Gerald M. Levin (1939–2024), exec who made Time Warner a powerhouse

Gerald M. Levin was a corporate executive who helped create the Time Warner powerhouse by guiding the merger between Time Inc., and Warner Media before leading the disastrous merger between Time Warner and AOL. 

Ralph Boston (1939–2023), record-breaking Olympic gold medalist 

Ralph Boston was a long jumper who won Olympic gold in 1960 and broke Jesse Owens’ longstanding record.

Freddie Roulette (1939–2022), blues lap steel guitarist

Freddie Roulette was a blues musician known for his unusual use of the Hawaiian lap steel guitar.

Al Unser Sr. (1939–2021), four-time Indy 500 winner

Al Unser Sr. was a racing driver who became one of only four people to win the Indianapolis 500 four times.

Gary Paulsen (1939–2021), young adult author of “Hatchet”

Gary Paulsen was an author of books for young adults including the wilderness survival classic “Hatchet.”

Denny O’Neil (1939–2020), Batman & Green Arrow writer, godfather of Optimus Prime

Dennis J. “Denny” O’Neil was the fan-favorite comic book writer who revitalized Batman and Green Arrow in the 1970s, and who named the Transformers franchise’s robot hero “Optimus Prime.”

Wayne Cochran (1939 – 2017), known as the “White Knight of Soul”

Pearl Jam had a hit song with a cover of Cochran’s “Last Kiss”…

Howard Bingham (1939–2016), Muhammad Ali's personal photographer

Howard Bingham, a longtime personal photographer and friend of Muhammad Ali, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, according to The Associated Press. He was 77.

Dixie Carter vs. Julia Sugarbaker

Dixie Carter played many roles in her acting career, from doctors to lawyers to divas, but she is best known for playing Julia Sugarbaker on TV's "Designing Women." We look at the way she breathed life into television's favorite – and most opinionated – interior designer.