Craig Mack, '90s Rapper With Hit 'Flava in Ya Ear,' Dies at 46

2022-09-17 12:34:11 By : Ms. Sherry Li

”God bless my friend,“ producer Alvin Toney says

Craig Mack, a rapper who rose to fame with the 1994 hit “Flava in Ya Ear,” died Monday at age 46.

Alvin Toney, who produced Mack’s debut album, “Project: Funk the World,” confirmed the news to the New York Daily News, which reported that he died of heart failure at his home outside Walterboro, South Carolina.

“God bless my friend,” said Toney, who had been working on a documentary about Mack’s transition from fame to a more religious-based life.

Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2018 (Photos)

“I wanted the world to know the talent he had,” Toney told the Daily News. “It was something I wanted people to enjoy, but it was cut short because he was very religious and wanted to go to church.”

A native of Long Island, New York, he began composing rhymes as a boy and then fell under the wing of Sean Combs, then known as Puff Daddy.

Mack became a signature artist in Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment, along with the Notorious B.I.G., who contributed key verses to the remix version of his first big hit, “Flava in Ya Ear.”

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The song earned a Grammy nomination for best rap solo performance.

He largely retreated from the music scene after the release of his second album, but had been working on new material in recent years.

“We just finishing up his new album,” EPDM’s Erick Sermon tweeted early Tuesday. “I’m devastated over the news of Craig Mack.”

I'm devastated over the news of Craig Mack.. We just finishing up his new album.. smh.. Rest in Power Craig…

— Erick Sermon (@iAmErickSermon) March 13, 2018

Other tributes for the hip-hop innovator began pouring in early Tuesday.

“I cannot believe this dude is gone,” wrote DJ Scratch on his Instagram. “Rest in peace Lil Bro.”

I just got a disturbing phone call. I cannot believe this dude is gone. He just reached out a couple of weeks ago for me to speak on his documentary about his life. Because Craig was my rodie on tour. He would set up & break down my turntables every night on tour. Rest In Peace Lil Bro.

