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See the stars we lost this year

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Mary Ann Mobley

The former Miss America-turned-actress died Dec. 9 at 77 after battling breast cancer. After her reign as Miss America in 1959, Mobley got her start on television shows such as Burke's Law in 1963 and Perry Mason in 1964. In 1965, she starred opposite Elvis Presley in a pair of movies, Girl Happy and Harum Scarum, and took home the Golden Globe award for New Star of the Year. In 1985, she replaced Dixie Carter as Maggie McKinney on the final season of Diff'rent Strokes. Mobley would later guest-star on Carter's series, Designing Women.

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Stephanie Moseley

The 30-year-old dancer and Hit the Floor actress was killed in a murder-suicide on Dec. 8 by her husband, rapper Earl Hayes. Hayes was reportedly upset about Moseley's alleged infidelity with multiple men, including Trey Songz. In addition to playing Arelly on Hit the Floor, Moseley appeared in Mirror Mirror and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1. She was also a backup dancer for Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown and Beyonce.

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Ken Weatherwax

The Addams Family star died Dec. 7 at 59 from a heart attack. Weatherwax played Pugsley on the 1964 series and went on to voice the same Pugsley character on the 1970s series and and even played Pugsley Sr. in a TV movie. Although he eventually transitioned to work behind the camera as a grip and set builder, he still made appearances at fan conventions.

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Bobby Keys

The Rolling Stones saxophonist died Dec. 2 at 70 from cirrhosis of the liver. Keys, who played with the band for more than four decades, was best known for his solos on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and his memorable performance in "Brown Sugar." Although his time with the Stones was off-and-on over the years — Keys had a strained relationship with frontman Mick Jagger — he reunited with the band for good in 1989. He toured with the Stones earlier this year before his health prevented him from continuing to perform. In addition to a 1972 solo album, Keys worked with John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker and Buddy Holly, among others.

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Roberto Gomez Bolaños

The Mexican comedian and screenwriter, known by his nickname "Chespirito," died Nov. 28 at 85 from a heart attack. Considered to be one of Mexico's greatest comedic actors, he created and starred in a pair of successful television comedies in the early 1970s, El Chavo del Ocho and El Chapulin Colorado. Bolaños' character in the latter, "The Crimson Grasshopper," a timid and mostly ineffective superhero, was the inspiration for The Simpsons' Bumblebee Man character.

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P.D. James

The British crime novelist died Nov. 27 at 94. James had worked in the forensic science department and the criminal law department of London's Home Office, and held her jobs there until 1979 while publishing novels on the side, including her first novel Cover Her Face. Her best-known titles include The Children of Men, which was adapted into a film in 2006, and the 2013 Pride and Prejudice spin-off Death Comes to Pemberley. In 1987, James was given the Crime Writers' Association's Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. In 2005, Britain's National Arts Club awarded her the Medal of Honour for Literature.

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Mike Nichols

The legendary director and EGOT recipient died Nov. 19 at 83 of a heart attack. After rising to fame and winning a Grammy as part of the comedy duo Nichols and May with Elaine May, Nichols transitioned to directing and helmed such classics as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Working Girl, Silkwood, Heartburn, Catch-22, Postcards from the Edge, The Birdcage, Primary Colors, Closer and The Graduate, for which he won the Best Director Oscar in 1968. His last film was 2007's Charlie Wilson's War. Nichols won nine Tony Awards in his career, including a record six for Best Director of a Play. His Broadway hits include Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Spamalot and the 2012 revival of Death of a Salesman. For his TV work, he earned directing Emmys for Wit and the seminal HBO miniseries Angels in America.

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Glen A. Larson

The Battlestar Galactica and Magnum P.I. creator died Nov. 14 at 77 from esophageal cancer. Larson began his television writing career in the 1960s with an episode of The Fugitive. He went on to create Knight Rider, Manimal, The Fall Guy, Quincy M.E., Cover Up and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. He earned three Emmy nominations for his work on the limited series McCloud and Quincy M.E.

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Diem Brown

The MTV Challenge star died Nov. 14 at 34 after her third bout with cancer, which was found in her stomach and colon before spreading to her liver and lymph nodes in October. She received her first diagnosis shortly after competing on her first season of Real World/Road Rules Challenge in 2006 and faced the disease again in 2012. In addition to competing on seven seasons of The Challenge, Brown founded MedGift, a charity organization that provides medical patients a platform to create a gift registry.

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Carol Ann Susi

The Big Bang Theory actress died from cancer at 62 on Nov. 11. Susi voiced Howard's overbearing — but unseen — mother Mrs. Wolowitz on the CBS sitcom and became a fan favorite character. Her other TV credits include The Night Stalker, Cheers, Doogie Howser, M.D., Mad About You, Just Shoot Me, Seinfeld and Six Feet Under.

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Richard Schaal

The Mary Tyler Moore actor died Nov. 4 at 66. Schaal played four characters on Mary Tyler Moore, twin brothers Howard and Paul Arnell, Dino and Chuckles the Clown, and appeared on its spin-offs Rhoda and Phyllis. Throughout the '60s and '70s he had recurring guest-starring roles on Dick Van Dyke, That Girl and Bob Newhart. He notably appeared in the films Slaughterhouse-Five, Once Bitten and The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming.

