In memoriam: Remembering the
celebrities we lost this year
BY GINA VIVINETTO
They made us laugh — and cry — with their performances in movies and television. They inspired us with their music. They left us enthralled as we watched them on the basketball court, on the Broadway stage and in concert halls.
The feminist icon of the Supreme Court whose trailblazing career inspired two recent Hollywood films. The quick-witted longtime host of “Jeopardy!” The grinning rock guitarist who dazzled fans with each solo. The talented Hollywood actor who brought a Black superhero to life. The NBA legend who soared, as if by magic, toward the hoop.
Let’s take a look at just some of the beloved actors, musicians, athletes and other stars we lost in 2020.
Kobe Bryant 1978 — 2020
NBA legend Kobe Bryant won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1996, Bryant, who nicknamed himself "Black Mamba," signed with the league as a teen right out of high school, changing the way the NBA groomed its youngest stars. A beloved athlete all over the world, Bryant won an Oscar in 2018 for "Dear Basketball," an animated short film about his life. He died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and several other passengers. He was 41.
Eddie Van Halen 1955 — 2020
Rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen thrilled music fans with his bravado solos and virtuoso playing. The Amsterdam-born musician, along with his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen, was the co-founder of the classic rock band Van Halen, which scored a string of hits in the 1980s, including "Jump," "Panama" and "Hot for Teacher." The same decade, Eddie Van Halen performed a blistering guitar solo on Michael Jackson's 1983 hit "Beat It." Eddie Van Halen survived a bout with tongue cancer in the early 2000s. In 2019, reports surfaced that he was being treated for throat cancer. His son and Van Halen bandmate, Wolfgang Van Halen, announced on social media that his father died Oct. 6 at age 65 after a "long and arduous battle with cancer."
Helen Reddy 1941 — 2020
Helen Reddy was best known as the voice behind the 1971 feminist anthem "I Am Woman," which shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart the following year. During her prolific career, the Australian-born singer scored several more hits, including "I Don’t Know How To Love Him" from "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Ain’t No Way To Treat a Lady," "Delta Daw," "Angie Baby" and "You and Me Against the World." She died Sept. 29 at age 78.
Chadwick Boseman 1976 — 2020
Before wowing theatergoers around the globe with his nuanced portrayal of the heroic T'Challa in Marvel's 2018 film "Black Panther," Boseman had already earned raves for a series of dramatic performances as historical Black figures, including James Brown ("Get On Up"), Thurgood Marshall ("Marshall") and Jackie Robinson ("42"). He followed up "Black Panther" by playing a 1920s blues musician in Netflix's film adaptation of August Wilson’s "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom," which premieres in December 2020. Boseman privately battled stage III colon cancer for four years after being diagnosed in 2016. He died of the disease Aug. 28 at age 43.
Sean Connery 1930 — 2020
Sean Connery famously portrayed fictional spy James Bond in seven movies between 1962 and 1983. The Scottish actor starred in plenty of other notable films, including "Marnie" (1964), "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974), "The Man Who Would Be King" (1975), "Highlander" (1986), "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989), "The Hunt for Red October" (1990), "Dragonheart" (1996), "The Rock" (1996) and "Finding Forrester" (2000). He earned an Oscar for best supporting actor in 1988 for his role as an Irish-American cop in "The Untouchables." Connery died Oct. 31 at age 90.
Olivia de Havilland 1916 — 2020
Acting legend Olivia de Havilland was one of the last remaining stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. Forever known for her role as sweet but determined Melanie in the 1939 epic historical romance "Gone with the Wind," de Havilland went on to win Academy Awards for 1946's "To Each His Own" and 1950's "The Heiress." But it was her Oscar-nominated 1948 role as a mental patient in the groundbreaking film "The Snake Pit" that was considered by many to be her finest performance. Speaking about her life to the Independent in 2009, de Havilland said, "I feel not happy, not contented, but something else. Just grateful for having lived and having done so many things that I wanted to do and have also had so much meaning for other people." She died in her sleep at home in Paris at age 104 on July 26.
