Celebs We Lost In 2019

Iconic WWE interviewer "Mean" Gene Okerlund died at age 75 on Jan. 2, 2019. Okerlund had been suffering from health issues for years, undergoing three kidney transplants, according to ESPN. Okerlund was famous for his insult-heavy wrestling promos for WWE, which peaked in the 1980s with stars such as Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and Randy "Macho Man" Savage. During the mid-'90s, Okerlund transitioned to WCW. His final major wrestling appearance was on Jan. 22, 2018, for the 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw.

The wrestling community was heartbroken over Okerlund's death. WWE CEO Vince McMahon tweeted, "It was impossible not to crack a smile whenever 'Mean' Gene Okerlund entered a room. He was the voice behind so many of WWE's most iconic and entertaining moments, and the WWE family will miss him immensely."

Famed wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin had this to say about Okerlund on Twitter: "As an interviewer, pitch man, announcer, or host, he was untouchable. Simply the best. Total professional with quick wit, sarcasm, humor, and that golden voice."

Curb Your Enthusiasm star Bob Einstein died on Jan. 2, 2019, after a battle with cancer, reported Fox News. He was 76 years old. Einstein initially planned on pursuing advertising as a career, but he was discovered by actor and comedian Tom Smothers while performing in a public access show as a favor to a friend. It led to a lucrative comedy writing and acting career, and Einstein won his first Emmy in 1969 for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. In 1979, Einstein created the goofy character Super Dave Osborne, who appeared in various shorts and series for three decades. The New York Times described Osborne as "something of a cartoon character — a witless, deadpan parody of bravado-fueled stuntmen like Evel Knievel."

In 2004, Einstein debuted on Curb Your Enthusiasm as Marty Funkhouser, the "perpetually enraged" pal of  Larry David. "Never have I seen an actor enjoy a role the way Bob did playing Marty Funkhouser on 'Curb,'" David said (via The New York Times). "There was no one like him, as he told us again and again."

Top Chef star Fatima Ali died on Jan. 25, 2019 at just 29 years old after battling a rare form of bone cancer. The New York City chef was featured on the 15th season of the hit Bravo TV show. In October 2018, Ali penned a heartbreaking essay in Bon Appetit revealing that she had only about a year left to live. During that time, she pursued her bucket list, which included meeting Ellen DeGeneres and traveling the world to dine at renowned eateries.

She recalled one particularly special dinner in a subsequent essay for the culinary magazine. A restaurant manager had "made a replica of my food stall, VanPakistan, in the kitchen. Down to the tablecloth. Down to the kind of napkin dispenser I had. The chef made the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth Seekh kebabs I've ever had, with flatbread and pickled onions and green chutney they had made just for me. My mom was in tears, bawling. My older brother was crying. Everyone was hugging each other."

In November 2018, she wrote (via Bon Appetit), "There are days that I'm exceptionally afraid. There are days I sit alone and cry, because I don't want to do it in front of my family. And there are other days that we all sit down and cry together, because it is such a scary thing. But at the same time, you can't let that fear cripple you. It's harder being miserable than it is to be happy."

Actress Lisa Sheridan died on Feb. 25, 2019 at her New Orleans, La., home. She was 44 years old. Sheridan worked steadily, mostly in television, from the late 1990s until her untimely passing. Her breakout role was as Vivian Winters in Legacy in 1998, then as Chloe Tanner in FreakyLinks in 2000. Sheridan had roles on CSI, CSI Miami and CSI: NY, and NCIS. Her biggest starring roles were in Invasion in 2005 and Journeyman in 2007. In 2014, she starred as Rebecca in Halt And Catch Fire, and her most recent role was in indie thriller Strange Nature (2018). She was previously engaged to actor Ron Livingston, according to People, but they never married.

Sheridan's cause of death was unknown, her manager told Fox News, but said her family vehemently denied any possibility of a suicide. Rumors that the Halt And Catch Fire star may have taken her own life were possibly spawned by an Instagram tribute from her friend, director Michael Dunaway. He wrote in part, "I'm trying to take comfort in knowing your struggles and pain and grief are 'at last, and last behind you.'"

Keith Flint, frontman of the electronic band The Prodigy, was found dead at age 49 on March 4, 2019. The Guardian reported that police were conducting a welfare check on the singer when they found his body. Police told the outlet that Flint's death was "not being treated as suspicious." The Prodigy co-founder Liam Howlett stated on the band's Instagram that Flint had taken his own life.

Flint was candid about his battle with addiction, and how a falling out with the band helped him clean up ahead of their 2009 reunion. "I got bang into coke, weed, drinking a lot," Flint told The Times (via The Mirror). "This made me reclusive, boring and shallow. I'd line up rows of pills and just take them and take them and I'd lose track of how many until I passed out." Flint reportedly said in the same interview that he'd felt suicidal in the past. 

