They both carved out sterling reputations as military and political leaders over years of public service. But both also saw their legacies tarnished by their actions in the long, bloody war in Iraq.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are among the many noteworthy people who died in 2021.
Powell, who died in October, was a trailblazing soldier and diplomat. He rose to the rank of four-star general in the Army before becoming the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And under former President George W. Bush, he became the nationB次元官网网址檚 first Black secretary of state.
Rumsfeld, who died in June, had a storied career in government under four U.S. presidents and was seen as a visionary of a modern military.
Rumsfeld was secretary of defense and shouldered some of the blame as Iraq sank into chaos after the toppling of Saddam HusseinB次元官网网址檚 regime. In the leadup to the war, Powell cited faulty information during a United Nations Security Council address while claiming Hussein had secretly stashed weapons of mass destruction.
Others political figures the world said goodbye to this year include former U.S. Vice President Walter F. Mondale, former South African President F.W. de Klerk, former Sen. Bob Dole, former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo, talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, former Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, former Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter and Iranian ambassadors Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour and Ardeshir Zahedi.
Also among those who died this year was a man who held the title of baseballB次元官网网址檚 home run king for years. Hank Aaron, who died in January, endured racist threats on his path to breaking Babe RuthB次元官网网址檚 record and is still considered one of the gameB次元官网网址檚 greatest players.
Other sports figures who died in 2021 include Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda, college football coach Bobby Bowden, Olympic swimmer Clara Lamore Walker, NBA players Paul Westphal and Elgin Baylor, auto racer Bobby Unser, golfer Lee Elder, track and field star Milkha Singh and boxer Leon Spinks.
Among the entertainers who died this year was a childrenB次元官网网址檚 author whose books were enjoyed by millions around the world. Beverly Cleary, who died in March, channeled memories from her youth in Oregon to created beloved characters such as Ramona Quimby, her sister Beatrice B次元官网网址淏eezusB次元官网网址� Quimby and Henry Huggins.
Others from the world of arts and entertainment who died this year include actors Cicely Tyson, Ed Asner, Cloris Leachman, Christopher Plummer, Olympia Dukakis, Ned Beatty, Jane Powell, Sonny Chiba, Gavin MacLeod, George Segal, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Johnny Briggs and Dustin Diamond; magician Siegfried Fischbacher; Bollywood star Dilip Kumar; Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts; theater songwriter Stephen Sondheim; ballerina and actress Carla Fracci; rappers DMX and Biz Markie; artist Arturo Di Modica; telenovela writer Delia Fiallo; authors Anne Rice, Eric Carle, Joan Didion, bell hooks and Norton Juster; reggae musician Bunny Wailer; comedians Norm Macdonald and Paul Mooney; singers Pervis Staples and Sabah Fakhri; ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill; and filmmaker Richard Donner.
Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2021 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):
January
, 89. A member of the first team of climbers to scale El Capitan in Yosemite National Park and a conservationist who devoted his life to protecting the Sierra Nevada. Jan. 1.
, 70. A Hall of Fame NBA player who won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and later coached in the league and in college. Jan. 2.
, 101. The British diplomat was an early leader of the United Nations and played a central role in developing the U.N. practice of peacekeeping. Jan. 2.
, 78. The lead singer of the 1960s British group Gerry and the Pacemakers that had such hits as B次元官网网址淔erry Cross the MerseyB次元官网网址� and the song that became the anthem of Liverpool Football Club, B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檒l Never Walk Alone.B次元官网网址� Jan. 3.
, 59. The bestselling novelist who blended crime, romance and eroticism in B次元官网网址淪ister, Sister,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淲aking With EnemiesB次元官网网址� and dozens of other stories about contemporary Black life. Jan. 3. Cancer.
, 65. She captivated James Bond in B次元官网网址淎 View to a KillB次元官网网址� and appeared in the sitcom B次元官网网址淭hat B次元官网网址�70s Show.B次元官网网址� Jan. 4.
, 93. The fiery baseball Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved. Jan. 7.
, 79. A member of the B次元官网网址淭ougaloo Nine,B次元官网网址� who famously participated in a library B次元官网网址渞ead-inB次元官网网址� in segregated Mississippi about 60 years ago. Jan. 8.
, 87. He rose from a modest start as the son of an immigrant taxi driver to become a billionaire Republican powerbroker with a casino empire and influence on international politics. Jan. 11.
, 81. He was the surviving member of the magic duo Siegfried & Roy who entertained millions with illusions using rare animals. Jan. 13. Pancreatic cancer.
, 81. The eccentric and revolutionary music producer who transformed rock music with his B次元官网网址淲all of SoundB次元官网网址� method and who later was convicted of murder. Jan. 16.
, 86. He endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe RuthB次元官网网址檚 home run record and gracefully left his mark as one of baseballB次元官网网址檚 greatest all-around players. Jan. 22.
, 87. The suspenders-sporting everyman whose broadcast interviews with world leaders, movie stars and ordinary people helped define American conversation for a half-century. Jan. 23.
, 101. The screenwriter was among the last survivors of HollywoodB次元官网网址檚 anti-Communist blacklist whose Oscar-nominated script for B次元官网网址淭he FrontB次元官网网址� drew upon his years of being unable to work under his own name. Jan. 23.
, 77. A former minister and resistance fighter against GreeceB次元官网网址檚 1967-74 military dictatorship who twice made daring escapes. Jan. 24.
, 69. As ColombiaB次元官网网址檚 defense minister, he was one of the countryB次元官网网址檚 most recognized conservative politicians. Jan. 26. Complications of COVID-19.
