Skip to content

Top Navigation

EW.com EW.com
    • All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Winter TV
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
    • All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
    • All Music
    • Music Reviews
    • All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
    • All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
    • All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
    • All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe

Explore EW.com

EW.com EW.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • A guide to The Last of Us Easter eggs

      A guide to The Last of Us Easter eggs

      From the Uncharted lighter to the giraffe plushie. Read More
    • 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards

      2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards

      From Brendan Fraser and Angela Bassett to a potential upset in Best Actress, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. Read More
    • Meet the cast of Survivor 44

      Meet the cast of Survivor 44

      Here are the 18 contestants who will be vying for $1 million. Read More
  • TV

    TV

    See All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Winter TV
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
  • Movies

    Movies

    See All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
  • Music

    Music

    See All Music
    • Music Reviews
  • What to Watch

    What to Watch

    See All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • BINGE

    BINGE

    See All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
  • The Awardist

    The Awardist

    See All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
  • Books

    Books

    See All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
  • Theater

    Theater

    See All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
  • Events

    Events

    See All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Gallery
  3. Late Greats 2012: Stars Pay Tribute

Late Greats 2012: Stars Pay Tribute

Stevie Nicks on Whitney Houston, Patrick Duffy on Larry Hagman, Prince on Dick Clark, more memories; see extended versions of these recollections in EW magazine, on sale now
By EW Staff Updated December 14, 2012 at 05:00 PM EST
Skip gallery slides
FB

1 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Whitney Houston (Aug. 9, 1963?Feb. 11, 2012) By Stevie Nicks

Whitney Houston | ''I saw her do an interview where she basically said, 'I'd had a thousand number-one hit records, I'd had huge albums, I'd toured the world,Â…
Credit: David Corio/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

''I saw her do an interview where she basically said, 'I'd had a thousand number-one hit records, I'd had huge albums, I'd toured the world, I'd met all the most famous people in the world, and I fell in love with this guy,' and she said, 'You know what, all I cared about was being in love. All I cared about was my husband. Nothing else mattered.'' If you've ever been that deeply in love, where you're ready to just give everything up, then you can kind of understand that. Especially because she had pretty much topped every pinnacle.''

Houston died in L.A. of accidental drowning and effects of heart disease and cocaine use.

For more from these stars' tributes to 2012's Late Greats, pick up this week's EW on newsstands now or buy it online.

1 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Andy Griffith (June 1, 1926?July 3, 2012) By Brad Paisley

Andy Griffith | ''Andy Griffith never looked like he was acting. His brilliance was in his normalcy, his perfect reflection of real life. His art was the NormanÂ…
Credit: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

''Andy Griffith never looked like he was acting. His brilliance was in his normalcy, his perfect reflection of real life. His art was the Norman Rockwell of the screen, rural and real.''

Griffith died of a heart attack in Manteo, N.C.

2 of 19

3 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Michael Clarke Duncan (Dec. 10, 1957?Sept. 3, 2012) By Frank Darabont

Michael Clarke Duncan | ''His role in The Green Mile was a tremendously challenging part for any actor, much less one with as little experience as Michael had comingÂ…
Credit: Carlo Allegri/AP

''His role in The Green Mile was a tremendously challenging part for any actor, much less one with as little experience as Michael had coming into it. His growth as an actor during the process was startling and inspiring.''

Duncan died in L.A. of complications from a heart attack.

3 of 19

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Phyllis Diller (July 17, 1917?Aug. 20, 2012) By Kathy Griffin

Phyllis Diller | ''It's important to remember that when you're laughing at one of my shows or at Whitney Cummings or Tina Fey on TV, it's because ofÂ…
Credit: NBC via Getty Images

''It's important to remember that when you're laughing at one of my shows or at Whitney Cummings or Tina Fey on TV, it's because of Phyllis Diller and jokes like this: 'I have a tremendous sex drive. My boyfriend lives 40 miles away.'''

Diller died in L.A. of undisclosed causes.

4 of 19

Advertisement

5 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Adam Yauch (Aug. 5, 1964?May 4, 2012) By Darryl ''DMC '' McDaniels

Adam Yauch | ''The Beasties are like ''3 the Hard Way'' in their own right, and Yauch was the father-type leader. There was a maturity to him evenÂ…
Credit: Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis

''The Beasties are like ''3 the Hard Way'' in their own right, and Yauch was the father-type leader. There was a maturity to him even at the zaniest moments. And that voice! One of the top 10 greatest ever.''

Yauch died of cancer in New York City.

5 of 19

6 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Donna Summer (Dec. 31, 1948?May 17, 2012) By Natasha Bedingfield

Donna Summer | She was part of a wave of powerful singers like Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross who made being a strong woman a desirable thing. DonnaÂ…
Credit: Fotos International/Getty Images

She was part of a wave of powerful singers like Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross who made being a strong woman a desirable thing. Donna helped give the label diva a positive meaning.''

