Scores of notable people around the globe passed away in 2021. They came from all corners and all walks of life.
Here are their stories.
January
George Whitmore, 89: The longtime conservationist, who helped establish the Kaiser Wilderness and the California Wilderness Act of 1984, was a member of the first team to scale El Capitan at Yosemite; Jan. 1
Paul Westphal, 70: The Basketball Hall of Famer played for Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns teams that won championships, then later coached at the collegiate and NBA levels; Jan. 2
Eric Jerome Dickey, 59: The bestselling novelist, who wrote about contemporary Black life, wrote more than 29 books, including such novels as “Sister, Sister” and “Naughty or Nice”; Jan. 3
Gerry Marsden, 78: The musician was the lead singer for Gerry and the Pacemakers, and his version of the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is an anthem for scores of soccer fans; Jan. 3
Tanya Roberts, 65: The model and actress was best known for roles in the James Bond film “A View to a Kill” and on TV on “That ’70s Show”; Jan. 4
Gregory Sierra, 83: The actor, who appeared in dozens of TV and film roles, was best known for his roles on “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son”; Jan. 4
Michael Apted, 79: The British filmmaker helmed such films as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “The World is Not Enough” and the “Up” series of documentaries; Jan. 7
Tommy Lasorda, 93: The Baseball Hall of Famer was the longtime manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and was considered to be one of the game’s most passionate ambassadors; Jan. 7
Neil Sheehan, 84: The former New York Times reporter who broke story on Pentagon Papers also won a Pulitzer Prize for his book about the Vietnam War; Jan. 7
John Reilly, 86: The TV actor appeared in such shows as “General Hospital,” “As the World Turns” and “Dallas”; Jan. 9
Sheldon Adelson, 87: The casino magnate, who led efforts to move the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas, was considered the nation’s most influential GOP donor over the final years of his life; Jan. 11
Howard Johnson, 79: The tuba virtuoso was an in-demand sideman who performed with dozens of high-profile musicians and also worked on “Saturday Night Live”; Jan. 11
Siegfried Fischbacher, 81: The illusionist was half of the famed Siegfried & Roy duo, who performed for decades in Las Vegas; Jan. 13
Sylvain Sylvain, 69: The musician was a co-founder and rhythm guitarist for the legendary early 1970s proto-punk quintet the New York Dolls; Jan. 13
Joanne Rogers, 92: The concert pianist, who was an advocate for the arts, was married to TV’s Mister Rogers and worked to protect his legacy after his death in 2003; Jan. 14
Phil Spector, 81: The revolutionary music producer transformed rock with his “Wall of Sound” method, but later was convicted of murder; Jan. 16
Harry Brant, 24: The model and cosmetics entrepreneur was the son of model Stephanie Seymour; Jan. 17
Hank Aaron, 86: The baseball legend famously broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974, also setting several other records during his 23-year career, but also is remembered for his dignity in dealing with racist threats in pursuit of that historic record; Jan. 22
Hal Holbrook, 95: The award-winning actor had dozens of theater, film and TV roles, including portrayals of real-life figures Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln and FBI informant “Deep Throat”; Jan. 23
Larry King, 87: The longtime radio and TV broadcaster was best known for his interviews with world leaders, movie stars and scores of others; Jan. 23
George Armstrong, 90: The longtime Toronto Maple Leafs star and Hockey Hall of Famer was the first player of Indigenous descent to score in the NHL; Jan. 24
Sekou Smith, 48: The longtime basketball reporter first covered the NBA for newspapers, then moved to appearances on NBA TV and hosting the Hang Time Podcast; Jan. 26
Cloris Leachman, 94: The actress, who won an Oscar for “The Last Picture Show,” was known for roles in films such as “Young Frankenstein” and on TV’s “Mary Tyler Moore Show”; Jan. 27
Cicely Tyson, 96: The pioneering actress, who won two Emmys and a Tony, shot to fame in the early 1970s when Black women were finally starting to get starring roles; Jan. 28
John Chaney, 89: The legendary Temple University basketball coach prided himself on helping players turn their basketball skills into college degrees; Jan. 29
February
Rennie Davis, 80: The peace activist, who was was injured during the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, was found guilty in the “Chicago Seven” trial but later had his conviction overturned; Feb. 2
Capt. Tom Moore, 100: The World War II veteran from Britain gained fame worldwide when he shuffled up and down his garden to raise money for the country’s health care workers; Feb. 2
