Feisty Billie Bird

As with many a character actor, Billie Bird's name might not be familiar at first glance...

Frank Malzone (1930 - 2015), Red Sox third baseman

The Boston Red Sox's all-time leader among third basemen with homers and RBIs has died at 85.

Martin Olav Sabo (1938 - 2016), longtime Minnesota congressman

Martin Olav Sabo, longtime Minnesota congressman, died March 13, 2016 at a Minneapolis hospital according to The Associated Press. He was 78.

Chris Kraft (1924–2019), NASA’s visionary first flight director

Chris Kraft was NASA’s visionary first flight director, who guided astronauts as they orbited Earth and landed on the Moon.

Hayden Fry (1929–2019), longtime University of Iowa football coach

Hayden Fry was the beloved football coach at the University of Iowa for 20 seasons, from 1979 to 1998.

Mark Pavelich (1958–2021), “Miracle on Ice” star

Mark Pavelich was an NHL player who was a star of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, who beat the Soviet Union in an upset known as the “Miracle on Ice.”

Gavin MacLeod (1931–2021), starred as Captain Stubing on “The Love Boat”

Gavin MacLeod was an actor known for his roles on TV shows including “The Love Boat,” “McHale’s Navy,” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Frank Bonner (1942–2021), “WKRP in Cincinnati” star

Frank Bonner was an actor best known for starring as sales manager Herb Tarlek in the hit 1970s and ‘80s sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati.”

Angela Bailey (1962–2021), record-holding Olympic sprinter

Angela Bailey was a Canadian sprinter who won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics.

Sally Schmitt (1932–2022), chef who co-founded Napa Valley’s French Laundry

Sally Schmitt was a chef who co-founded the Napa Valley restaurant French Laundry and pioneered California cuisine.

Gilbert Gottfried (1955–2022), iconic comedian and “Aladdin” parrot voice

Gilbert Gottfried was a comedian and actor known for his comically screechy persona and for voice roles including Iago the parrot in Disney’s “Aladdin” and the Aflac Duck.

David Harris (1946–2023), Vietnam War draft resistance activist

David Harris was an activist and journalist who led the movement against the Vietnam War draft.

Theodor O. Diener (1921–2023), scientist who discovered viroids

Theodor O. Diener was a scientist who discovered the tiny infectious disease agents now known as viroids.

Richard Romanus (1943–2023), Mean Streets actor

Richard Romanus was an actor best known for his prominent role in Martin Scorsese’s critical breakthrough, “Mean Streets,” and for playing Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s husband in “The Sopranos.” 

Angela McCluskey (1960–2024), frontwoman of Wild Colonials

Angela McCluskey was a singer and musician best known as the frontwoman of the ‘90s group Wild Colonials, and who collaborated with such artists as Morgan Page, Télépopmusik, , and Kendrick Lamar.0

Alex Janvier (1935–2024), one of Canada’s most renowned artists

Alex Janvier was a First Nations Canadian painter whose merging of Indigenous influences and modern art made him one of Canada’s most prized artists.

Leonard Riggio (1941–2024), turned Barnes & Noble into a giant

Leonard Riggio was a businessman who, starting in 1971, expanded Barnes & Noble from a single Manhattan store into a nationwide book giant. 

Alice Brock (1941–2024), the real Alice of Alice’s Restaurant

Alice Brock was a restaurant owner immortalized in Arlo Guthrie’s epic classic song, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” better known as “Alice’s Restaurant.”