A post shared by Turntable Whisperer (@djscratch) on Mar 12, 2018 at 11:25pm PDT

Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2018, From Stan Lee to Aretha Franklin (Photos) Here's a list of some of the notable celebrities and industry professionals in film, TV, music and sports who passed away in 2018.  Jon Paul Steuer Steuer, a former child actor who starred in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and most recently under the stage name Jonny Jewels for the rock band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S., died on Jan. 1. He was 33. Paramount TV Mark Tenser  Tenser, president and CEO of B-Movie studio Crown International Pictures, died on Jan. 1. At his request, his age was not disclosed. Crown International Pictures Frank Buxton  Buxton, a writer and director best known for his work on “The Odd Couple” and “Happy Days,” died on Jan. 2. He was 87. Getty Images Donnelly Rhodes  Canadian actor Donnelly Rhodes, who played chief medical officer Dr. Sherman Cottle on the “Battlestar Galactica” reboot, died on Jan. 8. He was 80. John Thompson  Thompson, a major action film producer and head of production at Millennium Films, died on Jan. 9 after a battle with leukemia. He was 71. Millennium Films "Fast" Eddie Clark  Motörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke died on Jan. 10 at the age of 67 after being admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. He was the last living member of the band's 1976-1982 lineup.  Courtesy: Andrew King Dolores O'Riordan  The lead singer of Irish rock group The Cranberries, known for hits like "Linger," "Dreams" and "Zombie," died on Jan. 15 at age 46. She died suddenly while recording in London.  Getty Images Hugh Wilson  Wilson, director of the film comedies “Police Academy” and “The First Wives Club” and creator of the hit TV series “WKRP In Cincinnati,” died on Jan. 16. He was 74. New Line Cinema Simon Shelton  The British actor who portrayed Tinky Winky on "Teletubbies," Simon Shelton - who also went by the name Simon Barnes - died on January 17. He was 52.  Getty Images Peter Wyngarde  Wyngarde, the cult British actor who served as Mike Myers’ inspiration for Austin Powers, died on Jan. 18. He was 90. Shutterstock Dorothy Malone  Dorothy Malone, a glamour queen of Old Hollywood who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 1956’s “Written on the Wind” and starred in "Peyton Place" and "Basic Instinct," died on Jan. 19 of natural causes. She was 92. Olivia Cole  Cole, the Emmy-winning star of the miniseries "Roots," died on Jan. 19 at her home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She was 75.  Brad Barket/Getty Images for HISTORY Fredo Santana  Santana, a Chicago rapper who came up with his cousin Chief Keef, died on Jan. 20. No cause of death was immediately revealed, but Santana was hospitalized in October with kidney and liver failure. He was 27.   Connie Sawyer  Sawyer, a late-blooming actress who starred in "When Harry Met Sally" and "Pineapple Express," died on Jan. 22. She was 105, and the oldest working member of the Screen Actors Guild.  Columbia Pictures Lari White  The country singer known for her songs "Now I Know" and "That's My Baby," as well as an actress who appeared in "Cast Away" and "No Regrets," died on Jan. 23 following a battle with cancer. She was 52.  Ursula K. Le Guin  The acclaimed fantasy and science fiction writer, whose works include "Tales From Earthsea" and "Lathe of Heaven," died in her home in Portland, Oregon on Jan. 23. She was 88.    Getty Images Joel Taylor  Taylor, a star of the Discovery Channel reality show "Storm Chasers," died on Jan. 23. He was 38.  Twitter Ezra Swerdlow  Swerdlow, a New York-based  film producer of "The First Wives Club" and with additional credits on "Spaceballs," "Alien 3," "Tootsie" and more, died of complications from pancreatic cancer and ALS in Boston on Jan. 23. He was 64.  Getty Images Mark E. Smith  The lead singer of the prolific British post-punk band The Fall, died on Jan. 24 in his home. He was 60.  Getty Images John Morris  Morris, a composer who worked on "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein" and many other Mel Brooks movies, died on Jan. 25. He was 91.  Courtesy of The Film Music Society Mark Salling  Actor Mark Salling, known for playing Puck on "Glee," was found dead on Jan. 30 near a riverbed in Sunland, California. Salling’s death came as he awaited sentencing in March after pleading guilty last October to possession of child pornography. The actor was 35.  Getty Images Louis Zorich  Actor Louis Zorich, star of "Mad About You" and "Fiddler on the Roof," died on Jan. 30. He had been married to "Moonstruck" star Olympia Dukakis since 1962. He was 93.  Getty Images Ann Gillis  Actress Ann Gillis, a former child star during the Golden Age of Hollywood and who was featured in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," died on Jan. 31. She was 90.  Rasual Butler  Former NBA star Rasual Butler was killed in a car crash on Jan. 31. He was 38. Getty Images Dennis Edwards  Edwards, the lead singer of the Motown soul group The Temptations between 1968 and 1984, died on Feb. 2 just one day before his 75th birthday.  Terry Wyatt/Getty Images John Mahoney  Actor John Mahoney, who played Martin Crane on "Frasier" and also starred in "Moonstruck" and "Tin Men," died on Feb. 4. He was 77.  John Mahoney Mickey Jones  Jones, an actor known for roles in "Total Recall" and "Sling Blade," died on Feb. 7 following a "long illness." He was 76.  Getty Images Jill Messick  Messick, a veteran studio executive, producer and the former manager to actress and activist Rose McGowan,  took her own life on Feb. 8. Messick's family issued a devastating statement blaming, "our new culture of unlimited information sharing and a willingness to accept statement as fact,” specifically citing the fight between Rose McGowan and Harvey Weinstein that also ensnared Messick. She was 50.  Getty Images Reg E. Cathey  Cathey, the Emmy-winning actor known for his work on "The Wire" and "House of Cards," died on February 9. He was 59.  Getty Images John Gavin  Gavin, an actor who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Spartacus," died on February 9. He was 86.  Getty Images Jóhann Jóhannsson  Jóhannsson, an acclaimed, Oscar-nominated and emerging Icelandic film composer known for his work on "Sicario," "Arrival" and "The Theory of Everything," died on February 9. He was 48.  Getty Images Vic Damone  Damone, a singer known for his baritone crooning and for his work on classic films like 1957's "An Affair to Remember," died on February 11. 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He was 81.  Chapman University Barry Crimmins  Crimmins, a legendary comedian on the Boston comedy circuit and political advocate for victims of childhood sexual abuse, died on March 1. Weeks before his death Crimmins disclosed a cancer diagnosis. He died beside his wife and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwaite, who made a documentary on Crimmins titled "Call Me Lucky." Crimmins was 64.   Getty Images David Ogden Stiers  The Emmy-nominated actor who played Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on "M.A.S.H." died of cancer on March 3. He was 75. Getty Images Frank Doubleday  Actor Frank Doubleday, best known for his work in John Carpenter's "Escape from New York" as well as Carpenter's "Assault on Precinct," died on March 3 due to complications from esophageal cancer, his wife confirmed on Facebook in May. He was 73. 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In 2016, he announced he would retire from live performances due to health issues.  Getty Images Verne Troyer  Actor Verne Troyer, best known for playing Mini-Me in the “Austin Powers” films, died on April 21. He was 49. Getty Images Bob Dorough  Dorough, a jazz musician who wrote and performed such songs as "My Hero, Zero" and "Three Is a Magic Number" for the '70s cartoons "Schoolhouse Rock," died on April 23. He was 94.  Paul Junger Witt  Witt, a producer of "The Golden Girls," "Soap," and the Robin Williams film "Dead Poets Society," died on April 27. He was 77.  Getty Images Larry Harvey  Harvey, who co-founded the annual arts and music festival Burning Man in 1986, died on April 28 after suffering a "massive stroke" on April 4. He was 70.  Photo: Tony Deifell Robert Mandan  Mandan, who was best known for the '70s sitcom parody of soap operas "Soap," as well as parts in “Mission: Impossible,” “All in the Family,” “CHiPs,” “Three’s Company,” “Facts of Life” and “ER” across a 60-year career, died on April 29. He was 86.   Anne V. Coates  Oscar-winning film editor Anne V. Coates, known for her work on "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Elephant Man" among others, died on May 8. She was 92.   