1950s

Jerry Butler (1939–2025), first leader of The Impressions

Jerry “Iceman” Butler was the original lead singer for The Impressions, who went on to a successful solo career and later became a Chicago politician.0

Olga James (1929–2025), Carmen Jones actress

Olga James was an actress and singer best known for her performance in the 1954 movie musical “Carmen Jones” opposite .

Dick Button (1929–2025), Olympic figure skating legend

Dick Button was a two-time U.S. Olympic figure skating gold medal winner who became one of the sport's most well-known commentators.

Jan Shepard (1928–2025), actress in King Creole

Jan Shepard was an actress who starred alongside in “King Creole” and “Paradise, Hawaiian Style.” 

A Look at Notable & Celebrity Deaths from January 2025 Week 3

Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reviewed and fact-checked by the Legacy.com news team in the third week of January 2025.

Claude Jarman Jr. (1934–2025), star of The Yearling

Claude Jarman Jr. was a former child star, best known for his performance in the 1946 movie “The Yearling.” 

Rocky Colavito (1933–2024), Cleveland’s great MLB slugger

Rocky Colavito was a popular Major League Baseball player with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers in the 1950s and ‘60s, a six-time all-star who was one of the great sluggers of his era.

Lou Donaldson (1926–2024), famed jazz saxophonist

Lou Donaldson was an alto saxophonist and jazz great best known for his Blue Note albums of the 1950s and prominence for the decades that followed.

Jonathan Haze (1929–2024), original Little Shop of Horrors star

Jonathan Haze was an actor best known for playing Seymour in the 1960 original version of “The Little Shop of Horrors.” 

Mitzi Gaynor (1931–2024), star of “South Pacific”

Mitzi Gaynor was an actress and singer known for movie musicals including “South Pacific” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”

Don Marshall (1932–2024), five-time Stanley Cup winner

Don Marshall was an NHL veteran who won five straight Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and was the last surviving member of the legendary 1956 team. 

Kathryn Crosby (1933–2024), actress and Bing Crosby’s widow

Kathryn Crosby was the wife of actor and crooner for the last 20 years of his life, and she starred in such movies as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.

Joe Schmidt (1932–2024), legendary Detroit Lions middle linebacker

Joe Schmidt was an NFL linebacker and coach for the Detroit Lions whose storied career led him to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Caterina Valente (1931–2024), popular French-Italian singer

Caterina Valente was a French-Italian singer and musician who sang in 11 different languages and performed with icons like Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Maurice Williams (1938–2024), singer of Stay from Dirty Dancing

Maurice Williams was a singer and bandleader who fronted the group Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, best known for their song “Stay,” featured in the film “Dirty Dancing.”

Vic Seixas (1923–2024), mid-century tennis champ

Vic Seixas was a champion tennis player who won 15 Grand Slam titles and took victory in men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1953. 

Marty Pavelich (1927–2024), four-time Stanley Cup champion

Marty Pavelich was a Canadian NHL left winger who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the 1940s and ‘50s, winning four Stanley Cups with the celebrated squad.

Roger Corman (1926–2024), “King of the B’s” filmmaker

Roger Corman was “The B-Movie King,” directing and producing hundreds of cult classics including “The Wild Angels” and “Rock n’ Roll High School.”

Frank Wakefield (1934–2024), bluegrass mandolin virtuoso

Frank Wakefield was a bluegrass mandolinist and songwriter who innovated new techniques on his instrument.

Duane Eddy (1938–2024), early rock and roll guitar hero 

Duane Eddy was an early rock and roll guitar hero known for his influential twangy sound, heard on songs like “Peter Gunn” and “Rebel Rouser.” 

Clarence “Frogman” Henry (1937–2024), Ain’t Got No Home singer

Clarence “Frogman” Henry was a New Orleans-based rhythm & blues singer best known for his songs, the novelty hit “Ain’t Got No Home” and “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do.” 

Lisa Lane (1933–2024), news-making chess champion 

Lisa Lane was the U.S. Women’s Chess Champion in the 1950s and ‘60s and the first chess player featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Jean Allison (1929–2024), prolific character actress 

Jean Allison was a character actress with a prolific career in the 1950s through ‘80s, appearing in dozens of TV shows.

Steve Lawrence (1935–2024), Steve and Eydie singer and actor

Steve Lawrence was a singer, actor and comedian who created the singing duo Steve and Eydie with his wife, and had roles in such movies and TV shows as “The Blues Brothers,” “The Lonely Guy,” and “The Carol Burnett Show.”

John ‘Duff’ Lowe (1942–2024), pre-Beatles partner of Lennon, McCartney

John “Duff” Lowe was a musician who played with , Paul McCartney, and in The Quarrymen, which would evolve into the Beatles.

