Johnny Cash (1932–2003), legendary musician known as “The Man in Black"

His signature songs included "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues."

Edward Gorey, Comedian of the Macabre

Eccentric and influential, Edward Gorey wrote and illustrated more than 100 books.

John Callahan, Equal Opportunity Offender

Cartoonist, musician, author, quadriplegic, and Portland fixture John Callahan died July 24, 2010, at age 59.

Ansel Adams: Father of American Photography

Though he died more than 25 years ago, Ansel Adams’ name has been all over the news this week thanks to a lucky garage sale find.

Norman Wisdom, Chaplin’s Favorite Clown

Norman Wisdom was Britain’s biggest box office draw and an icon in, of all places, Albania. What made his brand of humour so popular?

Francois Truffaut, Cinema's Wild Child

Is the cinema more important than life? For Francois Truffaut, they were one and the same.

The Mysterious Death of Karen Silkwood

What happened to plutonium-plant worker turned union activist Karen Silkwood?

Clark Gable By the Numbers

We look back at the life and career of silver screen icon Clark Gable.

The Betty Friedan Mystique

Betty Friedan , author of the landmark The Feminine Mystique , died five years ago today on her 85th birthday. We took a look back at her life and the impact of her work.

Stella Adler: The Method Woman

Despite appearing in only a handful of films, Stella Adler – born on this day in 1901 – became one of the biggest influences on American acting in the 20th century...

Edgar Bergen and His Famous Dummy

Edgar Bergen enjoyed a five-decade career in radio, television and film. Of course, he had a little help from his friend Charlie McCarthy.

Elizabeth Taylor's Style: Enough is Never Enough

Elizabeth Taylor has been renowned for her beauty and style since her earliest days as a starlet. As we mourn her death at the age of 79, we look back at a few of her most notable looks.

The Stan Getz Sound

The life and career of the tenor saxophonist known in jazz circles as "The Sound."

The Many Faces of Babe Ruth

Today in 1948 Babe Ruth gave his final farewell at Yankee Stadium. But he never really said goodbye, his likeness a constant feature on screens big and small since he put down his bat...

Leslie Nielsen, Straight Man

When Leslie Nielsen died Nov. 28, 2010, his death had many reflecting on his legacy of laughter. Today we're taking a look at his often overlooked career as a dramatic actor.

George Harrison’s Musical Legacy

George Harrison died 10 years ago today, but his music still plays a part in the soundtrack of our lives.

The Dramatic Life of Lana Turner

Drama wasn't just Lana Turner's job. It was an integral part of her personal life as well.

James Dean Endures

James Dean starred in just three major movies, more than half a century ago. But he remains one of American culture’s most enduring icons.

Ernest Tubb: The Texas Troubadour

It's somehow fitting that one of the most influential musicians in the history of country music, managed to outlive the city from which he hailed.

Glamorous Eva Gabor

When people think ofEva Gabor, there's one memorable role that probably comes to mind. Get ready for an earworm that's going to stay with you all day.

Peter Allen, Soft-Rock Superman

Twenty years after his death, Peter Allen may not be a household name. But his songs are instantly recognizable to generations of music fans and moviegoers...

Sherman Hemsley: Movin' On Up

When learning of Sherman Hemsley's death yesterday, many fans mourned for the loss of George Jefferson, Hemsley's on-screen alter ego, almost as much as they did for Hemsley himself...

Lee Marvin's Best

Depending on the movie, Lee Marvin was a cowboy, a criminal, a soldier, or a cop. But above all else, he was a star.

Goodnight, Diane Varsi

Twenty years after her death, we take a look back at the life and career of Diane Varsi, a rebel once touted as "the female Brando" before she walked away from stardom ...

Feisty Billie Bird

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

Terrific Tennessee Ernie Ford

The 1950s loved Tennessee Ernie Ford, and we love him, too.

The Incomparable Nina Simone

had a voice like no other. Her rich, low tenor was rare among women—we usually expect high and light tones from female singers—but Simone made her low range soar. And she was more than a singer: she was also a classically-trained pianist, using both skills in her marvelous recordings.

The First Lady of Star Trek

When Majel Barrett-Roddenberry died, a piece of "Star Trek" went with her...

George Harrison’s Best Beatles Songs

Though John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the vast majority of Beatles’ tunes, George Harrison proved his compositional chops whenever he had the chance. On his birthday, we look back on his some of his best-loved Beatles songs.