Getty Images Scott Hutchison  Hutchison, the singer of the indie folk rock band Frightened Rabbit, was found dead in South Queensferry, Scotland on May 11. He had been missing since two days earlier and had been battling depression. He was 36.  Getty Images Margot Kidder  Actress Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the original "Superman" movies and also starred in "Sisters" and "The Amityville Horror," died on May 13. 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Getty Images Jerry Maren  Actor Jerry Maren, who was the last surviving Munchkin to starred in 1939's "The Wizard of Oz," died in May at the age of 98.  Getty Images Dwight Clark  Clark, the legendary San Francisco 49ers wide receiver famous for propelling the team to their first Super Bowl win with “The Catch,” died on June 4. Clark was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) back in 2015. He was 61. Getty Images Kate Spade  Famed fashion designer Kate Spade, co-founder of Kate Spade Handbags, sister-in-law to David Spade and aunt to Rachel Brosnahan, died on June 5 of an apparent suicide. She was 55.  Getty Images Anthony Bourdain  Bourdain, a celebrity chef and Emmy-winning host of CNN's "No Reservations" and "The Layover" and most recently CNN's "Parts Unknown," died of suicide on June 8. His body was found in his hotel room in Strasbourg, France. He was 61. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Jackson Odell  Odell, an actor known for work on "iCarly" and "The Goldberg" as well as a singer/songwriter, died on June 8. He was 20.   Getty Images Danny Kirwan  Guitarist Danny Kirwan, who joined the band Fleetwood Mac at the age of 18 and performed on five of the band's albums starting in 1968, died on June 8. He was 68. Photo: W.W.Thaler - H. Weber, Hildesheim Neal E. Boyd   Boyd, an opera singer who won the third season of "America's Got Talent," died on June 10 after struggling with heart failure, kidney failure and liver disease. He was 42.  Getty Images   Martin Bregman  Bregman, a talent manager and film producer who discovered Al Pacino and produced classics such as “Scarface,” “Serpico,” and “Dog Day Afternoon,” died June 16 of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 92. Getty Images XXXTentacion  Jahseh Dwayne Onfrey, better known as rapper XXXTentacion, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting outside Miami on June 18. He was 20.  Getty Images Billy Sammeth  A veteran talent manager who represented artists such as Cher, Dolly Parton and Joan Rivers died on June 18 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 66.  Beast TV Richard Alan Greenberg  Greenberg, an Oscar-nominated title designer who created the opening credits for sci-fi and fantasy classics as "Superman," "Alien" and "The Matrix," died on June 16. He was 71.  Charles Krauthammer  The Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist for the Washington Post and a regular Fox News commentator died on June 21. He had revealed in a letter weeks before his death the return of cancer that he believed had been treated successfully. Krauthammer was 68. Fox News Vinnie Paul Vinnie Paul, the co-founder and drummer of the '80s metal band Pantera, died on June 22. He was 54.  Stanley Anderson    Actor Stanley Anderson, who appeared in episodes of "Seinfeld," in the first "Spider-Man" movie and as the President in Michael Bay's "Armageddon" and "The Rock," died on June 24. He was 78.  NBC Richard Harrison  Harrison, who went by the nickname "The Old Man" he starred on the History Channel reality series "Pawn Stars," died on June 25. He was 77.    History Channel Joe Jackson  The famed music manager who made stars of his children Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, as well as The Jackson 5, died on June 27 from cancer. He was 89.  Getty Images Harlan Ellison  Ellison, a famed science fiction writer who also contributed stories to "The Twilight Zone" and "Star Trek," died on June 28. He was 84.  Harlan Ellison in 1986 (Photo: Pip R. Lagenta) Steve Ditko  Steve Ditko, a comic book artist who co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange along with Marvel's Stan Lee, was found dead in his apartment on June 29 and is believed to have died two days earlier. He was 90. Marvel Comics, "Amazing Spider-Man" issue 161 Derrick O'Connor  Derrick O'Connor, an Irish actor who sparred with Mel Gibson in "Lethal Weapon 2" and also starred in three of Terry Gilliam's films, died on June 29. He was 77. Derrick O’Connor in 'Lethal Weapon 2' (Warner Bros) Richard Swift   Swift, a music producer and musician who has worked and performed with indie rock acts such as the Shins and the Black Keys, died on July 3. Swift was hospitalized in June due to a "life-threatening condition." He was 41.    Kevin Winter/Getty Images Claude Lanzmann  Claude Lanzmann, director of the epic 1985 Holocaust documentary "Shoah" and a French journalist, died on July 5. He was 92. "Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah" Ed Schultz  Ed Schultz, a political commentator and former host on MSNBC and Kremlin-owned RT America, died on July 5 of natural causes. He was 64.  MSNBC Tab Hunter  1950s Hollywood heartthrob and closeted gay star Tab Hunter, who starred in films such as "The Burning Hills" and "Damn Yankees" and later opposite the drag queen Divine in several John Waters films, died on July 8. He was 86. Getty Images Roger Perry  Veteran actor Roger Perry, known for roles in "The Facts of Life," "Ironside," "Star Trek," "The Munsters" and "Falcon Crest," died on July 12 following a battle with prostate cancer. He was 85. Stan Dragoti   Stan Dragoti, an advertising designer and film director known for his movies "Mr. Mom" and "Love at First Bite," as well as the advertising campaign "I Love New York," died on July 13. He was 85. Albanian American TV Gary Beach  Gary Beach, a Tony Award-winning actor known for his roles in stage adaptations of "The Producers," "Beauty and the Beast" and "La Cage aux Folles," died on July 16 in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 70. Getty Images Elmarie Wendel  Elmarie Wendel, best known for playing the frisky landlady on the sitcom "3rd Rock From the Sun" but who also starred on "Seinfeld," "Murphy Brown" and "Knight Rider," died on July 21. She was 89.  Getty Images Jonathan Gold  Jonathan Gold, the Pulitzer-prize winning food critic and writer for LA Weekly and the Los Angeles Times, died on July 21 of pancreatic cancer. He was 57.  Getty Images Charlotte Rae  Actress Charlotte Rae, who played Mrs. Garrett first on "Diff'rent Strokes" and then more prominently on its spinoff "The Facts of Life," died on August 5 following a battle with cancer. She was 92.  Getty Images Aretha Franklin  Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, the legendary R&B singer known for her hits "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman" and many more, died in Detroit on August 16. She died 41 years to the day of the passing of Elvis Presley. She was 76.  Getty Images Craig Zadan  Craig Zadan, a prolific producer of film, TV and Broadway who was behind the filmed adaptation of "Chicago," several Oscar telecasts and NBC's string of live musicals along with producing partner Neil Meron, died on August 20. Zadan died of complications related to shoulder replacement surgery. He was 69.   Kevin Winter/Getty Images Barbara Harris  Barbara Harris, an Oscar-nominee who starred in films such as "Nashville," the original "Freaky Friday" and "Grosse Point Blank," died on August 21 of lung cancer. She was 83.  Paramount Pictures Ed King  Former guitarist for rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and co-writer on "Sweet Home Alabama," Ed King, died on August 22 at his home in Nashville. He was 68.  Rick Diamond/Getty Images John McCain  Sen. John McCain — former Republican presidential candidate, two-time Gold Star recipient and a political icon known as a "maverick" — died of cancer on August 25. He was 81. Getty Images Neil Simon  Famed American playwright Neil Simon, who won a Pulitzer Prize and is known for plays including "The Odd Couple" and "Barefoot in the Park," died on August 26 due to complications from pneumonia. He was 91.  Photo: Jonathan Exley Marie Severin  Marie Severin, a longtime artist with Marvel comics who co-created the Spider-Woman character, died on Aug. 30 after suffering a stroke. She was 89. Marie Severin, left (Credit: Irene Vartanoff/Facebook) Bill Daily  Actor Bill Daily, who starred in the long-running sitcoms "I Dream of Jeannie" and "The Bob Newhart Show," died on Sept. 4. He was 91.  Getty Images Christopher Lawford  Christopher Lawford, who was one of John F. Kennedy's nephews but also an actor on shows including "General Hospital" and "Frasier," died of a heart attack on Sept. 5. He was 63.  