In the years prior to his death, Flint slowed down his hard-charging ways. After marrying his wife, Japanese DJ Mayumi Kai, he reportedly retreated to "a quiet life in the country," where he "ran a genteel country pub" and spent his free time exercising. Of the change of pace, Flint said (per The Mirror), "It's very boring and very un-rock'n'roll to talk about it." The Prodigy released their album No Tourists in November 2018, and were set to kick off their first U.S. tour in over 10 years in May 2019. 

Airwolf star Jan-Michael Vincent died Feb. 10, 2019 at 73 years old, but his passing wasn't reported until nearly a month later, according to TMZ. He was reportedly hospitalized in North Carolina when he died of cardiac arrest. Vincent was once the highest-paid actor on TV, banking $200,000 per episode as a helicopter pilot on the CBS hit Airwolf in the 1980s. Unfortunately, his star burned out rapidly due to his alleged substance abuse. According to The New York Times, "He was known to abuse alcohol and cocaine and was accused of getting into bar fights; he narrowly avoided jail in 1986 by entering a monthlong drug rehabilitation program after breaking probation related to an earlier drunken-driving conviction." In 1996, he reportedly broke his neck and damaged his vocal cords after rear-ending his girlfriend's car, and in 2012, he had to have part of his leg amputated due to an infection. He told 20/20 (via the NYT) in 2000 that he was "hanging on by [his] white knuckles" to his sobriety. 

Despite his struggles, Vincent worked fairly steadily for nearly 30 years, with roles in television series including Gunsmoke and Bonanza and movies such as 1978's Hooper and 1981's Hard Country. His most recent role was in 2002's White Boy.

Richard Erdman died at 93 on March 16, 2019. A longtime character actor, Erdman caught the acting bug when he moved to Hollywood from Colorado as a high school student, Variety reported. Erdman's career spanned some 70 years and more than 100 works, beginning with short films in the 1940s and branching into television in the 1950s, with appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Make Room for Daddy as well as a recurring role on Where's Raymond? He had memorable roles in The Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, Saints and Sinners, The Tab Hunter Show and Lou Grant. Erdman was a prolific voice actor, providing his pipes for everything from Popeye and Son to Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo to The Smurfs.

His most recent role was that of Leonard, an elderly student, on Community from 2009 to 2015. His co-star Yvette Nicole Brown paid tribute to him on Twitter, writing, "I knew the day we'd have to say goodbye to this lovely man would come sooner than any of us were ready. But knowing that doesn't make it any easier. #RichardErdman was JOY walking. Anyone who saw him on @CommunityTV [gleefully] stealing every scene he was in knows that's true."

Former Miami Ink star and Japanese tattoo artist Yoji Harada died March 27, 2019 at just 46 years old. According to Inked magazine, he was in Holland at the of his passing, having opened a tattoo shop in Amsterdam around 2011.  At the time of his death, he also ran a T-shirt line, Ruthless and Toothless, with Miami Ink co-star Darren Brass.

Harada was reportedly born in Tokyo, moved to Chicago in 1998, and then landed in New York City. "Harada performed in the punk band 'Big Deal,' before relocating to Miami to be apprenticed by Ami James," the mag reported. From 2005 to 2008, Harada starred alongside James at the Love Hate Tattoo Shop in Florida. Harada made waves on Miami Ink during his journey from apprentice to full-fledged artist. At one point, his colleagues made him walk in his boxers from the city's Little Havana neighborhood to South Beach to complete his "initiation" with the shop. He also conveyed his struggle with work-life balance on the reality series, and his wife, Bridget, revealed in an episode that the tattoo business got in the way of their relationship. They divorced in 2009. 

James launched a GoFundMe for Harada's daughter, Sidney, after Harada's passing. 

Dutch model and former Miss Teenager Universe Lotte Van Der Zee died March 6, 2019, her parents revealed on her Instagram account. Van Der Zee, who won the Miss Teenager Universe title in 2017, suffered a heart attack during a ski trip with her family in Austria and died two weeks later, People reported. According to E! News, she began to feel unwell one afternoon, "suffered sudden cardiac arrest," and "fell into a coma." She had recently celebrated her 20th birthday. 

"It started with her kidneys. She was then put on kidney dialysis, which kept her alive," Van Der Zee's mother told a Dutch paper (via The Evening Standard) that the family was faced with the difficult decision to say good bye. "The last days Lotte's organs started to go, while no more brain activity was measured," she said. Eventually, "it became clear on [March 6] that it would not be okay, she was taken off the machine. Lotte has had to endure a lot over the past few days. We did not want any further suffering."