, 94. An Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in B次元官网网址淭he Last Picture ShowB次元官网网址� and a comedic delight as the fearsome Frau Bl眉cher in B次元官网网址淵oung FrankensteinB次元官网网址� and self-absorbed neighbor Phyllis on B次元官网网址淭he Mary Tyler Moore Show.B次元官网网址� Jan. 27.
, 96. The pioneering Black actor who gained an Oscar nomination for her role as the sharecropperB次元官网网址檚 wife in B次元官网网址淪ounder,B次元官网网址� won a Tony Award in 2013 at age 88 and touched TV viewersB次元官网网址� hearts in B次元官网网址淭he Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.B次元官网网址� Jan. 28.
, 87. A Dutch scientist who won the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his work understanding the ozone hole and is credited with coining the term Anthropocene to describe the geological era shaped by mankind. Jan. 28.
, 89. One of the nationB次元官网网址檚 leading basketball coaches and a commanding figure during a Hall of Fame career at Temple. Jan. 29.
, 77. He was the founding guitarist of the English rock and roll band The Animals who is credited with coming up with one of the most famous opening riffs of the 1960s in B次元官网网址淭he House of the Rising Sun.B次元官网网址� Jan. 29.
, 34. She was the Grammy-nominated Scottish disc jockey, producer and recording artist who had worked with the likes of Madonna and Charli XCX. Jan. 30. Accidental fall.
, 90. An esteemed Hassidic rabbi and acclaimed psychiatrist who championed treatment for substance abuse and authored over 80 books on subjects both spiritual and scientific. Jan. 31.
February
, 44. An actor best known for playing Screech on the hit B次元官网网址�90s sitcom B次元官网网址淪aved by the Bell.B次元官网网址� Feb. 1. Cancer.
, 76. The flamboyant private investigator whose clients ranged from presidents and corporate whistleblowers to celebrities, Hollywood moguls and sometimes suspected drug traffickers. Feb. 1. Injuries suffered in an attack.
, 80. He was one of the B次元官网网址淐hicago SevenB次元官网网址� activists who was tried for organizing an anti-Vietnam War protest outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago in which thousands clashed with police. Feb. 2. Lymphoma.
, 75. A trailblazing astronaut and scientist who became the first female payload specialist to fly in space for NASA. Feb. 2.
, 90. A five-time Grand Slam singles champion and former No. 1 player who went on to successful careers as a Davis Cup captain, broadcaster and executive. Feb. 3.
, 77. The Hall of Fame songwriter who wrote B次元官网网址淢idnight Train to GeorgiaB次元官网网址� and other hits for Gladys Knight, Glen Campbell and Ray Price. Feb. 3.
, 91. The dashing award-winning actor who played Captain von Trapp in the film B次元官网网址淭he Sound of MusicB次元官网网址� and at 82 became the oldest Academy Award acting winner in history. Feb. 5.
, 67. He won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight. Feb. 5.
, 100. The former secretary of state was a titan of American academia, business and diplomacy who spent most of the 1980s trying to improve Cold War relations with the Soviet Union and forging a course for peace in the Middle East. Feb. 6.
, 76. The longest-reigning original Supreme. Feb. 8.
, 77. He won 200 regular-season games with four NFL teams thanks to his B次元官网网址淢artyballB次元官网网址� brand of smash-mouth football but regularly fell short in the playoffs. Feb. 8.
, 79. He was a towering jazz pianist with a staggering 23 Grammy Awards who pushed the boundaries of the genre and worked alongside Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. Feb. 9. Cancer.
, 78. He turned his raunchy Hustler magazine into an empire while fighting numerous First Amendment court battles. Feb. 10.
, 85. A salsa idol who was a co-founder of Fania Records, Eddie PalmieriB次元官网网址檚 bandmate and backer of music stars such as Rub茅n Blad茅s, Willie Col贸n and Celia Cruz. Feb. 15.
, 99. A Massachusetts cardiologist who invented the first reliable heart defibrillator and later co-founded an anti-nuclear war group that was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. Feb. 16.
, 70. The talk radio host who ripped into liberals and laid waste to political correctness with a merry brand of malice that made him one of the most powerful voices on the American right. Feb. 17.
, 80. The artist who sculpted Charging Bull, the bronze statue in New York which became an iconic symbol of Wall Street. Feb. 19.
, 90. A long-serving oil minister in Saudi Arabia who led the kingdom through the 1973 oil crisis, the nationalization its state energy company and once found himself held hostage by the assassin Carlos the Jackal. Feb. 23.
, 84. A pivotal figure in Papua New GuineaB次元官网网址檚 independence and the South Pacific island nationB次元官网网址檚 first prime minister. Feb. 26.
, 92. A Black electronics engineer whose antenna designs contributed to the race to the moon, made satellite TV and radio possible and helped NASA communicate with Mars rovers and search for extraterrestrials. Feb. 27.
, 85. A British actor best known for his role as businessman Mike Baldwin in the long-running TV soap opera B次元官网网址淐oronation Street.B次元官网网址� Feb. 28.
March
, 85. He rose from humble beginnings in the segregated South to become a champion of civil rights before reinventing himself as a Washington insider and corporate influencer. March 1.
, 73. A reggae luminary who was the last surviving founding member of the legendary group The Wailers. March 2.
, 85. A member of B次元官网网址淭he Flying WallendasB次元官网网址� high-wire act and the last surviving child of the famed troupeB次元官网网址檚 founder. March 6.
, 94. The Dutch inventor of the cassette tape, the medium of choice for millions of bedroom mix tapes. March 6.
, 79. A Maryknoll Sisters nun who was jailed and later deported by white minority-ruled Rhodesia for exposing human rights abuses. March 7.
