Richard Ramirez

(1960-2013)

SAN QUENTIN (CBS/AP) — Richard Ramirez, the notorious serial killer known as the Night Stalker, died early Friday in a hospital, a state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation official said.

Ramirez, 53, “passed away this morning,” San Quentin State Prison spokesman Lt. Sam Robinson told The Associated Press. No other details were released.

Ramirez had been taken from death row to Marin General Hospital.

Ramirez was convicted of 13 murders that terrorized Southern California in 1984 and 1985, and was sentenced to death.

[ READ MORE: ‘Night Stalker’ Serial Killer Richard Ramirez Dies At Marin Hospital ]

(credit: San Quentin State Prison/Wikimedia Commons)

Joey Covington

(1945-2013)

PALM SPRINGS (CBS/AP) — Former Jefferson Airplane drummer Joey Covington died in a Palm Springs car crash on Thursday, June 6th.

A Riverside County coroner’s report says the 67-year-old Palm Springs resident wasn’t wearing a seat belt when his car hit a retaining wall at about 5 p.m. Tuesday. He died at the scene.

The Palm Springs Desert Sun says police don’t believe alcohol or drugs were involved.

[ READ MORE: Former Jefferson Airplane Drummer Joey Covington Killed In Car Crash ]

(credit: Jericho Rose, Inc./joeycovington.com)

Esther Williams

(1921-2013)

BEVERLY HILLS (CBSLA.com/AP) — Former American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star Esther Williams died Thursday, June 6th at the age of 91.

Williams, who had been declining in health, died in her sleep in Beverly Hills, according to her publicist, Harlan Boll.

Williams became one of Hollywood’s biggest moneymakers in the 1940s and ’50s, appearing in spectacular “Aqua Musicals” that capitalized on her wholesome beauty and perfect figure, film critic and historian Leonard Maltin told KNX 1070.

[ READ MORE: Actress, Swimmer Esther Williams Dies At 91 ]

(credit: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

Jean Stapleton

(1923-2013)

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) — Jean Stapleton, the stage-trained character actress who played Archie Bunker’s far better half, the sweetly naive Edith, in TV’s groundbreaking 1970s comedy “All in the Family,” died, Friday, May 31st. She was 90.

[ READ MORE: Bay Area Mourns The Death Of Jean Stapleton, TV’s Edith Bunker ]

(credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Jack Vance

(1916-2013)

OAKLAND (CBS SF/AP) - Jack Vance, an award-winning mystery, fantasy and science fiction author who wrote more than 60 books, died on Sunday, May 26th. He was 96.

[ READ MORE: Author Jack Vance Dies At Home In Oakland ]

(credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Gene Burns

(1940-2013)

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS) – Long-time Bay Area talk-show host Gene Burns died, Saturday May 25th. Burns was best known in San Francisco for his political and social commentary talk show, “The Gene Burns Program.” In 2012, Burns wrote on his blog that he was recovering from a stroke that resulted in a language disorder. He was 72-years-old.

[ READ MORE: Legendary Bay Area Talk-Show Host Gene Burns Dies At 72 ]

(credit: KPIX 5)

Ray Manzarek

(1939-2013)

Ray Manzarek, the founding keyboardist of The Doors, died of bile duct cancer in Germany, according to a post on the group’s official Facebook page. Manzarek was 74.

Manzarek died Monday, May 20th at 12:31 p.m. at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany surrounded by his wife, Dorothy, and his brothers, Rick and James.

Manzarek was best known for his work with the Doors after a chance encounter on Venice Beach with poet Jim Morrison, according to the Facebook post. The controversial rock group sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

[ READ MORE: The Doors Founding Keyboardist Ray Manzarek Dies At 74 ]

(Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)

Dr. Joyce Brothers

(1927-2013)

(CBSSF/AP) | Popular psychologist, columnist, and television and film personality Joyce Brothers, died. She was 85. Longtime publicist Sanford Brokaw says Brothers died Monday, May 13th in New York City. She was a pioneer of the television advice show.

Her celebrity took off after she entered a television quiz show called The $64,000 Question. She became the only woman to ever win the show's top prize.

(credit: Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

Jeanne Cooper

(1928-2013)

HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 22: Actress Jeanne Cooper arrives at the 33rd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards held at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland on April 22, 2006, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Ray Harryhausen

(1920-2013)

(CBSSF/AP) | Ray Harryhausen, a master of movie special effects whose work was beloved by fantasy film lovers and influenced industry heavyweights such as George Lucas and Peter Jackson, has died. He was 92.