Director John Singleton passed away on April 29, 2019 at just 51 years old after suffering a massive stroke about two weeks earlier, according to Variety. The outlet also reported that Singleton was both the youngest, and the first-ever African American best director Oscar nominee when he got the nod at just 24 years old for his acclaimed film Boyz N the Hood (1991). He's also known for helming Poetic Justice (1993), the remake of Shaft (2000), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), and Michael Jackson's iconic music video for "Remember The Time" starring Eddie Murphy, Iman, and Magic Johnson. He most recently served as an executive producer of the FX series Snowfall and directed American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson in 2016.

Tributes poured out for the late director from everyone from newly-minted Oscar winner Spike Lee, to Jordan Peele, to former President Barack Obama, and Singleton's frequent collaborator Regina King. Singleton's daughter Justice — his spitting image — honored her father on Instagram, and promised to continue his legacy, writing, "I want [to] provide what he can no longer. I am his vessel and he is my captain. I'll share as much of his hopes and dreams. I'll treat those the way he did, with fist bumps and laughter. I sincerely wish he had more time but what he did here is everlasting and within me. I'll always be Justice, his little face."

Model and actress Peggy Lipton passed away on May 11, 2019. She was 72 years old. Lipton was mother to daughters Kidada and Rashida Jones with her ex-husband, music pioneer Quincy Jones. Rashida and Kidada said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times, "She made her journey peacefully with her daughters and nieces by her side." They continued, "We feel so lucky for every moment we spent with her," adding, "We can't put all of our feelings into words right now, but we will say: Peggy was and will always be our beacon of light, both in this world and beyond. She will always be a part of us."

Lipton kicked off her modeling career when she was just 15 years old. She was acclaimed for her acting work as Julie Barnes in The Mod Squad from 1968 to 1973, earning four Emmy nominations and winning a Golden Globe for the role in 1971. She was also a singer, releasing a self-titled album in 1968 (via Variety).

She married Quincy Jones in 1974, then took on smaller roles and bit parts periodically. After divorcing Jones in 1989, Lipton hit the small screen again as Norma Jennings in Twin Peaks, a role she reprised in 2017. In addition to Twin Peaks, Lipton also appeared in daughter Rashida's series Angie Tribeca, appropriately as the mom of Rashida's titular character.

Comedy legend Tim Conway died May 14, 2019. He was 85 years old. Conway's big break was in the role of Ensign Charles Parker on McHale's Navy, followed by his own eponymous show, and then his acclaimed role on The Carol Burnett Show. He won a Golden Globe and four Emmy Awards for his work on the latter, as well as two more Emmys for his guest appearances on Coach and 30 Rock. According to The New York Times, "Younger viewers may know Mr. Conway best as Dorf, a diminutive character with a Mr. Tudball accent who appears in a series of short slapstick films he wrote."He also voiced Barnacle Boy on SpongeBob Squarepants, effectively instilling his legacy across several generations. Conway was happiest in supporting roles, telling the Archive of American Television in 2004: "I would much rather stand in the background and make small funny things than be up at the head of the class."

In August 2018, The Blast reported that Conway was confined to a wheelchair and battling dementia. His wife, Charlene, and daughter Kelly (from his first wife, Mary Anne Dalton) battled in court over who should be his conservator. After his passing, Carol Burnett told Fox News, "I'm heartbroken. He was one in a million, not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being. I cherish the times we had together both on the screen and off. He'll be in my heart forever."

Former WWE star Ashley Massaro died May 16, 2019, just 10 days short of her 40th birthday, TMZ reported. Massaro won the 2005 WWE "Raw Diva Search," nabbing a $250,000 contract. In 2007, she took on Melina in the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania, appeared on the cover of Playboy, and competed in Survivor: China. She left the WWE in 2008, returning to the biz with a smaller wrestling outfit in 2017.

The Blast reported "died after apparently taking her own life." She had long been open about her struggles with mental health. Before her passing, Massaro was one of 60 wrestlers to take part in a class action lawsuit against the WWE for allegedly not protecting its talent from the risks of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and TBI (traumatic brain injury). Massaro reportedly blamed her bouts of depression on the head trauma she suffered during her wrestling career and claimed the WWE "used narcotics as a tool to allow me and other wrestlers to perform through our injuries." The organization reportedly did pay for her to go to rehab for her addiction to painkillers. The suit was dismissed in 2018, but an appeal is ongoing at the time of this writing. The WWE claimed Massaro apologized for filing the suit, but Massaro's attorney told the New York Post he wasn't aware of any such apology.

Gloria Vanderbilt died at 95 on June 17, 2019, her son Anderson Cooper confirmed to CNN. Born Gloria Laura Madeleine Sophie Vanderbilt in 1924, Vanderbilt was at the center of a custody battle dubbed "The Trial of the Century" after her father's death when she was 18 months old. Vanderbilt's aunt won custody of her after Vanderbilt's mother squandered much of her trust fund.

