Stars we lost in 2022

Quinn Redeker, the actor who became a fixture on daytime television with roles on the long-running soap operas Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless, died Dec. 20 at 86. Born in Woodstock, Ill., Redeker was best known for playing schemers like DOOL's Alex Marshall and Y&R's Rex Sterling. His other TV and film credits included Starsky & Hutch, The Six Million Dollar Man, Kojak, Barnaby Jones, The Candidate, and Ordinary People. In addition to his time in front of the camera, Redeker received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for his work on the 1978 drama The Deer Hunter, shared with Deric Washburn, Louis A. Garfinkle, and director Michael Cimino.

Writer and director Catherine Cyran died Dec. 24 at age 59. The filmmaker launched her career working with director and producer Roger Corman, writing films like Slumber Party Massacre III and A Cry in the Wild, the film adaptation of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet. She made her directorial debut with 1993's White Wolves: A Cry in the Wild II, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination. She later directed several films in the Prince & Me series, as well as a number of Hallmark holiday films, including 2022's Our Italian Christmas Memories.

Modest Mouse drummer and cofounder Jeremiah Green died at the age of 45, just days after his family and bandmates announced he had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Green's friend and rock radio DJ Marco Collins said the musician was taking a leave from the rock group to continue his chemotherapy treatments. Carol Namatame, Green's mother, said her son died "peacefully in his sleep."

Anita Pointer, a founding member of the Grammy-winning act the Pointer Sisters, died from cancer at the age of 74. Ruth Pointer is now the only surviving singer of the famed R&B group. "She was the one that kept all of us close and together for so long," Pointer's family said in a statement. "Her love of our family will live on in each of us… Heaven is a more loving, beautiful place with Anita there."

Barbara Walters, the broadcast legend who blazed myriad trails for women in journalism, died Dec. 30 at 93. Walters' amazing career transcended six decades, from 1951 to 2015. She was the first woman cohost of Today, the first female network news co-anchor, the host and producer of countless top-rated specials, the host of 20/20, and the creator and cohost of The View. She interviewed every sitting president and first lady from the Nixons to the Obamas and was famous for her sit-down interviews with household names like Mother Teresa and Colin Powell in her annual special Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People, which ran from 1993 to 2015. Walters also won Daytime and Primetime Emmy awards, and in 1989 was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Neal Jimenez, the award-winning screenwriter and director whose credits included the gritty cult classic River's Edge and the semi-autobiographical drama The Waterdance, died of heart failure Dec. 11. He was 62. A native of Sacramento, Calif., Jimenez began his writing career at 17 with a weekly column in a local newspaper and went on to write the script for River's Edge at 21, for a UCLA film class. The film, which won Best Picture and Best Screenplay at the 1988 Independent Spirit Awards, launched Jimenez's screenwriting career and has come to be regarded as a classic portrait of disaffected youth. In 1984, Jimenez sustained a spinal cord injury that became the inspiration for his 1992 film The Waterdance, which he co-directed with Michael Steinberg. It won multiple awards at the 1993 Spirit Awards and the Sundance Film Festival. Jimenez also wrote the films Where the River Runs Black, For the Boys, The Dark Wind, Sleep With Me, and Hideaway, and was an in-demand script doctor.

Bob Penny, a university professor and actor who appeared in numerous films including My Cousin Vinny and Forrest Gump, died on Dec. 25, per his obituary. He was 87. Born in Anniston, Ala., in 1935, Dr. Robert Lynn "Bob" Penny began his professional career as a poetry teacher at the University of Alabama before eventually making his transition to the silver screen. He starred in multiple films throughout the '80s—including the Oscar-winning 1988 film Mississippi Burning—before he retired from teaching to focus on his acting career in 1990. Penny appeared in over 30 film and television series, including 1992's My Cousin Vinny, 1994's Forrest Gump, and 2002's Sweet Home Alabama. He made his final onscreen performance as Harold in the Billy Ray Cyrus sitcom Still the King in 2016.

Vivienne Westwood, the fashion designer widely credited with popularizing the punk styles of the 1970s, died Dec. 29 at her home in London. She was 81. Westwood first rose to prominence in the U.K. punk rock scene of the 1970s. She made clothes for a King's Road boutique, known as SEX, that she ran with then-husband Malcolm McLaren, the manager of the Sex Pistols. Westwood went on to become a major force in the fashion world, and her clothing has been worn by the likes of Marion Cotillard, Pharrell Williams, and Princess Eugenie of the British royal family. Perhaps her most iconic contribution to pop culture was Carrie Bradshaw's (Sarah Jessica Parker) wedding gown in the first Sex and the City movie in 2008. She is survived by her third husband Andreas Kronthaler, whom she has been married to since 1992, as well as two children, Ben Westwood and Joseph Corré.

