Notable celebrity and newsmaker deaths of 2023

Cale Yarborough, considered one of NASCAR's all-time greatest drivers and the first to win three consecutive Cup titles, died Dec. 31, 2023. He was 84. — Cale Yarborough

Chicago native Shecky Greene, the gifted comic and master improviser who became the consummate Las Vegas lounge headliner and was revered by his peers and live audiences as one of the greatest standup acts of his generation, died Dec. 31. He was 97. — Shecky Greene

Tom Wilkinson, the Oscar-nominated British actor known for his roles in “The Full Monty," “Michael Clayton” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” died Dec. 30. He was 75. — Tom Wilkinson

Joey Meyer, who played basketball at DePaul University and coached the Blue Demons to seven NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons, died Dec. 29. He was 74. — Joey Meyer

Tom Smothers, half of the Smothers Brothers comedy duo and the co-host of "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" which was one of the most socially conscious and groundbreaking television shows in the history of the medium, died Dec. 26. He was 86. — Tom Smothers

Lee Sun-kyun, a popular South Korean actor best known for his role in the Oscar-winning movie “Parasite,” was found dead in a car in Seoul on Dec. 26, authorities said, after weeks of an intense police investigation into his alleged drug use. He was 48. — Lee Sun-kyun

Mike Nussbaum, acknowledged by the Actor’s Equity union as the oldest professional actor in America and a dynamic and yet steadying influence in Chicago theater for decades, died at home on Dec. 23. He was 99. — Mike Nussbaum

Chicago-born Andre Braugher, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his roles on the series “Homicide: Life on The Street” and “Brooklyn 99,” died Dec. 11. He was 61. — Andre Braugher

Ryan O'Neal, the heartthrob actor who went from a TV soap opera to an Oscar-nominated role in "Love Story" and delivered a wry performance opposite his charismatic 9-year-old daughter Tatum in "Paper Moon," died Dec. 8. He was 82. — Ryan O'Neal

Norman Lear

Norman Lear, the writer, director and producer who revolutionized prime time television with such topical hits as “All in the Family” and “Maude” and propelled political and social turmoil into the once-insulated world of sitcoms, died Dec. 5. He was 101. (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Denny Laine, a British singer, songwriter and guitarist who performed in an early, pop-oriented version of the Moody Blues and was later Paul McCartney’s longtime sideman in the ex-Beatle’s solo band Wings, died Dec. 5. He was 79. — Denny Laine

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, died Dec. 1. She was 93. — Sandra Day O’Connor

Shane MacGowan, the singer-songwriter and frontman of “Celtic Punk” band The Pogues, best known for the Christmas ballad “Fairytale of New York,” died Nov. 30. He was 65. — Shane MacGowan

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the diplomat with the thick glasses and gravelly voice who dominated foreign policy as the United States extricated itself from Vietnam and broke down barriers with China, died Nov. 29. He was 100. — Henry Kissinger

Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, who helped Warren Buffett build an investment powerhouse, died Nov. 28. He was 99. — Charlie Munger

Willie Hernandez

Pitcher Willie Hernandez, the former Chicago Cub and three-time All-Star relief pitcher who won the 1984 Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards as part of the World Series champion Detroit Tigers, died Nov. 20. He was 69. (Uncredited/AP)

Saxophonist Mars Williams, a Franklin Park native whose saxophone sound expanded to fill the space it was in, whether a DIY hole-in-the-wall or a teeming arena concert with the Psychedelic Furs, died of a rare cancer on Nov. 20. He was 68. — Mars Williams

Former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Jimmy Carter during his one term as U.S. president and their four decades thereafter as global humanitarians, died Nov. 19. She was 96. — Rosalynn Carter

Astronaut Frank Borman, who commanded Apollo 8′s historic Christmas 1968 flight that circled the moon 10 times and paved the way for the lunar landing the next year, died Nov. 7. He was 95. — Frank Borman

Bob Knight, the brilliant and combustible coach who won three NCAA titles at Indiana and for years was the scowling face of college basketball, died on Nov. 1. He was 83. — Bob Knight

Matthew Perry, the Emmy-nominated actor who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series "Friends," died Oct. 28. He was 54. — Matthew Perry