Gloria modeled in her teens, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and romanced older men, including Errol Flynn and Howard Hughes before marrying Hollywood agent Pat DeCicco. They divorced after four years; Gloria later accused DeCicco of abuse. She married conductor Leopold Stokowski in 1945, sharing sons Stanley and Christopher before splitting 10 years later. She then dated Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando before marrying director Sidney Lumet in 1956. They divorced in 1963, and she married her final husband, writer Wyatt Cooper, with whom she shared sons Anderson and Carter. Wyatt died in 1978, and Carter died by suicide a decade later.

In addition to being a tabloid staple, Gloria was an artist and fashion designer. Her signature denim made her a household name for a new generation. Anderson recalled, "If you were around in early 1980s it was pretty hard to miss the jeans she helped create, but that was her public face — the one she learned to hide behind as a child. Her private self, her real self — that was more fascinating and more lovely than anything she showed the public."

YouTube star Daniel Desmond "Etika" Amofah was found dead in New York City's East River on June 25, 2019. The video game vlogger had reportedly gone missing days earlier after posting what appeared to be a suicidal message on his channel, reported CNN. He was 29 years old. 

According to CNN, the YouTube star's primary channel was deactivated in October 2018 after pornography was allegedly uploaded to the account; he later started a secondary channel. Etika's fans have petitioned to get his channel restored after his passing. According to The Washington Post, Etika's behavior was increasingly erratic leading up to his disappearance. In April 2019, he reportedly alarmed followers with a seemingly suicidal tweet, but later assured his fans that he was okay. That same month, he reportedly livestreamed an encounter with police who had shown up at his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. to check on his welfare. 

Though his relationship with online platforms and communities was certainly conflicted, fans have flooded Twitter with messages of grief and support. "Etika was a pillar of the Smash, Nintendo, YouTube, gaming & esports communities. Etika will be remembered as a good man," tweeted Esports consultant Rod Breslau.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

H. Ross Perot, a billionaire businessman who ran for president twice as an independent, died July 9, 2019, The Dallas Morning News reported. He was 89. Known simply as Ross Perot, he was born and raised in Texas and served in the Navy before becoming a salesman for IBM. He left IBM in 1962 to found Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1962, followed by Perot Systems, Inc. in 1988. Perot's son, Ross Perot, Jr., succeeded him as CEO before selling the company to Dell in 2009 for a whopping $3.9 billion.

Perot ran for president in 1992 as an independent against incumbent President George H.W. Bush and then-Democratic nominee Bill Clinton. Perot used more than $12 million of his own money for his campaign. Though he didn't win any electoral college votes, he earned 18.9 percent of the popular vote and was famously impersonated on Saturday Night LiveDana Carvey. The real Ross ran again in 1996 against then-incumbent President Bill Clinton and Republican nominee Bob Dole, but he only received 8 percent of the popular vote his second time around. Though he never ran for public office again, he did endorse George W. Bush for president in 2000.

The father of five children with wife Margot Birmingham, he dedicated the later years of his life to philanthropic efforts. In 2008, his children donated $50 million to help fund a science museum named in his honor in Dallas.

YouTube vlogger Emily Hartridge died on July 12, 2019 at 35 years old when her electric scooter collided with a truck in London. Hartridge's Instagram account posted a statement confirming her passing on July 13. In a heartwrenching turn, the clip that would become Hartridge's final YouTube video was published July 8 — and it featured her receiving scooters for her birthday. The Guardian reported that Hartridge's fatal scooter crash was the first on record in the U.K.

Hartridge initially gained popularity for her "10 Reasons Why" video series, which featured provocative titles like "You shouldn't get married.....10 Reasons Why," "You Should Date a Cougar....10 Reasons Why" and "Boobs are AWESOME ... 10 Reasons Why." Within the last few years, she gained prominence as a fitness vlogger and influencer with her "Think Outside the Gym" series. Her most recent uploads focused on love and relationships, including her own romance with Jacob Hazell, who posted a heartbreaking video after her death.

Peter Fonda died on Aug. 16, 2018 at 79 years old after a battle with lung cancer, Variety reported. Fonda was an iconic on-screen biker, beginning with the Hell's Angels opus Wild Angels (1966), starring alongside Bruce Dern and Nancy Sinatra. Then came the The Trip (1967), followed by his star turn in Easy Rider (1969), which he co-wrote with Dennis Hopper and author Terry Southern. Fonda earned a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for Easy Rider, though he and Hopper reportedly feuded for years over who came up with the idea. His most notable roles in the 1970s included parts in Futureworld (1976) and Wanda Nevada (1979), in which he co-starred with a young Brooke Shields and his father, Henry Fonda, marking their only shared screen time during their lifetimes. He later appeared with his daughter, Bridget Fonda, in Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993).

