Stars we've lost in 2021

Betty White, the five-time Emmy Award-winning actress whose career spanned six decades and included pivotal roles on some of TV's most influential shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, died at 99 years old on New Year's Eve. The legendary comedic actress would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. White officially hit the TV airwaves in 1949 on the local variety show Hollywood on Television and went on to produce and star in the show's domestic spin-off comedy, Life With Elizabeth. An assortment of short-lived roles followed, including an eponymous variety show and the first of her famed spots on game shows, from What's My Line to Make the Connection to Password. Years later, White appeared on other game shows, including Pyramid and Match Game, as well as hosted NBC's Just Men! (for which she won a Daytime Emmy). The first of White's two most famous TV roles began in 1973, when she joined the cast of the super-successful sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, playing "happy homemaker" Sue Ann Nivens, which won her two Emmys. In 1985, she Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls. She was nominated for an Emmy during each of the show's seven seasons and won in its first. In her later years, White appeared on The John Larroquette Show, The Practice, Boston Legal, The Bold and the Beautiful, My Name Is Earl, and Community, and TV Land's Hot in Cleveland. She also had a memorable turn in the rom-com The Proposal.

Stephen J. Lawrence, a prolific composer best known for his work on Sesame Street and the children's entertainment album Free to Be… You and Me, died Dec. 30 in New Jersey. He was 82. Born Sept. 5, 1939, Lawrence would become a musical staple across the entertainment industry for five decades. He served most notably as a jack of all trades—composer, musical director, arranger, conductor—on Sesame Street, where he earned three Daytime Emmys for his achievements in music direction. Lawrence composed more than 300 songs and scores for the acclaimed children's series that are still known today, including the iconic "Fuzzy and Blue (and Orange)," which he wrote with David Axelrod. Lawrence's work in children's entertainment was a vital part of his career. He composed the score for The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss and worked on the popular 1972 children's album Free to Be… You and Me as a musical director and co-producer with Bruce Hart, composing the title song and two others, "When We Grow Up" and "Sisters and Brothers."

John Bowman, co-creator of the Martin Lawrence-starring comedy Martin and writer of In Living Color, died Dec. 28 at the age of 64, his son told The Hollywood Reporter. He also worked on other shows including Saturday Night Live, Murphy Brown, and The Hughleys, and also co-created the sketch comedy shows Cedric the Entertainer Presents and Frank TV. For his work on SNL, he shared an Emmy win for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program with Mike Myers, Conan O'Brien, Greg Daniels, Bob Odenkirk, Phil Hartman, and more. He was also nominated for two other Emmys: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program and Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program, both for In Living Color.

Tiffini Hale, who was a cast member on Disney Channel's All-New Mickey Mouse Club and pop group The Party, died at the age of 46 on Dec. 25.

"It is with the heaviest of broken hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of our beloved sister, Tiffini Talia Hale," reads a post on The Party's Facebook page signed by Hale's bandmates Deedee Magno Hall, Chase Hampton, Jeune Pierre, and Damon Pampolina.

"Early this month," they continued, "she suffered a cardiac arrest that resulted in her being left in a coma. After many prayers and with her family by her side, our dearest Tiff took her last breath Christmas morning. She is now resting peacefully."

Hale was an original member of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, which premiered in 1989. Hale and Hampton shared cohosting duties for the final season in 1994.

In 1990, Hale was chosen (alongside Hall, Hampton, Pampolina, and Pierre) to become part of Disney's new pop group The Party. The band released a total of two studio albums and three collections of outtakes and greatest hits, the biggest hit from which was a cover of Dokken's "In My Dreams."

John Madden, the football legend who coached the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl title, worked as a broadcaster for all four major networks, and lent his name and voice to the massively popular Madden NFL video game series, died Dec. 28 at 85. A native of Austin, Minn., Madden played football in high school and college and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958. He took up coaching after a training camp injury ended his playing career, and led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in 1977. After coaching, he became a beloved color commentator, known for his distinctive voice, down-to-earth sensibility, and astute analysis. He won 16 Sports Emmys, and in 2006 was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But for generations of football and gaming fans, Madden was perhaps best known for his namesake video game series, Madden NFL. Launched as John Madden Football in 1988, the franchise has sold more than 100 million copies across countless platforms.

Harry Colomby, a film and television producer known for Johnny Dangerously and Body Shots, among others, died Dec. 25 in Los Angeles at 92. A cause of death was not specified. Colomby worked as a schoolteacher in New York before pivoting to a career as a manager to the stars, including jazz pianist Thelonious Monk and actor Michael Keaton, when the latter first began his career as a stand-up comedian. A frequent Keaton collaborator, Colomby co-created, produced, and wrote for the actor's sitcoms Working Stiffs and Report to Murphy in the late 1970s and '80s, as well as the films Mr. Mom, Touch and Go, One Good Cop, and Speechless. Keaton paid tribute to his longtime friend on Instagram, writing, "The great Harry Colomby has moved on. Unlikeliest of matches, we thought the same, felt the same and laughed at the same things. He was kindhearted, curious, thoughtful and man, was he funny. Forget 'was.' To me he still is. I loved him and so did all who met him."

Jean-Marc Vallée, the director of the Oscar-winning Dallas Buyers Club and HBO hits like Big Little Lies and Sharp Objects, died unexpectedly at the age of 58 in his cabin outside Quebec City over the Christmas weekend, his publicist confirmed to EW. A cause of death was not given. Over the course of his career, the filmmaker directed Marc-André Grondin in C.R.A.Z.Y.,  Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club, Reese Witherspoon in Wild and Big Little Lies, Jake Gyllenhaal in Demolition, and Amy Adams in Sharp Objects.