Biographer and longtime friend Tony Dalton confirmed that Harryhausen died Tuesday at London’s Hammersmith Hospital.

Dalton said it was too soon to tell the exact cause of death, but described Harryhausen’s passing as “very gentle and very quiet.”

Harryhausen’s films included “The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms,” “Valley of the Gwangi” and “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” and the original “Clash of The Titans” in 1981.

[ READ MORE: Bay Area Filmmakers Pay Tribute To Visual Effects Legend Ray Harryhausen ]

(credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Jeff Hanneman

(1964-2013)

(LIVE 105) | Slayer's legendary guitarist & founding member, Jeff Hanneman died, Thursday, May 2nd of liver failure. “Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11:00am this morning near his Southern California home. He was 49. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry.

[ READ MORE: Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman Passes Away At 49 ]

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Chris Kelly (pictured left)

(1978-2013)

ATLANTA, GA (CBS NEWS) | Chris Kelly, half of the 1990s kid rap duo Kris Kross who made one of the decade's most memorable songs with the frenetic "Jump," died, May 1st according to authorities. He was 34.

Investigator Betty Honey of the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office said the 34-year-old Kelly was pronounced dead around 5 p.m. Wednesday at the south campus of the Atlanta Medical Center.

Kelly, known as "Mac Daddy," and Chris Smith, known as "Daddy Mac," were introduced to the music world in 1992 by music producer and rapper Jermaine Dupri after he discovered the pair in an Atlanta mall. The duo wore their clothes backwards as a gimmick, but they won over fans with their raps.

Their first, and by far most successful song, was "Jump." The hit, off their multiplatinum 1992 debut album "Totally Krossed Out," featured the two trading versus and rapping the refrain, the song's title. The duo had surprising maturity in their rap delivery, though the song was written by Dupri. It would become a No. 1 smash in the United States and globally, and one of the most popular of that year.

[ READ MORE: Kriss Kross Member Chris Kelly Dies At 34 ]

(credit: Last.FM)

Jerry Graham

(1934-2013)

SANTA CRUZ (KPIX 5) — Longtime Bay Area television and radio personality Jerry Graham died on Monday, a day before his 79th birthday.

Graham was born with the name Gerald Granowsky in Indianapolis in 1934. He graduated from Indiana University, with a degree in radio and television production.

Graham hosted the show “Pacific Currents” on KPIX 5 back in the 1970s. He was perhaps best known for hosting “Bay Area Backroads” on KRON-TV, which featured the area’s hidden gems.

[ READ MORE: Former KPIX Personality, Broadcaster Jerry Graham Dies At 78 ]

(credit: Jefferson Graham)

George Jones

(1931-2013)

NASHVILLE (CBS DALLAS-FW/AP) | George Jones, the peerless, hard-living country singer who recorded dozens of hits about good times and regrets and peaked with the heartbreaking classic “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” died. He was 81.

Jones died Friday, April 26th at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, according to his publicist Kirt Webster. He had been hospitalized with fever and irregular blood pressure, forcing him to postpone two shows.

[ READ MORE: George Jones, Country Superstar, Dies At 81 ]

(credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Allan Arbus

(1918-2013)

(CBS NEWS/AP) - Alan Arbus (pictured, left), the actor and photographer who played psychiatrist Major Sidney Freedman on the classic TV series "M*A*S*H," has died at the age of 95.

He died Friday at his home in Los Angeles, The New York Times reports. His daughter, Amy Arbus, confirmed his death to the paper.

In addition to his role on "M*A*S*H," Arbus also appeared on shows like "Matlock," "Taxi," "The Odd Couple," "Starsky & Hutch," "Judging Amy," and "NYPD Blue." His final on-screen appearance came in 2000, on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

[ READ MORE: Allan Arbus, "M*A*S*H" Actor Who Played Psychiatrist, Dies At 95 ]

(Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images)

Richie Havens

(1941-2013)

Richie Havens, who sang and strummed for a sea of people at Woodstock, has died of a heart attack Monday, his family said in a statement. He was 72.

Havens, a folk singer and guitarist, was the first performer at the three-day 1969 Woodstock Festival. He returned to the site during the 40th anniversary in 2009.

