Alan Simpson (1931–2024), longtime U.S. senator from Wyoming 

Alan Simpson was a longtime Republican politician from Wyoming best known for his tenure in the U.S. Senate, which included a decade as Senate whip.

Cocoa Tea (1959–2025), reggae icon

Cocoa Tea was an iconic reggae singer-songwriter best known for his smooth voice and his acclaimed record and single, “Riker’s Island.” 

Roy Ayers (1940–2025), influential musician and composer

Roy Ayers was a musician and composer whose work on the vibraphone helped push the boundaries of jazz, soul, and funk through works like his 1976 classic, “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.” 

Sylvester Turner (1954–2025), freshman congressman from Texas

Sylvester Turner was the mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024, then briefly served in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Kultida Woods (1944–2025), Tiger Woods’ mother

Kultida Woods was the mother of golf legend Tiger Woods, known for being one of his most prominent supporters and for urging him to adopt red as his Sunday color.

Nancy Leftenant-Colon (1920–2025), Army Nurse Corps trailblazer

Nancy Leftenant-Colon was a nurse who broke the color barrier when she became the first Black woman to join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps following its desegregation in the 1940s.

Marcel Bonin (1931–2025), four-time Stanley Cup winner

Marcel Bonin was a National Hockey League veteran who was on four Stanley Cup-winning teams, one with the Detroit Red Wings and three with the Montreal Canadiens. 

Jack Hoffman (2005–2025), beloved young Nebraska football fan 

Jack Hoffman was a young cancer patient and lifelong Nebraska Cornhuskers fan who captured hearts when, at 7, he ran for a touchdown at a Huskers spring game. 

Bill Byrge (1938–2025), Bobby from the Ernest comedies

Bill Byrge was a character actor best known for playing the quirky character Bobby in the “Ernest” series of movies.

Claude Jarman Jr. (1934–2025), star of The Yearling

Claude Jarman Jr. was a former child star, best known for his performance in the 1946 movie “The Yearling.” 

Charles Person (1942–2025), youngest of the Freedom Riders

Charles Person was a civil rights activist best known as the youngest of the original Freedom Riders, a group of activists who challenged illegal, unconstitutional racial segregation that was rampant throughout the American South.

Al MacNeil (1935–2025), Stanley Cup-winning hockey coach

Al MacNeil was a hockey player and NHL veteran who won four Stanley Cups as a coach and manager: three with the Montreal Canadiens and a fourth as assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames.

Alfa Anderson (1946–2024), legend of disco with Chic

Alfa Anderson was a singer best known for her work with the disco icons Chic, who created enduring dance hits with songs like “Le Freak” and “Good Times.” 

John Marsden (1950–2024), Tomorrow, When the War Began author

John Marsden was an Australian author and educator best known for his 1993 young adult novel “Tomorrow, When the War Began.” 

Lorraine O’Grady (1934–2024), conceptual artist and cultural critic

Lorraine O’Grady was a conceptual artist and cultural critic who won acclaim late in life for her mixed-media work, which often explored race and cultural identity, especially from the perspective of a Black woman in the United States.

A. Cornelius Baker (1961–2024), HIV testing advocate

A. Cornelius Baker was a public health policy expert who advocated for extensive HIV/AIDS testing and care, even in the early days of the disease.

Silvia Pinal (1931–2024), Mexican film star

Silvia Pinal was a Mexican star of film and television best known for her work with movie maker Luis Buñuel, including “Viridiana,” “The Exterminating Angel,” and “Simon of the Desert.” 

Earl Holliman (1928–2024), Police Woman costar

Earl Holliman was an actor best known for his award-winning work in the 1956 western romance “The Rainmaker,” and starring opposite Angie Dickinson in the TV drama “Police Woman.”

Rico Carty (1939–2024), 1970 NL batting champion

Rico Carty was a veteran Major League Baseball player best known for his time with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, winning the National League batting title in 1970 with a .366 average.

Clifton R. Wharton Jr. (1926–2024), former president of MSU

Clifton R. Wharton Jr. was a former Michigan State University president and deputy secretary of state who broke racial barriers when he took the MSU post in 1970.

Bela Karolyi (1942–2024), coach who transformed U.S. gymnastics

Bela Karolyi was a gymnastics coach whose sometimes-controversial methods helped transform U.S. gymnastics and bring home gold medals, techniques that also stirred up criticism for alleged abuse.

Theodore B. Olson (1940–2024), lawyer who fought for gay marriage

Theodore B. Olson was a conservative lawyer who served under former presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, best known for helping Bush secure the 2000 election and for arguing for gays’ right to marry.0

Kazuo Umezu (1936–2024), manga’s “god of horror”

Kazuo Umezu was a longtime manga artist who was sometimes called the “god of horror” over the course of his decades creating works like “Reptilia,” “The Drifting Classroom,” and “My Name Is Shingo.” 