Pelé, Brazilian soccer legend and record-holding winner of three World Cups, died Dec. 29 as a result of multiple organ failure from complications from colon cancer. He was 82. Considered one of soccer's greatest players, Pelé helped to popularize the game, particularly in the United States, during his banner years in the 1960s and 70s. He was the only soccer player ever to compete in four World Cups and to win three (in 1958, 1962, and 1970). Pelé was also a prominent media figure, channeling his athletic success into movie roles. Most notably, he appeared in 1981's Escape to Victory, a film that chronicled a World War II-era soccer game between Allied prisoners of war and a German team. He starred alongside Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone. He was also the subject of documentaries, most notably 2016's Pelé: Birth of a Legend, a look at his childhood produced by Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment. Most recently, the 2021 Netflix documentary Pelé looked at his life from 1958-70, as he transformed from a young soccer phenomenon to a national hero. Also an accomplished musician, he composed music, including the soundtrack for 1977's Pelé, and recorded albums of popular Brazilian music. He also penned several autobiographies, including 1977's My Life and the Beautiful Game, which helped associate the phrase "the beautiful game" with soccer from that point on.

Ruggero Deodato, the Italian director best known for his gruesome 1980 horror film Cannibal Holocaust, died at 83, per the Italian newspaper Il Messagero. Deodato's early credits included working as assistant director on two 1966 spaghetti westerns directed by Sergio Corbucci: Django and Navajo Joe. He went on to direct the 1976 thriller Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man and, a year later, his first movie about cannibals, Last Cannibal World. His return to the genre, Cannibal Holocaust, is often credited for pioneering the found footage style of filmmaking and is known for its gore and explicit violence. Following the cult classic, Deodato directed several more horror films including 1986's Body Count and 1988's Phantom of Death, which starred Michael York and Donald Pleasence. The filmmaker also made a cameo, playing a cannibal, in Eli Roth's 2007 horror sequel Hostel: Part II.

Actor and comedian John Bird died on Dec. 24, his representatives confirmed to the BCC. He was 86. Bird was well-known for his satirical comedy in the '60s, often appearing alongside fellow English funnyman and satirist John Fortune. The pair famously joined impressionist Rory Bremner in the Channel 4 TV series Bremner, Bird, and Fortune, which ran for 16 seasons and was nominated for several BAFTA TV Awards.

Joseph "Jo Mersa" Marley, the grandson of Bob Marley, died on Dec. 27. He was 31. Born in Jamaica in 1991, the musician was the son of one of Bob's 11 children. Stephen Marley, 50, a Grammy-winning artist, raised Joseph in Miami after they moved to the city when he was 11. Stephen began writing music in middle school and released his first song, "My Girl," in 2010. In 2014, his first EP, Comfortable, was released. Its follow-up, Eternal, debuted last year. Jo Mersa is survived by his wife and daughter, according to WZPP Radio.

Actor and British TV regular Stephen Greif died at the age of 78 on Dec. 23. Greif appeared on the science fiction show Blake's 7, which premiered in the late '70s, and more recently portrayed real-life politician Bernard Weatherill on season 4 of The Crown. His many other credits included the soap operas Coronation Street and Eastenders, the sitcom Citizen Smith, and the 2015 film Woman in Gold.

Maxi Jazz, a DJ and the lead singer of the electronic-dance group Faithless, died peacefully in his sleep Dec. 23, reports the Associated Press. He was 65. His bandmates announced the news Dec. 24, calling Jazz "a man who changed our lives in so many ways." Born in London, Jazz—real name Maxwell Fraser—rose to fame as the founder and DJ of the pirate radio station the Soul Food Café System in the 1980s. He formed Faithless alongside members Rollo Armstrong, Sister Bliss, and Jamie Cotto in 1995. They released six albums with Jazz as their lead singer until his departure in 2016. Alongside Faithless, Jazz fronted the group Maxi Jazz and the E-Type Boys.

Ronan Vibert, a prolific British actor best known for his roles in Saving Mr. Banks and The Borgias, died in a Florida hospital following a brief illness on Dec. 22, his manager told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 58. Born in Cambridgeshire, England, Vibert graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1985 and rose to popularity playing the character Lee in the 1989 series Traffik. He went on to appear in a number of TV shows throughout the 1990s, including 1993's Lovejoy, 1995's Chandler & Co, and 1999's Gimme Gimme Gimme. Vibert also starred in 2000's Shadow of the Vampire, starring Willem Dafoe and John Malkovich; 2006's Tristan + Isolde with James Franco; and 2013's Saving Mr. Banks alongside Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. Vibert made his final appearance as Ritter Longbane in the 2019 fantasy series Carnival Row.

Thom Bell, an iconic songwriter and producer of Philadelphia soul music, died on Dec. 22 after a lengthy illness. He was 79. As an arranger, Bell combined the classical music he loved growing up with the gospel harmonies of groups like the Delfonics and the Spinners. This created the specific Philadelphia sound of soul and made the city as much of a musical powerhouse as Detroit in the '60s.

British filmmaker Mike Hodges, best known for his gritty crime drama Get Carter and the cult classic Flash Gordon, died due to heart failure at his home in Dorset, England, per PEOPLE. He was 90. Hodges got his start in entertainment as a teleprompter operator but soon found himself moving behind the camera to write and direct a series of television shows including 1968's The Tyrant King. In 1971, Hodges wrote and directed Get Carter, a dark crime thriller starring Michael Caine that quickly drew comparisons to The Godfather. The director continued to adapt and direct a series of hit thrillers through the early '70s—including 1972's Pulp as well as the 1974 sci-fi horror film The Terminal Man—before making a huge leap and helming the glitzy space opera Flash Gordon in 1980. Hodges continued to release well-received films throughout the '80s, '90s, and early '00s, including the 1989 thriller Black Rainbow, 1998's Croupier, and 2003's I'll Sleep When I'm Dead. At the time of his death, the filmmaker was in the process of writing and directing his autobiographical documentary All At Sea.

