Notable deaths of 2014 - Slideshow

Joe Cocker

Singer Joe Cocker died on December 22 after a long struggle with lung cancer. Cocker came to fame in the 1960s, and topped the U.K. Top 40 with a cover of Beatles hit "With a Little Help from My Friends" in 1968. Full Story UPI/Michael Bush | License Photo

Mike Nichols

Director Mike Nichols, pictured with his wife Diane Sawyer, died November 19th at the age of 83. His contributions to the big screen include the films The Graduate, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Working Girl, and The Birdcage. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

Oscar De La Renta

The famed fashion designer died at his home in Kent, Conn. on October 20 at the age of 82. De la Renta was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

Joan Rivers

The legendary comedian died on September 4th at the age of 81. (UPI Photo/Terry Schmitt) | License Photo

Richard Attenborough

Richard Attenborough, the British actor and director, died August 24 at the age of 90. Attenborough gained attention for his roles in The Great Escape, Jurassic Park and The Miracle on 34th Street. He won best director and best picture Oscars for Gandhi in 1983. (UPI Photo/Rune Hellestad)

Richard Attenborough

Richard Attenborough, the British actor and director, died August 24 at the age of 90. Attenborough gained attention for his roles in The Great Escape, Jurassic Park and The Miracle on 34th Street. He won best director and best picture Oscars for Gandhi in 1983. (UPI Photo/Rune Hellestad)

Lauren Bacall

Hollywood screen legend Lauren Bacall died at the age of 89, the estate of her late husband Humphrey Bogart announced on August 12. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

Robin Williams

On August 11, Actor and Comedian Robin Williams was found dead from apparent suicide at his home in California. Williams is pictured here with his wife Susan Schneider (L) and daughter Zelda Williams. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

James Brady

James Brady, the presidential spokesman who became a gun control advocate when he survived an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, died on August 4 at 73. (UPI Photo/Mal Langsdon/Files) | License Photo

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead on February 2 in his Manhattan apartment. He was 46. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City Hoffman died of "accidental acute mixed-drug intoxication, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine." UPI/Dennis Van Tine | License Photo

Micky Rooney

Mickey Rooney, the diminutive all-American boy next door who top-lined Hollywood films of 1930s and 40s, died at his home in Los Angeles on April 7 at the age of 93. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

L'Wren Scott

Fashion designer L'Wren Scott was found dead in her apartment on March 17. The 47-year-old girlfriend of Mick Jagger was discovered by her assistant hanging from a scarf tied to a doorknob in her 11th Avenue apartment in New York City. UPI/ John Angelillo | License Photo

Elaine Stritch

The Broadway legend, actress and singer died at her home in Birmingham, Mich., on July 17 at the age of 89. UPI /Monika Graff. | License Photo

Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk

Theodore Van Kirk, the last survivor of the crew of the Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, died at 93 on July 30. (UPI Photo/USAF/Files) | License Photo

Tony Gwynn

One of the greatest San Diego Padres players of all-time, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn died June 16 after a struggle with salivary gland cancer. He was 54. UPI Photo/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Eli Wallach

Eli Wallach who starred in films like “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” “The Magnificent Seven” and “The Godfather: Part III” died on June 25 at the age of 98. UPI/Phil McCarten | License Photo

Maya Angelou

Poet, author, activist and Medal of Freedom recipient Maya Angelou died at her home on May 28 at age 86. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

Actor James Garner, star of the popular TV shows "The Rockford Files" and "Maverick" beams with joy as he holds his purple heart medal awarded to him 1/24/1983. Garner recieved the medal 30 years late after being wounded twice in the Korean War. (UPI/Blake Sell)

Peaches Geldof

English journalist, television presenter and model Peaches Geldof died April 7 at age 25. UPI/Paul Treadway | License Photo

Ruth Duccini

The American actress and the last surviving Munchkin from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz died January 16 at the age of 95. Duccini was also the last surviving female from the film and also the oldest. UPI/Alex Gallardo | License Photo

