Bob Saget: © 1993 ABC, Inc. Credit: Bob D'Amico. Angela Lansbury: Universal Studios Inc.From multitalented Olivia Newton-John, fatherly funnyman Bob Saget, and tough guys Ray Liotta and James Caan, to England’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, some remarkable people who contributed to entertainment and culture passed away in 2022:
Olivia Newton-John (73)
Born: Sept. 26, 1948 Died: Aug. 8, 2022
Olivia Newton-John, the note-perfect vocalist first admired for her “incandescent sweetness,” mirrored the charming Sandy she played opposite John Travolta in the 1978 blockbuster Grease. She rose to fame with an aw-shucks demeanor thanks to easy-listening hits such as “Have You Never Been Mellow,” “I Honestly Love You” and “Let Me Be There.” She shifted gears in the late ’70s and thrilled with the 1981 song “Physical,” Billboard’s most successful Hot 100 single of the 1980s. She followed that up with the musical fantasy Xanadu (which inspired the Broadway hit), where she introduced the wildly popular song “Magic.” Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, Newton-John beat the disease three times but ultimately succumbed to it at her home in the Santa Ynez Valley of California at the age of 73. Her ageless beauty remains.
Nichelle Nichols (89)
Born: Dec. 28, 1932 Died: July 30, 2022
A trailblazing star, Nichelle Nichols was among the first African American performers featured in a primetime television series. On Star Trek, the enduring sci-fi franchise that first aired from 1966-69, her Lt. Uhura had an enormously important role as communications officer. It’s a famous story, but there was a time Nichols wanted to leave the series, feeling her role was small and getting smaller. A famous fan — Martin Luther King Jr. — convinced her otherwise. “Star Trek was the only program he allowed his children to watch,” Nichols later recalled, and King reminded her that she was a role model to millions. Her run with the character stretched 25 years through six films. She died of heart failure, and appropriately enough, her ashes are set to be sent into space — the last honor for a final-frontier legend whose role in TV history endures.
Angela Lansbury (96)
Born: Oct. 16, 1925 Died: Oct. 11, 2022
Angela Lansbury scored her first of three Oscar nominations as a teenager, and went on to conquer the Great White Way, reaping five Tony Awards in a Broadway career spanning six decades. But Lansbury, who died on Oct. 11 at 96, only became a cherished household name as a TV star, at a time in life when many would be thinking of retiring. Nearing 60, she was an overnight sensation as Murder, She Wrote’s uncannily intuitive and adorably sincere amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher. The spunky New England widow and mystery writer solved puzzling murders wherever she went, making Murder an against-the-odds hit for CBS, dominating Sunday ratings from 1984-96.
Tony Dow (77)
Born: April 13, 1945 Died: July 27, 2022
Tony Dow will forever be young, the idealized big brother to little Beaver Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) in the classic suburban-family sitcom Leave It to Beaver (1957-63). An accomplished athlete but untrained actor when cast at 12 as Wally, the handsome Dow enjoyed the perks but also the pitfalls of early fame. Dow, who died of cancer at 77, suffered from depression in his 20s but became a successful TV director, including of the cautionary documentary Child Stars: Their Story in 2000.
Bob Saget (65)
Born: May 17, 1956 Died: Jan. 9, 2022
Estelle Harris (93)
Born: April 22, 1928 Died: April 2, 2022
Estelle Harris was a unique kind of crazy, playing Estelle Costanza, one of television’s funniest, most memorable mothers. As George’s (Jason Alexander) mom on Seinfeld, she could be by quick turns obnoxious and melodramatic, sweet, sassy, domineering and a pulled pin in the grenade that was her husband Frank, played by Jerry Stiller. A constant presence on TV commercials, and later as Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise, Harris died of natural causes at her home in California at age 93.
Louie Anderson (68)
Born: March 24, 1953 Died: Jan. 21, 2022
In November 1984, Louie Anderson joined a small, important entertainment fraternity: stars whose debut on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show propelled them quickly to stardom. Anderson, who died early this year of complications from cancer, wore many hats in his career — the performer created the animated Life With Louie, as well as the sitcom The Louie Show, and received his Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy playing Zach Galifianakis’ mom on the FX series Baskets. In addition to hosting Family Feud from 1999-2002, Anderson also made frequent appearances on a variety of television shows, including Remington Steele, Grace Under Fire, Ally McBeal, Nash Bridges and Young Sheldon.
Howard Hesseman (81)
Born: Feb. 27, 1940 Died: Jan. 29, 2022
“All right, Cincinnati, it is time for this town to get down!” With those words, a legendary TV character was born, as Howard Hesseman’s Dr. Johnny Fever offered the rock ’n’ roll prescription for morning radio on WKRP in Cincinnati. The ensemble sitcom ran from 1978-82 and earned Hesseman two Outstanding Supporting Actor Emmy nominations, along with a legion of fans who still enjoy his laid-back comic persona. Seen in many TV series in the years after, including One Day at a Time from 1982-84, Hesseman died from complications of colon surgery in Los Angeles.