, 91. The celebrated childrenB次元官网网址檚 author who fashioned a world of adventure and punning punditry in the million-selling classic B次元官网网址淭he Phantom Tollbooth.B次元官网网址� March 8.
, 93. The longtime political correspondent and anchor for NBC and CBS who once stumped Sen. Edward Kennedy by simply asking why he wanted to be president. March 9.
, 77. The conductor ruled over the Metropolitan Opera for more than four decades before being eased aside when his health declined and then was fired for sexual improprieties. March 9.
, 86. An evangelical pastor who was born in Argentina and went on to work with Billy Graham before establishing his own powerhouse international ministry. March 11.
, 69. The man convicted of slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a home that later inspired the B次元官网网址淭he Amityville HorrorB次元官网网址� book and movies. March 12.
, 72. The traditional leader of South AfricaB次元官网网址檚 Zulu nation, he reigned for more than 50 years, making him the longest-serving Zulu monarch. March 12.
, 81. The commanding actor who brought tough magnetism and stately gravitas to films including the James Bond movie B次元官网网址淟ive and Let DieB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淎lien.B次元官网网址� March 15.
, 80. She went from Halston model and Studio 54 regular in the 1960s and B次元官网网址�70s to one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 most famous jewelry designers with timeless, fluid Tiffany & Co. collections. March 18.
, 86. The LakersB次元官网网址� 11-time NBA All-Star who soared through the 1960s with a high-scoring style of basketball that became the model for the modern player. March 22.
, 87. The banjo player turned actor who was nominated for an Oscar for 1966B次元官网网址瞫 B次元官网网址淲hoB次元官网网址檚 Afraid of Virginia Woolf?B次元官网网址� and worked into his late 80s on the ABC sitcom B次元官网网址淭he Goldbergs.B次元官网网址� March 23. Complications from bypass surgery.
, 80. Her roles as a scheming matriarch in TVB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淎rrested DevelopmentB次元官网网址� and a stalker in B次元官网网址淧lay Misty for MeB次元官网网址� were in line with a career that drew on her astringent screen presence. March 24.
, 104. The celebrated childrenB次元官网网址檚 author whose memories of her Oregon childhood were shared with millions through the likes of Ramona and Beezus Quimby and Henry Huggins. March 25.
, 84. The prolific and popular author who took readers back to the old American West in his Pulitzer Prize-winning B次元官网网址淟onesome DoveB次元官网网址� and returned them to modern-day landscapes in works such as his emotional B次元官网网址淭erms of Endearment.B次元官网网址� March 25.
, 90. A former senator from Tennessee whose long career in Washington included a key role in rebuilding the Republican Party after the Watergate scandal. March 25.
, 96. An infielder who played on five World Series champions with the New York Yankees and later became a cardiologist and president of the American League. March 25.
, 90. A mastermind of the Watergate burglary and a radio talk show host after emerging from prison. March 30.
April
, 94. She swam for the U.S. at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, won three national championships, and later in life set hundreds of national and world swimming records in several masters age groups. April 2.
, 95. She was a renowned Japanese scriptwriter best known for the internationally popular TV drama series B次元官网网址淥shin.B次元官网网址� April 4.
, 93. A Roman Catholic theologian who was an early colleague and friend of the future Pope Benedict XVI but later fell foul of the Vatican for challenging church doctrine and became a vocal critic of the pontiff. April 6.
, 74. A groundbreaking comedy writer with a taste for sweetness and the macabre who was on the original staff of B次元官网网址淪aturday Night LiveB次元官网网址� and later created the cult sitcom B次元官网网址淪quare Pegs.B次元官网网址� April 7.
, 92. The author whose 1982 bestselling book B次元官网网址淢egatrendsB次元官网网址� was published in dozens of countries. April 8.
, 99. The irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II who spent more than seven decades supporting his wife in a role that both defined and constricted his life. April 9.
, 50. The iconic hip-hop artist behind the songs B次元官网网址淩uff RydersB次元官网网址� AnthemB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淧arty Up (Up in Here)B次元官网网址� whose distinctively gruff voice and thoughtful messages in his rhymes made him one of rapB次元官网网址檚 biggest stars. April 9.
, 82. The infamous architect of an epic securities swindle that burned thousands of investors, outfoxed regulators and earned him a 150-year prison term. April 14.
, 81. The co-founder of the major software company Adobe Inc. who helped develop Portable Document Format technology, or PDFs. April 16.
, 93. The former U.S. vice president was a liberal icon who lost one of the most lopsided presidential elections after bluntly telling voters to expect a tax increase if he won. April 19.
, 73. The Grammy-winning composer who wrote Meat LoafB次元官网网址檚 best-selling B次元官网网址淏at Out Of HellB次元官网网址� debut album as well as hits for Celine Dion, Air Supply and Bonnie Tyler. April 19. Kidney failure.
, 57. He blended whimsical wordplay with reverence for B次元官网网址�70s funk as leader of the off-kilter Bay Area hip-hop group Digital Underground. April 22.
, 93. The mezzo-soprano was a renowned interpreter of Wagner, Mozart and Strauss who starred on the worldB次元官网网址檚 great stages for four decades. April 24.
, 90. An Apollo 11 astronaut who orbited the moon alone while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their historic first steps on the lunar surface. April 28. Cancer.
, 69. An award-winning spy novelist who drew upon his long career in espionage and his admiration for John le Carre among others in crafting his popular B次元官网网址淩ed SparrowB次元官网网址� thrillers. April 28. Corticobasal degeneration.
, 87. The billionaire philanthropist, contemporary art collector and entrepreneur who co-founded homebuilding pioneer Kaufman and Broad Inc. and launched financial services giant SunAmerica Inc. April 30.