Phil Everly

Phil Everly (R), the younger half of the Everly Brothers, died January 3 in California of lung disease brought on by a lifetime cigarette habit, his wife said. He was 74. UPI/Jayne Kamin-Oncea | License Photo

Rubin “Hurricane” Carter

Former middleweight boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who spent 19 years in jail after being wrongly convicted of murder, had been stricken by prostate cancer and died April 20 in his Toronto home early Sunday morning. He was 76. UPI Photo/mt/Files

Rubin “Hurricane” Carter

Former middleweight boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who spent 19 years in jail after being wrongly convicted of murder, had been stricken by prostate cancer and died April 20 in his Toronto home early Sunday morning. He was 76. UPI Photo/mt/Files

Shirley Temple Black

Actress Shirley Temple Black, one of the most famous child stars of all time, died at her home in Woodside, California on Feburary 11 at the age of 85. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)

Shirley Temple Black

Actress Shirley Temple Black, one of the most famous child stars of all time, died at her home in Woodside, California on Feburary 11 at the age of 85. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)

Pete Seeger

U.S. folk singer Pete Seeger, who wrote "If I Had a Hammer," "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" died January 28 at the age of 94. UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

Wojciech Jaruzelski

Wojciech Jaruzelski (R), a Polish military officer and the last communist leader of the Polish People's Republic vdied on May 25. UPI/Maciej Andrzejewski | License Photo

Malik Bendjelloul

Malik Bendjelloul, who wrote, directed and produced the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, was found dead in Stockholm on May 13. He was 36. Benjelloul is pictured here with 'Sugar Man' subject, American folk musician Sixto Rodriguez (R). UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

Juanita Moore

Groundbreaking African-American actress Juanita Moore died on January 2 at the age of 99. Moore was nominated for an Oscar in her 1959 role in Imitation of Life. (Studio publicity shot)

James Rebhorn

James Rebhorn, who played the father of Claire Danes' Carrie Mathison on Homeland, died March 23 after a long battle with skin cancer. He was 65. UPI /Laura Cavanaugh | License Photo

Bob Hoskins

Actor Bob Hoskins, most famous for his role in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?', died April 30 at 71 after battling a bout of pneumonia. UPI/Rune Hellestad | License Photo

Ruby Dee

Celebrated Broadway actress Ruby Dee died June 12 of natural causes at her home in New Rochelle, N.Y. She was 91. UPI /Laura Cavanaugh | License Photo

Jeremiah Denton

Retired Navy Adm. Jeremiah Denton, a former POW and senator, speaks during the Pentagon ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the River Entrance Parade Field on September 18, 2009. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo

Bobby Womack

Bobby Womack, the legendary soul singer of "That's the Way I Feel About Cha" died June 28at the age of 70. UPI Photo/Alexis C. Glenn | License Photo

John Pinette

Stand-up comedian and actor John Pinette was found dead in his Pittsburgh hotel room on April 7th of natural causes. He was 50. UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh | License Photo

Eileen Ford

Eileen Ford (R) the co-founder of Ford Models died July 10 at the age of 92. Ford is widely credited with pioneering the modern modeling agency. UPI Photo/Ed Culwell | License Photo

Eduard Shevardnadze

Georgian politician and diplomat Eduard Shevardnadze died on July 7 in his home in Tbilisi at the age of 86. Pictured here, Shevardnadze (L) exchanges pens with US Secretary of State James Baker (R) after they signed several treaties in a 1990 White House ceremony. (UPI Photo/Cliff Owen) | License Photo

Larry Speakes

Larry Speakes, who served as U.S. President Ronald Reagan's deputy press secretary and chief spokesman for six years died on January 11. He was 74. UPI Photo/Chas Cancellare | License Photo

William Ford

Detroit Lions owner and last surviving grandson of auto pioneer Henry Ford, William Clay Ford, died March 10. He was 88. UPI Photo/Stephen M. Gross | License Photo

