1980s

Melody Beattie (1948–2025), Codependent No More author

Melody Beattie was an author best known for her self-help books, including “Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself,” which sold more than seven million copies.

Brian James (1955–2025), founding guitarist for the Damned

Brian James was the founding guitarist and a songwriter for the Damned, who went on to co-found the Lords of the New Church.

David Johansen (1950–2025), New York Dolls frontman

David Johansen was the frontman for the glammy proto-punk band the New York Dolls, who ended up being one of the most influential of the era, and also had a solo career under the name Buster Poindexter. 

Roberta Flack (1937–2025), Killing Me Softly with His Song singer

Roberta Flack was a singer who had No. 1 hits with “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love.”

Fay Vincent (1938–2025), former MLB commissioner

Fay Vincent was a former Major League Baseball commissioner who helped guide it through the 1989 earthquake, a 1993 expansion of the National League, and other key milestones in the sport.

John Erwin (1936–2024), voice of He-Man

John Erwin was an actor who voiced He-Man and Morris the Cat, among many other roles.

Barry Michael Cooper (2025), New Jack City writer

Barry Michael Cooper was a journalist, screenwriter and producer best known for his “Harlem trilogy” of films: “New Jack City,” “Sugar Hill,” and “Above the Rim.”

John Sykes (1959–2025), guitarist for Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake

John Sykes was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter known for his time in the hard rock bands Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake.

Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States

Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States of America, serving from 1977 to 1981.

Slim Dunlap (1951–2024), The Replacements guitarist

Slim Dunlap was a rock musician best known as the second guitarist for Minneapolis rock legends The Replacements, replacing founding member Bob Stinson and playing on the band’s final two albums.

Leah Kunkel (1948–2024), singer and sister of Cass Elliot

Leah Kunkel was a singer, songwriter, member of The Coyote Sisters, and the younger sibling of “Mama” Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas.

Chuck Woolery (1941–2024), Love Connection host

Chuck Woolery was a longtime game show host best known for “Love Connection” and as the original daytime host of “Wheel of Fortune.” 

Tyka Nelson (1960–2024), singer and sister of Prince

Tyka Nelson was a Minneapolis-based singer who had a Top 40 song in 1988, and the lone full sibling of music legend  

Rudy May (1944–2024), Angels, Yankees pitcher

Rudy May was a left-handed pitcher for such Major League Baseball teams as the California Angels and New York Yankees from the 1960s through ‘80s.0

Paul Di’Anno (1958–2024), former Iron Maiden vocalist

Paul Di’Anno was a rock singer-songwriter best known as an early frontman for the legendary band Iron Maiden, performing on their debut and “Killers” albums, as well as co-writing the latter’s title track.

Freddie Salem (1954–2024), former guitarist for Outlaws

Freddie Salem was a rock guitarist best known for his time with the Southern rock band Outlaws. 

Cat Glover (2024), Sign o' the Times dancer

Cat Glover was a singer, dancer and choreographer best known for her work with in the 1980s, most notably the “Sign o' the Times” concert film.

Frankie Beverly (1946–2024), R&B singer and founder of Maze

Frankie Beverly was the frontman for the soul/funk band Maze, known for hits like “Can’t Get Over You” and “Back in Stride.” 

Will Jennings (1944–2024), Oscar-winning My Heart Will Go On lyricist

Will Jennings was a lyricist who won Academy Awards for “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion and “Up Where We Belong” by and Jennifer Warnes.

Sergio Mendes (1941–2024), brought bossa nova to the U.S. charts

Sergio Mendes was a Brazilian musician best known for songs like “Mas Que Nada” and “The Look of Love,” which helped bring bossa nova and samba music to the U.S. charts.

Phil Donahue (1935–2024), TV talk show icon

Phil Donahue was a longtime talk-show host whose signature program all but created the template that daytime TV would follow for years to come.

Jack Russell (1960–2024), lead singer for Great White

Jack Russell was a rock singer and musician best known as the co-founder and frontman of Great White, who had a big hit with their cover of Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” 

Greg Kihn (1949–2024), Jeopardy singer and songwriter

Greg Kihn was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who led the Greg Kihn Band, known for such ‘80s power pop hits as “Jeopardy” and “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em).”

Kevin Sullivan (1948–2024), WCW wrestler known as the Taskmaster 

Kevin Sullivan was a pro wrestler with WCW and an early incarnation of WWE who went by such ring names as the Taskmaster and the Prince of Darkness. 