Kenny Rogers 1938 — 2020
Country music legend Kenny Rogers scored more than 20 No. 1 country hits throughout his seven-decade career, including two — "Lady" and the Dolly Parton duet "Islands in the Stream" — that also reached the top of the pop charts. Because of his crossover success, the Houston-born performer was one of the first country music stars to sell out concert arenas. Rogers' popularity also extended to acting. He starred in a string of TV movies based on "The Gambler" and other hit songs of his in the 1970s and '80s. He died March 20 at his home from natural causes under hospice care. He was 81.
Charley Pride 1934 — 2020
Born a sharecropper’s son in Sledge, Mississippi, Charley Pride grew up to become country music's first Black superstar. Pride moved to Nashville in 1963 after stints in the U.S. Army and big-league baseball, and scored a 1967 country Top 10 hit with "Just Between You and Me." He went on to score 29 No. 1 hits on the country chart, including "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" and "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone." At Nov. 11's CMA Awards, Pride accepted the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award and sang "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" with Jimmie Allen. It was to be his final performance. Pride died Dec. 12 of COVID-19 complications. He was 86.
John Prine 1946 — 2020
With his raspy voice and poignant lyrics, country-folk musician John Prine was championed by his fellow artists Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson and Bonnie Raitt. The one-time mail carrier wrote his way into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and received a posthumous 2020 Grammy Award for lifetime achievement. Prine underwent cancer surgery in 1998 to remove a tumor in his neck identified as squamous cell cancer, and in 2013, he had part of one lung removed to treat lung cancer. He died April 7 from complications related to COVID-19 at age 73.
Justin Townes Earle 1982 — 2020
Alt-country singer-songwriter Justin Townes won the admiration of critics for his sensitive lyrics and deft guitar playing. The son of musician Steve Earle, the Nashville-born musician won an award from the Americana Music Association for new and emerging artist of the year in 2009. Two years later, the association deemed his song "Harlem River Blues" the song of the year. Justin Townes Earle had been candid about his struggles with addiction, which began when he was an adolescent. He died Aug. 20 at age 38 of an accidental drug overdose.
Charlie Daniels 1936 — 2020
Country music star Charlie Daniels is best known for the sizzling fiddle-drenched hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," which won the Charlie Daniels Band a Grammy award for best country vocal performance by a duo or group in 1979. The band also won the Country Music Association's instrumental group of the year in 1979 and 1980. The Country Music Hall of Famer also recorded critically acclaimed gospel and bluegrass music during his long career. Daniels died July 6 of a hemorrhagic stroke. He was 83
Joe Diffie 1958 — 2020
Joe Diffie was one of the most successful country music stars of 1990s, scoring more than a dozen Top 10 hits, including "Pickup Man," "Third Rock from the Sun," "Bigger Than the Beatles" and "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)." The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native died March 29 of complications from the coronavirus. He was 61.
Cady Groves 1989 — 2020
Singer-songwriter Cady Groves was best known for the singles "This Little Girl," "Love Actually," "Forget You," "Dreams" and "Oil and Water." She was born in Emporia, Kansas, and was living in Nashville and reportedly working on new music when she died May 2 at age 30. Months later, the Davidson County Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville revealed that Groves died of complications from chronic ethanol abuse.
Wilford Brimley 1934 — 2020
Wilford Brimley's bushy mustache and folksy charm made him a staple in movies, TV shows and commercials. During the Salt Lake City native's long Hollywood career, he was a regular on CBS's hit 1970s series "The Waltons" and later starred on NBC's 1980s family drama "Our House." Brimley's big-screen credits include "Cocoon," "The Natural" and "The Firm." Brimley was also known for his work as a celebrity spokesperson, peddling Quaker Oats and also warning America about the dangers of diabetes for the American Diabetes Association. He died Aug. 1 after being sick for two months with a kidney ailment. He was 85.
Adam Schlesinger 1967 — 2020
Adam Schlesinger was a critically acclaimed musician recognized for his work in the indie rock band Fountains of Wayne and as an Emmy-winning songwriter for TV’s "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." An EGOT contender, Schlesinger was nominated for Oscars, Tonys, Grammys and Emmys and won the latter two awards. He died April 1 as a result of coronavirus complications. He was 52.