William Hurt (71)
Born: March 20, 1950 Died: March 13, 2022
One of the finest actors of his generation, stage and screen star William McChord Hurt could memorably immerse himself deeply into any type of character. Those turns thrilled viewers for 40 years, going back to his movie debut, as a professor in the psychedelic sci-fi/horror film Altered States (1980). There was a hint of vulnerability about his roles, and he was always remarkably believable — as the lazy lawyer taken in by Kathleen Turner’s beauty in the steamy noir Body Heat (1981), playing a principled but broken Vietnam vet in The Big Chill (1983), and in his Best Actor Oscar-winning performance for Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985). That role was followed by two more nominations, in the intense drama Children of a Lesser God (1986) and the brilliant comedy Broadcast News (1987). The consummate actor passed away of complications from prostate cancer at his Oregon home just a week before his 72nd birthday.
Ray Liotta (67)
Born: Dec. 18, 1954 Died: May 26, 2022
Ray Liotta was the quintessential movie tough guy in classics like Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, but he also reflected a sensitive soul in those piercing blue eyes, never more so than as the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams. Among his memorable TV performances: Frank Sinatra in the 1998 HBO movie The Rat Pack, as Jennifer Lopez’s corrupt mentor on NBC’s Shades of Blue and as a dying alcoholic on ER, for which he won a 2005 guest actor Emmy. Liotta died in his sleep.
Paul Sorvino (83)
Born: April 13, 1939 Died: July 25, 2022
We know Paul Anthony Sorvino most from two roles on opposite sides of the prison bars. As the Lucchese crime family captain Paulie Cicero in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 crime drama Goodfellas, and as NYPD Sgt. Phil Cerreta on Law & Order. But we also loved the man as a father figure in Romeo + Juliet, Bruce Willis’ dad on Moonlighting, Jeff Garlin’s pop on The Goldbergs and, in real life, Mira Sorvino’s father. A year after finishing work on the series Godfather of Harlem, Sorvino died in Jacksonville, Florida, at the age of 83.
James Caan (82)
Born: March 26, 1940 Died: July 6, 2022
Tony Sirico (79)
Born: July 29, 1942 Died: July 8, 2022
Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. gave an unforgettable performance as made guy Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri on The Sopranos. The Brooklyn native once had what TV cops always say is “a rap sheet a mile long.” Arrested 28 times, Sirico was convicted of disorderly conduct, assault and robbery, among other offenses, and spent time in prison. Once he turned to acting, Sirico also had roles in Cop Land, Mickey Blue Eyes, Miami Vice, Medium, the TV movie Gotti and in several Woody Allen films, including Bullets Over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite, Deconstructing Harry and Celebrity. Diagnosed with dementia a few years ago, Sirico died at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, three weeks before his 80th birthday.
Anne Heche (53)
Born: May 25, 1969 Died: Aug. 11, 2022
Anne Heche’s death from injuries she sustained in an auto crash was a tragic coda to the troubled life of a talented actress. Heche continually battled mental health issues while still forging a notable career. After an award-winning turn on the daytime drama Another World (1987-91), she became, in the late 1990s, a figure on the rise, both through films (Donnie Brasco, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Wag the Dog) and in her personal life, as half of the “first gay supercouple” alongside Ellen DeGeneres from 1997-2000.
Dwayne Hickman (87)
Born: May 18, 1934 Died: Jan. 9, 2022
How often does a huge child star not only survive but ultimately thrive in Hollywood? It’s not easy, but it proved to be the case with Dwayne Hickman, who, while he lived to be nearly 90, still remained largely known as the fresh-faced, girl-crazy teenage characters he portrayed on the sitcoms that brought him early and lasting fame. Following his breakout role as Chuck MacDonald in The Bob Cummings Show (1955-59), Hickman gained stardom as the title character who “wants a girl who’s dreamy” in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959-63). Starting in the late 1970s, Hickman became an executive with CBS, taking time out occasionally for acting roles until 2005. He ultimately succumbed to complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Betty White (99)
Born: Jan. 17, 1922 Died: Dec. 31, 2021
Loretta Lynn (90)
Born: April 14, 1932 Died: Oct. 4, 2022
In a sense, the day some 70 years ago when Loretta Lynn punched out three of her husband’s teeth may best describe the journey of this revered country music and feminist queen whose story — and songs tinged with humor and hard living — is an American classic. “You know, he never said a word,” Lynn later recalled about that punch … but she did, in hit songs that told tales from the perspective of a “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” That song — and the lauded Sissy Spacek film it inspired — spoke of her upbringing and marriage to Doo at age 15, a loving, tumultuous bond that lasted 48 years. With Lynn a mother of four by her 20th birthday, Doo bought her a $17 guitar and gave her plenty to sing about. Lynn’s tunes are the stuff of legend, sung with the voice of a true storyteller.