"Everything in my life, and so many others, is attached to that train," he said in a 2009 interview with The Associated Press.

[ READ MORE: Woodstock Singer Richie Havens, 72, Dies of Heart Attack ]




(credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images)

Chrissy Amphlett

(1959-2013)

Chrissy Amphlett, the raunchy lead singer of the Australian rock band Divinyls whose hit "I Touch Myself" brought her international fame in the early 1990s, died at her home in New York city on Sunday, April 21st. She was 53 years old.

"Christine Joy Amphlett succumbed to the effects of breast cancer and multiple sclerosis, diseases she vigorously fought with exceptional bravery and dignity," her musician husband Charley Drayton said in a statement.

"Chrissy's light burns so very brightly. Hers was a life of passion and creativity. She always lived it to the fullest. With her force of character and vocal strength, she paved the way for strong, sexy, outspoken women," he said.

Amphlett was an icon of Australian music renowned for her distinctive singing voice as well as edgy stage performances clad in school uniforms and fishnet stockings.

[ READ MORE: 'I Touch Myself' Singer Chrissy Amphlett Dead At 53 ]

(credit: Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images)

Richard LeParmentier

(1946-2013)

AUSTIN, Texas (CBS NEWS) - Character actor Richard LeParmentier, who as a young Death Star commander learned the hard way that Darth Vader brooks no disrespect, died Tuesday, April 16th. He was 66.

LeParmentier died suddenly Tuesday morning in Austin while visiting his children, said his publicist, Derek Maki. Maki said he does not know the cause.

[ READ MORE: "Star Wars" Actor Richard LeParmentier, Victim of Vader, Dies ]

<credit: CBS NEWS/Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Pat Summerall

(1930-2013)

DALLAS, TX (KCBS/AP) - Pat Summerall, the deep-voiced NFL player-turned-broadcaster who spent half of his four decades calling sports famously paired with John Madden, died Tuesday. He was 82.

Susie Wiles, Summerall’s daughter, said her father died in Dallas.

“He was an extraordinary man and a wonderful father,” Wiles said. “I know he will be greatly missed.”

Summerall was part of network television broadcasts for 16 Super Bowls. His last championship game was for Fox on Feb. 3, 2002, also his last game with longtime partner Madden. The popular duo worked together for 21 years, moving to Fox in 1994 after years as the lead team for CBS.br />
[ READ MORE: Pat Summerall, Madden’s Longtime NFL Broadcast Partner, Dead At 82 ]

(credit: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Frank Bank

(1942-2013)

LOS ANGELES (CBS NEWS) - Frank Bank, who played oafish troublemaker Lumpy on the sitcom "Leave It to Beaver," has died. He was 71.

A spokesman for the Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles says Bank died Saturday, April 13th. No other details were provided.

Bank played Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the popular sitcom, which ran from 1957 to 1963.

Lumpy served as the series' loveable bully. He usually palled around with Wally Cleaver and often pushed around young "Beaver" Cleaver.

[ READ MORE: "Leave It to Beaver" Actor Frank Bank Dies ]

(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

Chi Cheng

(1970-2013)

(RADIO.COM) – Despite recent signs of improvement in his condition, Deftones bassist Chi Cheng passed away unexpectedly early Saturday morning, April 13th.

The 42-year old Sacramento-based musician had been in a coma-like semi conscious state since a 2008 car accident left him badly injured. Not wearing his sat belt, Cheng was ejected from the vehicle during a high-speed head-on collision.

According to a statement posted to oneloveforchi.com, Cheng’s mother (Mom J) said his heart had stopped.

[ READ MORE: Sacramento Band ‘Deftones’ Bassist, Chi Cheng Dead At 42 ]

(Photo by Gary Livingston/Newsmakers)

Jonathan Winters

(1925-2013)

(CBS SF/AP) - Comedian Jonathan Winters, whose breakneck improvisations inspired Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and many others, has died at age 87.



Longtime family friend Joe Petro III says the Ohio native died Thursday evening at his Montecito, Calif., home of natural causes.[ READ MORE: Groundbreaking Improv Comic Jonathan Winters Dies ]

(credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

Annette Funicello

(1942-2013)

BAKERSFIELD, CA (CBS SF/AP) - Annette Funicello, who became a child star as a cute-as-a-button Mouseketeer on "The Mickey Mouse Club" in the 1950s, then teamed up with Frankie Avalon on a string of '60s fun-in-the-sun movies with names like "Beach Party Bingo" and "Bikini Beach," died Monday, April 8th. She was 70.