Richard Moll, a character actor who found lasting fame as an eccentric but gentle giant bailiff on the original “Night Court” TV sitcom, died Oct. 26. He was 80. — Richard Moll

Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing Black actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective “Shaft” in several films beginning in the early 1970s, died Oct. 24. He was 81. — Richard Roundtree

Harry Porterfield

Harry Porterfield, a fixture on Chicago TV for more than 50 years as a reporter and news anchor at WBBM-Channel 2 and WLS-Channel 7, died Oct. 23, at the age of 95. Porterfield was believed to be the first Black weekday news anchor in Chicago TV history, and also was known for his regular feature, “Someone You Should Know,” in which he would profile sometimes-unsung community members. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)

Suzanne Somers, the effervescent blonde actor known for playing Chrissy Snow on the television show “Three’s Company,” as well as for her business endeavors, died Oct. 15. She was 76. — Suzanne Somers

Piper Laurie, the Oscar-nominated actor for the films “The Hustler,” “Carrie” and “Children of a Lesser God,” died Oct. 14. She was 91. — Piper Laurie

Nobel laureate Louise Glück, a poet of unblinking candor and perception who wove classical allusions, philosophical reveries, bittersweet memories and humorous asides into indelible portraits of a fallen and heartrending world, died Oct. 13. She was 80. — Louise Glück

Michael Chiarello, a chef known for his Italian-inspired Californian restaurants who won an Emmy Award for “Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello" on Food Network and appeared on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters,” died Oct. 6, due to an allergic reaction that resulted in anaphylactic shock. He was 61. — Michael Chiarello

Dick Butkus, a product of Chicago’s working-class South Side and the University of Illinois who became a fierce Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker for his hometown Bears before embarking on a modest but enduring entertainment career in Hollywood, died Oct. 5. He was 80. — Dick Butkus

Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Boston Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. The Red Sox announced his death in a statement on Oct. 1. He was 57. — Tim Wakefield

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a centrist Democrat and champion of liberal causes who was elected to the Senate in 1992 and broke gender barriers throughout her long career in local and national politics, died on Sept. 28 at her home in Washington, D.C. She was 90. — Dianne Feinstein

Michael Gambon, the Irish-born actor knighted for his illustrious career on the stage and screen and who went on to gain admiration from a new generation of moviegoers with his portrayal of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight “Harry Potter” films, died Sept. 27, 2023 following a bout of pneumonia. He was 82. — Michael Gambon

Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, who played 23 years for the Baltimore Orioles and whose deft glovework and folksy manner made him one of the most beloved and accomplished athletes in Baltimore history, died Sept. 26, 2023. He was 86. — Brooks Robinson

David McCallum, who became a teen heartthrob in the hit series "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." in the 1960s and was the eccentric medical examiner in the popular "NCIS" 40 years later, died Sept. 25, 2023. He was 90. — David McCallum

James Fulton Hoge Jr., the former editor of Chicago’s Sun-Times and the New York Daily News and a giant of 20th century journalism, died on Sept. 19 in a Manhattan hospital. He was 87. — James Hoge Jr.

Steve Harwell

Steve Harwell, co-founder and lead singer of Smash Mouth known for hits such as "Walkin' on the Sun," "Can't Get Enough of You" and "All Star," died Sept. 4, 2023 at the age of 56. The rock band's manager, Robert Hayes, confirmed Harwell's death due to liver failure. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Former U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson, a two-term Democratic governor of New Mexico who later was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and dedicated his post-political career to working to free Americans detained overseas, died Sept. 2, 2023. He was 75. — Bill Richardson

Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock playing alongside the Coral Reefer Band with the escapist Caribbean-flavored song “Margaritaville” and turned that celebration of loafing into an empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions, died Sept. 1, 2023. He was 76. — Jimmy Buffett

Egyptian businessman and Ritz hotel owner Mohamed Al Fayed, the former Harrods owner whose son Dodi was killed in a car crash with Princess Diana, died at age 94. His death was announced Sept. 1, 2023, by Fulham Football Club, which Al Fayed once owned. — Mohamed Al Fayed

Matt Rodriguez, a high-performing student who quickly rose through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department before becoming the first Latino superintendent, died Aug. 30, 2023. He was 87. — Matt Rodriguez