Candy Palmater, an Indigenous comedian from Canada, died Dec. 25 at the age of 53. She was best known for creating and hosting the comedy series The Candy Show, as well as her appearances on Trailer Park Boys. A cause of death was not given at the time, but the comic revealed in mid-December that she was diagnosed with a rare condition called eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). 

Harvey Evans, an acclaimed actor, singer, and dancer who appeared in the original Broadway productions of West Side Story, Follies, and Hello, Dolly!, died Dec. 24 at the age of 80. A cause of death was not given. In addition to his many stage credits, his screen appearances include roles in both the original West Side Story, as a Jet named Mouthpiece, and Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake, as a Gimbels security guard. He also appeared as a dancer in The Pajama Game, Enchanted, and Mary Poppins, in which he was one of the chimney sweeps.

Joan Didion, the groundbreaking journalist, memoirist, novelist, and screenwriter, died Dec. 23 at her home in Manhattan. She was 87. Paul Bogaards, an executive at Didion's publisher Knopf, said the cause of death was Parkinson's disease, The New York Times reported.

It's hard to pinpoint which genre most defined Didion—or which genre Didion did most to define—but she made her earliest mark as a young reporter. She graduated from Berkeley in 1956, where she won an essay contest that secured her a position at Vogue. Didion published her first novel, Run, River, in 1963, to lukewarm reviews, but she later won acclaim with the novels A Book of Common Prayer and Play It as It Lays, which she herself adapted into a screenplay.

Didion's most recent works include South and West: From a Notebook, published in 2017, and a collection of essays titled Let Me Tell You What I Mean, which was published in early 2021. She was also the subject of the recent Netflix documentary Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold.

Wanda Young, an original member of the Motown girl group the Marvelettes, died Dec. 15 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was 78. Young sang both backup and lead for the Marvelettes, singing lead most famously on the classic "Don't Mess With Bill," the last top 10 hit for the group.

Sally Ann Howes, the child actor who rose to fame in the cult film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, died in her sleep on Dec. 19. She was 91. Howes' death was confirmed by her nephew, Toby Howes.

Howes was a prominent fixture in the entertainment world, racking up 40 credits in both film and television. Born in London, she made her acting debut at age 12 in the 1943 film Thursday's Child after being recommended for the role by a family friend. In the 1950s, she made the transition to theater while continuing to star in multiple films and television shows. She made her Broadway debut in 1958 as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, taking over for original star Julie Andrews—a role that catapulted her career to another level. Howe went on to earn a 1962 Tony nomination for her performance as Fiona in Brigadoon at the New York City Opera, a role she reprised when the show was made into a TV series and the role that brought her to star in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Howes is survived by one son.

Jack Hedley, the prolific actor best known for appearing in the film For Your Eyes Only with Roger Moore, died Dec. 11. He was 92.

Born in London as Jack Hawkins in 1929, the actor changed his last name to Hedley to avoid being mistaken for another British actor of the same name. He started his acting career in the 50s, becoming a prominent fixture on both the big and small screen, with movie roles in The Scarlet Blade, Witchcraft, The Secret of Blood Island, as well as an uncredited role in Lawrence of Arabia.

Hedley's big break came when he was cast opposite Moore as Sir Timothy Havelock in the Bond film For Your Eyes Only. During his career, he amassed an impressive 99 credits over five decades across film, television, and theater, with roles in the British television shows Only Fools and Horses, Space Precinct, and Dalziel and Pascoe.

Sayaka Kanda, the actress and singer who recently voiced Anna in the Japanese-dubbed version of Disney's Frozen, died on Dec. 18 in Japan. She was 35. The star apparently fell from a 22-story hotel in the city of Sapporo. The daughter of actor Masaki Kanda and idolized pop star Seiko Matsuda, Kanda was known for her voice work in animes  Idoly Pride and Star Blazers 2202, as well as the film Real Girl and TV series High School Chorus, among others. Prior to her death, Kanda was also prepared to hit the musical theater stage for productions of My Fair Lady and Galaxy Express 999, based on a sci-fi anime written and illustrated by Leiji Matsumoto, in 2022.

Il Divo singer Carlos Marín died Dec. 19 following a hospitalization, according to the remaining members of the vocal group. He was 53.

David Miller, Sébastien Izambard, and Urs Bühler announced the news of their friend's death on their website.

"It is with heavy hearts that we are letting you know that our friend and partner, Carlos Marin, has passed away. He will be missed by his friends, family and fans. There wiIl never be another voice or spirit like Carlos," Il Divo shared.

Drakeo the Ruler, the lionized Los Angeles rapper best known for "Impatient Freestyle" and "Betchua," among others, died on Dec. 18 after he was stabbed at the Once Upon A Time in LA festival held at Banc of California Stadium and Exposition Park in Los Angeles. He was 28. The rapper, born Darrell Caldwell, was slated to perform at the single day hip hop event alongside notable headliners Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, Al Green, and more prior to his death. Throughout the course of his career, the influential rapper has released a series of mixtapes and albums, including The Truth Hurts, Thank You for Using GTL, So Cold I Do Em, and I Am Mr. Mosely.

Leonard "Hub" Hubbard, a founding member and bassist for the Roots, died Dec. 16 of myeloma, a form of blood cancer. He was 62. "It's with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to our brother Leonard Nelson Hubbard," the band said in a statement posted to Twitter. "May your transition bring peace to your family to your friends to your fans and all of those who loved you." Hubbard joined Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, and the late Malik B. to form the Roots in 1992, and performed on seven of the group's albums starting with their 1993 debut, Organix. He departed the band in 2007 after he was diagnosed with cancer to focus on his work as a composer, his wife, Stephanie Hubbard, told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "He wanted to be known for the type of music he was composing," she said, "and before he died, he was sitting there at night listening to the music, and he was so happy with it."

