Famous Families

Wayne Osmond (1951–2025), founding member of The Osmonds

Wayne Osmond was a founding member of The Osmond Brothers, the family singing group that later became The Osmonds.

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 .

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 .

Betty A. Bridges (1941–2024), prolific actress and Todd Bridges’ mom

Betty A. Bridges was a teacher and actress known for guest spots on such TV shows as “Diff’rent Strokes,” on which she appeared alongside her son, Todd Bridges.

The Nelons plane crash (2024) 

Seven people were killed in a Wyoming plane crash on Friday, July 26, 2024, including three members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame group the Nelons.

Sika Anoa’i (1945–2024), WWE Hall of Famer

Sika Anoa’i was a professional wrestler best known as half of the Wild Samoans tag team and the father of current WWE superstar Roman Reigns.

Sandra Crouch (1942–2024), Grammy Award-winning gospel artist 

Sandra Crouch was a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer and songwriter who also performed on several Motown records and contributed songs by the Jackson 5.

Cass Warner (1948–2024), granddaughter of Warner Bros. co-founder 

Cass Warner was a filmmaker, author, the granddaughter of Warner Bros. co-founder Harry Warner, and mother of actor Cole Hauser.

Marilyn Lillie Lovell (1930–2023), wife of astronaut Jim Lovell

Marilyn Lillie Lovell was the wife of NASA astronaut Jim Lovell and an active member of the Astronaut Wives Club.

Josephine Chaplin (1949–2023), actress and Charlie Chaplin’s daughter 

Josephine Chaplin was an actress with roles in “The Canterbury Tales” and “Escape to the Sun,” as well as the daughter of actor and filmmaker . 

Carlin Glynn (1940–2023), singer and Sixteen Candles actress

Carlin Glynn was a Tony Award-winning singer and actress with appearances in “Sixteen Candles,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” and others. She was also the mother of actress Mary Stuart Masterson. 

Ginnie Newhart (1940–2023), longtime wife of Bob Newhart

Ginnie Newhart was comedian and actor Bob Newhart’s wife for 60 years, and she is credited with the idea for the iconic series finale to “Newhart.”

Lisa Marie Presley (1968–2023), singer-songwriter and Elvis Presley’s daughter

Lisa Marie Presley was a singer and songwriter and the daughter of and Priscilla Presley.

Mickey Rooney Jr. (1945–2022), actor, musician, and Mickey Rooney’s son

Mickey Rooney Jr. was an actor and musician as well as the son of actor .

Ivana Trump (1949–2022), Donald Trump’s first wife

Ivana Trump was a businesswoman and the first wife of former President Donald Trump, as well as the mother of his children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric Trump.

Priscilla Tolkien (1929–2022), daughter of J.R.R. Tolkien

Priscilla Tolkien, the youngest child of The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien, was Vice President of The Tolkien Society .

Robert Downey Sr. (1936–2021), filmmaker and actor

Robert Downey Sr. was a filmmaker and actor best known for his 1969 film “Putney Swope.” He was also the father of Robert Downey Jr.

Phyllis McGuire (1931–2020), singer with the McGuire Sisters

Phyllis McGuire was the last living member of the McGuire Sisters, the pop singing group that had hits including “Sincerely” and “Sugartime.”

Bobby Brown Jr. (1992–2020), musician who was Bobby Brown’s son

Bobby Brown Jr. was a musician who was the son of R&B star Bobby Brown and his former girlfriend, Kim Ward.

Carol Arthur (1935–2020), 'Blazing Saddles' actor

Carol Arthur starred in "Blazing Saddles" and was the widow of .

James Redford (1962–2020), filmmaker who was Robert Redford’s son

James Redford was a filmmaker known for documentaries including “The Kindness of Strangers,” and he was the son of actor and director Robert Redford.

Roberta McCain (1912–2020), mother of Senator John McCain

Roberta McCain, the mother of Senator John McCain, has died at the age of 108.

Tom Kennedy (1927–2020), legendary TV game show host

Tom Kennedy wasa legendaryTV game show hostknown for Name That Tune and Split Second.

Eddie Van Halen (1955–2020), legendary Van Halen guitarist

Eddie Van Halen was co-founder and iconic guitarist for the hard rock band Van Halen.

Jackie Stallone (1921–2020), famous astrologer and Sylvester Stallone’s mother

Jackie Stallone was a popular astrologer known for her psychic hotline on television and was the mother of Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone.

Edna Wright (1944–2020), Honey Cone lead singer

Edna Wright was the lead singer of the R&B group Honey Cone, known for their 1971 hit “Want Ads.” She was the sister ofpopular singer Darlene Love.

Joan Feynman (1927–2020), astrophysicist who explained the aurora borealis

Joan Feynman was a pioneering astrophysicist who discovered the science behind the aurora borealis and aurora australis.

Manuel “El Loco” Valdes (1931–2020), Mexican comedy legend

Manuel “El Loco” Valdes was an actor and comedian who was a Mexican pop culture legend.

