Popular Celebrities We Lost In 2019

2

John Witherspoon

Actor and comedian John Witherspoon passed away at his home in Sherman Oaks, California on October 29 at the age of 77.”It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband and father John Witherspoon has passed away,” the Witherspoon’s family tweeted via his personal account alongside a photo of the actor/comedian smiling.”He was a legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you ‘POPS’ always & forever,” the family added.

Witherspoon is survived by his lovely wife Angela, and his sons Alexander and John David Witherspoon.

Jeremy Montemagni/Everett Collection

3

Stephen Moore

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy star Stephen Moore passed away at 81.Dick Maggs, a radio and TV series producer and director, announced the news on October 12 via Twitter: “Our dear friend Stephen Moore has died. A fine actor, a lovely man and the original and most iconic voice of Marvin The Paranoid Android in The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.” “Our thoughts are with his family and our memories of him will always make us smile,” Maggs added. “RIP Stephen.”

Moore is survived by his five children: Robyn, Guy, Hedda, Charlotte and Sophie.

BBC

4

Robert Forster

Mulholland Drive and Medium Cool actor, Robert Forster, passed away in Los Angeles on October 11 after battling brain cancer, at 78. Although Forster is known for acting in numerous movies, he also appeared in multiple TV shows, including Heroes, Alcatraz, Twin Peaks, and Last Man Standing. The actor was nominated for an Oscar in 1998 for his supporting role in Jackie Brown.

Forster is survived by his children Bobby, Elizabeth, Kate and Maeghen, and his grandchildren Tess, Liam Jack and Olivia.

© Hubert Boesl/DPA via ZUMA Press

5

Carl Ruiz

Food Network star, Carl Ruiz, passed away on September 21 at the age of 44 and it was later revealed he died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. His family confirmed the sad news by opening a Twitter account called @wemisscarlruiz. “He was all about great times, great food and great friends,” Ruiz’s brother, George, tweeted on behalf of the Ruiz family. “Please remember his laugh and his wit.”

The beloved star’s sudden passing prompted several celebrities from the culinary world to come out and share their favorite memories of the chef.“I’m heartbroken that my friend chef Carl Ruiz is gone. I have no words to describe what a great friend he was to me and my family,” Gyu Fieri wrote. “His ability to make me laugh and smile under any circumstances was only outshined by his talent as a chef.”

“This man was somehow fatherly, comforting, wise, reckless, brilliant, wickedly funny & unique all in 1,” Alex Guarnaschelli wrote. “My life will be lonelier without him. Love you Carl. I’ll make sure no one puts pineapple on pizza best I can without you here. #rip @carlruiz”

David Moir/Food Network

6

Denise Nickerson

Denise Nickerson, best known for playing the gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde in 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, passed away on July 10. The actress was 62. Her family announced the news in a Facebook post. “She’s gone,” the actress’ son Josh and his wife Jasmine wrote.

The family also added that Nickerson was taken off life support after she suffered a severe stroke. “They just took off all the equipment. None of it was helping, but making her only more uncomfortable. We’re telling her it’s okay to let go,” the couple wrote on the Facebook page they created to give updates on the actress and her health.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

7

Cameron Boyce

Disney Channel franchise star Descendants and TV series Jessie star passed away on July 6 at the age of 20.

“It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron,” a family representative said in a statement, who shared that the young actor passed due to “an ongoing medical condition.”

“He passed away in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated. The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him,” the family representative said. “We are utterly heartbroken and ask for privacy during this immensely difficult time as we grieve the loss of our precious son and brother.”

EPA/NINA PROMMER

8

Beth Chapman

The Dog the Bounty Hunter star Beth Chapman passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones and her husband, Duane “Dog” Chapman, on June 26 at the age of 51. “It’s 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain,” Dog tweeted. “Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side.”

On June 22, Beth was admitted to Hawaii’s Queen’s Medical Center and put into a medically-induced coma, as reported by Hawaii News Now. The couple announced Beth’s stage II throat cancer diagnosis in September 2017. The Dog the Bounty Hunter star is survived by her husband Dog and their children: Cecily Chapman, Bonnie Chapman, Garry Chapman and Dominic Davis.

Photo by Broadimage / Rex Features

9

Tim Conway

The beloved actor, best known for his work on The Carol Burnett Show, passed away on May 14 at 85. Before Conway’s passing, he suffered from complications from Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) and showed no signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

The actor is survived by his wife, his stepdaughter, his six biological children and two granddaughters.

