Anita O'Day: The Essence of Cool

On the fifth anniversary of Anita O’Day’s death, we look back on the career of this atypical “girl singer.”

Om Puri (1950 - 2017), actor in Gandhi, City of Joy

Acclaimed Indian actor Om Puri appeared in hit films including "Gandhi," "City of Joy," and "East Is East."

Chuck Berry (1926–2017), the Father of Rock and Roll

Chuck Berry, the singer-songwriter and guitarist who was one of the architects of rock 'n' roll, died Saturday, March 18, 2017. He was 90.

Gary Austin (1941 - 2017), founder of improv group The Groundlings

Gary Austin, founder of the influential improv group The Groundlings, died April 1, 2017, at the age of 75, according to multiple news sources.

Erin Moran (1960 - 2017), played Joanie on Happy Days

Erin Moran, the actress best known for her role as Joanie Cunningham on the 1970s sitcom “Happy Days,” died Saturday, April 22, 2017. She was 56.

Mark LaMura (1948 - 2017), soap opera star

Starred as Mark Dalton on “All My Children.”

Keith Jackson (1928 – 2018), folksy voice of college football

Keith Jackson, the folksy voice of college football on ABC for decades, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, according to The Associated Press. He was 89.

John Morris (1926–2018), composer for Mel Brooks’s films

Oscar-nominated for “Blazing Saddles”…

Ntozake Shange (1948–2018), pioneering black feminist poet and playwright

Wrote the influential play ‘For Colored Girls’ which won an Obie Award.

Forrest Gregg (1933–2019), Packers Hall of Fame lineman

Member of the Packers' dynasty in the 1960s who went on to coach in the NFL and Canadian Football League.

Charlotte Figi (2006–2020), medical cannabis advocate and CBD pioneer

Charlotte Figi was a Colorado girl who helped normalize medical cannabis and CBD as she used it to relieve her Dravet syndrome, a catastrophic form of epilepsy.

Gerald Shur (1933–2020), founder of Federal Witness Protection Program

Gerald Shur was a lawyer who founded the groundbreaking Federal Witness Protection Program.

Dawn Wells (1938–2020), "Gilligan's Island" star

Dawn Wells played the down-to-earth farm girl Mary Ann on the 1960s sitcom

Cynthia Weil (1940–2023), You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling songwriter 

Cynthia Weil was a songwriter who co-wrote songs including “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” and “Somewhere Out There.” 

Shawna Trpcic (1966–2023), Star Wars costume designer 

Shawna Trpcic was an Emmy-nominated costume designer for film and television who worked on popular science fiction shows like “Firefly,” the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spinoff “Angel,” and “Star Wars” shows like “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka.”

Barbara Baldavin (1938–2024), Star Trek, Medical Center actress

Barbara Baldavin was an actress best known for appearing in the “Star Trek” episodes0“Balance of Terror” and c8cShore Leave,c9d as well as 52 episodes of the drama c8cMedical Center.c9d

Joe Egan (1946–2024), Stuck in the Middle with You singer 

Joe Egan was a singer, songwriter and founding member of Stealers Wheel, best known for co-writing and singing the song, “Stuck in the Middle with You.”