Jose Angel Hernandez, known as the music producer Flow La Movie, died in a plane crash on Dec. 15. The 38-year-old Puerto Rico native made a name for himself producing songs for Bad Bunny and Ozuna, as well as artists across Latin America. Hits he produced included "Te Boté" and Bad Bunny and Drake's "Mia." Hernandez was one of seven passengers on a private plane when it crashed near Las Américas International Airport in the Dominican Republic, en route to Florida. His son, Jay, and his partner Debbie Von Marie Jimenez Garcia were also among the victims. 

Jason Hitch, who appeared on the second season of 90 Day Fiancé, died Dec. 14 from complications of COVID-19. He was 45. Hitch was featured on the TLC reality series—which follows couples in long-distance relationships who must decide if they want to get married within three months to satisfy U.S. visa requirements—in 2014. An Army veteran, Hitch married Cassia Taraves after she moved from Brazil to his native Spring Hill, Fla. The couple separated in 2017 and filed for divorce the following year.

bell hooks, the trailblazing author, educator, and critic who indelibly shaped conversations about race and gender in the U.S., died Dec. 15 at her home in Kentucky from an undisclosed illness. She was 69. Born Gloria Jean Watkins on Sept. 25, 1952, in Hopkinsville, Ky., hooks took on her pen name as a tribute to her great-grandmother Bell Blair Hooks. She published her first book, Ain't I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism, in 1981 and went on to publish dozens more titles over the course of her career, including essays, poetry, and children's books, that examined race, gender, class, spirituality, and more. hooks' writing inspired and influenced many artists and leaders of today, and she was also known for her pointed cultural analyses.

Ken Kragen, who produced The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Kenny Rogers' Gambler movies and was also the force behind the charitable events We Are the World and Hands Across America, died Dec. 14 of natural causes. He was 85. Kragen also managed the careers of Rogers and countless other entertainers, including Lionel Richie, the Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John, Burt Reynolds, the Smothers Brothers, and Trisha Yearwood. For his efforts with We Are the World, he received the United Nations Peace Medal in 1985, making him one of only a small handful of private citizens to receive the honor.

Anne Rice, whose vampire fiction and other stories of the sexy supernatural enchanted readers ever since her 1976 debut novel, Interview With the Vampire, died Dec. 12 at her home in New Orleans due to complications from a stroke. She was 80. Rice set many of her most celebrated novels in her hometown, including Interview and the Lives of the Mayfair Witches series. Though she grew up Catholic, she abandoned organized religion while studying at San Francisco State University in the '60s. She wrote her best-selling novel Interview with the Vampire in 1976, after the death of her daughter, Michele, at age 5. In the decades following the book's success, Rice published dozens more enormously popular novels. She returned to the Catholic Church in the late '90s, at which time she moved away from vampire fiction and started exploring religious topics with her Christ the Lord series, her Songs of the Seraphim series, and a memoir of her spiritual transformation, Called Out of Darkness. In 2010, however, she posted to her Facebook page, where she was very active, that though she remained "committed to Christ as always," she was leaving the Church once again because "my conscience will allow nothing else." Rice's split from the church marked her return to gothic literature: 2012 brought the first book of the Wolf Gift Chronicles, which focused on werewolves, and in 2014, she revisited the bloodsucking antihero that made her famous with Prince Lestat.

Vicente Fernández, the Mexican singer who achieved fame for his soulful anthems and operatic voice, died Dec. 12 at 81. Born Vicente Fernández Gomez in 1940, the singer spent most of his early years in a rural settlement in Guadalajara, where his parents raised cattle. He dropped out of school in fifth grade, and as a teenager worked in Tijuana doing odd jobs. He started singing at 21 as a mariachi in Guadalajara, eventually graduating to restaurants and radio shows. Fernández, who was largely self-taught when it came to music, recorded more than 50 albums in Spanish and won Grammys and Latin Grammys for his work. He also created themes for numerous telenovelas and starred in more than two dozen moves in the '70s and '80s. In 1980, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Despite ongoing health issues that included prostate and liver cancer, Fernández continued to tour until 2013, when his farewell tour was cut short after he was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism.

Michael Nesmith, the singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for his work as a member of the Monkees, died Dec. 10 at 78. Born in Houston, Texas, Nesmith auditioned to join the Monkees in 1965. Over the years, he amassed more songwriting credits than all the other members combined and wrote many of the band's most famous songs, including "Mary, Mary," "Circle Sky," "Listen to the Band," and "The Girl I Knew Somewhere." In 1968, Nesmith recorded his first solo album, Wichita Train Whistle Songs. He departed the Monkees in 1969 and started his own group, the First National Band. The group released two albums in 1970: Magnetic South and Loose Salute. He would also go on to create and produce TV shows and movies, such as Nickelodeon's PopClips and the films Repo Man and Tapeheads.

Rhonda Stubbins White, a former recurring actress on Days of Our Lives, died Dec. 6 at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer, her manager confirmed to PEOPLE.

Over her almost 30-year career, White appeared on a wide variety of hit shows, including NYPD Blue, ER, The West Wing, Charmed, and Shameless. But her most extended TV run came in 2000 when she played Lady Vi for 17 episodes on NBC's long-running soap, Days of Our Lives. White could most recently be seen starring on Tyler Perry's Ruthless.