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Oscar Taveras

The 22-year-old St. Louis Cardinals and his girlfriend,Edilia Arvelos, were killed in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic on Oct. 26. His 2014 Chevrolet Camaro ran off a highway about 215 miles north of Santo Domingo and hit a tree. Considered one of the league's top prospects, Taveras had just completed his first year in the major leagues, finishing with a .239 batting average, 22 RBIs and three homeruns in 80 games.

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Jack Bruce

The Cream bassist died Oct. 25 at 71 of liver disease. Bruce, Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker formed Cream in 1966, and they produced such hits as "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," and "Crossroads," among others. Cream disbanded in 1968, and Bruce went to record solo albums and front other bands. He had just released a solo album, Silver Rails, in March.

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Marcia Strassman

The Welcome Back, Kotter star died of breast cancer on Oct. 24 at 66. A former singer, Strassman segued into acting when she landed the recurring role of nurse Margie Cutler on M*A*S*H. She joined Welcome Back, Kotter as the title character's wife in 1975 and also guest-starred on The Rockford Files and The Love Boat. On the big screen, Strassman is also known for playing Diane Szalinski, the wife of Rick Moranis' character, in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and its sequel Honey, I Blew Up the Kid.

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Joanne Borgella

The American Idol alum died Oct. 18 at 32 after a long battle with endometrial cancer. Borgella made it to the Top 24 on Season 7 of Idol and also appeared on MTV's MADE, as well as Mo'Nique's Oxygen reality show Fat Chance, on which she won first place.

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Misty Upham

The 32-year-old actress' body was found Oct. 16 in a ravine outside Seattle, Wash., 11 days after she went missing. Upham died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso, but her family doesn't believe she committed suicide. A Native-American from the Blackfoot tribe, Upham broke through in the 2008 film Frozen River opposite Melissa Leo, for which she earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination. She played housekeeper Johanna in August: Osage County, sharing a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination with the cast, which included Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. Her final film Cake, which also stars Jennifer Aniston, Anna Kendrick and Chris Messina, will be released posthumously.

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Elizabeth Peña

The La Bamba and Jacob's Ladder actress died Oct. 14 at 55 of cirrhosis of the liver. Peña's other films includ *Batteries Not Included, Lone Star and Rush Hour. On the small screen, she played the titular role on the ABC sitcom I Married Dora in 1987 and most recently played played Gloria's mother Pilar on Modern Family.

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Jan Hooks

The Saturday Night Live alum died Oct. 9 at 57 after a serious illness. A former member of The Groundlings, she joined SNL in 1986 — the same year that Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman signed on — and was best known for a range of characters that included Candy Sweeney of "The Sweeney Sisters," a lounge act alongside her sister Liz Sweeney (Nora Dunn). She also performed noted impressions of Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan, Sinead O'Connor, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hillary Clinton, among others. Hooks left in 1991 to replace Jean Smart on Designing Women. She earned an Emmy nomination for her guest spot on 3rd Rock from the Sun and most recently appeared on 30 Rock, where she played Jenna's mom, Verna. Her big-screen credits included Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Batman Returns and Coneheads.

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Sarah Goldberg

The 7th Heaven actress, who played Matt's wife Sarah, died Sept. 27 from natural causes at 40. Goldberg, who was also credited as Sarah Danielle Madison, got her start in acting after appearing as an extra in the 1997 Julia Roberts film My Best Friend's Wedding. Her other TV credits include House, CSI and a recurring role on Judging Amy.

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Eric "The Actor" Lynch

The Howard Stern Show staple died Sept. 20 at 39 after experiencing stomach problems. Standing at just 3 feet tall, Lynch suffered from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of disorders that affect connective tissues that support the skin, bones, blood vessels and other organs. Lynch began calling into Stern's longtime radio show in 2002 and regularly gave the notoriously acerbic host a piece of his mind. He also made several appearances on TV shows including Fringe, In Plain Sight, American Dreams and Legit.

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Polly Bergen

The Emmy-winning actress and singer died Sept. 20 at 84 of natural causes. In addition to playing the terrorized wife in 1962's Cape Fear, Bergen was also well known for playing the first female president in Kisses for My President. She won an Emmy in 1958 for the anthology series Playhouse 90 and was nominated again in 1989 for supporting actress for the miniseries War and Remembrance. Bergen also earned a Tony nomination for her performance in the 2001 Broadway revival of Follies. Most recently, she portrayed Felicity Huffman's mother on Desperate Housewives and the mistress of Tony Soprano's father on The Sopranos.

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Richard Kiel

Kiel, who played villain Jaws in the James Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker, died Sept. 10 at 74. A Detroit native, Kiel stood at nearly 7 feet 2 inches tall due to a hormonal condition. His other television and film credits include The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Happy Gilmore as Adam Sandler's boss Mr. Larson.

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Sean O'Haire

The former WCW and WWE wrestler Sean O'Haire died Sept. 9 at 43 of an apparent suicide. O'Haire was named the WCW's Rookie of the Year in 2000 and, with partner Chuck Palumbo, was the organization's last tag-team champs when the WCW was purchased by the WWE. In 2003, O'Haire debuted a new persona, The Devil's Advocate. Known for his long black trench coat, his character urged viewers to cheat on their partners, break the law and not pay taxes. He was known for the line, "I'm not telling you anything you don't already know."

