Dick Button (1929–2025), Olympic figure skating legend

Dick Button was a two-time U.S. Olympic figure skating gold medal winner who became one of the sport's most well-known commentators.

Ellen Gilchrist (1935–2024), National Book Award-winning author 

Ellen Gilchrist was an author who won a National Book Award in 1984 for her story collection, “Victory Over Japan.” 

Hinton Battle (1956–2024), three-time Tony Award winner

Hinton Battle was a three-time Tony Award-winning stage performer whose performances in “Sophisticated Ladies,” “The Tap Dance Kid,” and “Miss Saigon” won wide acclaim, and he originated the role of the Scarecrow in the Broadway production of “The Wiz.” 

Jean Carnahan (1933–2024), Missouri’s first female U.S. senator

Jean Carnahan represented Missouri in the U.S. Senate and was the former first lady of Missouri.

Melinda Wilson (1946–2024), wife of Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson

Melinda Wilson was a talent manager and the second wife of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, helping Wilson sever ties with his controversial psychologist and business partner, Eugene Landy.0

Chita Rivera (1933–2024), Broadway star of West Side Story

Chita Rivera was a Broadway star who won two Tony Awards and originated such roles as Anita in “West Side Story” and Velma Kelly in “Chicago.”

John Adams (1951–2023), Cleveland Indians’ drumming superfan

John Adams was a Cleveland Indians (renamed the Guardians in 2021) superfan known for playing the bass drum at home games for decades.

Bobby Hull (1939–2023), hockey Hall of Famer with the Black Hawks

Bobby Hull was a legendary Hall of Fame hockey player for the Chicago Black Hawks.

Robert “Bob” Wall (1939–2022), martial artist and actor in “Enter the Dragon”

Robert “Bob” Wall was a martial artist and actor who appeared with in movies including “Way of the Dragon” and “Enter the Dragon.”

Hargus “Pig” Robbins (1938–2022), pianist for Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers

Hargus “Pig” Robbins was a country music session pianist who played on hits including Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” and on Bob Dylan’s “Blonde on Blonde” album.

Cheslie Kryst (1991–2022), former Miss USA and “Extra” correspondent

Cheslie Kryst was an attorney and TV correspondent named Miss USA in 2019.

Sophie (1986–2021), Grammy-nominated musician and producer

Sophie Xeon , known professionally as Sophie, was a Scottish Grammy-nominated musician and producer known for her electronic hyperpop music.

Lucien Barbarin (1956–2020), Harry Connick Jr. trombonist

Lucien Barbarin was a trombonist for Harry Connick Jr. and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Barbarin was a New Orleans jazz legend who showcased his charismatic personality during Harry Connick Jr. concerts. The pair created comic routines that were fan favorites. Barbarin had been playing with Connick Jr. At least since the early 1990s. Barbarin released a few of his own albums, the last in 2007.

John Andretti (1963–2020), NASCAR and IndyCar racer

John Andretti  was a professional racer who was a member of the famous Andretti racing family. Andretti’s uncle is former Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti, and he is the cousin of former racers Michael and Jeff Andretti. He won two NASCAR races and finished fifth at the 1991 Indianapolis 500 before retiring in 2010. He was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2017 and had clean scans a year later after treatment, but the cancer returned earlier this year. After his original diagnosis, he used the hashtag #CheckIt4Andretti to urge people to get regular colonoscopies, something he had not done.

Stewart Adams (1923–2019), inventor of ibuprofen, used himself as test subject

“I always felt it was important to take the first dose.”

Dick Miller (1928 – 2019), veteran character actor

Dick Miller was a popular character actor who starred in “Gremlins” and “The Howling.” He appeared in more than 175 films and made more than 2,000 television appearances. He was a favorite of director Joe Dante, appearing inall ofhis movies.

Louis Zorich (1924 – 2018), co-starred on “Mad About You”

Character actor, husband of Olympia Dukakis…

Kevin Towers (1961 – 2018), former Padres, Diamondbacks GM

Led the Padres to the World Series in 1998…

Remembering Coretta Scott King (video)

When , an Alabama-born college student studying music in Boston, married in 1953, she knew she was signing up for a life of dedication to social justice. As her husband's partner and most trusted confidant, she supported his ceaseless work to try to end racial discrimination in the United States, and then carried forward his legacy upon his assassination in 1968. She spent the following decades speaking out for civil rights herself—for African Americans, and also for women and LGBT people, as well as for the oppressed Black citizens of apartheid-era South Africa.

Greg Hudgens (1950 - 2016), father of actress Vanessa Hudgens

Greg Hudgens, a former firefighter who was the father of actress Vanessa Hudgens, died Jan. 30 of cancer. He was 65. The actress, who became known for her starring role in the "High School Musical" series, announced her father's death as she was preparing to perform as Rizzo in "Grease: Live" on Fox TV. She tweeted a statement about his death, which occurred the day before the show, as well as noting, "Tonight, I do the show in his honor." Hudgens revealed in August 2015 that her father had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

Frank Finlay (1926 - 2016), veteran British character actor

Veteran British character actor Frank Finlay died Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, of heart failure after a short illness, the BBC and Los Angeles Times report. He was 89.

Coretta Scott King: 20 Facts

Coretta Scott King is remembered as the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a role she cherished. But she was much more than just a wife and widow.