May
, 89. The veteran stage and screen actor whose flair for maternal roles helped her win an Oscar as CherB次元官网网址檚 mother in the romantic comedy B次元官网网址淢oonstruck.B次元官网网址� May 1.
, 87. A beloved three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and part of the only pair of brothers to capture B次元官网网址淭he Greatest Spectacle in Racing.B次元官网网址� May 2.
, 86. Grew up on the streets of upper Manhattan to become one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 premier classical dancers at New York City Ballet and spent the last four and a half decades providing free dance classes to city youth. May 2.
, 88. The singer-songwriter was an early rock B次元官网网址榥B次元官网网址� roll star and enduring maverick whose hits included such up-tempo favorites as B次元官网网址淟awdy Miss Clawdy,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淧ersonalityB次元官网网址� and the semi-forbidden B次元官网网址淪tagger Lee.B次元官网网址� May 3.
, 42. A popular comedian whose character Dona Herminia dealt with everyday family and LGBTQ issues in some of BrazilB次元官网网址檚 biggest-box office movies and television shows. May 4. COVID-19.
, 78. A prominent politician in Kashmir who challenged IndiaB次元官网网址檚 rule over the disputed region for decades. May 5. Died while in police custody.
, 85. His tenor voice complimented his fatherB次元官网网址檚 and sistersB次元官网网址� in the legendary gospel group The Staple Singers. May 6.
, 106. His role as kindly Dr. Daniel Auschlander on TVB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪t. ElsewhereB次元官网网址� was a single chapter in a distinguished stage and screen career. May 11.
, 86. The actor and writer who scored as a caddish newlywed in B次元官网网址淭he Heartbreak KidB次元官网网址� and later had roles ranging from Robert De NiroB次元官网网址檚 counterpart in the comic thriller B次元官网网址淢idnight RunB次元官网网址� to the bedeviled father in the B次元官网网址淏eethovenB次元官网网址� comedies. May 18. Bone marrow cancer.
, 79. A boundary-pushing comedian who was Richard PryorB次元官网网址檚 longtime writing partner and whose sage, incisive musings on racism and American life made him a revered figure in stand-up. May 19. Heart attack.
, 74. The record-setting sprinter who wore a black beret in a sign of protest at the 1968 Olympics then went onto a life of humanitarian work in support of social justice. May 19.
, 80. The lesbian singer and feminist activist who appeared in an iconic and recently resurgent 1975 photo wearing a T-shirt that read B次元官网网址淭he Future is Female.B次元官网网址� May 19. Brain aneurysm and stroke.
, 90. A Chinese scientist who developed higher-yield rice varieties that helped feed people around the world. May 22.
, 81. Shook off the stigma of his familyB次元官网网址檚 links to fascism to become international motorsportB次元官网网址檚 top administrator and later made a stand as a privacy campaigner in response to tabloid stories about his sex life. May 23.
, 91. A beloved childrenB次元官网网址檚 author and illustrator whose classic B次元官网网址淭he Very Hungry CaterpillarB次元官网网址� and other works gave millions of kids some of their earliest and most cherished literary memories. May 23.
, 94. He served for 30 years in the U.S. Senate and was a longtime military expert who became famous as the sixth man to walk down the aisle with movie star Elizabeth Taylor. May 25.
, 86. Her cut-and-paste shapes and vibrant hues in books including B次元官网网址淐hicka Chicka Boom BoomB次元官网网址� put her among the most popular illustrators of books for preschoolers of the late 20th century. May 25.
, 91. A pioneering gay rights activist who chronicled the movementB次元官网网址檚 earliest days through her photography and writing. May 26.
, 84. An Italian cultural icon and former La Scala prima ballerina renowned for romantic roles alongside such greats as Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. May 27.
, 92. DenmarkB次元官网网址檚 prime minister for over a decade who negotiated exemptions for his country to a key European Union treaty after Danes rejected the initial text in a referendum. May 27.
, 78. The Grammy-winning singer who enjoyed success on the pop, country and gospel charts with such hits as B次元官网网址淚 Just CanB次元官网网址檛 Help Believing,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淩aindrops Keep FallinB次元官网网址� On My HeadB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淗ooked on a Feeling.B次元官网网址� May 29.
, 90. The veteran supporting actor who achieved fame as sardonic TV news writer Murray Slaughter on B次元官网网址淭he Mary Tyler Moore ShowB次元官网网址� and stardom playing cheerful Capt. Stubing on B次元官网网址淭he Love Boat.B次元官网网址� May 29.
June
, 87. The celebrity attorney who defended O.J. Simpson, Patricia Hearst and the alleged Boston Strangler, but whose legal career halted when he was disbarred in two states. June 3.
, 99. A former Alabama governor who entered politics as a reformer after his fatherB次元官网网址檚 assassination but was criticized for failing to protect the Freedom Riders from angry white mobs. June 4.
, 81. Played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series B次元官网网址淭he Mod SquadB次元官网网址� and PrinceB次元官网网址檚 father in B次元官网网址淧urple Rain.B次元官网网址� June 4.
, 98. The last surviving Soviet soldier involved in the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. June 5.
, 78. A renowned spiritual leader and Native American rights activist who fought for sovereignty, language preservation and religious freedom. June 6.
, 74. A Shiite cleric who as IranB次元官网网址檚 ambassador to Syria helped found the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and lost his right hand to a book bombing reportedly carried out by Israel. June 7. COVID-19.
, 83. The Oscar-nominated character actor who in half a century of American movies, including B次元官网网址淒eliverance,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淣etworkB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪uperman,B次元官网网址� was a booming, indelible presence in even the smallest parts. June 13.