Dianne Durham, 52: She was the first Black woman to win a USA Gymnastics national championship, and she paved the way for such athletes as Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas; Feb. 5
Christopher Plummer, 91: The Oscar-winning actor flourished in a succession of meaty roles after age 70, but probably was best known for his role in “The Sound of Music”; Feb. 5
Brayden Smith, 24: He was a five-game champion on “Jeopardy!” and the last big winner before longtime host Alex Trebek’s death; Feb. 5
Mary Wilson, 76: The singer shot to fame as one of the original members of the Supremes, then later released a pair of solo albums and wrote several best-selling books; Feb. 8
Chick Corea, 79: He was considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, playing with Miles Davis’ bands and moving on to lead the acclaimed outfit Return to Forever; Feb. 9
Larry Flynt, 78: The controversial publisher of Hustler magazine fought for First Amendment rights and, in 2003, was a candidate for governor of California in the recall race; Feb. 10
Rush Limbaugh, 70: The media icon helped popularize political talk-radio format and ushered in a generation of conservative infotainment; Feb. 17
Fred Segal, 87: The Los Angeles fashion retailer was a favorite of countless celebrities; Feb. 25
March
Vernon Jordan, 85: The civil rights activist also served as an adviser to former President Bill Clinton; March 1
Bunny Wailer, 73: The iconic reggae singer-songwriter from Jamaica was the last surviving founding member of the band the Wailers; March 2
James Levine, 77: The longtime conductor for New York’s Metropolitan Opera led symphonies around the world, but later faced sex harassment charges; March 9
Roger Mudd, 93: The award-winning TV journalist was a political correspondent worked for CBS, NBC, PBS and the History Channel; March 9
Ronald DeFeo Jr., 69: His killings of his father, mother and four siblings in 1974 became known as the “Amityville Horror” case; March 12
“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, 66: The boxer is considered one of the greatest middleweights of all time, finishing with 52 knockouts in 67 career fights; March 13
Yaphet Kotto, 81: The actor, who was beloved for his role in TV’s “Homicide: Life on the Street,” also had parts in such films as “Alien,” “Midnight Run” and “Live and Let Die”; March 15
John Magufuli, 61: He was a teacher and a chemist before becoming the president of Tanzania; March 17
Elgin Baylor, 86: The Basketball Hall of Famer was a star for both the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers, then later became a head coach of the New Orleans Jazz and an exec with the L.A. Clippers; March 22
George Segal, 87: The Oscar-nominated actor starred in a string of hit films in the 1970s, then later became a TV star thanks to roles on “Just Shoot Me” and “The Goldbergs”; March 23
Jessica Walter, 80: The Emmy-winning actress was best known for her roles on TV’s “Arrested Development” and “Archer,” as well as the movie “Play Misty for Me”; March 24
Beverly Cleary, 104: The beloved children’s author wrote books featuring such notable characters as Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins; March 25
Larry McMurtry, 84: The award-winning writer of “Lonesome Dove” and “Last Picture Show” also won an Oscar for the “Brokeback Mountain” screenplay; March 25
G. Gordon Liddy, 90: The former aide to President Richard Nixon went to prison for his role in the Watergate scandal, then later pivoted to conservative talk radio; March 30
April
Prince Philip, 99: The longtime husband of Queen Elizabeth II was known for promoting British industry and science, espousing environmental preservation and supporting many charities; April 9
Anne Beatts, 74: The groundbreaking comedy writer was on the original staff at “Saturday Night Live,” and later created the sitcom “Square Pegs”; April 10
Bernie Madoff, 82: The disgraced former financier was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to orchestrating the biggest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history; April 14
Vartan Gregorian, 87: The longtime head of Carnegie Corp. also was a scholar and philanthropic leader who led the N.Y. Public Library and Brown University; April 15
Helen McCrory, 52: The British actress was best known for roles on TV’s “Peaky Blinders” and the Harry Potter films; April 16
DMX, 50: The Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist, best known for such hits as “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here),” also acted in several TV shows and films; April 19
Walter Mondale, 93: The U.S. senator from Minnesota served as Jimmy Carter’s vice president, the Democratic nominee for president in 1984 and an ambassador to Japan; April 19
Jim Steinman, 73: The longtime songwriter and record producer was best known for composing Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” album; April 19
