As the new year dawns, I take one last look back at the many talented personalities that left us this past year. Many were legendary and definitely iconic in the pop culture world. We lost real astronauts as well as fictional ones, and a few ‘red shirts’ too. Sadly, you’ll see a few familiar faces from TOS. But there were also Remarkable comedians and soaring musicians. Childhood heroes and movie legends. Some passing’s were harder to take (Tom Petty, Mary Tyler Moore) but all left a lasting and often loving impression on the world. Many of them were blessed with long, and very productive lives. (Aren’t we lucky!) Of course I can’t mention every noted soul that passed, but here I’m remembering the ones who made the happiest impacts on my own life. May they all live on in our memories and rest in peace. <3
Dick Gautier, 85, Actor and Comedian, best known as Hymie the Robot on ‘Get Smart’ January 13th.
Gene Cernan, 82, Astronaut. The last man to walk on the moon. January 16th
Miguel Ferrer. 61, Actor and Son of actor Mel Ferrer. Seen here in Star Trek III. January 19th.
Mary Tyler Moore. 80. Beloved Actress, Dancer, and Entertainer. Known for The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She “turned the world on with her smile.” January 26th.
Mike Connors, 91. Rugged star of detective series ‘Mannix’ January 26th.
Barbara Hale, 94, Best known as Della Street on Perry Mason, and the movie “The Boy with the Green Hair.” January 26th.
John Hurt, 77, Fine British Actor, A Man for all Seasons, The Elephant Man, Dr. Who. January 25th.
Richard Hatch, 71, actor best known as Captain Apollo in Battlestar Galactica. February 7th.
Al Jarreau. 76, Wonderful jazz and pop Singer and Entertainer (Mornin’). February 12th
Bill Paxton, 61, Flexible Character Actor (Weird Science, Titanic, Big Love). February 25th.
Robert Osborne. Actor, Writer, and Beloved Host of Turner Classic Movies, 84, and a walking encyclopedia of all things cinema. We shall never see his likes again. March 6th.
Lawrence Montaigne, Actor and Star Trek favorite, 86, (Decius in Balance of Terror, Stonn from Amok Time) March 17th.
Chuck Berry. 90, The Legendary father of Rock n’ Roll (Johnny B. Good, Maybelline) March 18th.
Chuck Barris, 87 Game show producer, writer and host. (The Gong Show) (and possibly spy for the CIA?) March 21st.
Don Rickles Brilliant sarcastic comedian and actor. 90. (I Dream of Jeannie, Casino). April 6th.
John Geils. 71, Musician and creator of the J. Geils Band (‘Freeze-frame’) April 10th.
Erin Moran, bubbly actress (played Joanie on Happy Days) April 22nd.
Jerry Catron, 85, Actor and stuntman. Security Guard in The Doomsday Machine. May 16th.
Chris Cornell, 52, Musician and leader of Soundgarden. “Black Hole Sun”. We lost him way too soon. May 18th.
Dina Merril, 93, Lovely heiress who rebelled to become a beloved actress. Known for ‘Desk Set’ ‘Operation Petticoat’, and Butterfield 8′ On Batman, she played Calamity Jane and in real life was also a great supporter of the arts. May 22nd.
Roger Moore. Gorgeous, Wonderful actor and philanthropist. The original Simon Templar of The Saint and a beloved James Bond (Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me, more) May 23rd.
Gregg Allman, 69, Musician and Founder of The Allman Brothers Band (Whipping Post, Midnight Rider) Cher’s second husband. May 27th.
Vince Dedrick Sr. 84. Stuntman and actor. “Matthews” in What Little Girls Are Made Of? May 27th.
Peter Sallis, 96. Beloved British comic and the voice of Wallace. (of Wallace and Gromit) June 2nd.
Glenne Headly, Actress 62, best known as Tess Trueheart in Dick Tracy, also in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Lonesome Dove. June 8th.
Adam West, 88, Actor, legendary as 1960s Batman June 9
Stephen Furst, Actor 63. Beloved as Flounder in Animal House and Vir on Babylon 5. June 17th.
Skip Homier, 86. Trekkies remember him as Dr. Severin and as Deputy Fuhrer Melekon. But did you know that he started out as a child actor? June 25th.
Martin Landau, 89, Oscar winning actor and pal to Leonard Nimoy. Best known as Rollin Hand on Mission: Impossible, Space 1999, and Ed Wood. July 5th.
June Foray, 99, Voice Actress for iconic characters Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Natasha Fatale, Witch Hazel, Granny, and Cindy Lou Who. July 26th.
Sam Shepard. 73, Brilliant Writer and Actor (The Right Stuff, Steel Magnolias, The Notebook, and Black Hawk Down. July 27th.
Jeanne Moreau, 89 Beautiful and Acclaimed French New Wave film actress. (The Trial, Viva Maria) July 31st.
Robert Hardy, 91, Actor beloved as Siegfried in All Creatures Great and Small, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. August 3rd.
The great Glen Campbell. 81, Iconic musician and actor (Witchita Lineman, Rhinestone Cowboy, True Grit) August 8th
Joseph Bologna, 82, Actor best known as King Kaiser in My Favorite Year. August 13th.
Dick Gregory, 84, Political Comedian and Activist (August 19)
Jerry Lewis, 91 – Actor, Comedian and crusader for Muscular Dystrophy (Cinderfella, The Disorderly Orderly) August 20
Richard Anderson, 91, Actor known for Forbidden Planet and as Oscar Goldman on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. August 31st.
Stewart Moss, 79, Star Trek favorite remembered as the tormented Joe Tormolen in ‘The Naked Time’. (Also Hanar in ‘By Any Other Name’ September 13th.
Monty Hall, 96, Game Show host of Let’s Make a Deal. September 30th.
Beloved Tom Petty, Musician. 66. Formed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, (Don’t Come Around Here No More, I Won’t Back Down, Runnin’ Down a Dream). October 2nd. Gone way too soon.
Roy Dotrice, 84, Actor known as Commissioner Simmonds on Space 1999, Mozart’s father in Amadeus, and as Hallyne on Game of Thrones. October 16th.
Robert Guillaume, Actor, 89. Beloved as Benson, and in The Lion King. November 30th.
Fats Domino, 89 Legendary Rock n’ Roll pioneer. (Blueberry Hill, Ain’t that a Shame) October 24th.
Della Reese, 86, Marvelous Gospel Singer and Actress (Touched by an Angel). November 19th
David Cassidy/ 67. Beloved Teen Idol, actor and Musician (The Partridge Family) November 21st.
Jim Nabors, 87, Actor and wonderful Baritone singer ( The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle) November 30th
Heather Menzies, 68, Actress best known as Louisa in The Sound of Music, also played Jessica in TV version of Logan’s Run. December 24th.
Rose Marie, 94 – Child performer whose career lasted nearly 90 years, Best known as Sally Rogers on The Dick Van Dyke Show. December 28th.
Sue Grafton, writer, 77. The great mystery novelist who began her series of Alphabet murders with “A is for Alibi”. Sadly, the series will have to end with “Y is for Yesterday” December 28th.
