Stars we lost in 2018

[IceWizard]

Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain, the chef, author, and host of CNN’s Parts Unknown, died June 8, at 61. “His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink, and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller,” CNN said in a statement confirming his death. “His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much.”




Jerry Maren

Maren, who was the last surviving Munchkin from the cast of The Wizard of Oz, died in early June at the age of 98. The actor appeared in TV bits on popular shows over the years including The Twilight Zone, Seinfeld, and Bewitched, but he is best remembered for his role as the central member of the Lollipop Guild in the 1939 Technicolor’s film’s Munchkinland sequence.




Frank Doubleday

Actor Frank Doubleday died May 30 from complications of esophageal cancer at age 73. Doubleday’s biggest roles came by way of director John Carpenter, starring in the 1976 thriller Assault on Precinct 13 and 1981 distoypia Escape From New York. His later credits include Broadcast News, L.A. Bounty and Dollman. He’s the father of actresses Kaitlin and Portia Doubleday.




Robert Mandan

Robert Mandan, the actor best known for his role as the adulterer Chester Tate on the ABC drama Soap, died April 29, 2018, at the age of 86. Mandan’s TV career included everything from Fantasy Island and The Love Boat to Three’s Company and The Facts of Life, but it was his Soap role that brought him fame. He played the knee-slapping part from 1977 to 1981.




Margot Kidder

The actress best known for portraying Lois Lane opposite Christoper Reeve’s Superman died Sunday, May 13 at the age of 69. Kidder starred in 1978 blockbuster Superman: The Movie and its three sequels. Her many other film credits included Brian De Palma’s 1973 thriller Sisters, 1975’s Robert Redford-starring The Great Waldo Pepper, and the horror classics 1974’s Black Christmas and 1979’s The Amityville Horror. The actress was also an outspoken advocate for mental health following a much publicized manic episode in 1996.




Paul Junger Witt

Producer Paul Junger Witt died from cancer on April 27 in Los Angeles. He was 77. Witt was a respected producer credits include The Partridge Family, The Golden Girls, Brian’s Song, and Dead Poet’s Society. Born in New York City and educated at the University of Virginia, Witt began his Hollywood career in the Columbia Pictures mailroom before going on to work for Danny Thomas Productions in 1973. Two years later, he and Thomas’ son Tony formed Witt/Thomas Productions that later became Witt/Thomas/Harris — a partnership that continues to exist today.




Verne Troyer

Verne Troyer, the actor best known for playing Mini-Me to Mike Myers’ Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers movies, died April 21 at age 49. A statement posted to his social media accounts remembered Troyer as “an extremely caring individual” who “wanted to make everyone smile, be happy, and laugh,” while also acknowledging that he struggled with “his own battles.” Myers said of his costar, “Verne was the consummate professional and a beacon of positivity for those of us who had the honor of working with him. It is a sad day, but I hope he is in a better place. He will be greatly missed.”




Avicii

The Swedish DJ behind hits including “Wake Me Up!” “Levels,” and “You Make Me,” died at age 28 on Friday, April 20. Born Tim Bergling, Avicii rose to international success as a DJ creating hits like “Levels,” “Wake Me Up,” and “Hey Brother.” He announced he would retire from touring in 2016, but continued to release new music like his most recent EP, Avīci (01), which hit number three on the Billboard Electronic Albums chart.

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Randy Scruggs

The country songwriter, guitarist, and producer died April 18 at the age of 64. Scruggs won multiple Grammy Awards and was named Musician of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards twice. He penned many celebrated country songs and played on countless albums, most notably Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken and John Hartford’s Aereo-Plain. His only solo album was 1998’s Crown of Jewels.




Barbara Bush

Barbara Bush, the beloved wife and mother of two former presidents, died April 17 at the age of 92. The former first lady and former President George H.W. Bush had the longest-lasting marriage in presidential history: 73 years. Barbara Bush championed many causes throughout her life, from homelessness to AIDS, but she was most known as an advocate for literacy. She founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and served as its honorary chairperson.




Harry Anderson

Night Court star Harry Anderson was found dead in his home April 16. He was 64. The actor was well known to audiences for his portrayal of Judge Harry Stone on nine seasons of Night Court and earned three Emmy nominations for his work on the show. He went on to play the titular character in Dave’s World, which was based on syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry, for four seasons until 1997. His other TV credits included the original It miniseries, Cheers, Son of the Beach, 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, and Comedy Bang! Bang!.




R. Lee Ermey

Actor R. Lee Ermey, best known for his role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, died April 15. He was 74. Ermey spent 11 years in the Marines before retiring and turning to an acting career. After taking some acting classes, one of Ermey’s first roles was playing a helicopter pilot in the 1979 classic Apocalypse Now. He eventually went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for his memorable performance as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in 1987’s Full Metal Jacket.




DuShon Monique Brown

Chicago Fire actress DuShon Monique Brown died March 23, at the age of 49. A longtime theater actor, Brown was best known to TV audiences for her portrayal of Connie, Chief Boden’s no-nonsense assistant on six seasons of Chicago Fire. Brown’s acting career also included guest spots on Prison Break, Empire, and Shameless.




Frank Avruch

Frank Avruch, who was a beloved fixture of 1960s children’s programming as Bozo the Clown, died March 20 of heart disease. In addition to his enduring legacy as Bozo the Clown, Avruch also served as a UNICEF ambassador, worked as a radio reporter, and appeared in the 1981 made-for-TV movie Summer Solstice.




Stephen Hawking

The famous theoretical physicist and cosmologist died at age 76 on March 14. Hawking is best known for his discoveries in relativity and black holes, which he explored in great detail in his 1988 best-seller A Brief History of Time. His life inspired the Oscar-winning film The Theory of Everything, and Hawking himself appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Simpsons, Futurama, and The Big Bang Theory.




Hubert de Givenchy

The legendary fashion designer died at the age of 91 on March 10. Givenchy was renowned as a designer, but he was best known for his collaborations with actress Audrey Hepburn who, in addition to owning many of his designs in her personal collection, wore his clothes in films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, and Funny Face. He dressed other notable celebrities including, Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The Givenchy fashion house still remains a popular choice for A-list Hollywood talent.

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