When People Needed Help, Russell Friedman Was There

Now his friends at the Grief Recovery Institute honor his life by continuing his work.

Larry Steinbachek (1960–2016), Bronski Beat keyboard player

Keyboard player co-founded 1980s British synthpop band Bronski Beat.

George Kosana (1935 - 2016), Night of the Living Dead actor

Actor George Kosana played the sheriff in the classic zombie movie “Night of the Living Dead.”

Tyrus Wong (1910 - 2016), Bambi animator

Tyrus Wong, the artist whose drawings provided the visual inspiration for the Disney classic “Bambi,” died Friday, Dec. 30, 2016. He was 106.

William Christopher (1932 - 2016), played Father Mulcahy on M*A*S*H

William Christopher played the ever-patient Father Mulcahy on the hit television series "M*A*S*H."

Allan Williams (1930 - 2016), first manager of the Beatles

Allan Williams, the first manager of the Beatles, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 86.

LaVell Edwards (1930 - 2016), Brigham Young football coach

LaVell Edwards, the legendary Brigham Young University coach who turned the school's football program into a perennial powerhouse, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, of complications from a broken hip, according to multiple news sources. He was 86.

Keion Carpenter (1977 - 2016), NFL defensive back

Keion Carpenter, a former defensive back with the NFL's Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons, died Dec. 29, 2016, in Miami, Florida, while vacationing with his family, according to multiple news sources. He was 39. Carpenter, who also excelled as a special teams player, collapsed Dec. 28 and died the following day. He played for the Buffalo Bills from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, the team traded him to the Atlanta Falcons; he played with that team from 2002 to 2005. During his professional career, Carpenter had 206 tackles, 14 interceptions, and one touchdown.

Debbie Reynolds (1932–2016), Singin' in the Rain star

Debbie Reynolds, the actress and singer who starred in "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016. She was 84.

Robert Hulseman (1932 - 2016), red Solo cup inventor

Robert Hulseman, the former CEO who created the iconic red Solo cup, died Dec. 21, 2016, at his home in Northfield, Illinois. He was 84.

Barbara Tarbuck (1942 - 2016), soap opera regular

Barbara Tarbuck, an actress who appeared regularly on the TV soap operas “Santa Barbara” and “General Hospital,” the latter as Lady Jane Jacks, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. She was 74.

Vera Rubin (1928 - 2016), dark matter astrophysicist

Vera Rubin, a pioneering astrophysicist who confirmed the existence of dark matter, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, according to multiple news reports. She was 88.

Carrie Fisher (1956–2016), iconic Star Wars star

Carrie Fisher, the actress whose role as Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" trilogy and helped George Lucas’ space-fantasy epic redefine Hollywood blockbusters for a new generation of moviegoers, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. She was 60.

George S. Irving (1922 - 2016), Heat Miser voice actor

George S. Irving, a Tony Award–winning actor who played a role in “Irene” opposite Debbie Reynolds, has died at the age of 94, according to multiple news sources.

Richard Adams (1920–2016), Watership Down author

Editor's note: Richard Adams' date of death was later clarified to be December 24, 2016.

Ricky Harris (1962–2016), Everybody Hates Chris actor

Ricky Harris, an actor, comedian, and producer who played the recurring character Malvo on the Chris Rock-based sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris," died Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 54.

George Michael (1963–2016), pop superstar

English pop singer George Michael sold more than 100 million albums and was an inspirational icon for a generation of gay youth who came of age in the 1990s.

Rick Parfitt (1948–2016), Status Quo guitarist

Guitarist for the British rock band Status Quo.

Valerie Fairman (1993 - 2016), 16 and Pregnant star

Valerie Fairman, a former reality television personality who starred on the MTV series "16 and Pregnant," died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, in Coatsville, Pennsylvania, of a suspected overdose, according to multiple news sources. She was 23.

Marion Pritchard (1920–2016), Dutch Holocaust hero

Dutch woman helped save the lives of many Jews during the Holocaust.

Fran Jeffries (1937 - 2016), dancer in The Pink Panther

Fran Jeffries, a nightclub singer with a silky voice and an actress who performed a provocative samba dance in 1963's "The Pink Panther," died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles, California, of multiple myeloma. She was 79.

Kevin O’Morrison (1916 - 2016), Sleepless in Seattle actor

Kevin O’Morrison, an actor who appeared in such films as “Sleepless in Seattle” and “The Set-Up,” has died at the age of 100, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Gordon Hunt (1929 - 2016), director of The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo

Gordon Hunt, the director of TV cartoon favorites including "The Jetsons," "Scooby-Doo," and "The Smurfs," died Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. He was 87.