Getty Images Burt Reynolds  Burt Reynolds, one of the biggest movie stars and male sex symbols of the 1970s, who starred in films such as "Deliverance," "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Boogie Nights," died of cardiac arrest on Sept. 6. He was 82.  Kevin Winter/Getty Images Thad Mumford  Thad Mumford, an Emmy-winning TV writer and producer on “The Electric Company,” “M*A*S*H,” “ALF” and “A Different World,” died on Sept. 6. He was 67. Television Acadamy Mac Miller  Rapper Mac Miller, real name Malcolm James McCormick, was found dead in his home on Sept. 7. His debut album "Blue Slide Park" was just the second independent hip-hop album to top the Billboard 200 chart. Miller struggled with substance abuse, according to reports. He was 26.  Getty Images Peter Donat  Canadian actor Peter Donat, who starred on Fox's "The X-Files" along with appearances in "Hill Street Blues," "Charlie's Angels" and "Hawaii Five-O," died on Sept. 10 due to complications of diabetes. He was 90.  Fox Gary Kurtz  Film producer Gary Kurtz, who produced "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back" among others, died on Sept. 23 after battling cancer. He was 78. Marty Balin  Marty Balin, a founding member, singer, songwriter and guitarist for the 1960s rock band Jefferson Airplane, died on Sept. 26. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. He was 76. Photo: S. Joy Balin Charles Aznavour  Charles Aznavour, one of France's greatest singers, composers and film stars who was dubbed the "French Frank Sinatra," died at one of his homes in South France on Oct. 1. He was 94.  Getty Images Audrey Wells  Audrey Wells, a director and screenwriter, died on Oct. 4, the day before the release of "The Hate U Give," which she wrote.  She was 58.  UTA Scott Wilson  Scott Wilson, a veteran character actor who got his start making 1967's "In the Heat of the Night" and recently had a recurring role on "The Walking Dead," died on Oct. 6. He was 76. 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He was 65.  Getty Images Danny Leiner  Danny Leiner, the director of the cult stoner comedies "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" and "Dude, Where's My Car?," died on Oct. 18.  Danny Leiner in 2005 (Photo credit: Scott Gries/Getty Images) James Karen  James Karen, a character actor who had appeared in over 200 films in his career including "Poltergeist" and "Return of the Living Dead," died on Oct. 23. He was 94.  Getty Images Ntozake Shange  Ntozake Shange, a renowned poet and playwright behind the 1975 off-Broadway play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf,” died on Oct. 27. She was 70.  Getty Images Willie McCovey  San Francisco Giants great and MLB Hall of Famer Willie McCovey died on Oct. 31. He was 80.   Getty Images Roy Hargrove  Roy Hargrove, a Grammy-winning jazz trumpet player who collaborated with Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Common, D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, died on Nov. 2. He was 49. Getty Images Raymond Chow  Raymond Chow, the producer of "Enter the Dragon" and "Police Story" who helped introduce Western culture to both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, died on Nov. 2. He was 91.  Getty Images Kitty O'Neil  Kitty O'Neil, a pioneering stunt woman who doubled for Lynda Carter in the original "Wonder Woman" TV series, died on Nov. 2 from pneumonia. She was 72.  Midco Sports Network Sondra Locke Sondra Locke, an Oscar-nominated actress for "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" and a frequent co-star of her ex-husband Clint Eastwood, whom she successfully sued for fraud in 1995, died on Nov. 3. She was 74.  Getty Images Douglas Rain  Douglas Rain, a Canadian actor best known for providing the voice of the villainous computer HAL 9000 in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," died on Nov. 11. He was 90.  Warner Bros. Stan Lee  Stan Lee, the comic books writer and editor who co-created Spider-Man and many of Marvel Comics' stable of heroes, died on Nov. 12, 2018. He was 95.  Getty Images Roy Clark  Roy Clark, a country singer and host of the country variety show "Hee Haw," died on Nov. 15 from complications of pneumonia. He was 85.  Getty Images Kim Porter  Kim Porter, an American model and the ex-girlfriend of 13 years to Sean "Diddy" Combs, as well as the mother of three of his children, died on Nov. 15. She was 47.  Getty Images William Goldman  William Goldman, a two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "All the President's Men," as well as the author of the novel "The Princess Bride," died on Nov. 16. He was 87.  Getty Images Jerry Frankel  Jerry Frankel, a Broadway producer of over 50 productions and winner of nine Tony awards, died on Nov. 17. He was 88.  Getty Images Devin Lima  Devin Lima, a singer for the late '90s, early '00s pop and hip-hop boy band LFO, died on Nov. 21 after battling Stage 4 cancer for the past year. He was 41.  Getty Images Ricky Jay  Ricky Jay, a "master magician" and actor who appeared in the films "Magnolia" and "Boogie Nights," died on Nov. 24. He was 72.  Getty Images Nicolas Roeg  Nicolas Roeg, a British filmmaker who directed art-house and sometimes controversial films including "Don't Look Now," Mick Jagger's "Performance" and David Bowie's "The Man Who Fell to Earth," died on Nov. 23. He was 90.  Chris Jackson/Getty Images Gloria Katz Gloria Katz, who co-wrote "American Graffiti" and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and touched up the script for "Star Wars," died on Nov. 25 after suffering from ovarian cancer. She was 76. Getty Images Bernardo Bertolucci  Bernardo Bertolucci, an Italian director and two-time Oscar winner for such films as "The Last Emperor," "The Conformist" and "Last Tango in Paris," died on Nov. 26. He was 77.  Getty Images Stephen Hillenburg  Stephen Hillenburg, who created the Nickelodeon TV series "SpongeBob SquarePants," died on Nov. 26 following a battle with ALS. He was 57.  Getty Images Samuel Hadida  Samuel Hadida, a French producer and distributor of films such as “True Romance” and the “Resident Evil” series of films, died on Nov. 26. He was 64. Getty Images George H.W. Bush The 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush died on Nov. 30, months after the death of his wife Barbara Bush. Since at least 2012, Bush had been confined to a wheelchair due to vascular parkinsonism, a form of Parkinson’s disease. He was 94. Tom Pennington/Getty Images Ken Berry Ken Berry, a veteran comic actor who starred in sitcoms such as “F-Troop,” “Mayberry, RFD” and “Mama’s Family,” died Dec. 1. he was 85. Photo: ABC Television Philip Bosco Philip Bosco, a Tony and Emmy-winning character actor, who starred in such movies as “Working Girl,” died Dec. 3. He was 88. Getty Images Bill Siegel Bill Siegel, who worked as a producer or researcher on such award-winning documentaries as "Hoop Dreams," "The Trials of Muhammad Ali" and "The Weather Underground," died on Dec. 11. He was 55.  Nancy Wilson Nancy Wilson, a Grammy-winning singer who spanned jazz, pop and R&B and was best known for the songs "How Glad I Am" and "Save Your Love for Me," died on Dec. 13. She was 81.  Colin Kroll Colin Kroll, the co-founder of social media app Vine and the popular mobile quiz app HQ Trivia, died on Dec. 15. He was 34.   Getty Images Penny Marshall Penny Marshall, the star of the long-running sitcom "Laverne & Shirley" and the director of films such as "Big," "Awakenings" and "A League of Their Own," died on Dec. 17. She was 75.  Getty Images Peter Masterson Peter Masterson, an actor and the co-writer of the book for the musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," as well as the father of actress Mary Stuart Masterson, died on Dec. 18 after a fall. He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for 14 years. He was 84.  Warner Bros. Donald Moffat Donald Moffat, a character actor with over 200 film, TV and Broadway credits, including "The Right Stuff" and "The Thing," died on Dec. 20 after having recently suffered a stroke. He was 87.   Amos Oz Amos Oz, an Israeli author who wrote the novel "A Tale of Love and Darkness," which would later be adapted into a film directed by Natalie Portman, died on Dec. 28. He was 79.  Getty Images June Whitfield Dame June Whitfield, a British actress known for the '90s BBC sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" and for a role on "Doctor Who," died on Dec. 28. She was 92.  Getty/BBC Ringo Lam Ringo Lam, a Hong Kong director known for the 1987 film "City on Fire," died on Dec. 29. He was 63.  Getty Images Previous Slide Next Slide 1 of 166 A look back at the stars in movies, TV, music and sports we lost this past year Here's a list of some of the notable celebrities and industry professionals in film, TV, music and sports who passed away in 2018.  View In Gallery