, 71. A former factory worker known as B次元官网网址淐hinaB次元官网网址檚 First ShareholderB次元官网网址� after he amassed a fortune trading in the countryB次元官网网址檚 infant financial markets starting in the 1980s. June 13.
, 93. The former Nicaraguan president was a businessman who led the country from 2002 to 2007, saw his predecessor and old running mate locked up for corruption and pushed for the countryB次元官网网址檚 economic development. June 14.
, 99. A former federal judge who earned a reputation as a tireless legal maverick while overseeing a series of landmark class-action lawsuits and sensational mob cases in New York City like that of the B次元官网网址淢afia Cops.B次元官网网址� June 15.
, 79. He played a brash salesman with an affection for polyester plaid suits on the TV comedy B次元官网网址淲KRP in Cincinnati.B次元官网网址� June 16. Complications of Lewy body dementia.
, 67. A longtime member of the Black organization MOVE and mother of two children killed in the 1985 bombing of the groupB次元官网网址檚 home in Philadelphia. June 16.
, 76. The first Black cadet to graduate from the Coast Guard Academy. June 16. Complications from ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚 disease and COVID-19.
, 97. ZambiaB次元官网网址檚 founding president and a champion of African nationalism who spearheaded the fights to end white minority rule across southern Africa. June 17.
, 91. One of IndiaB次元官网网址檚 first sport superstars and ace sprinter who overcame a childhood tragedy to become the countryB次元官网网址檚 most celebrated athlete. June 18. Complications from COVID-19.
, 91. A former U.S. senator from Alaska who read the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record and confronted Barack Obama about nuclear weapons during a later presidential run. June 26.
, 84. He became a surfing legend by combining a gregarious, outsized personality with the courage and skill to ride bigger, more powerful waves than anyone had ever attempted. June 28.
, 88. The two-time defense secretary and one-time presidential candidate whose reputation as a skilled bureaucrat and visionary of a modern U.S. military was unraveled by the long and costly Iraq war. June 29.
, 96. She was considered the mother of Latin AmericaB次元官网网址檚 telenovelas and wrote dozens of the popular television soap operas. June 29.
July
, 80. The heir to a family publishing fortune who was known for his quiet but influential support of extreme right-wing causes in the United States. July 2.
, 78. One of Italian televisionB次元官网网址檚 most beloved entertainers for decades and affectionately nicknamed the B次元官网网址渜ueen of Italian TV.B次元官网网址� July 5.
, 91. The filmmaker who helped create the modern superhero blockbuster with 1978B次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪upermanB次元官网网址� and mastered the buddy comedy with the B次元官网网址淟ethal WeaponB次元官网网址� franchise. July 5.
, 84. A jailed Jesuit priest and longtime Indian tribal rights activist. July 5.
, 98. Bollywood icon hailed as the B次元官网网址淭ragedy KingB次元官网网址� and one of Hindi cinemaB次元官网网址檚 greatest actors. July 7.
, 53. The Haitian president was a former banana producer and political neophyte who ruled for more than four years as the country grew increasingly unstable. July 7. Assassinated at his home.
, 93. The high-living, quick-witted four-term governor who reshaped LouisianaB次元官网网址檚 oil revenues and dominated the stateB次元官网网址檚 politics for decades, a run all but overshadowed by scandal and eight years in federal prison. July 12.
, 86. A Danish cartoonist whose image of the Prophet Muhammad wearing a bomb as a turban was at the center of widespread anti-Danish anger in the Muslim world in the mid-2000s. July 14.
, 99. An influential civil rights pioneer whose determination not to back down while protesting racial inequality was captured in a photograph as she pushed away the bayonet of a National Guardsman. July 15.
, 57. A hip-hop staple known for his beatboxing prowess, turntable mastery and the 1989 classic B次元官网网址淛ust a Friend.B次元官网网址� July 16.
, 65. An award-winning illustrator and author of childrenB次元官网网址檚 books whose mission to offer candid and positive images of Black history included subjects ranging from Frederick Douglass to Venus and Serena Williams. July 16.
, 80. A popular Greek folk singer, songwriter and actor whose career spanned more than six decades. July 19.
, 99. One of the millions of women who worked in defense plants in World War II and who later relentlessly fought for recognition of those B次元官网网址淩osie the Riveters.B次元官网网址� July 20. Complications of a stroke.
, 90. A champion of womenB次元官网网址檚 running who rose from a finish line volunteer at the Boston Marathon to vice president of the raceB次元官网网址檚 organizing body. July 24.
, 86. A civil rights activist who was shot at and endured beatings and jail while leading Black voter registration drives in the American South during the 1960s and later helped improve minority education in math. July 25.
, 77. The retired U.S. senator and Wyoming Republican was known as a consensus-builder in an increasingly polarized Washington. July 26. Died after breaking his neck in a bicycle accident.
, 46. A founding member of Slipknot, who drummed for the influential metal band in its most popular period and helped write many of its best-known songs. July 26.
, 72. The long-bearded bassist for the Texas blues rock trio ZZ Top. July 28.
, 86. The quintessential TV pitchman and inventor known to generations of viewers for hawking products including the Veg-O-Matic, the Pocket Fisherman, Mr. Microphone and the Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ. July 28.
, 85. A former Colorado Democratic governor who successfully fought to stop the 1976 Winter Olympics from being held in Colorado even though they had been awarded to the state. July 29.
, 87. A powerful voice on military issues in Washington and a staunch supporter of the auto industry back home in Michigan during his tenure in the U.S. Senate. July 29.
