Died May

Robert Logan (1941–2024), Wilderness Family, 77 Sunset Strip actor

Robert Logan was an actor best known for playing the father, Skip Robinson, in the “Wilderness Family” series of movies in the 1970s, and for playing J. R. Hale, aka Johnnie, a parking attendant in the TV detective series “77 Sunset Strip.” 

Patrick Gottsch (1953–2024), founder of RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel

Patrick Gottsch was a media executive who helped shine a spotlight on rural, western American life via RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel, both of which he founded.

Tom Bower (1938–2024), The Waltons, Die Hard 2 actor

Tom Bower was a character actor best known for his roles in “The Waltons” and “Die Hard 2.” 

Harry Roland (1954–2024), “The World Trade Center Man”

Harry Roland was a street orator whose rhyming reminders and remembrances of the attacks on 9/11 kept memories alive long after they occurred.

Marian Robinson (1937–2024), mother of First Lady Michelle Obama

Marian Robinson was the mother of former First Lady Michelle Obama and basketball executive Craig Robinson, instilling in both the importance of education. 

Drew Gordon (1990–2024), former Philadelphia 76ers forward

Drew Gordon was a power forward with such basketball teams as the Philadelphia 76ers, as well as the older brother of Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon. 

Herb Elfring (1922–2024), 102-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor

Herb Elfring was a 19-year-old National Guardsman stationed at Camp Malakole when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

Darryl Hickman (1931–2024), child actor known for The Grapes of Wrath

Darryl Hickman was a child actor best known for playing Winfield Joad in “The Grapes of Wrath” and Danny in “Leave Her to Heaven.” 

Elizabeth MacRae (1936–2024), Gomer Pyle actress 

Elizabeth MacRae was an actress best known for her performance in “Gomer Pyle, USMC” as Lou-Ann Poovie, Gomer’s girlfriend.

Al Ruddy (1930–2024), Oscar-winning Godfather producer

Al Ruddy was an Oscar-winning producer who won acclaim for “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby.” He also co-created the TV shows “Hogan’s Heroes” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” 

Johnny Wactor (1986–2024), General Hospital actor

Johnny Wactor was an actor best known for his performance as Brando Corbin in “General Hospital” beginning in 2020.

Bette Nash (1935–2024), world’s longest-serving flight attendant

Bette Nash was a flight attendant who worked for 67 years, longer than any other flight attendant in history. 

Grayson Murray (1993–2024), two-time PGA Tour winner

Grayson Murray was a professional golfer and two-time PGA Tour event winner who was ranked 58th in the world.

Richard M. Sherman (1928–2024), Oscar-winning Disney songwriter

Richard M. Sherman was a songwriter who, along with brother wrote beloved songs for Disney movies, including “It’s a Small World” and the Oscar-winning “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” 

Doug Ingle (1945–2024), In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida singer and songwriter

Doug Ingle was a keyboard player who founded the pioneering band Iron Butterfly, for whom he wrote and delivered vocals on the 17-minute rock epic, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.”

Bill Walton (1952–2024), Hall of Fame basketball player and announcer

Bill Walton was a Hall of Fame basketball player who won two championships with UCLA and two more after he joined the NBA, then became a star commentator after his playing days ended.

Morgan Spurlock (1970–2024), Super Size Me filmmaker

Morgan Spurlock was a documentary filmmaker best known for his 2004 movie “Super Size Me,” for which he ate nothing but McDonald’s items for 30 days.

Charlie Colin (2024), founding member of Train

Charlie Colin was a musician and bass player who was one of the founding members of the band Train, known for their hit song “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me).” 

Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (1953–2024), Oscar-winning composer

Jan A.P. Kaczmarek was a Polish composer who won an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2005 for “Finding Neverland.” 

C. Gordon Bell (1934–2024), helped bring computers into homes

C. Gordon Bell was an electrical engineer who worked on some of the world’s first small-profile computers and, as a result, helped usher in the era of the home PC.

Richard Foronjy (1937–2024), real crook turned actor 

Richard Foronjy was a former criminal and prison inmate at Sing Sing and Attica who became a character actor, playing cops and criminals in films like “Carlito’s Way,” “Serpico,” “Once Upon a Time in America,” and “Repo Man.” 

John Koerner (1938–2024), blues guitarist who mentored Bob Dylan

“Spider” John Koerner was a blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who enjoyed a six-decade career and ably mentored a young Bob Dylan.

Peggi Blu (1946–2024), Star Search champ and American Idol vocal coach

Peggi Blu was a “Star Search” champion in 1986, an R&B singer who backed up for artists like Bob Dylan and Barbra Streisand, and a vocal coach on “American Idol.”

Mark Wells (1957–2024), Miracle on Ice forward 

Mark Wells was a hockey forward who won a gold medal with the U.S. team in 1980’s famed “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union and later Finland.

Sam Butcher (1939–2024), Precious Moments founder and artist

Sam Butcher was an artist who founded Precious Moments and designed many of their Christian-themed collectible figurines.