Mexican actress, producer, and political figure Carmen Salinas died at the age of 82 on Dec. 9. Her family confirmed the news via social media.

Best known for starring in movies such as Danzón, Man on Fire, and Bellas de Noche, as well as soap operas and television series María la del Barrio and Mujeres Asesinas, Salinas was hospitalized after she suffered a stroke and was in intensive care in a Mexico City hospital back in November.

Despite coming from humble beginnings, the iconic actress enjoyed a six-decade long career in film and TV, and was also elected to a seat in the Mexican Congress representing the Institutional Revolutionary Party in 2015. She's survived by her daughter, María Eugenia, and her grandchildren.

Skilyr Hicks, the singer who earned rave reviews on the eighth season of America's Got Talent for her impressive performance and original songwriting, died Dec. 6 in Liberty, S.C. She was 23. Hicks made headlines when she first appeared on the talent competition in 2013, performing an original song on her guitar for Howard Stern, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel. Although she earned four yeses from the judges, Hicks was eliminated before the show's live rounds. Still, her performance made an impact, with Klum telling her, "I feel like you won all of our hearts" while Mel B called her voice "way more mature" than one would expect from a 14-year-old.

Antony Sher, the South African-born actor best known for his Shakespearean roles and his association with the Royal Shakespeare Company died Dec. 3 at the age of 72. Sher joined the RSC in 1982 and played countless memorable roles there, including his career-defining turn as Richard III, Falstaff in Henry IV, Parts One and Two, and the title characters in Macbeth, King Lear, and Cyrano de Bergerac. Sher worked sparingly in film on projects such as Shakespeare in Love, Mrs. Brown, and The Wolfman. He won the Olivier award (the British equivalent of a Tony) for Best Actor twice.

Eddie Mekka, the veteran TV and stage actor best known for his role as Carmine Ragusa on the 1970s sitcom Laverne & Shirley, died on Nov. 27. He was 69.

Mekka got his start in the industry as a voice instructor at the Worcester County Light Opera Company and attended the Berklee College of Music. He landed his first major part in 1975, making his Broadway debut in The Lieutenant and earning a Tony nomination for his work. Soon after, he moved out to Los Angeles to pursue acting and landed roles on two sitcoms created by Garry Marshall, Blansky's Beauties and Laverne & Shirley, the latter of which gave him his breakout role as the on-again, off-again boyfriend of Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams). 

In addition to his two '70s sitcoms, Mekka appeared in films such as Beaches, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Dreamgirls, and Hail Mary! He also had an iconic cameo in A League of Their Own, in a scene in which he stole a dance with Madonna's character, Mae, at a bar.

Mekka's body of work included other television appearances: He guest-starred on soap operas such as The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful as well as on the shows It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Moonlighting, Family Matters, and The Love Boat.

Jonshel Alexander, who at 12 years old was one of the child stars of 2012 Oscar-nominated film Beasts of the Southern Wild, died from fatal gunshot wounds in New Orleans. She was 22. Police confirmed she and a man were shot while in a vehicle the night of Nov. 27. Alexander was known for playing Joy Strong in Beasts of the Southern Wild opposite lead star Quvenzhané Wallis. 

Jacqueline Avant, the 81-year-old philanthropist and wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, was shot and killed during an apparent home invasion in Beverly Hills on Dec. 1.

The philanthropist and former model married Clarence, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in May, in 1967. The two shared son Alex and daughter Nicole. Nicole produced a 2019 Netflix documentary about her father called The Black Godfather, and is married to Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

Marcus Lamb, a televangelist who spoke out against coronavirus vaccines, has died after contracting COVID-19, Daystar Television confirmed on Nov. 30. He was 64. 

Lamb was the co-founder and CEO of Daystar, a conservative Christian TV network that frequently served as a platform for anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown speakers and groups.

"It's with a heavy heart we announce that Marcus Lamb, president and founder of Daystar Television Network, went home to be with the Lord this morning," the network said on social media. "The family asks that their privacy be respected as they grieve this difficult loss. Please continue to lift them up in prayer."

Tommy Lane, an actor and stuntman best known for his roles in the popular 80s films Shaft and Live and Let Die, died on Nov. 29, following a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was 83.

Lane, who was born as Tommy Lee Jones in 1937, was a fixture in several films in the 70s and 80s, including Cotton Comes to Harlem, Shamus, and Eureka, along with his big breakouts Shaft and Live and Let Die.

Lane also had television appearances in the shows Flipper, Shamus (with Burt Reynolds), and Simon & Simon. He also had a career as a jazz musician in the 80s, regularly playing the trumpet and flugelhorn at New York City's Blue Note.

Arlene Dahl, the actress who was best known for her role in the 1959 adventure film Journey to the Center of the Earth and had a fascinating second act as an author, beauty magnate, and astrologist, died Nov. 29 at 96. A native of Minneapolis, Dahl began her screen career in 1947 with Life With Father and My Wild Irish Rose. Her other film credits included Three Little Words, Scene of the Crime, Here Come the Girls, and Sangaree. She was married six times, including to Fernando Lamas, with whom she had a son, the actor Lorenzo Lamas. Dahl also wrote a long-running syndicated beauty column, started her own cosmetics and lingerie lines, and cashed in on the astrology fad of the '80s with her own psychic hotline.

David Gulpilil, the Australian actor best known for his iconic role in Crocodile Dundee, died on November 29. He was 68 years old.

Known as Australia's pioneering Indigenous actor, Gulpilil hailed from the Mandhalpingu clan of the Yolŋu people and grew up in Northern Australia. He made his mark on Australian cinema in the 1971 movie Walkabout when he was 16, before breaking out in the blockbuster comedy Crocodile Dundee.