Here's a list of some of the notable celebrities and industry professionals in film, TV, music and sports who passed away in 2018. 

Steuer, a former child actor who starred in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and most recently under the stage name Jonny Jewels for the rock band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S., died on Jan. 1. He was 33.

Tenser, president and CEO of B-Movie studio Crown International Pictures, died on Jan. 1. At his request, his age was not disclosed.

Buxton, a writer and director best known for his work on “The Odd Couple” and “Happy Days,” died on Jan. 2. He was 87.

Canadian actor Donnelly Rhodes, who played chief medical officer Dr. Sherman Cottle on the “Battlestar Galactica” reboot, died on Jan. 8. He was 80.

Thompson, a major action film producer and head of production at Millennium Films, died on Jan. 9 after a battle with leukemia. He was 71.

Motörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke died on Jan. 10 at the age of 67 after being admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. He was the last living member of the band's 1976-1982 lineup. 

The lead singer of Irish rock group The Cranberries, known for hits like "Linger," "Dreams" and "Zombie," died on Jan. 15 at age 46. She died suddenly while recording in London. 

Wilson, director of the film comedies “Police Academy” and “The First Wives Club” and creator of the hit TV series “WKRP In Cincinnati,” died on Jan. 16. He was 74.

The British actor who portrayed Tinky Winky on "Teletubbies," Simon Shelton - who also went by the name Simon Barnes - died on January 17. He was 52. 

Wyngarde, the cult British actor who served as Mike Myers’ inspiration for Austin Powers, died on Jan. 18. He was 90.

Dorothy Malone, a glamour queen of Old Hollywood who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 1956’s “Written on the Wind” and starred in "Peyton Place" and "Basic Instinct," died on Jan. 19 of natural causes. She was 92.

Cole, the Emmy-winning star of the miniseries "Roots," died on Jan. 19 at her home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She was 75. 

Santana, a Chicago rapper who came up with his cousin Chief Keef, died on Jan. 20. No cause of death was immediately revealed, but Santana was hospitalized in October with kidney and liver failure. He was 27.  

Sawyer, a late-blooming actress who starred in "When Harry Met Sally" and "Pineapple Express," died on Jan. 22. She was 105, and the oldest working member of the Screen Actors Guild. 

The country singer known for her songs "Now I Know" and "That's My Baby," as well as an actress who appeared in "Cast Away" and "No Regrets," died on Jan. 23 following a battle with cancer. She was 52. 

The acclaimed fantasy and science fiction writer, whose works include "Tales From Earthsea" and "Lathe of Heaven," died in her home in Portland, Oregon on Jan. 23. She was 88.   

Taylor, a star of the Discovery Channel reality show "Storm Chasers," died on Jan. 23. He was 38. 

Swerdlow, a New York-based  film producer of "The First Wives Club" and with additional credits on "Spaceballs," "Alien 3," "Tootsie" and more, died of complications from pancreatic cancer and ALS in Boston on Jan. 23. He was 64. 

The lead singer of the prolific British post-punk band The Fall, died on Jan. 24 in his home. He was 60. 

Morris, a composer who worked on "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein" and many other Mel Brooks movies, died on Jan. 25. He was 91. 

Actor Mark Salling, known for playing Puck on "Glee," was found dead on Jan. 30 near a riverbed in Sunland, California. Salling’s death came as he awaited sentencing in March after pleading guilty last October to possession of child pornography. The actor was 35. 

Actor Louis Zorich, star of "Mad About You" and "Fiddler on the Roof," died on Jan. 30. He had been married to "Moonstruck" star Olympia Dukakis since 1962. He was 93. 

Actress Ann Gillis, a former child star during the Golden Age of Hollywood and who was featured in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," died on Jan. 31. She was 90. 

Former NBA star Rasual Butler was killed in a car crash on Jan. 31. He was 38.

Edwards, the lead singer of the Motown soul group The Temptations between 1968 and 1984, died on Feb. 2 just one day before his 75th birthday. 

Actor John Mahoney, who played Martin Crane on "Frasier" and also starred in "Moonstruck" and "Tin Men," died on Feb. 4. He was 77. 

Jones, an actor known for roles in "Total Recall" and "Sling Blade," died on Feb. 7 following a "long illness." He was 76. 

Messick, a veteran studio executive, producer and the former manager to actress and activist Rose McGowan,  took her own life on Feb. 8. Messick's family issued a devastating statement blaming, "our new culture of unlimited information sharing and a willingness to accept statement as fact,” specifically citing the fight between Rose McGowan and Harvey Weinstein that also ensnared Messick. She was 50. 

Cathey, the Emmy-winning actor known for his work on "The Wire" and "House of Cards," died on February 9. He was 59. 

Gavin, an actor who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Spartacus," died on February 9. He was 86. 

Jóhannsson, an acclaimed, Oscar-nominated and emerging Icelandic film composer known for his work on "Sicario," "Arrival" and "The Theory of Everything," died on February 9. He was 48. 

Damone, a singer known for his baritone crooning and for his work on classic films like 1957's "An Affair to Remember," died on February 11. He was 89. 

The Georgia-born country singer known for his songs "I Let Her Lie" and "Amen Kind of Love" died on February 12. He was 46. 

Singer Barbara Alston, a member of the '60s girl group The Crystals who sang on the hit song "Then He Kissed Me," died on Feb. 16 from complications from the flu. She was 74.

Fox studio executive and TV producer Bruce Margolis, best known for work on "Star" and overseeing "24," "Prison Break" and "Bones," died after a battle with cancer on February 16. He was 64. 

The Rev. Billy Graham, a Christian preacher and spiritual adviser to presidents going back to Harry Truman and an icon of American religious life and TV, died on Feb. 21. He was 99.

Actress Emma Chambers, who starred in "Notting Hill" and the BBC's "The Vicar of Dibley," died on Feb. 21 of natural causes. She was 53. 

Luckey, an Oscar-nominated animator who designed Woody from Pixar's “Toy Story” and voiced Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh,” died on Feb. 24. He was 83.

Gilbert, an Oscar-nominated British director of “Alfie” and three James Bond movies, died on Feb. 23. He was 97.

Bollywood actress Sridevi Kapoor, also known as just Sridevi, died on Feb. 24. She had appeared in over 150 films in Bollywood. She was 54.

Melniker, an executive at MGM who had been with the company since 1939, as well as most recently a producer on "Justice League," died on Feb. 26. He was 104.  

Harry Ufland (right), an agent-turned producer and who was a long-time collaborator with Martin Scorsese on films including "The Last Temptation of Christ," died in March after suffering from brain cancer. He was 81. 