After a series of cameos and bit parts, Peter Fonda returned to the big time in John Carpenter's blockbuster Escape From L.A. (1996) with Kurt Russell, followed by Ulee's Gold (1997), for which he was nominated for a 1998 Best Actor Oscar. He continued acting throughout his life, both in film and TV (often as a biker), guest-starring in CSI: NY and Hawaii Five-O. Peter's superstar sister, Jane Fonda, said in a statement, "I am very sad. He was my sweet-hearted baby brother. The talker of the family. I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days. He went out laughing."

Valerie Harper died on Aug. 30, 2019, her family revealed to ABC 7. The late actress was 80 years old and had battled cancer for several years before her passing. 

After rising to notoriety on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as the titular character's best friend, Rhoda Morgenstern, she later starred on the spin-off, Rhoda, and ultimately won four Emmy Awards for her portrayal of the character. Her next series, Valerie, lasted two seasons before she was fired due to a failed contract negotiation, which led Harper to sue for wrongful termination (via People). Though NBC counter-sued for libel, she won some damages in the case.

Harper married twice: first to Richard Schaal from 1964 to 1978, then to fitness instructor Tony Cacciotti from 1987 until her death. She and Cacciotti share a daughter named Christina. After being treated for lung cancer in 2009, Harper revealed she was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis — a rare form of brain cancer — in 2013, and announced that she had just three months to live. She beat the odds for a time, later telling People that she was at peace with her mortality. "I am not banking on anything, really, because we shouldn't," Harper said. "We don't know what's around the corner. I think you just take each day and get the best out of it and do what you can and have fun."

Singer Eddie Money, famous for "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Take Me Home Tonight," died on Sept. 13, 2019. He was 70 years old. The crooner had recently been diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. On the morning of his death, his family told Variety, "It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and father. We cannot imagine our world without him. We are grateful that he will live on forever through his music."

Money, born Edward Joseph Mahoney in Brooklyn, was an NYPD officer before moving to California, where he linked up with legendary producer Bill Graham. His first hit was 1978's "Baby Hold On," while "Take Me Home Tonight," featuring Ronnie Spector reprising her hit "Be My Baby," peaked at No. 4. In April 2018, Money and his family appeared in the AXS TV reality series Real Money.

During the 1980s, Money struggled with addiction and alcohol abuse, but got sober, which he told The Los Angeles Times was "boring." Still, he maintained a sense of humor about his life and career, telling the outlet, "I don't go for this Hollywood crap. I can sample it but I don't fall into it. I don't go to Rod Stewart parties. I don't come down to L.A. for the Grammys. I'm not into fancy cars. I drive a 1974 Mercedes that I bought from my lawyer. It's a piece of junk. I'm trying to sell it to my Iranian dentist."

Former House Hunters host Suzanne Whang died at 56 on Sept. 17, 2019. Whang battled breast cancer for 13 years. Her longtime partner, Jeff Vezain, wrote on Facebook, "A lifetime of love, adventure, humor and bliss now lives in our memories. ... Suzanne breathed her last breath here at home, as I knelt beside her and caressed her."

Whang battled breast cancer for 13 years, with what Vezain says was "courage, humor, determination and optimism. She was immensely encouraged by the love of her family, friends and those she had yet to meet." Whang chronicled her cancer battle on social media with a series of candid and at times darkly funny posts.

In addition to her hosting stint on the popular HGTV show, Whang was a producer, radio host, writer and even an ordained minister, TMZ reports. She was also an actress, appearing in TV shows like Las Vegas, Dexter, Criminal Minds, Arrested Development, Kingdom, The Mick, and General Hospital.

Actor Sid Haig, who's best known for portraying the iconic horror character Captain Spaulding in his frequent collaborations with director Rob Zombie, died on Sept. 21, 2019, due to complications from a lung infection, according to Variety. He was 80.

"My light, my heart, my true love, my King, the other half of my soul, Sidney, passed from this realm on to the next. He has returned to the Universe, a shining star in her heavens," Haig's wife posted to Instagram. "He was my angel, my husband, my best friend and always will be. He adored his family, his friends and his fans. This came as a shock to all of us."

In a career that spanned over five decades, Haig appeared in almost every classic television show and genre movie you can imagine. Just take a look at a few of his IMBd credits: Batman (the television show), Star Trek (the original), Here's Lucy (with Lucille Ball), THX 1138 (George Lucas' first film), Diamonds Are Forever (a James Bond flick), Fantasy Island, Coffy, Foxy Brown, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill: Vol 2, and the 2015 instant horror-western classic Bone Tomahawk.

Grateful Dead collaborator Robert Hunter passed away on Sept. 23, 2019. He was 78 years old. Rolling Stone reported that no cause of death was revealed, but a rep confirmed that Hunter died at his home "surrounded by love," holding his wife Maureen's hand.