His 50-year career included films such as The Tracker, Charlie's Country, Mad Dog Morgan, The Last Wave, and Rabbit-Proof Fence, for which he received a best supporting actor nomination from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards. He also received a second award for the movie Charlie's Country, which acted as a personal comeback of sorts for the actor after spending time in jail for aggravated assault.

Gulpilil had been battling lung cancer for the past few years.

Virgil Abloh, the trailblazing artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear and one of Kanye West's enduring creative collaborators, died of cancer on Nov. 28. He was 41. Having befriended the rapper when they were interns at Fendi in 2009, Abloh helped run West's creative agency Donda, contributing to the art direction of major albums like My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and West's 2011 collaboration with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne, the latter of which garnered Abloh a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package. Abloh later took the fashion world by storm with his irreverent brand Off-White, which was an LVMH prize finalist in 2015. In 2018, he was hired by Louis Vuitton, becoming the first person of African descent to lead the brand's menswear line. His shows were regularly packed with celebrities like Rihanna and led to gigs like designing Hailey Bieber's wedding dress for her marriage to Justin Bieber.

Stephen Sondheim, the legendary composer and lyricist considered by peers and theater professionals alike as the most influential musical creator bar none, died Nov. 26 at 91, leaving behind a legacy as varied as the productions he penned during six decades in the business. In addition to just about every theater award imaginable, Sondheim was the recipient of eight Tonys, eight Grammys, and one Oscar (for the Madonna ballad "Sooner or Later," from the film Dick Tracy), with a palette as rich as his own Georges Seurat in one of his most beloved musicals, Sunday in the Park with George (for which he won his sole Pulitzer). Taking his cue from mentor and friend Oscar Hammerstein II, the era of the collectible cast album reaches its zenith in the 1950s and '60s with Sondheim's early work, with galvanizing contributions to masterworks West Side Story, Gypsy, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum achieving maximum overdrive as popular music in households all over the country in the 1960s. Nearly every theatrical endeavor touched thereafter was a hit, cult or otherwise, and even the misfires ended up becoming beloved by some faction of devotees, often many years after their premieres.

Thomas Wells, a former contestant on the Fox singing competition show The X Factor, died after a reported workplace accident earlier this month. He was 46.

While on the job at a tire manufacturing plant in Oklahoma, Wells became caught in an automatic conveyer belt that did not stop, his wife Jessica Wells told TMZ. He died at a Texas hospital on Nov. 13.

Born in 1975, Wells competed on the American version of The X Factor in 2011 and on NBC's vocal competition The Winner Is in 2013. He also reportedly auditioned for America's Got Talent and The Voice.

Joey Morgan, who starred in comedies such as Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocolypse and Flower, died on Nov. 21 at 28. No cause of death has been released.

Morgan made his acting debut as Augie Foster in 2015's Scout's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, starring alongside Tye Sheridan and Logan Miller. He also costarred as the lead in Compradres, playing a teen hacker in the Mexican-American comedy. His breakout role came in 2017 when he was cast in Max Winkler's Flower. Critics praised his performance as Luke Sherman, the troubled teen who befriends Zoey Deutch's Erica, calling him a breakout talent.

On Instagram, Deutch paid tribute to her former costar, posting a picture from the film and calling Morgan "a deeply kind, talented, special person."

Morgan's other television and film work included the 2018 indie comedies Sierra Burgess Is a Loser and Camp Manna, the sci-fi comedy Max Reload, and an episode of Chicago Med.

Peter Aykroyd, former Saturday Night Live cast member and brother of Dan Aykroyd, has died. He was 66. Akyroyd's death was announced on the Nov. 20 episode of SNL with a title card that read "Peter Aykroyd 1955-2021." On Twitter, the sketch show also paid tribute to the comedian's popular short film "The Java Junkie."

Following roles in "The New Avengers" and SCTV," Aykroyd got his start in comedy after joining the Second City comedy troupe in Toronto. He joined SNL in 1979 and served as both a writer and featured player, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program. He continued to work after leaving SNL, working alongside his brother with featured roles in Coneheads, Spies Like Us, and The Blues Brothers animated series.

A cause of death hasn't been disclosed at this time.

Art LaFleur, a prolific character actor known for his roles as Babe Ruth in The Sandlot and Chick Gandil in Field of Dreams, among many other movies and TV shows, died following a decade-long battle with Parkinson's disease. His wife, Shelley, announced his death in a Facebook post on Nov. 18, writing, "He was a generous and selfless man which carried over to his acting but more importantly it was who he was for his family and friends. I was so very lucky to have had a 43-year relationship with a man who cherished me and who I adored. Art was larger than life and meant the world to us." LaFleur's other credits included such TV classics as M*A*S*H and Hill Street Blues and movies including The Santa Clause 2 and 3 (in which he played the Tooth Fairy), 2008's Speed Racer, and more recent projects such as Key and Peele.

Jazz musician and songwriter Dave Frishberg — best known for contributing songs like "I'm Just a Bill" to ABC's Schoolhouse Rock! — died Nov. 17 at age 88. In addition to his work in writing jingles for the animated show, he also released The Dave Frishberg Songbook, Volume No. 1 to critical success and a 1982 Grammy nomination. He followed the album up with another nod for Volume No. 2, and would go on to record two more Grammy-nominated albums: 1985's Live at Vine Street and the 1987 release Can't Take You Nowhere.