Bill Withers 1938 — 2020
Bill Withers's soulful voice lent gravitas to his R&B and pop hits "Lean on Me" (1972), "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971) and "Just the Two of Us" (1981). The singer-songwriter won three Grammy Awards and was nominated for six more. Withers was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. He died March 30 at age 81 of heart complications.
Little Richard 1932 — 2020
A rock 'n' pioneer, Little Richard wowed generations of fans with his raucous piano playing, manic yelps, and gender-bending style. Born Richard Penniman, the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer mixed blues, gospel music and his own unique sound to score a 1955 hit with the innuendo-packed "Tutti Frutti" with its exuberant "a-wop-bop-a-loo-mop-a-lop-bam-boom" shoutout. That was followed by more hits, including "Long Tall Sally," "Lucille" and "Good Golly Miss Molly." He died May 9 of bone cancer at age 87.
Hugh Downs 1921 — 2020
Veteran TV journalist Hugh Downs was a mainstay on TV for decades, anchoring the TODAY show from 1962 until 1971 and hosting or co-hosting ABC's "20/20" from 1978 until his retirement in 1999. In a 2012 interview, Downs shared how he’d like to be remembered, saying, "I would like it if people remembered me as being fair and enjoying what I did and being honest with the audience." Downs died July 1 at age 99.
David Lander 1947 — 2020
David Lander made a generation giggle playing goofy greaser Squiggy alongside sitcom sidekick Lenny, played Michael McKean, from 1976 to 1982 on the ABC sitcom "Laverne & Shirley." The comedy duo reprised their roles for he 1979 Steven Spielberg comedy "1941," and the 1980 comedy "Used Cars." Lander went on to make guest appearances in dozens of other TV shows. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1984. He died of complications of the disease on Dec. 4 at age 73.
B. Smith 1949 — 2020
Trailblazing model B. Smith became the first African American woman to grace the cover of Mademoiselle in July 1976, and was featured on 15 magazine covers during her career. She later made her mark as chef, cookbook author and restaurateur before gaining legions of new fans in 1997 as the host of the nationally syndicated TV show "B. Smith With Style." In 2013, Smith spoke candidly about her diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.. She used her final years to help encourage more research on Alzheimer's for people of color. Smith died Feb. 22 at age 70.
Conchata Ferrell 1943 — 2020
Conchata Ferrell charmed fans as the no-nonsense housekeeper Roberta on the hit CBS comedy "Two and a Half Men," a role that earned her two of her three Emmy nominations. Her co-star Charlie Sheen honored Ferrell after her death, calling her "An absolute sweetheart, a consummate pro, a genuine friend." She died Oct. 12 at age 77 of complications following a cardiac arrest.
Lynn Cohen 1933 — 2020
Veteran TV and film actor Lynn Cohen was best known for her role as Miranda's surly Eastern European housekeeper Magda on the hit HBO series "Sex and the City" and in the show's subsequent feature films. Her "SATC" co-star Cynthia Nixon honored Cohen in a tweet after her death, writing, "Many people knew & loved Lynn Cohen as Miranda’s stalwart Polish nanny Magda. To me she was that & so much more — an involved citizen, a true friend & a great actress in so many different roles." Cohen died Feb. 14 at age 86.
Ja'Net Dubois
Ja'Net Dubois charmed TV audiences as the sassy and stylish Willona Woods on the CBS sitcom "Good Times." The multitalented star also famously sang and co-wrote "The Jeffersons" theme song "Movin' On Up." During her long career, Dubois appeared on dozens of other hit TV shows, including "Sanford & Son," "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "The Wayans Bros.," which featured her in a recurring role. She scored two Emmy wins for her voice-over work as Mrs. Avery on the animated series "The PJ’s." Her "Good Times" co-star Janet Jackson honored her after her death, writing, "I saw first hand how she broke stereotypes and changed the landscape for Black women in entertainment." Dubois died Feb. 17. Though her family said she was 74 when she died, pubic records list varying birth years for the actress.
