As the year winds down to an end many of us find ourselves reminiscing over the things and people who touched our lives this year. We lost so many notable people. These talented people touched or changed our lives through their athleticism, writing, acting and more. Take a look at some of the celebrities who are no longer with us.
Actors/Actresses
Holly Woodlawn – October 26, 1946 – December 6, 2015 Cause of Death: Cancer Claim To Fame: one of the most notable transgender actresses. She was known to run with Andy Warhol and his famous crew of eccentrics.
Jack Carter – June 24, 1922 – June 28, 2015 Cause of Death: respiratory failure Claim to Fame: Hosted Cavalcade of Stars before hosting his own self titled show. Guest starred on t.vs tops shows until near death.
Dick Van Patten – December 9, 1928 – June 23, 2015 Cause of Death: Complications from diabetes Claim to Fame: Father on Eight is Enough
Sir Christopher Lee – May 27, 1922 – 7 June 2015 Cause of Death: respiratory problems and heart failure Claim to Fame: Best known for his work in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Anne Meara – September 20, 1929 – May 23, 2015 Cause of Death: natural causes Claim to Fame: Mother of Ben Stiller, wife of Jerry Stiller. Celebrated Emmy and Tony nominated actress and comedienne.
Leonard Nimoy – March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015 Cause of Death: complications with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Claim to Fame: Most notable for his role as Dr. Spock on Star Trek.
Donna Douglas – September 26, 1932 – January 1, 2015 Cause of Death: Pancreatic Cancer Claim to Fame: Most notable for her role as Elly Mae Clampett on the Beverly Hills Hillbillies.
Nathaniel Marston – July 9, 1975 – November 11, 2015 Cause of Death – Complications from car accident Claim to fame – 6 year role on All My Children
Gunnar Hansen – March 4, 1947 – November 7, 2015 Cause of Death: Pancreatic Cancer Claim to Fame: Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Maureen O’Hara – August 17, 1920 – 24 October 2015 Cause of Death: natural Causes Claim to Fame: long time stage and film actress. You know her as the mother from the original Parent Trap with Haley Mills.
Pat Woodell – July 12, 1944 – September 29, 2015 Cause of Death: Cancer Claim to Fame: Bobbie Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction.
Kyle Jean-Baptiste – December 3, 1993 – August 29, 2015 Cause of Death: Accidental Death Claim to Fame: Jean-Baptiste became the first black and the youngest person to ever portray the character Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables” on Broadway.
Yvonne Craig– May 16, 1937 – August 17, 2015 Cause of Death: Breast Cancer Claim to Fame: T.V.’s Batgirl.
Sawyer Sweeten – May 12, 1995 – April 23, 2015 Cause of Death: Suicide Claim to Fame: Geoffrey Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond.
Ben Powers – July 5, 1950 – April 6, 2015 Cause of Death: Cause unknown Claim to Fame: Keith on Good Times.
James Best – July 26, 1926 – April 6, 2015 Cause of Death: complications from Pneumonia Claim to Fame: Sheriff Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard.
Al Molinaro – June 24, 1919 – October 30, 2015 Cause of Death: complications from a gallbladder infection Claim to Fame: Most notable for his roles on Happy Days and The Odd Couple.
Musicians
Scott Weiland – October 27, 1967 – December 3, 2015 Cause of Death: Unknown Claim to Fame: Lead Singer Stone Temple Pilots
Sean Price – March 17, 1972 – August 8, 2015 Cause of Death Dies in his sleep Claim to Fame: Underground Hip Hop Artist
B.B. King – September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015 Cause of Death: Multitude of health problems Claim to Fame: Legendary Guitarist and Blues Singer
Charmayne Maxwell – January 11, 1969- February 27, 2015 Cause of Death: Accidental Fall Claim to Fame: Singer in 1990’s group Brownstone
Cynthia Robinson – January 12, 1944 – November 23, 2015 Cause of Death: Cancer Claim to Fame: One of the first female trumpeter in a rock band. Member of Sly and The Family Stone
Percy Sledge – November 25, 1940 – April 14, 2015 Cause of Death: Liver Cancer Claim to Fame: Celebrated R&B singer most notable for the song “When A Man Loves A Woman”
Lesley Gore – May 2, 1946 – February 16, 2015 Cause of Death: Lung Cancer Claim to Fame: Singer best known for the hit song “It’s My Party.”
Athletes
Yogi Berra – May 12, 1925 – September 22, 2015 Cause of Death: Natural Death Claim to Fame: 19 year career in MLB.
Moses Malone – March 23, 1955 – September 13, 2015 Cause of Death: Heart Disease Claim to Fame: First player drafted directly into the NBA from high school who went on to be a 13 times all star player.
Darryl Dawkins – January 11, 1957 – August 27, 2015 Cause of Death: Heart Attack Claim to Fame: NBA Player with a 14 year career.
Rowdy Roddy Piper – April 17, 1954 – July 31, 2015 Cause of Death: Heart Attack Claim to Fame: 42 year career as a professional wrestler.
Dusty Rhodes – October 12, 1945 – June 11, 2015 Cause of Death: Stomach Cancer Claim to Fame: Professional Wrestler.
Anthony Mason – December 14, 1966 – February 28, 2015 Cause of Death: Heart Attack Claim to Fame: 13 year NBA career.
Jerome Kersey– June 26, 1962 – February 18, 2015 Cause of Death: Complications from surgery Claim to Fame: NBA Player who was a part of a championship winning team.
Ernie Banks – January 31, 1931 – January 23, 2015 Cause of Death: Heart Attack Claim to Fame: First Black player for the Chicago Cubs.
Tyler Sash – May 27, 1988 – September 8, 2015 Cause of Death: Accidental Overdose Claim to Fame: Played briefly for the NY Giants.
Other Notables
Carol Doda – August 29, 1937 – November 9, 2015 Cause of Death: Kidney Failure Claim to Fame: America’s first topless dancer.
Melissa Mathison – June 3, 1950 – November 4, 2015 Cause of Death: Cancer Claim Fame: Screenwriter of E.T. and other hits.
Wes Craven – August 2, 1939 – August 30, 2015 Cause of Death: Brain Cancer Claim to Fame: Creator of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.
Bobbi Kristina Brown -March 4, 1993 – July 26, 2015 Cause of Death: Drowning Claim to Fame: Reality Tv star and daughter of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown.
Sam Simon – June 6, 1955 – March 8, 2015 Cause of Death: Colorectal Cancer Claim to Fame: Most notable as the Simpsons co-creator.
Bob Simon -May 29, 1941 – February 11, 2015 Cause of Death: Car Accident Claim to Fame: CBS News Correspondent and Journalist.
Stuart Scott -July 19, 1965 – January 4, 2015 Cause of Death: Cancer Claim to Fame: Sportscaster ESPN news anchor. Coined the catch phrases “Boo ya” and “Cool as the other side of the pillow”
Jackie Collins – October 4,1937 – 19 September 2015 Cause of Death: Breast Cancer Claim to Fame: Best Selling Romance Novelist.
Bud Yorkin -February 22, 1926 – August 18, 2015 Cause of Death: Natural Causes Claim to Fame: Producer of hit shows such as All In The Family, Maude and Good Times.