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Joan Rivers

The legendary comedienne died Sept. 4 at 81, a week after she stopped breathing while undergoing a routine endoscopy due to lack of oxygen to her brain. Rivers got her big break came in the early 1960s when she was a regular guest of Jack Paar and later her mentor Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show and soon began hosting her first daytime talk show That Show with Joan Rivers. Rivers' friendship with Carson came to an end in 1986, when she accepted an offer from Fox to host her own rival late-night talk show, The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, which made her the first and only woman to host a late-night show thus far. For the past 20 years, Rivers and her daughter Melissa have provided fashion commentary for E! She has won an Emmy for The Joan Rivers Show in 1990, Celebrity Apprentice and a Grammy for comedy album in 1984.

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Richard Attenborough

The Oscar-winning director and actor died Aug. 24 at 90. A stage vet, the Brit is best known in the U.S. for his roles as Santa Claus in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street, and Dr. John Hammond in Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World. He also appeared in 1963's The Great Escape. He won two Oscars for Gandhi: Best Picture and Best Director. Attenborough also helmed A Chorus Line and Shadowlands.

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Don Pardo

The longtime Saturday Night Live announcer died Aug. 18 at 96. Pardo got his start delivering news updates on the radio during World War II and later worked as an announcer for shows, including The Colgate Comedy Hour, Winner Takes All, The Price Is Right and Jeopardy!. He was the first to announce to NBC viewers that President John F. Kennedy had been shot on Nov. 22, 1963. Except for Season 7 from 1981-82, Pardo, with his booming baritone, had served as SNL's announcer every year. In recent years, he began recording only the show's intro, and did so from his home in Tucson, Ariz.

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Lauren Bacall

The legendary screen siren died Aug. 12 at 89 after suffering a stroke. The smoky-voiced actress made an indelible mark when she was 19 in her film debut, 1944's To Have and Have Not, where she created her seductive The Look gaze — chin down, eyes up — and uttered the famous line: "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow." Bacall fell for Humphrey Bogart on set, and the pair, who remained married until his 1957 death, starred in Dark Passage, The Big Sleep and Key Largo. A two-time Tony winner, Bacall received an Oscar nomination for 1996's The Mirror Has Two Faces and was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2009.

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Robin Williams

The Oscar-winning comic legend died Aug. 11 at 63 of a suspected suicide. After breaking through with his manic alien Mork on Mork & Mindy and stand-up work, Williams launched a varied film career, earning Oscar nominations for Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King before winning for Good Will Hunting. He scored mainstream hits with Mrs. Doubtfire, Aladdin (voicing the Genie, for which he received a special Golden Globe), The Birdcage and Night at the Museum, and played against type in One Hour Photo, Insomnia and Death to Smoochy. Williams — who won two Emmys, three other Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and five Grammys — most recently starred on CBS' The Crazy Ones, which lasted one season.

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Charles Keating

The veteran soap star died Aug. 9 at 72. A London native, Keating appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company before turning to television. He is best known for his role as reformed villain Carl Hutchins on Another World from 1983-1985 and 1991-1998. The performance won him a Daytime Emmy in 1996 and led to other memorable parts on All My Children, Port Charles and As the World Turns.

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Marilyn Burns

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre star died Aug. 5 at 65. Burns made her film debut in Robert Altman's Brewster McCloud while studying drama at the University of Texas at Austin. She continued to appear in small parts before landing the role of Sally Hardesty in the 1974 cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Her other credits include Eaten Alive and the Emmy-nominated miniseries Helter Skelter. She made cameos in 1994's Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation and 2013's Texas Chainsaw 3D.

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James Brady

Brady, who served as the White House Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan and became an advocate for gun control, died Aug. 4 at 73. Brady was confined to a wheelchair after being shot in the head during John Hinkley Jr.'s assassination attempt on Reagan in 1981. After the shooting, Brady was no longer able to serve as press secretary, but held the title for the remainder of Reagan's term, with Larry Speakes and Marlin Fitzwater performing the duties as acting or deputy press secretary. He subsequently became an outspoken advocate for gun control and the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (aka "The Brady Bill"), which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993, is named for him.

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Michael Johns

The former American Idol finalist died Aug. 1 at 35, reportedly due to a blood clot in his ankle. Johns made the top 8 on Season 7 in 2008. Following his elimination, Johns released the full-length album Hold Back My Heart in 2009, which included the single "Heart on My Sleeve." He released the single "Day Breaks Sun" in February of this year.

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Robert Halmi Sr.

The prolific producer died July 30 at 90. Among the more than 200 programs and miniseries Halmi produced were Gypsy (1993) starring Bette Midler, The Lion in Winter (2003) starring Glenn Close, Gulliver's Travels (1996) starring Ted Danson, and In Cold Blood (1996) with Anthony Edwards. He also produced the 1994 miniseries Scarlett, a sequel to Gone with the Wind. Halmi often co-produced with his son, Robert Halmi, Jr. In total, his projects earned 480 Emmy nominations and 136 Emmy Award wins.