Summer died of lung cancer in New York City.

6 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Etta James (Jan. 25, 1938?Jan. 20, 2012) By Common

Etta James | ''There's something very powerful about that voice. Nobody else's can embody the soul of music like hers. She had a spirit about her that hasÂ…
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

''There's something very powerful about that voice. Nobody else's can embody the soul of music like hers. She had a spirit about her that has clearly translated to many generations.''

James died of leukemia in Riverside, Calif.

7 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Larry Hagman (Sept. 21, 1931?Nov. 23, 2012) By Patrick Duffy

Larry Hagman | ''Ask 100 people about Larry, and every answer starts with a smile. ... Someone wrote me, 'A large person leaves a large hole in yourÂ…
Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

''Ask 100 people about Larry, and every answer starts with a smile. ... Someone wrote me, 'A large person leaves a large hole in your heart.' I know what he meant, but my heart always will be full of Haggy. I just wish I could turn the corner and see him. And smile.''

Hagman died of acute myeloid leukemia in Dallas.

8 of 19

Advertisement

9 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Dick Clark (Nov. 30, 1929?April 18, 2012) By Prince

Dick Clark | ''Dick Clark...would call U personally and always speak with grace and candor that is rare in an industry that is rife with gamesmanship. That kindaÂ…
Credit: Everett Collection

''Dick Clark...would call U personally and always speak with grace and candor that is rare in an industry that is rife with gamesmanship. That kinda class is sorely missed.''

Clark died of a heart attack in Santa Monica.

9 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Ernest Borgnine (Jan. 24, 1917?July 8, 2012) By Tim Conway

Ernest Borgnine | ''When I first came to Hollywood...this big, gentle teddy bear of a guy slipped his arm around me, took me to the set of McHale'sÂ…
Credit: Everett Collection

''When I first came to Hollywood...this big, gentle teddy bear of a guy slipped his arm around me, took me to the set of McHale's Navy, and taught me what it meant to be part of the wonderful business called 'show business.'''

Borgnine died of renal failure in L.A.

10 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Mike Wallace (May 9, 1918?April 7, 2012) By Christopher Plummer

Mike Wallace | ''I met Mike in 1981. I had made certain success on Broadway that year and he had deigned to interview me. He was utterly charming,Â…
Credit: CBS/Landov

''I met Mike in 1981. I had made certain success on Broadway that year and he had deigned to interview me. He was utterly charming, and I felt extremely confident that my knowledge of his well-known tricks would keep me in control. I was wrong. His first question was 'Why is it that you're not a household name?' It knocked me sideways, and for the next half hour I never stopped fighting for my life.''

Wallace died of undisclosed causes in New Canaan, Conn.

11 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Don Cornelius (Sept. 27, 1936-Feb. 1, 2012) By Patti LaBelle

Don Cornelius | ''Don Cornelius was a visionary, a pioneer, a genius. Without a doubt, one of the most important influences in popular culture. What he did throughÂ…
Credit: Everett Collection

''Don Cornelius was a visionary, a pioneer, a genius. Without a doubt, one of the most important influences in popular culture. What he did through Soul Train to advance music, and not just black music, cannot be understated.''

Cornelius died in an apparent suicide in L.A.

12 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

13 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Jenni Rivera (July 2, 1969?Dec. 9, 2012) By Paulina Rubio

Dave Brubeck | ''Jenni was a powerful artist, a wonderful human being, a dedicated mother and grandmother, a symbol of strength, a warrior, and a dear friend whoÂ…
Credit: Reed Saxon/AP

''Jenni was a powerful artist, a wonderful human being, a dedicated mother and grandmother, a symbol of strength, a warrior, and a dear friend who truly helped all of us around her. It is still hard for me to comprehend and accept what has happened.''

Rivera died in a plane crash near Nuevo León, Mexico.

13 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

14 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Nora Ephron (May 19, 1941?June 26, 2012) By Carrie Fisher

Nora Ephron | ''Nora kept doing things well. It was really annoying! She was a great writer, a great director, and then it turned out she was aÂ…
Credit: Charles Sykes/AP

''Nora kept doing things well. It was really annoying! She was a great writer, a great director, and then it turned out she was a great chef. People can devote their entire lives to just one of those things and not get the same results she did. ... Whatever she was doing, Nora set the bar.''

Ephron died of pneumonia resulting from acute myeloid leukemia in New York City.

