By Marisa Laudadio
4:57pm PDT, Jun 27, 2022
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Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the bold-faced names we lost in 2022, starting with this entertainer… Character actress Mary Mara drowned in the St. Lawrence River in Cape Vincent, New York, on June 26 after apparently going swimming, New York State Police confirmed amid an ongoing investigation into her death. A family spokesperson told Deadline that Mary, who was 61, was staying at her sister's summer home there. The prolific actress worked in the theater, on TV and in movies and was perhaps best known for her work as a single mom and prostitute on the NBC series "ER," a killer on the CBS drama "Criminal Minds," a police inspector on "Nash Bridges" and the vulnerable daughter of a washed-up comedian in the movie "Mr. Saturday Night." She also appeared in myriad projects including "Love Potion No. 9," "NYPD Blue," "Law & Order," "Ray Donovan," "Nip/Tuck" and more.
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Brett Tuggle — a keyboardist for Fleetwood Mac for two decades who also played with Rick Springfield and was a founding member of the David Lee Roth Band — died from complications related to cancer on June 20, son Matt confirmed to Rolling Stone. Brett was 70. Rick took to social media to honor his old bandmate, writing, "Our sweet Brett Tuggle made it home tonight. God bless his beautiful spirit." Matt told Rolling Stone of his father, who also played with Jimmy Page, David Coverdale, John Kay and Steppenwolf, Styx's Tommy Shaw and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels during his lengthy career, "He was loved by his family so much. His family was with him throughout the entire time of his illness. He was a lovely father. He gave me music in my life."
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Character actor Philip Baker Hall, who's perhaps best known for his work in filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson's movies including "Magnolia," "Hard Eight" and "Boogie Nights" as well as his turn playing library investigations officer Lt. Joe Bookman on "Seinfeld," died on June 12. He was 90. The star's wife confirmed to CBS News that he passed away in Glendale, California, surrounded by loved ones.
RELATED: Stars we lost to the coronavirus
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On June 3, Gerber announced on Instagram that Ann Turner Cook — the model for the original Gerber baby — recently died at 95. "Gerber is deeply saddened by the passing of Ann Turner Cook, the original Gerber baby, whose face was sketched to become the iconic Gerber logo more than 90 years ago. Many years before becoming an extraordinary mother, teacher and writer, her smile and expressive curiosity captured hearts everywhere and will continue to live on as a symbol for all babies. We extend our deepest sympathies to Ann's family and to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her," the brand captioned a slideshow of photos of Ann, who was five months old when she posed for Gerber in 1928. According to TheWrap, Ann became the face of the brand after her neighbor at the time, Dorothy Hope Smith, drew a charcoal sketch of her for a contest promoting Gerber's baby food.
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On June 5, the official Twitter account for Bon Jovi announced that the band's founding bassist, Alec John Such, died at 70. (No cause of death was given.) "We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such. He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band. To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him — he was a childhood friend of Tico [Torres] and brought Richie [Sambora] to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today these special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We will miss him dearly," they wrote. Alec left Bon Jovi in 1994 but reunited with the band in 2018 when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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On May 28, actor Bo Hopkins — who appeared in films including "The Wild Bunch," "American Graffiti," "Midnight Express" and "White Lightning" — died at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, California, after suffering a heart attack on May 9, his wife told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 84.
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Depeche Mode co-founder Andy Fletcher, who played synthesizers in the British music group, is dead at 60, his band announced on May 26. They didn't share more details, but a source close to the musicians told The Associated Press that Andy — who along with his bandmates was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 — passed away the same day at his home in Britain.
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Ray Liotta, who became a household name after his breakout performance in Martin Scorsese's Mob movie classic "Goodfellas," died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film "Dangerous Waters," Deadline reported on May 26. TMZ also confirmed the news, adding that foul play is not suspected, and that Ray's fiancée, Jacy Nittolo, was with him in the DR at the time. The actor — who delivered memorable performances in "Field of Dreams," "Blow," "Cop Land" and more films and won an Emmy for his guest-starring performance on the TV drama "ER" — was 67.
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Brad Johnson, a former rodeo cowboy and Marlboro Man and Calvin Klein model who starred in Steven Spielberg's romantic drama "Always" and appeared on "Melrose Place," died from COVID-19 complications on Feb. 18 in Fort Worth, Texas, his rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on June 2. Brad — who also starred on TV shows like "Soldier of Fortune, Inc." and "Ned Blessing: The Story of My Life and Times" as well as the movie "Flight of the Intruder" and the miniseries "Rough Riders" — was 62. "Although he was taken too early, he lived life to the fullest and taught his children to do the same," his family told THR in a statement. "Brad greatly enjoyed improving and enhancing land, in a way that maintained and respected its natural beauty. He always felt most at home outdoors, and his passion for the land made that evident. As much as he loved cowboying, hunting and land, Brad loved nothing more than his family."
