Born 1948

Eddie Jordan (1948–2025), Formula One team owner

Eddie Jordan was a businessman who founded Jordan Grand Prix, which helped launch seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher’s career, and a television commentator for the BBC.

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.

James Houghton (1948–2024), Knots Landing star

James Houghton was an actor and screenwriter known for his onscreen work on “Knots Landing” and “The Colbys,” as well as his writing for “The Young and the Restless.” 

Mike Lange (1948–2025), longtime Pittsburgh Penguins broadcaster

Mike Lange was a sports broadcaster best known for his 46-year career with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sal Maida (1948–2025), Roxy Music bassist

Sal Maida was a bassist who lent his talents to a wide array of cutting-edge bands, including Roxy Music, Cracker, Milk ’N’ Cookies, The Runaways, Sparks, and other acts.

Richard “Black Bart” Harris, (1948–2025), former WWF and WCW wrestler

Richard “Black Bart” Harris was a 30-year veteran of the professional wrestling scene, performing from the ‘70s to the 2000s, competing in the WWF and WCW, and once spending time as the NWA National Heavyweight champion.

Dayle Haddon (1948–2024), L'Oréal spokeswoman and actress

Dayle Haddon was a Canadian model-actress best known as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model and longtime L'Oréal spokeswoman.

Richard Parsons (1948–2024), head of Citigroup, Time Warner

Richard Parsons was a business executive who rose to lead some of the largest organizations in the world, including having tenures at the top of Time Warner and Citigroup.

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.

John Ashton (1948–2024), Beverly Hills Cop actor

John Ashton was an actor best known for his work in “Some Kind of Wonderful” and the “Beverly Hills Cop” movies.

Elias Khoury (1948–2024), Lebanese novelist and activist

Elias Khoury was an award-winning novelist, author of “Gates of the Sun,” and activist from Lebanon best known as an advocate for the Palestinian cause.

Screamin’ Scott Simon (1948–2024), Sha Na Na pianist

Screamin’ Scott Simon was a pianist best known for his decades of work with the popular doo-wop revival group Sha Na Na, with whom he performed from 1970 to 2022.

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. 

Ina Jaffe (1948–2024), longtime NPR correspondent

Ina Jaffe was a journalist and radio personality who, for 36 years as an investigative correspondent, had been one of NPR’s most recognizable and reliable voices.

Richard Simmons (1948–2024), physical fitness superstar

Richard Simmons was a TV physical fitness instructor who led the 1980s trend of aerobics classes with such popular exercise videos as “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.”

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.

Bruce Bastian (1948–2024), cofounder of WordPerfect

Bruce Bastian was a tech entrepreneur who co-founded the WordPerfect software company in the early days of home computing. He went on to become a prominent Utah philanthropist and a supporter of the LGBT community.

Howard Fineman (1948–2024), noted political journalist and commentator

Howard Fineman was a political journalist and television commentator who became a mainstay at Newsweek and NBC, covering nine presidential elections over the course of his career.

Dennis Thompson (1948–2024), last surviving member of MC5

Dennis Thompson was the drummer for the groundbreaking Detroit-based rock group MC5, which helped set the stage for punk, and was its last surviving member.

Peter Oosterhuis (1948–2024), PGA golfer and broadcaster 

Peter Oosterhuis was a PGA golfer who won the 1981 Canadian Open and went on to greater fame as a golf analyst for CBS Sports.

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.

Meg Bennett (1948–2024), The Young and the Restless actress and writer 

Meg Bennett was an actress and screenwriter on such soap operas as “The Young and the Restless,” “General Hospital,” and “Santa Barbara.” 

Mike Kolen (1948–2024), two-time Super Bowl champ with Miami 

Mike “Captain Crunch” Kolen was a linebacker with the Miami Dolphins who won two Super Bowls with the team, including during their “perfect” 1972-73 season.

Cass Warner (1948–2024), granddaughter of Warner Bros. co-founder 

Cass Warner was a filmmaker, author, the granddaughter of Warner Bros. co-founder Harry Warner, and mother of actor Cole Hauser.

Brian Stableford (1948–2024), prolific science fiction author

Brian Stableford was a prolific, award-winning science fiction author and translator whose work, such as “The Empire of Fear” and “Cradle of the Sun,” also ventured into horror and fantasy.

Richard Caster (1948–2024), three-time Pro Bowl NY Jets receiver 

Richard Caster was a 13-year NFL veteran who went to three Pro Bowls as a New York Jet.

Wayne Kramer (1948–2024), MC5 guitarist and co-founder 

Wayne Kramer was a guitarist and one of the co-founders of MC5, a loud, politically charged rock band out of Detroit that is credited as a major precursor to what would become punk.