Joe Wurzelbacher, who was thrust into the political spotlight as “Joe the Plumber” after questioning Barack Obama about his economic policies during the 2008 presidential campaign, died Aug. 27, 2023 at the age of 49 after a long illness. — Joe Wurzelbacher (a.k.a. Joe the Plumber)

Bob Barker, the enduring, dapper game show host who became a household name over a half century of hosting “Truth or Consequences” and “The Price Is Right,” died Aug. 26, 2023. He was 99. — Bob Barker

Ron Cephas Jones, a veteran stage and screen actor who became best known and won two Emmy Awards for his role as a long-lost father on the NBC drama series “This Is Us,” died Aug. 19, 2023, a representative said. He was 66. — Ron Cephas Jones

Robert Swan, a fixture on local stages, movie screens and concert halls for decades, died Aug. 9, 2023 in his home in Rolling Prairie, Indiana. He was 78 years old. — Robert Swan

DJ Casper, the Chicago native best known for creating the hugely successful dance hit “Cha Cha Slide,” died Aug. 7, 2023. He was 58. — DJ Casper

Director William Friedkin, best known for his Oscar-winning “The French Connection” and blockbuster “The Exorcist,” died Aug. 7, 2023 in Los Angeles. He was 87. — William Friedkin

Angus Cloud, the actor who starred as the drug dealer Fezco "Fez" O'Neill on the HBO series "Euphoria," died July 31, 2023 at his family's home in Oakland, California. He was 25. No cause of death was given. — Angus Cloud

Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian whose character Pee-wee Herman became a cultural phenomenon through films and TV shows, died July 30, 2023 after a private bout of cancer. He was 70. — Paul Reubens

Victor Parra, a Chicago Spanish language disc jockey and the creative spark of “Mambo Express” on WBEZ-FM and WDCB-FM, died July 26, 2023 at the age of 87. Parra died of a lung infection aggravated by the recent Canada wildfires. — Victor Parra

Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles who added high harmonies to such favorites as “Take It Easy” and “The Best of My Love” and stepped out front for the waltz-time ballad “Take It to the Limit,” died July 26, 2023 of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 77. — Randy Meisner

Sinead O'Connor, the acclaimed Irish singer known for hits such as “Nothing Compares 2 U” and for shredding a photo of the pope while hosting “Saturday Night Live,” has died at the age of 56. It was announced July 26, 2023. — Sinead O'Connor

Rocky Wirtz, the team chairman who oversaw the revitalization of the Chicago Blackhawks from a laughingstock into a Stanley Cup power, died July 25, 2023. He was 70. — Rocky Wirtz

Johnny Lujack, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who led Notre Dame to three national championships in the 1940s, died in Florida July 25, 2023 following a brief illness. He was 98. — Johnny Lujack

Actress Inga Swenson, who played Gretchen the cook on the popular ‘80s sitcom “Benson,” died on July 23, 2023 in Los Angeles. Swenson died of natural causes, according to TMZ. She was 90. — Inga Swenson

Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died July 21, 2023. He was 96, just two weeks short of his birthday. — Tony Bennett

Jane Birkin, the British-born singer and actress famously known for her musical and romantic relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg, died July 16, 2023. She was 76. — Jane Birkin

Milan Kundera, whose dissident writings in communist Czechoslovakia transformed him into an exiled satirist of totalitarianism, died in Paris on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. He was 94. — Milan Kundera

Andrea Evans, who was best known for starring as troubled teenager Tina Lord on the soap opera One Life to Live and later as Patty Williams on The Young and the Restless, died July 9, 2023 from cancer. She was 66. — Andrea Evans

Coco Lee, a Hong Kong-born singer, who had a highly successful career in Asia and her English song “Do You Want My Love” charted at #4 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Breakouts chart in Dec. 1999., died on July 5, 2023. She was 48. — Coco Lee

Vince Tobin, who coached the Arizona Cardinals to their first playoff win in 51 years in 1998 and was defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears from 1986-92, died July 3, 2023. He was 79. — Vince Tobin

