ENID, OK - The year is not over and we continue to lose popular singers, actors and many other people of fame. 2016 has been one of those years that seems to be taking the lives of so many of our favorite icons. The sudden death of George Michael reminded me of just how many celebs we've lost this year.
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Here's a list of many of the most famous deaths this year but it does not even include all of the musicians, actors, athletes, politicians and icons, many gone much to young.
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Pat Harrington Jr., Actor – Schneider on “One Day at a Time” – age 86
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Kitty Kallen, Singer – Big Band Era, biggest hit was ‘”Little Things Mean a Lot” – age 94
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David Bowie, Musician – (2) time Grammy winner influenced music and culture for four generations – age 69
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Angus Scrimm, Actor – the Tall Man in “Phantasm” (1979) and four sequels – age 89
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David Margulies, Actor – the Mayor in Ghost Busters I and II (1984 & 1989)- age – 78
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Alan Rickman, Actor – Hans Gruber in ‘Die Hard’ and Severus Snape in ‘Harry Potter’ – age 69
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René Angélil, Singer / Manager – husband and manager of Celine Dion – age 73
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Dan Haggerty, Actor – The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams – age 74
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Glen Frey, Singer / Songwriter – founded The Eagles “Take It Easy”, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” – age 67
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Abe Vigoda, Actor – Detective Fish on Barney Miller (1975-’77) – age 94
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Paul Kantner, Singer / Songwriter – co-founder of The Jefferson Airplane – age 74
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Mike Minor, Actor – Steve Eliot on “Petticoat Junction” – age 75
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Bob Elliot, Comedian – one-half of the comedy duo of Bob and Ray – age 92
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Maurice White, Musician / songwriter – founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire – age 74
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Joe Alaskey, Voice Actor – Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety – age 63
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Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court Justice – appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1986 – age 79
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George Gaynes, Actor – Commandant Eric Lassard on the Police Academy series – age 98
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Harper Lee, Novelist – Pulitzer Prize for fiction (1961) for novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” – age 89
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Sonny James, Country Music Singer/Songwriter – the first teenage country crossover #1 single “Young Love” – age 87
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Lennie Baker, Musician – 1950s music tribute group and TV show Sha-Na-Na (1969-2000) – age 69
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Tony Burton, Actor – boxing trainer to Apollo Creed and later Rocky in six “Rocky” movies – age 78
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George Kennedy, Actor – Academy Award for “Cool Hand Luke” also in all the “Airport” movies – age 91
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Gil Hill, Police Commander/Actor – Inspector Todd in three “Beverly Hills Cop” movies – age 84
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Joey Martin Feek, C&W Muscian – husband and wife country duo “Joey + Rory” – age 40
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Nancy Reagan, First Lady of the U.S.(1981-1989) Husband, 40th President Ronald Reagan – age 94
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Sir George Martin, Producer for the “Beatles” albums, known as “The Fifth Beatle” – age 90
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Robert Horton, Actor – Flint McCullough in “Wagon Train” (1957-1962) – age 91
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Keith Emerson, Musician / keyboardist – created Emerson, Lake & Palmer rock group – age 71
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Adrienne Corri, Actress – Mrs. Alexander in A Clockwork Orange (1971) – age 85
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Frank Sinatra Jr., Singer – son of Frank Sinatra and a talented singer – age 72
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Larry Drake, Actor – Benny Stulwicz on L.A. Law (1987-1994) – age 66
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Joe Santos, Actor – Lieutenant Dennis Becker on The Rockford Files (1974-1980) – age 84
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Peter Brown, Actor – Deputy Johnny McKay in “Lawman” (1958-62) and Chad Cooper in “Laredo” (1965-67) – age 80
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Joe Garagiola, Baseball Player – MLB catcher and announcer and television host – age 90
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Ken Howard, Actor – Coach Reeves on TV show “White Shadow” & President of SAG-AFTRA – age 71
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Earl Hamner, Jr., Writer/Producer – created “The Waltons” TV show – age 92
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Garry Shandling, Comedian – “Garry Shandling Show” and “The Larry Sanders” Show – age 66
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James Noble, Actor – Governor Gatling on “Benson” (1979-1986) – age 94
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Patty Duke, Actress – played identical cousins in “The Patty Duke Show” (1963-1966) – age 69
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Merle Haggard, C&W singer/songwriter – “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive”, “Okie From Muskogee” – age 79
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Doris Roberts, Actress – Marie Barone on “Everybody Loves Raymond” (1996–2005) – age 90
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Prince, Musician – flamboyant on stage, seven Grammy Awards, “Purple Rain” – age 57
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Billy Paul, Singer – Grammy Award for “Me and Mrs. Jones” (1972) – age 81
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William Schallert, Actor – Martin Lane (Patty’s Father) on The Patty Duke Show – age 93
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Morley Safer, Journalist – CBS News for 52 years (1964-2016), 60 Minutes for 46 years (1970-2016) won 12 Emmy Awards – age 84
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Alan Young, Actor – Wilbur Post on “Mr. Ed” (1961-66) – age 96
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Burt Kwouk, Actor – Cato in the “Pink Panther” films – age 85
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Mike Barnett, Singer – co-founder of the singing group “The Lettermen” – age 89
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Muhammad Ali, Professional Boxer – (formerly Cassius Clay) three time heavyweight champion (1964, 1974, and 1978), proclaimed “The Greatest” – age 74
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Gordie Howe, Hockey player – Detroit Red Wings for 25 seasons, 23-time NHL All-Star – age 88
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Michu Meszaros, Actor / Circus Performer – was the man in the ALF costume (ALF TV Show 1986-1990) – age 76
