Entertainment News

In memoriam: Celebrity deaths of 2019

By Karen Butler   |   Dec. 30, 2019 at 3:00 AM
Jerry HermanJerry Herman listens to remarks by U.S. President Barack Obama as the president and First Lady Michelle Obama host the 2010 Kennedy Center Honorees at a reception in the East Room of the White House on December 5, 2010. The Tony-award winning composer died on December 26, 2019, at the age of 88. File Pool Photo by Gary Fabiano/UPI Emanuel Ungaro Laura (L) and Emanuel Ungaro pose at the Emanuel Ungaro Party celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Ungaro Fashions at the Armory in New York City on September 5, 2001. The French fashion designer known for vibrant colors in his designs died Sunday at the age of 86. File Photo by mk/lc/Laura Cavanaugh/UPI Danny AielloDanny Aiello arrives at the 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on May 23, 2011. The 'Do the Right Thing' actor died on December 12 at the age of 86. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Caroll SpinneyCaroll Spinney holds a photo Big Bird in his booth at the Broward Convention Center during Supercon in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on July 14, 2018. The longtime Big Bird portrayer died on December 8 at the age of 85. File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI Juice WrldJarad Anthony Higgins, known professionally as rapper Juice Wrld, performs during the Day N Vegas Music Festival on November 1. The rapper died on December 8 at age 21. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI Paul VolckerFormer Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker attends an event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., on February 7, 2011. Volcker died on December 8 at age 92. File Photo by Andrew Harrer/UPI Rene AuberjonoisRene Auberjonois attends "Destination Star Trek London" at the Excel Center in London on October 19, 2012. The "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" actor died December 8 at the age of 79. File Photo by Paul Treadway/UPI Rep. John ConyersRep. John Conyers of Michigan speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008. Conyers, who served five decades in Congress, died October 27 at age 90. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI Bill MacyBill Macy, cast member of the new film, "Surviving Christmas," arrives at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles in 2004. The actor died October 17 at the age of 97. File Photo by Francis Specker/UPI Rep. Elijah CummingsRep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., who served 12 terms in Congress, died October 17 at age 68. Cummings served as chairman of the House oversight committee, one of three panels driving the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI Robert Forster Robert Forster arrives for the premiere of "What They Had" at Roy Thomson Hall during the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2018. The actor known for his roles in "Last Man Standing" and "Twin Peaks," died October 11. He was 78. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI Rip Taylor Entertainer Rip Taylor rides in the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 2010. The campy comedian and actor known for throwing confetti, wearing flamboyant outfits and crying for laughs, died October 6. He was 84. File Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI Diahann Carroll Diahann Carroll arrives for the Crystal + Lucy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., in 2013. The actress died Oct. 4 after a long battle with cancer. She was 84. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Jessye NormanJessye Norman arrives for the formal Artist's Dinner honoring the recipients of the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., in 2013. The opera singer died Sept. 30. She was 74. File Photo by Ron Sachs /Pool/UPI BusbeeSongwriter Busbee, born Michael James Ryan, arrives for the Grammy Awards in 2017. The hit songwriter and producer best known for his work with Maren Morris and Lady Antebellum died September 29. He was 43. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Jacques ChiracPresident Jacques Chirac of France addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2006 in New York. The longtime politician died September 26 in Paris. He was 86. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI Robert HunterRobert Hunter arrives on the red carpet at the Songwriters Hall of Fame 2015 induction and awards gala in 2015. The Grateful Dead lyricist died September 23. He was 78. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Ric OcasekRic Ocasek attends the MusiCares Person of the Year gala honoring Bob Dylan at the Los Angeles Convention Center in 2015. The singer was found dead September 15 in his home in New York City. He was 75. Photo by David Silpa/UPI Eddie Money Eddie Money performs at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., in 2011. Money died on September 13. He had been battling Stage 4 esophageal cancer. File Photo by Michael Bush/UPI Chris DuncanSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan emerges from the dugout at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on April 5, 2009. Duncan, who later went on to become a radio show host, died of brain cancer September 6, seven years after he was diagnosed. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI Valerie Harper Valerie Harper arrives for the Friars Club Roast of Betty White at the Sheraton Hotel in New York on May 16, 2012. Harper, best known for her role as Rhoda in the titular comedy series and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," died August 30, more than five years after doctors diagnosed her with terminal brain cancer. File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI David KochBillionaire New York City philanthropist David Koch attends the Americans for Prosperity Foundation fourth annual "Defending the American Dream" summit in Washington D.C. on August 27, 2010. Koch died at the age of 79 on August 23 after battling prostate cancer. Koch was best known for contributing to right-wing causes and politicians and also donated $1 billion to cultural and medical nonprofit organizations. Along with his brother, Koch ran Koch Industries, a conglomerate of oil and gas, chemical production and textile manufacturing. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI Peter FondaActor Peter Fonda, known for iconic roles in "Easy Rider" and "Ulee's Gold," died of lung cancer on August 16. He was 79. Fonda is shown here in Los Angeles in 2015. File Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/UPI Toni Morrison American novelist Toni Morrison attends a reception at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Paris on September 21, 2012. Morrison, the first African American to win the Nobel Prize for literature, died August 5 at a New York hospital at age 88. She is best known for works including Beloved, Tar Baby, Song of Solomon, Sula and The Bluest Eye. Morrison was a professor at Yale and Princeton universities. In 2012, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI Hal PrinceHarold 'Hal' Prince (L) and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber take part in curtain call ceremonies on January 9, 2006 at New York's Majestic Theatre. The famed Broadway director and producer died July 31 at age 91. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI Nick BuonicontiNick Buoniconti arrives on the red carpet at the Great Sports Legends Dinner to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to cure Paralysis at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City in 2014. The Miami Dolphins Hall of Famer died July 30 at age 78. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Robert MorgenthauRobert Morgenthau, former district attorney for New York County, N.Y, testifies on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor during Sotomayor's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on July 16, 2009. Morgenthau died a week shy of his 100th birthday on July 21. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI Mitch PetrusNew York Giants offensive guard Mitch Petrus (R) toss signed footballs to fans alongside defensive end Justin Trattou during media day prior to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on January 31, 2012. Petrus died on July 18 of heatstroke at age 32. Petrus (R) played in the NFL for three seasons after being selected in the fifth-round of the 2010 NFL Draft. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI John Paul StevensJohn Paul Stevens is seen after the Supreme Court Justices of the United States posed for their group photo on September 29, 2009, at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Stevens died at the age of 99 on July 16 due to complications following a stroke he experienced the day before. Stevens served for 35 years on the Supreme Court after being nominated by Republican President Gerald Ford in 1975, and was known for voting to limit the use of the death penalty, uphold affirmative action and broadening Roe vs. Wade. File Pool Photo by Gary Fabiano/UPI Pernell "Sweetpea" WhitakerPernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker (R) had a 40-4-1 career record with 17 knockouts. He also won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics and beat Juan Nazario in a 1990 WBA/IBF/WBC lightweight championship bout (pictured). Whitaker died on July 14 after being hit by a car in Virginia Beach, Va. He was 55. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI Rip TornRip Torn, a cast member in "Yours, Mine & Ours" arrives for the premiere of the film in Los Angeles on November 20, 2005. Torn of the acclaimed "The Larry Sanders Show" died Tuesday at his Lakeville, Conn., home with his wife, Amy Wright, and daughters Katie Torn and Angelica Page at his side. He was 88. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI H. Ross Perot H. Ross Perot attends the dedication ceremony for the new U.S. Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va. on October 14, 2006. The two-time independent presidential candidate and billionaire Texas businessman died July 9 after months of battling cancer, his family said. He was 89. File Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI Cameron BoyceCameron Boyce arrives for the premiere of "The Lone Ranger" in Anaheim, Calif. on June 22, 2013. Boyce, a popular actor on the Disney Channel, died at the age of 20. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Tyler SkaggsLos Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs pitches to the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning in St. Louis on June 23, 2019. Skaggs, at 27 years old, was found dead in his hotel room in Texas on July 1. Police do not suspect foul play and a cause of death has not yet been determined. Skaggs played five years for the Angels. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI Beth ChapmanDuane "Dog" (L) and Beth Chapman arrive on the red carpet for the CMT Awards in Nashville on June 6, 2013. Beth Chapman, a bounty hunter and television personality who starred with her husband, Duane "Dog" Chapman, on the A&E series "Dog the Bounty Hunter," died at age 51 at a hospital in Honolulu. File Photo by Terry Wyatt/UPI Mohamed MorsiMohamed Morsi, then President of Egypt, addresses to the 67th session of the General Assembly at the United Nations on September 26, 2012 in New York City. Morsi was the first democratically elected president of Egypt but was deposed a year after he took office. Morsi died June 17 during his trial on espionage charges. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI Dr. John Dr. John arrives on the red carpet at God's Love We Deliver's Love Rocks NYC! Benefit Concert in New York City on March 9, 2017. The New Orleans music legend Dr. John, real name Malcolm John Rebennack Jr., died June 6 from a heart attack. Dr. John was best known for his psychedelic and funk music along with his voodoo-inspired persona. He died at the age of 77. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Sen. Thad CochranSen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., attends the opening of the U.S. International Pavillion near Paris on June 15, 2015. Cochran died at a veterans' home in Oxford at the age of 81 on May 30. The Mississippi Republican served in Congress for more than four decades before his retirement. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI Bill BucknerBoston Red Sox legend Bill Buckner throws out the first pitch of the Red Sox home opener against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park in Boston on April 8, 2008. Buckner died May 27 after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia at the age of 69. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI Bart StarrFormer Green Bay Packers great Bart Starr accepts the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year award on behalf of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Dallas on February 2, 2011. Starr, who played for the Packers from 1956 to 1971, had been in failing health since suffering two heart attacks and a stroke in 2014. Starr died May 26 at the age of 85. He is the only quarterback in league history to win five NFL titles in a decade. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI I.M. PeiArchitect I.M. Pei chats with members attending the 12th Annual Committee of 100 conference -- which he founded in 1991-- on April 24, 2003. The world-renowned architect died at the age of 102 on May 16. Photo by ep/Ezio Petersen/UPI Grumpy Cat Grumpy Cat sits on a pillow at a special appearance at Bleecker Street Records in New York City on July 16, 2014. The Internet-famous feline, real name Tardar Sauce, died of complications from a recent urinary tract infection at the age of 7 on May 14. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Tim Conway Comedian Tim Conway poses for photographers at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held in Los Angeles on January 30, 2011. Conway, a television and film actor best known for starring in "The Carol Burnett Show," died at the age of 85 on May 14. Photo by Paul Buck/EPA-EFE Doris DayDoris Day (L) with former President Ronald Reagan during his years as an actor in the 1952 film "The Winning Team." Day, a Hollywood screen legend, singer and animal welfare advocate, died at the age of 97 on May 13 in California. The actress headlined The Doris Day Show on CBS which ran for five seasons from 1968 to 1973. UPI File Photo Peggy Lipton Cast member Peggy Lipton attends the premiere of "When In Rome" in Los Angeles on January 27, 2010. The "Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks" actress died of cancer at the age of 72 on May 11. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Peter Mayhew Cast member Peter Mayhew attends the premiere of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" in Los Angeles on December 9, 2017. Mayhew, best known as the actor who played Chewbecca in the Star Wars films, died on April 30 at his home in North Texas. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Ellen Tauscher Then Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher testifies before a House Armed Services Committee Hearing on October 1, 2009. The former congresswoman and senior arms-control adviser to President Barack Obama died at the age of 67 on April 30. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI John Singleton Director John Singleton arrives on the red carpet for the Academy Awards on Los Angeles on March 4, 2018. Singleton died 12 days after having having a stroke in Los Angeles on April 29. Singleton was the first black and youngest filmmaker to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director in 1991 for Boyz N the Hood. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Sen. Richard Lugar Then Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on December 13, 2010. The six-term Republican senator and former Indianapolis mayor died at the age of 87 on April 28 due to complications from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI Ernest HollingsThen Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., makes a statement on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on April 9, 2003. The longtime U.S. Senator Hollings, also a past South Carolina governor, died April 6 at age 97. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI Seymour CasselSeymour Cassel arrives for the premiere of his new movie "Lonesome Jim" in New York City on March 21, 2006. Cassel, best known for starring in a number of films from directors John Cassavetes and Wes Anderson, died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on April 6 at 84 years old. File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI Nipsey HussleNipsy Hussle (R) and his daughter Emani Asghedom are pictured arriving for the 61st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 10, 2019. Ermias Ashgedom -- better known as rapper Nipsey Hussle -- was shot dead in Los Angeles on March 31 a day before he was set to meet with police to discuss gang violence. Hours before he was shot Sunday, Nipsey Hussle tweeted, "Having strong enemies is a blessing." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Agnes Varda Agnes Varda arrives at the award photo call after receiving the "Honorary Palme d'Or" prize during the 68th annual Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 24, 2015. The French film director, known for her films "Cléo from 5 to 7" and Vagabond" died of cancer in her home at the age of 90. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI Alan KruegeAlan Krueger, then-President Obama's nominee to lead the Council of Economic Advisers, is seen as Obama introduces him in the Rose Garden at the White House on August 29, 2011. Krueger died the weekend of March 16 at age 58. Krueger served as chief economist at the Department of Labor for President Bill Clinton, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers for President Barack Obama and was a professor of political economy at Princeton. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI Ted Lindsay Ted Lindsay, former player of the Detroit Red Wings, arrives for the 2012 NHL Awards at the Encore Theater in Las Vegas on June 20, 2012. Lindsay died March 4 at age 93. The 1966 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee played 17 seasons, including 14 years with the Red Wings and three years with the Chicago Black Hawks. File Photo by David Becker/UPI Luke Perry Luke Perry arrives on the red carpet at the CW Upfront on May 18, 2017 in New York City. Perry, the "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum and "Riverdale" star, died on March 4 after having a "massive" stroke. Perry was 52. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Keith Flint Keith Flint, of the English electronic dance music band The Prodigy, performs during a concert at the 24th annual Les Vieilles Charrues Festival in Carhaix, France on July 18, 2015. Flint died on March 4 at his home in Essex, England at 49 years old. Flint, known for his colorful, spiked hair and high-energy performances, originally joined The Prodigy as a dancer before becoming their frontman. Photo by Hugo Marie/ EPA-EFE Katherine HelmondActress Katherine Helmond, the voice of Lizzie in "Cars," dodges raindrops as she walks the red carpet at the world premiere of the film at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. on May 26, 2006. Helmond died on March 1 of complications from Alzheimer's disease at age 89. Helmond was best known for her role as as Mona Robinson on "Who's the Boss?" File Photo by Bob Carey/UPI Peter TorkPeter Tork with The Monkees perform at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre in Boca Raton, Fla. on July 27, 2013. Tork, a bass player and keyboardist for the Monkees, died February 21 at age 77. The Monkees sold millions of albums and released No. 1 hits, including "I'm a Believer." File Photo by Michael Bush/UPI Don NewcombeDodgers greats Maury Wills (L) and Don Newcombe chat before a press conference in center field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on May 2, 2012. Newcombe died on February 19 at 92 years old after a lengthy illness. Newcombe won the first Cy Young Award in Major League Baseball history in 1956. He also won the National League MVP award that season. File Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea Karl Lagerfeld Karl Lagerfeld arrives on the red carpet at the WWD Honors on October 24, 2017 in New York City. Lagerfeld, fashion industry icon and Chanel creative director, died at 85 years old on February 19 in Paris. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Lee Radziwill Lee Radziwill leads the way for her sister, Jacqueline Onassis, as they attend Caroline Kennedy's graduation at Concord Academy on June 5, 1975. Radziwill, socialite and the younger sister of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, died of natural causes on February 15. She was 85. UPI File Photo Rep. Walter JonesRep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., speaks with members of the press at a news conference on June 16, 2005 in Washington, D.C. Barely a month after beginning his 13th term in Congress, longtime North Carolina Republican Rep. Walter Jones died on February 10 -- his 76th birthday -- after being in hospice care for a month. Jones is perhaps best known for expressing regret over his 2003 vote authorizing the President George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq. File Photo by Michael Kleinfeld/UPI John Dingell Then-Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., attends at a news conference in Washington, D.C. on July 27, 2011. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history, died February 7 at the age of 92. He had cancer. Dingell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 from President Barack Obama. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI Frank RobinsonBaseball legend Frank Robinson throws out the honorary first pitch before game three of the NLDS playoff on October 10, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The Baseball Hall of Famer died February 7 at age 83. Robinson was the first manager of the Nationals in Washington, D.C. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI Kristoff St. John"Young and the Restless" actor Kristoff St. John, shown here accepting a Daytime Emmy Award in 2008, died February 3 at his California home. He was 52. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI James IngramGrammy Award-winning R&B singer James Ingram, shown here in 2004, died at age 66. He was known for songs "One Hundred Ways" and "Yah Mo B There." File Photo by Francis Specker/UPI Carol Channing Broadway singer Carol Channing, shown at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2010, died January 15 of natural causes at her home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The actress, known for her work in "Hello, Dolly!" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," was 97. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI Patricia WaldPatricia Wald, the first woman to preside over the federal appeals court in the District of Columbia, died January 12 of pancreatic cancer. She was 90. In 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI Defense Secretary Harold Brown Former U.S. Defense Secretary Harold Brown (R) died January 4 at his California home. Brown served under President Jimmy Carter and was the first scientist to run the Pentagon. He is pictured conferring with Sen. John Warner, R-Va., in December 1979. File Photo by Frank Cancellare/UPI