John Barrett/PHOTOlink/Everett Collection

10

Ken Kercheval

Ken Kercheval, best known for his role as Texas Businessman Cliff Barners on the CBS soap opera Dallas, passed away on April 21 at the age of 83. The actor’s passion for acting began in 1954 where he starred in several productions before he transitioned to screen, and became a staple of television and film in 1962. Kercheval made appearances on The Secret Storm, Kojak, CHiPs, Starsky & Hutch, The Love Boat, Matlock, Highway to Heaven, before landed the role of Barnes, the brother of Victoria Principal’s character Pamela Ewing, on Dallas in 1978.

Everett Collection /AP

11

Luke Perry

Luke Perry – best known for his roles as Fred Andrews on the CW series Riverdale and Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210 – passed away on March 4 due to a massive stroke. The actor was 52. Perry also appeared in films, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 8 seconds, and The Fifth Element. He also acted in sitcoms, including Will & Grace and Spin City.

The actor was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, finacé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Benett, brother Tim Perry, sister Amy Coder, and other close loved ones.

Source: Shutterstock

12

Katherine Helmond

The beloved actress who played Mona Robinson in Who’s The Boss? for eight years and Jessica Tate on Soap passed away on February 23 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease at her home in Los Angeles. Helmond made her television debut in 1962 ad starred in numerous plays, shows and films, including Family Plot, Brazil and Cars franchise (she voiced Lizzie). However, her most memorable role is when she acted in Who’s The Boss? which she received two supporting actress Emmy nominations.

Michael Germana/Everett Collection

13

Brody Stevens

Comedian and actor Brody Stevens passed away on February 22 at the age of 48 after he took his own life. Stevens played as Officer Foltz in the 2009 hit comedy The Hangover and returned in the follow-up film, The Hangover Part II, as Kingsley Guy.

He has also appeared on TV shows, including Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, and a panelist in Chelsea Lately.

Dee Cercone/Everett Collection

14

Karl Lagerfeld

The creative director behind Chanel, Fendi, and his eponymous line Karl Lagerfeld passed away on February 19 at 85. “It is with deep sadness that the House of Chanel announces the passing of Karl Lagerfeld, the Creative Director for the Chanel Fashion House since 1983,” Chanel said in a statement. Once his passing was announced, multiple celebrities, models and fellow designers paid tribute to the style icon.

Lagerfeld was born in Germany to Elisabeth Bahlmann and Otto Lagerfeld, a wealthy Hamburg businessman, and attended Lycée Montaigne in France where he graduated with a focus on drawing and history. The creative director won the Woolmark Prize design competition and then landed his first job in the fashion industry under Pierre Balmain as his assistant in 1955. From that moment on, his career took off and brought him to other fashion houses, including Chloé and Fendi.

John Barrett/PHOTOlink/Everett Collection

15

Albert Finney

The British actor – best known for his roles in Erin Brockovich, Annie, Big Fish, Skyfall and the Bourne franchise – passed away on February 8th at 82 due to an undisclosed condition although in 2011, the five-time Oscar nominee disclosed to The Guardian that he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Finney began his career acting on stage, while studying beside Alan Bates and Peter O’Toole at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. The actor received his first Oscar nomination for starring as the titular character in 1963’s Tom Jones, which was also named 1964’s Best Picture. Other nominations included his work on Murder on the Orient Express, The Dresser, and Under the Volcano. Also, in 2000, he was nominated for supporting actor in Erin Brockovich.

Mirrorpix/Courtesy Everett Collection

16

Kristoff St. John

The Young and the Restless star passed away on February 3 at the age of 52 and it was later revealed that his death was listed as accidental and the cause was hypertrophic heart failure.

In 2014, his son Julian and ex-wife Mia St. John passed away at the age of 24. In 2017, the actor underwent treatment for his mental health. The actor’s last activity on Twitter was on January 21, where he retweeted a tweet about losing a child which read, “Grieving the loss of a child is a process. It begins on the day your child passes, and ends the day the parent joins them.”

©John Paschal/jpistudios.com

17

Dick Miller

Dick Miller, best known for his role in Gremlins and A Bucket of Blood, passed away on January 30 at 90 from natural causes. “His sense of humor and the unique way he looked at the world won him many lifelong friends and worldwide fans,” Miller’s family said in a statement.

The actor’s career spanned over 60 years, where he appeared in numerous movies and television series. In the 1950s, he met director Roger Corman and he worked with him for more than two decades.

