Joseph Wambaugh (1937–2025), author who explored police work 

Joseph Wambaugh was an award-winning writer and author whose work explored the harsh realities of police and detective work, both as fiction (“The Glitter Dome,” “The New Centurions”) and in non-fiction (“The Onion Field,” “The Blooding”).

Boris Spassky (1937–2025), Russian chess grandmaster 

Boris Spassky was a Russian chess grandmaster and world champion who famously lost to Bobby Fischer in the so-called “Match of the Century” in 1972.

Gene Hackman (1930–2025), Oscar-winning star of The French Connection

Gene Hackman was an Oscar-winning actor and novelist who starred in films including “The French Connection,” “Mississippi Burning,” and “Unforgiven.”

Robert John (1946–2025), Sad Eyes singer

Robert John was a singer and songwriter best known for his 1979 hit, “Sad Eyes,” and his version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” from 1971.

Clint Hill (1932–2025), Secret Service agent at JFK assassination 

Clint Hill was a Secret Service agent under five presidents, best known for jumping onto the presidential car to protect the first lady after President John F. Kennedy was fatally shot in 1963.

Jacqueline van Maarsen (1929–2025), Anne Frank’s best friend

Jacqueline van Maarsen was a Holocaust survivor best known as Anne Frank’s best friend.

Jerome Drayton (1945–2025), Boston Marathon winner

Jerome Drayton was one of the top long-distance runners of the 1970s and the last Canadian man to win the Boston Marathon. 

John Cernuto (1944–2025), poker legend

John Cernuto was a longtime poker pro who won three World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Series of Poker Circuit rings over the years.

Virginia Halas McCaskey (1923–2025), Chicago Bears owner 

Virginia Halas McCaskey was the longtime owner of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, heading the team since inheriting it from her father in 1983.

Gary Mage (1946–2025), Hall of Fame bowler

Gary Mage was a Hall of Fame bowler who excelled in the 1960s and ‘70s, then went on to form the PBA Northwest Region, which he oversaw until 2020. 

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (1940–2025), Native American artist

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith was a Native American artist, activist, and curator who used her work to explore Native American identity and the United States’ history of oppressing indigenous people.

Jules Feiffer (1929–2025), satirical cartoonist

Jules Feiffer was a cartoonist and writer whose satirical wit earned him a Pulitzer Prize in 1986 and made him one of the most influential cartoonists of the 20th century. 

David Lynch (1946–2025), creator of Twin Peaks

David Lynch was an acclaimed surrealist director best known for challenging works like “Eraserhead,” “Mulholland Drive,” and “Blue Velvet,” as well as the cult hit television show “Twin Peaks.” 

Bob Uecker (1934–2025), Milwaukee Brewers broadcasting legend

Bob Uecker was a former major league baseball catcher who became the longtime broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers, as well as a comedic actor known for “Mr. Belvedere” and “Major League.”

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.

Osamu Suzuki (1930–2024), chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation

Osamu Suzuki was the longtime head of Suzuki Motor Corp., serving at various times as its CEO, chairman, and president until his retirement in 2021, and helping turn the company from a small Japanese manufacturer into a global giant. 

Geoffrey Deuel (1943–2024), Chisum co-star

Geoffrey Deuel was an actor best known for his roles in the John Wayne movie “Chisum” and the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.”

ígnes Keleti (1921–2025), oldest living Olympic champion

Ágnes Keleti was a Holocaust survivor and the oldest living Olympic champion, having won five gold medals in gymnastics in the 1950s.

Jimmy Wilkerson (1981–2024), former Chiefs defensive end

Jimmy Wilkerson was a defensive lineman for such NFL teams as the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the New Orleans Saints.

Diane Delano (1957–2024), Northern Exposure actress

Diane Delano was a veteran actress best known for her roles as Barbara Semanski, the Alaskan state trooper on the quirky “Northern Exposure,” and science teacher Bobbi Glass on the teen drama “Popular.” 

The Amazing Kreskin (1935–2024), 1970s TV mentalist

The Amazing Kreskin was a mentalist who became a TV star of the 1970s with his many appearances on “The Tonight Show” and other talk shows.

Lou Carnesecca (1925–2024), legendary St. John’s basketball coach

Lou Carnesecca was the longtime basketball coach for St. John’s University in New York City, reaching the postseason in all of his 24 seasons and racking up 526 career wins.

Don Bosseler (1936–2024), College Football Hall of Famer

Don Bosseler was a fullback for the Washington Redskins in the 1950s and ‘60s after an All-American college career at the University of Miami.

Jack Jones (1938–2024), The Love Boat theme singer

Jack Jones was a singer and actor best known for such songs as “Wives and Lovers” and the theme song to the TV show “The Love Boat.” 