Dec. 30 (UPI) -- 2019 saw the unexpected deaths of rising music and TV stars in their 20s, as well as beloved, seasoned entertainers.

Here are a few who made unforgettable contributions to the arts.

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Up-and-comers

The Descendants and Jessie star Cameron Boyce died July 6 at age 20 of complications from epilepsy.

The Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2 actor had also voiced the title character on the animated TV series Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

Juice WRLD was 21 when he died on Dec. 8 after suffering a seizure at Chicago Midway Airport.

The rapper had a history of drug abuse and copious amounts of narcotics reportedly were found on the private plane on which he had been traveling. An official cause of death is pending the results of toxicology tests.

The artist, whose real name was Jarad Anthony Higgins, was famous for his records Goodbye & Good Riddance, Death Race for Love and WRLD on Drugs -- all hits on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Several wildly popular young Korean celebrities died this fall, as well.

The causes of their deaths have not been publicly disclosed, but two are suspected suicides.

K-pop star Sulli, a former member of group f(x), was found dead at age 25 on Oct. 14, while singer and anti-cyberbullying activist Goo Hara died at age 28 on Nov. 24 and Love with Flaws actor Cha In-ha died Dec. 4 at 27.

"Cyberbullying has been affecting Korean society a great deal as people spend more and more time on social media," Min Byeong-cheol, a professor at Hanyang University, told UPI through an interpreter last month. "The last few years, several celebrities and a number of students have died because of cyberbullying. A middle school student killed herself by jumping from her family's 10th-floor apartment because five of her classmates bullied her in a social media chatroom. This is a serious social issue in Korea."

Stage and screen legends

Raspy-voiced stage star Carol Channing died of natural causes Jan. 15 at age 97.

Channing headlined Broadway productions of The Vamp, Wonderful Town and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes before taking on her Tony-winning role of the titular matchmaker in Hello, Dolly!, which she played more than 5,000 times between 1964 and 1995. (Hello, Dolly! composer Jerry Herman died this month at 88).