She died at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield of complications from multiple sclerosis, the Walt Disney Co. said.

Funicello stunned fans and friends in 1992 with the announcement about her ailment. Yet she was cheerful and upbeat, grappling with the disease with a courage that contrasted with her lightweight teen image of old.

"She will forever hold a place in our hearts as one of Walt Disney's brightest stars, delighting an entire generation of baby boomers with her jubilant personality and endless talent," said Bob Iger, Disney chairman and CEO.

[ READ MORE: Beloved Actress, Disney Mouseketeer Annette Funicello Dead At 70 ]

(credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Margaret Thatcher

(1925-2013)

LONDON (CBS NEWS) - Margaret Thatcher, the first female British prime minister referred to by both ardent supporters and critics as "The Iron Lady," died Monday, April 8th. She was 87.

Her former spokesman Tim Bell said she suffered from a stroke.

Tough and proud of it, Thatcher was the steeliest British Prime Minister of modern times.

Born Margaret Roberts in 1925, she became a chemist, a proud housewife, and a Conservative member of Parliament, which, she thought, was as far as she would get.

"I don't think we will see a woman prime minister in my lifetime," Thatcher once said.[ READ MORE: Former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Dies At 87 ]

(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Les Blank

(1935-2013)

BERKELEY (CBS SF/AP) - Les Blank, an acclaimed documentary maker who focused his camera on cultural corners ranging from blues music, to garlic lovers, to shoe-eating artists, died Sunday, April 7th at age 77, his son said.

Blank died at his home in Berkeley nearly a year after being diagnosed with bladder cancer, Harrod Blank said.

Blank's 42 films earned him a lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute.

[ READ MORE: Acclaimed Documentary Maker Les Blank Dies At 77 ]

(credit: Petr Novák, Wikipedia)

Roger Ebert

(1942-2013)

CHICAGO (CBS SF/AP) – Roger Ebert, the most famous and most popular film reviewer of his time who become the first journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize for movie criticism and, on his long-running TV program, wielded the nation’s most influential thumb, died Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. He was 70.

Ebert had been a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967. He had announced on his blog Wednesday that he was undergoing radiation treatment after a recurrence of cancer.

[ READ MORE: Famed Movie Critic Roger Ebert Dies ]

(credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Jane Henson

(1934-2013)

GREENWICH, Conn. (CBSNewYork) — Puppeteer and philanthropist Jane Henson, the widow of the legendary Jim Henson, died Tuesday, April 2nd at her home in Connecticut.

Mrs. Henson, who was the co-creator of the iconic Muppets, passed away following a long battle with cancer, according to a news release from the Jim Henson Foundation. She was 78.

[ READ MORE: Jane Henson, Muppets Co-Creator And Widow Of Jim Henson, Dies At 78 ]

(credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Phil Ramone

(1941-2013)

NEW YORK (CBS NEWS) - Phil Ramone, the masterful Grammy Award-winning engineer, arranger and producer whose platinum touch included recordings with Ray Charles, Billy Joel and Paul Simon, died Saturday, March 30th of complications stemming from heart surgery, his family said. He was 79.

Ramone, who lived in Wilton, Conn., had elective surgery on Feb. 27 to prevent an aortic aneurysm, son Matt Ramone said. He later developed pneumonia and died Saturday morning at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the son said.

[ READ MORE: Phil Ramone, Grammy-winning Producer, Dead At 79 ]

(Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

Richard Griffiths

(1947-2013)

(CBS NEWS) | Richard Griffiths, the versatile British actor who played the boy wizard's unsympathetic Uncle Vernon in the "Harry Potter" movies, died Friday, March 29th. He was 65.

Agent Simon Beresford announced Friday that Griffiths died a day earlier of complications following heart surgery at University Hospital in Coventry, central England.

He paid tribute to Griffiths as "a remarkable man and one of our greatest and best-loved actors."

Griffiths appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows, but will be most widely remembered as a pair of contrasting uncles - the hero's grudging Muggle guardian in the "Harry Potter" series, and flamboyant Uncle Monty in 1980s cult classic "Withnail and I."

"I was proud to say I knew him," said "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe.