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Daytime Emmy-nominated actress Marnie Schulenburg — who was best known for her work on soap operas including the "One Life to Live" reboot and "As the World Turns" — died at 37 on May 17 in Bloomfield, New Jersey, after a cancer battle, her rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. Marnie was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2020 five months after giving birth to her daughter, Coda, with husband Zack Robidas, an actor who's appeared on "Succession" and "Sorry for Your Loss." Marnie will posthumously appear on Showtime's "City on a Hill."
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Lil Keed, whose high-pitched yet soft voice often earned him comparisons to his mentor, Young Thug, died in Los Angeles on May 13. He was 24. His record label, 300 Entertainment, confirmed the news to The New York Times but has not yet shared his cause of death. Born Raqhid Jevon Render in Atlanta, Lil Keed was best known for his "Trapped on Cleveland" mixtape series featuring tales from his hardscrabble upbringing in Atlanta's Cleveland neighborhood. Keed was also signed to YSL Records, Young Thug's 300 Entertainment imprint. The week before Keed's death, YSL was implicated as a criminal street gang in a RICO indictment that charged Young Thug and 27 of his associates with gang-related activities and crimes. According to the Times, Lil Keed was not charged, but he did post a reaction to the indictment on social media. "YSL is a family, YSL is a label, YSL is a way of life, YSL is a lifestyle," he wrote. "YSL is not a gang."
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Air Force veteran-turned-actor Fred Ward died on May 8 at 79. He appeared in movies including "Tremors," "The Right Stuff," "Short Cuts," "Henry & June" and "The Player" as well as TV shows like "Quincy, M.E.," "The Incredible Hulk" and "True Detective" during his five-decade career. His cause of death has not been publicly revealed, but his publicist told People magazine that "it was Fred Ward's wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of donations to the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center."
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Jack Kehler, the prolific character actor who played the landlord to Jeff Bridges' the Dude in "The Big Lebowski," died from complications of leukemia at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 7, NBC News reported. He was 75. Jack appeared in everything from episodes of TV shows including "Hill Street Blues," "Cagney & Lacey" and "St. Elsewhere" to '90s action movies like "The Last Boy Scout," "Wyatt Earp" and "Waterworld." More recently, he had recurring role on "The Man in the High Castle" and played a landlord on the Disney+ series "Love, Victor."
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Country music singer Mickey Gilley — who owned the Texas honky-tonk Gilley's, which inspired the 1980 John Travolta movie "Urban Cowboy," and who was a cousin of rock 'n' roll star Jerry Lee Lewis — "passed peacefully with his family and close friends by his side" in Branson, Missouri, on May 7, Mickey Gilley Associates said a statement. Mickey — who released hits including "Window Up Above," "Room Full of Roses," "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time" and "She's Pulling Me Back Again" — was 86. According to the New York Post, though he was still performing as recently as April, Mickey, who also acted, popping up on episodes of "Murder, She Wrote" and "The Dukes of Hazzard," had been in declining health in the week leading up to his death.
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"St. Elsewhere" and "Serpico" actor David Birney — who starred alongside future ex-wife Meredith Baxter on the lauded but short-lived '70s sitcom "Bridget Loves Bernie" — died on April 27 in his home in Santa Monica, California, daughter Mollie confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. The stage and screen actor — who was 83 — passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, which was diagnosed in 2017.
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Kailia Posey, who appeared on TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras" in 2012, died days after her 16th birthday, her mother announced on May 3. "I don't have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone," Marcy Posey Gatterma wrote on Facebook. DailyMail.com reported that the former reality TV star was found in a Washington state park, and later on May 3, her family confirmed her cause of death in a statement to TMZ. "Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in one impetuous moment, she made the rash decision to end her earthly life," they wrote, adding that Kailia had "won countless crowns & trophies after competing on the pageant circuit her entire life … Her highly acclaimed talent as a contortionist had already led to professional touring job offers, and she had recently been selected to be a cheerleader at her high school next fall," and that the aviation buff planned to continue to work in the entertainment industry while pursuing her goal of earning her a commercial pilot's license. As a 6-year-old, a clip of Kailia flashing a grin was turned into a popular GIF that she and her mom often posted alongside funny phrases. Kailia had been preparing to compete in the Miss Washington Teen USA pageant and had just attended her prom when she died by suicide.
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Grammy-winning country music star Naomi Judd is dead at 76, her family announced on April 30. The singer, who was one-half of the duo The Judds, was 76. Her daughters, actress Ashley Judd and singer Wynonna Judd, shared the news in a heartbreaking statement. "Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness," it read. "We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory." People magazine reported on May 2, citing multiple sources, that the beloved singer died by suicide.