DJ Clark Kent (1966–2024), producer who helped discover Jay-Z

DJ Clark Kent was a music insider and hip-hop producer who played a role in the rise of some of the genre’s biggest stars, including Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G.

Mitzi Gaynor (1931–2024), star of “South Pacific”

Mitzi Gaynor was an actress and singer known for movie musicals including “South Pacific” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”

Cissy Houston (1933–2024), gospel singer and Whitney Houston’s mother

Cissy Houston was a legendary gospel and soul singer, as well as the mother of and the aunt of Dionne and .

Taylor Rousseau Grigg (1999–2024), TikTok influencer

Taylor Rousseau Grigg was a TikTok star known for sharing her signature fashion and her lifestyle in videos watched by millions. 

Drake Hogestyn (1953–2024), longtime star of Days of Our Lives

Drake Hogestyn was an actor best known for his long-running role as John Black on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” 

Adrian Bailey (1956–2024), Broadway performer who survived fall

Adrian Bailey was a Broadway singer, actor, and dancer whose career was tragically cut short by an onstage fall before a performance of “The Little Mermaid.” 

Mitchell Wiggins (1959–2024), Houston Rockets shooting guard

Mitchell Wiggins was a shooting guard for such NBA teams as the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls, as well as the father of current Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins.

Jim Sasser (1936–2024), longtime U.S. senator from Tennessee 

Jim Sasser was a three-term U.S. senator from Tennessee who also served as ambassador to China under former President Bill Clinton.

Peter Renaday (1935–2024), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles voice actor

Peter Renaday was a longtime voice actor best known for his work as Splinter in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and for a wide variety of voices for Disney, including Abraham Lincoln at Disney World’s Hall of Presidents.

Mitzi McCall (1930–2024), comedian and Seinfeld actress

Mitzi McCall was an actress and comedian known for roles on such TV shows as “Seinfeld,” “Life Goes On,” and “Alright Already,” and for her appearance on an iconic episode of “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Patti Yasutake (1953–2024), Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on Star Trek: TNG

Patti Yasutake was an actress best known for playing Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” a recurring character who also appeared in several “Star Trek” movies.

Ina Jaffe (1948–2024), longtime NPR correspondent

Ina Jaffe was a journalist and radio personality who, for 36 years as an investigative correspondent, had been one of NPR’s most recognizable and reliable voices.

Waraire Boswell (1975–2024), fashion designer to NBA stars 

Waraire Boswell was a fashion designer known for his bespoke designs for NBA icons like LeBron James and . 

Bobby Banas (1933–2024), actor and dancer in West Side Story

Bobby Banas was a dancer, actor, and choreographer known for his work in “West Side Story,” “Mary Poppins,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” and other classic movie musicals.

Kim Johnson (1944–2024), Survivor: Africa runner-up

Kim Johnson was a noted runner-up in “Survivor: Africa,” the 2001 third season of the popular reality competition TV show.

Erica Ash (1977–2024), MADtv and Survivor’s Remorse actress

Erica Ash was an actress best known for her comedy work in the Fox sketch comedy show “MADtv” and the Starz sitcom “Survivor’s Remorse.” 

Abner Haynes (1937–2024), Kansas City Chiefs legend

Abner Haynes was a star running back who was the first-ever Player of the Year in the AFL and a Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame inductee.

Lou Dobbs (1945–2024), television host and political commentator

Lou Dobbs was a television host and political commentator best known for his 30-year association with CNN and his decade with Fox Business Network, a tenure which came to an end when Dobbs was fired after promoting election conspiracies. 

Bob Newhart (1929–2024), star of The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart

Bob Newhart was the deadpan comedian and actor known best for starring in his self-titled sitcoms, "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Newhart."

Tessie Prevost Williams (1954–2024), pioneer of early desegregation

Tessie Prevost Williams was a pioneer of early desegregation who was among the first to attend integrated schools in New Orleans.

Orlando Cepeda (1937–2024), famed slugger for the Giants

Orlando Cepeda was a Hall of Fame baseball player who was an 11-time All-Star, MVP winner, and a longtime teammate of on the San Francisco Giants.

Spencer Milligan (1937–2024), dad Rick Marshall on Land of the Lost

Spencer Milligan was an actor best known for playing Rick Marshall, the park ranger and widowed father on the popular Saturday morning adventure show, “Land of the Lost.” 

Bob Schul (1937–2024), America’s sole 5,000m Olympic champion

Bob Schul was a renowned long-distance runner who was the U.S.’ only ever 5,000m Olympic champion, winning the gold in 1964.

William Goines (1936–2024), America’s first Black Navy SEAL

William Goines was a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who was the first Black SEAL and a Lone Sailor award recipient.

Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. (1928–2024), civil rights leader

Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. was a civil rights leader whose focus on non-violent protest proved highly influential to and helped shape the 1960s civil rights movement.

Janis Paige (1922–2024), The Pajama Game star on Broadway

Janis Paige was an actress, singer, and dancer who originated the role of Babe in “The Pajama Game” on Broadway and starred in movies and on television.