Tag Archives: obituary

Atlanta’s ABC News affiliate reports: He is the one man that Muhammad Ali said he idolized “more than myself.” He became known to the world as “Hammerin’ Hank.” Legendary Atlanta Brave and Major League Baseball record holder Hank Aaron died Friday at the age of 86, according to Aaron’s daughter. Aaron won the National League batting title in 1956 and …

Rolling Stone reports: Phil Spector, a monumentally influential music producer whose “Wall of Sound” style revolutionized the way rock music was recorded in the early 1960s, died Saturday at the age of 80. Spector’s life was tumultuous and ultimately tragic; as groundbreaking as his studio accomplishments were, those achievements were all but overshadowed by his 2009 conviction for the murder …

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports: Sheldon Adelson, who rose from selling newspapers on Boston street corners at age 12 to one of the most successful luxury resort developers, philanthropists and political influencers of his generation, died Monday night at his home in Malibu, California. He was 87. Adelson founded and served as Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., …

Variety reports: Antonio Sabáto Sr., an Italian American actor known for his roles in “Grand Prix” and “Escape From the Bronx,” died this week due to COVID-19 complications. He was 77. The news of Sabáto’s death was confirmed in a tweet by his son, actor and model Antonio Sabáto Jr., who also posted an old family photo. He shared the …

Penn Live reports: Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Reese died Saturday afternoon after suffering an apparent brain aneurysm, his family announced. Reese — who was elected in 2008 to serve parts of Westmoreland and Somerset counties — was 42 years old. He is survived by his wife Angela and three children. Reese was elected to Republican caucus chairman for the 2020–21 session. …

Variety reports: Dawn Wells, who starred as the demure Mary Ann in long-running sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19 in Los Angeles. She was 82. A native of Reno, Wells also appeared in “77 Sunset Strip,” “Maverick,” “Bonanza,” “The Joey Bishop Show” and “Hawaiian Eye.” Publicist Harlon Boll announced her death. Deadline Hollywood reports: Wells, who …

The Associated Press reports: Luke Letlow, Louisiana’s incoming Republican member of the U.S. House, died Tuesday night from complications related to COVID-19 only days before he would have been sworn into office. He was 41. Letlow spokesman Andrew Bautsch confirmed the congressman-elect’s death at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport. “The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Marcus D’Amico, the actor best known for originating the role Michael “Mouse” Tolliver in the 1993 limited TV series Tales of the City, died Dec. 16 of pneumonia at his home in Oxfordshire, England. He was 55. Patrick Baca, his former manager, said the cause was bronchial pneumonia. Although best known to U.S. audiences for starring in …

The New York Times reports: Pierre Cardin, the visionary designer and licensing pioneer who invented the business of fashion as it is conducted today, has died. He was 98. His death was confirmed on Tuesday by the French Academy of Fine Arts. He died at the American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine, just outside Paris, his family said. He clothed the famous …

Rolling Stone reports: Charley Pride, the pioneering black country singer known for such hits as “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” and “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” has died from complications related to Covid-19, according to his publicist. He was 86. Born in Sledge, Mississippi, Pride picked cotton and served in the Army before becoming country music’s first black superstar. …

NPR reports: David Prowse, the British weightlifting champion and man behind the Darth Vader mask, has died. He was 85. The actor’s management company shared the news of his passing early Sunday morning on social media “with great regret and heart-wrenching sadness for us and million of fans around the world.” Prowse wore the Darth Vader costume in the original …

The New York Daily News reports: David Dinkins, whose historic 1989 victory as the city’s first and only black mayor was quickly eclipsed by rising crime and racial turmoil that doomed his re-election, died Monday at his home, police said. He was 93. His death comes a little more than a month after his wife, Joyce, passed away on Oct. …

Religion News Service reports: Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., a prominent conservative pastor and evangelical adviser to President Donald Trump, has died, according to his church. Jackson died Monday (Nov. 9), according to a statement posted on the website of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland, where he was pastor. Rickardo Bodden, chief of staff of Hope Christian Church, told Religion …

TMZ reports: Alex Trebek — the revered and beloved “Jeopardy!” host since 1984, whose calm but witty presence was must-see television for millions of Americans — has died … TMZ has learned. A “Jeopardy!” spokesperson tells TMZ, “Jeopardy is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends.” The TV …

Variety reports: Sean Connery, the Scottish-born actor who rocketed to fame as James Bond and became one of the movies’ most popular and enduring international stars, has died. He was 90. Connery, long regarded as one of the best actors to have portrayed the iconic spy, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 and marked his 90th birthday only …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Leanza Cornett, the American TV personality and former Miss America winner, has died at the age of 49 after suffering a head injury earlier this month. The Miss America Organization and her former husband Mark Steines both confirmed the death in separate social media posts. Reports said she suffered the head injury on October 12 and had …

Yahoo Entertainment report: Eddie Van Halen, whose innovative and explosive guitar playing kept the hard rock band that bore his family name cemented to the top of the album charts for two decades, died on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer. He was 65. Van Halen’s son Wolf announced the news. “He was the best father I could …

Sydney’s ABC News affiliate reports: Australian legend and activist Helen Reddy has passed away at the age of 78 in Los Angeles. The Melbourne-born singer is best known for her hit song I Am Woman, which has gone on to become a feminist anthem. “Helen Reddy’s story is an amazing one, a great story of talent and determination,” said entertainment …

NPR reports: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the demure firebrand who in her 80s became a legal, cultural, and feminist icon has died. The Supreme Court announced her death, saying the cause was complications from cancer. Architect of the legal fight for women’s rights in the 1970s, Ginsburg subsequently served 27 years on the nation’s highest court, becoming its most prominent …

ESPN reports: Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, who led the New York Mets to an improbable World Series victory in 1969, has died at age 75. The Baseball Hall of Fame announced that Seaver died Monday from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19. The hard-throwing right-hander known as “Tom Terrific” won an MLB-best 25 games in the 1969 …