Sonya Eddy, an actress beloved for her role as Epiphany Johnson on General Hospital, died Dec. 19 at the age of 55. Eddy joined the long-running soap opera in 2006 as Johnson, the no-nonsense head nurse who succeeded Audrey Hardy (played by Rachel Ames) at the Port Charles hospital and mother of the late Stan Johnson (Kiko Ellsworth). She also reprised the role in the 2007 spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift, which ran for two seasons. Apart from the soap, Eddy starred in dozens of TV shows, including Married... With Children, Family Matters, Beverly Hills, 90210, Gilmore Girls, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Fresh Off the Boat, PEN15, and A Black Lady Sketch Show. Her film credits include Daddy Day Care, Seven Pounds, and Pee-wee's Big Holiday.

Martin Duffy, a keyboardist who played for Felt, Primal Scream, and other U.K. rock groups, died Dec. 18 at his home in Brighton, England. He was 55. The musician suffered a brain injury after a fall and passed peacefully surrounded by family. Duffy joined English jangle pop band Felt in 1985 and moonlighted as a supporting keyboardist for Primal Scream throughout the '80s. After Felt split in 1989, Duffy ultimately joined Primal Scream full-time in 1991 and contributed to the band's third studio album Screamadelica and subsequent records up to 2016's Chaosmosis. Duffy—who released a solo album, Assorted Promenades, in 2014—also played with Oasis, the Charlatans, and Chemical Brothers.

Terry Hall, the lead singer of ska-punk band the Specials and a defining voice in British music history, died at age 63 on Dec. 18. According to an emotional post shared on the band's Instagram page, Hall died following a "brief illness." Calling Hall a "beautiful friend, brother and one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters and lyricists this country has ever produced," the post also remembered him as "one of the kindest, funniest, and most genuine of souls" whose music "encapsulated the very essence of life," noting that "Terry often left the stage at the end of The Specials' life-affirming shows with three words… 'Love Love Love.'"

Hall joined the band in the late 1970s and helped lead the collective through the two-tone genre movement in Britain, fusing sounds of ska music with elements of punk and new wave. Some of their most popular songs include "A Message to You Rudy," "Stereotype," "Do Nothing," and "Ghost Town."

Stephanie Bissonnette, a choreographer, dancer, and teacher who played high school student Dawn Schweitzer in the Mean Girls musical, died on Dec. 18 at the age of 32. The Mean Girls on Broadway Twitter account confirmed her death on Sunday. She had been diagnosed with brain cancer in 2019 and underwent surgery before returning to work on Mean Girls until its COVID-related closure, according to Playbill. She was featured in the 2022 documentary Ensemble, which focused on Broadway dancers in the wake of the pandemic. Bissonnette, who taught at the Broadway Dance Center, also appeared in the music video for Keith Urban's "Never Comin Down."

Shirley Eikhard, a prolific singer-songwriter best known for penning Bonnie Raitt's Grammy-winning 1991 single "Something to Talk About," died in Ontario on Dec. 15 due to complications from cancer, the Associated Press reported. She was 67. Eikhard, who was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2020, wrote for a number of high-profile musicians throughout her career, including Raitt, Cher, and Anne Murray. A stellar artist in her own right, Eikhard won two back-to-back Juno Awards for Country Female Artist of the year, in 1973 and 1974, and released 18 albums throughout her career, her most recent being 2021's Anything Is Possible.

Dino Danelli, the drummer for rock band The Rascals, died on Dec. 15. He was 78. The news was announced by Joe Russo, the band's spokesman and archivist, on Danelli's Facebook page. A jazz drummer by training, Danelli formed the Young Rascals (as they were known then) in late 1964 with singer Eddie Brigati, pianist Felix Cavaliere, and guitarist Gene Cornish. The band's biggest hits included "Good Lovin'" and "How Can I Be Sure?" They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and reunited for the Once Upon a Dream tour from 2012-2013. In a follow-up Facebook post, Russo said Danelli was "acutely disappointed" by the end of the reunion tour and would've loved to keep it going.

Stephen "tWitch" Boss, the multitalented performer known for being a judge on So You Think You Can Dance judge and the DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, died Dec. 13 at 40. Boss first made waves as a professional dancer, competing on shows like The Wade Robson Project, Star Search, and So You Think You Can Dance, where he was runner-up in 2008. Boss returned to SYTYCD as an all-star, a mentor, and a judge over the years. He initially joined Ellen in 2014 as a guest DJ, but he quickly won viewers' hearts and became a permanent fixture on the show (as well as a co-executive producer). Boss also appeared in multiple films in the Step Up franchise and cohosted the Disney+ series Disney Fairy Tale Weddings with his wife, Allison Holker.

Stuart Margolin, the character actor best known for playing Angel Martin, the sidekick to James Garner's Det. Jim Rockford in the drama series The Rockford Files, died Dec. 12 in Staunton, Va. He was 82. His family confirmed the news to The New York Times, citing his cause of death as complications from pancreatic cancer. Margolin enjoyed 60 years on screen, taking on a wide assortment of roles across television and movies, from The X-Files, NCIS, and Touched by an Angel to Matlock and Magnum P.I.