EPA/SUSANNA SAEZ

18

Louisa Moritz

Actress Louisa Moritz, most known for her role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, passed away late-January from natural causes related to her heart at the age of 72. “Louisa Moritz was so full of life, talent, and she was a genius with a 6th sense for making money,” Mortiz’s rep, Edward Lozzi, told The Blast. “Her parties in Mt. Olympus in the 1980’s were wild … Her 100’s of TV and film roles will keep her memory alive with her fans forever. Her support of other women who accused Bill Cosby [of sexual assault] will keep her with us for years to come.”

ABC Photo Archives

19

Steve ‘Bean’ Levy

Levy, better known as Steve Bean, passed away on January 21 at the age of 58 after succumbing to his battle with nose cancer. The actor, most known for his role in Ray Donovan, was diagnosed with “a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Sino-Nasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma,” he wrote in a personal essay for Mel Magazine. “In English, I translated that to ‘Nose Cancer.” Levy went under a rhinectomy and then later had a prosthetic nose, he also revealed that his doctors told him he had up to one year to live.

The actor is survived by his wife Caroline Carrigan, his son Randall Levy, and his parents Irwin and Dorthy Levy.

Steve Bean Levy/Facebook

20

Nipsey Hussle

Ermias Asghedom, most known as Nipsey Hussle, passed away on March 31 at the age of 33. The “Hussle & Motivate” musician died shortly after he was shot on the street where his clothing store, the Marathon Clothing company, is located in Los Angeles.

Nipsey Hussle’s debut album, Victory Lap, was nominated for best rap album at the Grammy Awards in February. He is survived by his two children: Emani, a daughter from a previous relationship, and a son, Kross, with his girlfriend, actress Lauren London.

Lionel Hahn/ABACAPRESS.COM

21

Shelley Morrison

Will & Grace actress Shelly Morrison passed away at the age of 83 on Sunday, December 1. The 83-year-old actress’ husband, Walter Dominguez, issued a statement about her passing: “[Shelley] passed in Los Angeles this morning at 5:42 am at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from heart failure, after a brief illness. Shelley had recently celebrated her 83rd birthday.”

“Shelley’s greatest pride as an actress was in playing the indomitable Rosario, in a comedy series that furthered the cause of social equity and fairness for LGBTQ people,” Dominguez’s statement continued. “She also took pride in portraying a strong, loving yet feisty Latina character. She believed that the best way to change hearts and minds was through comedy.”

The beloved actress was most known for her role as Rosario Salazar on Will & Grace. Morrison appeared in the sitcom’s original run and was slated to reprise her role in the Will & Grace revival for a single episode. The 83-year-old star starred in 60 episodes during the NBC sitcom’s initial eight-season run. Morrison is survived by her husband and her loved ones, “including children and grandchildren, who were adopted through traditional Native American ceremony.”

PREMIUM —

22

Godfrey Gao

Taiwanese-Canadian actor and model Godfrey Gao passed away at 35 on November 27 after he suffered from an apparent heart attack while filming the Chinese reality show Chase Me in Ningbo, China. “In the early hours of Nov. 27, our beloved Godfrey collapsed while filming on set. Unfortunately following three hours of medical rescue efforts, he left us,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We are very shocked and saddened and even until now find it impossible to accept.”

Gao was best known for his role as Magnus Bane in 2013’s The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and he also made history with his modeling career. Back in 2011, he became the first Asian model to be cast in a Louis Vuitton campaign.

Dee Cercone/Everett Collection

23

Jane Galloway Heitz

On November 13, Jane Galloway Heitz passed away from congestive heart failure at a hospital in Highland Park, Illinois at the age of 78. The actress’s character on Glee was the former head of the glee club at McKinley High, and her plaque – which included her birth and death years (1937-1997) and the phrase, “By its very definition, Glee is about opening yourself up to join” – was displayed in a trophy case at the school.

In addition to starring on the Glee series, the actress made appearances on numerous other popular TV shows throughout her acting career, including Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Prison Break. Galloway Heitz also worked as a casting agent and helped stars like Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Eric Stonestreet before they were famous.

She is survived by her daughter, Aime, and grandchildren, Claire Emmaline, Jack Henry, and William Mark.

CBS

24

John Clarke

John Clarke, who played Mickey Horton on Days of Our Lives (DOOL) for 39 years, passed away at the age of 88. The actor, who had suffered a stroke in 2007, had been in declining health since then and passed away from complications of pneumonia on October 16 in Laguna Beach, California.