Jerry Coleman

Longtime San Diego Padres baseball announcer, ex-major leaguer and World War II hero Jerry Coleman died January 5. He was 89. (UPI Photo/Roger Williams) | License Photo

Ariel Sharon

Israeli former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon died January 11 at the age of 85. UPI Photo/Emilio Morenatti | License Photo

Fred Phelps

The Rev. Fred Phelps Sr. (not pictured), founder of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church best known for protesting military funerals, died March 20 at the age of 84. UPI Photo/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Harold Ramis

Comic actor, director and writer Harold Ramis died February 24 in Chicago after a long battle with autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis. He was 69. UPI Photo/David Silpa | License Photo

Saul Zaentz

Saul Zaentz, who won three Oscars (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, The English Patient) after becoming a movie producer in his 50s, died January 4 in California at the age of 92. UPI Photo/Terry Schmitt | License Photo

Tommy Ramone

The last-surviving original member of the punk rock group The Ramones, died on July 12. He was 65. Ramone, who was born Erdelyi Tamas in Budapest, co-founded The Ramones in 1974 alongside singer Joey Ramone, bassist Dee Dee Ramone and guitarist Johnny Ramone. UPI Photo/Francis Specker | License Photo

Nadine Gordimer

Nobel Prize winner Nadine Gordimer, author of three books about apartheid that were banned in her home country of South Africa, dies on July 14 at age 90. UPI Photo/Ezio Peterson | License Photo

James Schlesinger

Former U.S. Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger died March 27 at a Baltimore hospital after becoming ill with pneumonia. He was 85. UPI Photo/Michael Kleinfeld | License Photo

Lady Mary Soames

Mary Soames, Winston Churchill's last-surviving child, died June 1 of a short illness at her home in Britain. She was 91. UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo

Maximilian Schell

Maximilian Schell, who won an Academy Award for his role in "Judgment at Nuremberg," died on February 1 at an Austrian hospital. He was 83. UPI/Ezio Petersen | License Photo

Howard Baker

Former Sen. Howard Baker, the Tennessee lawmaker who served as the Senate's top Republican for eight years, died June 2 at the age of 88. UPI/Michael Kleinfeld | License Photo

David Brenner

Philadelphia native and stand-up comedian David Brenner died March 15 of cancer. He was 78. UPI/Nasser Khan | License Photo

Ralph Wilson

Ralph Wilson (center) who brought professional football to western New York in 1960 and has been the guiding force behind the Buffalo Bills for more than five decades died March 25 at age 95. UPI/Gary Wiepert | License Photo

Sid Caesar

Comedy icon Sid Caesar (R) died after a brief illness at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. on February 12. He was 91. Caesar is pictured here with at the 50th annual Emmy Awards with fellow comedians Milton Berle(L) and Bob Hope (C). UPI/Tizian Sorge | License Photo

Don Zimmer

Don Zimmer, who played 12 seasons in the major leagues before serving as a manager, coach or advisor for more than four decades, died on June 4. He was 83. UPI/Ezio Petersen | License Photo

DJ Frankie Knuckles

House music icon Frankie Knuckles (R) died April 1 at age 59. The DJ, producer, and remixer had a prolific influence on electronic dance music culture, and fostered the genre in early 80s Chicago at his clubs the Warehouse and Power Plant. UPI/Ezio Petersen | License Photo

Maria Von Trapp

Maria von Trapp (L), the last-surviving of the original Trapp Family Singers and inspiration for the character of Louisa in "The Sound of Music," died February 23. She was 99. Maria is pictured here with her sisters Rosmarie (right) and Agathe (C). UPI/Ezio Petersen | License Photo

Elizabeth Pena

The Cuban-American actress who starred in such films as La Bamba (1987), Jacob's Ladder (1990) and Rush Hour (1998) died on October 15 at the age of 55. The cause od death is currently unknown. (UPI Photo/ Phil McCarten) | License Photo

Casy Kasem

Radio legend Casey Kasem died Sunday in a California hospital after a long illness on June 15. He was 82. UPI/Shutterstock/s_bukley