Angelo Badalamenti, the composer known for creating the haunting Twin Peaks theme song and collaborating on several more projects with director David Lynch, died Dec. 11 at 85. In addition to his work on Twin Peaks, Badalamenti wrote the scores for Lynch's Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Wild at Heart, Lost Highway, and The Straight Story. The Twin Peaks theme earned the composer a Grammy in 1990, and the show's soundtrack album went gold in 25 countries. Aside from his work with Lynch, Badalamenti's screen credits included Weeds, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Beach, Cabin Fever, Secretary, and the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man.

Cher's mother, the actress and singer Georgia Holt, died Dec. 10 at the age of 96. Holt was the subject of the 2013 Cher-produced documentary Dear Mom, Love Cher, which chronicled her childhood in Arkansas and her six tumultuous marriages while she helped Cher pursue a music career. It also explored Holt's own career as an actress, which began in the 1950s. She had uncredited film roles in A Life of Her Own, Watch the Birdie, and Grounds for Marriage before appearing on TV shows The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, I Love Lucy, Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre, and The Lucy Show. Holt has released one album, 2013's Honky Tonk Woman, which was recorded in 1980 with Elvis Presley's musicians and re-mastered for commercial release following the release of Dear Mom, Love Cher.

Helen Slayton-Hughes, the veteran actress known for stealing scenes as Ethel Beavers on Parks and Recreation, died Dec. 7 at 92. The majority of her credits came later in life, including such comedies as Malcolm in the Middle, Arrested Development, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and New Girl and dramas like The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Pretty Little Liars, and True Blood. But the actress made her biggest splash as a recurring guest star on Parks and Rec as Ethel, the fierce, straight-faced, flask-wielding stenographer in the Pawnee courthouse.

Yoshida Kiju (also known as Yoshishige Yoshida), the Cannes Palme d'Or nominated director, died on Dec. 8, per Variety. He was 89. Kiju joined Shochiku Studio in 1955 and, four years later, released his directorial debut Good-For-Nothing in 1960. Considered one of the pioneers of the Japanese New Wave movement, Kiju released a series of acclaimed films throughout his career, including 1969's Eros + Massacre (Japan's selection for best foreign language film at the Oscars that year), 1986's A Promise, and the Palme d'Or-nominated 1988 film Wuthering Heights. He directed his final film, Women in the Mirror, in 2002.

Gary Friedkin, best known for his role as Dr. Milton Chamberlain in 1982's Young Doctors in Love, died due to COVID complications on Dec. 2, his family announced. He was 70. Friedkin appeared in a series of highly-successful films and television shows throughout his over 30-year career in entertainment, including Happy Days, The Practice, and Chicago Hope. He made his final performance alongside Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, and Kate Hudson in the 2016 film Mother's Day.

Kirstie Alley, the Emmy-winning star of Cheers, Veronica's Closet, and Look Who's Talking, died at 71, her children announced on Dec. 5. Alley had a previously undisclosed battle with cancer. Though she had a number of notable roles in the '80s, including a part in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and a 13-episode stint on Masquerade, Alley was perhaps best known for her breakout role on Cheers as Rebecca Howe from 1987 to 1993. Alley was also well known for playing the leading role on Veronica's Closet, from Friends creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman. In later years, she starred in, wrote, and executive produced Fat Actress, which was built around a heightened perception of Alley's own experiences in Hollywood. She also appeared on The Hills, King of Queens, Kirstie, Hot in Cleveland, Dancing With the Stars, Scream Queens, Celebrity Big Brother, The Goldbergs, and more. In addition to her lengthy television career, Alley starred in many films as well, including Look Who's Talking with John Travolta and its two sequels Look Who's Talking Too and Look Who's Talking Now, as well as Runaway, Summer School, the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen vehicle It Takes Two, Deconstructing Harry, For Richer or Poorer with Tim Allen, and more.

Al Strobel, the actor best known for his role as Phillip Gerard, the one-armed man, in Twin Peaks, died Dec. 2. He was 83. Strobel—who lost his left arm following a car accident at the age of 17—appeared in all the Twin Peaks projects, including the recent Showtime revival, Twin Peaks: The Return. Strobel's other credits include Shadow Play, Megaville, and Child of Darkness, Child of Light.

Bob McGrath, one of the original cast members and longest-running human characters on Sesame Street, died Dec. 4 at age 90.

In 1969, McGrath, along with Loretta Long, Matt Robinson, and Will Lee became the inaugural human cast of Sesame Street. McGrath played friendly neighborhood music teacher Bob Johnson, a role he would stay in for more than four decades.

McGrath said that his two favorite moments on Sesame Street were the 1978 episode "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street," a muppet take on The Gift of the Magi, and a 1983 segment that addressed the death of Lee's Mr. Hooper, the candy store owner.

In 2016, Sesame Workshop announced McGrath, along with several other longtime cast members, would not be returning for the show's 47th season, though he continued to represent the Workshop at public events.