August
, 78. He came to the United States as a childhood refugee from war-torn Poland and later became a leader in cross-church cooperation and the first Eastern Orthodox president of the National Council of Churches. Aug. 3. Heart attack.
, 72. The powerful president of the AFL-CIO who rose from the coal mines of Pennsylvania to preside over one of the largest labor organizations in the world. Aug. 5.
, 89. A prominent classical scholar, contentious defender of traditional education and architect of neo-conservative foreign policy. Aug. 6.
, 70. She played the public defender in the 1980s sitcom B次元官网网址淣ight CourtB次元官网网址� and was a regular presence on television for four decades. Aug. 7.
, 70. A founding member of the long-running soul-funk band Kool & the Gang known for such hits as B次元官网网址淐elebrationB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淕et Down On It.B次元官网网址� Aug. 7.
, 91. The folksy Hall of Fame coach who built Florida State into an unprecedented college football dynasty. Aug. 8.
, 87. The rampaging head of CBS Records who presided over blockbuster releases by Michael Jackson, Billy Joel and many others and otherwise devoted his life to a self-catered feast of B次元官网网址渟chmoozing, shmingling and bingling.B次元官网网址� Aug. 9.
, 69. The creator of the popular numbers puzzle Sudoku whose lifeB次元官网网址檚 work was spreading the joy of puzzles. Aug. 10.
, 73. An Italian surgeon who co-founded the humanitarian group Emergency to provide medical care for civilian victims of war and poverty in many countries, and was a fierce critic of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. Aug. 13.
, 68. The Grammy-winning folk singer-songwriter from Texas whose literary songs like B次元官网网址淟ove at the Five and DimeB次元官网网址� celebrated the South. Aug. 13.
, 88. The first openly gay U.S. ambassador and a philanthropist who funded organizations to fight AIDS and promote human rights. Aug. 13.
, 82. The Japanese actor who wowed the world with his martial arts skills in more than 100 films. Aug. 19.
, 79. His million-selling B次元官网网址淟ies My Teacher Told MeB次元官网网址� books challenged traditional ideas and knowledge on everything from Thanksgiving to the Iraq War. Aug. 19.
, 85. The singer-songwriter who composed B次元官网网址淗arper Valley P.T.A.B次元官网网址� and sang about lifeB次元官网网址檚 simple joys as country musicB次元官网网址檚 consummate blue collar bard. Aug. 20.
, 84. He was one-half of the pioneering Everly Brothers whose harmonizing country rock hits affected a generation of rock B次元官网网址榥B次元官网网址� roll music. Aug. 21.
, 80. The self-effacing Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rockB次元官网网址檚 greatest rhythm sections and used his B次元官网网址渄ay jobB次元官网网址� to support his enduring love of jazz. Aug. 24.
, 79. ChadB次元官网网址檚 former dictator, he was the first former head of state to be convicted of crimes against humanity by an African court after his government was accused of killing 40,000 people. Aug. 24.
, 82. A once prominent Greek socialist politician who held nearly a dozen ministerial positions over two decades but later fell from grace, was convicted and imprisoned in one of GreeceB次元官网网址檚 highest profile corruption trials. Aug. 27.
, 91. The burly and prolific character actor who became a star in middle age as the gruff but lovable newsman Lou Grant, first in the hit comedy B次元官网网址淭he Mary Tyler Moore ShowB次元官网网址� and later in the drama B次元官网网址淟ou Grant.B次元官网网址� Aug. 29.
, 94. An Emmy Award-winning character actor who reached worldwide fame playing the Windex bottle-toting father of the bride in the 2002 film B次元官网网址淢y Big Fat Greek Wedding.B次元官网网址� Aug. 31.
September
, 91. An icon of disputed KashmirB次元官网网址檚 resistance against Indian rule and a top separatist leader who became the emblem of the regionB次元官网网址檚 defiance against New Delhi. Sept. 1.
, 96. The beloved Greek composer whose rousing music and life of political defiance won acclaim abroad and inspired millions at home. Sept. 2.
, 80. A civil rights attorney who fought to desegregate Southern schools in the 1960s and was pushed out of his University of Mississippi teaching job amid uproar over his work on behalf of Black clients. Sept. 2.
, 85. One of IraqB次元官网网址檚 most senior and influential Muslim Shiite clerics. Sept. 3.
, 87. The beloved weatherman who charmed viewers of NBCB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淭odayB次元官网网址� show with his self-deprecating humor and cheerful personality. Sept. 4.
, 88. Star of the iconic French New Wave film B次元官网网址淏reathless,B次元官网网址� whose crooked boxerB次元官网网址檚 nose and rakish grin went on to make him one of the countryB次元官网网址檚 most recognizable leading men. Sept. 6.
, 68. A singer and musician who entertained generations of Sri Lankans with captivating songs, but won their minds and hearts with his outspoken comments against social injustice, corruption, racism and suppression of democracy. Sept. 6. Complications from COVIDB次元官网网址�19.
, 90. A Tony Award-winning producer who helped mount an astounding array of hits on Broadway and in London, including B次元官网网址淭he Elephant Man,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淢orningB次元官网网址檚 at Seven,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淎madeus,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭he Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淐openhagen.B次元官网网址� Sept. 9. Cancer.
, 86. The leader of the brutal Shining Path insurgency in Peru who was captured in 1992. Sept. 11.
, 85. His founding of South KoreaB次元官网网址檚 biggest church was a symbol of the postwar growth of Christianity in the country before that achievement was tainted by corruption and other scandals. Sept. 14.
, 61. A comedian and former B次元官网网址淪aturday Night LiveB次元官网网址� writer and performer who was B次元官网网址淲eekend UpdateB次元官网网址� host when Bill Clinton and O.J. Simpson provided comic fodder during the 1990s. Sept. 14.