Clarke was an original DOOL cast member and was featured on the soap’s very first episode on November 8, 1965. In the early 1960s, before landing the iconic role on DOOL, Clarke did guest stints on popular shows like The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, The FBI, Lawman and Maverick. His first starring role in a series was as Officer Joe Huddleston on The New Breed. Clarke was also featured in several films including It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and Judgement At Nuremberg.

Clarke is survived by his wife Patty, daughter Melinda, son Joshua and his three grandchildren, Natasha, Jacob and Catherine Grace.

Source: www.wikiwand.com

25

Diahann Carroll

Legendary actress Diahann Carroll passed away on October 5 in Los Angeles due to cancer. She was 84 years old.

Carroll started her career at the age of 15, where she modeled for Essence magazine but was always interested in acting: “I always knew I had to do something that was in front of an audience,” Carroll told PEOPLE in 2008. In 1962, Carroll won the best actress Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway musical No Strings – a first for a black woman, and then in 1968, she became the very first black star to play a role other than that of a domestic worker on her own TV series, Julia.

Carroll married four times. First was to Monte Kay from 1956-62, and they had a daughter together named Suzanne, who is a journalist and screenwriter. Her second husband was Las Vegas boutique owner Freddé Glusman in 1971 but subsequently split several weeks later. After she divorced Glusman, Carroll married Jet magazine editor Robert DeLeon, who then passed away in a car accident in March 1977. Ten years later, she married Vic Damone, but later separated in 1996.

Dee Cercone/Everett Collection

26

Aron Eisenberg

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actor Aron Eisenberg passed away on September 21 at 50 years old from heart failure. Eisenberg’s wife, Malissa Longo, confirmed the news of her husband’s passing in a lengthy Facebook post.

“It is with extreme regret and sadness to announce that my love and best friend, Aron Eisenberg, passed away earlier today,” she wrote. “He was an intelligent, humble, funny, emphatic soul. He sought to live his life with integrity and truth.”

“He was so driven to put the best he had into whatever work was put before him. He lived his life with such vigor and passion. He was like a breath of fresh air, because I knew I would always hear the truth from him. Even if I didn’t want to hear it and even if the truth was inconvenient,” she continued. “He made me (and still makes me) want to be the best human I can possibly be, because he always strove to be the best human he could be. His resilience and willingness to learn was and is an inspiration.”

“There will never be another light like Aron’s. The beauty that he was and the legacy he leaves behind is beyond words. I love him dearly and will miss him eternally.
At the moment I’m not sure how to do life without him… He is and always will be My California,” she concluded the post.

The actor was born with only one kidney and later received two kidney transplants during his life.

David Livingston/Getty Images

27

Suzanne Whang

HGTV star Suzanne Whang passed away on September after a 13-year battle with breast cancer. She served as the on-camera host and narrator for House Hunters from 1999 to 2008. She also hosted the spinoff series House Hunters International, from 2006 to 2008. In summary, she hosted more than 400 episodes, according to an HGTV representative.

Her partner, Jeff Vezain, shared on her Facebook page about saddening news to her fans. “A lifetime of love, adventure, humor and bliss now lives in our memories. On Tuesday evening around 7:20pm, Suzanne breathed her last breath here at home, as I knelt beside her and caressed her,” he said. “For thirteen years she confronted cancer with courage, humor, determination and optimism. She was immensely encouraged by the love of her family, friends and those she had yet to meet. Your kind, loving messages always lifted her spirits. I know she would prefer that her life be celebrated, as opposed to her passing mourned,” he continued. “But I also know how vehemently she disagreed with anyone being told, “Don’t cry.” So…cry if you will. I’ve been crying a LOT! And laughing…and everything in between. It’s all part of life, but laughter was a staple of our dynamic.”

Vezain added: “Her audacious sense of humor blessed many, shocked a few, but allowed us to laugh in the face of adversity. She was an amazing daughter, sister, friend, mentor and advocate. As I, her family and her closest friends process her transition, we ask for your prayers and loving thoughts. We have appreciated all of the kind words and memories shared on her Facebook page. It has brought much comfort.”

“As I say good bye to a soul who was more than a true love, but also a best friend and an intellectual and spiritual book-end, know that we may not be able to respond to queries, but will try to keep you updated. Thank you,” he concluded.

Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

28

Russi Taylor

Actress Russi Taylor voiced Minnie Mouse for more than three decades passed away on July 26 in Glendale, California, at the age of 75. Walt Disney Co. chairman Bob Eiger announced Taylor’s passing in a statement. “Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor,” Eiger said in a statement. “For more than 30 years, Minnie and Russi worked together to entertain millions around the world — a partnership that made Minnie a global icon and Russi a Disney Legend beloved by fans everywhere.”

“It was a privilege to have known her and an honor to have worked with her, and we take comfort in the knowledge that her work will continue to entertain and inspire for generations to come,” Iger concluded.

COURTESY OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY

29

Rip Torn

Legendary actor Rip Torn passed away at the age of 88 in his Lakeville, Connecticut home on July 9.

The Oscar-nominated star won his first Primetime Emmy Award in 1996 for his role as Artie on The Larry Sanders Show. He also appeared in numerous films, such as Dodgeball and Men in Black, and television shows, including 30 Rock and Will & Grace, during his seven-decade career in film, television and theater, with nearly 200 acting credits to his name.

His wife Amy Wright and his daughters Katie Torn and Angelica Page were by his side at his passing.

John Barrett/PHOTOlink/Everett Collection

30

Mary Duggar

The Counting On matriarch and mom of Jim Bob Duggar passed away from accidental drowning in a swimming pool on June 9. She was 78 years old. Deena, Jim Bob’s sister, “discovered her body and alerted authorities.”

“She is greatly loved and will be missed so very much!” the Duggar family wrote in a statement on Facebook. “She lived a tremendous life as a follower of Christ, a wife, a devoted mother, a loving mother-in-law, and a much-loved grandmother. Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the virtuous woman, indeed she personified these beautiful verses with her life. We deeply appreciate your prayers for our family and all who loved Mary during this time.”

TLC via YouTube

31

Doris Day

Legendary actress and singer Doris Day passed at 97 on May 13 after “contracting a serious case of pneumonia,” according to a statement released by her animal foundation. Day is best known for her roles in 1959’s Pillow Talk, 1962’s That Touch of Mink, and songs “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)” in Alfred Hitchock’s 1956 movie The Man Who Knew Too Much.

The Red List

32

Peter Mayhew

Star Wars actor Peter Mayhew, who played as Chewbacca in the original trilogy, passed away on April 30 at the age of 74 after a heart attack. His family posted a statement about the beloved actor’s death via his official Twitter account announcing the news: “The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away. He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home.”

(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

33

Ric Ocasek

Frontman for The Cars, Ric Ocasek, passed away at the age of 75 on September 15. Police received a phone call from Ocasek’s estranged wife Paulina Porizkova around 4 p.m. for an unconscious male at a townhouse on East 19th Street. Ocasek was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the medical examiner’s office, the musician’s death was related to heart disease, with emphysema as a complication.

EPA/DAVID MAXWELL

34

Eddie Money

The singer, best known for his hits “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Two Tickets to Paradise,” passed away at age 70 on September 13. In August, Eddie Money and his wife, Laurie, announced that he had stage 4 esophageal cancer. At the time of his passing, his family issued a statement on the day of his death. “The Money Family regrets to announce that Eddie passed away peacefully early this morning. It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and father,” the statement read, per Variety. “We cannot imagine our world without him. We are grateful that he will live on forever through his music.”

Michael Ferguson/PHOTOlink /Courtesy Everett Collection

35

Peter Fonda

Peter Fonda, the son of Henry Fonda and younger brother of Jane Fonda, passed away on August 16 at 79 years old. “It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that Peter Fonda has passed away,” the family said. “[Peter] passed away peacefully on Friday morning, August 16 at 11:05 a.m. at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family.”

“The official cause of death was respiratory failure due to lung cancer,” they continued. “In one of the saddest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our hearts. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy,” they wrote.

“And, while we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life,” the Fonda family concluded. “In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom.” Peter, who became a movie star and counterculture icon with his 1969 movie Easy Rider, was born in New York City to screen legend Henry Fonda and Frances Ford Seymour. He is survived by his older sister Jane Fonda, his wife and two children.

Lionel Hahn/ABACAPRESS.COM

36

Philip McKeon

Philip McKeon passed away on Tuesday, December 10th, after a long illness at the age of 55.