Cliff Emmich, a prolific character actor best known for his roles in 1973's Payday and 1981's Halloween II, died of lung cancer on Nov. 28, his representative confirmed. He was 85. The Cincinnati-born actor showed up in more than 90 film and TV projects throughout his decades-long career, with highlights including performances in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Little House on the Prairie, Happy Days, The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider, Who's the Boss?, Days of Our Lives, Baywatch, Mousehunt, and Walker, Texas Ranger. Emmich made his final onscreen appearance in the 2013 festive film Holiday Road Trip.

Julia Reichert, an Oscar-winning filmmaker known for her documentary American Factory, died of urothelial cancer in her Ohio home on Dec. 1, per The Hollywood Reporter. She was 76. Reichert studied filmmaking at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and in, 1971, co-founded the documentary distribution company New Day Films with collaborator Jim Klein. Her first documentary, 1971's Growing Up Female, was later inducted into the Library of Congress' National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" in 2011. Throughout her career, Reichert wrote, produced, and directed a series of Oscar-nominated documentaries focusing on the lives of women and the human condition, including 1976's Union Maids, 1983's Seeing Red: Stories of American Communists, and 2009's The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant. In 2019, she won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for American Factory. Her other credits include 1992's Emma and Elvis, 2006's A Lion in the House, and 2020's 9to5: The Story of a Movement.

Christine McVie, the legendary musician who wrote and sang some of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits, died Nov. 30 at 79. The British-born vocalist and keyboard player joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 after marrying bassist John McVie, and she soon became a key part of the band's signature sound. As both a performer and a songwriter, she shaped some of the band's most iconic hits, including "You Make Loving Fun," "Don't Stop," "Everywhere," and "Little Lies."

Brad William Henke, a former NFL player turned actor best known for his role as a prison guard on Orange Is the New Black, died in his sleep on Nov. 29. He was 56.

Playing for the Denver Broncos, Henke appeared in Super Bowl XXIV in 1990, facing off against the San Francisco 49ers. After a series of injuries, Henke retired from football in 1994 and went into acting.

Starting in 1996, Henke racked up a number of roles, appearing in Space Jam, The Fan, and episodes of Chicago Hope, Nash Bridges, Arli$$, and ER among his nearly 100 credits.

His most prominent role was as Desi Piscatella, the openly gay, brutal corrections officer in seasons four and five of Orange Is the New Black. Henke, along with the rest of the cast, received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2017.

Frank Vallelonga Jr., who played a relative of his father's character in the Oscar-winning 2018 dramedy Green Book, was found dead in New York on Nov. 28. He was 60. Vallelonga's brother, Nick Vallelonga, co-wrote Green Book, which depicted the friendship between their father, the Italian American actor and former bouncer Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga (portrayed by Viggo Mortensen), and Black classical pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali). Frank Vallelonga Jr. also starred in an episode each of The Sopranos and The Neighborhood, as well as the films A Brilliant Disguise; In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man With One Eye Is King; and The Birthday Cake.

Clarence Gilyard Jr., known for roles in films like Die Hard and Top Gun and shows like Walker, Texas Ranger and Matlock, died at the age of 66. The College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where Gilyard served as a professor of theater and film, announced his death on Nov. 28. Gilyard's career spans more than three decades and notable roles across stage and screen, including tech genius Theo in Die Hard, naval pilot Marcus "Sundown" Williams in Top Gun, Officer Benjamin Webster in CHIPs, Conrad McMasters in Matlock, and Cordell Walker's partner Jimmy Trivette in Walker, Texas Ranger.

Jake Flint, an up-and-coming country singer from Oklahoma, died in his sleep on Nov. 26 just hours after his wedding. He was 37. The Red Dirt singer-songwriter, who had an affection for bluegrass, released four albums throughout his career: 2016's I'm Not OK, 2018's Live and Not OK at Cain's Ballroom, 2020's Jake Flint, and, most recently, 2021's Live and Socially Distanced at Mercury Lounge. In 2019, Flint was crowned Breakout Artist of the Year at the We Are Tulsa Music Awards. He is survived by his bride Brenda, mother, and sister.

Genre filmmaker Albert Pyun, known for cult classics Cyborg and The Sword and the Sorcerer, died Nov. 26 at the age of 69. His wife, Cynthia Curnan, shared the news in a Facebook post, saying, "I sat with him for his last breath that sounded like he was releasing the weight of the world." A cause of death was not given. Variety, however, reported he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and dementia a few years ago. Pyun's career spanned four decades, largely involving low-budget and direct-to-video releases. He worked with stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme, Christopher Lambert, and Burt Reynolds. He also directed the 1990 Captain America movie, which starred Matt Salinger as Marvel super-soldier Steve Rogers.

Freddie Roman, best known as a standup comedian on the famed Borscht Belt, died Nov. 26 of a heart attack. He was 85.

At 15, Roman got his start emceeing for the Crystal Spring Hotel in the Catskills, owned by his uncle and grandfather. After a run as a teenage comic, Roman went into the shoe business, only to realize his true love was comedy.

Roman headlined a number of resort venues, from Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas to Harrah's in Atlantic City, as well as the Borscht Belt of resorts in upstate New York. He also served as dean of the Friars Club Roasts.

In addition to standup, Roman made several appearances in film and television, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Red Oaks.

