Johanna Lindsey (1952–2019), bestselling romance novelist

Johanna Lindsey was the bestselling author of more than 50 romance novels. She often wrote historical romances, with settings including medieval England, Viking-era Norway, the American Wild West, and Regency England. Some strayed from the historical pattern, including a time-travel series and a futuristic series set in outer space. Lindsey’s books were dismissed by some as bodice-rippers, but they were wildly and beloved by her readers and sold more than 60 million copies. Her titles included "Savage Thunder," "Captive of My Desires," "Once a Princess," and her most recent, 2019's "Temptation's Darling." Several of her novels featured cover model Fabio, including 1987’s “Hearts Aflame,” an early career hit for the young model.

Narayana “Grandpa Kitchen” Reddy (2019), YouTube star cooked for orphans

Narayana Reddy was a YouTube star known as Grandpa Kitchen, whose viral videos showed him cooking massive meals for orphans in his community near Hyderabad, India.

John Moon (1916–2019), oldest known surviving veteran of Iwo Jima

John Moon was believed to be the oldest known surviving veteran of Iwo Jima.

John Witherspoon (1942–2019), “Friday” actor and comedian

John Witherspoon, the actor and comedian best-known for the “Friday” films, died Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 77.

Ron Fairly (1938–2019), former MLB player

Ron Fairly wasa longtime Major League Baseball player and broadcaster. He won three World Series with the Dodgers and was a two-time All-Star. Fairly played first base and in theoutfield, hitting 215home runs during a 21-year MLB career with the Dodgers, Expos, Cardinals, Acas, Blue Jays, and Angels. He was the only MLB player to play for two Canadian franchises during their inaugural seasons, the Expos and Blue Jays, and the only player to make an All-Star team for both clubs. After his playing career, he became a baseball broadcaster, announcing for the Angels and the Giants before settling into a 14-year stint as announcer for the Seattle Mariners until his retirement in 2006.

Kay Hagan (1953–2019), former North Carolina senator

Kay Hagan was the first Democratic woman elected to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina. In 2008 she was a state senator when she beat Republican Elizabeth Dole. She lost her seat in 2014 to Republican Thom Tillis in a close contest that was one of the most expensive Senate races ever. In the Senate, Hagan was a strong advocate for women and a prominent backer of the Affordable Care Act. After discovering that the U.S. Senate swimming pool was for men only, she worked with Senator Chuck Schumer to end that practice.

John Conyers (1929–2019), longest-serving African American member of Congress in U.S. history

John Conyers was the longest-serving African American member of Congress in U.S. history. The former Democratic U.S. Representative from Michigan was a member of Congress from 1965 to 2017. During that time, he gained a reputation as a champion of civil rights and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He sponsored a bill to establish as a federal holiday.

Robert Evans (1930–2019), legendary movie producer

Robert Evans was a legendary colorful movie producer who helmed the classic films “Chinatown” and “Urban Cowboy.” The actor turned movie executive was known for his larger-than-life personality in Hollywood. He was a Paramount executive starting in the 1960s and while there he oversaw “The Godfather” and “Rosemary’s Baby.” When Evans left Paramount to go out on his own, his first film was the noir mystery “Chinatown,” that starred Jack Nicholson. He was married at one time to actress Ali McGraw, who famously left Evans for actor Steve McQueen. His interesting life was featured in the 2002 documentary, “The Kid Stays in the Picture.”

Paul Barrere (1948–2019), Little Feat guitarist

Paul Barrere played with the eclectic boogie rock band Little Feat for almost 50 years.

Leroy Johnson (1929–2019), Georgia’s first Black senator after Reconstruction

Leroy Johnson was Georgia’s first Black state senator elected after Reconstruction, serving from 1963 to 1975. While serving in Georgia’s legislature, Johnson played a pivotal role in desegregating the state capitol building. Also an attorney, Johnson used his knowledge of the law and his status as a state lawmaker to have Muhammad Ali’s boxing license reinstated in 1970 after it had been stripped in 1966 for his refusal to be drafted. Johnson ran for mayor of Atlanta in 1973, but he lost to Maynard Jackson, who became Atlanta’s first Black mayor and served three terms. Johnson was honored in 2017 with the State Bar of Georgia’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ray Santos (1928–2019), Latin music legend

Ray Santos wasa legendary Latin musician who arranged the theme song for moviec3a2c280c29cThe Mambo Kings.c3a2c280c29d Known as c3a2c280c29cEl Maestro,c3a2c280c29d the saxophonist started playing in Latin big bands at Catskill Mountain resorts in the 1950s. He worked with many known musicians including Tito Puente. Santos won a Grammy award for working with Linda Ronstadt on her 1992 album c3a2c280c29cFrenesic3a2c280c29d and received the Latin Grammy Trustees Award in 2011. He also taught and directed the Latin band at the City College of New York for over 20 years.

Kathryn Johnson (2019), journalist covered key moments in the Civil Rights Movement

Kathryn Johnson was an Associated Press journalist who was there for some of the most pivotal events of the Civil Rights Movement.