[ READ MORE: Richard Griffiths, 'Harry Potter' Star, Dies At 65 ]

(Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Joe Weider

(1920-2013)

Harry Reems

(1947-2012)

(CBS NEWS) - Harry Reems, star of the 1972 porn film crossover hit "Deep Throat," has died at age 65. Reems, who was born Herbert Streicher, died Tuesday afternoon, March 20th at the veterans' hospital in Salt Lake City. Reems' wife confirmed his death Wednesday.

The cause of death hasn't been determined, but Reems was suffering from multiple medical issues, including pancreatic cancer.

[ READ MORE: 'Deep Throat" Star Harry Reems Dies At 65 ]

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Jack Greene

(1930-2013)

(CBS NEWS) | Jack Greene, a longtime Grand Ole Opry star whose song "There Goes My Everything" won single of the year from the Country Music Association in 1967, died on March 15th. He was 83.

The song showed off his deep voice, made him a star and earned him the CMA's male vocalist of the year award in 1967. Greene performed regularly on the Grand Ole Opry beginning that year.

[ READ MORE: Country Singer Jack Greene Dies In Nashville ]

(credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Clive Burr

(1957-2013)

LONDON (CBSSF/AP) - Clive Burr, former drummer with heavy metal icons Iron Maiden, died. He was 56 and had been suffering from multiple sclerosis.

The band says on its official website that Burr died peacefully in his sleep at his London home Tuesday, March 12th.

Band founder and bass player Steve Harris said Burr "was a wonderful person and an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days when we were starting out."

Born in London in 1957, Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979 and played on the band's first three albums - "Iron Maiden," "Killers" and "The Number of the Beast." He contributed to the band's distinctive hard-driving sound on classic songs like "Run for the Hills," but left in 1982, before Iron Maiden became 1980s mega-stars.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

(credit: Last.FM)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

(1954-2012)

(CBS NEWS) - Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela for the last 14 years, died Tuesday, March 5th following his treatment for cancer. His death was announced by the country's vice president Nicolas Maduro, ending a months-long period of speculation surrounding his health -- a period often marked by secrecy and rumor. He was 58.

The popular but controversial leader had won his fourth presidential term in 2012 but was never sworn in due to his failing health.

The career military officer-turned-politician won friends and enemies as he launched poverty-fighting programs, nationalized key industries and forged alliances with other leftist leaders in Latin America -- particularly the Castro brothers in Cuba.

[ READ MORE: Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan Leader & U.S. Foil, Dies ]

(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Bobby Rogers

(1940-2012)

Bobby Rogers, a founding member of Motown group The Miracles and a songwriting collaborator with Smokey Robinson, died Sunday, March 3rd at his suburban Detroit home. He was 73.

Motown Museum board member Allen Rawls said Rogers died about 6 a.m. in Southfield. Rogers had been ill for several years.



Rogers formed the group in 1956 with cousin Claudette Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White and Robinson. Their hits included "Shop Around," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "The Tracks of My Tears," "Going to a Go-Go," "I Second That Emotion" and "The Tears of a Clown."

[ READ MORE: Motown Legend Bobby Rogers Dies At 73 ]

(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Bonnie Franklin

(1944-2012)

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Actress and humanitarian Bonnie Franklin has died due to complications from pancreatic cancer. She was 69.

Franklin, who died Friday, March 1st, surrounded by her family and friends, was best known for her role as Ann Romano on the longest-running hit CBS television series “One Day at a Time”.

[ READ MORE: Actress, Humanitarian Bonnie Franklin Dies At 69 ]

(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Van Cliburn

(1934-2012)

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Famed pianist Van Cliburn passed away Wednesday, February 27th at the age of 78. The musician had been suffering from bone cancer since August, and was being cared for at his home in Fort Worth.

According to his publicist, Mary Lou Falcone, the musician died peacefully in his home, surrounded by loved ones. “It always comes as a shock,” she told KRLD. “He’s been ill, diagnosed with bone cancer at the end of August, and valiantly fought and lost the battle.”

[ READ MORE: Famed Pianist Van Cliburn Dies At 78 ]

(credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

C. Everett Koop

(1916-2012)

C. Everett Koop, who raised the profile of the surgeon general by riveting America's attention on the then-emerging disease known as AIDS and by railing against smoking, has died in New Hampshire at age 96.

An assistant at Koop's Dartmouth institute, Susan Wills, said he died Monday, February 25th in Hanover, where he had a home. She didn't disclose his cause of death.