Hunter was the legendary jam band's lyricist for hits including "Dark Star," "China Cat Sunflower," "Uncle John's Band," "Box of Rain," "Scarlet Begonias," and "Touch of Gray." Hunter first met Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia in 1961 at a local California production of Damn Yankees. They eventually bonded over losing their fathers at a young age (Garcia's father had died, while Hunter's parents were divorced).

Hunter, who once described using LSD as "a romping good time," recalled his experiences both with drugs and with the Dead to Rolling Stone, explaining the origins of one track in particular that spawned when a stranger offered him a substance in Golden Gate State Park. "I don't remember if I took it or not, but I said, 'I'm writing the second verse for the song called 'Dark Star' for the Grateful Dead — remember that.' I had a prescience about the whole thing at that point. Once I started believing in that band, I thought, 'We're going to go the distance.'"

After Garcia's death in 1995, Hunter continued writing, most famously with Bob Dylan, and continued touring and performing as recently as 2013, when he admitted he had to raise money for medical bills for a spinal abscess.

K-pop star Sulli was found dead in her Seongnam, South Korea home on Oct. 14, 2019. She was just 25 years old. Police told The Guardian that the singer, a former member of the K-pop group f(x), is suspected to have taken her own life, but AP News also concurrently reported that "police did not find a suicide note." 

Sulli had a history of depression and emotional distress. She took a hiatus from her K-pop group in July 2014, before quitting the group entirely in 2015 to focus on acting and her solo K-pop career. In 2018, she revealed on a talk show that she suffered from panic disorders from a young age, explaining, "Even close people left me. I was hurt by them and felt there was nobody who understands me, which made me fall apart."

According to AP News, Sulli "was known for her feminist voice and outspokenness," which "was rare among female entertainers in deeply conservative South Korea." This apparent openness led to Sulli becoming a somewhat controversial figure in K-pop. As a result, she also suffered from online bullying for things as innocuous as kissing her best friend at a birthday party. The New York Times reported that Sulli's fans have now claimed that cyberbullying "affected her mental health," however, the investigation into what led to her death is still ongoing, as of this writing.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

Actor Bill Macy died on Oct. 17, 2019 at 97 years old, The New York Times reported. Macy was best known for his role as Bea Arthur's husband, Walter Findlay, on Maude from 1972 to 1978. In an interview with Shout! Factory TV Macy recalled one episode that "really affected" him. In particular, it was once since from the episode in which Walter was depicted as having a drinking problem and struck Maude in the face. "When I hit her on camera ... I — it was how I felt," Macy said, as he choked up describing his emotional performance. "Even just the memory of it [is painful]. Both of us spoke about it, and [Arthur] said, 'Don't hit her in the ear, but use this part of the face,'" he added, pointing to his cheek.

The Times additionally reported that Macy was born Wolf Marvin Garber in Revere, Mass., before a neighbor convinced his parents to "Americanize" his first name. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and served in the Army when he graduated high school. He later drove a taxi for years before achieving success first onstage in a series of Off-Broadway plays, then onscreen. Aside from Maude, Macy is likely best remembered for his small but crucial role in The Jerk, in which he helps Steve Martin's character get rich.

Comedian and actor John Witherspoon died on Oct. 29, 2019 at 77 years old, his son announced on Twitter. As of this writing, Witherspoon's cause of death has not yet been revealed. The Detroit native began his career in standup comedy before transitioning to a colorful career in television and film. His best known roles include "Pops" on The Wayans Bros. as the father to titular stars Marlon and Shawn Wayans, and Willie Jones in the Friday franchise, in which he played star Ice Cube's father. Witherspoon was reportedly slated to reprise his role as Jones in the upcoming Last Friday installment, which is still in pre-production as of press time. Witherspoon also appeared in Soul Plane, and provided voiceover work for The Boondocks and Proud Family. He boasted a whopping 84 acting credits in his career.

Comedian Mike Epps, who appeared with Witherspoon in Next Friday, expressed his heartbreak on Instagram and reminisced about Witherspoon calming him down on his first day on the set, while Marlon Wayans echoed Epps' angst, writing that that whenever he misses Witherspoon he'll toss on an episode of The Wayans Bros. Ice Cube perhaps summed up the consensus of Witherspoon's peers the best, simply tweeting, "I'm devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon. Life won't be as funny without him."

Actress Jane Galloway Heitz died at a hospital in Highland Park, Ill. on Nov. 13, 2019. She was 78 years old, and suffered from congestive heart failure, her daughter confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. Glee fans will recognize Galloway Heitz as Glee Club instructor Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison)'s inspiration and predecessor. A photo of Galloway Heitz is visible in a trophy case in the school on the show, though the actress only appeared on the show in the flesh twice.