Richard Herd 1932 — 2020
A veteran character actor, Richard Herd was best known for his role as Mr. Wilhelm, George Costanza's inept supervisor with the New York Yankees, on the NBC sitcom "Seinfeld." He also starred in the 1983 NBC miniseries "V" and its 1984 sequel, "V: The Final Battle." Herd died May 26 at age 87 of complications from cancer.
Carl Reiner 1922 — 2020
Carl Reiner brought TV hilarity as the creator of hit 1960s sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show." He first found fame in 1950 as Sid Caesar's sidekick on the TV variety show "Your Show of Shows," and later teamed up with Mel Brooks on the bestselling "2000 Year Old Man" records. He went on to direct several hit Hollywood comedies, including 1979's "The Jerk." The Bronx-born star was remembered by his Hollywood director son, Rob Reiner, who wrote, "As I write this my heart is hurting. He was my guiding light." He died June 29 at age 98.
Kelly Preston 1962 — 2020
Kelly Preston was best known for appearing in the movies "Twins" and "Jerry Maguire" as well as for being the wife of Hollywood superstar John Travolta, with whom she shared three children. In a statement announcing her death, Preston's family called her "a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched." She died July 12 at age 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer.
Naya Rivera 1987 — 2020
Naya Rivera found fame playing singing cheerleader Santana Lopez from 2009 until 2015 on the hit FOX series "Glee." She made her acting debut as a 4-year-old on the 1991 CBS sitcom "The Royal Family," later making guest appearances on other shows including "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Family Matters." Rivera died July 8 at age 33 by drowning while swimming in a lake near a pontoon boat she rented with her 4-year-old son, Josey. Rivera was honored after her death by her "Glee" co-stars, including Chris Colfer, who wrote, "Her brilliance and humor were unmatched. Her beauty and talent were otherworldly. She spoke truth to power with poise and fearlessness."
Peter Green 1946 — 2020
A founding member of Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green was considered by many critics to be the best of the British blues guitarists of the 1960s. Blues legend B.B. King once said Green "has the sweetest tone I ever heard. He was the only one who gave me the cold sweats." The London-born musician wrote several of the band's early singles, including "Albatross," "Oh Well" and "Black Magic Woman," but his career was cut short by psychedelic drug use and mental illness. By 1971, Green left Fleetwood Mac. The band retooled its lineup, with new members Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joining original drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, to score global superstardom. Green died July 25 at age 73.
Diana Rigg 1938 — 2020
Diana Rigg found stardom as the clever catsuit-clad spy Emma Peel on the British cult series "The Avengers" in the 1960s, for which she earned two of her Emmy nominations. Decades later, she won a new generation of admirers — and three more Emmy nominations —playing the wicked Lady Olenna Tyrell on HBO's "Game of Thrones." Rigg's daughter Rachael Stirling told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor "spent her last months joyfully reflecting on her extraordinary life, full of love, laughter and a deep pride in her profession." Rigg died Sept. 10 at age 82.
Malik B. 1972 — 2020
Rapper Malik. B. was a founding member of the The Roots and helped the hip-hop act achieve early critical and popular success. He left the group shortly after it scored mainstream success with the breakthrough 1999 album "Things Fall Apart," which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard album chart and won a Grammy award for the single "You Got Me," featuring Erykah Badu and Eve. The artist, born Malik Smart Abdul-Basit, later released two solo studio albums, and retuned to join The Roots on the 2006 album "Game Theory" and the 2008 album "Rising Down." He died July 29 at age 47 of unspecified causes.
Benjamin Keough 1992 — 2020
The son of Lisa Marie Presley and grandson of rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley, Benjamin Keough kept a low profile during his young life, though Presley fans noted his remarkable resemblance to the King of Rock 'n' Roll. "He was at the Opry and was the quiet storm behind the stage!" Keough's mother told CMT in 2012. "Everybody turned around and looked when he was over there. Everybody was grabbing him for a photo because it is just uncanny. Sometimes I am overwhelmed when I look at him." Keough died by suicide on July 12 at age 27.
Johnny Nash 1940 — 2020
Johnny Nash is best known for his 1972 single "I Can See Clearly Now," which reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Texan-born pop and reggae star got his start singing as a child in the choir at Progressive New Hope Baptist Church in Houston, and made his music debut in 1957 with the single "A Teenager Sings the Blues." Nash later co-founded, with Danny Sims, the record label JAD Records, where he worked with reggae icons Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. He died Oct. 6 at age 80.