Willie Brown (1940–2019), Oakland Raiders legend

Willie Brown was the Hall of Fame legendary Oakland Raiders cornerback whose 75-yard interception return for a touchdown helped the franchise win their first Super Bowl in the 1976 season. Brown played football for Grambling State and played his first 4 seasons in the NFL for the Denver Broncos. He was traded to the Raiders before the 1967 season and made four Pro Bowl teams. In Super Bowl XI against the Minnesota Vikings, Davis intercepted a Fran Tarkenton pass and rumbled 75 yards for a touchdown, helping the Raiders seal their first Super Bowl by a score of 32–14. Brown had 39 career interceptions and he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984. He later coached with the Raiders.

John Clarke (1931–2019), longtime “Days of Our Lives” star

John Clarke was one of the original stars of “Days of Our Lives,” joining the popular daytime soap opera when it debuted in 1965 and remaining with the show for 39 years until his retirement in 2004. Clarke played Mickey Horton, the go-to lawyer in the show’s fictional town of Salem, who rarely won a case. Clarke was honored with a Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 for his work on “Days of Our Lives.” He is the father of “The O.C.” actress Melinda Clarke.

Dr. Bernard Fisher (1918–2019), pioneer of breast cancer treatment

Dr. Bernard Fisher was a surgeon whose research revolutionized the treatment of breast cancer.

Eric Cooper (1966–2019), longtime Major League Baseball umpire

Recently worked the Yankees-Twins AL division series.

Patrick Day (1992–2019), professional boxer

Professional boxer Patrick Day died from brain injuries four days after being knocked out in a fight against undefeated Charles Conwell onSaturday Oct. 12, 2019, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The knockout occurred in the 10th round of the junior middleweight fight after a left hook from Conwell caused Day to fall back and hit his head on the canvas. Day was an accomplished amateur boxer who had won the New York State Golden Gloves championship. He had a professional record of 17 wins, 4 losses, and one draw. He was from Freeport, Long Island, New York, and was well known in his hometown as a top boxer.

Elijah Cummings (1951–2019), Democratic U.S. Representative from Maryland

Elijah Cummings was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a Democrat representing Maryland’s 7th congressional district. He was elected to twelve terms in Congress, beginning in 1996 and most recently in the 2018 election, by the district covering portions of Baltimore and Baltimore County. Cummings was popular with his constituents, typically receiving more than 70% of the vote and once running entirely unopposed. In Congress, he served as chair of the Committee of Oversight and Government Reform, where he was a leader in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. Cummings also presided over testimony by Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Prior to his service in Congress, Cummings was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 14 years, where he was the first African American in the state’s history to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore.

Bob Kingsley (1939–2019), country music radio legend

Longtime host of “Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40.”

Sam Bobrick (1932–2019), creator of “Saved by the Bell”

Sam Bobrick was a writer best known for creating the popular sitcom “Saved by the Bell.” The hit show, set in a California high school, began its life as something completely different: Bobrick originally created it as “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” a story about a junior high school teacher and the students she helped. It fizzled after a season and was retooled into “Saved by the Bell,” retaining a few main characters and becoming a success in a new setting. Bobrick was also a staff writer for “The Andy Griffith Show” and wrote for a number of other classic TV shows, including “Captain Kangaroo,” “Bewitched,” and “The Flintstones.” He was Emmy-nominated for his writing on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” and he won three Writers Guild of America awards for his television writing.

George Chambers (1931–2019), Chambers Brothers bassist

George Chambers  was the bass player for the pioneering psychedelic soul rock band, the Chambers Brothers. George and his brothers Lester, Joe, and Willie started singing in church together as children in Mississippi and formed the band in Los Angeles in the mid-1950s. They started out as a gospel group but later became known in the LA folk music community and were invited by to play at the Newport Folk Festival. The band went electric, adding drummer Brian Keenan, making them one of the first interracial bands. They embraced psychedelic soul music and had a huge hit in 1968 with “Time Has Come Today.” They continued to perform and record as the Chambers Brothers until the mid-1970s. George would go back to gospel music and he would occasionally get back together with his brothers and perform.

Robert Forster (1941–2019), actor was Oscar-nominated for “Jackie Brown”

Robert Forster  was known for his performances in movies including “Jackie Brown” and “Mulholland Drive” as well as TV shows “Breaking Bad” and “Twin Peaks.” The veteran actor began his career in the 1960s with a Broadway role in “Mrs. Dally Has a Lover” and early films including “Reflections in a Golden Eye” and “Medium Cool.” He had prominent roles in the TV series “Banyon” and “Nakia,” but after a promising start, his career began to stall, and he had trouble getting roles. After some years of struggle, Forster received a welcome career boost when director Quentin Tarantino cast him as bail bondsman Max Cherry in “Jackie Brown.” Forster’s performance earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Aleksei Leonov (1934–2019), first person to walk in space

On March 18, 1965, the Russian cosmonaut left his capsule for a 12-minute space walk.