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James Shigeta

The Die Hard star died in his sleep on July 28 at 81. A singing star in Japan, Shigeta made his film debut in 1959's The Crimson Kimono, and the following year won the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer, along with George Hamilton, Tony Donahue and Barry Koe. In 1961, Shigeta starred as Wang Ta in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Flower Drum Song. In Die Hard, he played executive Joseph Takagi, who's killed by Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber. He also starred in the 1976 World War II film Midway.

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James Garner, best known for his starring roles on Maverick and The Rockford Files, died July 19 at his home in Los Angeles from natural causes. He was 86. Garner was one of the first actors to find equal success on television and in film, and won an Emmy for his role on Rockford. His film credits include The Great Escape and The Notebook.

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Elaine Stritch

The legendary stage and screen actress died July 17 at 89. Famous for her acerbic wit, the Tony winner starred on such Broadway musicals as Company, Bus Stop and A Little Night Music, and headlined a one-woman show Elaine Stritch at Liberty. In recent years, she played Jack's caustic mother, Colleen Donaghy, on 30 Rock, for which she won one of her three Emmys.

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Tommy Ramone

The last surviving Ramones member died July 11 at 65. The group released its debut album in 1976 but struggled for commercial success. After two more albums, Ramone left the band, but returned to produce the 1984 collection Too Tough to Die. The Ramones disbanded for good in 1996 and released a live farewell tour album, We're Outta Here!, the following year. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

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Dick Jones

Jones, the voice of Pinocchio, died July 7 at 87 after a fall in his home. Jones appeared in more than 100 movies and TV shows, including Little Men, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and The Gene Autry Show.

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Bob Hastings

The McHale's Navy star died June 30 at 89 after a 15-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Hastings began his career at 11 on radio shows such as The Daily Radio Gang and Adventures in King Arthurland. After serving in World War II, he moved to television in 1949, where he appeared on Captain Video and His Video Rangers and Sergeant Bilko. His other credits include All in the Family and General Hospital.

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Paul Mazursky

The Oscar-nominated director and screenwriter died June 30 at 84 of pulmonary cardiac arrest. Mazursky wrote and directed a number of films, including An Unmarried Woman, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Harry and Tonto and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. He received five Academy Award nominations: three for Best Original Screenplay, one for Best Adapted Screenplay and one for Best Picture (An Unmarried Woman). As an actor, he made his film debut in Stanley Kubrick's first film, 1953's Fear and Desire. He later had supporting roles in A Star Is Born, History of the World Part I, Carlito's Way and Crazy in Alabama.

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Meshach Taylor

The Emmy-nominated Designing Woman star died June 28 at 67 after a battle with cancer. Taylor played ex-convict Anthony Bouvier on Designing Women from 1986 to 1993, earning a nomination for Best Supporting Actor Emmy in 1989. He later played plastic surgeon Sheldon Baylor on the sitcom Dave's World from 1993 to 1997. He also starred as the flamboyant window dresser Hollywood Montrose in the 1987 movie Mannequin and was a featured panelist on the 2000 revival of the game show To Tell the Truth.

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Bobby Womack

The R&B and gospel singer died June 27 at 70 after battling colon cancer and diabetes. After leaving Curtis Womack and the Womack Brothers, Womack released his debut album, Fly Me to the Moon, in 1968. He went on to release a slew of successful albums in the early '70s, including Understanding Across 110th Street, Facts of Life and Lookin for Love Again. In 1981, Womack enjoyed one of his biggest hits yet with "If You Think You're Lonely Now."

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Mary Rodgers

The Freaky Friday author died June 27 at 83 after a long illness. Rodgers also wrote the 1959 Broadway hit Once Upon a Mattress, a musical based on The Princess and the Pea. The original production made a star out of Carol Burnett, and Sarah Jessica Parker went on to star in the 1996 revival. Rodgers' other shows include From A to Z, Hot Spot and The Madwoman of Central Park West.

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Gerry Goffin

The songwriter and ex-husband of Carole King died June 19 at 75. After meeting in 1958, Goffin and King wrote and composed more than 50 Top 40 hit songs that were eventually recorded by performers including the Drifters, the Chiffons, the Animals, and the Beatles. Even after Goffin and King divorced in 1968, the duo continued to write music together for some time. Some of his hits include "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "The Loco-Motion."

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Patsy Byrne

The Blackadder star died June 17 at 80. Byrne studied drama and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s. Her other television credits include the BBC children's series Playdays, in which she starred as Betty the Tea Lady.

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Tony Gwynn

The San Diego Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn died June 16 at 54 from cancer. The California native, nicknamed Mr. Padre, joined the franchise in 1982. Two years later he won his first batting title, with a batting average of .351. That year he helped lead the Padres to their first World Series where they lost to the Detroit Tigers. Gwynn went on to become an eight-time National League batting champion. Gwynn retired in 2001 and became the baseball coach at San Diego State University. He joined the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

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Casey Kasem

The golden voice of radio died June 15 at 82 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and various other ailments. Kasem began his radio career as an announcer on the Armed Forces Radio Korea Network while he was in the Army. Once back in the states, Kasem earned a few small movie roles which led to a voiceover career that included the role of Shaggy on Scooby Doo. Kasem's biggest fame came from his weekly syndicated American Top 40 show that ran from 1970-1988 and from 1998 to 2004. Kasem was famous for his signature signoff: "Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars." In 1985, Kasem was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame radio division.