Terrence Clarke, 19: He played basketball at the University of Kentucky and was aiming for a career in the NBA; April 22
Al Schmitt, 91: The Grammy-winning music producer worked with some of the top musicians of the past 60 years, including Bob Dylan, Ray Charles and Barbra Streisand; April 26
Michael Collins, 90: The Apollo 11 astronaut remained in command module as fellow astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on lunar surface; April 28
Eli Broad, 87: The billionaire businessman and philanthropist is credited for helping to expand the art and cultural offerings in Los Angeles; April 30
May
Olympia Dukakis, 89: The stage and film actress was best known for her role in “Moonstruck,” for which she won an Oscar; May 1
Damon Weaver, 23: As a child reporter, he famously interviewed President Barack Obama at the White House in 2009; May 1
Bobby Unser, 87: The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner was part of a legendary auto racing family; May 2
Lloyd Price, 88: The singer-songwriter was a rock ‘n’ roll pioneer known for such hits as “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “Personality” and “Stagger Lee”; May 3
Paul Van Doren, 90: He was a co-founder of the Vans footwear company; May 6
Tawny Kitaen, 59: The actress was best known for appearing in several 1980s music videos as well as starring opposite Tom Hanks in “Bachelor Party”; May 7
Cruz Reynoso, 90: He was the first Latino to serve on the California Supreme Court; May 7
Spencer Silver, 80: He was a scientist for 3M who invented the adhesive used on Post-It Notes; May 8
Colt Brennan, 37: The college football star at Hawaii was a Heisman Trophy finalist who set an NCAA record for touchdown passes; May 11
Norman Lloyd, 106: The actor had a long career, working with such film greats as Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock, but was best known for his role on TV’s “St. Elsewhere”; May 11
Charles Grodin, 86: The award-winning actor starred in such films as “Midnight Run” and “Beethoven,” then later served as a liberal commentator on radio and TV; May 18
Eric Carle, 91: The beloved children’s author and illustrator wrote such books as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”; May 23
John Warner, 94: The former Virginia senator was a military expert who also served as secretary to the Navy, but he also gained fame for his marriage to actress Elizabeth Taylor; May 25
Mark Eaton, 64: The legendary Utah Jazz center was a prolific shot-blocker during his NBA career, then later worked as a restaurateur and motivational speaker; May 28
Gavin MacLeod, 90: The noteworthy character actor was best known for roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Love Boat”; May 29
June
F. Lee Bailey, 87: The celebrity attorney represented such noteworthy people as O.J. Simpson, Patricia Hearst, Dr. Samuel Sheppard and the alleged Boston Strangler; June 3
Clarence Williams III, 81: The actor appeared in dozens of films and TV shows, and was best known for his role on the TV show “The Mod Squad”; June 4
David Dushman, 98: He was the last surviving Soviet soldier involved in the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp; June 5
Ned Beatty, 83: The award-winning actor had scores of theater, TV and film roles, including “Deliverance,” “Network,” “All The President’s Men” and “Nashville”; June 13
Lisa Banes, 65: The TV and film actress was best known for roles in “Gone Girl” and “Cocktail”; June 14
Frank Bonner, 79: The actor and director was best known for his scene-stealing role on the TV show “WKRP in Cincinnati”; June 16
Mark Peel, 66: The groundbreaking chef, who was a founder of the California cuisine movement, worked at Berkeley’s Chez Panisse before helping launch LA’s dining renaissance; June 20
Benigno Aquino III, 61: The former president of the Philippines, the son of two pro-democracy icons, battled corruption and poverty during his time in office; June 24
Stephen Dunn, 82: The acclaimed poet, whose work celebrated the ordinary things in life, won a Pulitzer Prize in 2001 for “Different Hours”; June 24
Mike Gravel, 91: The former U.S. senator from Alaska sparred with both parties over public land, then later ran for president in 2008 and 2020; June 26
John Langley, 78: He was the creator of the TV show “Cops” and served as a producer on several TV shows and movies; June 26
Stuart Damon, 84: The actor, who was best known for his role on TV’s “General Hospital,” also won fame for playing the Prince in a 1965 TV version of “Cinderella”; June 29
Donald Rumsfeld, 88: He served as secretary of defense for both Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush, and is considered the main architect of the Iraq war under the latter commander in chief; June 29
July
Raffaella Carra, 78: The Italian singer and TV presenter had a string of hits in the 1970s, then later was adopted as an icon by the Gay Pride movement; July 5
