Tony Siragusa
May 14, 1967 – June 22, 2022
Siragusa was a larger-than-life figure — both figuratively and literally. He was an integral role player for the Baltimore Ravens when they possessed arguably the best defense in the history of the NFL. The New Jersey native had an 11-year professional career before hanging up his cleats in 2001. From there, the Super Bowl champion used his awesome personality to become an on-field analyst during football games. Siragusa was a fixture on television — and even appeared as an actor on noteworthy projects. Sadly, he passed in his sleep at 55 years of age.
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Lisa Marie Presley
February 1, 1968 – January 12, 2023
Only days after attending the 80th Golden Globes, the famed daughter of Elvis suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at the age of 54. It was a shock to not only the music community as a whole, but everyone who held Lisa Marie near and dear.
Lisa Marie was only child Elvis had. Following in her dad’s footsteps, there was a long period in which she became an accomplished vocal performer on stage. Presley also had two very high-profile marriages. One was to actor Nic Cage — while the other was to the late Michael Jackson.
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Tony Sirico
July 29, 1942 – July 8, 2022
A native of Brooklyn, Sirico had been a prominent actor for decades and decades. Of course, we all know him for his distinct hairstyle — and rockstar performance as Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos. Crazily enough, Sirico had a checkered past before being an actor. He had reportedly been arrested nearly 30 times before leaving that life for one on the stage. A big fan of Sirico’s was Woody Allen — who cast him in multiple of Allen’s movies (including Mighty Aphrodite). A participant in Casino, Goodfellas, Mickey Blue Eyes, and The Godfather Part II (among other projects), Sirico passed in Florida at the age of 79.
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Leslie Jordan
April 29, 1955 – October 24, 2022
This pint-sized ball of energy was absolutely loved by millions around the world. Jordan had a way of making everyone smile with his endearing disposition, strong Tennessee twang, and kindness.
An actor, producer, writer and comedian, Jordan appeared on various television programs throughout the years. Will & Grace was his breakout role, and his activity on Instagram with various stories and skits was legendary.
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Ray Liotta
December 18, 1954 – May 26, 2022
Longtime actor Ray Liotta enjoyed a rather stunning career. His body of work was immensely impressive when it came to the range he demonstrated. There were times where you saw him act in comedies (Something Wild) and as a father figure (Corinna, Corinna). He had more serious roles (John Q) and a couple of very iconic ones (Goodfellas, Field of Dreams, The Many Saints of Newark).
Sadly, on May 26th, it was reported that Liotta had suddenly passed away. The 67-year-old actor was said to be in the Dominican Republic filming a new project.
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Aaron Carter
December 7, 1987 – November 5, 2022
The sad story of Aaron Carter has some to a terrible end. The younger brother of Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter, Aaron forged his own career. There was a time where he was considered a global pop star icon. He smashed various records and was skyrocketing up charts.
Sadly, the pitfalls of fame for a young person caught up with him. Carter soon was dealing with a number of personal issues — including a public feud with his own brother. Sadly, he was found deceased at his home in California. He was only 34 years of age.
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Louie Anderson
March 24, 1953 – January 21, 2022
Minnesota funny man Louie Anderson spent a big chunk of his life operating in the world of comedy. He first started out — as many did during the ’80s — as a comedian. Anderson’s big break came when he appeared on The Tonight Show. From there, he was cast in a number of projects, both in television and film.
Aside from doing stand-up and creating an award-winning cartoon (Life With Louie), Anderson delved into the world of dramatic acting. In black comedy Baskets, Anderson won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Sadly, Anderson reportedly passed away from complications related to cancer.
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Kirstie Alley
January 12, 1951 – December 5, 2022
Former sitcom star Kirstie Alley suffered a very abrupt illness from which she passed away. It was quite sad for those who’ve watched her on television/in movies for 40+ years. Alley’s role on Cheers enabled her to break out as a pop culture icon. From there, she hit the silver screen as a leading actress for years.
The Golden Globe/Emmy winner took some time away from acting as she got older, and participated in various reality TV shows. According to reports, she passed from colon cancer in Tampa, Florida.