Crimmins, a legendary comedian on the Boston comedy circuit and political advocate for victims of childhood sexual abuse, died on March 1. Weeks before his death Crimmins disclosed a cancer diagnosis. He died beside his wife and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwaite, who made a documentary on Crimmins titled "Call Me Lucky." Crimmins was 64.  

The Emmy-nominated actor who played Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on "M.A.S.H." died of cancer on March 3. He was 75.

Actor Frank Doubleday, best known for his work in John Carpenter's "Escape from New York" as well as Carpenter's "Assault on Precinct," died on March 3 due to complications from esophageal cancer, his wife confirmed on Facebook in May. He was 73.

Hubert de Givenchy, a legendary French fashion designer who dressed Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Princess Grace of Monaco and more, died on March 10. He was 91. 

Mack, a rapper who rose to fame with the 1994 hit “Flava in Ya Ear,” died on March 12. He was 46.

Edwards, a surf rock guitarist who played in the band The Ventures and who played bass on the "Hawaii Five-O" theme song, died on March 12. He was 82. 

Hawking, the British physicist, cosmologist and author whose insights made him a scientific icon, and whose life inspired the film “The Theory of Everything,” died on March 13. He was 76.

Performer Frank Avruch, who worked at Boston's WCVB for more than four decades, including on the first nationally syndicated "Bozo the Clown," died on March 20. He was 89.

Huizenga, the billionaire founder of Blockbuster Video, AutoNation, Waste Management and the former owner of the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins and Florida Panthers, died on March 23. He was 80. 

Actress Delores Taylor, who starred with her husband Tom Laughlin in the series of "Billy Jack" movies, died on March 23. She was 85. 

Actress DuShon Monique Brown, who starred as Connie on the NBC show "Chicago Fire" and also appeared on Fox's "Prison Break," died on March 23. She was 49. 

Seo Minwoo, a member of the K-Pop group 100%, died after suffering cardiac arrest on March 25. He was 33.

Author Anita Shreve, whose books "The Pilot's Wife," "Resistance," and "The Weight of Water" had all been turned into films, died on March 29. She had been battling cancer. Shreve was 71. 

Bochco, the creator and producer of influential TV shows including “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “NYPD Blue” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” died on April 1 after a battle with leukemia. He was 74. 

WWE Hall of Fame wrestler "Luscious" Johnny Valiant died on April 4 after being hit by a pickup truck. Valiant was a manager and color commentator who also appeared in "The Sopranos" and "The Wrestler." He was 71. 

Actress Susan Anspach, best known for roles in 1970s films “Five Easy Pieces” and “Play It Again, Sam,” died in Los Angeles of coronary failure on April 2. She was 75.

Takahata, the Japanese animator of "Grave of the Fireflies" and "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" and co-founder of Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki, died on April 5 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 82.

Shore, the founder and owner of The Comedy Store who gave starts to many big names in comedy, as well as the mother to actor Pauly Shore, died of an undetermined neurological disorder on April 11. She was 87. 

Bell, a syndicated radio host who specialized in stories of the paranormal, died on April 13 in his home in Pahrump, Nevada. He was 72. 

Forman, the Czech-born, Oscar-winning director of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Amadeus" and more, died on April 13. He was 86. 

Ermey, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and drill sergeant turned character actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket," died on April 15. He was 74. 

Anderson, the Emmy-nominated star of the '80s sitcom "Night Court," died on April 16 in his home in Asheville, North Carolina. He was 65. 

Kasell, a news broadcaster on NPR's "Morning Edition" and a scorekeeper on "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" as part of a nearly 40-year long career, died on April 17. He died of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 84.  

Actress Pamela Gidley, who starred in David Lynch's “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” died on April 16. She was 52.

The wife of George H.W. Bush and first lady of the United States from 1989-1993, died at her home in Houston, Texas, on April 17. In the later years of her life she struggled with COPD and congestive heart failure. She was 92.

Sammartino, a WWE Hall of Fame wrestler nicknamed "The Italian Superman," died on April 18. He was 82.

Tim Bergling, better known as the Swedish DJ and producer Avicii, died on April 20 at the age 28. In 2016, he announced he would retire from live performances due to health issues. 

Actor Verne Troyer, best known for playing Mini-Me in the “Austin Powers” films, died on April 21. He was 49.

Dorough, a jazz musician who wrote and performed such songs as "My Hero, Zero" and "Three Is a Magic Number" for the '70s cartoons "Schoolhouse Rock," died on April 23. He was 94. 

Witt, a producer of "The Golden Girls," "Soap," and the Robin Williams film "Dead Poets Society," died on April 27. He was 77. 

Harvey, who co-founded the annual arts and music festival Burning Man in 1986, died on April 28 after suffering a "massive stroke" on April 4. He was 70. 

Mandan, who was best known for the '70s sitcom parody of soap operas "Soap," as well as parts in “Mission: Impossible,” “All in the Family,” “CHiPs,” “Three’s Company,” “Facts of Life” and “ER” across a 60-year career, died on April 29. He was 86.  

Oscar-winning film editor Anne V. Coates, known for her work on "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Elephant Man" among others, died on May 8. She was 92.  

Hutchison, the singer of the indie folk rock band Frightened Rabbit, was found dead in South Queensferry, Scotland on May 11. He had been missing since two days earlier and had been battling depression. He was 36. 

Actress Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the original "Superman" movies and also starred in "Sisters" and "The Amityville Horror," died on May 13. She was 69. 

Famed novelist Philip Roth, author of "Portnoy's Complaint" and winner of two National Book Awards and a Pulitzer Prize, died on May 22. He was 85.   

Sung, an actress who starred on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" and appeared in “Hawaii Five-O,” “The Sopranos,” “Bones,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Joy Luck Club," "Memoirs of a Geisha" and more, died on May 22. She was 63.  

Bloch, one of Hollywood’s top publicists who represented Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Michael Keaton, Eddie Murphy and more and was chairman of Rogers & Cowan, died on May 25 following a long illness. He was 78.

Actor Jerry Maren, who was the last surviving Munchkin to starred in 1939's "The Wizard of Oz," died in May at the age of 98. 

Clark, the legendary San Francisco 49ers wide receiver famous for propelling the team to their first Super Bowl win with “The Catch,” died on June 4. Clark was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) back in 2015. He was 61.

Famed fashion designer Kate Spade, co-founder of Kate Spade Handbags, sister-in-law to David Spade and aunt to Rachel Brosnahan, died on June 5 of an apparent suicide. She was 55. 

Bourdain, a celebrity chef and Emmy-winning host of CNN's "No Reservations" and "The Layover" and most recently CNN's "Parts Unknown," died of suicide on June 8. His body was found in his hotel room in Strasbourg, France. He was 61.