Galloway Heitz was a talent manager as well as an actress. While getting started in her own acting career in Chicago, she boasted other future stars, including Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Richard Kind, and Eric Stonestreet, who frequently credited her with his casting on Modern Family, on her management roster. Galloway Heitz sold her management agency in 1997, and went on to do theater, appearing in The Straight Story with Sissy Spacek, as well as small screen shows including ER, Grey's Anatomy, Monk, Prison Break, Without A Trace, Shameless and The Big Bang Theory.

Actor and model Godfrey Gao died on Nov. 27, 2019 at just 35 years old. Gao collapsed on the set of a game show called Chase Me in China, Women's Wear Daily reported. His management team said in a statement, "In the early hours of Nov. 27, our beloved Godfrey collapsed while filming on set. Unfortunately following three hours of medical rescue efforts, he left us. We are very shocked and saddened and even until now find it impossible to accept." The cause of Gao's collapse is unclear and no further medical details were provided as of press time.

Taiwan-born Gao made his debut in 2007 series Bullfighting, and was best known for his role in the 2013 film The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones. His most recent roles were in The Jade Pendant as Tom and Shanghai Fortress as Yang Jiannan. His other credits include Momo Love, Never Give Up Dodo, God of War Zhao Yun and Remembering Lichuan. In 2011, Gao became Louis Vuitton's first Asian model, which, according to Women's Wear Daily, was his "big career break."

Per The New York Times, Gao had a huge presence on the Chinese social media site Weibo with "more than 5.7 million followers." In the wake of his death, users flooded the platform with complaints about alleged safety issues on Chase Me, which the outlet described as a show that "invites actors as well as ordinary people to compete in variety of sports challenges, often to the point of exhaustion."  

Cha In-Ha, a South Korean actor, was found dead in his Seoul home on Dec. 3, 2019. He was just 27 years old. In-Ha's cause of death remains unknown to the public at the time of this writing; Yahoo! News reported that In-Ha's manager found his body, and that police are still investigating his passing. In-Ha's management team said in a statement, "We're sincerely hurt that we're sending this sad news to the people who have given Cha In-ha so much love and supported him until now." The statement also urged fans to refrain from speculation and rumors and to allow his loved ones to mourn his loss privately.

Born Lee Jae-Ho, In-Ha only recently rose to prominence in the South Korean entertainment industry. According to Variety, In-Ha was part of the Fantagio acting group Surprise U. He appeared in The Banker, Miss Independent Ji Eun 2, and in the MBC drama television series Love With Flaws that premiered just a week ago, The New York Times reported. In his last Instagram post before his passing, In-Ha can been seen in a black leather jacket, drinking from a white mug with the caption [translated to English], "Everybody watch out."

Ron Leibman died on Dec. 6, 2019 at 82 years old. Leibman was a staple of New York City theater who transitioned to steady work as a character actor. One of his breakout roles was in Slaughterhouse-Five in 1972, followed by The Super Cops in 1974, and as Martin Kazinsky in Kaz, which he also co-wrote and for which he won an Emmy — just weeks before the show was canceled. In 1981, he starred alongside George Hamilton in Zorro: The Gay Blade, and he later starred in C.P.W., Pacific Station, and Holding The Baby. He also appeared in Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, The Sopranos, and did voiceover work for Archer with his wife Jessica Walter.

Still, Leibman was most famous for playing Rachel Green's father on Friends, although he initially rejected the part because he'd never seen the show. He explained to The A.V. Club in 2011, "It sounded stupid to me, so I turned it down," he said, adding that his daughter convinced him to take the role. He agreed to do one episode so his daughter could meet the cast. "So I did, and had a very nice time, and they asked me back, and my daughter did get to meet those kids, so I was a big hero in the house," he recalled. "It's amazing, the power of the tube. I've done all this body of work, and they say, 'Oh yes, Rachel's father.' I go, 'Give me a break.'"

Juice Wrld died on Dec. 8, 2019. He was just 21 years old, and reportedly on his way to a birthday party in his honor. Juice (real name Jarad Anthony Higgins) was conscious when transported to a hospital where he passed away following a seizure and cardiac arrest at Chicago's Midway airport, TMZ reported. His official cause of death remains unknown, as of this writing.

According to The Chicago Tribune, when Higgins went into cardiac arrest, his girlfriend informed a law enforcement agent that he "takes Percocet and has a drug problem." At that point, two doses of Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, were administered while an ambulance was en route.

TMZ reported that 70 pounds of marijuana and a bottle of codeine cough syrup were found on the private jet Higgins and his crew used the day of his death. Two of Juice's security guards on the flight were arrested and charged with misdemeanor gun violations. The New York Post additionally reported that the guards had a "conceal and carry permit" in Illinois, which doesn't extend to allowing firearms in the airport.

