Thelma Mothershed Wair (1940–2024), Little Rock Nine member

Thelma Mothershed Wair was the oldest of the Little Rock Nine, a group of Black students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957, prompting one of the most important civil rights clashes in American history. 

Mark James (1940–2024), songwriter of Hooked on a Feeling

Mark James was a songwriter who wrote a string of major hits performed by artists like Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson, including “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Suspicious Minds,” and “Always On My Mind.”

Roberto Cavalli (1940–2024), maximalist fashion designer

Roberto Cavalli was an Italian fashion designer known for his bold prints and inventive styles.

Dick Traum (1940–2024), champion of disabled athletes 

Dick Traum was a disabled athlete, entrepreneur, and advocate whose organization, Achilles International, pushed athletic events to provide wider access and resources to competitors with disabilities.

Ed Budde (1940–2023), Kansas City Chiefs icon

Ed Budde was a longtime guard for the Kansas City Chiefs who played in the first ever Super Bowl, was a multiple time All-Star and Pro Bowl pick, and whose son, Brad, was also a first round draftee with the Chiefs.

Terry Dischinger (1940–2023), Hall of Fame basketball player 

Terry Dischinger was a College Basketball Hall of Fame player, three-time NBA All Star, and Olympic gold medal winner who became a patent-holding orthodontist.

Ken Balcomb (1940–2022), scientist who worked to save orcas

Ken Balcomb was the founder of the Center for Whale Research, who worked to save wild orcas from extinction.

Manuel Ojeda (1940–2022), Mexican actor starred in “Romancing the Stone”

Manuel Ojeda was one of the most popular actors in Mexico who is known to U.S. audiences for his role as the villain Colonel Zolo in “Romancing the Stone.

Enoch Kelly Haney (1940–2022), renowned Native American artist

Enoch Kelly Haney was an internationally known Native American artist and former Seminole Nation chief.  

Arnie Kantrowitz (1940–2022), early LGBTQ rights activist

Arnie Kantrowitz was a pioneer of LGBTQ civil rights activism and one of the founders of GLAAD.

Richard Marcinko (1940–2021), first commanding officer of SEAL Team Six

Richard Marcinko designed and developed the elite Navy SEAL Team Six in response to the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

Eiichi Yamamoto (1940–2021), anime pioneer known for “Belladonna of Sadness”

Eiichi Yamamoto was a Japanese amine pioneer who directed and co-wrote classics of the genre including "Belladonna of Sadness," “Astro Boy” and “Kimba the White Lion.”

Qaboos bin Said (1940–2020), peacemaking Sultan of Oman

Qaboos bin Said was the sultan of Oman, who built his country into a developed nation and became known as a peacemaker who helped mediate talks between countries including the U.S. and Iran. When Qaboos took power in 1970 after a bloodless coup against his father, Oman was an impoverished nation, far behind the developed world in education, health care, infrastructure, and other key areas. Qaboos used the country’s oil revenues to modernize it, building schools, hospitals, and roads and creating a thriving economy. As Sultan, Qaboos abolished slavery, gave women the vote, and began appointing women to ministry positions. He was the longest-serving leader in the Arab world.

Tony Mendez (1940–2019), Ex-CIA spy inspired the movie “Argo”

Tony Mendez (1940–2019) was the ex-CIA agent who led the daring rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Iran in 1980. His story was immortalized in the 2012 movie “Argo,” in which he was portrayed by Ben Affleck. Iran took over the U.S. embassy after their revolution in 1979. Mendez masterminded the escape of the U.S. citizens from the homes of two Canadian diplomats by passing them off as members of a film crew.

Bruce Lee: Born a Dragon

In 1973, martial arts master Bruce Lee was young and in seemingly good health. But while planning his next movie in Hong Kong, he suffered a cerebral edema and died July 20. Only 32 at the time of his death, Lee didn't have many years to make his mark — but the legacy he left is indelible. During his short life, he brought martial arts to Hollywood, ushering in a karate craze in the U.S. and helping to elevate the perception of Asian actors. He taught martial arts, invented Jeet Kune Do, and even wrote poetry.

Bruce Lee: Still Kicking

was the most influential martial artist of the 20th century,an iconic figure whose films brought him worldwide popularity and helped spark interest in the martial arts in the West. Though he , at 32, he still looms large on the pop culture landscape. Opening this week in Asia is Bruce Lee, My Brother ,a film about his Hong Kong childhood as told through the memories of his siblings. Early next yearColumbia Pictures will release a film version of Lee's 1960s American TV show, The Green Hornet , in which he starred as crime-fighting sidekick Kato. A Broadway musical based on the life of Lee is also due next year.

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Late Blooming Tenor

Susan Boyle wasn’t the first British singing sensation to blossom relatively late in life. Anthony Rolfe Johnson became an opera star despite not even being able to read music at age 30.