Sir Lady Java (1942–2024), entertainer and transgender rights activist 

Sir Lady Java was a noted singer, dancer, and entertainer of the 1960s and ‘70s club scene in Los Angeles who became an early transgender activist.

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.

Bobby Ussery (1935–2023), Hall of Fame jockey 

Bobby Ussery was a Hall of Fame jockey who won the Kentucky Derby on Proud Clarion in 1967.

Johnny Green (1933–2023), four-time NBA all-star

Johnny Green was a four-time NBA All-Star who was a star player with the New York Knicks from 1959 to 1965, and who made the All-Star team his final time at the age of 37.

George “Funky” Brown (1949–2023), Kool & the Gang drummer  

George “Funky” Brown was the founding and longtime drummer of Kool & the Gang, as well as one of the band’s primary songwriters.

A.S. Byatt (1936–2023), bestselling author of Possession

A.S. Byatt was a British author who won the prestigious Booker Prize for her bestselling 1990 novel “Possession: A Romance.”

Michael Pertschuk (1933–2022), FTC chief behind seatbelt laws & cigarette labels

Michael Pertschuk was the chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who drove legislation on seatbelt use and cigarette warning labels.

Nicki Aycox (1975–2022), “Supernatural” actress   

Nicki Aycox was an actress best known for her recurring role as Meg Masters on the TV series “Supernatural.”    

Robert Clary (1926–2022), LeBeau on “Hogan’s Heroes”

Robert Clary was an actor well known for his role as LeBeau on the classic sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes.” He was a Holocaust survivor, coming to the United States in 1949 to continue his entertainment career.

Ben Watkins (2020), “MasterChef Junior” star

Ben Watkins was a young chef who starred on “MasterChef Junior” in 2018, when he was 11 years old.

Vera Clemente (2019), widow of baseball legend Roberto Clemente

Vera Clemente was the widow of baseball legend Roberto Clemente who was a 15-time All-Star outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roberto Clemente was killed Dec. 31, 1972, in a plane crash while en route to Nicaragua to deliver supplies to earthquake victims. After his death, Vera continued his humanitarian work as the chairwoman of the Roberto Clemente Foundation. Roberto and Vera married in 1964 and had three sons, Roberto, Luis, and Enrique.

William Goldman (1931 – 2018), Academy Award-winning screenwriter

William Goldman, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) and “All the President's Men” (1976), died Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 in Manhattan of colon cancer and pneumonia, according to multiple news sources. He was 87.

Ann Wedgeworth (1934 – 2017), Tony-winning actress appeared on “Three’s Company”

Ann Wedgeworth, the Tony Award-winning actress best-known for her recurring role on “Three’s Company,” died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in New York, according to The Associated Press. She was 83.

Fernando "Ferdie" Pacheco (1927 – 2017), Muhammad Ali's ringside physician and cornerman

Known as "The Fight Doctor"…

Mentor Williams (1946 - 2016), Drift Away songwriter

Mentor Williams, a music producer and songwriter who penned the hit “Drift Away,” died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Taos, New Mexico, according to multiple news sources. He was 70.

David Canary (1938 - 2015), Bonanza actor

David Canary, an actor who was known best for playing the Ponderosa's foreman on TV's "Bonanza," has died. He was 77.

Clark Gable By the Numbers

We look back at the life and career of silver screen icon Clark Gable.