Nicholas Pryor (1935–2024), Beverly Hills, 90210 actor

Nicholas Pryor was an actor with over 170 credits to his name, best known for long stints on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and the “General Hospital” spinoff, “Port Charles,” as well as for playing Tom Cruise’s father in “Risky Business.” 

Pat Fischer (1940–2024), NFL cornerback

Pat Fischer was a cornerback for the St. Louis Cardinals and then-Washington Redskins, known as “Mouse” for his unusually small size.

Ron Hale (1946–2024), longtime Ryan’s Hope, General Hospital actor

Ron Hale was an Emmy-nominated actor best known for his long tenure on the daytime soaps “Ryan’s Hope” and “General Hospital.” 

Ken Page (1954–2024), voice of Oogie Boogie

Ken Page was a cabaret singer and Broadway star known for playing Old Deuteronomy in “Cats,” as well as for his work in “Ain't Misbehavin'” and “The Wiz” and for voicing Oogie Boogie in the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Benny Golson (1929–2024), jazz saxophonist and composer

Benny Golson was a tenor saxophonist and composer whose work helped define the sound of hard bop and whose compositions have since become standards in the world of jazz.

Eugene “Mercury” Morris (1947–2024), two-time Super Bowl winner

Eugene “Mercury” Morris was a running back with the Miami Dolphins, winning two Super Bowls with the team in the 1970s and earning three Pro Bowl selections. 

Michaela DePrince (1995–2024), ballerina who danced with Beyonce

Michaela DePrince was a ballerina who rose from a war-torn childhood to become a rising international star of the dance world.

Joe Schmidt (1932–2024), legendary Detroit Lions middle linebacker

Joe Schmidt was an NFL linebacker and coach for the Detroit Lions whose storied career led him to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Caterina Valente (1931–2024), popular French-Italian singer

Caterina Valente was a French-Italian singer and musician who sang in 11 different languages and performed with icons like Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald.

James Earl Jones (1931–2024), the voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa

James Earl Jones was the acclaimed actor whose deep, rich voice was featured as Darth Vader in several “Star Wars” films and as Mufasa in “The Lion King.”

Bill Pascrell Jr. (1937–2024), longtime New Jersey congressman

Bill Pascrell Jr. was a former mayor of Paterson, New Jersey and longstanding New Jersey congressman, serving over 25 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lewis H. Lapham (1935–2024), longtime editor of Harper's Magazine

Lewis H. Lapham was a writer and editor best known for his long tenure as editor of Harper's Magazine, as well as for his own publication, Lapham’s Quarterly.0

Esta TerBlanche (1973–2024), All My Children star

Esta TerBlanche was a South African actress best known for playing Gillian Andrassy on “All My Children.” 

Sheila Jackson Lee (1950–2024), 30-year congresswoman from Texas

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a 30-year congresswoman from Texas best known for her advocacy of progressive causes.

Cheng Pei-Pei (1946–2024), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon star

Cheng Pei-Pei was a Chinese-born actress and martial artist best known for her performances in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Come Drink with Me.” 

Pat Colbert (1947–2024), actress who played Dora Mae on Dallas

Pat Colbert was an actress best known for her performance on “Dallas” as Dora Mae, host of the Oil Baron’s Club.0

Judy Belushi-Pisano (1951–2024), actress and John Belushi’s widow

Judy Belushi-Pisano was an actress and the widow of comedian and actor , who worked to preserve her late husband’s legacy.

Rusty Golden (1959–2024), country and gospel singer and songwriter

Rusty Golden was a country and gospel singer-songwriter and also the son of The Oak Ridge Boys‘ William Lee Golden.

Lizzy Musi (1991–2024), star of Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings

Lizzy Musi was a professional race car driver and star of the reality series “Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings.” 

Ed Stone (1936–2024), scientist who led NASA’s Voyager mission

Ed Stone was a NASA scientist who led the agency’s pioneering Voyager missions and served as head of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for 10 years.

Lynn Conway (1938–2024), microchip pioneer and transgender activist

Lynn Conway was a microchip design pioneer and transgender activist who helped shape how modern semiconductors are made, literally writing the book on the topic.

Françoise Hardy (1944–2024), French ballad singer and actress

Françoise Hardy was a French singer, actress, and model whose penchant for thoughtful ballads made her a star of the 1960s.

Tom Bower (1938–2024), The Waltons, Die Hard 2 actor

Tom Bower was a character actor best known for his roles in “The Waltons” and “Die Hard 2.” 

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.

Jon Wysocki (1971–2024), original drummer for Staind

Jon Wysocki was the original drummer for the nu metal band Staind, playing on their first seven albums and on such hits as “It’s Been Awhile” and “So Far Away.”