Richard Donner, 91: The filmmaker made such smash movies as 1978’s “Superman,” “The Goonies” and “Lethal Weapon,” and later was a producer on such hits as “Deadpool” and the “X-Men” franchise; July 5
Suzzanne Douglas, 64: The actress, who starred in the TV show “The Parent ‘Hood,” also appeared in such films as “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and “School of Rock”; July 6
Robert Downey Sr., 85: The counterculture filmmaker, who was the father of actor Robert Downey Jr., made such movies as “Putney Swope” and “Greaser’s Palace,” and acted in “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia”; July 6
Charlie Robinson, 75: The actor, who was best known for his role on the TV show “Night Court,” had roles in several films in the 1970s and won awards for his theatrical work; July 11
Edwin Edwards, 93: The longtime Louisiana governor served more than eight years in prison after being convicted of fraud; July 12
Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff, 71: The legendary WWE wrestler took part in the first WrestleMania, teaming up with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper to take on Hulk Hogan and Mr. T; July 12
Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti, 64: He did play-by-plays at countless surf competitions and provided the surf report on KROQ radio station in Southern California for years; July 16
Biz Markie, 57: The hip-hop and beatboxing pioneer was best known for his smash hit song “Just a Friend,” but he also acted in several films and TV shows; July 16
Steven Weinberg, 88: The scientist was a co-winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize in physics for his work, which improved the understanding of how everything in the universe relates; July 23
Jackie Mason, 93: The rabbi-turned-comedian was known for his social commentary and his amused outrage brand of comedy; July 24
Robert Moses, 86: The civil rights activist led Black voter registration drives in the South during the 1960s, then later helped improve minority education in math; July 25
Mike Enzi, 77: The longtime U.S. senator from Wyoming emphasized compromise over grandstanding and confrontation to get bills passed; July 26
Joey Jordison, 46: The former drummer for Slipknot also created the bands Scar the Martyr, Vimic and Sinsaenum; July 26
Saginaw Grant, 85: The Native American character actor was in scores of films and TV shows, including “Breaking Bad,” and was active in the powwow circuit in California; July 28
Dusty Hill, 72: He was the bassist with the band ZZ Top for more than 50 years; July 28
Ron Popeil, 86: He was an inventor of several Ronco made-for-TV gadgets, including the Pocket Fisherman and Showtime Rotisserie grill, and was an informercial superstar; July 28
Carl Levin, 87: The longtime U.S. senator from Michigan was a staunch supporter of the auto industry and a respected voice on military matters; July 29
Charles Connor, 86: The prolific drummer played alongside such artists as Little Richard, James Brown and Sam Cooke; July 31
August
Richard Trumka, 72: The longtime president of the AFL-CIO ushered in a more aggressive style of leadership; Aug. 5
Dennis Thomas, 70: The founding member of the band Kool & the Gang was the group’s alto sax player, flutist and percussionist, as well as master of ceremonies at concerts; Aug. 7
Bobby Bowden, 91: The Hall of Fame football coach turned Florida State into a college football powerhouse; Aug. 8
Patricia Hitchcock O’Connell, 93: The actress, who was the daughter of director Alfred Hitchcock, appeared in a handful of her dad’s films, including “Strangers on a Train” and “Psycho,” then later co-authored a book about her mother; Aug. 9
Sunni Welles, 72: The TV and film actress appeared in such shows as “Leave It to Beaver” and “My Three Sons” — and she later accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault; Aug. 9
Tony Esposito, 78: The legendary Chicago Blackhawks goalie also served as GM for the Pittsburgh Penguins and chief scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning; Aug. 10
Maki Kaji, 69: The Japanese puzzle maker was known as the “Godfather of Sudoku”; Aug. 10
Nanci Griffith, 68: The award-winning folk singer-songwriter won acclaim for duets with Emmylou Harris, John Prine and Willie Nelson; Aug. 13
Sonny Chiba, 82: The Japanese martial artist also was a film star who appeared in than 100 films, including “Kill Bill,” Aug. 19
Tom T. Hall, 84; The country musician, who had a string of hits in the 1960s and ’70s, also wrote several hit songs and later became an author; Aug. 20
Don Everly, 84: He was half of the popular Everly Brothers duo, who had 19 top 40 hits in the 1950s and ’60s; Aug. 21
Charlie Watts, 80: The longtime drummer for the Rolling Stones also was an acclaimed jazz bandleader; Aug. 24
Ed Asner, 91: The award-winning actor, who was beloved for his role as Lou Grant on two different TV shows, also was known for his political activism; Aug. 29