Jack Burke Jr. (1923–2024), two-time major-winning golfer 

Jack “Jackie” Burke Jr. was a PGA Tour golfer and winner of both the Masters and PGA Championship in 1956 who won 16 PGA Tour events overall during his career.

Francoise Bornet (1930–2023), woman from the Paris kiss photo

Francoise Bornet became an enduring symbol of romance when she and her then boyfriend, Jacques Carteaud, were featured in “The Kiss by the Hí´tel de Ville,” a 1950 photograph by Robert Doisneau that has become a staple of posters, postcards, and home décor.  

Shecky Greene (1926–2023), old school Vegas headliner 

Shecky Greene was a legendary comedian known for his headlining shows in Las Vegas.

Marisa Pavan (1932–2023), star of The Rose Tattoo 

Marisa Pavan was an actress whose work garnered an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award win for her role in the 1955 film “The Rose Tattoo,” starring Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani.

Phyllis Coates (1927–2023), TV’s first Lois Lane 

Phyllis Coates was the first actress to play Lois Lane on television when she starred in the 1952 first season of “Adventures of Superman.” 

Barbara Mullen (1927–2023), unconventional 1950s model

Barbara Mullen was a model in the 1950s whose slim frame offered a glimpse into the future of modeling.

Tom Courtney (1933–2023), Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter 

Tom Courtney was an Olympic sprinter known for a last-second victory in the 800-meter race at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.

Tony Bennett (1926–2023), legendary crooner

Tony Bennett was an iconic singer who brought traditional pop standards to generations of listeners in a singing career that spanned eight decades.

Margia Dean (1922–2023), The Quatermass Xperiment star 

Margia Dean was an actress known for such films as “The Quatermass Xperiment” and “The Big Show.”  

Bobby Osborne (1931–2023), mandolinist with the Osborne Brothers 

Bobby Osborne was a singer and mandolinist with the bluegrass duo the Osborne Brothers, known for their hit song “Rocky Top.” 

Noreen Nash (1924–2023), actress in The Big Fix, Giant 

Noreen Nash was an actress who starred in movies including “The Bix Fix” and “The Red Stallion” and had a small role in the film “Giant.”

Ed Ames (1927–2023), pop singer and Daniel Boone star 

Ed Ames starred as Mingo on the 1960s TV series “Daniel Boone,” and he sang hit songs such as “My Cup Runneth Over.” 

Marlene Hagge-Vossler (1934–2023), last surviving LPGA founder

Marlene Hagge-Vossler was one of the 13 women who co-founded the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in 1950, the last of the group to survive.

April Stevens (1929–2023), Deep Purple singer with Nino Tempo

April Stevens was a singer who performed with her brother, Nino Tempo, and had a No. 1 hit in 1963 with “Deep Purple.” 

Ahmad Jamal (1930–2023), innovative jazz pianist

Ahmad Jamal was a jazz pianist and bandleader known for his minimalist style and for songs including “Poinciana.” 

Anne Perry (1938–2023), Thomas Pitt and William Monk crime novelist 

Anne Perry was a bestselling author of British crime novels whose own crime, committed when she was a teen, was dramatized in the movie “Heavenly Creatures.” 

Rolly Crump (1930–2023), Disneyland designer

Rolly Crump was a Disney animator who played a large part in the design of Disneyland, including the iconic It’s a Small World ride.

Pat McCormick (1930–2023), Olympic gold medal-winning diver

Four-time Olympic gold-winning diver Pat McCormick was so dominant, she won two medals in the 1956 games just five months after giving birth to her son, Tim. She was among the most dominant competitors in her field, winning 26 titles in an 11-year span, including two undefeated seasons. When not competing, she pursued adventure where she could, including mountain climbing, traveling the Amazon, and piloting planes.

Bert I. Gordon (1922–2023), director of The Amazing Colossal Man

Bert I. Gordon was a director of drive-in B movie classics of the 1950s through 1970s, including “The Amazing Colossal Man.”

Ed Fury (1928–2023), bodybuilder and Ursus actor

Ed Fury was a bodybuilder who starred in sword-and-sandal films of the 1960s including the “Ursus” trilogy.

Jean Faut (1925–2023), AAGPBL pitcher with two perfect games

Jean Faut was a star pitcher with the South Bend Blue Sox of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).

Charlie Thomas (1937–2023), tenor singer with the Drifters

Charlie Thomas was a tenor singer with the Drifters, known for doo-wop hits including “Under the Boardwalk” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.”

Johnny Powers (1938–2023), early rock and roller

Johnny Powers was an early Detroit rock and roll musician known for songs including “Long Blond Hair.”

Dick Savitt (1927–2023), tennis Hall of Famer

Dick Savitt was a Hall of Fame tennis player and one of only four U.S. men to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in the same year.