Christine King Farris

Christine King Farris, the last living sibling of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., died June 29, 2023. She was 95. For decades after her brother’s assassination in 1968, Farris worked along with his widow, Coretta Scott King, to preserve and promote his legacy. But unlike her high-profile sister-in-law, Farris’ activism — and grief — was often behind the scenes. (Annie Rice/AP)

Actor Julian Sands, who starred in several Oscar-nominated films in the late 1980s and '90s including “A Room With a View” and “Leaving Las Vegas,” was found dead on a Southern California mountain five months after he disappeared while hiking, authorities said on June 27, 2023. He was 65. — Julian Sands

Dick Biondi

Hall of Fame Chicago rock disc jockey and personality Richard “Dick” Biondi, who spent much of his storied 67-year career in Chicago on stations including WLS, WCFL, WMAQ, WBBM and WJMK, died June 26, 2023, WLS announced on Facebook. He was 90. (WLS-FM )

Tony- and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick, who with composer Jerry Bock made up the premier musical-theater songwriting duos of the 1950s and 1960s with shows such as "Fiddler on the Roof," "Fiorello!" and "The Apple Tree," has died. He was 99.

Known for his wry, subtle humor and deft wordplay, Harnick died in his sleep on June 23, 2023 in New York City of natural causes, said Sean Katz, Harnick's publicist. — Sheldon Harnick

Former pitcher George Frazier, who helped the Chicago Cubs win the 1984 National League East title and played 10 seasons for five Major League clubs, died June 19, 2023 at the age of 68. Frazier also played for Oklahoma on College World Series teams in 1975 and 1976. — George Frazier

Daniel Ellsberg, the history-making whistleblower who by leaking the Pentagon Papers revealed longtime government doubts and deceit about the Vietnam War and inspired acts of retaliation by President Richard Nixon that helped lead to his resignation, died at the age of 92 on June 16, 2023. — Daniel Ellsberg

Author Cormac McCarthy, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who in prose both dense and brittle took readers from the southern Appalachians to the desert Southwest in such novels as “The Road,” “Blood Meridian” and “All the Pretty Horses,” died June 13, 2023. He was 89. — Cormac McCarthy

Treat Williams, a veteran screen actor who received acclaim for his lead performance in the musical “Hair” and starred in The WB series “Everwood,” died June 12, 2023 after being involved in a motorcycle accident near Dorset, Vt. He was 71. — Treat Williams

Silvio Berlusconi, the boastful billionaire media mogul who was Italy's longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption, died, Italian media on Monday, June 12, 2023. He was 86. — Silvio Berlusconi

Ted Kaczynski (center), the Chicago-born and Harvard-educated mathematician known as the "Unabomber" who retreated to a dingy shack in the Montana wilderness and ran a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died in prison June 10, 2023. He was 81. — Ted Kaczynski

Pat Robertson, a religious broadcaster who turned a tiny Virginia station into the global Christian Broadcasting Network, tried a run for president and helped make religion central to Republican Party politics in America through his Christian Coalition, died Thursday, June 8, 2023. He was 93. — Pat Robertson

The Iron Sheik

The Iron Sheik, born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, a former pro wrestler who relished playing a burly, bombastic villain in 1980s battles with some of the sport’s biggest stars and later became a popular Twitter personality, died June 7, 2023 the WWE said. He was 81. (Matt Sayles/AP)

Astrud Gilberto, the Brazilian singer, songwriter and entertainer whose off-hand, English-language cameo on “The Girl from Ipanema” made her a worldwide voice of bossa nova, died at age 83 on Monday, June 6, 2023. — Astrud Gilberto

George Winston, one of the bestselling instrumental pianists in the world during his heyday in the 1980s and ‘90s, died June 4, 2023 at the age of 73. — George Winston

Roger Craig, (right) who pitched for three championship teams during his major league career and then managed the San Francisco Giants to the 1989 World Series that was interrupted by a massive earthquake, died June 4, 2023. He was 93. — Roger Craig

Jim Hines, who won an Olympic gold medal in 1968 in the 100-meter dash in a record 9.95 seconds and later went on to be an NFL wide receiver, has died at the age of 76. USA Track and Field announced that Hines died June 3, 2023. — Jim Hines