Odell, an actor known for work on "iCarly" and "The Goldberg" as well as a singer/songwriter, died on June 8. He was 20.  

Guitarist Danny Kirwan, who joined the band Fleetwood Mac at the age of 18 and performed on five of the band's albums starting in 1968, died on June 8. He was 68.

Boyd, an opera singer who won the third season of "America's Got Talent," died on June 10 after struggling with heart failure, kidney failure and liver disease. He was 42. 

Bregman, a talent manager and film producer who discovered Al Pacino and produced classics such as “Scarface,” “Serpico,” and “Dog Day Afternoon,” died June 16 of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 92.

Jahseh Dwayne Onfrey, better known as rapper XXXTentacion, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting outside Miami on June 18. He was 20. 

A veteran talent manager who represented artists such as Cher, Dolly Parton and Joan Rivers died on June 18 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 66. 

Greenberg, an Oscar-nominated title designer who created the opening credits for sci-fi and fantasy classics as "Superman," "Alien" and "The Matrix," died on June 16. He was 71. 

The Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist for the Washington Post and a regular Fox News commentator died on June 21. He had revealed in a letter weeks before his death the return of cancer that he believed had been treated successfully. Krauthammer was 68.

Vinnie Paul, the co-founder and drummer of the '80s metal band Pantera, died on June 22. He was 54. 

Actor Stanley Anderson, who appeared in episodes of "Seinfeld," in the first "Spider-Man" movie and as the President in Michael Bay's "Armageddon" and "The Rock," died on June 24. He was 78. 

Harrison, who went by the nickname "The Old Man" he starred on the History Channel reality series "Pawn Stars," died on June 25. He was 77.   

The famed music manager who made stars of his children Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, as well as The Jackson 5, died on June 27 from cancer. He was 89. 

Ellison, a famed science fiction writer who also contributed stories to "The Twilight Zone" and "Star Trek," died on June 28. He was 84. 

Steve Ditko, a comic book artist who co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange along with Marvel's Stan Lee, was found dead in his apartment on June 29 and is believed to have died two days earlier. He was 90.

Derrick O'Connor, an Irish actor who sparred with Mel Gibson in "Lethal Weapon 2" and also starred in three of Terry Gilliam's films, died on June 29. He was 77.

Swift, a music producer and musician who has worked and performed with indie rock acts such as the Shins and the Black Keys, died on July 3. Swift was hospitalized in June due to a "life-threatening condition." He was 41.   

Claude Lanzmann, director of the epic 1985 Holocaust documentary "Shoah" and a French journalist, died on July 5. He was 92.

Ed Schultz, a political commentator and former host on MSNBC and Kremlin-owned RT America, died on July 5 of natural causes. He was 64. 

1950s Hollywood heartthrob and closeted gay star Tab Hunter, who starred in films such as "The Burning Hills" and "Damn Yankees" and later opposite the drag queen Divine in several John Waters films, died on July 8. He was 86.

Veteran actor Roger Perry, known for roles in "The Facts of Life," "Ironside," "Star Trek," "The Munsters" and "Falcon Crest," died on July 12 following a battle with prostate cancer. He was 85.

Stan Dragoti, an advertising designer and film director known for his movies "Mr. Mom" and "Love at First Bite," as well as the advertising campaign "I Love New York," died on July 13. He was 85.

Gary Beach, a Tony Award-winning actor known for his roles in stage adaptations of "The Producers," "Beauty and the Beast" and "La Cage aux Folles," died on July 16 in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 70.

Elmarie Wendel, best known for playing the frisky landlady on the sitcom "3rd Rock From the Sun" but who also starred on "Seinfeld," "Murphy Brown" and "Knight Rider," died on July 21. She was 89. 

Jonathan Gold, the Pulitzer-prize winning food critic and writer for LA Weekly and the Los Angeles Times, died on July 21 of pancreatic cancer. He was 57. 

Actress Charlotte Rae, who played Mrs. Garrett first on "Diff'rent Strokes" and then more prominently on its spinoff "The Facts of Life," died on August 5 following a battle with cancer. She was 92. 

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, the legendary R&B singer known for her hits "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman" and many more, died in Detroit on August 16. She died 41 years to the day of the passing of Elvis Presley. She was 76. 

Craig Zadan, a prolific producer of film, TV and Broadway who was behind the filmed adaptation of "Chicago," several Oscar telecasts and NBC's string of live musicals along with producing partner Neil Meron, died on August 20. Zadan died of complications related to shoulder replacement surgery. He was 69.  

Barbara Harris, an Oscar-nominee who starred in films such as "Nashville," the original "Freaky Friday" and "Grosse Point Blank," died on August 21 of lung cancer. She was 83. 

Former guitarist for rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and co-writer on "Sweet Home Alabama," Ed King, died on August 22 at his home in Nashville. He was 68. 

Sen. John McCain — former Republican presidential candidate, two-time Gold Star recipient and a political icon known as a "maverick" — died of cancer on August 25. He was 81.

Famed American playwright Neil Simon, who won a Pulitzer Prize and is known for plays including "The Odd Couple" and "Barefoot in the Park," died on August 26 due to complications from pneumonia. He was 91. 

Marie Severin, a longtime artist with Marvel comics who co-created the Spider-Woman character, died on Aug. 30 after suffering a stroke. She was 89.

Actor Bill Daily, who starred in the long-running sitcoms "I Dream of Jeannie" and "The Bob Newhart Show," died on Sept. 4. He was 91. 

Christopher Lawford, who was one of John F. Kennedy's nephews but also an actor on shows including "General Hospital" and "Frasier," died of a heart attack on Sept. 5. He was 63. 

Burt Reynolds, one of the biggest movie stars and male sex symbols of the 1970s, who starred in films such as "Deliverance," "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Boogie Nights," died of cardiac arrest on Sept. 6. He was 82. 

Thad Mumford, an Emmy-winning TV writer and producer on “The Electric Company,” “M*A*S*H,” “ALF” and “A Different World,” died on Sept. 6. He was 67.

Rapper Mac Miller, real name Malcolm James McCormick, was found dead in his home on Sept. 7. His debut album "Blue Slide Park" was just the second independent hip-hop album to top the Billboard 200 chart. Miller struggled with substance abuse, according to reports. He was 26. 

Canadian actor Peter Donat, who starred on Fox's "The X-Files" along with appearances in "Hill Street Blues," "Charlie's Angels" and "Hawaii Five-O," died on Sept. 10 due to complications of diabetes. He was 90. 

Film producer Gary Kurtz, who produced "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back" among others, died on Sept. 23 after battling cancer. He was 78.

Marty Balin, a founding member, singer, songwriter and guitarist for the 1960s rock band Jefferson Airplane, died on Sept. 26. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. He was 76.