, 92. The bright-eyed, operatic-voiced star of HollywoodB次元官网网址檚 golden age musicals who sang with Howard Keel in B次元官网网址淪even Brides for Seven BrothersB次元官网网址� and danced with Fred Astaire in B次元官网网址淩oyal Wedding.B次元官网网址� Sept. 16.
, 84. A former Algerian president who fought for independence from France, reconciled his conflict-ravaged nation and was then ousted amid pro-democracy protests in 2019 after two decades in power. Sept. 17.
, 61. The Los Angeles plumber who shot grainy video of four white police officers beating Black motorist Rodney King in 1991. Sept. 19. Complications of COVID-19.
, 85. The Egyptian general who took charge of the country when longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down amid the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. Sept. 21.
, 89. The groundbreaking filmmaker, playwright and musician whose work ushered in the B次元官网网址渂laxploitationB次元官网网址� wave of the 1970s and influenced filmmakers long after. Sept. 21.
, 80. A former Rwandan army colonel regarded as the architect of the 1994 genocide in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsi and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. Sept. 25.
, 77. As leader of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, he enjoyed a cult following in the 1970s with such party and concert favorites as B次元官网网址淗ot Rod LincolnB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪moke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette).B次元官网网址� Sept. 26.
, 84. A tireless, relentless entertainment publicist, with a client list that read like a WhoB次元官网网址檚 Who of a certain era: Cher, Diana Ross, Dustin Hoffman, B次元官网网址婤次元官网网址婯evin Costner, Michael Douglas, Ann-Margret, Al Pacino, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and more. Sept. 26.
, 80. During a storied musical career, he worked with Peggy Lee, Mel Torm茅, Lena Horne and some of the other biggest names in jazz and pop, and for years was also the musical director of B次元官网网址淪esame Street.B次元官网网址� Sept. 29.
October
, 66. One of PakistanB次元官网网址檚 most beloved comedians. Oct. 2.
, 74. A conservative Missouri Republican whose comment that womenB次元官网网址檚 bodies have a way of avoiding pregnancies in cases of B次元官网网址渓egitimate rapeB次元官网网址� sunk his bid for the U.S. Senate and became a cautionary tale for other GOP candidates. Oct. 3.
, 78. A flamboyant businessman who was beloved by sports fans for leading French soccer club Marseille to glory but also dogged by legal battles and corruption investigations. Oct. 3.
, 75. A Swedish artist who had lived under police protection since making a sketch of the Prophet Muhammad with a dogB次元官网网址檚 body in 2007. Oct. 3. Killed in a car crash along with two police bodyguards.
, 78. The quirky, red-headed announcer for David Letterman for two decades who frequently appeared in the showB次元官网网址檚 comedy bits. Oct. 4.
, 88. IranB次元官网网址檚 first president after the countryB次元官网网址檚 1979 Islamic Revolution who fled Tehran after being impeached for challenging the growing power of clerics as the nation became a theocracy. Oct. 9.
, 85. A controversial figure known as the father of PakistanB次元官网网址檚 nuclear bomb. Oct. 10.
, 91. A nun and Catholic peace activist who spent two years in federal prison while in her 80s after breaking into a government security complex to protest nuclear weapons. Oct. 10.
, 101. A Holocaust survivor who published his best-selling memoir, B次元官网网址淭he Happiest Man on Earth.B次元官网网址� Oct. 12.
, 101. The last of an elite group of decorated French Resistance fighters who helped liberate France from Nazi control in World War II. Oct. 12.
, 83. A legendary drummer who spent years playing alongside Elvis Presley and teamed up with other superstars ranging from Johnny Cash to Stevie Nicks. Oct. 16.
, 95. The film and television actor who was best known for her role as Barney FifeB次元官网网址檚 sweetheart Thelma Lou on B次元官网网址淭he Andy Griffith Show.B次元官网网址� Oct. 16.
, 84. The trailblazing soldier and diplomat whose sterling reputation of service to Republican and Democratic presidents was stained by his faulty claims to justify the 2003 U.S. war in Iraq. Oct. 18.
, 81. A prize-winning childrenB次元官网网址檚 book illustrator known for his richly textured images of Black life, fables and fairy tales in works ranging from B次元官网网址淭he Lion and the MouseB次元官网网址� to B次元官网网址淭he Sunday Outing.B次元官网网址� Oct. 20.
, 66. A versatile character actor whose television roles included a yuppie producer on B次元官网网址淣ewhartB次元官网网址� and a closeted dad on B次元官网网址淕irlsB次元官网网址� and who was on Broadway with longtime friend Tom Hanks in B次元官网网址淟ucky Guy.B次元官网网址� Oct. 22.
, 96. A survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing who made opposing nuclear weapons the message of his life, including in a meeting with President Barack Obama in 2016. Oct. 24.
, 88. The former South Korean president was a major player in a 1979 coup who later became president in a landmark democratic election before ending his tumultuous political career in prison. Oct. 26.
, 94. A satirist who helped revolutionize stand-up comedy during the Cold War with his running commentary on politicians and current events and became a favorite of a new, restive generation of Americans. Oct. 26.
., 98. VirginiaB次元官网网址檚 first Republican governor since Reconstruction and a crusader against racial discrimination. Oct. 28.
November
, 100. A groundbreaking psychotherapist regarded as the father of cognitive therapy. Nov. 1.
, 88. One of the Arab worldB次元官网网址檚 most famous singers, he entertained generations with traditional songs and preserved nearly extinct forms of Arabic music. Nov. 2.