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Zheng Cao

(1966-2012)

After a long battle with cancer, renowned mezzo-soprano singer, Zheng Cao passed away in San Francisco at the age of 46. Cao died Thursday night, February 21st. She regularly appeared with the San Francisco Opera as well as other leading companies around the world.

Recently Cao performed in the title role of the world premiere of "The Bonesetter's Daughter," and made special appearances at Cal Performances, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Cao leaves behind her husband, Dr. David Larson, her parents and a sister.

Pictured here, Zheng Cao performs the USA National Anthem during the Opening Ceremony for The Presidents Cup at Harding Park Golf Course on October 7, 2009 in San Francisco, California

(Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Jerry Buss

(1934-2012)

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Dr. Jerry Buss, whose ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers transformed the team into one of the most prestigious franchises in professional sports, died on Monday. He was 80 years old.

Buss had been hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for “an undisclosed form of cancer,” CBS2 News had previously confirmed, but the Associated Press reported the immediate cause of death was kidney failure.

[ READ MORE: LA Lakers Owner Jerry Buss Dead At 80 ]

(Photo by Rich Pilling/NBAE via Getty Images)

Mindy McCready

(1975-2012)

(CBS-LA) | Troubled country singer Mindy McCready has reportedly committed suicide. McCready was 37. She reportedly shot herself.

Malinda Gayle “Mindy” McCready was known for her debut album (1996′s “Ten Thousand Angels”) and a stint on “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.”

While McCready hadn’t charted in some time, she was a fixture in the tabloid TV and magazine world.

[ READ MORE: Troubled Country Crooner Mindy McCready Reportedly Commits Suicide ]

(Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images)

Stuart Freeborn

(1914-2013)

LONDON, ENGLAND (CBS NEWS) – Stuart Freeborn, a pioneering movie makeup artist behind creatures such as Yoda and Chewbacca in the “Star Wars” films, has died. He was 98.

San Francisco-based, Lucasfilm confirmed that Freeborn had passed away, “leaving a legacy of unforgettable contributions.”

“Star Wars” director George Lucas said in a statement that Freeborn was “already a makeup legend” when he started working on “Star Wars.”

“He brought with him not only decades of experience, but boundless creative energy,” Lucas said.

[ READ MORE: Stuart Freeborn, ‘Star Wars’ Makeup Artist, Dies ]

(credit: Lucasfilm)

Former Mayor Ed Koch

(1924-2013)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch has died. He was 88.

Spokesman George Arzt said Koch died at 2 a.m. at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital of congestive heart failure. The funeral will be Monday at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan.

Koch was moved to intensive care on Thursday after being admitted to the hospital on Monday with shortness of breath. He had just been released from the hospital last week after being treated for water in his lungs and legs.

[ READ MORE: Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch Dead At 88 ]

(Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images)

Patty Andrews

(1918-2012)

LOS ANGELES (CBS LA) | Patty Andrews, the last survivor of the three singing Andrews sisters, died in Los Angeles at age 94.

Andrews died Wednesday, January 30th at her home in suburban Northridge of natural causes, said family spokesman Alan Eichler.

Andrews Sisters hits such as the rollicking “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” and the poignant “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” captured the home-front spirit of World War II.

[ READ MORE: Patty Andrews Of ‘The Andrews Sisters’ Dies At 94 ]

The Andrew Sister, pictured from the top: LaVerne, Patty and Maxene (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner

(1937-2012)

Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, frontman for the hit-making funk music band the Ohio Players, has died. He was 69 years old. The Ohio Players, known for their brassy dance music and flamboyant outfits, topped music charts in the 1970s with hits such as "Love Rollercoaster," "Fire," "Skin Tight" and "Funky Worm."

On Monday morning, a spokeswoman for Newcomer Funeral Home in the Dayton, Ohio, suburb of Kettering said that the family hadn't scheduled any public services. There was also a posting about his death on his current band's Facebook page.

[ READ MORE: Ohio Players frontman Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner Dead At 69 ]

(credit: CBS News/Facebook)

Stan Musial

(1920-2012)

ST. LOUIS (CBS NEWS) - Stan Musial, the St. Louis Cardinals star with the corkscrew stance and too many batting records to fit on his Hall of Fame plaque, died Saturday January 19th. He was 92.

Stan the Man was so revered in St. Louis that he has two statues outside Busch Stadium — one just wouldn't do him justice. He was one of baseball's greatest hitters, shining in the mold of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio even without the bright lights of the big city.

