Died September 2024

Joey Jay (1935–2024), first Little Leaguer to make the majors 

Joey Jay was the first Little League player to make the Major Leagues, winning 99 games over a 13-year MLB career.

Frank Fritz (1963–2024), American Pickers co-star

Frank Fritz was the co-host of the popular antiques-focused reality TV show, “American Pickers.”

Gavin Creel (1976–2024), award-winning Broadway headliner

Gavin Creel was an award-winning Broadway musical star known for his work in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Hair,” and “Hello, Dolly!” 

Ken Page (1954–2024), voice of Oogie Boogie

Ken Page was a cabaret singer and Broadway star known for playing Old Deuteronomy in “Cats,” as well as for his work in “Ain't Misbehavin'” and “The Wiz” and for voicing Oogie Boogie in the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Pete Rose (1941–2024), controversial MLB hits leader

Pete Rose was a legend of the Cincinnati Reds, the MLB’s all-time leader in hits, at-bats, and other metrics. He was permanently banned from baseball after betting on his own team’s games while managing the Reds.

Bill Lucy (1933–2024), 1960s labor leader, civil rights activist

Bill Lucy was a labor leader and civil rights activist best known for his work during and after the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike. 

Dikembe Mutombo (1966–2024), Hall of Fame NBA shot-blocker

Dikembe Mutombo was an NBA star known for his towering height and his shot-blocking skills.

John Ashton (1948–2024), Beverly Hills Cop actor

John Ashton was an actor best known for his work in “Some Kind of Wonderful” and the “Beverly Hills Cop” movies.

Drake Hogestyn (1953–2024), longtime star of Days of Our Lives

Drake Hogestyn was an actor best known for his long-running role as John Black on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” 

Ozzie Virgil Sr. (1932–2024), first Dominican player in MLB

Ozzie Virgil Sr. became the first player in Major League Baseball from the Dominican Republic when he debuted with the New York Giants in 1956.

Kris Kristofferson (1936–2024), singer, songwriter and actor

Kris Kristofferson was a singer, songwriter, and actor whose writing helped reshape country music and whose successful jump into acting made him one of the 1970s’ biggest stars.

Nick Gravenites (1938–2024), bluesman who wrote for Janis Joplin

Nick Gravenites was a blues singer and guitarist who sang with the Electric Flag and wrote music for . 

Maggie Smith (1934–2024), star of Downton Abbey and Harry Potter

Maggie Smith was an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony-winning actress known for roles in “Downton Abbey” and the “Harry Potter” series, along with dozens of other notable movies, television shows, and stage performances.

Eduardo Xol (1966–2024), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition star

Eduardo Xol was a television star best known for his work on the reality show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” 

Adrian Bailey (1956–2024), Broadway performer who survived fall

Adrian Bailey was a Broadway singer, actor, and dancer whose career was tragically cut short by an onstage fall before a performance of “The Little Mermaid.” 

Freddie Salem (1954–2024), former guitarist for Outlaws

Freddie Salem was a rock guitarist best known for his time with the Southern rock band Outlaws. 

Cat Glover (2024), Sign o' the Times dancer

Cat Glover was a singer, dancer and choreographer best known for her work with in the 1980s, most notably the “Sign o' the Times” concert film.

Al McCoy (1933–2024), longtime Phoenix Suns broadcaster

Al McCoy was a sports broadcaster best known for his 51 years as the play-by-play announcer for the Phoenix Suns, the longest tenure in NBA history. 

Cleo Sylvestre (1945–2024), trailblazing British actress and singer

Cleo Sylvestre was a British actress and singer who achieved several firsts, including being the first female vocalist to record with the Rolling Stones. 

Otis Davis (1932–2024), two-time gold medal-winning runner

Otis Davis was a track and field athlete who won two Olympic gold medals for the United States in the 1960 Rome games.

Dan Evans (1925–2024), former Washington governor and U.S. senator

Dan Evans was a three-term governor of Washington state in the 1960s and ‘70s who went on to serve as a U.S. senator in the ‘80s.

Benny Golson (1929–2024), jazz saxophonist and composer

Benny Golson was a tenor saxophonist and composer whose work helped define the sound of hard bop and whose compositions have since become standards in the world of jazz.

Eugene “Mercury” Morris (1947–2024), two-time Super Bowl winner

Eugene “Mercury” Morris was a running back with the Miami Dolphins, winning two Super Bowls with the team in the 1970s and earning three Pro Bowl selections. 

Kathryn Crosby (1933–2024), actress and Bing Crosby’s widow

Kathryn Crosby was the wife of actor and crooner for the last 20 years of his life, and she starred in such movies as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.