, 86. A sharecropperB次元官网网址檚 daughter who became the only woman to serve as DelawareB次元官网网址檚 governor. Nov. 4.
, 26. She was one of BrazilB次元官网网址檚 most popular singers and a Latin Grammy winner. Nov. 5. Airplane crash.
, 85. A top Hollywood child actor who gained new success in middle age in the sci-fi series B次元官网网址淨uantum LeapB次元官网网址� and in a string of indelible performances in film, including David LynchB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淏lue Velvet,B次元官网网址� Wim WendersB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淧aris, TexasB次元官网网址� and Jonathan DemmeB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢arried to the Mob.B次元官网网址� Nov. 7.
, 79. He lost three limbs to a hand grenade in Vietnam and later became a groundbreaking Veterans Administration chief and U.S. senator from Georgia until an attack ad questioning his patriotism derailed his reelection. Nov. 9. Congestive heart failure.
, 99. A Buddhist nun and one of JapanB次元官网网址檚 best-known authors famous for novels depicting passionate women and her translation of B次元官网网址淭he Tale of Genji,B次元官网网址� a 1,000-year-old classic, into modern language. Nov. 9.
, 88. He played handsome family patriarch John Abbott on B次元官网网址淭he Young and the RestlessB次元官网网址� for more than 30 years. Nov. 9.
, 85. He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela and as South AfricaB次元官网网址檚 last apartheid president oversaw the end of the countryB次元官网网址檚 white minority rule. Nov. 11.
, 94. A pioneering minister and civil rights activist who was the first Black person in prominent church leadership roles, including president of the National Council of Churches. Nov. 14.
, 93. IranB次元官网网址檚 flamboyant ambassador to the United States during the rule of the shah who charmed both Hollywood stars and politicians with his lavish parties until the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Nov. 18.
, 90. A former South Korean military strongman who seized power in a 1979 coup and brutally crushed pro-democracy protests before going to prison for misdeeds while in office. Nov. 23.
, 91. The songwriter who reshaped the American musical theater in the second half of the 20th century with his intelligent, intricately rhymed lyrics, his use of evocative melodies and his willingness to tackle unusual subjects. Nov. 26.
, 69. A clergy sex abuse survivor and whistleblower who played a pivotal role in exposing decades of predatory assaults by Roman Catholic priests in the United States. Nov. 28.
, 87. He broke down racial barriers as the first Black golfer to play in the Masters and paved the way for Tiger Woods and others to follow. Nov. 28.
, 41. A leading designer whose groundbreaking fusions of streetwear and high couture made him one of the most celebrated tastemakers in fashion and beyond. Nov. 28. Cancer.
, 68. AustraliaB次元官网网址檚 most acclaimed Indigenous actor. Nov. 29.
, 96. The actor whose charm and striking red hair shone in such Technicolor movies of the 1950s as B次元官网网址淛ourney to the Center of the EarthB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淭hree Little Words.B次元官网网址� Nov. 29.
December
, 72. One of the most acclaimed Shakespearean actors of his generation. Dec. 2.
, 98. He overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-tongued Senate leader, a Republican presidential candidate and then a symbol of his dwindling generation of World War II veterans. Dec. 5.
, 93. ItalyB次元官网网址檚 provocative filmmaker whose mix of sex and politics in B次元官网网址淪wept AwayB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪even BeautiesB次元官网网址� made her the first woman nominated for an Academy Award for directing. Dec. 9.
, 82. One of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 a record four times. Dec. 9.
, 78. The singer-songwriter, author, actor-director and entrepreneur who will likely be best remembered as the wool-hatted, guitar-strumming member of the made-for-television rock band The Monkees. Dec. 10.
, 80. The novelist whose lush, best-selling gothic tales, including B次元官网网址淚nterview With the Vampire,B次元官网网址� reinvented the blood-drinking immortals as tragic antiheroes. Dec. 11.
, 81. An iconic and beloved singer of regional Mexican music who was awarded three Grammys and nine Latin Grammys and inspired a new generation of performers, including his son, Alejandro Fern谩ndez. Dec. 12.
, 69. The groundbreaking author, educator and activist whose explorations of how race, gender, economics and politics intertwined helped shape academic and popular debates over the past 40 years. Dec. 15.
, 78. The Hollywood bard, muse and reveler who with warmth and candor chronicled the excesses of her native world in the 1960s and 1970s and became a cult figure to generations of readers. Dec. 17. Complications from HuntingtonB次元官网网址檚 disease.
, 76. An affable Georgia Republican politician who rose from the ranks of the state legislature to become a U.S. senator known as an effective behind-the-scenes consensus builder. Dec. 19.
, 87. The revered author and essayist whose social and personal commentary in such classics as B次元官网网址淭he White AlbumB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淭he Year of Magical ThinkingB次元官网网址� made her a clear-eyed critic of turbulent times. Dec. 23.
, 90. South AfricaB次元官网网址檚 Nobel Peace Prize-winning icon, an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights. Dec. 26.
, 76. A Texas lawyer who as a 26-year-old successfully argued the landmark abortion rights case Roe v. Wade before the U.S. Supreme Court. Dec. 26.
, 92. The pioneering Harvard biologist who advanced the provocative theory that human behavior such as war and altruism has a genetic basis and warned against the decline of ecosystems. Dec. 26.
, 85. The Hall of Fame coach turned broadcaster whose exuberant calls combined with simple explanations provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades. Dec. 28.
, 82. The former U.S. Senate majority leader from Nevada, widely acknowledged as one of toughest dealmakers in Congress. Dec. 28. Pancreatic cancer.
Bernard Mcghee, The Associated Press
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