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Ruby Dee

The pionerring actress and activist died June 11 at 91. Dee studied at the American Negro Theater in New York City before landing jobs on Broadway in the 1940s, where she met her husband of 56 years and frequent collaborator, Ossie Davis. (He passed away in 2005.) Dee collaborated five times with Sidney Poitier, including on A Raisin in the Sun. She also starred in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing alongside her husband and won an Emmy for supporting actress for 1990's Decoration Day. She received an Oscar nomination at the age of 83 for American Gangster. A civil rights activist, Dee served alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X as masters of ceremonies for the historic March on Washington.

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Rik Mayall

The Young Ones and Blackadder died June 9 at 56. "There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing," Adrian Edmondson, Mayall's writing and performing partner, said. "They were some of the most carefree, stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him. And now he's died for real. Without me. Selfish bastard."

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Ann B. Davis

The actress, who played housekeeper Alice Nelson on The Brady Bunch, died June 1 after falling at her home. She was 88. Born in Schenectady, N.Y., Davis graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1946 with a degree in drama and speech, despite starting out as a pre-med student. In the late 1950s, she starred on The Bob Cummings Show as Charmaine "Schultzy" Schultz, and received two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role. (She was nominated four times.) She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Davis is best known for playing The Brady Bunch's Alice as well as resurrecting the part for subsequent movies and TV specials. She most recently reunited with the rest of the show's surviving cast members for a 2004 TV Land special celebrating the series' 35th anniversary.

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Maya Angelou

The renowned writer, actress and civil rights activist died in May at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C. at the age of 86. Born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. Louis, Angelou held several jobs, including being a manager for prostitutes, a restaurant cook and the first black female streetcar conductor in San Francisco, before she became a dancer and toured Europe with the opera production Porgy and Bess. In 1959, she met novelist James O. Killens, who urged her to concentrate on her writing. Her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was published in 1969 to critical acclaim. Angelou went on to write seven autobiographies, spoke more than six languages and earned over 30 honorary degrees. She also received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her collection of poems called Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie, a Tony nomination for her role in the 1973 play Look Away and three Grammys for spoken albums. In 2010, she was awarded the U.S.' highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Barack Obama.

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Michael Gottlieb

Gottlieb, who wrote and directed Mannequin, died on in May after he was involved in a motorcycle accident north of La Cañada Flintridge, Calif. He was 69. The prolific director and producer also wrote and helmed Mr. Nanny, in addition to directing The Shrimp on the Barbie and A Kid in King Arthur's Court. Most recently, Gottlieb taught screenwriting classes at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

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Matthew Cowles

The character actor best known for creating and portraying the character Billy Clyde Tuggle on All My Children died on May 22 at the age of 69. The playwright and longtime TV and film star earned two Daytime Emmy nominations and was married to actress Christine Baranski, with whom he had two daughters.

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Jerry Vale

The 1950s crooner who was known for the hit "You Don't Know Me" died of natural causes in his Palm Desert home surrounded by family and friends on May 18. He was 83. Vale's recording of "The Star-Spangled Banner" also became a fixture at sporting events. The Gold Record he received for it was displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame. He had two children with his wife of 55 years, Rita.

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Malik Bendjelloul

Bendjelloul, who had directed the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, committed suicide after struggling with depression. He was 36. The Swedish filmmaker had also been a child actor on the TV series Ebba and Didrik and later was a reporter for Sweden's public broadcaster SVT.

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Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

The Golden Globe-winning actor, star of F.B.I. and 77 Sunset Strip, passed away at his ranch in Solvang, Calif., at the age of 95. The New Yorker began his career on Broadway before landing a few film roles and a recurring role as Dandy Jim Buckley on Maverick in the late '50s. He later provided the voice of the trusty Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series and associated spin-offs.

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Bob Hoskins

The English actor known for his roles in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Long Good Friday and Hook died of pneumonia at the age of 71. Hoskins won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, and earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination in 1987 for his performance in Mona Lisa. He received two more Golden Globe nominations for arguably his most famous role as P.I. Eddie Valiant in 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and for 2005's Mrs. Henderson Presents. He is survived by four children and his wife, Linda Banwell.

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DJ E-Z Rock

Rodney Bryce, who was known among the music community as DJ E-Z Rock, died at the age of 46 of unknown causes, although Biz Markie claimed it was from a diabetic seizure. Bryce teamed up with MC Rob Base for the dancefloor anthem "It Takes Two" in 1988. The duo's debut album It Takes Two, which also featured the familiar song "Joy and Pain," would go platinum and charted as high as number 31 on the Billboard 200.

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DJ Rashad

House music star Rashad Harden was found dead of a suspected drug overdose. He was 34. Known as DJ Rashad, pioneered a technique known as footwork, which combines synthesizers, bursts of fast beats and R&B samples with classic stepper's movements and hip-hop dancing. The practice originated in Chicago.