Five months after her sibling's death, Bergen Williams' sister, Lynda, revealed on Twitter that the General Hospital star died due to complications from Wilson's Disease on July 20, 2021—six days after her 62nd birthday. Williams played the role of Big Alice on the TV soap opera between 2002 and 2015, and also played small roles on television shows like Raising Hope, Happy Endings, and Nip/Tuck.

Heath Freeman, the actor known for playing a calculating killer on the Fox procedural Bones, died in November at 41. A cause of death was not disclosed. Freeman portrayed Howard Epps, the first serial killer to appear on Bones, during the show's first two seasons. He previously studied acting and film at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and the University of Texas at Austin. His first acting credit was an episode of ER, and he also appeared on NCIS, The Closer, Without a Trace, and Raising the Bar. Freeman's final screen projects were the upcoming films Devil's Fruit and Terror on the Prairie.

Gavan O'Herlihy, the Irish actor known for playing Chuck Cunningham in early episodes of Happy Days, died Sept. 15 in England. He was 70.

O'Herlihy's agent, Michael Emptage, confirmed his death to EW. "He was a wonderful actor with a long and distinguished career in film, television, and theater and was respected as a man of directness, sincerity, and honesty," Emptage said in a statement. "Gavan was larger than life and is greatly missed by all who knew him, most particularly by his adoring wife and family."

Born in Dublin in 1951, O'Herlihy got his first major role in 1974 with the part of elder Cunningham sibling Chuck on Happy Days. However, he chose to leave the show after the first season, explaining in a 2007 interview, "I was going to come in, grunt, bounce a basketball once every couple of weeks for probably three or four years, and at 20 years old, that's not the gig you want to be doing." After O'Herlihy's exit, his character was briefly recast before disappearing from the show without explanation.

The actor went on to play numerous roles in such films and TV shows as Superman III, Lonesome Dove, Willow, Star Trek: Voyager, and Twin Peaks. He often portrayed villainous characters, such as Jack Petachi in the unofficial James Bond movie Never Say Never Again, the final film to feature Sean Connery as 007.

O'Herlihy's Happy Days costar and Willow director Ron Howard paid tribute to him on Twitter, writing, "RIP Gavan. I knew him as the 1st of 2 Chucks on #HappyDays & then as Airk in #Willow where I had the pleasure of directing him. A talented actor with a big free spirit."

Graeme Edge, drummer and founding member of the Moody Blues, died of cancer on Nov. 11. He was 80. Born in the United Kingdom during WWII, Edge grew up to form what was initially a rhythm and blues band in 1964, with their second single "Go Now" topping the U.K. charts that year.

The Moody Blues would go through slight ups and downs through the rest of the 60s, with two members leaving, and guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge joining. As the band got going, and their music got more progressive and experimental, Edge was the one writing the poems that were recited on albums like On the Threshold of a Dream.

When the band took a hiatus from 1974 to 1977, Edge took that time to sail on a round-the-world voyage on his yacht Delia. Reuniting in 1978, the band would reach another peak when the music video for their 1986 song "Your Wildest Dreams" became a staple on early MTV. Edge would stick around with the band, eventually becoming the sole original member still performing with them, until his retirement coincided with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Upon news of his death, Lodge said "his beautiful poetry, his friendship, his love of life and his 'unique' style of drumming that was the engine room of the Moody Blues" while Hayward said Edge "was one of the great characters of the music business and there will never be his like again."

Halle Berry's Monster's Ball costar Coronji Calhoun Sr. died Oct. 13 at age 30. The former child actor's sole screen credit was the role of Berry's son, Tyrell, in the Lee Daniels-produced film. Both Berry and Daniels donated over $3,000 to Calhoun's family following his death.

Dean Stockwell, the award-winning actor who was best known for playing Admiral "Al" Calavicci on the popular sci-fi series Quantum Leap, died on Nov. 7 from natural causes. He was 85. 

Born Robert Dean Stockwell in 1936, the actor had a long and prominent career that spanned both film and television, with roles in features like Air Force One, David Lynch's Dune, Blue Velvet, The Rainmaker, and Married to the Mob, which earned Stockell a 1989 supporting actor Oscar nomination.

In 1989, he became a household name when he starred opposite Scott Bakula as Admiral "Al" Calavicci on the quirky NBC series Quantum Leap. The show ran for five seasons, earning Stockwell multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations as well as a Golden Globe win in 1990. In 1992, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his achievements.

Multiple television projects followed, including shows like Battlestar Galactica; JAG, The Tony Danza Show and NCIS: New Orleans.

Stockwell officially retired from acting in 2015 and spent the last few years creating and exhibiting art under his full name.

Terence Wilson, a founding member of the popular reggae band UB40, died following a short illness. He was 64.

Wilson was best known to fans as Astro. The official UB40 Twitter confirmed his death on Saturday in a statement that read: "We are absolutely devastated and completely heartbroken to have to tell you that our beloved Astro has today passed away after a very short illness. The world will never be the same without him."

UB40 was originally formed in England in the 1970s at the height of reggae's popularity. As four-time Grammy nominees, the band soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts with their covers of Elvis Presley's "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" and Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine," also reaching No. 1 in the U.K. with their version of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe."

In 2013, Wilson left the original version of UB40 and formed his own iteration of the band with members Ali Campbell and Mickey Virtue. They continued to perform and write music, with a 2022 tour planned to celebrate the release of their latest album, Unprecedented.

William Lucking, the actor best known for playing old-school biker Piney Winston on FX's Sons of Anarchy, has died. He was 80. A cause of death hasn't been disclosed at this time.

His Oct. 18 death in Las Vegas was announced by his longtime friend Stephen Macht on Facebook. Pals for 46 years, Macht called Lucking a "lion, and his memory will always be a blessing."