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Ronnie Claire Edwards, Actress – Corabeth Walton Godsey on The Waltons (1972-81) – age 83
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Ron Lester, Actor – Billy Bob in movie “Varsity Blues” – age 45
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Anton Yelchin, Actor – Pavel Chekov in three Star Trek movies (2009-16) – age 27
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Mack Rice, Song writer – “Mustang Sally” & “Respect Yourself” – age 82
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Scotty Moore, Guitarist – backed Elvis in early recordings and pioneered new styles – age 84
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Buddy Ryan, NFL Football Coach – while defensive coordinator for Chicago Bears invented the 46 defense – age 85
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Pat Summitt, NCAA Basketball Coach – University of Tennessee Woman’s team (1974 – 2012) the winningest NCAA coach ever – age 64
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Noel Neill, Actress – Lois Lane in “Adventures of Superman” (1952-58) – age 95
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Danny Smythe, Musician – founding member of the Box Tops (Devilles) “The Letter” (1967) – age 67
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Garry Marshall, Writer/Producer/Actor – created “Happy Days”, “Mork & Mindy”, “Laverne & Shirley” – age 81
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Jerry Doyle, Actor – Michael Garibaldi in “Babylon 5” (1994–98) – age 60
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Gloria DeHaven, Actress/Singer – “So This Is Paris”, “The Girl Rush” – age 91
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David Huddleston, Actor – Character actor “Santa Claus: The Movie” – age 85
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Ricci Martin, Entertainer – son of Dean Martin – age 62
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Kenny Baker, Actor – played R2-D2 in the Star Wars franchise also played Paploo, the Ewok – age 81
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Jack Riley, Actor – Elliot Carlin on “The Bob Newhart Show” – age 80
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Steven Hill, Actor – District Attorney Adam Schiff on “Law & Order” (1990-2000) – age 94
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Marvin Kaplan, Actor – telephone worker Henry on the TV show “Alice” – age 89
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Gene Wilder, Actor – Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Frankenstein, Willy Wonka – age 83
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Hugh O’Brian, Actor – starred in TV series “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp” (1955–1961) – age 91
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Charmian Carr, Actress – Liesl Von Trapp (eldest daughter) in The Sound of Music – age 73
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Bill Nunn, Actor – Robbie Robertson in Spider-Man film trilogy – age 63
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Jean Shepard, C&W Singer/Songwriter – Pioneered C&W for women, “A Dear John Letter” – 82
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José Fernández, Baseball player – starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins and Cuban refugee – age 24
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Arnold Palmer, Golfer – One of the greatest golfers ever, did more to popularize the sport than any other golfer – age 87
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Shimon Peres, Statesman – President of Israel (2007-’14), Prime Minister twice, held various offices from 1959-2007 – age 93
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Bobby Vee, Singer – “Take Good Care of My Baby”, “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” – age 73
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Kay Starr, Singer – “Wheel of Fortune” and “The Rock And Roll Waltz” – age 94
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Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States 1993-2001 nominated by President Bill Clinton – age 78
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Leonard Cohen, Poet / Songwriter – “Suzanne”, “Hallelujah” and “Bird on the Wire” – age 82
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Robert Vaughn, Actor – Napoleon Solo in “The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-’68) – age 83
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Leon Russell, Musician / Songwriter – “A Song for You”, “Tight Rope” and “This Masquerade” – age 74
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Gwen Ifill, Journalist – “Washington Week” and “PBS NewsHour” on PBS – age 61
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Holly Dunn, C&W Singer / Songwriter – “Are You Ever Gonna Love Me” and “You Really Had Me Going” – age 59
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Florence Henderson, Actress / Singer – Carol Brady on “The Brady Bunch” (1969 to 1974) – age 82
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Fidel Castro, Dictator – Prime Minister then President of Cuba from 1959-2008 then gave same powers to his brother – age 90
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Ron Glass, Actor – Det. Ron Harris on “Barney Miller” (1975-1982) – age 71
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Jim Delligatti, McDonald’s franchisee – created The Big Mac – age 98
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Grant Tinker, Television executive – Chairman and CEO of NBC (1981-’86) married to Mary Tyler Moore (1962-’81) – age 90
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Don Calfa, Actor – Paulie the hitman in “Weekend at Bernie’s” (1989) – age 76
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Greg Lake, Musician – founding member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer “Lucky Man” – age 69
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Joseph Mascolo, Actor – Stefano DiMera on “The Days of Our Lives” (1982-’85) & (1993-2001) – age 87
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John Glenn, WWII & Korean War Fighter Pilot. Marine Colonel. NASA Astronaut. Senator from Ohio (1974-99). Married for 73 yrs – first American to orbit the Earth (1962) – age 95
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Alan Thicke, Actor – Jason Seaver, the father on “Growing Pains” (1985-’92) – age 69
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Bernard Fox, Actor – Dr. Bombay in “Bewitched” and Colonel Crittendon in “Hogan’s Heroes” – age 89
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Craig Sager, Sports Reporter – best known for covering the NBA and for his loud suits – age 65
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Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hungarian Actress and Socialite – Moulin Rouge (1952), married nine times to mostly wealthy men – age 99
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Gordie Tapp, Entertainer – wrote and acted on “Hee Haw” – age 94
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George Michael, Singer/Songwriter – #1 hits; “Faith”, “I Want Your Sex”, “Careless Whisper” – age 53
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Carrie Fisher, Actress - best known as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films - age 60
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Richard Adams, English Novelist - wrote the classic "Watership Down" - age 96
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Debbie Reynolds, Singer-Actress - mother of Carrie Fisher, star of the 1952 classic “Singin’ in the Rain” and 1964’s “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” - age 84
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