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Kevin Sharp

The country singer died in April from complications from past stomach surgeries and digestive issues. He was 43. Sharp made his country debut in 1997 with a cover of Tony Rich's single "Nobody Knows." The single topped the Billboard country charts for four weeks. His debut album, Measure of a Man, also produced several Top 5 singles including "If You Love Somebody" and "She's Sure Taking It Well."

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Rubin "Hurricaine" Carter

The boxer, who spent 19 years in prison for a wrongfully convicted triple homicide, died April 20 at 76 of prostate cancer. During his brief career, Carter recorded 27 wins, 12 losses and one draw in 40 fights before he was incarcerated in 1967 for three murders despite a lack of physical evidence and improper handling of the investigation by police. He was convicted again in 1976 during a new trial and was finally released in 1985. During the second trial, Bob Dylan penned the song "Hurricane," insisting that Carter was innocent. Denzel Washington won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Carter in the 1999 film The Hurricane.

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Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Nobel Prize winner died April 17 at 87 after battling lung and urinary tract infections. One of the most recognized Latin writers known for the use of magical realism, Marquez won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982. His novel One Hundred Years of Solitude has sold more than 50 million copies in more than 25 languages. He's also known for Love in the Time of Cholera, Chronicle of Death Foretold and Autumn of the Patriarch, among other works.

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The Ultimate Warrior

The wrestling icon died April 8 at 54 of a heart attack, just three days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Warrior, born James Hellwig, began wrestling in 1987 and became the WWE Champion at WrestleMania VI three years later, defeating Hulk Hogan. He was so passionate about the sport, he even legally changed his name to Warrior in 1993.

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Peaches Geldof

The daughter of musician Bob Geldof and late actress Paula Yates was found dead in her home at 25 on April 7. The musical heiress began writing a column for Elle magazine at the age of 15. She also wrote for The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian. Geldof also worked as a television host and a model.

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Mickey Rooney

The actor died on April 6 of natural causes, although he had been in ill health for some time. He was 93. Born Joseph Yule, Jr., Rooney frequently collaborated with Judy Garland in films such as Thoroughbreds Don't Cry and several movies in the Andy Hardy series. Some of Rooney's more notable film credits include It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Black Stallion and Breakfast at Tiffany's, in which he played stereotypical Asian character I.Y. Yunioshi. His more recent credits include The Muppets and Night at the Museum.

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John Pinette

The comedian, who hosted All You Can Eat and had a memorable guest-starring role as the victim of a carjacking on Seinfeld, died April 5 at a hotel in Pittsburgh. He was 50. Pinette's personal doctor reported that the cause of death was liver and heart disease. The actor had also checked into rehab last August for addiction to prescription painkillers. Pinette was mostly known for his stand-up routines, but also had small roles in such films as Duets, Junior and The Punisher. In 1999, Pinette was named Stand-Up Comedian of the Year at the American Comedy Awards.

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Kate O'Mara

The British actress, best known for her roles on Dynasty and Doctor Who, died in March at a nursing home in England after fighting a short illness. She was 74. Born Frances M. Carroll in Leicester, O'Mara made her stage debut in a production of The Merchant of Venice in 1963. She went on to appear in numerous British television shows, including the BBC drama The Brothers from 1975-1976. O'Mara became best known for playing the scheming sister of Joan Collins' character on the American soap Dynasty. She also starred on Doctor Who in 1985 and 1987, and reprised her role for the 30th anniversary in 1993.

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Clarissa Dickson Wright

The Two Fat Ladies star died March 15 at 66. Born in London, Wright studied law and became the country's youngest barrister at age 21. In her later years, she struggled with alcoholism, was eventually disbarred and became homeless in the early 1980s. After attending a recovery program, Wright and Jennifer Paterson were approached by a TV producer about making a series featuring the two traveling around Great Britain on a motorbike and highlighting regional dishes. Two Fat Ladies premiered on BBC Two in 1996 and ended after Paterson's death in 1999.

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David Brenner

The comedian and Tonight Show staple died March 15 at 78 of cancer. A favorite guest of Johnny Carson's, Brenner holds the record for the most Tonight Show appearances, going on the show 158 times. The Philadelphia comedian even guest-hosted the talk show a few times. Brenner wrote, directed or produced 115 TV documentaries before landing his first paid stand-up gig in 1969. He went on to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, Late Show and The Daily Show. Brenner even married his wife, Elizabeth Slater, during an HBO special, David Brenner: Back with a Vengeance!, though their marriage only lasted a year.

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Sheila MacRae

The Honeymooners star died March 7 at 93. On The Jackie Gleason Show, MacRae played Alice Kramden, the wife of Gleason's curmudgeon Ralph Kramden in a re-creation of The Honeymooners. MacRae will also well-known for her roles in Caged, Backfire and Sex and the Single Girl. Her TV credits include I Love Lucy and General Hospital.

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Scott Kalvert

The Basketball Diaries director was found dead of an apparent suicide on March 6. Kalvert, 49, was also a successful music video director whose credits include Salt-N-Pepa's "Shoop," Marky Markand the Funky Bunch's "Good Vibrations" and DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith's "Parent's Just Don't Understand."

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Jim Lange

The Dating Game host died Feb. 25 at 81 after suffering a heart attack. Lange got his TV start in 1962 when he joined The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show as a sidekick. Lange gained national fame after hosting The Dating Game, and went on to host other game shows including Hollywood Connection, Bullseye and $100,000 Name That Tune.

