M. S. Swaminathan (1925–2023), led India’s “green revolution”

Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan was an agricultural scientist, plant geneticist, and humanitarian whose work and leadership during India’s “green revolution” helped fight famine.

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.”  

Gangsta Boo (1979–2023), rapper in Three 6 Mafia

Gangsta Boo  was an influential rapper and a former member of the hip hop group Three 6 Mafia.

Art Laboe (1925–2022), legendary “Oldies but Goodies” DJ

Art Laboe was a legendary DJ known for coining the phrase “Oldies but Goodies,” and who was among the first to play Black and Latin music.  

John Billings (1923–2022), WWII spy pilot

John Billings was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II who flew Allied spies behind enemy lines for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

Edwin Edwards (1927–2021), four-term Louisiana governor

Edwin Edwards was the Democratic governor of Louisiana for four terms in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.

Johnny Solinger (1965–2021), singer for Skid Row

Johnny Solinger was the singer for the metal band Skid Row from 1999 to 2015.

B.J. Thomas (1942–2021), "Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head" singer

B.J. Thomas was a Grammy-winning pop country singer known for the hits "Hooked on a Feeling" and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head."

James Randi (1928–2020), stage magician who debunked the paranormal

James Randi was a popular stage magician known as the Amazing Randi, who worked to debunk claims of paranormal abilities.

Don Larsen (1929–2020), legendary Yankees pitcher

Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history. On October 8, 1956, he took the mound in game 5 of the World Series for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Larsen needed only 97 pitches to get every single Dodger out and lead the Yankees to a win in that game. They would go on to win the World Series over the Dodgers in 7 games. He was an unlikely pitcher to get a World Series perfect game, he lost more games than he won in his career and never won more than 11 games in a season but it all came together on that magical day. Larsen pitched for 8 different teams before retiring in 1967.

Kevin Barnett (2019), comedian, writer

Kevin Barnett was a standup comedian and co-creator of “Rel,” a sitcom starring Lil Rel Howery that debuted on Fox in September 2018. Barnett had also been a writer for Comedy Central's sitcom “Broad City” as well as cohost of the weekly podcast “The Roundtable of Gentlemen,” head writer for the sketch comedy show “Friends of the People,” and a cast member and writer on MTV2's “Guy Code.”

Nicholas Ray: A Stranger Here Myself

Nicholas Ray is one of America’s most influential filmmakers, but you’d be forgiven for never having heard of him.