14 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement

15 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Sherman Hemsley (Feb. 1, 1938-July 24, 2012) By Marla Gibbs

Sherman Hemsley | ''Sherman Hemsley gave me 10 years of love and fun. We were a wonderful family, and he was a generous and loving costar.'' Hemsley diedÂ…
Credit: CBS via Getty Images

''Sherman Hemsley gave me 10 years of love and fun. We were a wonderful family, and he was a generous and loving costar.''

Hemsley died of lung cancer in El Paso.

15 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

16 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Tony Scott (June 21, 1944?Aug. 19, 2012) By Tom Cruise

Tony Scott | ''Just before he died, we were talking about doing a Top Gun sequel together. I was excited to be working with him again after allÂ…
Credit: Bobby Bank/WireImage

''Just before he died, we were talking about doing a Top Gun sequel together. I was excited to be working with him again after all these years. Like everyone, I was devastated when I heard that he was gone. He was a dear friend. I loved him. I still love him.''

Scott died in an apparent suicide in L.A.

16 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

17 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Maurice Sendak (June 10, 1928?May 8, 2012) By Gregory Maguire

Maurice Sendak | ''What is the moon in Sendak's work? She is mystery, consolation, and constancy. Like Sendak's legacy, she's always fresh as long as children, those wildestÂ…
Credit: AP

''What is the moon in Sendak's work? She is mystery, consolation, and constancy. Like Sendak's legacy, she's always fresh as long as children, those wildest of things, insist on being read to. I look for my friend; I miss him and love him. The moon winks back at me, once a month.''

Sendak died in Danbury, Conn., of complications from a stroke.

17 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement

18 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Gore Vidal (Oct. 3, 1925?July 31, 2012) Author-Playwright-Screenwriter

Gore Vidal | ''Because there is no cosmic point to the life that each of us perceives on this distant bit of dust at galaxy's edge, all theÂ…
Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

''Because there is no cosmic point to the life that each of us perceives on this distant bit of dust at galaxy's edge, all the more reason for us to maintain in proper balance what we have here. Because there is nothing else. Nothing. This is it. And quite enough, all in all.'' —Vidal, in 1988's At Home

18 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

19 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Ray Bradbury (Aug. 22, 1920?June 5, 2012) Author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles

Ray Bradbury | ''...I'm not afraid of machines. I don't think the robots are taking over. I think the men who play with toys have taken over. AndÂ…
Credit: AP

''...I'm not afraid of machines. I don't think the robots are taking over. I think the men who play with toys have taken over. And if we don't take the toys out of their hands, we're fools.'' —Bradbury, in a 1976 interview

For more from these stars' tributes to 2012's Late Greats, pick up this week's EW on newsstands now or buy it online.

19 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By EW Staff

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 19 Whitney Houston (Aug. 9, 1963?Feb. 11, 2012) By Stevie Nicks
    2 of 19 Andy Griffith (June 1, 1926?July 3, 2012) By Brad Paisley
    3 of 19 Michael Clarke Duncan (Dec. 10, 1957?Sept. 3, 2012) By Frank Darabont
    4 of 19 Phyllis Diller (July 17, 1917?Aug. 20, 2012) By Kathy Griffin
    5 of 19 Adam Yauch (Aug. 5, 1964?May 4, 2012) By Darryl ''DMC '' McDaniels
    6 of 19 Donna Summer (Dec. 31, 1948?May 17, 2012) By Natasha Bedingfield
    7 of 19 Etta James (Jan. 25, 1938?Jan. 20, 2012) By Common
    8 of 19 Larry Hagman (Sept. 21, 1931?Nov. 23, 2012) By Patrick Duffy
    9 of 19 Dick Clark (Nov. 30, 1929?April 18, 2012) By Prince
    10 of 19 Ernest Borgnine (Jan. 24, 1917?July 8, 2012) By Tim Conway
    11 of 19 Mike Wallace (May 9, 1918?April 7, 2012) By Christopher Plummer
    12 of 19 Don Cornelius (Sept. 27, 1936-Feb. 1, 2012) By Patti LaBelle
    13 of 19 Jenni Rivera (July 2, 1969?Dec. 9, 2012) By Paulina Rubio
    14 of 19 Nora Ephron (May 19, 1941?June 26, 2012) By Carrie Fisher
    15 of 19 Sherman Hemsley (Feb. 1, 1938-July 24, 2012) By Marla Gibbs
    16 of 19 Tony Scott (June 21, 1944?Aug. 19, 2012) By Tom Cruise
    17 of 19 Maurice Sendak (June 10, 1928?May 8, 2012) By Gregory Maguire
    18 of 19 Gore Vidal (Oct. 3, 1925?July 31, 2012) Author-Playwright-Screenwriter
    19 of 19 Ray Bradbury (Aug. 22, 1920?June 5, 2012) Author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    EW.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EW.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://ew.com

    View image

    Late Greats 2012: Stars Pay Tribute
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.