Lucking stayed busy with TV gigs — he was the original Colonel in NBC's The A-Team and played the green Bajoran on Star Trek Deep Space 9 — but he found a new community of fans with his role as an old biker on Sons of Anarchy.

Ronnie Wilson, who founded the popular funk and R&B group The Gap Band, has died. He was 73. His wife, Linda Boulware-Wilson, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Nov 2.

"The love of my life was called home this morning, at 10:01am," she wrote. "Ronnie Wilson was a genius with creating, producing, and playing the flugelhorn, Trumpet, keyboards, and singing music, from childhood to his early seventies. He will be truly missed!!!"

Wilson formed The Gap Brothers in the late 1960s alongside his brothers Charlie and Robert. Originally named The Greenworld Archer Pine Street Band (after the area in their Oklahoma town that was targeted during the 1921 Tulsa race massacre), the group rose to fame in the 70s and 80s releasing numerous albums and opening for The Rolling Stones. Over the years, their songs and sound have been sampled by iconic artists including Snoop Dogg, Janet Jackson, Nas, Mary J. Blige, Ice Cube, and more.

Internationally known jazz legend Pat Martino died Nov. 1 after a long illness, his longtime manager Joseph Donofrio confirmed to The Philadelphia Inquirer. He was 77.

Born Patrick Azzara, Martino started his career early at the age of 15, where he studied under Philadephia music scholars. In 1967, at the age of 22, he released "El Hombre," the album that would put him on the map and start him on a six-decade career.

Martino was born with abnormal blood vessels in his brain that led him to have frequent seizures. In 1980, he suffered a life-threatening aneurysm that left him near death. Although saved by surgery, he lost his memory and spent years re-learning how to play the instrument that had defined his career.

According to Donofrio, Martino had been suffering from a respiratory disorder since 2018 that had put a pause to his career. He is survived by his wife, Asako.

Groundbreaking Canadian stand-up comedian Mort Sahl died Oct. 26 at age 94. The legend's friend, Lucy Mercer, told the Associated Press that Sahl died "peacefully" due to "old age" at his his Mill Valley, Calif. home, following a robust career that saw him blazing a trail for politically charged satirical comedy through the 1950s. In addition to appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Ed Sullivan Show, Sahl also appeared in films such as Johnny Cool, Don't Make Waves, and In Love and War, among others.

TV's Isis from the 1970s show The Secrets of Isis died at the age of 73 in Hawaii, a close friend of hers confirmed to EW. One of Cameron's costars on the DC Comics-inspired series, Joanna Pang Atkins, mentioned on social media that the actress died after suffering a stroke. Cameron was the first woman to play a title role on a superhero series, preceding Lynda Carter in Wonder Woman and Lindsay Wagner in Bionic Woman.

James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther on Friends, died on October 24. He was 59.
His manager confirmed to the BBC that Tyler died on Sunday, peacefully at his home. "If you met him once you made a friend for life," a statement from his manager read. "[He] is survived by his wife, Jennifer Carno, the love of his life." In June, Tyler revealed he was battling stage 4 prostate cancer. "Wanting to help as many people as possible, he bravely shared his story and became a campaigner for those with a prostate to get a... blood test as early as 40-years-old," his manager said, per the BBC. Tyler was well-known for his role as Gunther, the Central Perk coffee shop manager, who had an unrequited crush on Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) throughout the show's run. While best known for Friends, his other onscreen credits include Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Showtime's Episodes, and Scrubs. 

Jay Black, frontman for '60s pop-rock group Jay and the Americans, died on Oct. 22. He was 82. Black's family confirmed to Rolling Stone that he died of complications from pneumonia on Friday night. The mag reported he had also suffered from dementia. The band, known for hits including "Come a Little Bit Closer," and "This Magic Moment," shared a tribute to their former lead singer on Facebook on Saturday. "Today, we mourn the passing of David Blatt a/k/a Jay Black and we acknowledge the great successes we had with him both as a partner and as a lead singer," their post read. "We shared both wonderful and very contentious times, and much like an ex-wife, we are so proud of the beautiful children we created. We'll always remember The Voice." Black was born David Blatt in 1938 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the second "Jay" to front the Americans after John "Jay" Traynor left to pursue other musical projects. 

Actor Peter Scolari, best known for his roles on the TV comedies Bosom Buddies, Newhart, and Girls, died of cancer at the age of 66 on Oct. 22. While short-lived, Buddies introduced him to costar Tom Hanks who would become his lifelong friend. Scolari followed that breakout role by joining Newhart in 1984 as Michael Harris, a producer-boss to Bob Newhart's local TV host character, and earned three Emmy nominations during the long run of the CBS show. After spending some time on Broadway in the aughts, appearing in productions like Hairspray, Scolari finally won an Emmy for playing Lena Dunham's character's dad on the HBO show Girls, and would finish his career by frequently appearing across many shows shot in New York. He is survived by his wife, Tracy Shayne, and his four children: Nicholas, Joseph, Keaton, and Cali.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died at the age of 42 while working on the set of the Western film Rust, starring Alec Baldwin and Jensen Ackles. Baldwin had fired a prop gun that fatally wounded Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. 

Chris Ayres, a voice actor with over 200 credits to his name, best known for playing Frieza in the Dragon Ball series, died at the age of 56 on Oct. 18. Ayres' girlfriend and fellow actor Krystal LaPorte shared the sad news on social media, writing, "On October 18th at 8:40pm, my world went dark. Christopher Owen Ayres passed away peacefully, held close by his mother, brother, and girlfriend." Ayres first took on the role of Frieza in the Dragon Ball series after joining Funimation's dub of Dragon Ball Z Kai. He continued to be a part of the franchise, ending with the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie. Ayres also provided a number of other anime performances throughout his career such as those in Maburaho, Black Butler, Sengoku Basara, Gantz, Tears to Tiara, Fairy Tail, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, and many others. He also served as ADR director and scriptwriter for numerous English dubs.