Some of Juice's final moments were captured on video, with footage of him goofing around with pals on what would be his last flight. For what it's worth, codeine cough syrup is a main ingredient in "lean," a substance Juice referenced in the tragically prophetic "Lean Wit Me": "Lean with me, pop with me / Get high with me if you rock with me / Smoke with me, drink with me / F**ked up liver with some bad kidneys / Told her if I die I'ma die young."

Philip McKeon, who starred on Alice as a child, died on Dec. 11, 2019 at 55 years old. People reports that McKeon suffered a longtime (though unspecified) illness before his passing. McKeon, brother of Facts Of Life actress Nancy McKeon, starred on the sitcom based on Martin Scorsese's film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore alongside Linda Lavin from 1976 through 1985.

After Alice ended, McKeon continued acting in bit parts and small roles through 1994, per IMDb. He eventually quit acting entirely and worked for KFWB Los Angeles' News 98 for a decade. He then moved to Wimberly, Texas, "to be closer to family," per People.

McKeon's co-stars paid tribute to him after his passing. Lavin reminisced to People in a statement, "Philip was the endearing, loving boy, always willing and eager to connect with others. Although we were performing a show, the dynamic of creating that relationship made our connection very real and deep. He taught me how to be a good mom, just by being the wondrous boy he was." Charlie Sheen, who appeared in a 1986 episode of Amazing Stories with McKeon, also tipped his hat to his late colleague in a tweet, calling him a "perfect gentleman" and "an ebullient spirit."

Danny Aiello died on Dec. 12, 2019, TMZ reports. Aiello was reportedly being treated at a New Jersey medical center "for a sudden illness" and passed away after "he suffered an infection related to his treatment," though neither the illness nor the infection were specified as of press time. He was 86 years old.

Aiello's breakout role was in 1973 alongside Robert De Niro in Bang The Drum Slowly, followed by a star turn in The Godfather: Part II as Tony Rosato. He was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Brooklyn pizza shop owner Sal Fragione in Spike Lee's 1989 smash Do The Right Thing. He also appeared in Moonstruck, Hudson's Hawk, and Jacob's Ladder.

In addition to big screen work, Aiello was a staple on television and the stage, but his rise to success came after a life of poverty and hardship, and he turned to crime temporarily to support his family before becoming an actor at 35 years old. "I never killed anybody or sold drugs, but that's about all I didn't do," he admitted to People in 1990. Aiello's grit eventually made him one of Hollywood's highest-paid character actors. "I never felt intimidated," he quipped. "Hell, I've been shot at, nearly had my ear cut off in a fight. I've broken into other people's houses. You learn to throw yourself out there. The worst they can do to you is say no. I can live with that."

Radio legend Don Imus died at 79 on Dec. 27, 2019, TMZ reported. Imus was one of radio's first shock jocks, and his legacy is a mixed one. His humor could at times be sharp and cutting, and it was often also off-color and bigoted (Per the New York Post, Imus implied that athletes he didn't respect were homosexuals, and frequently derided sportscaster Len Berman as "Lenny the Jew").

Imus' most infamous remark was about the 2007 Rutgers University women's basketball team, which he referred to as "nappy headed h**s." The outrage went nationwide, and he was let go from his time slot. He eventually got hired for ABC Radio. In March 2018, he admitted to CBS News, "The Rutgers thing I regret ... 'cause I knew better."

Imus began his career in radio as a means to get airplay for his own fledgling music. He started as a DJ in California, then moved to WNBC Radio in New York. Imus In The Morning became syndicated through 100 radio stations. Imus was also known for charity work, including his "Imus Ranch" program, which served as summer camps for children with cancer.

A year before his death, Imus told CBS News that retirement was tough. "I always had it in my head that I was talking to one person," he said. "I felt that when I walked in there and sat down and turned the mic on, that I was talking to you. I'm gonna miss that."

Joe and Bill Smith of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding were found dead on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. The twins were just 32 years old and reportedly died by suicide via hanging, The Sun reported. Their cousin, Phoebe Charleen Smith, told The Telegraph that the young men formed a suicide pact after Joe was diagnosed with cancer. "Joey had cancer, and Billy told him, 'I'd never be able to live without you.' Joey told the family he got the all-clear after chemo two months ago, but we don't know if that's true now," she said.

She added that the men "went missing" and that Joey's phone was turned off. Eventually the family found a note from the men saying "they wanted it like this, and we would find them in the woods where they played with the family years ago." Their uncle discovered their bodies in a forest near their grandmother's home.

The Smiths were members of a Romani family featured in My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding in 2013. They'd recently established a landscaping business. Just weeks before their tragic deaths they were seen on a video at a wedding appearing cheerful, singing and dancing. A source told The Telegraph, "The boys seemed happy to everyone that saw them. The closer family were concerned that they were battling depression, but they were very good at hiding it. They were happy-go-lucky, but it shows you cannot always see what hides behind a smile. The family knew they were not right, but never ever expected them to do this."

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.