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Roger Hill

Roger Hill, best known for playing gang leader Cyrus in the 1979 cult classic The Warriors, died Feb. 20 at 65. After his breakout role in The Warriors, Hill played Alec Lowndes on One Life to Live from 1982 to 1985. After 20 years as an actor, Hill left show business and spent time working as a part-time librarian and writing poetry.

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Garrick Utley

The former NBC News anchor died Feb. 20 at 74 from prostate cancer. Utley covered the Vietnam War and became one of the first network reporters based in Saigon in 1964. He went on to cover the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the Yom Kippur war in 1973 and reported on the Cold War from Berlin and Moscow. Later, he reported on the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the start of the Persian Gulf war two years later. Utley's notable interviews included Nazi leader Albert Speer and dissident physicist Andrei D. Sakharov. Utley moved to ABC in 1993 and later to CNN, where he worked until 2002. He co-anchored the cable news network's coverage of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks the following morning. More recently, Utley worked as a professor of broadcasting and journalism at the State University of New York at Oswego and penned the book, You Should Have Been Here Yesterday, about the growth of television news in America.

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Harold Ramis

The prolific writer, director and Ghostbusters star died Feb. 24 at 69 from complications related to autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels. Ramis got his start working alongside John Belushi at Second City. After leaving the comedy troupe, he wrote a script with National Lampoon magazine's Douglas Kenney, which later became National Lampoon's Animal House. He went on to co-write Meatballs, followed by Caddyshack, which he also directed, and Ghostbusters with Dan Akyroyd. Ramis' other film credits include Groundhog Day, High Fidelity and Knocked Up. His final film, in which he appeared and directed, was 2009's Year One starring Jack Black and Michael Cera.

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Maria von Trapp

Von Trapp, the last surviving member of the Austrian family that inspired The Sound of Music, died Feb. 19 at 99. Von Trapp was the second-eldest daughter of Georg Von Trapp and his first wife, Agatha Whitehead Von Trapp. She and her six siblings, known as the Trapp Family Singers, were immortalized in the stage and screen versions of The Sound of Music. The character of Louisa in both the musical and film versions was based on Maria. After settling in Vermont in the 1940s, Von Trapp played violin and taught dance with her sister Rosmarie at the family's ski lodge. She also served as a lay missionary in Papua, New Guinea

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John Henson

Henson, son Muppets creator Jim Henson, died Feb. 14 at 48 after suffering a massive heart attack. Henson was a shareholder and board member of The Jim Henson Company. In addition, he was a puppeteer and performed as the 9-foot tall ogre Sweetums for many years, including in Muppet Treasure Island and It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.

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Ralph Waite

The Waltons star died Feb. 13 at 86. Waite earned an Emmy nomination for playing patriarch John on The Waltons in 1978. He went on to reprise his role as John Walton in several subsequent TV movies. Waite also earned an Emmy nomination in 1977 for his work in the acclaimed miniseries Roots. He enjoyed a long career on the small screen which also included notable roles on The Mississippi, Murder One and Carnivale. In recent years, Waite had recurred on NCIS and Bones as Gibbs' father and Booth's grandfather, respectively. Waite's film credits include Cool Hand Luke, Five Easy Pieces, The Bodyguard and Cliffhanger.

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Shirley Temple

The legendary child star who went on to become a U.S. ambassador died Feb. 10 at 85. Black starred in her first film at the age of 3 and had appeared in more than 40 movies by the time she was 12. As a child star, she was recognized by her signature ringlets in films like Curly Top, Stand Up and Cheer, The Little Princess and Bright Eyes, which included her star-making performance of "On the Good Ship Lollipop." In 1935, Black became the first child star who was awarded an honorary Oscar. She continued to appear on television throughout the 1950s and '60s and briefly had her own show, The Shirley Temple Show. After she stopped acting, Black became active in the Republican Party in California. She unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1967, but was appointed by President Richard Nixon as a delegate to the U.N. General Assembly in 1969. She also served as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana under President Gerald Ford, and later the U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia under President George H.W. Bush. In the mid-1970s, she was also the first female Chief of Protocol of the United States.

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Richard Bull

The Little House on the Prairie star died Feb. 3 at 89. Born in Zion, Ill., Bull began his acting career with stage roles at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. In the 1960s, he starred as Doc on ABC's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea before landing the role of Nels on Little House in the Prairie. Bull played the character from 1974 to 1983.

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Phillip Seymour Hoffman

The Oscar winner was found dead on Feb. 2 at 46 of an apparent heroin overdose. Hoffman, who had been sober for 23 years, entered a detox facility for heroin last spring. Hoffman began his acting career in the early '90s, appearing in such films as Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski, Magnolia and The Talented Mr. Ripley. In 2005, he played the title role in Capote, for which he received the Best Actor Oscar. He also received Oscar nominations for his supporting performances in Charlie Wilson's War, Doubt and The Master. In addition to his film work, Hoffman earned Tony nods for True West, Death of a Salesman and Long Day's Journey into Night. The actor, who set to star in the Showtime series Happyish, will appear in the final two Hunger Games films, Mockingjay Part 1 and 2.