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Dwayne Haskins
May 3, 1997– April 9, 2022
Haskins was a promising quarterback dating back to his high school days in the greater Washington D.C. area. He was able to earn a scholarship to Ohio State, where Haskins became one of College Football’s best players. He had all the traits one would want in a franchise signal-caller. As such, he was picked in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Football Team.
Eventually, he made his way to the Pittsburgh Steelers. By all accounts, he was a highly liked individual with terrific upside and the chance to start for Pittsburgh in 2022. Shockingly, Haskins died when reportedly being hit by a dump truck. He was reportedly attempting to cross a freeway in Florida in order to obtain gas for his car (which had ran out of fuel on the side of the freeway). Haskins sadly was only 24 years of age.
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Naomi Judd
January 11, 1946 – April 30, 2022
Naomi Judd was the famed matriarch of the Judd family. Hailing from Kentucky, Judd became a massive country music star alongside one of her daughters, Wynonna. Over the course of her illustrious career, Judd won a whopping five Grammy Awards. Twenty of the band’s songs landed within the Top-10 of the charts. Suffice it to say, but Judd’s impact on the genre was immense.
Sadly, Judd passed away in late April. Reportedly, it was said that she sadly took her own life. Though she’s not here with us anymore, her legacy will surely continue to live on through both her music and her loving family.
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Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss
September 29, 1982 – December 13, 2022
The death of the man many called ‘tWitch’ was felt all around the world. While he was a constant figure on Ellen’s talk show, tWitch was even more well-known as a dancer and choreographer. Also a producer, tWitch hosted various shows with his wife.
Horrifically, reports indicated that tWitch took his own life. He was only 40 years of age, and left behind a wife/three children. For as awful as this story turned out to be, his memory as a performer and entertainer will surely live on for years to come.
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James Caan
March 26, 1940 – July 6, 2022
Longtime acting legend James Caan passed away in Los Angeles this past July at the age of 82. It’s hard to encapsulate Caan’s career into one specific role — or even one genre. He was a perfect example of on-screen versatility. He played the ‘tough guy’ roles, the dramatic ones, the comedic ones, and even the ‘rough around the edge yet still sweet’ characters (such as in Elf). Most people — and rightfully so — will associated Caan with his performance as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather Part II. Caan also hit it out of the park in Brian’s Song, Misery, and The Gambler (among other performances).
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Mark Lanegan
November 25, 1964 – February 22, 2022
Hailing from Seattle, musician Mark Lanegan was an integral member of the grunge scene during the 1990s. He had a number of successful solo albums released. Lanegan also performed with some highly-influential bands within the grunge/alt-rock genre (The Gutter Twins, Screaming Trees, Queen of the Stone Age). There’s no reported cause of death for Lanegan. He passed away surrounded by friends and family at his home in Ireland.
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Scott Hall
October 20, 1958 – March 14, 2022
Scott Hall was a larger than life star in the wrestling business. He had the size, frame, charisma, looks, and talent that most professional wrestlers dreamed of. Simply put, he was the total package (particularly when portraying his alter ego ‘Razor Ramon’).
Unfortunately, Hall had plenty of personal demons he dealt with throughout his life. Some of those included addiction to both drugs and alcohol. Hall also dealt with a number of legal issues. It got to a point where he did get clean, and many were elated over the progress he had made in recent years. Hall reportedly broke his hip, and was forced to undergo hip replacement surgery. During the procedure, he reportedly suffered three heart attacks. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to survive the physical trauma.
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Jeremy Giambi
September 30, 1974 – February 9, 2022
Often overshadowed by the ‘other Giambi brother’, Jeremy carved out a very nice career for himself opposite his older brother, Jason. Jeremy played parts of six seasons with four different clubs (Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies).
While Jeremy wasn’t a big-time player, he did manage to stick around for a while in Major League Baseball — a feat few can claim. Sadly, Jeremy was found passed away in his parents house this past February. Reports indicate that his death came via a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest.
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Barbara Walters
September 25, 1929 – December 30, 2022
Barbara Walters was a transcendent figure within the world of television. As a female reporter/journalist, she broke down archaic and misogynist barriers en route to cultivating one of the most storied careers in the profession.