Charles Aznavour, one of France's greatest singers, composers and film stars who was dubbed the "French Frank Sinatra," died at one of his homes in South France on Oct. 1. He was 94. 

Audrey Wells, a director and screenwriter, died on Oct. 4, the day before the release of "The Hate U Give," which she wrote.  She was 58. 

Scott Wilson, a veteran character actor who got his start making 1967's "In the Heat of the Night" and recently had a recurring role on "The Walking Dead," died on Oct. 6. He was 76.

Peggy McCay, who played Caroline Brady on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" for 35 years and received four Daytime Emmy nominations, died on Oct. 7 of natural causes. She was 90.

Arnold Kopelson, a longtime producer of such films as "The Fugitive" and "Se7en" and an Oscar winner for "Platoon," died at his home in Beverly Hills on Oct. 8. He was 83. 

Alex Spanos, the owner of the Los Angeles (formerly San Diego) Chargers NFL franchise, died on Oct. 9. He was 95. 

Carol Hall, the songwriter for the Broadway musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," died on Oct. 11 after suffering from a rare form of dementia for several years. She was 82.  

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft along with Bill Gates and would become the owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, died on Oct. 15 from complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 65. 

Danny Leiner, the director of the cult stoner comedies "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" and "Dude, Where's My Car?," died on Oct. 18. 

James Karen, a character actor who had appeared in over 200 films in his career including "Poltergeist" and "Return of the Living Dead," died on Oct. 23. He was 94. 

Ntozake Shange, a renowned poet and playwright behind the 1975 off-Broadway play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf,” died on Oct. 27. She was 70. 

San Francisco Giants great and MLB Hall of Famer Willie McCovey died on Oct. 31. He was 80.  

Roy Hargrove, a Grammy-winning jazz trumpet player who collaborated with Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Common, D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, died on Nov. 2. He was 49.

Raymond Chow, the producer of "Enter the Dragon" and "Police Story" who helped introduce Western culture to both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, died on Nov. 2. He was 91. 

Kitty O'Neil, a pioneering stunt woman who doubled for Lynda Carter in the original "Wonder Woman" TV series, died on Nov. 2 from pneumonia. She was 72. 

Sondra Locke, an Oscar-nominated actress for "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" and a frequent co-star of her ex-husband Clint Eastwood, whom she successfully sued for fraud in 1995, died on Nov. 3. She was 74. 

Douglas Rain, a Canadian actor best known for providing the voice of the villainous computer HAL 9000 in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," died on Nov. 11. He was 90. 

Stan Lee, the comic books writer and editor who co-created Spider-Man and many of Marvel Comics' stable of heroes, died on Nov. 12, 2018. He was 95. 

Roy Clark, a country singer and host of the country variety show "Hee Haw," died on Nov. 15 from complications of pneumonia. He was 85. 

Kim Porter, an American model and the ex-girlfriend of 13 years to Sean "Diddy" Combs, as well as the mother of three of his children, died on Nov. 15. She was 47. 

William Goldman, a two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "All the President's Men," as well as the author of the novel "The Princess Bride," died on Nov. 16. He was 87. 

Jerry Frankel, a Broadway producer of over 50 productions and winner of nine Tony awards, died on Nov. 17. He was 88. 

Devin Lima, a singer for the late '90s, early '00s pop and hip-hop boy band LFO, died on Nov. 21 after battling Stage 4 cancer for the past year. He was 41. 

Ricky Jay, a "master magician" and actor who appeared in the films "Magnolia" and "Boogie Nights," died on Nov. 24. He was 72. 

Nicolas Roeg, a British filmmaker who directed art-house and sometimes controversial films including "Don't Look Now," Mick Jagger's "Performance" and David Bowie's "The Man Who Fell to Earth," died on Nov. 23. He was 90. 

Gloria Katz, who co-wrote "American Graffiti" and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and touched up the script for "Star Wars," died on Nov. 25 after suffering from ovarian cancer. She was 76.

Bernardo Bertolucci, an Italian director and two-time Oscar winner for such films as "The Last Emperor," "The Conformist" and "Last Tango in Paris," died on Nov. 26. He was 77. 

Stephen Hillenburg, who created the Nickelodeon TV series "SpongeBob SquarePants," died on Nov. 26 following a battle with ALS. He was 57. 

Samuel Hadida, a French producer and distributor of films such as “True Romance” and the “Resident Evil” series of films, died on Nov. 26. He was 64.

The 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush died on Nov. 30, months after the death of his wife Barbara Bush. Since at least 2012, Bush had been confined to a wheelchair due to vascular parkinsonism, a form of Parkinson’s disease. He was 94.

Ken Berry, a veteran comic actor who starred in sitcoms such as “F-Troop,” “Mayberry, RFD” and “Mama’s Family,” died Dec. 1. he was 85.

Philip Bosco, a Tony and Emmy-winning character actor, who starred in such movies as “Working Girl,” died Dec. 3. He was 88.

Bill Siegel, who worked as a producer or researcher on such award-winning documentaries as "Hoop Dreams," "The Trials of Muhammad Ali" and "The Weather Underground," died on Dec. 11. He was 55. 

Nancy Wilson, a Grammy-winning singer who spanned jazz, pop and R&B and was best known for the songs "How Glad I Am" and "Save Your Love for Me," died on Dec. 13. She was 81. 

Colin Kroll, the co-founder of social media app Vine and the popular mobile quiz app HQ Trivia, died on Dec. 15. He was 34.  

Penny Marshall, the star of the long-running sitcom "Laverne & Shirley" and the director of films such as "Big," "Awakenings" and "A League of Their Own," died on Dec. 17. She was 75. 

Peter Masterson, an actor and the co-writer of the book for the musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," as well as the father of actress Mary Stuart Masterson, died on Dec. 18 after a fall. He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for 14 years. He was 84. 

Donald Moffat, a character actor with over 200 film, TV and Broadway credits, including "The Right Stuff" and "The Thing," died on Dec. 20 after having recently suffered a stroke. He was 87.  

Amos Oz, an Israeli author who wrote the novel "A Tale of Love and Darkness," which would later be adapted into a film directed by Natalie Portman, died on Dec. 28. He was 79. 

Dame June Whitfield, a British actress known for the '90s BBC sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" and for a role on "Doctor Who," died on Dec. 28. She was 92. 

Ringo Lam, a Hong Kong director known for the 1987 film "City on Fire," died on Dec. 29. He was 63. 

A look back at the stars in movies, TV, music and sports we lost this past year

Here's a list of some of the notable celebrities and industry professionals in film, TV, music and sports who passed away in 2018. 

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Photograph by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap

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