The Remarkable Reta Banks

What a movie Reta Banks' life would make.

Sam Sarpong

Sam Sarpong, a supermodel and former host of MTV's "Yo Momma," has died after jumping off a bridge in Pasadena, California, according to USA Today. He was 40.

Denise Matthews (1959 - 2016), singer better known as Vanity

Denise Matthews, who as Vanity fronted the group Vanity 6 but was known best for collaborating with the legendary singer Prince, has died at a hospital in California. She was 57, according to imdb.com. Matthews' death Feb. 15 in Fremont, California, was confirmed by Gisela Hernandez, spokeswoman for Washington Hospital Health Care System. No cause of death was reported.

Ronit Elkabetz (1964 - 2016), award-winning Israeli actress

Ronit Elkabetz, an award-winning Israeli actress, screenwriter, and director, died April 19 of cancer in Tel Aviv, Israel, according to Variety and multiple other news sources. She was 51.

Nancy Dow (1936 - 2016), actress and mother of Jennifer Aniston

Nancy Dow, an actress, former model, and the mother of actress Jennifer Aniston, died May 25 in Los Angeles, according to multiple news sources. She was 79.

Gita Hall (1933 - 2016), Swedish model turned actress

Gita Hall, a Swedish-born model turned actress whose film credits include "The Gun Runners" and "Wolf Larsen," died Aug. 13, 2016, according to multiple news sources. She was 82.

Jeanne Martin (1927 - 2016), second wife of Dean Martin

Jeanne Martin, the second wife of , died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, according to her family. Martin, who had cancer, was 89.

Dylan Rieder (1988–2016), professional skateboarder

Dylan Rieder wasaprofessional skateboarder and model.

China Machado (1928–2016), pioneering supermodel

China Machado, the Shanghai-born supermodel who broke barriers in the fashion industry, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, at a hospital in Brookhaven, New York, according to multiple news sources. She was 87.

Bimba Bosé (1975 - 2017), model, actress, and singer

Bimba Bosé, an Italian-born model, actress, and singer, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, of cancer at a hospital in Madrid, Spain, according to multiple news sources. She was 41.

Daliah Lavi (1942 - 2017), Casino Royale actress

Israeli actress starred in many U.S. movies in the 1960s…

Anita Pallenberg (1944 - 2017), model and muse of the Rolling Stones

Model, actress was an ex-partner of Keith Richards...

Rebecca Burger (2017), French lifestyle blogger

French lifestyle blogger, athlete was also a fitness model...

Elsa Martinelli (1935 - 2017), Italian actress and model

Italian actress starred in “The Indian Fighter”…

Diane Nelson (1965–2017), pioneering female jockey

Pioneering female jockey rode more than 1,000 winners.

Barbara Sinatra (1927 - 2017), Frank Sinatra's window

Ex-model was singer Frank Sinatra’s fourth, final wife...

Lil Peep (1996–2017), musician combined emotional lyrics with hip hop beats

Lil Peep, singer, rapper, and fashion model, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 21.

Darlanne Fluegel (1953–2017), stunning star of 1980s crime dramas

Darlanne Fluegel, the stunning star of 1980s crime dramas, died after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Elly Mayday (1988–2019), model and body positivity advocate

Elly Mayday, born Ashley Luther, was a Canadian model and an activist for body positivity and women's health.

Tania Mallet (1941–2019), Bond girl in “Goldfinger”

She was a successful model before and after “Goldfinger”...

B. Smith (1949–2020), restaurateur and lifestyle guru

B. Smith was the owner of the popular Manhattan restaurant B. Smith, whose eye for style made her a well-known designer and lifestyle guru. Born Barbara Elaine Smith, she was also a model who was one of the first black women to appear on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine, in 1976. Called the black Martha Stewart, she starred in the syndicated TV show “B. Smith with Style,” and she wrote cookbooks including “B. Smith’s Entertaining and Cooking for Friends.” As a décor designer, Smith created collections sold at Bed Bath & Beyond and La-Z-Boy.

Chynna Rogers (1994–2020), rapper and model

Chynna Rogerswas a model with the Ford Agency and a rising rap artist associated with A$AP Mob.

Elsa Peretti (1940–2021), renowned jewelry designer for Tiffany & Co.