Irene Cara, the Oscar-winning singer best known for performing the theme songs to the legendary 1980s films Fame and Flashdance, died in her Florida home, her publicist announced on Nov. 26. She was 63. Born and raised in New York City, Irene Cara Escalera performed throughout her childhood and teens before becoming an overnight sensation playing Coco Hernandez in the 1980 high school musical Fame. In 1981, she received two Grammy nominations—for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female—for singing its title track. In 1983, Cara lent her voice to another soundtrack, for the film Flashdance. Co-written by Cara, "Flashdance… What a Feeling" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and won Best Original Song and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 56th Academy Awards in 1984. That same year, Cara took home a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. The actress continued to perform throughout her life both on screen and on stage. In 2011, she released her final album, Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel.

Wilko Johnson, the acclaimed British rocker from the band Dr. Feelgood and an actor on HBO's Game of Thrones, died Nov. 21 at the age of 75. Johnson was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012, which helped inspire him to release new material. Though he initially declined chemotherapy, he later underwent surgery with help from a fan and declared himself cancer-free in 2014. Johnson continued performing and recording music with the Wilko Johnson Band until his death. He notably appeared as the mute executioner Ser Ilyn Payne on multiple episodes of Game of Thrones.

Mickey Kuhn, the last surviving credited cast member of Gone With the Wind, died Nov. 20 at 90. Born in Waukegan, Ill., Kuhn made his film debut as a toddler in 1934 before going on to an impressive career as a child actor.  In 1939 he was cast as Beau Wilkes, the son of Leslie Howard's Ashley Wilkes and Olivia de Havilland's Melanie Hamilton, in Gone With the Wind. Kuhn went on to appear with some of the biggest stars of the day, including Barbara Stanwyck (The Strange Love of Martha Ivers), Montgomery Clift and John Wayne (Red River), and James Stewart (Broken Arrow).  He also appeared with Vivian Leigh in both her Oscar-winning roles, in Gone With the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire (in which he played a sailor). Kuhn retired from film acting in 1956.

James Winburn, the stuntman for the original Michael Myers from 1978's Halloween, died Nov. 19 following an undisclosed illness. He was 85. While Nick Castle famously donned the slasher's mask in the first film, the legendary stuntman assisted in some of the most perilous scenes, including when Dr. Samuel Loomis (Donald Pleasence) shot him several times, causing him to fall off a balcony. Winburn did stunt work for over 70 films, including Escape From New York, TRON, The Night Stalker, and Glory. He also starred in shows and movies, such as Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen, Cagney & Lacey, Hunter, and Island of Witches. Behind the camera, Winburn directed three features: Evil Altar, The Death Merchant, and Miami Beach Cops.

Nicki Aycox, a former actress best known for her role as Meg Masters in Supernatural, died at the age of 47 on Nov. 16, over a year after she was diagnosed with leukemia. She portrayed Meg Masters in seasons 1 and 4 of the CW series. Aycox also had recurring roles in Providence, Ed, Over There, and Cold Case. Her other credits include Criminal Minds, Perfect Stranger, Dark Blue, The Girl on the Train, and Longmire. Aycox retired from acting after starring in the 2014 film Dead on Campus.

Jason David Frank, the actor and mixed martial artist beloved for his role as one of the original Power Rangers, died at the age of 49. He was best known for his role as Tommy Oliver, the antagonistic Green Ranger in the original 1993 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. A fan favorite, Frank was brought back as the reformed and new leader of the team, White Ranger. He would go on to reprise his role in several Power Rangers adaptations, including Power Rangers Zeo, Power Rangers Turbo, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, and Power Rangers HyperForce. His other acting credits include Sweet Valley High, Family Matters, and The Junior Defenders.

Robert Clary, a Holocaust survivor and the actor known for playing Cpl. Louis LeBeau on the CBS show Hogan's Heroes, died Nov. 16, at 96. His former manager David Martin called Clary "an amazing gentleman and incredibly talented, not just as an actor but also a performer and a gifted painter" in a statement to EW. "He was one of my most favorite people I represented." Born in Paris, Clary was taken with his family to the Auschwitz concentration camp when he was 16. His parents were murdered in the gas chambers. Clary was later liberated from the Buchenwald camp in 1945, after which he pursued show business.

Roslyn Singleton, who appeared on America's Got Talent and The Ellen DeGeneres Show with her husband, Ray Singleton, died Nov. 15 after undergoing several rounds of treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. She was 39.

The Singletons visited Ellen in 2020 after a video of Ray serenading Roslyn before she underwent surgery for brain cancer went viral. During the appearance, Roslyn, a Navy veteran, revealed she had been undergoing cancer treatments since 2013 and had been in remission until the discovery of a new tumor. Ray went on to become a contestant on America's Got Talent, where Roslyn joined him on stage.

John Aniston, the soap star from Days of Our Lives and the father of Friends actress Jennifer Aniston, died peacefully on Nov. 11 at the age of 89. His daughter confirmed the news on social media the following Monday, sharing photos of them together from over the years. "You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew," Jennifer said of her father, who's also known for parts on Search for Tomorrow, Journeyman, and The West Wing. "I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace—and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now. I'll love you till the end of time. Don't forget to visit."