Betty Lynn, the actress best known for playing Barney Fife's (Don Knotts) girlfriend Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show died at 95.

The Andy Griffith Museum, which the Surry Arts Council operates in Mount Airy, N.C., announced the news in a Facebook post on Sunday, Oct. 17: "It is with an extremely heavy heart that we announce the passing of Betty Lynn."

Lynn began acting professionally in TV and film in the late 1940s, including in Sitting Pretty (1948), starring Robert Young, Clifton Webb, and Maureen O'Hara. In the run-up to her most prominent role on Andy Griffith, Lynn had parts on the big screen in 1950's Cheaper by the Dozen (again, with Webb), and the short-lived Where's Raymond? television series, starring Ray Bolger from 1953-1954. 

Ruthie Tompson, a Disney Legend honoree who began her long career with the company as a scene painter in the 1930s, died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 111.

Tompson had ties to both Walt and Roy Disney, dating back to her childhood. The Disneys lived in the same neighborhood, and on her way to school, Tompson would pass by the shopfront where the men and their animators worked. Her first job for the company was in the Ink & Paint Department, where she painted for the animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was released in 1937. Tompson spent four decades as a Disney employee, retiring in 1975. 

"Ruthie was a legend among animators, and her creative contributions to Disney — from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Rescuers — remain beloved classics to this day," Bob Iger, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement. "While we will miss her smile and wonderful sense of humor, her exceptional work and pioneering spirit will forever be an inspiration to us all." 

Andrea Martin, a songwriter who worked on such R&B hits as En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)," Toni Braxton's "I Love Me Some Him," and Monica's "Before You Walk Out of My Life," died Sept. 27 in New York City. She was 49. Martin also wrote for artists including Sean Kingston, Leona Lewis, and Melanie Fiona. She was a skilled vocalist as well, and released a solo album, The Best of Me, in 1998.

Ravil Isyanov, the Moscow-born character actor whose numerous screen credits included NCIS: Los Angeles, GLOW, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon, died Sept. 29 after a long illness. He was 59. Isyanov was known for playing the Russian mobster Kirkin on NCIS: Los Angeles, who would sometimes help and sometimes double-cross the good guys. He appeared in seasons 4, 7, 9 and 10. Isyanov also had roles in such films as Goldeneye, The Saint, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and on TV series including The Americans, 24, Alias, and GLOW.

Paddy Moloney, the founder of the popular Irish folk band the Chieftains, died Oct. 11 at 83. The Chieftains won six Grammy Awards and collaborated with artists such as Mick Jagger, Luciano Pavarotti, Roger Daltrey, and Emmylou Harris. The band also worked on film soundtracks, including Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon and Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York.

Ricarlo Flanagan, a rapper, actor, and comedian whose credits included Shameless, Insecure, and Last Comic Standing, died in October after contracting COVID. He was 41. "Ricarlo was truly one of the nicest people on the planet, a wonderful performer and we are heartbroken by the news of his passing," his agent, Stu Golfman of KMR Talent, said in a statement.

The oldest surviving winner of the Miss America contest died at 97 in October in her California home. Born in 1923 in Florence, Ariz., Dennison joined her parents' traveling medicine show at a young age, singing, dancing, and performing on trick horses. She won the Miss America contest in 1942 at the age of 18 but later refused to wear bathing suits during her yearlong reign as Miss America. Dennison also signed a contract with 20th Century Fox, starring in movies such as The Jolson Story and Winged Victory. She married comedian Phil Silvers in 1945, but the couple divorced five years later. Dennison later appeared in the Dick Tracy series and worked behind the scenes on television productions. She married CBS producer and director Russell Stoneham. The couple also divorced but had two children. 

Deon Estus, the bassist and singer known for his work with George Michael and Wham!, died Oct. 11 at age 65. Born and raised in Detroit, Estus learned bass at an early age and was playing professionally by age 12. In the 1980s, he joined Wham!, the U.K. pop duo of Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael, and played bass on such hits as "Careless Whisper" and "I'm Your Man" before the group's split in 1986. After that, he continued collaborating with Michael, and performed with various other musicians over the years, including Tina Turner, Elton John, George Clinton, and Annie Lennox.

Chris Pearson, a reality TV personality, DJ, and music producer known for appearing on the first season of MTV's Ex on the Beach, died Oct. 10 at 25. According to TMZ, which first reported the news, Pearson was fatally stabbed in an early morning altercation in Los Angeles. Pearson appeared on Ex on the Beach in 2018. The dating show brings together reality show alums (and occasional non-reality folks like Pearson at the time) and then ambushes them with their exes.

Granville Adams, who starred on HBO's Oz, died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 58. Adams played Zahir Arif on Oz, which aired from 1997-2003. He was also known for playing Officer Jeff Westby in Homicide: Life on the Street. 

His death was confirmed on social media by colleagues and friends, including Oz alum Dean Winters, who penned a tribute to Adams on Instagram: "His smile was infectious, his chuckle was intoxicating. He never, ever spoke ill of anyone and I defy anyone who knew him to say anything negative about this man. Granville was beloved, period. ... A humble, beautiful soul who just elevated the afterlife to a whole new level. You will be missed my friend. You are my brother and I'm a better human being for knowing you RIP G."