Jon Wysocki (1971–2024), original drummer for Staind

Jon Wysocki was the original drummer for the nu metal band Staind, playing on their first seven albums and on such hits as “It’s Been Awhile” and “So Far Away.” 

Clarence “Bud” Anderson (1922–2024), last surviving WWII triple ace

Clarence “Bud” Anderson was a celebrated U.S. Air Force pilot who was the last surviving triple ace of WWII and the highest scoring P-51 Mustang pilot in his squadron.

Clarence Sasser (1947–2024), Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient 

Clarence Sasser was a U.S. Army combat medic in the Vietnam War who was given the Medal of Honor for his valor in rescuing the wounded.

Phil Wiggins (1954–2024), iconic blues harmonica master

Phil Wiggins was a master of the blues harmonica known for his long musical partnership with guitarist/vocalist .

Jim Otto (1938–2024), Hall of Fame center with the Raiders

Jim Otto was an NFL Hall of Fame center who played for 15 years and 210 straight games with the Oakland Raiders. 

Alice Stewart (1966–2024), CNN political commentator

Alice Stewart was a conservative political commentator for CNN who also advised several Republicans in their candidacies for president.

Dabney Coleman (1932–2024), actor known for 9 to 5 and Tootsie

Dabney Coleman was a character actor best known for playing despicable men in "9 to 5" and "Tootsie."

Jasper White (1954–2024), James Beard Award-winning Boston chef

Jasper White was a chef who helped put New England cuisine on the map as the owner of Jasper’s and Jasper White’s Summer Shack.

Darren Dutchyshen (1966–2024), anchor on Canada’s The Sports Network 

Darren Dutchyshen was a longtime Canadian sports anchor best known as a mainstay on The Sports Network’s “Sportscentre.”

Eddie Gossage (1958–2024), president of Texas Motor Speedway

Eddie Gossage was a race promoter and president of Texas Motor Speedway, credited with helping bring NASCAR back to Texas after its long absence. 

Roxanne (1929–2024), Beat the Clock model and actress

Dolores Rosedale , aka Roxanne , was a model and actress known for her time as an assistant on “Beat the Clock” and for appearing in “The Seven Year Itch” with . 

Don Perlin (1929–2024), co-creator of Marvel’s Moon Knight

Don Perlin was a longtime comic book artist on comics like “The Defenders,” “Werewolf by Night,” and “Ghost Rider,” who is best known as the co-creator of Moon Knight and Valiant’s Bloodshot.

Rev. Bill Lawson (1928–2024), civil rights leader who worked with MLK

Rev. William “Bill” Lawson was a Houston civil rights leader who helped peacefully integrate his city and worked alongside

Sam Rubin (1960–2024), longtime entertainment news anchor

Sam Rubin was a longtime Los Angeles news anchor known for his more than three decades of celebrity interviews.

John Barbata (1945–2024), drummer for The Turtles, Jefferson Airplane

John Barbata was a drummer for such bands as The Turtles, Jefferson Airplane and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. 

Alice Munro (1931–2024), Nobel Prize-winning writer

Alice Munro was a Nobel Prize-winning short story author whose acclaimed work focused on womanhood and rural living.

Samm-Art Williams (1946–2024), playwright known for Home

Samm-Art Williams was an actor, writer, and producer who worked on shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and “Martin” whose Tony Award-nominated 1979 play, “Home,” is returning to Broadway this summer.

Mark Damon (1933–2024), House of Usher star 

Mark Damon was an actor and producer who starred in “House of Usher” and went on to a groundbreaking career in independent film distribution.

Dr. Cyril Wecht (1931–2024), famed forensic pathologist

Dr. Cyril Wecht was a longtime forensic pathologist who became a high-profile public official after working on landmark cases like on the assassination of President , the killing, and death. 

Mary Wells Lawrence (1928–2024), legendary advertising exec

Mary Wells Lawrence was a groundbreaking advertising executive who founded Wells Rich Greene and was known for quotable ad slogans like “I ♥ NY” and “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz.” 

David Sanborn (1945–2024), Grammy-winning saxophonist

David Sanborn was a six-time Grammy-winning saxophonist whose smooth jazz broke through to the mainstream, with a dozen albums hitting the Billboard Top 200.

Sean Burroughs (1980–2024), Olympic gold-winning MLB third baseman

Sean Burroughs was an Olympic gold medal-winning MLB third baseman who spent four years with the San Diego Padres.

Ron Ellis (1945–2024), Stanley Cup champ with the Maple Leafs

Ron Ellis played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for 16 seasons, including their Stanley Cup-winning year in 1967.

Rudy Moreno (1957–2024), "Godfather of Latino Comedy"

Rudy Moreno was an actor and comedian often called the “Godfather of Latino Comedy,” who as an actor appeared in “Arrested Development,” “The Shield,” “ER,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and other TV shows.