Queen Elizabeth II (96)
Born: April 21, 1926 Died: Sept. 8, 2022
In June 1953, when television was young, a rapt American viewing public clamored to see the coronation of Elizabeth, the 27-year-old royal about to be crowned queen. The attention, adoration and admiration were warranted. Few European figures of the last century have inspired more fascination on this side of the pond than the longest-ruling British monarch in history. The queen’s passing on Sept. 8 at age 96 offered a chance to reflect on the dignified leader who, for millions, was the symbol of perseverance on the world stage. Through a reign lasting 70 years — one that saw her greet 13 U.S. presidents — Elizabeth grew from an enigmatic figure into one of compassion, a constant through times of uncertainty.
Leslie Jordan (67)
Born: April 29, 1955 Died: Oct. 24, 2022
Actor/comedian Leslie Allen Jordan was on his way to film scenes for the third season of his latest series, FOX’s sitcom Call Me Kat, when he was tragically killed in a car accident. He leaves behind a legacy as a familiar face — usually in supporting, but often scene-stealing, roles — seen in films and especially in many other TV series over the past four decades. That small-screen work began with The Fall Guy in 1986 and notably also included recurring appearances as Lonnie Garr in Hearts Afire (1993-95), an Emmy-winning recurring role as Beverley Leslie on Will & Grace (2001-06, 2017-20), and portrayals of various characters in the American Horror Story franchise (2013-19). Over the past few years, Jordan also made people happy and gained millions of followers through his humorous Instagram posts, which helped boost morale during the pandemic.
Also Remembering
Neal Adams (80)
b. 1941 Comic book artist; cocreator of DC characters Man-Bat, Ra’s al Ghul and John Stewart (Green Lantern)
Jules Bass (87)
b. 1935 Cofounder of Rankin/Bass Productions; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Peter Bogdanovich (82)
b. 1939 Director/screenwriter/actor; The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon, Mask
Robbie Coltrane (Anthony Robert McMillan) (72)
b. 1950 Actor/comedian; Harry Potter films, Cracker, GoldenEye
Len Dawson (87)
b. 1935 Hall of Fame quarterback, primarily with Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs (1962-75)
Emilio Delgado (81)
b. 1940 Actor; Sesame Street
Louise Fletcher (Estelle Louise Fletcher) (88)
b. 1934 Actress; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Gilbert Gottfried (67)
b. 1955 Comedian/live-action and voice actor; Disney’s Aladdin films and series
Philip Baker Hall (90)
b. 1931 Actor; Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Seinfeld
Naomi Judd (Diana Ellen Judd) (76)
b. 1946 Grammy-winning singer; performed with daughter Wynonna as the Judds from 1983-91
Sally Kellerman (84)
b. 1937 Actress; M*A*S*H (film), Back to School
Bob Lanier (73)
b. 1948 Hall of Fame NBA center with Detroit Pistons (1970-80) and Milwaukee Bucks (1980-84)
Jerry Lee Lewis (87)
b. 1935 Rock singer-songwriter/pianist; “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire”
Meat Loaf (Marvin Lee Aday) (74)
b. 1947 Rock singer/actor; Bat Out of Hell, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Fight Club
Yvette Mimieux (80)
b. 1942 Actress; The Time Machine
Monty Norman (Monty Noserovitch) (94)
b. 1928 Composer of the “James Bond Theme”
Wolfgang Petersen (81)
b. 1941 Director/screenwriter; Das Boot, The NeverEnding Story, Air Force One
Sidney Poitier (94)
b. 1927 Actor/director/diplomat; Lilies of the Field, The Defiant Ones, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night
Ivan Reitman (75)
b. 1946 Director; Ghostbusters, Twins
Bill Russell (88)
b. 1934 Hall of Fame NBA center with the Boston Celtics (1956-69)
Mitchell Ryan (88)
b. 1934 Actor; Dark Shadows, Lethal Weapon, Dharma & Greg
Vin Scully (94)
b. 1927 Play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1950-2016)
Bernard Shaw (82)
b. 1940 Journalist; lead news anchor for CNN (1980-2001)
Henry Silva (95)
b. 1926 Actor; Ocean’s 11, The Manchurian Candidate
Ronnie Spector (Veronica Yvette Bennett) (78)
b. 1943 Singer; Ronettes cofounder and frontwoman (1963-67)
Larry Storch (99)
b. 1923 Live-action and voice actor/comedian; F Troop
Douglas Trumbull (79)
b. 1942 Visual effects pioneer; 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Blade Runner
Vangelis (Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou) (79)
b. 1943 Composer; Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner
Fred Ward (Freddie Joe Ward) (79)
b. 1942 Actor; The Right Stuff, Tremors, Henry & June
David Warner (80)
b. 1941 Actor; The Omen, Time After Time, Time Bandits, Tron, Titanic
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