Aside from her brilliant interviewer skills (which have included speaking to global figures from every walk of life), she also created The View (which still airs to this day). In her later years, Walters became a bit more private, and stayed out of the limelight. She reportedly passed away at her home. Walters was 93 years of age.
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Gilbert Gottfried
February 28, 1955 – April 12, 2022
Gilbert Gottfried had a terrific career as a stand-up comic, entertainer, actor, voice actor, and everything in-between. His voice was iconic from the standpoint it was by far one of the more recognizable ones on the planet. Gottfried got his start in New York City, where he rubbed elbows with some of comedy’s most prolific figures. He started to gain popularity through his quirky sets and strong joke writing skills. He even starred on Saturday Night Live for a spell.
In later years, you saw Gottfried appear on a number of reality television shows. He was always a very nice man, and those in the comedy world respected him immensely. Sadly, Gottfried passed away reportedly from the combination of a heart condition and muscular dystrophy.
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Gina Lollobrigida
July 4, 1927 – January 16, 2023
Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida was a true icon during the prime of her career. For 50 years, she was an actress both in Europe and in the United States. At one point, she even transitioned and became a journalist a la Barbara Walters.
Lollobrigida was world famous — partially due to her acting ability, but also her stunning looks. Towards the end of her life, Lollobrigida was also quite involved in human rights issues as well as politics. She passed away in Rome at the age of 95.
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Paul Sorvino
April 13, 1939 – July 25, 2022
The New York City native was a very versatile actor. Of course, having Italian heritage (and looks) made him a natural fit for many mob-themed projects. Sorvino starred in Goodfellas and also as a tough cop on Law & Order. While some actors have more of a sweet-spot in film or television, Sorvino was a veteran in both. He even was talented enough to garner a Tony Award for a play he did in the ’70’s.
Ultimately, he passed away at the age of 83 in Florida. He leaves behind a wife and three children (which includes notable actress Mira Sorvino).
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Oliva Newton-John
October 4, 1997 – July 4, 2021
At 73 years of age, the former star performer from England and Australia sadly passed away. We first knew Newton-John as a vocal star — representing England at Eurovision. By that time, she had a number of successful tracks and records. However, she became a star within the United States when starring opposite John Travolta as Sandy in Grease.
Newton-John continued to be a big star vocally (selling over 100 million records globally). “Physical” was a massive hit, and you saw her participate in a number of projects throughout the years. Still, Grease is the main one which fans often associate her with. Sadly, Newton-John succumbed reportedly to cancer after a lengthy battle.
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Anne Heche
May 25, 1969 – August 11, 2022
This is a very unfortunate story. There was a time where Heche was a true starlet in Hollywood. After winning an Emmy Award early in her career as a television actor, she parlayed that success into a film career. For years, Heche established herself as both a leading woman and a strong character actress. Her ability to portray various types of individuals enabled her to have a very diverse set of performances.
Sadly, Heche suffered reportedly from a number of mental health issues — many of which reportedly occurred dating back to a tumultuous childhood. In 2023, she was seen driving her car in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Mar Vista (near Santa Monica and Venice). She crashed into multiple objects before finally crashing her car into a home. The home and her car caught on fire, and she was rescued despite the horrific burns. Ultimately, the damage from the crash caused her to pass away. She was only 53 years of age.
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Queen Elizabeth II
April 21, 1926 – September 8, 2022
The world was in utter shock when Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96. For decades upon decades, she was the figurehead for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Her tenure was certainly polarizing in nature (depending on who you ask). Still, she was — at the time of her death — easily one of the most recognizable figures on the planet.
She first took the throne in February of 1952. To this date, she has enjoyed the longest period as being the Queen/King of any British Royal Monarch. Now that she’s passed, her son — Charles III — is now King.
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Coolio
January 19, 1944 – January 1, 2022
“Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage” are two of the biggest bangers in rap history. Both of them happened to come from Los Angeles rap icon Coolio. The 1990’s were categorized by a newfound rise in hip-hop music. It became commercialized and thus more accessible to people all over the world. Among the pioneers within the movement was Coolio — a man whose stage name mirrored his disposition in public.