Lee “Scratch” Perry, 85: The legendary reggae musician from Jamaica also was a music producer who worked with such artists as Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Beastie Boys and Paul McCartney; Aug. 29
Jacques Rogge, 79: The former orthopedic surgeon from Belgium served as the president of the International Olympic Committee for 12 years; Aug. 29
Michael Constantine, 94: The award-winning actor had dozens of TV and film roles, but was best known for his scene-stealing role in the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”; Aug. 31
September
Willard Scott, 87: The longtime TV personality was the weatherman on the “Today” show for three decades; Sept. 4
Jean-Paul Belmondo, 88: The famed French actor was best known for his starring role in the iconic French New Wave film “Breathless”; Sept. 6
Anthony ‘AJ’ Johnson, 55: The actor and comedian was best known for his scene-stealing role in the movie “Friday”; Sept. 6
Michael K. Williams, 54: The beloved actor was famed for his role as Omar Little on “The Wire,” one of the most enduring characters in a prime era of TV; Sept. 6
Sam Cunningham, 71: The USC football standout, who helped integrate college football in the South, later became an NFL star with the New England Patriots; Sept. 7
George Wein, 95: The co-founder of the Newport Jazz Festival was an impresario who helped create the blueprint for music festivals around the world; Sept. 13
Norm Macdonald, 61: The deadpan comedian started as a writer on the TV show “Roseanne,” then rocketed to fame during his time at the Weekend Update desk on “Saturday Night Live”; Sept. 14
Jane Powell, 92: The actress, who was known for her small stature but large singing voice, gained fame for roles in such movie musicals as “Royal Wedding” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”; Sept. 16
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 84: The former president of Algeria was ousted amid pro-democracy protests in 2019 after two decades in power; Sept. 17
Willie Garson, 57: The character actor was best known for his role on “Sex and the City”; Sept. 21
Melvin Van Peebles, 89: The director, who was considered the godfather of Black cinema, ushered in the Blaxploitation wave of films with “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song!”; Sept. 21
Walter Scott, 90: The former CEO of Peter Kiewit Sons Inc. construction firm also was well-known for his philanthropy; Sept. 25
Tommy Kirk, 79: The child actor starred in several Disney films of the 1950s and ’60s, including “Old Yeller” and “Swiss Family Robinson: Sept. 28
October
Alan Kalter, 78: The longtime announcer for “The Late Show With David Letterman” also served as a voiceover artist on several TV and radio commercials; Oct. 4
Gary Paulsen, 82: The award-winning young adult author was best known for the book “Hatchet,” which was required reading for millions of schoolchildren; Oct. 13
Tom Morey, 86: He was the inventor of the Boogie Board as well as an influential figure in the world of surfing; Oct. 14
Betty Lynn, 95: The film and TV actress was best known for her role as Thelma Lou on “The Andy Griffith Show”; Oct. 16
Colin Powell, 84: The Vietnam War veteran, who rose through the ranks to become a four-star general, was the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then later became the first black secretary of state; Oct. 18
Peter Scolari, 66: The actor came to fame in the 1980s with roles on TV’s “Bosom Buddies” and “Newhart,” then won an Emmy in 2016 for his role on “Girls”; Oct. 22
Carl Madsen, 71: He was a longtime NFL on-field umpire and replay official; Oct. 24
James Michael Tyler, 59: The actor was best known for his recurring role as Gunther on the TV show “Friends”; Oct. 24
November
John Artis, 75: He was wrongly convicted with boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter in a triple murder case made famous in a song by Bob Dylan and a film staring Denzel Washington; Nov. 7
Max Cleland, 79: The former Georgia senator, a Vietnam vet who lost limbs in combat, also led the Veterans Administration during the Carter administration; Nov. 9
Jerry Douglas, 88: The actor, who was a fan favorite on the daytime drama “The Young and the Restless,” also appeared in several movies; Nov. 9
F.W. de Klerk, 85: He was South Africa’s last president under apartheid, then later shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela; Nov. 11
Heath Freeman, 41: The character actor appeared in numerous TV series, including “Bones,” “NCIS” and “The Closer”; Nov. 13
Sam Huff, 87: The NFL Hall of Famer helped the New York Giants reach six NFL title games in the 1950s and ’60s, then later became an announcer for Washington; Nov. 13
Young Dolph, 36; The rapper had three albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200, with 2020’s “Rich Slave” peaking at No. 4; Nov. 17.
