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

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

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.

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.

Ellsworth Johnson (1923-2023), 100-year-old WWII special-ops veteran

Ellsworth Johnson was a WWII veteran and the last known surviving member of a secret U.S. military unit that operated in enemy-occupied territory in France and China.

Russell Batiste Jr. (1965–2023), renowned funk drummer 

David Russell Batiste Jr. was a New Orleans-based funk drummer who played for the Funky Meters, Nuclear Rhythms, Papa Grows Funk, and Vida Blue, among others.

Chris Snow (1981–2023), NHL exec whose ALS fight was inspirational 

Chris Snow was the assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames who became an advocate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) awareness after he was diagnosed with the disease.

Dan Wieden (1945–2022), adman who created “Just Do It” for Nike

Dan Wieden was an advertising executive who coined the iconic phrase “Just Do It’ for Nike.   

Kevin Locke (1954–2022), Native American musician and hoop dancer

Kevin Locke was an acclaimed Native American musician and hoop dancer who worked to preserve native musical traditions.

Clarence Smoyer (1923–2022), World War II hero  

Clarence Smoyer was a World War II tank gunner known as the “Hero of Cologne” for his bravery in helping to defeat a German panther tank during the important 1945 battle.

Marvin Powell (1955–2022), legendary New York Jets offensive lineman

Marvin Powell was a legendary offensive tackle for the New York Jets who was a five-time Pro Bowl selection.   

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson (1972–2022), gospel singer

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson was a gospel singer known for songs including “Let Go and Let God.”

Charles Cummings (1930–2021), Easy-Bake Mini-Wave Oven inventor

Charles Cummings was a toy inventor who created the Baby Alive doll and the Easy-Bake Mini-Wave Oven.

Jessye Norman (1945–2019), Grammy-winning opera singer

Jessye Norman was an operatic soprano known for her matchless voice and for her signature roles including Strauss’ Ariadne. She made her debut on the operatic stage in 1969, portraying Elisabeth in Wagner’s “Tannhauser” in Berlin. Inspired as a girl by listening to performances at New York’s Metropolitan Opera on the radio, Norman made her debut at the Met in 1983, singing the part of Cassandre in “Les Troyens” by Berlioz. She would go on to sing at the Met more than 80 times. Norman performed at the second inaugurations of presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, and she sang at England’s celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th birthday as well as at the bicentennial of the French Revolution. She won five Grammy Awards, including one for lifetime achievement, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1997, and was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 2009.

Wayne Fitzgerald (1930–2019), designed title sequences for “The Graduate” and “The Godfather”

Wayne Fitzgerald was a film title designer who created memorable title sequences for hundreds of movies and television shows. Among his most notable projects were the titles for “The Graduate,” the “Godfather” series, “Chinatown,” and “Footloose.” On television, his credits included “Dallas,” “Matlock,” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Working first for Pacific Title and then striking out on his own to form Wayne Fitzgerald FilmDesign, Fitzgerald was at the forefront of a midcentury shift in style for title sequences. In early Hollywood, the title was simple, a single shot with the movie’s name and a few key personnel credited. As movies became more complicated and more and more names began to be credited in the titles, the sequences got boring – until designers like Fitzgerald got creative. He worked to create a sequence that would set the stage for the movie that followed, as when he introduced “9 to 5” with a hectic montage of people busily starting their workdays. Fitzgerald won three Emmy Awards for his work.

Elizabeth Baur (1947 – 2017), starred on the TV series “Ironside”

She played Officer Fran Belding on the popular crime drama…

Monty Hall (1921–2017), slick-talking host of “Let’s Make a Deal”

Co-creator and host of the classic game show “Let’s Make a Deal.”

Donald Malarkey (1921 – 2017), World War II paratrooper was a member of "Easy Company"

Portrayed on screen in the HBO miniseries, "Band of Brothers."…

Joe Tiller (1942 – 2017), football coach brought exciting offense to Purdue

Joe Tiller, the winningest football coach in Purdue history, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, of natural causes at his home in Buffalo, Wyo., according to The Associated Press. He was 74.

Norma Bauerschmidt (1925 - 2016), Driving Miss Norma social media star

Norma Bauerschmidt, a Michigan resident who chose to travel the United States instead of undergoing treatment for cancer, died Sept. 30, 2016, in her motor home on San Juan Island, Washington. She was 91.

Oscar Brand (1920–2016), Canadian folk singer

Canadian folk singer and radio host.

Mike Towell (1991 - 2016), Scottish welterweight boxer

Mike Towell, a Scottish welterweight boxer, died Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, after suffering severe bleeding and brain swelling following a match Thursday, according to multiple news sources. He was 25.

James Dean Endures

James Dean starred in just three major movies, more than half a century ago. But he remains one of American culture’s most enduring icons.

Mary Ford, the Voice Behind Les Paul

Mary Ford became famous for her groundbreaking duets with musician and inventor Les Paul. On what would have been her 87th birthday, we look back at her life and singing career...

Edgar Bergen and His Famous Dummy

Edgar Bergen enjoyed a five-decade career in radio, television and film. Of course, he had a little help from his friend Charlie McCarthy.