Martin Phillipps (1963–2024), of the New Zealand rock band the Chills

Martin Phillipps was a singer, songwriter and musician best known as the founder and leader of the New Zealand rock band the Chills.0

Evelyn Thomas (1953–2024), disco singer known for High Energy

Evelyn Thomas was a singer best known for her 1984 dance club hit, “High Energy.” 

Joe Bonsall (1948–2024), 50-year member of The Oak Ridge Boys

Joe Bonsall was a singer and author who spent 50 years with the country music vocal group The Oak Ridge Boys.

Renauld White (1944–2024), Guiding Light actor and pioneering model

Renauld White was a barrier-breaking model who also starred on “Guiding Light” in the 1980s as William Reynolds.

Sika Anoa’i (1945–2024), WWE Hall of Famer

Sika Anoa’i was a professional wrestler best known as half of the Wild Samoans tag team and the father of current WWE superstar Roman Reigns.

Jamie Kellner (1947–2024), TV exec who launched Fox and the WB

Jamie Kellner was a prominent television executive best known for helping launch Fox and the WB, and for overseeing networks like TBS, TNT, and CNN.

Angela Bofill (1954–2024), This Time I’ll Be Sweeter singer

Angela Bofill was a Cuban-Puerto Rican singer known for ‘80s hits like “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” “Too Tough,” “I’ll Try,” and “I’m On Your Side.”

Brother Marquis (1966–2024), rapper with 2 Live Crew

Mark Ross, aka Brother Marquis, was a mainstay of the Miami rap group 2 Live Crew, whose raunchy lyrics set the stage for anti-censorship battles in the 1980s and ‘90s.

Sam Butcher (1939–2024), Precious Moments founder and artist

Sam Butcher was an artist who founded Precious Moments and designed many of their Christian-themed collectible figurines.

Richard Tandy (1948–2024), longtime ELO keyboardist

Richard Tandy was the longtime Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist who voiced “Mr. Blue Sky” in their song of the same name.

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.” 

Zack Norman (1940–2024), Romancing the Stone actor 

Zack Norman was an actor, comedian, and producer who played an antiquities smuggler in “Romancing the Stone.” 

Terry Anderson (1947–2024), reporter held hostage in Lebanon

Terry Anderson was an Associated Press reporter who was held hostage in Lebanon by Islamic militants for nearly seven years from 1985 to 1991.

Keith LeBlanc (1954–2024), Grandmaster Flash, Nine Inch Nails drummer

Keith LeBlanc was a drummer whose work can be heard on early hip-hop records by The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, as well as on tracks by such artists as Nine Inch Nails and R.E.M.

Anthony “Baby Gap” Walker (1963–2024), member of the Gap Band 

Anthony “Baby Gap” Walker was a songwriter, rapper, dancer, and choreographer with the Gap Band.

Lichelle “Boss” Laws (1969–2024), pioneering female rapper 

Lichelle Laws was better known as Boss, a pioneering rapper and the first woman signed to Def Jam Records.

Karl Wallinger (1957–2024), World Party frontman 

Karl Wallinger was a Welsh musician and songwriter known for his work with World Party and the Waterboys.

Eric Carmen (1949–2024), singer of Hungry Eyes, All by Myself 

Eric Carmen was a singer and musician first known as the lead singer of the Raspberries before finding success as a solo artist with such big hits as “Hungry Eyes” and “All by Myself.” 

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.

U.L. Washington (1953–2024), Kansas City Royals shortstop

U.L. Washington was a shortstop with the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, and Pittsburgh Pirates, known for the ever-present toothpick in the corner of his mouth.

Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1925–2024), former president of Tanzania

Ali Hassan Mwinyi was the second president of Tanzania after the country’s 1961 independence from Great Britain, serving from 1985 to 1995.

Brian Mulroney (1939–2024), Canadian PM who improved ties with U.S. 

Brian Mulroney was a former Canadian prime minister who played an integral role in strengthening economic relations with the United States.

Virgil (1962–2024), WWE star

Virgil was a WWE star who also wrestled as Soul Train Jones and Victor. 

Ole Anderson (1942–2024), pro wrestler with Four Horsemen 

Ole Anderson was a pro wrestler who joined with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard to form the Four Horseman wrestling team.

Claude Montana (1947–2024), era-defining fashion designer

Claude Montana was a French fashion designer whose big-shouldered designs were formative to 1980s fashion.