Nikki McKibbin 1978 — 2020
Nikki McKibbin wowed viewers on season one of "American Idol," placing in the final three alongside champion Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini. She later opened up about her substance abuse issues on the VH1 reality shows "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" in 2008 and "Sober House" in 2009. Guarini honored McKibbin after her death, calling her "a fiery, funny lady who could sing the Hell out of a rock song with the same kind of ease and command she lovingly used to cut you with her twangy Southern wit." She died on Nov. 1 at age 42 after suffering an aneurysm.
Kirk Douglas 1916 — 2020
One of the big screen's most beloved tough guys, Kirk Douglas became a Hollywood legend starring in action epics like "Spartacus"and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." Douglas bravely and publicly fought his way back from a severe stroke in 1996. His son, Oscar winner Michael Douglas, honored the star after his death, writing,"Kirk's life was well lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet." He died Feb. 5 at age 103.
Max Von Sydow 1929 — 2020
Swedish-born Max von Sydow's long acting career included many collaborations with filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, including 1957's "The Seventh Seal." He also played Father Lankester Merrin in the 1973 horror film "The Exorcist" and the villainous Ming the Merciless in the 1980 campy cult flick "Flash Gordon." He was nominated for Oscars for both 1989’s "Pelle the Conqueror" and 2011's "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close." Von Sydow most recently starred as Lor San Tekka in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and as Three-Eyed Rave on HBO’s "Game of Thrones." He died March 8 at age 90.
Fred Willard 1933 — 2020
Funnyman Fred Willard often collaborated with filmmaker Christoper Guest, starring in Guest's quirky mockumentaries "Best in Show," "Waiting for Guffman" and "For Your Consideration." He also appeared alongside Guest in Rob Reiner's classic mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap." During his more than 50-year career, the prolific actor made frequent guest appearances on TV sitcoms, including an an Emmy-nominated turn on "Modern Family. He most recently starred as as Steve Carrell's dad in the Netflix series "Space Force." Willard died May 15 at age 86.
Ken Osmond 1943 — 2020
Ken Osmond shot to fame as a teen playing sneaky troublemaker Eddie Haskell on "Leave it to Beaver" from 1957 to 1963. He went on to work as an actor in TV and films until 1970, when he joined the Los Angeles Police Department. In 1980, Osmond was injured in a shooting. He was later placed on disability and retired from the force in 1988. He died May 18 at age 76 after suffering a cardiopulmonary arrest.
Jerry Stiller 1927 — 2020
Comedy legend Jerry Stiller made viewers laugh playing the highly volatile Frank Costanza on the hit NBC sitcom "Seinfeld." The Emmy-nominated funnyman struck TV gold again playing Arthur Spooner, the father of Leah Remini’s character, Carrie, on the hit sitcom "The King of Queens. " Stiller, father of actor and director Ben Stiller, first found fame in the 1950s as a comedy duo with his wife, Anne Meara. Stiller died May 11 at age 92.
James Lipton 1926 — 2020
James Lipton charmed television viewers as the creator and host of the long-running series "Inside the Actors Studio," where he probed the minds of Hollywood's most respected actors and directors. After a stint in the Air Force as a young man, the Detroit native moved to New York City to study acting himself, later landing jobs on Broadway and on the daytime soap "Guiding Light." He debuted "Inside the Actors Studio" in 1994 as a collaboration with the Actors Studio Drama School, and retired as the show's host in 2018. Lipton died March 2 of bladder cancer. He was 93.
Lyle Waggoner 1935 — 2020
Lyle Waggoner's leading-man good looks helped him land the job of announcer and then comic performer on "The Carol Burnett Show" from 1967 to 1974. "It was Carl Reiner’s suggestion that we get a hunk of an announcer," Burnett told the Los Angeles Times in 2015. "Lyle walked in, and it was practically no contest. He was funny and didn’t take himself seriously." In 1973, the 6'4" actor was the centerfold model for the first issue of Playgirl magazine. He went on to play Steve Trevor opposite Lynda Carter on ABC's 1975 superhero series "Wonder Woman." When the show moved to CBS in 1977 (retitled "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman"), Waggoner played Steve Trevor Jr., his previous character’s son. He died March 17 at age 84 after a long battle with cancer.