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Kenneth Tsang — a Hong Kong movie actor who's appeared in Hollywood films too including "Rush Hour 2" and the and James Bond movie "Die Another Day" — was found dead in his Hong Kong hotel room, where he was undergoing the city's mandatory COVID-19 travel quarantine after returning from a trip to Singapore, on April 27. He was 86. The South China Morning Post reported that Kenneth was discovered unconscious in his room by health care workers conducting checks on travelers and was soon pronounced dead. Reports also note he was vaccinated for COVID and had tested negative the previous day. His cause of death has yet to be determined.
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Musician Andrew Woolfolk — who performed with Earth, Wind & Fire from 1973 to 1984 and again from 1987 to 1993 — died on April 24 from an undisclosed illness. He was 71. "I met him in High School, and we quickly became friends and band mates. Andrew Paul Woolfolk was his name. We lost him today, after being ill of over 6 years. He has Transitioned on to the forever, from this Land of the dying to the Land of the Living," Earth, Winds & Fire lead singer Philip Bailey wrote on Instagram alongside a photo with the saxophonist. "Great memories. Great Talent. Funny. Competitive. Quick witted. And always styling. Booski… I'll see you on the other side, my friend."
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Lauded stage and screen actor Robert Morse — who's best known for his work as Bertram Cooper on "Mad Men" and as ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, the star of the original Broadway production and the film "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" — died peacefully at his Los Angeles home on April 20 after a short illness, agent David Shaul confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 90. Robert won two Tony Awards (for "Business" and for "Tru," in which he played Truman Capote) as well as an Emmy during his long career. In more recent years, he played Dominick Dunne on "American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson" and voiced Santa Claus on the popular animated show "Teen Titans Go!"
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Actor Rio Hackford, the son of director Taylor Hackford and first wife Georgie Lowres — and the stepson of actress Helen Mirren — passed away on April 14 at 51 in Huntington Beach, California, after a brief battle with a rare disease. Rio, who appeared in "The Mandalorian," "Pam & Tommy," "Treme," "American Crime Story" and more "died of uveal melanoma, a very aggressive and rare form of cancer," Taylor and Helen told People magazine in a statement. "We would beg everyone reading this to get their eyes tested at least once a year, which might save their loved ones from this cancer." In addition to Rio's famous parents, more stars publicly mourned him, with Renee Zellweger calling him "a titan of kindness, love, class, courage. And cool. A legend." Vince Vaughn, who appeared with Rio in films including "Fred Claus" and "Swingers," called his friend "as loyal and funny as anyone could be. … Rio was the best ever. Truly one of a kind." Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, who got a tribute tattoo of Rio's name after his death, said of the actor, "Rio just knew things. Esoteric things. Off-the-map things. Secret things. Wonderful things. He knew these things because of his charm, wit, honesty, character and tough personality. He was a real man in a sea of poseurs."
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Actress Liz Sheridan, who played Jerry Seinfeld's mom on "Seinfeld" and the nosy neighbor on "Alf," passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 15 — five days after her 93rd birthday, TMZ reported. The former dancer, who was also a successful Broadway actress, famously dated James Dean when they were both young performers in New York in the early 1950s. "Liz was always the sweetest, nicest TV mom a son could wish for," Jerry tweeted, adding, "Every time she came on our show it was the coziest feeling for me. So lucky to have known her."
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Gilbert Gottfried — the comedian known for his exaggerated voice and who played Iago in Disney's animated "Aladdin" film and hosted television's "USA Up All Night" in the '80s and '90s — died on April 12. He was 67. "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children," his family said in a statement. "Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert's honor." The star's longtime friend and publicist Glenn Schwartz shared more details with People magazine, including that Gilbert's cause of death was due to complications from muscular dystrophy. "Beloved and iconic comedian Gilbert Gottfried passed away at 2:35 p.m. ET on April 12, 2022, from Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia due to Myotonic Dystrophy type II," he said in a statement. Grieving Hollywood stars and friends took to social media to mourn the funnyman.
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1960s teen idol Bobby Rydell died on April 5, media outlets in his hometown of Philadelphia confirmed. The "Wild One" and "Volare" hitmaker — who appeared opposite Ann-Margret in the 1963 movie "Bye Bye Birdie" and inspired Rydell High's name in the hit film "Grease" — was 79. His cause of death was complications of pneumonia, a spokeswoman told The New York Times.
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Estelle Harris — the actress who played George Costanza's mother, Estelle, on "Seinfeld" and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in Disney's "Toy Story" films — died on April 2 in Palm Desert, California, of natural causes, her family confirmed to Deadline. She was 93. "It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25pm," son Glen Harris said. "Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her." Actor Jason Alexander mourned her on social media, writing, "One of my favorite people has passed – my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. I adore you, Estelle. Love to your family. Serenity now and always."
