died Jan. 13 from congestive heart disease, his close friend Phil Starks confirmed to the USA TODAY NETWORK. Fletcher, 69, founded his own record label, Beauty and the Beat Records, and wrote, produced and mixed for artists including Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, P. Diddy, Dr. John and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones. In recent years, he taught critical thinking and communication at Savannah State University, where this mural is located.

Siegfried Fischbacher, who partnered with Roy Horn for the Las Vegas stage act Siegfried and Roy, died at age 81 on Jan. 13 at his home in Las Vegas, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Fischbacher's death, which was confirmed in a news release by his publicist Dave Kirvin, came eight months after the passing of his longtime stage partner Horn, who died May 8 of coronavirus complications at 75. 

John Reilly, longtime star of "General Hospital" along with dramas such as "Passions" and "Sunset Beach," died at age 86. The official "General Hospital" Twitter account mourned the loss on Jan. 10. "The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of John Reilly's passing," the tweet said.

Marsha Zazula, who co-founded a new era in heavy metal music at the Rock and Roll Heaven record store in the former Route 18 Indoor Market in East Brunswick, New Jersey with husband Jonny Zazula, died on Jan. 10, at her Florida home after battling cancer, her family has announced. She was 68. “No man can ask for a partner like Marsha Zazula,” said Jonny Zazula in a statement to the USA TODAY Network. 

Marion Ramsey, an actress best known for her work on the "Police Academy" franchise and her roles on Broadway, has died. She was 73. Ramsey's rep Roger Paul confirmed the news toUSA TODAY on Jan. 8, saying she died suddenly early Jan. 7 in her Los Angeles home. No cause of death was given.

Michael Apted, the acclaimed British director of the “Up” documentary series and films as diverse as the Loretta Lynn biopic “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and the James Bond film “The World Is Not Enough,” has died. He was 79.

A representative for the Directors Guild of America said his family informed the organization that he passed on Jan. 7. No cause was given.

Tanya Roberts, who starred in the 1985 James Bond film "A View to A Kill," as well as classic TV series "Charlie's Angels" and "That '70s Show," died on Jan. 4. Roberts' longtime partner Lance O'Brien told USA TODAY that the actress died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, where she was taken when she collapsed after walking her dogs on Christmas Eve.

In a statement, Roberts' publicist Mike Pingel said her cause of death stemmed from complications of a urinary tract infection "which spread to her kidney, gallbladder, liver and then bloodstream."

Gregory Sierra, who memorably played Julio on “Sanford and Son” and Chano on “Barney Miller” in the 1970s, died Jan. 4 at 83. The actor (seen here in the 1982 TV movie “Farrell for the People”) had been battling cancer, his wife Helene told The Associated Press. His many TV credits included "All in the Family," "Soap," "Miami Vice," "Hawaii Five-O" and "Hill Street Blues," and he appeared in films such as "The Towering Inferno" and "Honey I Blew Up the Kid."

Eric Jerome Dickey, the best-selling author from Memphis known for chronicling a particularly action-packed rendition of contemporary Black life, died on Jan. 3 at age 59.

As a writer, Dickey penned erotic thrillers, fraught love stories and sagas of domestic crisis and international intrigue. According to Becky Odell, Dickey's publicist at Penguin Random House, he died in Los Angeles "after a long illness."

Gerry Marsden, the British singer who was instrumental in turning the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel" into one of the great anthems in the world of football, died at the age of 78.

After speaking to Marsden's family, his friend Pete Price announced in an Instagram post on Jan. 3 that the Gerry and the Pacemakers frontman died after a short illness related to a heart infection.