Dick Latessa (1929 - 2016), Tony Award-winning Hairspray actor

Dick Latessa, an actor who won a Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical for "Hairspray,” died Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 87.

Gordie Tapp (1922–2016), Hee Haw actor

Canadian entertainer played Cousin Clem on CBS' "Hee Haw."

China Machado (1928–2016), pioneering supermodel

China Machado, the Shanghai-born supermodel who broke barriers in the fashion industry, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, at a hospital in Brookhaven, New York, according to multiple news sources. She was 87.

Bob Coburn (1948–2016), Rockline radio host

Longtime host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline."

Benjamin Gilman (1922–2016), former U.S. representative

Benjamin Gilman, a former U.S. representative from New York, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, in Wappingers Falls, New York, according to The Associated Press. He was 94.

Henry Heimlich (1920 - 2016), Heimlich maneuver inventor

Henry Heimlich, the physician who was known best for inventing the anti-choking Heimlich maneuver, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to multiple news sources. He was 96.

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.

Garrett Gomez (1972–2016), Hall of Fame jockey

Former Jockey won 13 Breeders’ Cup races during his career.

Craig Sager (1951 - 2016), NBA sideline reporter

Craig Sager, the longtime NBA sideline reporter known for his colorful attire, died Dec. 15, 2016, according to multiple news reports. He was 65.

Bernard Fox (1927 - 2016), Bewitched actor

Bernard Fox, the actor known for his role as Dr. Bombay on the sitcom “Bewitched,” died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 89.

Herb Weatherwax (1917–2016), Pearl Harbor survivor

Herb Weatherwax, a Pearl Harbor survivor who was a greeter at the USS Arizona Memorial, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, according to The Associated Press. He was 99.

Thomas Schelling (1921 - 2016), Nobel Prize-winning economist

The Nobel Prize-winning economist was known for his study of game theory.

Konrad Reuland (1987–2016), NFL tight end

Konrad Reuland played in the NFL with the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore Ravens.

E.R. Braithwaite (1912 - 2016), To Sir, With Love author

E.R. Braithwaite wrote the autobiographical novel "To Sir, With Love," drawing on his experiences as a teacher in London's East End during the 1950s.

Istanbul Bombing Victims

At least 38 people have died, and 155 were wounded in a pair of bombing attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, according to government officials as reported by CNN.

Bill Dineen (1932 - 2016), Stanley Cup champ with Red Wings

Bill Dineen, former professional hockey player and coach, died Saturday, December 10, 2016, at his home in Lake George, New York, according to The Associated Press. He was 84.

Joseph Mascolo (1929 - 2016), iconic Days of Our Lives star

Joseph Mascolo, an actor who was known best for portraying the villainous Stefano DiMera on the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” died Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, according to Soap Opera Digest. Mascolo, who had Alzheimer’s disease, was 87.

Johannah Deakin (1973 - 2016), mother of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson

Johannah Deakin, the mother of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Deakin, who had leukemia, was 43.

John Glenn (1921 - 2016), astronaut and senator

NASA astronaut John Glenn earned everlasting fame when he becamethe first American to orbit the Earth.

Greg Lake (1947–2016), Emerson, Lake & Palmer co-founder

English guitarist co-founded King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Dave Edwards (1939 - 2016), Super Bowl champ with Dallas Cowboys

NFL linebacker Dave Edwards, who played in three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. He was 76.

Peter Vaughan (1923 - 2016), Game of Thrones actor

Peter Vaughan, an English character actor who played Maester Aemon on the HBO series "Game of Thrones," died Dec. 6, 2016, in West Sussex, England. He was 93. Vaughan played the "Game of Thrones" character from 2011 to 2015. He also played Grouty in three episodes the British sitcom "Porridge" as well as in the movie version. His credits also include the part of Tom Franklin on the British series "Chancer."

Mark Gray (1952 - 2016), country music singer-songwriter

The country music singer-songwriter co-wrote No. 1 hit songs for group Alabama.

Margaret Whitton (1950 - 2016), Major League star

Margaret Whitton, an actress who starred in the movie “Major League,” has died at the age of 67, according to multiple news sources.

Van Williams (1934 - 2016), The Green Hornet star

Van Williams, an actor known best for starring on the 1960s TV series “The Green Hornet,” has died at the age of 82, according to multiple news sources.

Billy Chapin (1943 - 2016), child actor of the 1950s

Billy Chapin, a child actor who was popular in the 1950s, died Dec. 2, 2016, according to multiple news sources. Chapin was 72.