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Tom Parker, one of the singers in the boy band The Wanted, died on March 30 after a two-year battle with the brain cancer glioblastoma, wife Kelsey — with whom he shares children aged 1 and 2 — confirmed on Instagram. Tom was 33. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side," Kelsea wrote. "Our hearts are broken, Tom was the centre of our world and we can't imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence. We are truly thankful for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we all unite to ensure Tom's light continues to shine for his beautiful children. Thank you to everyone who has supported in his care throughout, he fought until the very end. I'm forever proud of you."
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Famed fashion and portrait photographer Patrick Demarchelier died on March 31 at 78. Page Six and other outlets reported that the Frenchman passed away on the island of St. Barts. Patrick became an icon thanks to his work with Vogue and Harper's Bazaar and was perhaps best known outside of fashion circles as the late Princess Diana's personal photographer. "I am grateful to have been lucky enough to be in front of your lens. Most gentle, most legendary, soft but full of life. You will be missed Patrick. Rest In Peace," supermodel Bella Hadid wrote on social media.
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Paul Herman — who played drug dealer-turned-pizza shop and club owner Peter "Beansie" Gaeta on HBO's "The Sopranos" and appeared in movies including "The Irishman," "Goodfellas" and "American Hustle" — died on March 29, which was his 76th birthday, TMZ confirmed. Former "Sopranos" co-star Michael Imperioli took to Instagram to share the sad news and mourn his friend, writing, "Paulie was just a great dude. A first class storyteller and raconteur and one hell of an actor. Goodfellas, Once Upon a Time in America , The Irishman and of course The Sopranos are some highlights." Michael continued, "Paulie lived around the corner from me the last few years and I am glad we got to spend some time together before he left us. I'll miss him. Lots of love to his family, friends and our community of actors and filmmakers."
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Taylor Hawkins, the drummer for the Foo Fighters, died on March 25 during a South American tour with his band. The New York Post reported that he died at the Casa Medina Bogota hotel, a Four Seasons property, in Bogota, Colombia, where the band was scheduled to perform at a festival later that day. "The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever," his bandmates wrote on Instagram. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member — who previously played drums for Alanis Morissette and also had has own band, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders — was 50. On March 26, Colombia's Attorney General's Office released a preliminary "forensic medical study" report indicating that a preliminary toxicology test discovered 10 substances in the rocker's urine including THC, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids. The AG's office continues to investigate to determine Taylor's cause of death as Hollywood mourns the beloved rocker, a married father of three.
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Madeleine Albright — the first female U.S. secretary of state — died from cancer in Washington, D.C., on March 23, her family confirmed. She was 84. The famed diplomat and champion of democracy — who guided America's foreign relations in the wake of the Cold War — first served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during President Bill Clinton's first term before ascending to her cabinet role, a position that made her the top-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government at the time.
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"The Big Chill" and "Body Heat" actor William Hurt — who won an Oscar for his performance in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and earned three more Academy Awards nods for his work in "Children of a Lesser God," "Broadcast News" and "A History of Violence" — died of natural causes on March 13, Variety reported. He was 71. In more recent years, a new generation of fans got to know him as General Thaddeus Ross in Marvel's Avengers films.
RELATED: Stars who lost children in the last year
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On March 12, the family of singer-actress Traci Braxton — who appeared with her famous sisters on the reality TV show "Braxton Family Values" — announced that Traci was dead after a cancer battle. She was 50. "We have come to a time where we must inform the public that after a year of privately undergoing a series of treatment for Esophageal cancer our beloved Traci Braxton has gone on to glory," her husband, Kevin Surratt, said in a statement. Sister Toni Braxton took to Instagram to mourn, writing on behalf of her family, "She was a bright light, a wonderful daughter, an amazing sister, a loving mother, wife, grandmother and a respected performer. We will miss her dearly."
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On Jan. 31, TMZ reported that Moses J. Moseley — who's best known for playing one of Michonne's pet zombies on "The Walking Dead" and also appeared on HBO's "Watchmen" and in the film "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" — was dead at 31. His body was found with a gunshot wound in Stockbridge, Georgia, the previous week after his family used OnStar to track his car after he went missing for several days, a family member told TMZ. Law enforcement sources confirmed to the webloid that the actor's death was being investigated as a possible suicide, but weeks later, a police spokesman revealed that other leads were being "thoroughly investigated." Moses's sister Teera Kimbro told TMZ that people close to the actor believe he was kidnapped and then killed. On March 21, TMZ shared an update, revealing that according to the actor's newly obtained death certificate, his cause of death — whether it was an accident, a suicide or a homicide — "could not be determined," though the document stated that Moses "shot self with intent unknown." His family, the webloid reported, continues to believe he was murdered.