Budd Friedman, founder and owner of the original Improvisation Comedy Club, better known as The Improv, died Nov. 12 of heart failure. He was 90. Friedman opened The Improv in New York in 1963, eventually expanding the franchise to include 22 clubs in 12 states. He was also instrumental in launching the careers of some of the biggest names in comedy from Richard Pryor, Andy Kaufman, Lily Tomlin, and Robin Williams to Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, and Jay Leno. Besides being a comedy pioneer, Friedman had minor roles in a number of films, including the Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon starring Jim Carrey and Judd Apatow's Funny People.

Keith Levene, the guitarist and cofounder of punk-rock bands the Clash and Public Image Ltd, died in his home on Nov. 11. He was 65. The musician had been battling liver cancer, The Guardian reported. Born in London in 1957, Julian Keith Levene got his start in the music industry at age 15 working as a roadie for the prog-rock band Yes. He befriended Mick Jones a year later and, together, the duo created the Clash alongside vocalist Joe Strummer, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Terry Chimes in 1976. Levene departed from the group before they recorded any music, but he is still credited with co-writing their song "What's My Name," from their eponymous 1977 debut record. In 1978, Levene teamed up with John Lydon—a.k.a the Sex Pistols lead singer Johnny Rotten—to form the post-punk group Public Image Ltd. Levene was heavily involved in the band's first three albums—First Issue, Metal Box, and The Flowers of Romance—but left in 1983. Levene released his debut solo album, Violent Opposition, in 1989. His most recent work, Commercial Zone 2014, was released in 2014.

Gallagher, the beloved comedian who famously smashed watermelons throughout his illustrious stand-up career, died at his Palm Springs, Calif., home on Nov. 11. He was 76. Gallagher's manager, Craig Marquardo, told The New York Times that the comic died from organ failure following "numerous heart attacks." Born in Fort Bragg, N.C., Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr.—better known as Gallagher—launched his career on a 1975 episode of Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. Following his television debut, Gallagher proclaimed himself the "Wizard of Odd" and routinely performed outlandish acts involving food during his sets, such as splattering watermelon, cantaloupes, and cottage cheese. Gallagher performed more than 100 concert dates a year for three decades, across which he destroyed over 15,000 melons using his sledgehammer of choice, the "Sledge-O-Matic," the Times reported. He is played on screen by Paul F. Tompkins in the 2022 film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

Kevin Conroy, one of the most beloved actors to ever bring Batman to life, died on Nov. 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 66. Born on Nov. 30, 1955, in Westbury, N.Y., Conroy studied under John Houseman at the esteemed Juilliard School. The voice actor was instrumental in helping repopularize Batman for younger audiences, playing the caped crusader in Batman: The Animated Series, which ran on Fox Kids from 1992 to 1996. Following his turn on the show, Conroy was the voice of Batman in movies like Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, in 15 separate TV series, and in 24 video game projects. Conroy also appeared on camera as a live-action Bruce Wayne in the CW's Arrowverse, portraying the character on the 2019 crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Dan McCafferty, the original lead singer of Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, died on Nov. 8, the band announced on social media. He was 76. "This is the saddest announcement I ever had to make," bassist Pete Agnew wrote. "Maryann and the family have lost a wonderful, loving husband and father. I have lost my best friend and the world has lost one of the greatest singers who ever lived." Born William Daniel McCafferty, the hard rocking vocalist was born in Dunfermline, Scotland and formed the prolific rock band with members bassist Agnew, guitarist Manny Charlton, and drummer Darrell Sweet in 1968. The group rose to prominence stateside with the release of their sixth studio album, titled Hair of the Dog. Its cover of The Everly Brothers' single "Love Hurts," which charted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976, went on to receive platinum certification in both the U.S. and U.K. In 2013, McCafferty, who was known for his gritty vocals and dominating stage presence, announced his retirement from Nazareth due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His final album, a solo record titled Last Testament, was released in 2019.

Jeff Cook, a guitarist and founding member of the country rock group Alabama, died Nov. 7 at 73. A native of Fort Payne, Ala., Cook took up music at a young age. He formed Alabama with cousins Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen more than 50 years ago, and together they would go on to sell 80 million albums and chart 43 No. 1 hits. Cook is credited for introducing the electric double-neck guitar to country music and was an accomplished instrumentalist, able to play piano, fiddle, bass guitar, banjo, mandolin, and more. Over the course of his career, Cook was honored as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, and Fiddlers Hall of Fame.

Leslie Phillips, the English comedy actor best known for his role in the Carry On movie franchise and as voice of the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter, died Nov. 7 at the age of 98. He began his career in the 1930s, appearing in more than 200 projects across film, television, and radio. Phillips' exaggerated performances in four of the Carry On films, including Carry On Nurse (1959) and Carry On Columbus (1992), made him a comedic standout. Phillips also dabbled in drama and received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Venus (2006). In 2008, he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his acting career. Harry Potter fans will remember Phillips as the voice of Sorting Hat, which he played in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and Deathly Hallows—Part 2.

Musician and former child star Aaron Carter was found dead in his Lancaster, Calif., home on Nov. 5. He was 34. Born in Tampa, the singer and rapper catapulted to fame when he opened for his older brother Nick Carter's band the Backstreet Boys on tour. He released his debut album, Aaron Carter, less than a year later, but his popularity surged after the release of his second album, Aaron's Party (Come Get It), which included the hits "I Want Candy," "That's How I Beat Shaq," and "Bounce." In 2001, Carter made his acting debut when he performed "I Want Candy" on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire. He made his Broadway debut that same year as JoJo the Who in the musical Seussical. He released two more records—2001's Oh Aaron and 2002's Another Earthquake—before taking an extended break from music until 2017. Carter released his final album, Love, in 2018. During his career, he also appeared on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, All That, and E!'s reality show House of Carters, which aired for one season in 2006. He also starred on Dancing With the Stars in 2009, placing fifth with his professional partner Karina Smirnoff. Carter, who was arrested on drug charges twice, sought help at multiple treatment facilities throughout his life. He is survived by his son, Prince.