The former child star was best known for his role as Tommy Hyatt on the sitcom Alice, starring Linda Lavin, from 1976 to 1985. McKeon then later worked in the news department at KFWB News 98 in Los Angeles for 10 years and had spent his last few years hosting his radio show in Wimberley, Texas, where he moved to be closer to his family. “We are all beyond heartbroken and devastated over Phil’s passing. His wonderful sense of humor, kindness and loyalty will be remembered by all who crossed his path in life,” said Jeff Ballard, a family spokesman.

McKeon is survived by his mother, Barbara, and his sister, Facts of Life actress Nancy McKeon.

Everett Collection / AP

37

John Singleton

Hollywood director John Singleton, best known for his directorial debut with Boyz n the Hood, passed away on April 28. He was 51.

Before his passing, Singleton was in a coma as a result of a stroke he suffered on April 17.

“John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends,” Singleton’s family said. “We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all of John’s fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time.”

EPA/NINA PROMMER

38

Georgia Engel

The high-pitched and sweet-sounding Mary Tyler Moore Show star Georgia Engel passed away on April 12 at the age of 70.

Engel, widely recognized for her voice, had a decades-long acting career as a television and stage actress. She was best known for her role on the 1970s sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which she was nominated for two Emmy awards. The actress also received three Emmy Nominations for her recurring role as Pat McDougall, Robert Barone’s mother-in-law, on Everybody Loves Raymond.

donna ward/ABACAUSA.com

39

Jed Allan

Jed Allan, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Days of Our Lives star, passed away at 84 on March 9. The news of Allan’s passing was shared by his son, Rick Brown, on his father’s Facebook page: “So sorry to post the very sad news of my father’s passing tonight,” the post reads. “He died peacefully and was surrounded by his family and loved so much by us and so many others.”

The actor was best known as Rush Sanders, the father of Ian Ziering’s Steve Sanders, on Beverly Hills, 90210; Don Craig on Days of Our Lives; and CC Capwell on Santa Barbara. Allan’s breakout role was on General Hospital in 1963. He also appeared on Lassie as Ranger Scott Turner during that time. In 1971, he joined the cast of Day of Our Lives, where he remained on the show for over a decade before he moved over to Santa Barbara in 1986 and remained on the show until 1993. Following his Santa Barbara role, he was cast in Beverly Hills, 90210.

CBS Television

40

Angie Douthit

Teen Mom OG star Mackenzie McKee’s mother passed away on December 9 after battling brain cancer for several years.

“On Monday, December 9 at 11:37pm, Angie finished her race,” read a post from Angie’s Instagram page on Tuesday, December 10. “Her last days were spent lovingly surrounded by family and friends as they prayed, sang, and shared funny Angie stories.”

“In nearly two years, she never missed her daily post…tomorrow she will. But this is where you pick up the baton and run like she did mighty warrior,” continued the post. “You can choose this day to be like Angie and use your social media engagements to make a difference rather than disaster, to spread love and not hate, and to always be kind. We know many people around the world read these posts so drop your city and country name in the comments so we can see where you are!”

Douthit’s cancer was first mentioned in January 2018. McKee posted to twitter that the doctors found three masses on her brain and numerous blood clots. Angie continued to share her story on Teen Mom OG where she revealed in mid-2019 that the cancer had spread to her bones and other organs.

Mackenzie McKee/Instagram

41

Caroll Spinney

The original puppeteer behind Sesame Street‘s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, Caroll Spinney, passed away on December 8 after battling dystonia. He was 85. “Caroll was an artistic genius whose kind and loving view of the world helped shape and define Sesame Street from its earliest days in 1969 through five decades, and his legacy here at Sesame Workshop and in the cultural firmament will be unending,” Seasame Workshop’s statement said.

“His enormous talent and outsized heart were perfectly suited to playing the larger-than-life yellow bird who brought joy to generations of children and countless fans of all ages around the world, and his lovably cantankerous grouch gave us all permission to be cranky once in a while,” the statement added.

Spinney was with Sesame Street since 1969 and continued to play as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch until 2018. The puppeteer earned five Daytime Emmy Awards during his time on the show. Sesame Street co-founder Joan Ganz Cooney also had some sentimental words for her longtime colleague and friend after learning about his passing, “Caroll Spinney’s contributions to ‘Sesame Street’ are countless. He not only gave us Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, he gave so much of himself as well. We at Sesame Workshop mourn his passing and feel an immense gratitude for all he has given to ‘Sesame Street’ and to children around the world.”

Spinney is survived by his second wife, Debra, along with his children and grandchildren from his first marriage.

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