Chun Doo-hwan, 90: The former South Korean dictator took power in a 1979 coup, but later was sent to prison for mutiny and treason while in office; Nov. 23
Stephen Sondheim, 91: The Broadway legend was a beloved composer and lyricist best known for work on the musicals “Sweeney Todd,” “West Side Story” and “Into the Woods”; Nov. 26
Eddie Mekka, 69: The actor was best known for his role as Carmine on TV’s “Laverne & Shirley”; Nov. 27
Virgil Abloh, 41: The fashion designer, who gained fame for fusing streetwear and high couture, was a favorite of many celebrities; Nov. 28
Lee Elder, 87: The trailblazing golfer was the first Black man to play in the Masters tournament; Nov. 28
Carrie Meek, 95: The longtime lawmaker in 1993 became one of the first Black Floridians elected to Congress since Reconstruction; Nov. 28
Arlene Dahl, 96: The actress, who appeared in such films as “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “Three Little Words,” also was famous for her six marriages; Nov. 29
December
Bob Dole, 98: The longtime Senate leader from Kansas, who was the GOP’s 1976 candidate for vice president and 1996 candidate for president, also was a staunch advocate for veterans; Dec. 5
Robbie Shakespeare, 68: The legendary reggae musician was half of the band Sly and Robbie, and he worked with such reggae greats including Bob Marley and Peter Tosh; Dec. 8
Demaryius Thomas, 33: The football star, who earned five straight Pro Bowl honors, played for the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and New York Jets; Dec. 9
Al Unser, 82: He was a member of the legendary auto racing family, and he was one of only four people to have ever won the Indianapolis 500 four times; Dec. 9
Lina Wertmuller, 93: The Italian filmmaker famed for making politically charged films in the 1970s was first woman to be nominated for the best director Oscar; Dec. 9
Michael Nesmith, 78: The singer and guitarist with the band The Monkees also created the the country-rock-folk group First National Band, and was an author and filmmaker; Dec. 10
Anne Rice, 80: The gothic novelist was famed for her “Vampire Chronicles” series, which included the best-selling “Interview With the Vampire”; Dec. 11
Vicente Fernández, 81: The beloved Mexican singer, known for his command of the ranchera genre and his mariachi suits, also appeared in more than 30 films; Dec. 12
bell hooks, 69: The acclaimed poet, author and professor wrote published more than 30 books, including “Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism” and “All About Love”; Dec. 15
Hap Jacobs, 91: He was a surf legend who helped made surfing accessible to everyone, shaping thousands of boards in the late 1950s and ’60s; Dec. 18
Sally Ann Howes, 91: The film, TV and theater actress got her start as a child, but she was best known for her role in the movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”; Dec. 19
T. Mark Taylor, 80: He was an artist and toy designer for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchises; Dec. 23
Johnny Isakson, 76: The former U.S. senator from Georgia was known as an effective, behind-the-scenes consensus builder; Dec. 26
Karolos Papoulias, 92: The former Greek resistance fighter later became president of Greece, serving from 2005 to 2015 amid the nation’s financial crisis; Dec. 26
Desmond Tutu, 90: The beloved archbishop from South Africa worked tirelessly to end apartheid in his country, then later became an activist for racial justice and LGBT rights; Dec. 26
Jean-Marc Vallee, 58: The Canadian filmmaker was best known for directing the movie “Dallas Buyers Club” and the first season of the TV series “Big Little Lies”; Dec. 26
Sarah Weddington, 76; She was a noted attorney from Texas who, at age 26, successfully argued the landmark abortion rights case Roe v. Wade before the U.S. Supreme Court; Dec. 26
Edward O. Wilson, 92: The noted biologist, known as “Ant Man,” touted a link between human behavior and genetics in his book “Sociobiology” and later warned against the decline of ecosystems; Dec. 26