Harvey Korman Cracks Us Up

If you loved "The Carol Burnett Show" – and lots of us did – then you probably loved Harvey Korman, too.

Lon Chaney Jr.: A Monster of a Star

Werewolves and vampires and zombies have enjoyed top billing on the silver screen in recent years. But if anyone thinks that today’s sparkly vamps and rabies-infected undead are the start of a trend, they’re dead wrong. Movie monsters have been around for just about as long as movies have, and one of the greatest monster actors of them all died 40 years ago today. He was Lon Chaney Jr. , and you might say he was born to be a monster.

Davey Allison, NASCAR Legend

NASCAR driver Davey Allison was the proud new owner of a Hughes helicopter when, just a foot from landing at his beloved "home track" of Talladega Speedway, the craft nosed up and crashed. Allison, rising star of the legendary Alabama racing family, was skilled at controlling cars capable of going more than 200 miles an hour, but he lost control of the copter at a crucial moment and he died the next day of his injuries.

Robert Young Knew Best

Although his movie career began in the early 1930s and lasted more than two decades, Robert Young wouldn't start raking in the awards until he made the move to television. It was on the small screen, as an iconic dad and, later, as a kindly doctor, that Young truly made his mark. On the , we're remembering the two TV shows that brought him his greatest fame.

Dancing With Gregory Hines

If ever there was a performer who could do it all, it was Gregory Hines…

Rick James: 5 Fun Facts

Singer Rick James died 10 years ago Aug. 6, but the song that he's known best for may never fade. "Super Freak," released in 1981, was the biggest hit of James' career.

Don Pardo: Voice of Saturday Night

Prolific television announcer Don Pardo was the voice of "Saturday Night Live" for nearly four decades.

Jack Benny's Greatest Routines

Legendary comedian Jack Benny, who died Dec. 26, 1974, at age 80 of pancreatic cancer, enjoyed a stunning 50-year career, transitioning from vaudeville to radio to film and television – and shining in each medium.

Remembering College Basketball Legend Dean Smith

Legendary college basketball coach Dean Smith led North Carolina to two NCAA championships.

Miep Gies, Hero of the Holocaust

For decades, schoolchildren the world over have learned about Anne Frank. The teenager who hid with her family from the Nazis, in an attempt to escape the concentration camps where she later died, has become a household name. From time to time, Frank's writing turned to the scant six visitors her family sometimes received in the annex. As we grow up, we learn less about them than we do about the Frank family, but they're as deserving of international fame as Frank was, because they were the brave friends who worked to keep the Franks hidden. Their names were Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman, Bep Voskuijl, Johannes Hendrik Voskuijl, Jan Gies and Miep Gies.

Brandon Lee: A Life Cut Short

Onthe anniversary of his death March 31, 1993, we're remembering thetragically short life and career of Brandon Lee .

Diane Charlemagne (1964 - 2015), Urban Cookie Collective singer

Legendary English vocalist Diane Charlemagne, who was featured on Goldie's 1994 hit "Inner City Life," has died of cancer, according to The Guardian. She was 51.

John Trudell (1946 - 2015), Native American activist

John Trudell, American Indian activist, poet and actor, has died of cancer, according to The Associated Press. He was 69.

John Bradbury (1953 - 2015), drummer for the Specials

John "Brad" Bradbury, the multi-instrumentalist drummer for the British ska revival group The Specials, has died. He was 62.

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.

Natalie Cole (1950–2015), award-winning singer and daughter of Nat “King” Cole

Editor's note: Natalie Cole's date of death was later clarified to have been December 31, 2015.

Otis Clay (1942 - 2016), Blues Hall of Famer

Otis Clay, a soul singer and member of the Blues Hall of Fame, has died of a heart attack, according to The Associated Press. He was 73.

Alan Rickman (1946 - 2016), Die Hard, Harry Potter star

Alan Rickman, a British actor who played bad-guy and other film roles to perfection, has died. He was 69. He died Thursday, Jan. 14. The death was announced by the actor’s family, noting that he died of cancer.

Abe Vigoda (1921 - 2016), Barney Miller star

Character actor Abe Vigoda died Tuesday. He was 94.

David Foster Wallace: The Essential Suggestions

Getting into Wallace may seem daunting to a first-timer, but our primer of a few particularly great works is a good starting point.