Civil rights icon Rev. CT Vivian dies at 95

Civil Rights pioneer the Rev. Cordy Tindell "C.T." Vivian, who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and helped lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, died July 17 of natural causes, his daughter told CNN.

Grant Imahara, host of Discovery Channel's "MythBusters" and Netflix's "White Rabbit Project," died at the age of 49, according to a statement from the Discovery Channel on Monday, July 13. No cause of death was available.

The body of former "Glee" actress Naya Rivera was found in a Southern California lake on July 13, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said. Rivera, 33, had been presumed dead after she went missing on July 8. She had gone to the lake that afternoon and rented a pontoon boat with her 4-year-old son, according to authorities. Rivera's son was later seen on the boat, but his mother was nowhere to be found. Rivera played Santana Lopez on "Glee" and appeared in nearly every episode of the musical-comedy-drama. She was also on the sitcom "The Royal Family" and in the comedy film "The Master of Disguise."

Zindzi Mandela, South Africa's ambassador to Denmark and daughter of anti-apartheid icons Nelson and Winnie Mandela, died July 13 at the age of 59, according to the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Actress Kelly Preston died after losing her two-year battle with breast cancer, her husband, John Travolta, said in an Instagram post on Sunday, July 12. She was 57 years old.

Country music scribe Charlie Daniels, best known for the hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," died July 6 at the age of 83.

Ennio Morricone, an Oscar-winning film composer, died July 6 at the age of 91. Morricone is best known for the instantly recognizable melodies from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "Once Upon a Time in the West."

Nick Cordero, a Broadway actor who had admirers across the world rallying for his recovery, died July 5 after a battle with Covid-19, according to his wife, Amanda Kloots. He was 41.

Carl Reiner, the writer, actor, director and producer whose many decades' worth of credits — including "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The 2000-Year-Old Man" — showcased a ready wit and a generous spirit, died June 29. He was 98.

Milton Glaser, co-founder of New York Magazine and famed graphic designer behind the "I ♥ NY" logo, died on June 26, according to the magazine. It was his 91st birthday.

Joel Schumacher, an eclectic director whose career ranged from a pair of divisive Batman movies to "St. Elmo's Fire," died June 22 after a yearlong battle with cancer, a representative for Schumacher told CNN. He was 80.

Actor Ian Holm died June 19 at the age of 88, according to a statement from his agent. Holm had a long and varied acting career that saw him cast as a slew of characters, including Bilbo Baggins in the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy, Ash in Ridley Scott's "Alien" and athletics coach Sam Mussabini in the 1981 movie "Chariots of Fire," a performance for which he was nominated for an Oscar.

Bonnie Pointer, one of the founding members of the singing group The Pointer Sisters, died June 8 at the age of 69. Pointer recorded five albums with her sisters before pursuing a solo career. She signed with Motown and scored her biggest solo hit with the 1978 disco track, "Heaven Must Have Sent You."

Indian actor Chiranjeevi Sarja, who starred in 20 films included the popular "Amma I Love You," died of a heart attack on June 7, according to B.S. Yediyurappa, chief minister of Karnataka. Sarja was 39.

Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, who was known for his monumental environmental artworks with his late wife, Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon, died May 31 at the age of 84.

Playwright Larry Kramer, a trailblazing AIDS activist, died May 27 at the age of 84. With his essay "1,112 and Counting," Kramer helped shift the nation's attention to the spread of AIDS. And his continued activism, while often divisive, helped propel the United States to respond to the crisis in the way it did.

Stanley Ho, Macao gambling tycoon and one of Hong Kong's first billionaires, died on May 26, his family said. He was 98.

Eddie Sutton, the first college basketball coach to lead four different schools to the NCAA tournament, died on May 23, according to his family. He was 84.

Jerry Sloan, the longtime Utah Jazz head coach who led the team to the NBA Finals twice and ranks third among NBA coaches on the all-time wins list, died May 22 at the age of 78.

Annie Glenn, a lifelong advocate for those with speech impediments and wife of the late astronaut John Glenn, died of complications from Covid-19 on May 19. She was 100.

Ravi Zacharias, who spent his life defending Christianity through books and lectures, died May 19 at the age of 74. Zacharias was a leading figure among Christian Apologists -— a branch of Christian theology that defends Christian doctrines against objections.

Ken Osmond, an actor best known for his role as troublemaker Eddie Haskell on "Leave It to Beaver," died at the age of 76, his son Eric told The Hollywood Reporter on May 18.