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Clint Arlis — the contestant known for his slogan "villains gotta vill" on Kaitlyn Bristowe's season 11 of "The Bachelorette," which aired in 2015 — died at 34 on Jan. 11, sister Taylor announced on Facebook. On March 11, TMZ reported that the coroner's report revealed that Clint died by suicide at his parents' Illinois home. Fellow contestant Nick Viall took to social media following his death to call Clint "a very kind, unique, and talented person who was taken from this world far too soon," while Kaitlyn shared, in part, on her Instagram Story, "Even though things didn't end on the best terms for us, from his time on the show to today, I have heard nothing but incredible things about that person. From his peers, his students, his coaches, his teachers, his friends, his family, Clint was very well respected in his world."
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Emilio Delgado, who played Fix-It Shop owner Luis on "Sesame Street" for four decades, died on March 10 at his home in New York City surrounded by his family. His wife, Carol, told TMZ that the beloved actor, who was diagnosed with the blood cancer multiple myeloma in December 2020, had recently been in hospice care. Emilio was 81.
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Conrad Janis — the famed jazz trombonist, art gallerist and actor who was best known to TV audiences as Mindy's father on the '70s and '80s sitcom "Mork & Mindy" — died on March 1 in Los Angeles, business manager Dean A. Avedon told The New York Times. Conrad was 94.
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Johnny Brown (right) — who played housing project superintendent Nathan Bookman on the hit show "Good Times" — died at 84. The actor's daughter Sharon Catherine Brown told TMZ that he died suddenly after going into cardiac arrest and collapsing on March 2 following a routine doctor's appointment to get his pacemaker checked. "Our family is devastated. Devastated. Devastated. Beyond Heartbroken. Barely able to breathe," Sharon told TMZ, which reports that Johnny was a protege of Sammy Davis Jr. He also worked on Broadway in "Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights," which was directed by Sidney Poitier, and in Neil Simon's "The Out of Towners." Additionally, he appeared on shows like "Laugh In," "Julia," "Maude," "The Jeffersons," "Archie Bunker's Place," "Family Matters," "Sister, Sister," "Moonlighting" and "Martin."
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Tim Considine — who played oldest son Mike on "My Three Sons" — died on March 3 in Los Angeles. The actor — who also notably appeared on Disney's "Spin and Marty," in "The Hardy Boys" serials and in movies like "The Shaggy Dog," "The Clown" and "Patton" — was 81.
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Actress Farrah Forke — who's best known for her role as helicopter pilot and Desert Storm veteran Alex Lambert on the hit '90s NBC sitcom "Wings" — died of cancer in her Texas home on Feb. 25, a family friend confirmed to Variety. She was 54. Farrah also appeared on shows including "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," "Ned and Stacey," "Party of Five" and more as well as in films like "Disclosure" and "Heat."
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Character actor Ned Eisenberg, who was perhaps best known for his work on shows including "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Mare of Easttown," died of cancer at his home in New York on Feb. 27. He was 65. "As Ned would say, he was attacked by two very rare assassins — cholangiocarcinoma and ocular melanoma," his wife, actress Patricia Dunnock, said in a statement, as reported by USA Today. "Over the course of two years, he bravely fought the cancers in private while continuing to work in show business to ensure that his medical coverage paid for himself and his family." Ned's four-decade career also includes credits in films including "Million Dollar Baby" and "Flags of Our Fathers" and appearances on TV shows like "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "The Good Wife," "NYPD Blue" and "30 Rock," among others. "SVU" stars Mariska Hargitay took to Instagram to mourn Ned, writing, "My heart is so full of sadness over the loss of our dear, dear Ned Eisenberg. What a light and what a love. And such a first-rate actor, which pales next to him as a first-rate human. We will remember him always with his bright, mischievous smile and his wide-open heart. We love and miss you, sweet Ned."
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Actress Sally Kellerman — who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in 1970's "M*A*S*H" movie — died on Feb. 24 in Woodland Hills, California, her publicist, Alan Eichler, confirmed to Variety. Sally also notably appeared in other Robert Altman films as well as in the film adaptation of Neil Simon's comedy "Last of the Red Hot Lovers," in Rodney Dangerfield's "Back to School" and more. She was 84.
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Entertainer Donny Davis — a star at Beacher's Madhouse for two decades who's also performed with celebrities including Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Seth MacFarlane, Joe Jonas and more — died in Las Vegas on Feb. 22 at 43. Two days later, TMZ reported that authorities believe his death could be the result of foul play. A police report obtained by the webloid reveals that Donny and another man spent time with two women at Resorts World's Dawg House bar hours before he died and that one of the ladies later told cops that a bartender wouldn't serve Donny because he was too intoxicated. A few hours later, Donny and the man went to the star's room at the hotel for about an hour, at which point the man left and returned with one of the women who, as TMZ writes, "noticed Donny sitting in a chair and his hands looked pale and pink and began turning purple. The woman said Donny's hands were 'freezing' and he was not breathing." They moved him to the bed and called hotel security, who called 911; Donny was taken to a hospital and declared dead. Police suspect foul play, TMZ explained, because of the number of people in the room and because, according to the police report, Donny's male guest wouldn't talk to cops and wanted to speak to an attorney. Cops further said they had difficulties getting information from the people in his room.