“Bullet” Bob Armstrong (1939–2020), WWE Hall of Fame wrestler

“Bullet” Bob Armstrong was a professional wrestler whose career spanned five decades, from 1960 to his final match in 2009. His four sons became professional wrestlers and he partnered with them in tag team matches at various points in his career.

Arnold Spielberg (1917–2020), computer pioneer, Steven Spielberg’s dad

Arnold Spielberg was the father of movie director Steven Spielberg and a computer pioneer whose work was instrumental in the development of personal computers.

Justin Townes Earle (1982–2020), singer-songwriter, Steve Earle’s son

Justin Townes Earle was an Americana singer-songwriter and the son of alternative country musician Steve Earle.

Doris Buffett (1928–2020), philanthropist who was Warren Buffett’s sister

Doris Buffett was a philanthropist who was the older sister of billionaire Warren Buffett and helped with his charitable giving efforts.

Maurice Petty (1939–2020), legendary race car engine builder

Maurice Petty was a NASCAR Hall of Fame engine builder and the brother of racing legend Richard Petty.

Olivia de Havilland (1916–2020), Oscar-winning “Gone With the Wind” star

Olivia de Havilland was an Oscar-winning actress who played Melanie Hamilton in "Gone With the Wind" and won two Academy Awards for Best Actress.

Carl Reiner (1922–2020), legendary comedy writer, director, and performer

Carl Reiner was a legendary comedy writer and performer who created "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and directed films including "The Jerk.”

Freddy Cole (1931–2020), Grammy-nominated jazz singer and pianist

Freddy Cole was a jazz singer and pianist who was nominated for several Grammy Awards, including in 2019 for Best Jazz Vocal Album. He was Nat King Cole’s younger brother.

Sergei Khrushchev (1935–2020), Nikita Khrushchev’s son who became a U.S. citizen

Sergei Khrushchev was the son of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, and he became known for becoming a U.S. citizen and speaking about the Cold War.

Jean Kennedy Smith (1928–2020), last surviving Kennedy sibling

Jean Kennedy Smith was the last surviving sibling of President and a diplomat who helped with the effort toward peace in Northern Ireland.

Darick Campbell (1966–2020), lap steel guitarist with the Campbell Brothers

Darick Campbell was the lap steel guitarist with the gospel band the Campbell Brothers.

Bonnie Pointer (1950–2020), Pointer Sisters singer

Bonnie Pointerstarted the legendary R&B group The Pointer Sisters with her sisters June and Anita in 1969. She left the group in 1977 for a solo career.

Jorge Santana (1951–2020), guitarist for Malo and Carlos Santana’s brother

Jorge Santana was the guitarist for Malo, who had a 1972 hit with “Suavecito.” He was also the younger brother of Carlos Santana.

Beckett Cypher (2020), Melissa Etheridge’s son

Beckett Cypher was the son of singer Melissa Etheridge and her ex-partner Julie Cypher. The pair, who split up in 2000, had two children together by aritficial insemination, Beckett and his sister Bailey. Their biological father is rock legend David Crosby.

Stirling Moss (1929–2020), legendary British racecar driver

Stirling Moss was a top Formula One racer called "the greatest driver never to win the World Championship," though he was runner-up four times.  

Maeve Kennedy McKean (1979–2020), Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter

Maeve Kennedy McKean was the granddaughter of and a public health official who was the first senior advisor for human rights in the U.S. Department of State’s global AIDS program under President Barack Obama.

Ellis Marsalis Jr. (1934–2020), New Orleans jazz piano legend

Ellis Marsalis Jr. was a well-known New Orleans jazz pianist who was the patriarch of a musical family including sons Branford and Wynton Marsalis.

Roger Mayweather (1961–2020), legendary boxing trainer

Roger Mayweather  was a legendary boxing trainer who trained his nephew, boxing star Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather was an excellent boxer himself, a two-time world champion nicknamed “Black Mamba,” who had bouts with Julio Cesar Chavez and Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. Roger helped his nephew Floyd become one of the greatest boxers in history. Floyd was a world champion in multiple weight classes and finished his career with a record of 50-0.

Henri Richard (1936–2020), Montreal Canadiens legend

Henri Richard was an all-time great with the Montreal Canadiens, playing with the hallowed franchise 20 seasons and winning 11 Stanley Cups, an NHL record. He was nicknamed “The Pocket Rocket” — because of his 5-foot-7-inch height and because he was the younger brother of Canadiens legend . Henri Richard racked up over 1,000 points during his Hall of Fame career. He scored the cup-winning goals in 1966 and 1971. The center was known for his playmaking abilities, twice leading the NHL in assists.

Danny Tidwell (1984–2020), “So You Think You Can Dance” runner-up

Danny Tidwell was the runner-up on season three of “So You Think You Can Dance,” the dance competition series that airs on Fox. Tidwell trained at the Krov Academy of Ballet as a teenager and had danced with the American Ballet Theatre. His brother Travis, also a dancer, finished second on “So You Think You Can Dance” in season two.

Kirk Douglas (1916–2020), Hollywood legend

Kirk Douglas , one of the greatest screen legends of the 20th century, has died at the age of 103, according to a statement released by his family that includes his son, actor Michael Douglas, and reported by People Magazine.