Elsa Peretti was an Italian jewelry designer whose notable pieces for Tiffany & Co. include her iconic “Bone Cuff” bracelet.

Gerren Taylor (1990–2021), model and “Baldwin Hills” star

Gerren Taylor was a model and entrepreneur who starred on the BET reality series “Baldwin Hills.”

Nick Kamen (1962–2021), Levi’s model and singer who worked with Madonna

Nick Kamen was an English model and singer best known for the songs “Each Time You Break My Heart” and “I Promised Myself.”

Sarah Harding (1981–2021), singer with Girls Aloud

Sarah Harding was an actress, model, and singer with the British girl group Girls Aloud.

Trudy Haynes (1926–2022), first Black TV weather reporter in the U.S.

Trudy Haynes was an Emmy Award-winning journalist who became the first Black TV weather reporter in the U.S. and the first Black TV reporter in Philadelphia.

Charlbi Dean (1990–2022), “Black Lightning” actress 

Charlbi Dean was a model and actress best known for a recurring role as the assassin Syonide on the CW superhero series “Black Lightning.”

Elias Theodorou (1988–2022), Canadian MMA fighter 

Elias Theodorou was a Canadian MMA fighter and model who appeared on the reality series “Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia.”   

Roxanne Lowit (1942–2022), photographed art & fashion legends in rare backstage moments

Roxanne Lowit was an iconic fashion photographer known for her intimate behind-the-scenes images of models and other celebrities.

Venetia Stevenson (1938–2022), glamorous 1950s Hollywood star  

Venetia Stevenson was an actress who starred in films in the 1950s and 1960s including “Darby’s Rangers.”

Tatjana Patitz (1966–2023), one of the first supermodels

Tatjana Patitz was one of the original supermodels who rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Jacky Oh (1990–2023), star of Wild 'N Out

Jacky Oh was a model, entrepreneur, and social media influencer who starred on the MTV show “Wild 'N Out” for five seasons. 

Jane Birkin (1946–2023), singer, actress, and model

Jane Birkin was a prolific British and French actress and singer, as well as the inspiration for the sought-after Birkin Bag from Hermès, one of the most exclusive accessories in fashion.

Barbara Mullen (1927–2023), unconventional 1950s model

Barbara Mullen was a model in the 1950s whose slim frame offered a glimpse into the future of modeling.

Gail O’Neill (1962–2023), model and TV news correspondent 

Gail O’Neill was a top fashion model who debuted in the 1980s and became one of the original correspondents for “The Early Show” on CBS.0

Helen Williams (1935–2023), pioneering model

Helen Williams was one of the first Black models to appear widely in national publications in the U.S.

Robbin Bain (1936–2023), “Today Girl” on NBC

Robbin Bain was a former beauty pageant winner who became a “Today Girl” on television, offering fashion and beauty tips in segments for NBC’s “Today” in the 1960s.

Alec Musser (1973–2024), All My Children actor

Alec Musser was an actor known for roles in such TV shows and movies as “All My Children” and “Grown Ups.” 

Melinda Wilson (1946–2024), wife of Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson

Melinda Wilson was a talent manager and the second wife of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, helping Wilson sever ties with his controversial psychologist and business partner, Eugene Landy.0

Susan Buckner (1952–2024), cheerleader Patty Simcox from Grease

Susan Buckner was a model, actress, and former Miss America contestant who later played the glasses-wearing cheerleader Patty Simcox in "Grease."

Roxanne (1929–2024), Beat the Clock model and actress

Dolores Rosedale , aka Roxanne , was a model and actress known for her time as an assistant on “Beat the Clock” and for appearing in “The Seven Year Itch” with . 

Françoise Hardy (1944–2024), French ballad singer and actress

Françoise Hardy was a French singer, actress, and model whose penchant for thoughtful ballads made her a star of the 1960s.

Renauld White (1944–2024), Guiding Light actor and pioneering model

Renauld White was a barrier-breaking model who also starred on “Guiding Light” in the 1980s as William Reynolds.

Peggy Moffitt (1937–2024), ‘60s fashion model

Peggy Moffitt was a model and actress best known for helping define the makeup-heavy, chopped-hair look of ‘60s fashion.

Dayle Haddon (1948–2024), L'Oréal spokeswoman and actress

Dayle Haddon was a Canadian model-actress best known as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model and longtime L'Oréal spokeswoman.