Once his music career slowed, Coolio made a bunch of appearances on television. Most of the time he was a guest actor offering cameos. However, Coolio also participated in a number of reality television shows. The father to 10 kids, he sadly passed away at the age of 59.
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Loretta Lynn
April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022
Talk about being an icon in a specific profession. The genre of country music has featured some exceptional talents from its early roots. However, when looking at those who define the music itself, Loretta Lynn is atop the list. From humble beginnings in Kentucky and Washington, Lynn emerged from out of nowhere to become truly transcendent. She had 24 No. 1 singles in her career, 11 No. 1 albums, and 18 Grammy Award nominations (three wins).
Along the way, Lynn had six children. She wrote books, performed well into her later years, and was quite visible in the public eye (despite some health challenges behind the scenes). She ended up passing away at her Tennessee ranch. She was 90 years of age.
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Angela Lansbury
October 16, 1925 – October 11, 2022
Angela Lansbury was truly a special performer. First starting when she was 17, the English actress was a fixture in Hollywood for years. This included work on screen in film, television, and stage. Then splitting her time between the United States and her parents’ native Ireland, Lansbury got the role most people recognize her from — Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote.
When looking at the totality of her career, Lansbury worked for a whopping 80 years in the entertainment business. She won one Academy Award, six Tony Awards, and six Golden Globe awards. Not to mention, Lansbury also earned nominations for Emmy and Grammy Awards. At the age of 96, she passed away in Los Angeles.
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Jay Briscoe
January 25, 1984 – January 17, 2023
Jay Briscoe (real name Jamin Pugh) was a total star in the arena of indie pro wrestling. Hard-nosed, physically-gifted, and uber-talented, Briscoe (along with real-life brother Mark) became 13-time Tag Team Champions for the promotion Ring of Honor. Briscoe (pictured left) had become friends with other more well-known wrestlers over the years. As such, he garnered immense respect for his dedication to the craft.
At age 38, he was involved in a horrific car accident while taking one of his daughters to cheerleading practice. Briscoe and the other driver passed away, and Briscoe’s two daughters — who were in the car with him — reportedly have been hospitalized.
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David Crosby
August 14, 1941 – January 18, 2023
You’ve surely head of the band Crosby, Stills & Nash. You’ve also likely heard of The Byrds as well. The central figure within both bands is the uber-talented David Crosby. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Crosby’s versatility as a performer simply cannot be measured with a single paragraph.
From the 1960’s on, Crosby provided us with thought-provoking, beautiful, and transcendent music (both lyrically and musically). Whether it be rock, jazz, or some sort of sweet amalgamation, Crosby truly was an icon. At the age of 81, he passed away.
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Gangsta Boo
August 7, 1979 – January 1, 2023
Gangsta Boo (real name Lola Mitchell) was a supremely talented individual. Hailing from Memphis, Boo was most known as being a member of the highly successful rap group Three 6 Mafia. There were also points where she worked with other highly-acclaimed rap artists. Among them include Eminem, Latto and Yelawolf.
At the age of 43, she sadly passed away in her native Memphis. For 20 years, Gangsta Boo established herself as one of the prominent artists from the South. In the process, she was also one of the more successful female rappers within the genre itself.
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Fred White
January 13, 1955 – January 1, 2023
Earth, Wind, & Fire was a powerhouse group during its heyday. Even today, the music remains beloved and timeless all the same. Among the pioneers/leaders of the group’s earliest iteration was Fred White. A native of Chicago, White was the uber-talented drummer of the band.
In his early 20’s, White joined the band and immediately took the group to another level. Indirectly, his presence within the group on the drums helped “September” ultimately take shape — which was a great thing considering the song is still prevalent to this day. He quietly passed away on New Years Day of 2023.
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Jeff Beck
June 24, 1944 – January 10, 2023
The world of Rock and Roll lost a great one in the form of Jeff Beck. Hailing from England, he was known all over the world for being among the best at playing the guitar. We’re not just passively mentioning him as mere good, but literally one of the best guitarists in the history of the planet. His work with the Yardbirds first garnered him critical acclaim.