David Graham (1925–2024), voice of the Daleks in Doctor Who

David Graham was a British voice actor best known for his work on “Doctor Who,” where he voiced the Daleks; for voicing Grandpa Pig on “Peppa Pig;” and for playing several characters on the “Thunderbirds” shows and films.

Elias Khoury (1948–2024), Lebanese novelist and activist

Elias Khoury was an award-winning novelist, author of “Gates of the Sun,” and activist from Lebanon best known as an advocate for the Palestinian cause.

John A. Clements (1923–2024), doctor whose research saved infants

John A. Clements was a doctor and researcher who discovered the cause of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and helped develop life-saving treatments for it.

Jay J. Armes (1932–2024), famous private investigator

Jay J. Armes was a private investigator from Texas who became famous thanks to his unusual cases, prosthetic hands, offbeat lifestyle, and action figure made in his likeness. 

Donnell Thompson (1958–2024), longtime Colts defensive end 

Donnell Thompson was a longtime defensive end for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, who later became a community-minded business owner.

Billy Edd Wheeler (1932–2024), co-writer of the country hit Jackson

Billy Edd Wheeler was a songwriter and author whose work earned him induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, best known for “Jackson,” the Grammy Award-winning single by and .

Nelson DeMille (1943–2024), best-selling thriller author

Nelson DeMille was a best-selling author of thriller and suspense novels, best known for his John Corey and Joe Ryker series, published under the name Jack Cannon. 

Mary McFadden (1938–2024), fashion designer known for pleated gowns

Mary McFadden was a fashion designer known for her pleated goddess gowns and the special fabric she created to achieve a draped effect. 

J.D. Souther (1945–2024), co-writer of The Eagles’ most popular hits

J.D. Souther was a singer, songwriter, and occasional actor best known for penning hits for The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, including “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight.” 

Harry Leary (1959–2024), Hall of Fame BMX racer 

Harry Leary was a Hall of Fame BMX racer who helped inspire a generation of riders to take to the motocross track.

Mitchell Wiggins (1959–2024), Houston Rockets shooting guard

Mitchell Wiggins was a shooting guard for such NBA teams as the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls, as well as the father of current Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins.

Tommy Cash (1940–2024), country singer and brother of Johnny Cash

Tommy Cash was a country musician who enjoyed 11 Top 40 country hits, including three straight in the Top 10. He was the brother of country icon .

Michaela DePrince (1995–2024), ballerina who danced with Beyonce

Michaela DePrince was a ballerina who rose from a war-torn childhood to become a rising international star of the dance world.

Tito Jackson (1953–2024), Jackson 5 singer and guitarist

Tito Jackson was a singer and guitarist best known for being part of the hit-making group The Jackson 5, who enjoyed four No. 1 hits and launched the career of pop icon . 

Joe Schmidt (1932–2024), legendary Detroit Lions middle linebacker

Joe Schmidt was an NFL linebacker and coach for the Detroit Lions whose storied career led him to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Stephen Peat (1980–2024), former NHL enforcer

Stephen Peat was a right winger with the NHL’s Washington Capitals in the 2000s. 

Caterina Valente (1931–2024), popular French-Italian singer

Caterina Valente was a French-Italian singer and musician who sang in 11 different languages and performed with icons like Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Chad McQueen (1960–2024), Karate Kid actor, son of Steve McQueen

Chad McQueen was an actor and race car driver best known for his work in “Karate Kid” and for being the son of movie star .

Tina McElroy Ansa (1949–2024), author explored the Black experience

Tina McElroy Ansa was an award-winning author best known for works like “Baby of the Family” and “Ugly Ways,” which explored the Black experience in the American South.

Jim Sasser (1936–2024), longtime U.S. senator from Tennessee 

Jim Sasser was a three-term U.S. senator from Tennessee who also served as ambassador to China under former President Bill Clinton.

Zoot Money (1942–2024), famed ‘60s keyboardist

Zoot Money was a keyboardist and actor whose shift from R&B to psychedelia in the 1960s saw him playing with acts like The Animals, Humble Pie, and others, as well as his own group, Big Roll Band.

Frankie Beverly (1946–2024), R&B singer and founder of Maze

Frankie Beverly was the frontman for the soul/funk band Maze, known for hits like “Can’t Get Over You” and “Back in Stride.” 

Peter Renaday (1935–2024), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles voice actor

Peter Renaday was a longtime voice actor best known for his work as Splinter in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and for a wide variety of voices for Disney, including Abraham Lincoln at Disney World’s Hall of Presidents.

Walt Ehmer (1966–2024), Waffle House CEO

Walt Ehmer was the CEO of the popular restaurant chain Waffle House from 2012 until his death.

John Cassaday (1971–2024), noted X-Men, Planetary comic book artist

John Cassaday was a comic book artist best known for his work with Joss Whedon on “Astonishing X-Men" and as the co-creator of “Planetary.”