Lynn Shelton 1965 — 2020
A prolific TV director and filmmaker, Lynn Shelton directed episodes of "Little Fires Everywhere," The Mindy Project," "New Girl," "Glow," "Mad Men" and "Fresh off the Boat." She died May 16 from a previously unidentified blood disorder. She was 54 years old.
Mary Pat Gleason 1950 — 2020
Character actor Mary Pat Gleason had a long career in movies and television, but is perhaps best known for her role as Mary, the A.A. member who shared strange personal anecdotes, on the CBS sitcom "Mom." Her impressive film resume includes appearances in "Basic Instinct," "The Crucible," "Intolerable Cruelty" and the 2004 rom-com "A Cinderella Story," in which she played waitress Eleanor to Regina King's restaurant manager Rhonda. She died of cancer on June 2 at age 70.
Regis Philbin 1931 — 2020
Television host Regis Philbin chatted with America every morning for decades as the widely known co-host of the nationally syndicated talk show "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee," alongside co-host Kathy Lee Gifford. Later, the popular daytime series, which debuted in 1988, became "Live! with Regis and Kelly" when Kelly Ripa filled Gifford's spot in 2001. Philbin stepped down from the morning show in 2011. Bronx-born Philbin also hosted the ABC game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," on and off for a decade after its premiere in 1999. Philbin died July 24 at age 88.
Nick Cordero 1978 — 2020
Broadway actor and singer Nick Cordero was nominated for a Tony award for his performance as Cheech, the tap-dancing, theater-loving gangster in the musical adaptation of Woody Allen’s 1994 film "Bullets Over Broadway." The Canadian-born star went to the hospital on March 30 believing he had pneumonia, but later tested positive for COVID-19. Cordero's wife, Amanda Kloots, kept fans updated about his condition, which grew increasingly severe, on social media. Cordero died July 5 from coronavirus complications. He was 41.
David Prowse 1935 — 2020
David Prowse, a former award-winning body builder, played the villainous Darth Vader in the first "Star Wars" trilogy. The towering English-born actor also appeared in other Hollywood films, most notably Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange." Prowse's "Star Wars" co-star Mark Hamill paid tribute to him after his death, describing him as "a kind man & much more than Darth Vader." He died Nov. 28 after a brief illness at age 85.
Alex Trebek 1940 — 2020
The longtime host of "Jeopardy," Trebek got his start behind the podium in 1984 and hosted more than 8,000 episodes of the game show, breaking a record set by Bob Barker, who hosted "The Price is Right" for 6,828 episodes between 1972 and 2007. The beloved Canadian-born TV personality earned six Emmy awards for outstanding game show host, and an additional lifetime achievement award. In March 2019, Trebek revealed that he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer in a video shared by the game show. He died of the disease Nov. 8 at age 80.
Joel Schumacher 1939 — 2020
Hollywood director Joel Schumacher helmed some of the biggest blockbusters of the 1980s and '90s, including "St. Elmo's Fire," "The Lost Boys," "The Client," "A Time to Kill." He also added his unique spin to the "Batman" franchise directing "Batman Forever" and the less successful "Batman and Robin." Schumacher later directed the 2004 Hollywood adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "The Phantom of the Opera," which received three Academy Award nominations. He died June 22 at age 80 after a yearlong cancer battle.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg 1933 — 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the feminist icon of the Supreme Court, will be remembered for both her trailblazing law career that advocated for women's rights and her powerful dissenting opinions as the most senior member of the court's liberal wing. Only the second woman to serve on SCOTUS, Ginbsurg's fans affectionately dubbed her the Notorious R.B.G.. In 2018, she was featured in two Hollywood films — an inspiring 2018 documentary film about her life, which became a surprise box office hit, and a biopic, "On the Basis of Sex," that focused on her arguing her first sex discrimination court case. Ginsburg died Sept. 18 due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was 87.