Carl Weathers (1948–2024), Rocky’s Apollo Creed

Carl Weathers was an actor best known for co-starring in the “Rocky” film series as boxer Apollo Creed.

Mary Weiss (1948–2024), Leader of the Pack singer 

Mary Weiss was the lead singer of the 1960s teen girl group the Shangri-Las, who had hits with “Remember (Walking in the Sand),” “Give Him a Great Big Kiss,” and their enduring No. 1 hit, “Leader of the Pack.” 

Conrad Palmisano (1948–2024), Rambo: First Blood stunt coordinator 

Conrad Palmisano was a stunt performer and coordinator on such movies as “Rambo: First Blood,” “Weekend at Bernie’s,” the sequels to “Rush Hour,” and many more.

Tom Wilkinson (1948–2023), The Full Monty star

Tom Wilkinson was an English actor whose performances in “Michael Clayton” and “In the Bedroom” earned him two Academy Award nominations and who is arguably best known for his work in “The Full Monty” and “Shakespeare in Love.”

Essra Mohawk (1948–2023), Schoolhouse Rock! singer-songwriter

Essra Mohawk was a singer-songwriter who penned hits for Cyndi Lauper and Tina Turner, worked with Frank Zappa, and sang for “Schoolhouse Rock!” and “Sesame Street.” 

John Gosling (1948–2023), keyboardist for the Kinks

John Gosling was a keyboardist with the British rock group the Kinks throughout the 1970s, and hec2would later form the spinoff band the Kast Off Kinks.c2

Dr. Susan Love (1948–2023), influential breast cancer researcher 

Dr. Susan Love, an American surgeon who challenged paternalism in the medical establishment, changed the way breast cancer is researched and treated.

Brian Shul (1948–2023), celebrated aviator and SR-71 pilot 

Brian Shul was a Vietnam-era attack pilot who barely survived being shot down, only to come back as a celebrated SR-71 pilot before becoming an acclaimed public speaker and photographer. 

Leon Ichaso (1948–2023), Cuban-born filmmaker known for urban realism 

Leon Ichaso was a Cuban-born filmmaker whose gritty, realistic portraits of urban living explored life as a Latino in North America.

Gloria Molina (1948–2023), trailblazing California politician

Gloria Molina was the first Latina elected to the California State Assembly, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the Los Angeles City Council.

Gerry Hart (1948–2023), NHL player for Islanders, Red Wings

Gerry Hart was a Canadian hockey defenseman with NHL teams including the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders. 

John Brockington (1948–2023), Green Bay running back 

John Brockington was an All-Pro running back for the Green Bay Packers. In 1971, he broke the NFL rookie rushing record when he ran for 1,105 yards, and then became the first NFL player to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. He tallied 5,024 yards for the Packers in all, making him one of the team’s all-time running backs, and earning him a place in the Packers Hall of Fame. 

Anita Pointer (1948–2022), founding member of the Pointer Sisters

Anita Pointer was a founding member of the Pointer Sisters, known for hits including “Slow Hand” and “Jump (For My Love).”

Aline Kominsky-Crumb (1948–2022), pioneer of women’s underground comics

Aline Kominsky-Crumb was a comics artist and a leader of the movement of women writing and drawing underground comics.

Olivia Newton-John (1948–2022), “Grease” star and chart-topping singer

Olivia Newton-John was a singer and actress known for a country-turned-pop musical career and for roles in movies including “Grease.”

Rebecca Balding (1948–2022), actress in “Soap,” “Charmed”

Rebecca Balding was an actress known for her recurring roles as Carol David on “Soap” and Elise Rothman on “Charmed.”

Gregory Itzin (1948–2022), actor played President Logan on “24”

Gregory Itzin was a longtime character actor probably best known for his role as the evil President Logan on the TV series “24.”

Ricky Gardiner (1948–2022), David Bowie and Iggy Pop guitarist 

Ricky Gardiner was a guitarist who played on the David Bowie album “Low” and the Iggy Pop album “Lust for Life.”

Bob Lanier (1948–2022), NBA great with Pistons and Bucks

Bob Lanier was a Basketball Hall of Famer who played center for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Chris Madden (1948–2022), JCPenney designer and lifestyle guru

Chris Madden was an author and designer whose home furnishings were featured in collections at JCPenney and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Ken Burrough (1948–2022), former Oilers star receiver

Ken Burrough was a star wide receiver for the Houston Oilers who has the second most touchdown catches in the team’s history.

Bob Beckel (1948–2022), former Fox News host

Bob Beckel was a TV news pundit best known as the former co-host and liberal voice of the Fox News panel talk show “The Five.”