Francis Currey (1925–2019), WWII hero earned Medal of Honor

Francis Currey was one of the last living World War II veterans who received the prestigious Medal of Honor, awarded to him for his valor during the Battle of the Bulge. Days after the horrific Malmedy massacre, U.S. Army veteran Currey singlehandedly wielded an arsenal of weapons against the First SS Panzer Division as they advanced on Allied troops. Currey counterattacked with grenades, two different machine guns, two different rifles, and a bazooka, taking out several German tanks and rescuing a number of his fellow American soldiers. In addition to his Medal of Honor, Currey received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts during his service in World War II. His death leaves just two World War II Medal of Honor recipients still living.

Karen Pendleton (1946–2019), original Disney Mouseketeer

Karen Pendleton was one of the original Disney Mouseketeers who appeared on the “Mickey Mouse Club” children’s television series for all four seasons, from 1955 until 1959. She was one of the youngest performers in the cast and was known for singing the show’s closing song with fellow Mouseketeer Cubby O’Brien. She left show business after the series ended. Paralyzed from the waist down in an auto accident in 1983, she became an advocate for people with disabilities. Pendleton appeared on “Mickey Mouse Club” reunion shows and at fan conventions.

Larry Junstrom (1949–2019), bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special

Larry Junstrom was a bassist who was a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd and went on to join .38 Special. Junstrom played with Lynyrd Skynyrd from their formation in 1964 until 1971, leaving before the band released their debut album and gained nationwide fame. He went on to join .38 Special in 1977 alongside Donnie Van Zant, brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd founder Ronnie Van Zant. The band had just released their debut album when Junstrom joined, and he played bass on a single track of the album. Their greatest fame was yet to come with early 1980s hits including “Hold on Loosely” and “Caught Up in You.” Junstrom went on to play bass on all of .38 Special’s albums and remained with the band until 2014, when a hand injury forced him to retire.

Ginger Baker (1939–2019), influential drummer for Cream

Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker  was the highly influential drummer for Cream, whose hits including “Sunshine of Your Love” and “White Room" are among the iconic tracks of classic rock. Baker went on to form Blind Faith along with Cream bandmate Eric Clapton, then founded Ginger Baker’s Air Force. He performed and recorded with musicians including Fela Kuti, Public Image Ltd., and Hawkwind.

Kansas City Shooting Victims (2019)

Four people were killed in a shooting at the Kansas City, Kansas bar Tequila KC early in the morning of October 6. Five more were injured.

Rip Taylor (1935–2019), zany comedian

Rip Taylor was a popular comic known for his outrageous personality. He was called the “king of confetti” for punctuating the end of his jokes by throwing a bucket of paper confetti into the audience. He was a popular game show panelist, appearing often during the heyday of the genre on “The Hollywood Squares” and “Match Game” and hosted the “$1.98 Beauty Show.” Taylor was a regular guest on talk shows and appeared on many TV series and had a funny role in “Wayne’s World II.” His signature bit before paper confetti was to pretend cry after reading a joke which led him to appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” where Sullivan forgot his name and introduced him as “The Crying Comedian.” His publicist Harlan Boll, who announced Taylor's death to the Hollywood Reporter, said Taylor was survived by his longtime partner Robert Fortney.

John Kirby (1939–2019), inspired Nintendo's Kirby character

It’s not just anybody who has a Nintendo character named after them. But , who died this week at 79, wasn’t just anybody.

Kim Shattuck (1963–2019), lead singer for the Muffs also performed with the Pixies and NOFX

Kim Shattuck was the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the Muffs, a punk band that had 1990s hits including “Lucky Guy” and a cover of Kim Wilde’s “Kids in America.”

Beverly “Guitar” Watkins (1939–2019), unsung blues guitar legend

Beverly “Guitar” Watkins was an unsung blues guitar legend known for her attacking playing style. She was said to play like Jimi Hendrix (playing behind her head) and Pete Townsend, and influenced many musicians including John Lennon. Though she started playing the guitar at a young age and played with and , she achieved greater recognition much later. After some down years in music, she was working various odd jobs, until she became a regular on Atlanta’s blues scene in the 1980s. The Music Maker Relief Foundation set her up on tour with in 1998 and released her first album at the age of 60. She continued playing live until she suffered a stroke in July2019.

Bill Bidwill (1931–2019), Arizona Cardinals owner

Bill Bidwill was the longtime owner of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. His father Charles was the owner of the Chicago Cardinals and Bill and his brother Charles Jr. took over the franchise in 1962, shortly after the team moved to St. Louis. He became the sole owner in 1972 and moved the team to their current location of Phoenix in 1988. The Cardinals reached the Super Bowl during the 2008 season, losing to the Steelers. Bidwill was a pioneer of diversity hiring in the NFL, hiring the first black female executive in league history, the first black contract negotiator, and the NFL’s first black head coach-general manager combination, Dennis Green and Rod Graves.

Keith Wilder (1951–2017), singer for 1970s disco/funk hit-makers Heatwave

Keith Wilder, singer for 1970s disco/funk hit-makers Heatwave, died Oct. 29, 2017, his daughter Lisa Wilder announced in an Instagram post Monday.