Shay Youngblood (1959–2024), award-winning novelist and playwright

Shay Youngblood was an award-winning novelist and playwright who explored her upbringing as a Black woman in America.

Robert Hughes (1928–2024), winningest boys’ HS basketball coach

Robert Hughes was a boys’ high school basketball coach in Fort Worth, Texas whose successful leadership lead to over 1,300 victories for his teams over decades.

Tony Lo Bianco (1936–2024), played Sal Boca in The French Connection

Tony Lo Bianco was a Tony Award-nominated actor best known for playing Sal Boca in the neo-noir classic, “The French Connection.”

Howard Fineman (1948–2024), noted political journalist and commentator

Howard Fineman was a political journalist and television commentator who became a mainstay at Newsweek and NBC, covering nine presidential elections over the course of his career.

Françoise Hardy (1944–2024), French ballad singer and actress

Françoise Hardy was a French singer, actress, and model whose penchant for thoughtful ballads made her a star of the 1960s.

David Gilmour (1931–2023), founder of Fiji water 

David Gilmour was a serial entrepreneur who started or was involved in a series of business ventures, most notably the Fiji water brand, which for a time was the number one brand of imported water. 

Leroy Jones (1950–2021), Chargers defensive end

Leroy Jones was a defensive end with the San Diego Chargers in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Lucinda Riley (1966–2021), author known for “The Seven Sisters” series

Lucinda Riley was a bestselling Irish author of historical fiction, known for her “The Seven Sisters” series and her 2019 No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller, “The Butterfly Room.”

Jim “Mudcat” Grant (1935–2021), first Black American League pitcher to win 20 games

Jim “Mudcat” Grant was a Major League Baseball player who was the first Black pitcher to win 20 games in a season in the American League.

John Gabriel (1931–2021), “Ryan’s Hope” star

John Gabriel was an actor best known for his Emmy-nominated performance as Dr. Seneca Beaulac in “Ryan’s Hope.”

Denny O’Neil (1939–2020), Batman & Green Arrow writer, godfather of Optimus Prime

Dennis J. “Denny” O’Neil was the fan-favorite comic book writer who revitalized Batman and Green Arrow in the 1970s, and who named the Transformers franchise’s robot hero “Optimus Prime.”

Gabriele Grunewald (1986–2019), elite runner inspired as she battled cancer

Gabriele Grunewald, an elite runner who became well-known for documenting her cancer journey on social media, died Wednesday, June 11, 2019 in Minneapolis of complications of cancer, according to multiple news sources. She was 32.

Samuel Tom Holiday (2018), Navajo Code Talker

Navajo Code Talker awarded a Purple Heart for his bravery in World War II…

Dr. Brandon Rogers (2017), America's Got Talent contestant

Upcoming contestant on “America’s Got Talent”…

Bryan Robinson (2016), former Chicago Bears defensive lineman

Bryan Robinson, a former Chicago Bears defensive lineman, died June 11, 2016, according to the Chicago Tribune. He was 41.

John Wayne, Tough Guy

Even more than 30 years after his death, John Wayne remains one of the all-time most popular actors.