Director Lynn Shelton, known for the films "Humpday" and "Your Sister's Sister," died May 15, according to her representative, Adam Kersh. She was 54. Kersh said Shelton died of a previously undiagnosed blood disorder. Her partner, the comedian and actor Marc Maron, said Shelton collapsed Friday after having been ill for a week.

Actor Fred Willard died on May 15, his daughter, Hope Mulbarger, confirmed to CNN. He was 86. Willard was known for his roles in the movie "Best in Show" and TV sitcoms "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Modern Family."

Phyllis George, the broadcast television pioneer and former Miss America, died May 14, her children confirmed to CNN. She was 70. In 1975, George became the first female co-anchor of the football pregame show "The NFL Today."

Gregory Tyree Boyce, an actor who appeared in the 2008 film "Twilight," was found dead in a Las Vegas residence on May 13, a spokesperson with the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner confirmed to CNN. He was 30. According to the coroner's office, Boyce was found dead with Natalie Adenike Adepoju, 27. The cause and manner of death is still being determined. A public information officer for the Las Vegas Police Department told CNN in an email that the deaths were "not a criminal incident" and referred any inquiry to the coroner's office.

Actor and comedian Jerry Stiller died of natural causes, his son, actor Ben Stiller, said in a tweet on May 11. He was 92. Jerry Stiller was perhaps best known for his roles on the TV sitcoms "Seinfeld" and "The King of Queens."

Soul singer Betty Wright died from cancer May 10 at the age of 66, according to reports from multiple media outlets. Wright was known for her song "Clean Up Woman," which became a top five hit, according to the biography posted on her verified Facebook page.

Little Richard, the screaming, preening, scene-stealing wild man of early rock 'n' roll with hits like "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally," died May 9 at the age of 87, Dick Alen, his former agent, confirmed to CNN.

Paul "Bear" Vasquez, whose cries of exaltation at a double rainbow turned him into a viral star, died May 9 at the age of 57, according to the Mariposa County Coroner's Office. "Bear" lived in relative solitude for much of his life. But his sincere love of nature -- and rainbows in particular -- endeared him to millions.

Roy Horn, who dazzled audiences for decades as half of the animal and magic act Siegfried and Roy, died of complications from the coronavirus on May 8. He was 75.

Brian Howe, former frontman for the British rock group Bad Company, died May 5 at the age of 66.

Don Shula, the longtime Miami Dolphins coach and architect of the only perfect season in NFL history, died May 4 at age 90. Though he spent several seasons in the NFL as a player and served as head coach of the Baltimore Colts, he is best known for his quarter-century at the helm of the Miami Dolphins. He won more games than any head coach in NFL history.

Matt Keough, a former major-league pitcher and an occasional figure on "Real Housewives of Orange County," died May 1 at the age of 64. The right-handed, mustachioed Keough pitched in 170 games for the Oakland A's from 1977 to 1983, earning an All-Star Game appearance as a rookie in 1978 and the American League's Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1980.

Actor Sam Lloyd, who most notably portrayed lawyer Ted Buckland on the TV comedy "Scrubs," died at age 56, his agent said May 1. Lloyd's television career also included roles in "Desperate Housewives," "Seinfeld," "Modern Family," "The West Wing," "Cougar Town," "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Shameless," according to his agent.

Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor died in a hospital after a two-year battle with leukemia, his family representative confirmed in a statement on April 30. He was 67. Kapoor's first lead role -- in the 1973 romantic film "Bobby" -- won him the Filmfare Award, India's equivalent of the Oscars, for best actor.

Bollywood star Irrfan Khan, known internationally for his roles in "Life Of Pi" and "Slumdog Millionaire," died April 29, his representatives confirmed. He was 53. Khan, one of India's best-known and most beloved actors, revealed in March 2018 that he had been diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine tumor -- an abnormal growth that begin in the body's specialized neuroendocrine cells, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Troy Sneed, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer and record label founder, died April 27 of complications from Covid-19. He was 52. Sneed was known for gospel radio hits including "My Heart Says Yes" and "Worked It Out."

Theodore Gaffney, who photographed the Freedom Riders as they protested segregation in the 1960s, died April 19 of complications related to the novel coronavirus. He was 92. Gaffney was also one of the first black photographers in the White House.

Howard Finkel, the legendary ring announcer and WWE Hall of Famer, died at the age of 69, the company announced on April 16. Finkel would mark championship victories with his signature call, "and Nnneeeww world champion!"

NFL Hall of Famer Willie Davis died April 15 at the age of 85, according to the Green Bay Packers. The defensive end, who in 1965 became the first black captain for the Packers, spent 10 years with the team.

