As the 2011 year comes to a close, I’d like to take a look back at the actors, actresses. musicians and others who have passed on this year. There is no doubt that these celebrities have left their mark on our society and in their respective fields and I’d like to say thank you to them for their contributions.
Pete Postlethwaite- Actor (
The Town, Clash of the Titans, Inception)
Gerry Rafferty- Singer/Songwriter ('Stuck in the Middle With You,' 'Baker Street')
Peter Yates- Director (
Bullitt, Breaking Away)
John Dye- Actor (
Best of the Best, Touched by an Angel)
Jack LaLanne- Fitness Guru (Juice Tiger)
Dwaye McDuffie- Comic Book Writer/Co-Founder Milestone Media (
Damage Control)
Mike Starr- Musician (Alice in Chains)
Nate Dogg- Musician (Collaborated with Warren G, Eminem, Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre, among others)
Michael Gough- Actor (Alfred in
Batman, Batman Returns)
Warren Christopher- Secretary of State 1993-1997
Elisabeth Sladen- Actress (
Dr. Who)
Sidney Lumet- Director (
12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network)
Elizabeth Taylor- Actress (
Lassie Come Home, Cleopatra, Giant)
Dana Wynter- Actress (
Invasion of the Body Snatchers)
Jackie Cooper- Actor (
Superman)
Yvetter Vickers- Playboy Model/B-Movie Actress (
Attack of the 50-Foot Woman, attack of the Giant Leeches)
Gerard Smith- Musician (TV on the Radio)
Dolores Fuller- Actress (
Glen or Glenda, Muse to cross-dressing writer/director Ed Wood)
Carlos Trillo- Argentine Comic Book Writer ('La Grande Amaque')
Robert Stempel- Auto Industry (Helped develop front-wheel drive cars, catalytic converters & battery powered cars)
John Walker- Musician (Walker Brothers)
Arthur Laurents- Writer Director (
Gypsy, West Side Story, The Way We Were)
"Macho Man" Randy Savage- Wrestler
Harmon Killebrew- Baseball (11-Time All Star for the Twins)
M-Bone- Rapper (Cali Swag District)
Ryan Dunn- Entertainer (
Jackass)
Clarence "Big Man" Clemons- Musician (Saxaphonist, E Street Band)
Larry "Wild Man" Fischer- Musician
Jeff Conaway- Actor (
Grease, Celebrity Rehab)
Cliff Robertson- Actor (Uncle Ben in
Spider-Man)
Bubba Smith- Athlete/Actor (
Police Academy, NFL player)
Amy Winhehouse- Musician
Betty Ford- Widow of President Gerald Ford, Founded Betty Ford Clinic
Peter Falk- Actor (
Columbo)
Charles Napier- Actor (Character actor,
Rambo, The Blues Brothers)
Arch West- Creator of Doritos
Frances Bay- Actress (
Happy Gilmore, Seinfeld)
DJ Medhi- Musician (Collaborated with Daft Punk and others)
Andy Whitfield- Actor (
Spartacus: Blood and Sand)
Dan Wheldon- Indy Car driver
Mikey Welsh- Musician (Former Weezer bassist)
Al Davis- Sports Figure (Former AFL Commissioner, instrumental in merger with NFL)
Steve Jobs- Entrepeneur (Apple Computers Chairman and co-founder)
Heavy D- Musician (Rapper)
"Smokin'" Joe Frazier- Athlete (Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion)
Andy Rooney- News Anchor (
60 Minutes)
Bil Keane- Artist (Creator of
Family Circus)
Anne McCaffery- Author (
' Dragonriders of Pern')
Ken Russell- Director (
Women in Love, Alfred States)
Patrice Oneal - Comedian/Actor (
The Office, Chappelle Show)
Harry Morgan- Actor (
M*A*S*H, Dragnet)
All of these actors, athletes, musicians, politicians and artists have left behind a legacy that we have all been able to enjoy in some form or another and I think Daniel Tosh says it best "...and for that, we thank you." May they all rest in peace.