Born January 22

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”).

Piper Laurie (1932–2023), Carrie, Twin Peaks actress

Piper Laurie was an Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress known for her work in “Carrie,” “Twin Peaks,” “The Hustler,” and “Children of a Lesser God.” 

Charles White (1958–2023), 1979 Heisman Trophy winner

Charles White was a football player who won the 1979 Heisman Trophy while playing for the University of Southern California and went on to an NFL career.

Michael Kopsa (1956–2022), “Fringe” actor and anime voice artist

Michael Kopsa was an actor in TV shows including “Fringe,” “Stargate SG-1,” and “Mobile Suit Gundam.”

Ted White (1925–2022), stuntman and Jason Voorhees actor

Ted White was a stuntman and actor who played Jason Voorhees in “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.”

Lennie Rosenbluth (1933–2022), University of North Carolina basketball legend 

Lennie Rosenbluth was a legendary University of North Carolina basketball player who led the team to their first NCAA championship with a win over Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain.  

Mike Bossy (1957–2022), Hockey Hall of Famer with the Islanders

Mike Bossy was an NHL star who played for the New York Islanders in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Bill Emerson (1938–2021), legendary bluegrass banjo player

Bill Emerson was a Bluegrass Hall of Fame banjo player who was a founding member of The Country Gentlemen.

Sonny Chiba (1939–2021), “Kill Bill” star and martial arts legend

Sonny Chiba was a Japanese martial artist and actor known for roles in the “Kill Bill” series and “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.”

Seymour Schwartz (1928–2020), founding editor of definitive surgery textbook

Seymour Schwartz was the founding editor of an influential and essential medical textbook, “Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery.”

Carlton Haselrig (1966–2020), former Steelers Pro Bowler

Carlton Haselrig was a former pro bowl guard for the who is the only wrestler ever to win six national championships.0

Daniel Johnston (1961–2019), influential quirky singer-songwriter

Kurt Cobain and Sonic Youth were fans of his music.

Seymour Cassel (1935–2019), recognizable character actor

A favorite of directors John Cassavetes and Wes Anderson.

Birch Bayh (1928–2019), “the father of Title IX”

Former Indiana senator was the author of the equal rights amendment.

John Hurt (1940 - 2017), Oscar nominee for The Elephant Man

John Hurt, the acclaimed English character actor who starred in “The Elephant Man,” died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 77.

Joe Esposito (1938 - 2016), Elvis Presley's close friend and road manager

Elvis Presley's close friend and road manager Joe Esposito has died, according to The Associated Press. He was 78.

The Best of Bill Bixby

With starring roles in three popular series, and a key behind-the-scenes role in another, Bill Bixby helped define television in four different decades.

The Incredible Bill Bixby

Actor Bill Bixby helped define television for four decades. He also bore numerous personal hardships with grace and dignity.

Malcolm McLaren’s Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle

Malcolm McLaren – performer, manager, self-promoter – was one of the driving forces behind the popularization of the UK punk scene. On the anniversary of his death, we explore the ways he influenced three seminal punk and post-punk acts… for better and for worse.

Sam Cooke, King of Soul

On his birthday, we look back at the life of the man called the King of Soul.