Brian Dennehy, a versatile character actor whose career spanned five decades, died April 15 at the age of 81, his talent agency confirmed. Dennehy, a two-time Tony Award winner, starred in a wide range of films, often in tough-guy roles.

Former NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson died in a car crash in Alabama on April 12. He was 36 years old. During his 10-year career with the NFL, he had 45 career touchdowns.

Stirling Moss, a British motor racing legend widely considered one of the greatest drivers never to win a Formula One title, died April 12 at the age of 90. Moss was an active race driver between 1948 and 1962, competing in numerous classifications and winning 212 of the 529 races he competed in.

NHL center Colby Cave, who played for the Edmonton Oilers and the Boston Bruins, died April 11 at the age of 25. He died days after doctors operated on him to remove a colloid cyst that was putting pressure on his brain, according to NHL.com. He had been in a medically induced coma since suffering a brain bleed overnight.

Influential singer-songwriter John Prine, whose career spanned five decades, died April 7 due to complications related to coronavirus, his publicist confirmed. He was 73.

Legendary baseball player Al Kaline died April 6 at the age of 85, according to the Detroit Tigers. Kaline played his entire career in Detroit, where he was an All-Star 18 times, won a World Series in 1968 and earned the nickname "Mr. Tiger."

Veteran actress Shirley Douglas, the wife of Donald Sutherland and mother of Kiefer Sutherland, died April 5 due to complications surrounding pneumonia, Kiefer Sutherland said on Twitter. She was 86.

NFL Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell, who became the first African American to play for the Washington Redskins, died April 5, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was 84.

Timothy Brown, a former NFL star and actor on the comedy/drama "M*A*S*H," died April 4 in Southern California. He was 82.

Adam Schlesinger, the co-founder of pop-rock band Fountains of Wayne and an Oscar-nominated songwriter, died Wednesday, April 1, from complications related to coronavirus. He was 52.

Bill Withers, the singer-songwriter whose soulful hits included "Lean On Me," Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lovely Day," died March 30 of heart complications, according to his family. He was 81.

Lorena Borjas, a transgender Latinx activist from New York who spent decades advocating for people from marginalized communities, died March 30 from complications due to the novel coronavirus, according to a close friend. Borjas, 59, spent decades serving transgender people, undocumented immigrants, sex workers and those living with HIV/AIDS, providing them with legal assistance and other services.

Tomie dePaola, a children's author and illustrator known for his book "Strega Nona," died on March 30. The 85-year-old author died from complications from surgery after he fell in his barn which served as a studio, according to a statement from his literary agent. DePaola authored nearly 300 books, including "Oliver Button is a Sissy," "The Legend of Old Befana," and the New York Times best-seller "Quiet."

Rocker Alan Merrill, who wrote and recorded the original version of the hit song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," died March 29 after being diagnosed with coronavirus, his daughter told CNN. Merrill, 69, was a big star in Japan in the 1970s and wrote and recorded the anthem "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" in 1975 with his band The Arrows. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts covered the song in 1982 and the single shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

Famed Japanese comedian Ken Shimura died March 29 after contracting the novel coronavirus, his representatives said. Shimura, 70, has been described as "Japan's Robin Williams," with the country's television networks heavily covering his death.

Joe Diffie, a country music singer known for his lighthearted odes to country life that reached mainstream success in the 1990s, died March 29 from complications of coronavirus, his publicist said in a news release. Diffie was 61.

Fred "Curly" Neal, whose flashy dribbling skills and smile made him a Harlem Globetrotters legend, died March 26. He was 77.

World-renowned jazz musician Manu Dibango died of coronavirus on March 24, according to his official Facebook page. He was 86. The Cameroonian saxophone player achieved global fame in the 1970s for his style of mixing jazz with traditional music from his home country. Dibango was also a big influence for many musicians around the globe for several decades and his music was often sampled; most famously in Michael Jackson's hit "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin."

Kenny Rogers, whose legendary music career spanned six decades, died on March 20. He was 81. Rogers had 24 No. 1 hits during his career, and more than 50 million of his albums sold in the United States alone.

Swedish actor Max Von Sydow, who made his name in the films of Ingmar Bergman before featuring in international hits like "Game of Thrones," died March 8 at the age of 90. He was a well-known figure in both European and American cinema, starring in films from Bergman's masterpiece "The Seventh Seal" to international blockbusters such as "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

James Lipton, whose serious interviews with high-profile stars "Inside the Actors Studio" for more than 20 years made him a well-known pop-culture figure, died March 2 at the age of 93.

Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president who ruled for nearly 30 years until being overthrown, died on February 25. He was 91. During his 29 years in power, Mubarak survived would-be assassins and ill health, crushed a rising Islamist radical movement and maintained the peace pact with neighboring Israel that got his predecessor killed.

Clive Cussler, the bestselling author and sea explorer, died on February 24, his family announced in a Facebook post.
He was 88.

Katherine Johnson, a pioneering mathematician who, along with a group of other brilliant black women, helped make US space travel possible, died on February 24. She was 101. Her life and work served as inspiration for the film "Hidden Figures."

Former Major League Baseball shortstop Tony Fernandez died at age 57, the Toronto Blue Jays tweeted on February 16. He suffered a stroke and had been struggling with kidney issues, the team said. During his 17-year career, Fernandez won four Gold Glove Awards, made five All-Star appearances and won a World Series title with the 1993 Blue Jays.

Caroline Flack, the former host of the hit British reality show "Love Island," died at the age of 40, her family confirmed on February 15. A family lawyer told PA Media that Flack committed suicide and her body was found in her east London apartment.

Actress Lynn Cohen, best known for her role as Magda the housekeeper in "Sex and the City," died February 14, according to her manager. She was 86.

Actor Robert Conrad, known for the television show "The Wild Wild West," died February 8 at the age of 84, according to family spokesman Jeff Ballard.

Kirk Douglas, one of the great Hollywood leading men whose off-screen life was nearly as colorful as his on-screen exploits, died February 5 at the age of 103, according to his son, actor Michael Douglas.

Willie Wood, a Hall of Fame football player and former safety for the Green Bay Packers, died February 3 at the age of 83, according to a statement from the team. Wood won two Super Bowls as a member of the Packers.

Mary Higgins Clark, the bestselling "Queen of Suspense" who wrote dozens of suspense novels sold worldwide, died January 31 at age 92, Clark's publisher confirmed on Twitter. Clark's writing career spanned decades and included bestselling titles such as "Loves Music, Loves to Dance" and "A Stranger Is Watching."

NASCAR driver John Andretti, a nephew of racing legend Mario Andretti, died from colon cancer on January 30, according to a tweet from Andretti Autosport. He was 56.

NBA legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on January 26. He was 41. Bryant was one of nine victims in the crash. His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also killed.

Leila Janah, a social entrepreneur who poured her energy into creating job opportunities for the world's poorest communities, died January 24 due to complications from epithelioid sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer. She was 37.

Jim Lehrer, the legendary debate moderator and former anchor of the "NewsHour" television program, died January 23 at the age of 85. Lehrer anchored the "NewsHour," the flagship newscast on public television in the United States, for 36 years.

"Monty Python" star Terry Jones died at age 77, Britain's PA Media news agency reported on January 22. Jones was a member of the much-loved British comedy group and also directed a number of its most popular films, including "Life of Brian" and "The Meaning of Life."

Americana singer and songwriter David Olney, whose music was recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Steve Young, Emmylou Harris and others, died of an apparent heart attack while performing in Florida on January 18, according to a statement on his website. He was 71.

Former professional wrestler Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson, WWE Hall of Famer and the father of actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, died at the age of 75, the WWE announced on January 15.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who ruled Oman since 1970, died January 10, according to the official Oman News Agency. He died at age 79 and was the longest-serving Arab leader.

Rapper 5th Ward Weebie was a major player in the distinctive bounce music scene in New Orleans. He died January 9 at the age of 42. His publicist said he had a "heart attack which turned into emergency heart surgery and ultimately heart failure."

Don Larsen, the man who pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, died January 8 at the age of 90, according to his representative Andrew Levy.

Elizabeth Wurtzel, whose 1994 memoir "Prozac Nation" ignited conversations about the then-taboo topic of clinical depression, died on January 7. She was 52. Her husband, Jim Freed, told CNN she died following a battle with metastatic breast cancer that had spread to her brain.

Neil Peart, who helped propel the band Rush to global stardom and sealed his place as one of the greatest drummers in rock music, died January 7 after a long battle with brain cancer, according to a family spokesman. He was 67.

Derek Acorah, a popular TV psychic medium and former host of the British reality show "Most Haunted," died January 3 at the age of 69.

John Baldessari, one of America's most influential conceptual artists, died on January 2. He was 88. Baldessari was renowned for combining photography with various other media, with some of his most iconic works featuring colorful dots pasted over subjects' faces in portraits and found photographs.

David Stern, the former NBA commissioner who reshaped the league and presided over its skyrocketing growth for three decades, died on January 1. He was 77.