Cynthia Weil, a Grammy-winning lyricist of notable range and endurance who enjoyed a decades-long partnership with husband Barry Mann and helped write “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “On Broadway,” “Walking in the Rain” and dozens of other hits, died at age 82. Her death was confirmed June 2, 2023. — Cynthia Weil

John Beasley, the veteran character actor who played a kindly school bus driver on the TV drama “Everwood” and appeared in dozens of films dating back to the 1980s, died on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. He was 79. — John Beasley

Tina Turner, the unstoppable singer and stage performer who teamed up with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and ‘70s and survived her horrifying marriage to triumph in middle age with the chart-topping “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” died May 24, 2023 at age 83 after a long illness. She died at her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. — Tina Turner

Ray Stevenson, the Irish actor who played the villain in “RRR,” an Asgardian warrior the ‘Thor’ films and a member of the 13th Legion in HBO’s “Rome,” died May 21, 2023. He was 58. Representatives for Stevenson had no other details of his death. — Ray Stevenson

Martin Amis, the British novelist who brought a rock ‘n’ roll sensibility to his stories and lifestyle, died May 19, 2023. He was 73. His death at his home in Florida, from cancer of the esophagus, was confirmed by his agent, Andrew Wylie. — Martin Amis

Sam Zell, who ran a Chicago-based real estate empire that he began building when he was still a college student and along the way gained a reputation as a brash and scrappy operator, died at the age of 81 on May 18, 2023. Zell was also owner of the Tribune Co. — Sam Zell

Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the unstoppable running back who retired at the peak of his brilliant career to become an actor as well as a prominent civil rights advocate during the 1960s, passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday, May 18, 2023. He was 87. — Jim Brown

Jacklyn Zeman, who became one of the most recognizable actors on daytime television during 45 years of playing Bobbie Spencer on ABC’s “General Hospital,” died. Her family confirmed the death on May 10, 2023. She was 70. — Jacklyn Zeman

Heather Armstrong

Mommy blogger Heather Armstrong, who laid bare her struggles as a mother and her battles with depression and alcoholism on her site Dooce.com and on social media, died May 9, 2023 in Salt Lake City. She was 47. Her boyfriend, Pete Ashdown, told The Associated Press that Armstrong died by suicide. (Uncredited/AP)

Louisville coach Denny Crum (front), who won two NCAA men’s basketball championships and built Louisville into one of the 1980s’ dominant programs during a Hall of Fame coaching career, died May 9, 2023. He was 86. — Denny Crum

Oakland A's pitcher Vida Blue, the hard-throwing left-hander who became one of baseball's biggest draws in the early 1970s and helped lead the brash Oakland Athletics to three straight World Series titles, died May 6, 2023 at the age of 73. Blue also pitched for the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants. — Vida Blue

Newton N. Minow, the former Federal Communications Commission chief who in the early 1960s famously proclaimed that network television was a “vast wasteland,” died May 6, 2023 at his Chicago home. He was 97. — Newton N. Minow

United States' sprinter Tori Bowie, who won three Olympic medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, has died, her management company and USA Track and Field said May 3, 2023. Bowie was 32. She was found Tuesday in her Florida home. No cause of death was given. — Tori Bowie

United States Olympic bronze medal winning sprinter Calvin Davis, who starred at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, died May 1, 2023 at the age of 51. The University of Arkansas, where he went to school, announced Davis' death. No cause was given. — Calvin Davis

Gordon Lightfoot, Canada's legendary folk singer-songwriter, whose hits include “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," died on May 1, 2023, at a Toronto hospital. He was 84. — Gordon Lightfoot

Mike Shannon, a two-time World Series winner with the St. Louis Cardinals and longtime Cardinals broadcaster, died April 29, 2023. He was 83. — Mike Shannon

Jerry Springer, the onetime mayor and news anchor whose namesake TV show featured a three-ring circus of dysfunctional guests willing to bare all — sometimes literally — as they brawled and hurled obscenities before a raucous audience, died April 27, 2023, at 79. — Jerry Springer

Award-winning actor, singer and activist Harry Belafonte, a persistent and outspoken voice for justice and racial equality in the United States and around the world, died April 25, 2023, at age 96, his representative confirmed. — Harry Belfonte