[ READ MORE: Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial dies at age 92 ]

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Earl Weaver

(1930-2012)

BALTIMORE (CBS NEWS) - Earl Weaver, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who won 1,480 games with the Baltimore Orioles seemingly was engaged in nearly as many arguments with umpires, died. He was 82.

Dick Gordon, Weaver's marketing agent, said Saturday that Weaver died while on a Caribbean cruise sponsored by the Orioles. Gordon said Weaver's wife told him that Weaver went back to his cabin after dinner and began choking between 10:30 and 11 Friday night, January 18th. Gordon said a cause of death has not been determined.

[ READ MORE: Fiery Orioles manager Earl Weaver dead at 82 ]

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Pauline Philips aka 'Abigail Van Buren' / 'Dear Abby'

(1918-2013)

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) — Pauline Friedman Phillips, who under the name of Abigail Van Buren, wrote the long-running “Dear Abby” advice column that was followed by millions of newspaper readers throughout the world, died. She was 94.

Publicist Gene Willis of Universal Uclick said Phillips died Wednesday, January 16th after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

[ READ MORE: SF Chronicle’s ‘Dear Abby’ Creator Dies At 94 ]

Conrad Bain

(1923-2013)

LIVERMORE (CBS/AP) — Conrad Bain, who starred as the kindly white adoptive father of two young African-American brothers in the TV sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes,” died.

His daughter says Bain died Monday, January 15th of natural causes in his hometown of Livermore, Calif. He was 89.

[ READ MORE: ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Dad Conrad Bain Dies In Livermore Home ]

(Photo by Robert Mora/Getty Images)

Ned Wertimer

(1923-2013)

LOS ANGELES (CBS SF/AP) - Ned Wertimer, who played Ralph the Doorman on all 11 seasons of the CBS sitcom "The Jeffersons," has died.

Wertimer's manager Brad Lemack said Tuesday that the 89-year-old actor died at a Los Angeles-area nursing home on Jan. 2, following a November fall at his home in Burbank.

A native of Buffalo, N.Y., and a Navy pilot during World War II, Wertimer had one-off roles on dozens of TV shows from the early 1960s through the late 1980s, including "Car 54 Where Are You?" and "Mary Tyler Moore."

But he was best known by far as Ralph Hart, the uniformed, mustachioed doorman at the luxury apartment building on "The Jeffersons," the "All In the Family" spinoff that ran from 1975 to 1985.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

David R. Ellis

(1952-2013)

LOS ANGELES (CBS NEWS - David R. Ellis, the actor-turned-stuntman-turned-director of "Snakes on a Plane," has died. He was 60 years old.

Ellis' manager, David Gardner, confirmed the director's death Monday, January 7th and said Ellis' body was found in a hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ellis was in Johannesburg working on "Kite," a remake of the 1998 Japanese anime film that was to have starred "Snakes on a Plane" actor Samuel L. Jackson.

Gardner declined to provide additional details, and no cause of death has been released.

"So sad to hear of David R. Ellis passing!" Jackson tweeted on Monday. "So talented, so kind, such a Good Friend. He'll be missed. Gone too soon!"

[ READ MORE: "Snakes on a Plane" director David R. Ellis dies ]

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Huell Howser

(1945-2013)

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — Huell Howser, the homespun host of public television’s popular “California’s Gold,” has died at age 67.

A spokeswoman for KCET-Los Angeles says Howser died Sunday night, January 6th of natural causes.

[ READ MORE: ‘California’s Gold’ TV Host Huell Howser Dies ]

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Patti Page

(1927-2013)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. | Patti Page, whose "Tennessee Waltz" is one of the best-selling recordings ever, died Tuesday, January 1st. She was 85.

Page died on New Year's Day in Encinitas, Calif., her rep said in a statement sent to CBSNews.com

Page, who was to be honored by the Recording Academy in a pre-Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony on Feb. 9, was one of the top-selling female singers in history with more than 100 million record sales. She created a distinctive sound for the music industry in 1947 by overdubbing her own voice when she didn't have enough money to hire backup singers for the single, "Confess."

Page is survived by her son, Daniel O'Curran; daughter, Kathleen Ginnp; and sister, Peggy Layton.

[ READ MORE: Singer Patti Page Is Dead At Age 85 ]

Patti Page (credit: Last.FM)