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Mark Lanegan, the frontman of Screaming Trees — one of the pioneering bands in the Seattle grunge scene — is dead at 57. The musician, who's also a former member of rock band Queens of the Stone Age, "passed away this morning at his home in Killarney, Ireland," read a Feb. 22 statement on his Twitter account. "A beloved singer, songwriter, author, and musician he was 57 and is survived by his wife Shelley. No other information is available at this time. The family asks everyone to respect their privacy at this time."
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Political satirist, author and journalist P.J. O'Rourke died on Feb. 15 from complications of lung cancer, his publisher, Grove Atlantic Inc. Books, confirmed. The former editor-in-chief of the National Lampoon and regular panelist on NPR's "Wait Wait … Don't Tell Me" show — who was known for his conservative and libertarian commentary — was 74.
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Oscar- and Emmy-nominated director-producer Ivan Reitman died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Montecito, California, on Feb. 12, his family confirmed to The Associated Press. The man behind movies like "Animal House," "Ghostbusters," "Stripes," "Meatballs," "Kindergarten Cop," "Beethoven," "Old School" and many more — was 75. "Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life," his children — filmmaker son Jason Reitman and daughters Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman — said in a statement. "We take comfort that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world. While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always."
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Comedian Bob Saget was found dead in his room at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 9. The beloved "Full House" and "Fuller House" star — who in addition to playing dad Danny Tanner on the hit sitcoms also notably hosted "America's Funniest Home Videos" and voiced future Ted Mosby on "How I Met Your Mother" — was 65. According to a social media post from the Orange County Sheriff's Office, "Detectives found no signs of foul play or drug use in this case." On Feb. 9, his family announced his cause of death after autopsy results came in. "The authorities have determined that Bob passed from head trauma. They have concluded that he accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep. No drugs or alcohol were involved," the Saget family said in a statement. One day later, the chief medical examiner for Orange and Osceola counties weighed in, stating that the beloved star's death "was the result of blunt head trauma," adding that "his injuries were most likely incurred from an unwitnessed fall" and that "a toxicology analysis did not reveal any illicit drugs or toxins. The manner of death is accident." Bob was performing Florida dates on his stand-up tour at the time of his passing. His "Full House" castmates and more stars took to social media to mourn their friend, with a grieving John Stamos writing, "I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete shock. I will never ever have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby."
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Donald May — the handsome actor best known for playing righteous attorney Adam Drake on the daytime soap opera "The Edge of Night" in the '60s and '70s — died on Jan. 28 at his home in Kent, New York. Donald, who also notably appeared on shows including "The Roaring 20s" and "Falcon Crest," was 92. His wife, actress Carla Borelli, told The Hollywood Reporter he'd recently been diagnosed with cancer of the larynx after suffering a major stroke five years earlier.
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Howard Hesseman — who's best known for his roles as radio disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on "WKRP in Cincinnati" and history teacher Charlie Moore on "Head of the Class" — died on Jan. 29 from complications related to colon surgery, his manager confirmed to CNN. The Emmy-nominated actor was 81.
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Cheslie Kryst, an attorney, died by suicide in New York City on Jan. 30. She was 30. "In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie. Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined," the former Miss North Carolina's family said in a statement. "Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on 'Extra,'" her loved ones added. "But most importantly as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague — we know her impact will live on."
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Jordan Cashmyer, who was featured on MTV's "16 and Pregnant" in 2014 alongside then-boyfriend Derek Taylor — with whom she welcomed a daughter, Genevieve Shae — died in Maryland on Jan. 15. (MTV viewers will remember Jordan's struggles with homelessness and her parents' disapproval of Derek, which were chronicled on the show.) "Our hearts are truly broken. No parent should ever have to go through losing a child, ever. Please keep my family in your thoughts [and] prayers as we navigate through this terrible tragedy," stepmother Jessica Cashmyer wrote on Facebook. Jordan — who gave birth to a second daughter, Lyla, in 2021, was 26. Later in the month, her family set up a GoFundMe to pay for a memorial and to raise money for 6-month-old Lyla's future care — and revealed how they lost Jordan. "Addiction plagues many families, and our family was not immune to it," the Cashmyers shared on the fundraising site, revealing that four months earlier, baby Lyla also "lost her father to addiction." The heartbroken family added, "We are now faced with the grim outcome that our granddaughter that we have been raising will never get to make memories with her mother or father, never getting to know them. … We pray Jordan is finally at peace." On Feb. 22, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for the Maryland Department of Health confirmed to E! News that Jordan died of fentanyl and cocaine intoxication.