Len Goodman, a long-serving judge on “Dancing with the Stars” and “Strictly Come Dancing” who helped revive interest in ballroom dancing on both sides of the Atlantic, died on April 22, 2023, his agent said. He was 78. — Len Goodman

Tony Award-winning comedian Barry Humphries, internationally renowned for his garish stage persona Dame Edna Everage, a condescending and imperfectly-veiled snob whose evolving character has delighted audiences over seven decades, died April 22, 2023. He was 89. — Barry Humphries, Dame Edna

Guitarist and singer Otis Redding III, the son and namesake of the legendary soul singer Otis Redding, has died from cancer at age 59. His family announced the news April 19, 2023. — Otis Redding III

Former NFL defensive end Chris Smith, who was touched by tragedy while he played for the Cleveland Browns, has died at the age of 31. Smith's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and the Browns confirmed his death on April 18, 2023. — Chris Smith

Mary Quant, the British designer whose fashions epitomized the Swinging 60s, died April 13, 2023 at the age of 93. Quant's family said she died “peacefully at home” in Surrey, southern England. — Mary Quant

Mad Magazine cartoonist Al Jaffee, Mad magazine's award-winning cartoonist and wise guy who delighted millions of kids with the sneaky fun of the Fold-In and the snark of "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions," died April 10, 2023 at the age of 102. — Al Jaffee

Michael Lerner, the Brooklyn-born character actor who played a myriad of imposing figures in his 60 years in the business, including crime bosses, CEOs, politicians, protective fathers and the monologuing movie mogul Jack Lipnick in “Barton Fink,” died April 8, 2023 at age 81. — Michael Lerner

Judy Farrell, who played Nurse Able on the hit CBS series M*A*S*H, died April 2, 2023 at the age of 84. Farrell appeared in eight episodes between 1976 and 1983, sharing the screen with husband Mike Farrell, who starred on the show as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt. — Judy Farrell

Klaus Teuber, creator of the hugely popular Catan board game in which players compete to build settlements on a fictional island, died April 1, 2023 after a short and serious illness, according to a family statement. He was 70. — Klaus Teuber

Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, a musician who scored for Hollywood movies such as “The Last Emperor” and “The Revenant,” died March 28, 2023. He was 71. — Ryuichi Sakamoto

Writer Bill Zehme, a south suburban Chicago native whose biographical subjects included Frank Sinatra, Hugh Hefner, Jay Leno and Andy Kaufman, died March 26, 2023 at the age of 64. — Bill Zehme

New York Knicks NBA basketball player Willis Reed, who dramatically emerged from the locker room minutes before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to spark the New York Knicks to their first championship and create one of sports’ most enduring examples of playing through pain, died March 21, 2023. He was 80. — Willis Reed

Actor Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, including “The Wire,” @Fringe” and the “John Wick” franchise, died suddenly on March 17, 2023. He was 60. — Lance Reddick

Fito Olivares, the noted saxophonist known for songs that were wedding and quinceanera mainstays including the hit “Juana La Cubana,” died March 17, 2023. He was 75. — Fito Olivares

Pat Schroeder, a former Colorado representative and pioneer for women's and family rights in Congress, died March 13, 2023, at the age of 82. Schroeder's former press secretary, Andrea Camp, said Schroeder suffered a stroke recently and died at a hospital in Florida, the state where she had been residing. — Pat Schroeder

The New York Yankees' Joe Pepitone, a key figure on the 1960s Yankees who was known for his flamboyant personality, died March 13, 2023 at age the age of 82. Pepitone also played for the Chicago Cubs. — Joe Pepitone

Olympian Dick Fosbury, the lanky leaper who completely revamped the technical discipline of high jump and won an Olympic gold medal with his “Fosbury Flop,” died after a recurrence with lymphoma. Fosbury died March 12, 2023. He was 76. — Dick Fosbury

Former Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant, the stoic and demanding Hall of Fame coach who took the Minnesota Vikings and their mighty Purple People Eaters defense to four Super Bowls in eight years — and lost all of them — died March 11, 2023. He was 95. — Bud Grant

Robert Blake, the Emmy award-winning performer who went from acclaim for his acting — most notably in the television show "Baretta" — to notoriety when he was tried and acquitted of murdering his wife, died March 9, 2023, at age 89. — Robert Blake

