Born July 3

Rodney Jenkins (1944–2024), acclaimed horse jumper

Rodney Jenkins was one of the most celebrated equestrians of his time, a Hall of Fame show horse jumper who later had a successful career as a racehorse trainer.

Lance Larson (1940–2024), Olympic champ and record-holding swimmer

Lance Larson was an Olympic champion swimmer who was ultimately awarded a silver medal instead of gold in what is considered one of the most controversial calls in modern swimming history.

Ted Bell (1946–2023), author of Alex Hawke spy novels

Ted Bell was a novelist best known for his best-selling Alex Hawke series.

Jerry Blavat (1940–2023), legendary rock and roll DJ

Jerry Blavat was a Philadelphia DJ who became iconic as a radio and TV fixture for decades.

Judith Durham (1943–2022), former lead vocalist of The Seekers 

Judith Durham was the former lead vocalist for the Australian folk-pop group The Seekers, known for their hit song “Georgy Girl.”   

Mickey Rooney Jr. (1945–2022), actor, musician, and Mickey Rooney’s son

Mickey Rooney Jr. was an actor and musician as well as the son of actor .

Elfrida von Nardroff (1925–2021), discredited winner in 1950s TV quiz show scandal

Elfrida von Nardroff  was a big winner on the fixed 1950s TV quiz show "Twenty-One."

Rabbi Earl A. Grollman (1925–2021), prominent grief expert

Rabbi Earl A. Grollman was a grief expert who appeared on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and counseled grieving Americans after the Oklahoma City bombing and the .

Dr. Lonnie Smith (1942–2021), Hammond organ virtuoso and jazz master

Dr. Lonnie Smith was a Hammond organist known for his jazz and soul jazz music.

José Baselga (1959–2021), oncologist who revolutionized breast cancer treatment

Jos é Baselga was a Spanish oncologist who developed highly effective new drugs for treating breast cancer.

Matt Keough (1955–2020), former Oakland A’s pitcher

Matt Keough was a pitcher for the Oakland A’s who won the American League Comeback Player of the Year award in 1980.

Paul Barrere (1948–2019), Little Feat guitarist

Paul Barrere played with the eclectic boogie rock band Little Feat for almost 50 years.

Tim O’Connor (1927 – 2018), “Peyton Place” and “Buck Rogers” actor

Tim O’Connor, longtime character actor who co-starred in “Peyton Place” and “Buck Rogers,” died Thursday, April 5, 2018, at his home in Nevada City, Calif., according to multiple news sources. He was 90.

Barry Crimmins (1953 – 2018), influential comedian and activist

Helped launch the careers of Denis Leary and Steven Wright…

John Kundla (1916 - 2017), NBA Hall of Famer

Former Lakers head coach was an NBA Hall of Famer...

Elizabeth Edwards: A Legacy of Caring

Elizabeth Edwards, who lost her long and public fight against breast cancer Dec. 7, 2010, didn't seek the spotlight. Instead, it found her when her husband, John, decided to run for political office. She embraced her role, becoming her husband's closest adviser during his stint in the U.S. Senate, when he was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2004, and as he sought his party's presidential nod in 2008.

Pete Fountain (1930 - 2016), Dixieland jazz clarinetist

Pete Fountain, the virtuoso Dixieland jazz clarinetist, died Aug. 6, 2016, of heart failure, according to multiple news sources. He was 86.

The Voice of Dorothy Kilgallen

Dorothy Kilgallen was one of the most outspoken journalists of mid-20th-century America.

Calling Laura Branigan

Laura Branigan's biggest hits occupied a slightly awkward musical moment between the end of disco and the rise of New Wave in America