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Morgan Stevens — who was best known for his roles as teacher David Reardon on two seasons of "Fame" and as Nick Diamond on "Melrose Place" — was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Jan. 26. TMZ reported that a neighbor called police to do a wellness check after Morgan hadn't been heard from in a few days; authorities confirmed the 70-year-old actor was found deceased in his kitchen. TMZ added that it's believed he died of natural causes.
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Peter Robbins, the actor who voiced Peanuts character Charlie Brown — he started in 1963 — died by suicide in January, TMZ reported. The voice actor's agent, Dylan Novak, told the webloid that Peter, who had bipolar disorder and struggled with addiction issues in the past, had sought in-patient treatment at a California mental health hospital but discharged himself on Jan 18. TMZ reported he was found dead sometime after that. Peter was 65.
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Actress Kathryn Kates, who appeared on shows including "Orange Is the New Black," "Seinfeld" and "The Good Fight," is dead at 73. "After a long, hard-fought battle with lung cancer, Kathryn passed away peacefully [on Jan. 22] surrounded by her brother Josh, his wife Sue Ann and her sister Mallory," Headline Talent Agency told CNN in a statement. "Kathryn was our client for many years, and about one year ago, after finding out that the lung cancer she was treated for 20 years ago had returned, we grew even closer. She was incredibly brave, thoughtful, wise and loving. Kathryn approached every role she ever played, as well as her daily life with the greatest of passion. We will do our best to honor her incredible legacy. The world truly lost one of the good ones."
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Vachik Mangassarian died from complications of COVID-19 on Jan. 22, his manager, Valerie McCaffrey, confirmed to USA Today days later. The actor was 78. Though Vachik posted memes on Facebook that appeared to oppose vaccines and downplay the coronavirus pandemic, the newspaper reported, Vachik's manager said the actor — who appeared on shows including "NCIS," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and in movies like "The Stoning of Soraya M." and "The Book of Daniel" — was vaccinated.
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Thierry Mugler — the iconic French fashion designer who's dressed celebrities from Kim Kardashian and Cardi B to Demi Moore, Madonna and Beyonce — died on Jan. 23, his design house announced on Instagram. He was 73. No other details concerning the respected style star's death were publicly shared.
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Don Wilson — the rhythm guitarist and last surviving founder of surf-rock pioneers The Ventures — died on Jan. 22 in Tacoma, Washington, of natural causes. He was 88. The influential band — who were inducted into the Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 — gave the world hits like "Walk, Don't Run" and the "Hawaii Five-O" theme song.
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Meat Loaf passed away on Jan. 20, 2022, at 74, his manager confirmed. TMZ reported that the Grammy winner behind hits like "Bat Out of Hell," "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" died from complications of COVID-19; his rep has not publicly shared his cause of death. It's unknown if Meat Loaf (real name: Marvin Lee Aday) — who also appeared in films like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Fight Club" — was vaccinated, though he'd been publicly critical of masks and what he called being "controlled," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2021.
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French actor Gaspard Ulliel — who stars as Midnight Man in Marvel's buzzy upcoming "Moon Knight" series — died on Jan. 19 following a ski accident in the French Alps, news agency AFP reported. The father of two was 37. Gaspard was a two-time César Award winner (France's version of the Oscars) with his performances in "It's Only the End of the World" and "A Very Long Engagement." Variety reported that, according to AFP, Gaspard — who also modeled and was the face of the fragrance Bleu de Chanel — was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Grenoble, France, after suffering serious brain trauma when he collided with another skier at the intersection of two slopes on Jan. 18.
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Larger-than-life fashion editor André Leon Talley — Vogue's famed former creative director — died on Jan. 18 at a hospital in White Plains, New York, following a series of health struggles, TMZ reported. He was 73.
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Famed country music radio and TV broadcaster Ralph Emery died at Tristar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville on Jan. 15 of natural causes after a week-long stay, son Michael told The Associated Press. He was 88. "Ralph Emery's impact in expanding country music's audience is incalculable," Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement. "On radio and on television, he allowed fans to get to know the people behind the songs. Ralph was more a grand conversationalist than a calculated interviewer, and it was his conversations that revealed the humor and humanity of Tom T. Hall, Barbara Mandrell, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins and many more. Above all, he believed in music and in the people who make it."
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On Jan. 15, Nino Cerruti — the famed fashion stylist who founded the haute couture design house Cerruti in Paris in 1967 — died at a hospital in Vercelli, Italy, where he'd been hospitalized for a hip operation, the Italian family business Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti said in a statement. He was 91.