Otis Taylor (right), the longtime Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver who formed along with quarterback Len Dawson (left) one of the NFL's dynamic duos, died March 9, 2023, after more than a decade of health problems. He was 80. — Otis Taylor

Chaim Topol, a leading Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in "Fiddler on the Roof," died in Tel Aviv, Israeli leaders said on March 9, 2023. He was 87. — Chaim Topol

Pat McCormick, an Olympic Hall of Fame diver who became the first diver to sweep the 3-meter and 10-meter events at consecutive Olympics, died March 7, 2023, in Santa Ana, Calif., at age 92, according to her son, Tim McCormick. — Pat McCormick

Joseph Zucchero, who owned Mr. Beef — known for its Italian beef sandwiches and most recently the model for the TV show “The Bear” — in the River North neighborhood since 1979, and for more than four decades was a staple at the restaurant, familiar to patrons ranging from sewer workers and executive recruiters to comedian Jay Leno died March 1, 2023 at the age of 69. — Joseph Zucchero

Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s last surviving original member who also helped to found the group, died Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the age of 71. — Gary Rossington

Tom Sizemore

Actor Tom Sizemore, the “Saving Private Ryan” actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died March 3, 2023, at age 61. (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Richard Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of TV’s most indelible detectives as John Munch in “Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Law & Order: SVU,” died Feb. 19, 2023. He was 78. — Richard Belzer

Joe Goddard, a former sports reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and The Doings newspapers, who covered the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs, died Feb. 17. He was 85. — Joe Goddard

Actress Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and '70s comedies who is perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewis’s affection in “The Nutty Professor,” died Feb. 17, 2023. She was 84. — Stella Stevens

Raquel Welch, whose emergence from the sea in a skimpy, furry bikini in the film “One Million Years B.C.” would propel her to international sex symbol status throughout the 1960s and '70s, died Feb. 15, 2023, after a brief illness. She was 82. — Raquel Welch

David Jude Jolicoeur, known widely as Trugoy the Dove and one of the founding members of the Long Island hip hop trio De La Soul, has died at 54. The news was announced Sunday, Feb. 13, 2023. — Trugoy the Dove

Hugh Hudson, who debuted as a feature director with the Oscar-winning Olympic drama “Chariots of Fire” and later made such well-regarded movies as “My Life So Far” and the Oscar-nominated "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes,” died Feb. 10, 2023 in London. He was 86. — Hugh Hudson

Burt Bacharach, the gifted and popular composer who delighted millions with the quirky arrangements and unforgettable melodies of “Walk on By,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and dozens of others, died Feb. 8, 2023, at home in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 94. — Burt Bacharach

Andrew McKenna, an accomplished Chicago businessman, philanthropist and sports aficionado, died Feb. 7, 2023 at age 93. He served as chairman of both the White Sox (1975-81) and Cubs (1981-84). He also was a longtime member of the Bears board of directors and a minority owner of the team. — Andrew McKenna

Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup and later led a reluctant Pakistan into aiding the U.S. war in Afghanistan against the Taliban, has died, an official said Feb. 5, 2023. He was 79. — Pervez Musharraf

Jack Taylor, who was a fixture on Chicago’s airwaves across 70 years and appeared both on radio and television including long stints as a newscaster on WGN-Ch. 9 and WCIU-Ch. 26, died Feb. 3, 2023 at the age of 94. — Jack Taylor

Franco-Spanish fashion designer Paco Rabanne, known for perfumes sold worldwide and his metallic, space-age fashions, has died at age 88. The group that owns his fashion house announced Rabanne's death on its website Feb. 3, 2023. — Paco Rabanne

Bobby Hull, the electrifying Blackhawks left wing who brought the Stanley Cup to Chicago in 1961 and was a former team ambassador, died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. He was 84. — Bobby Hull

Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists and most gifted songwriters who sang lead on the company’s breakthrough single “Money (That’s What I Want)” and later collaborated with Norman Whitfield on such classics as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “War” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” died at 81. His death was announced Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. — Barrett Strong

Annie Wersching, known for playing FBI agent Renee Walker in the series “24” and providing the voice for Tess in the video game “The Last of Us,” died Jan. 29, 2023 following a battle with cancer. She was 45. — Annie Wersching