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Maximillian Schell

The Oscar winner died Feb. 1 at 83 following a sudden and serious illness. Schell won Best Actor for playing attorney Hans Rolfe, who defended four Nazis on trial, in 1962's Judgment at Nuremberg and remains the lowest-billed actor (fifth) to win a lead Oscar. Schell also received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for The Man in the Glass Booth and a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Julia. As a director and producer, he received Best Foreign Film Oscar nominations for First Love and The Pedestrian. He also directed the 1984 Marlene Dietrich documentary Marlene, which was nominated for Best Documentary.

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Christopher Jones

The Ryan's Daughter star died Jan. 31 at 72 from complications of cancer. After moving to Hollywood, Jones was cast in the title role on ABC's The Legend of Jesse James, which aired for one season from 1965 to 1966. He abruptly left show business in 1969 because he was having an affair with actress Sharon Tate, the wife of Roman Polanski, and was devastated when she was murdered by followers of Charles Manson. His only film credit after that is in 1996's Mad Dog Time, though he was approached by Quentin Tarantino to star in 1994's Pulp Fiction and declined. In more recent years he focused on art and sculpting.

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Pete Seeger

The legendary folk singer died Jan. 27 at 94 of natural causes. Seeger recorded more than 100 albums in his career and is credited as a songwriter on iconic folk tunes including "Turn, Turn, Turn," "If I Had a Hammer" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine." He also helped to make "We Shall Overcome" a mainstream protest anthem. A one-time member of the Communist Party who later renounced the movement, Seeger found himself in political hot water in the 1950s. He was banned from public television for a decade after being interrogated by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1955. Seeger eventually got back in the U.S. Government's good graces and was honored at the Kennedy Center in 1994. He was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2009, musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder and Emmylou Harris performed at Madison Square Garden in honor of Seeger's 90th birthday.

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Luis Avalos

The Electric Company star died Jan. 22 at 67 after recently suffering a heart attack. On the PBS series, Avalos played a variety of characters, including Dr. Doolots, who cured patients using words. His other television credits include Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, ER and Full House. His most notable film role was in the 1979 comedy Hot Stuff.

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Sarah Marshall

The British actress died Jan. 19 at 80 of cancer. Marshall also had a notable Broadway career and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1960 for Goodbye, Charlie. She also received the New York Drama Critics Award for The Ponder Heart. Marshall began her TV career in the mid-1950s. Her credits include Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Get Smart, Three's Company and Cheers, and she was also a regular on CBS' Miss Winslow & Son in the late 1970s. She also appeared in episodes of The Twilight Zone and Star Trek, as an ex of Captain Kirk.

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Dave Madden

The Partridge Family star died Jan. 16 at 82 of died of congestive heart and kidney failure. The Canadian-born actor, who played the family's harried band manager on the '70s TV series, also had a recurring role on Alice and lent his voice to the film Charlotte's Web.

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Russell Johnson

The Gilligan's Island star died Jan. 16 at 89 of kidney failure. Johnson earned a Purple Heart and several other medals for his service in World War II and, after he was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1945, used funds from the GI Bill to enroll in the Actors Lab in Hollywood. In addition to playing The Professor on Gilligan, Johnson appeared on Dallas and The Twilight Zone. He also published his memoirs under the title Here on Gilligan's Isle.

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Mae Young

The Hall of Fame professional wrestler died Jan. 14 at 90. Born Johnnie Mae Young in 1923, she began her professional career in the 1940s and went on to become the first NWA United States Women's Champion. Young was also the only wrestler to have competed in eight different decades, remaining active in the sport through late last year.

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Frank Marth

The Honeymooners star died Jan. 12 at 91 of congestive heart failure and Alzheimer's disease. His numerous TV credits include appearances on The Fugitive, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., M*A*S*H and The Young and the Restless, but Marth is most known for his supporting turns on The Honeymooners. He played a man who hires Alice to babysit his son, a criminal who holds Ralph and Alice hostage after they witness a robbery, and the narrator of Norton's favorite show, Captain Video.

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Saul Zaentz

The Oscar-winning producer died Jan. 3 at 92 from complications of Alzheimer's. Zaentz began as a music producer with his Fantasy Records label, which represented acts including Creedence Clearwater Revival. He then moved into the film industry, helping produce three Oscar-winning best pictures: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus and The English Patient. On the same night as The English Patient's win in 1997, he received the Irving G. Thalberg Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his "consistently high quality of motion picture production."

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Phil Everly

Phil Everly, half of the popular music duo the Everly Brothers, died Jan. 3 at 74 of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Everly Brothers peaked in the late 1950s and early 1960s when they had almost three dozen hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, including classics "When Will I Be Loved," "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Suzie," "Cathy's Clown" and "All I Have to Do Is Dream." The brothers split in 1973 and did not speak to each other for almost a decade. In 1983, Phil Everly found success in the U.K. with his self-titled solo album, including hits "She Means Nothing to Me" and "Louise." The brothers reunited in 1983 and enjoyed their last hit, "Born Yesterday," in 1986. The Everly Brothers were among the first 10 acts inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when it launched in 1986. They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and were then inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

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Donna Douglas

Donna Douglas