Sadly, Beck passed from a weird bacterial infection. The loss has impacted the music work terrifically. Beck was the recipient of eight Grammy Awards over the course of his illustrious career. His music will forever live on for those to enjoy.
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Gaylord Perry
September 15, 1938 – December 1, 2022
Gaylord Perry was an ironman when it came to the game of professional baseball. As a pitcher, he played more than 20 years in the game. This is a wonderful feat considering the wear and tear on the elbow. He made 5 All-Star teams during his heyday, and Perry was for all intents and purposes one of the most durable pitchers to ever play the game.
The North Carolina native won two Cy Young Awards and led baseball in wins on three separate occasions. He also was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Sadly, Perry passed reportedly from complications of COVID-19.
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Paul Silas
July 12, 1943 – December 10, 2022
Paul Silas was a longtime fixture in the game of basketball. Dating back to his high school days in Oakland, Calif., Silas was a stud. He was an All-American player in college — which propelled him into an NBA career which lasted a whopping 16 years. Silas was a winner — nabbing three NBA titles and making numerous All-NBA teams.
Once his playing days ended, he entered the realm of coaching. After toiling away as an assistant coach for over a decade, he became the head coach for the Charlotte Hornets (and later the New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavs, and Charlotte Bobcats). Silas passed at the age of 79. However, his legacy lives on through his son Stephen (the current head coach of the Houston Rockets).
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Grant Wahl
December 2, 19733 – December 10, 2022
Grant Wahl might not be a household name. However, his impact on the world of sports cannot be overstated enough. The Kansas City native was among the most famous writers from Sports Illustrated. He wrote various cover stories — including the one which essentially introduced LeBron James to the public as a high school player. However, Wahl’ sweet spot was soccer.
Whether it was a podcast, personal column, newsletter or on-air interviews, Wahl’s drive to grow the sport within the United States was both effective and inspiring. While he passed away unexpectedly in Qatar, he was doing what he loved…covering the World Cup.
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Sonya Eddy
June 17, 1967 – December 9, 2022
Dating back to Married…With Children and The Drew Carey Show, Eddy had been all over the landscape as an actor. The native of Northern California was a fixture in Hollywood — often having cameo roles in virtually every big television show there was. You probably could turn on a re-run of some sitcom from the late ’90s and on, and will see her at some point.
Later in her career, she became a series regular on the soap General Hospital (playing Nurse Epiphany Johnson). She was on the show since 2006 — appearing in over 540 episodes. Sadly, Eddy passed away at the age of 55.
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Pele
October 23, 1940 – December 29, 2022
Even if you aren’t a fan of the sport, it’s pretty much universally known that the name ‘Pele’ and the sport ‘soccer/football’ (depending on where you live) go together like peanut butter and jelly. Pele was the first global star in what’s become known as the world’s game.
He helped his native country win three World Cup trophies. Not only that, but he helped in revolutionizing how the game was played. Pele offered not only visible joy, but creativity, inventiveness, and the type of jaw-dropping skill never seen before. Up until his 82nd birthday, Pele was still revered around the world by all generations as the best to ever play.
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Louise Fletcher
July 22, 1934 – September 23, 2022
You may remember her as Nurse Ratched. However, Louise Fletcher’s career expanded far beyond just this signature role. The Alabama native began her acting career in the late ’50’s — and went all the way to 2017 in her final on-screen performance. Along the way, she picked up an Academy Award, a Golden Globes Award, and numerous accolades.
Fletcher has a seamlessness with how she acted. Versatile, clever and utterly brilliant, there wasn’t a role she couldn’t play. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 88. Up until that point, she had been residing at her home in the south of France.
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Adam Rich
October 11, 1968 – January 7, 2023
At only 54 years of age, Adam Rich passed away. You may remember him as the little boy Nicholas from the hit show Eight is Enough. The show’s popularity spurred on cameos within other noteworthy projects. Unfortunately, Rich’s life was reportedly tumultuous as a young actor.
Reportedly, he had various issues with drugs and alcohol. His career never really got back on track, and Rich was in the public eye for all of the wrong reasons. Sadly, he passed in Los Angeles far too soon.
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