Emmy-winning writer and producer David Davis died in Los Angeles on Nov. 4, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 86. The life-long creative got his start as an associate producer on the 1965 television series O.K. Crackerby! and My Mother the Car. In addition to producing, Davis began writing for television four years later, penning 10 episodes of The Leslie Uggams Show in 1969. He would go on to write and produce a slate of hilarious television series throughout the '70s, including episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and develop The Bob Newhart Show (from 1972 to 1978), Rhoda (1974 to 1978), and Taxi (1978 to 1983). Davis is survived by his wife, actress Julie Kavner, and daughter Samantha Davis-Friedman.

Douglas McGrath, the Oscar- and Tony-nominated writer, director, and actor, died Nov. 3 at 64. A native of Midland, Tex., McGrath began his showbiz career as a writer for Saturday Night Live in 1980 and went on to become a stage-and-screen multihyphenate. He earned a Tony nomination for writing the book Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and garnered an Academy Award nomination for penning Bullets Over Broadway with Woody Allen. McGrath wrote and directed films including Emma, Company Man, and Infamous; helmed two Emmy-nominated documentaries, His Way and Becoming Mike Nichols; and appeared in such movies as Quiz Show, The Insider, and Michael Clayton. At the time of his death, McGrath had been starring in the autobiographical Off-Broadway show Everything's Fine, which he also wrote.

Kymberly Herrin, a former Playboy playmate and actress who appeared as the Dream Ghost in the original Ghostbusters, died Oct. 28 at age 65. Herrin appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines throughout her career, including the March 1981 issue of Playboy, where she was crowned Playmate of the Month. She also starred in a handful of films, including the 1984 Ghostbusters, Romancing the Stone, Beverly Hills Cop II, and Road House.

Jerry Lee Lewis, the piano-playing music legend who helped create both rock & roll and the notion of the larger-than-life rock star, died Oct. 28 at 87. Born in Ferriday, La., Lewis started recording for the Sun Records label in 1956 and jammed with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins in what became known as the Million Dollar Quartet session. The next year, he became a massive star with the seminal rock & roll tracks "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire." His popularity became deeply damaged when in 1958 he married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, who filed for divorce in 1970, citing extreme physical and mental abuse. Lewis, however, released a string of successful country singles in the 1960s, and his iconic stature among younger musicians was demonstrated in 2006 with the release of the album Last Man Standing, with guest performers from Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Robert Plant, Keith Richards, and Kid Rock. He opened the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th-anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in 2009 and the next year released the album Mean Old Man, which, along with Last Man Standing, marked some of the best album sales of his career.

Julie Powell, the food writer who inspired Nora Ephron's 2009 biographical dramedy Julie & Julia, died from cardiac arrest on Oct. 26. She was 49. Powell rose to prominence in 2002 when she launched the Julie/Julia Project on Salon.com, which chronicled her attempt to cook all 524 recipes from Julia Child's landmark cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking in the course of one year. The success of the blog led to a book deal for Powell, who released Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen in 2005. It was later adapted into Ephron's Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated film that starred Amy Adams as Powell and Meryl Streep as Child. Powell is survived by her husband, brother, and parents.

Jules Bass, the director, producer, and composer behind beloved stop-motion and animated TV specials Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town with partner Arthur Rankin Jr., died Oct. 25. He was 87. With Rankin under their Rankin/Bass Productions company, Bass also co-produced and directed a number of other features, including 1967's Mad Monster Party, 1968's The Little Drummer Boy, and 1980's Pinocchio's Christmas. In 1977, Bass and Rankin, who died in 2014 at the age of 89, earned Emmy nominations for The Little Drummer Boy Book II and received a Peabody Award later that year for their animated adaptation of The Hobbit.

Beloved actor and comedian Leslie Jordan died Oct. 24 at age 67 after reportedly suffering a medical emergency while driving his BMW through Hollywood. In addition to winning an Emmy for his iconic role as Beverley Leslie on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 2001–2020, Jordan appeared in the Best Picture-nominated 2011 drama The Help and on three separate seasons of FX's long-running anthology series American Horror Story.

Michael Kopsa, a prolific character and voice actor whose work spanned Beast on X-Men: Evolution to Captain Windmark on Fringe, died on Oct. 23 of a brain tumor. He was 66.

Kopsa would continue to provide voice work for anime and animated series and movies throughout his career, including Dragon Ball Z, Inuyasha, Death Note, Action Man, X-Men: Evolution, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Planet Hulk, and Ninjago.

The actor played several characters on the sci-fi anthology series The Outer Limits and guest starred on The X-Files in 1997 before landing small roles in blockbuster films like 2005's Fantastic Four, 2008's Watchmen, 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Apollo 18. He also had a recurring role on Fringe as Captain Windmark.