Lisa Loring, who played the young Wednesday Addams on “The Addams Family” from 1964 to 1966 and also appeared in “As the World Turns,” died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, of a stroke, her daughter confirmed. She was 64. — Lisa Loring

Tom Verlaine, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal proto-punk band Television who influenced many bands while playing at ultra-cool downtown New York music venue CBGB alongside the Ramones, Patti Smith and Talking Heads, died Jan. 28, 2023. He was 73. — Tom Verlaine

Gregory Allen Howard, who skillfully adapted stories of historical Black figures in “Remember the Titans” starring Denzel Washington, “Ali” with Will Smith and “Harriet” with Cynthia Erivo, died Jan. 27, 2023 at the age of 70. — Gregory Allen Howard

Cindy Williams, who played Shirley opposite Penny Marshall's Laverne on the popular sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," died Jan. 25, 2023, in Los Angeles at age 75, according to her family. — Cindy Williams

WXRT-FM radio personality Lin Brehmer, a fan favorite for his upbeat personality and his regular on-air contributions such as “Lin’s Bin,” died Jan. 22, 2023 at the age of 68. He had taken a leave of absence from the radio station for treatment for prostate cancer. — Lin Brehmer

David Crosby, the brash rock musician who evolved from a baby-faced harmony singer with the Byrds to a mustachioed hippie superstar and an ongoing troubadour in Crosby, Stills, Nash & (sometimes) Young, died at age 81. His death was reported Jan. 19, 2023. — David Crosby

Gina Lollobrigida, who embodied the Italian stereotype of Mediterranean beauty and was dubbed “the most beautiful woman in the world” after the title of one her movies, died in Rome Jan. 16, 2023 at age 95. — Gina Lollobrigida

Robbie Knievel, an American stunt performer and the son of another stunt performer Evel Knievel, died Jan. 13, 2023 at a hospice in Reno, Nev., with his daughters at his side, his brother Kelly Knievel said. He was 60. — Robbie Knievel

Lisa Marie Presley, singer and only child of Elvis, died Jan. 12, 2023, after a hospitalization, according to her mother, Priscilla Presley. She was 54. — Lisa Marie Presley

Actor Charles Kimbrough, a Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor who played straight-laced news anchor Jim Dial opposite Candice Bergen on "Murphy Brown," died Jan. 11, 2023, in Culver City, Calif. He was 86. The New York Times first reported his death Sunday, Feb 5. — Charles Kimbrough

British guitarist Jeff Beck, a guitar virtuoso who pushed the boundaries of blues, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll, influencing generations of shredders along the way and becoming known as the guitar player’s guitar player, died Jan. 10, 2023, after “suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis,” his representatives said in a statement released Wednesday. He was 78. — Jeff Beck

Former King Constantine II of Greece, the former and last king of Greece, died at a private hospital in Athens, his doctors announced Jan. 10, 2023. He was 82. — King Constantine II of Greece

Poet Charles Simic, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who awed critics and readers with his singular blend of lyricism and economy, tragic insight and disruptive humor, died at age 84. Dan Halpern, executive editor at publisher Alfred A. Knopf, confirmed Simic's death Jan. 9, 2023. — Charles Simic

Melinda Dillon

Oscar and Tony-nominated actor Melinda Dillon, who played Mother Parker in “A Christmas Story,” and appeared in “Magnolia” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” died Jan. 9, 2023. She was 83. Her death was reported by the Neptune Society on Feb. 3, 2023. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM))

Adam Rich, the child actor with a pageboy mop-top who charmed TV audiences in the late 1970s as “America's little brother” on “Eight is Enough,” died Jan. 7, 2023. He was 54. — Adam Rich

Walter Cunningham, the last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission in NASA's Apollo program, died Jan. 3, 2023 at the age of 90. — Walter Cunningham

Frank Galati, a pivotal figure for over five decades in Chicago theater, a Tony Award-winning Broadway director, an ensemble member at both the Steppenwolf and Goodman theatres, died Jan. 2, 2023 at the age of 79. — Frank Galati

Originally Published: Jan 03, 2023 at 4:07 pm

Notable celebrity and newsmaker deaths of 2023

A look at the notable celebrities and newsmakers who died in 2023.

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