Channing's film credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, The First Traveling Saleslady and Skidoo. She was also a popular guest on The Ed Sullivan Show and Hollywood Squares.

Peter Tork, bass player and keyboardist for the pop music group the Monkees, died Feb. 21 at age 77.

Along with Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith and Davy Jones, Tork toured for decades, performing their hit songs "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "I'm a Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "Daydream Believer." The musicians also starred in a TV sitcom called The Monkees from 1966 to '68.

Comedian Tim Conway died on May 14 at age 85.

The six-time Emmy Award winner was a cast member of the sitcom, McHale's Navy, 1962-66, and the sketch-comedy series, The Carol Burnett Show from 1975 to '78.

He also had memorable guest appearances on Coach and 30 Rock, and voiced the character of Barnacle Boy on the kids' cartoon, Spongebob Squarepants.

His movie roles included The Longshot, Dear God, Speed 2: Cruise Control, The World's Greatest Athlete, The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Shaggy D.A. and Gus.

Easy Rider and Ulee's Gold actor Peter Fonda died of complications from lung cancer on Aug. 16 at age 79.

The actor and occasional director was part of the Fonda acting dynasty that included father Henry, sister Jane and daughter Bridget.

Fonda penned the 1998 autobiography Don't Tell Dad: A Memoir and appeared in the movies Boundaries, Ghost Rider, The Maldonado Miracle, Wild Hogs, The Limey, Escape from L.A., 3:10 to Yuma, Bodies, Rest & Motion, Deadfall, The Runner, The Wild Angels, Futureworld, Cannonball Run, The Trip and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry.

Valerie Harper died of cancer on Aug. 30 at age 80.

The Valerie and Freebie and the Bean actress won four Emmys and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of feisty Rhoda Morgenstern on the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore and its spinoff, Rhoda.

Harper competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2013.

Best known for her roles in the TV shows Julia and Dynasty, Diahann Caroll died of cancer on Oct. 4. She was 84.

She became the first black woman to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in 1962 for her role in the Broadway musical No Strings. Her other New York stage credits includes Porgy and Bess and House of Flowers.

Carroll was most recently seen in the small-screen dramas Grey's Anatomy and White Collar.

Pop-culture icons from the 1970s, '80s and '90s

Teen idol Luke Perry of Beverly Hills, 90210 and Riverdale fame died March 4 following a stroke. He was 52.

The actor also appeared in the soap operas Another World and Loving, TV dramas Oz and Jeremiah, and the films Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and 8 Seconds.

Peter Mayhew died on April 30 at age 74.

The 7-foot-3-inch-tall actor played the heroic co-pilot Chewbacca the Wookiee in five Star Wars films released between 1977 and 2015.

The star of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger and Terror also created the Peter Mayhew Foundation to support individuals and families in crisis situations with food and supplies.

Eddie Money died of cancer on Sept. 13. He was 70.

The singer-songwriter was famous for his singles "Two Tickets to Paradise," "Walk on Water," "I Wanna Go Back," "Take Me Home Tonight," "Baby Hold On," "Shakin" and "Think I'm in Love." He also recently starred in the TV reality show, Real Money.

The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek died of heart disease Sept. 15 at age 75.

He and his fellow Cars bandmates were known for their hits "Drive," "Let's Go," "My Best Friend's Girl," "Good Times Roll," "Just What I Needed," "Magic," "You Might Think" and "Bye Bye Love."

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.

Rene Aburjonois from Benson, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Little Mermaid and Boston Legal died on Dec. 8 at age 79.

He also starred in the 1970 film version of MASH and 1976 remake of King Kong.

Puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who brought the Muppet characters of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to life for more than 40 years on TV's Sesame Street, died Dec. 8. He was 85.

He played the roles in The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, Big Bird in China, Follow That Bird and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

Spinney earned the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 and was the subject of the 2014 documentary, I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story.