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The Ronettes leader Ronnie Spector — who sang hits like "Be My Baby," "Baby I Love You" and "Walking in the Rain" with her girl group in the '60s — died on Jan. 12 from cancer, her family confirmed to The Associated Press. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member was 78. "Our beloved earth angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today after a brief battle with cancer. She was with family and in the arms of her husband, Jonathan," her family said in a statement. (Ronnie wed manager Jonathan Greenfield in 1982 years after leaving an abusive relationship with famed Wall of Sound producer Phil Spector, who died in 2021 while serving a prison sentence for murder.) "Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude," the statement continued. "Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her. In lieu of flowers, Ronnie requested that donations be made to your local women's shelter or to the American Indian College Fund."
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Dwayne Hickman — who's best known for his starring role on the sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," which ran from 1959 to 1963 — died on Jan. 9 from complications related to Parkinson's disease, Variety confirmed. He was 87. After "Dobie," he continued to act but in the 1970s, Dwayne transitioned to working behind the scenes in Hollywood, becoming a network exec at CBS Television where he supervised productions for shows like "Maude," "M*A*S*H" and "Designing Women."
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Lauded lyricist Marilyn Bergman — who won a trove of awards including Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and more — died of respiratory failure at her Los Angeles home on Jan. 8. Her husband and writing partner, Alan Bergman, was by her side when she passed away at 93, The New York Times reported. The pair, married since 1958, penned the lyrics for notable songs including "The Windmills of Your Mind" from "The Thomas Crown Affair," "The Way We Were" from the Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford movie of the same name and "Moonlight" from "Sabrina," plus the score for "Yentl" and more.
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On Jan. 7, "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer Sinéad O'Connor's shared on social media that son Shane, the third of her four children, was dead at 17 following earlier posts revealing he was missing. "My beautiful son, Nevi'im Nesta Ali Shane O'Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God," tweeted the music star, who had Shane with ex Donal Lunny, an Irish folk musician. "May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace." In another post, she tweeted a Bob Marley song that she dedicated to her son — seen here as a teen — writing, "This is for my Shaney. The light of my life. The lamp of my soul. My blue-eye baby. You will always be my light. We will always be together. No boundary can separate us." She also revealed Shane had been in the care of a state hospital at the time of his disappearance and accused the facility of allowing her son to get "out of their grasp." She later added, "May God forgive the Irish State for I never will."
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Sidney Poitier — the first Black performer to win an Oscar for best actor, for his performance in 1963's "Lilies in the Field" — passed away at his Los Angeles home on Jan. 6. He was 94. The star of films including "To Sir With Love," "In the Heat of the Night" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" was a pioneering force in Hollywood who paved the way for other actors of color like Denzel Washington, who said of the icon, "It was a privilege to call Sidney Poitier my friend. He was a gentle man and opened doors for all of us that had been closed for years. God bless him and his family." In addition to his Oscar, the Bahamian-American star received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
RELATED: Hollywood reacts to the death of Sidney Poitier
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Filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich died at 82 on Jan. 6 at his home in Los Angeles. The director of celebrated '70s films "The Last Picture Show," "What's Up, Doc?"and "Paper Moon" also notably appeared on TV's "The Sopranos" as the psychiatrist who treats Tony Soprano's psychiatrist, who was played by Lorraine Bracco. He made headlines for his romances with beauties like actress Cybill Shepherd and Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten — who was murdered by her estranged husband after moving on with Peter — and he later married and divorced Dorothy's little sister, Louise Stratten.
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South Korean actress Kim Mi-soo, who had a supporting role on the Disney+ series "Snowdrop," died at 29 at the start of the year. "Kim suddenly left us on Jan. 5," her agency, Landscape, said in a statement, as reported by Variety and translated by Joongang Daily. "The bereaved are deep in their sorrow at the sudden sadness. Please refrain from reporting false rumors or speculation so that the family can mourn in peace." A cause of death was not announced.
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Broadway and daytime drama actress Joan Copeland, famed playwright Arthur Miller's sister, died at her New York City home on Jan. 4, Variety confirmed. She was 99. She appeared not only in Broadway shows including "Sundown Beach," "Detective Story," "Coco," and "45 Seconds From Broadway" but had a following for her work on soap operas like "Search for Tomorrow," "Love of Life," "The Edge of the Night" and "How to Survive a Marriage."
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Actor Max Julien, who was best known for his starring role in the classic 1973 Blaxploitation film "The Mack" with Richard Pryor, died on Jan. 1 at 88. He also notably appeared in 1968's "Uptight" and co-wrote and co-produced the 1973 Blaxploitation flick "Cleopatra Jones" before appearances on shows like "The Mod Squad," NPR reported.
