Norm Macdonald, comedian and ‘Saturday Night Live’ alum, dies at 61

Norm Macdonald, a comic who was beloved as an anchor of “Saturday Night Live’s” popular “Weekend Update” segments, died Tuesday, September 14, according to multiple reports citing his manager. He was 61. Macdonald had been battling cancer for several years but kept his diagnosis private, his friend and producing partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra, told CNN in a statement.

Art Metrano, a stand-up comedian best known for his role as ruthless police captain Ernie Mauser in two “Police Academy” films, died Wednesday, September 8, at the age of 84.

Michael K. Williams, an actor best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO’s “The Wire,” was found dead in his New York City apartment, a law enforcement official told CNN on September 6. He was 54. Williams amassed a number of accolades during his career, including five Emmy nominations.

Legendary French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo died at the age of 88, his lawyer, Michel Godest, said on September 6. He was best known for his breakthrough performance as the dangerous yet romantic criminal Michel in the 1960 film “Breathless,” where he worked with film director Jean-Luc Godard and starred alongside American actress Jean Seberg.

Willard Scott, the former longtime weatherman for “Today” who was known for his outgoing, jovial personality, died at the age of 87, according to the NBC show on September 4.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Tunch Ilkin died September 4 at the age of 63, according to a statement from Steelers President Art Rooney II. Ilkin was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in September 2020.

David Patten, a former NFL wide receiver who helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls between 2001 and 2004, died September 2, according to a statement from the Patriots. Patten, 47, died in a motorcycle crash.

Actor Michael Constantine, best known for playing the proud father in the hit movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” died August 31 following a long illness, according to an article in the Reading Eagle that was confirmed to CNN by his agent. He was 94 years old.

Veteran actor Ed Asner, best known for his role as the crusty but lovable newsman Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” died August 29, according to his publicist. He was 91.

Former International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge died August 29, according to an announcement by the organization. He was 79.

Charlie Watts, the unassuming son of a truck driver who gained global fame as the drummer for the Rolling Stones, died August 24 at the age of 80.

Former hockey player Jimmy Hayes, who played seven seasons in the NHL and won an NCAA hockey championship at Boston College, died August 23 at the age of 31. The cause of his death was not disclosed, the Boston Globe reported.

Hall of Fame hockey player Rod Gilbert, who earned the nickname “Mr. Ranger” while playing his entire 18-season career with the New York Rangers, died on August 22. He was 80 years old.

Don Everly, the last of the silken-voiced Everly Brothers music duo, died August 21 at the age of 84. He’s on the right here performing with his younger brother, Phil, in 1962. The two became pop idols in the late 1950s with chart-topping hits such as “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have to Do is Dream” and “Wake Up Little Susie.”

Igor Vovkovinskiy, who in 2010 was crowned the tallest living man in the United States, died August 20 at the age of 38. Vovkovinskiy, who was 7 feet, 8.33 inches tall, died in a hospital from heart disease, according to a Facebook post from his mother.

Singer-songwriter Tom T. Hall died August 20 at the age of 85, according to his son. Hall was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Artist Chuck Close, whose large-scale portraits immortalized friends, artists and some of pop culture’s most recognizable faces, died August 19 at the age of 81.

Sonny Chiba, a ferociously talented martial artist whose international renown grew with films like “The Street Fighter” and the “Kill Bill” series, died from Covid-19 complications, his representative Timothy Beal confirmed to CNN on August 19. Chiba was 82.

Japanese puzzle maker Maki Kaji died August 10 from bile duct cancer. Kaji, 69, was known as the “godfather of Sudoku” for his hand in bringing the puzzle to the masses.

Hall of Fame hockey player Tony Esposito passed away August 10 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from the Chicago Blackhawks. He was 78. Esposito was a six-time NHL All-Star, including five straight seasons between 1970 and 1974. He won the Vezina Trophy winner as the top goaltender in the league three times — 1970, 1972, 1974 — and was named the NHL’s top rookie in 1970.

Bobby Bowden, the famed college football coach who led Florida State University for over 30 years and transformed the Tallahassee team into a powerhouse, died Sunday, August 8, the school said in a statement. He was 91.

Markie Post, the actress known for her roles in “Night Court” and “The Fall Guy,” died Saturday, August 7. She was 70 years old.

Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas, often referred to as “Dee Tee,” died August 7 at the age of 70. Known for classics like “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie,” and “Cherish,” Kool & the Gang bill themselves as having performed “longer than any R&B group in history.”

Trevor Moore, comedian, actor, producer, and co-founder of the sketch comedy group The Whitest Kids U Know, died Friday, August 6, at the age of 41. Moore died “in a tragic accident,” according to the statement.

Jay Pickett, a veteran soap opera actor best known for his roles on “General Hospital,” “Days of Our Lives” and “Port Charles,” died July 30 at the age of 60. He was on location in Idaho, filming a scene for his upcoming movie, “Treasure Valley,” when he died, according to the film’s director, Travis Mills.

Carl Levin, a former US senator from Michigan who advanced Democratic priorities throughout his 36-year tenure in Congress, died July 29 at the age of 87. Levin was the longest-serving US senator in Michigan’s history.

Actor Saginaw Grant, known for his roles in “Breaking Bad” and “The Lone Ranger,” died July 28, according to his publicist Lani Carmichael. He was 85 years old.

Dusty Hill, the bearded bassist from blues-rock band ZZ Top, died at the age of 72, according to the band’s official website on July 28.

Infomercial king Ron Popeil died July 28 at the age of 86. Although his company Ronco was already a household name in the 1970s, Popeil’s fame exploded in the ’80s when looser federal regulations on TV ads allowed him to go from brief commercials to 30-minute self-contained “infomercials,” which soon dominated late night and weekend schedules.

Civil rights legend Bob Moses died July 25 at the age of 86, according to a statement from NAACP President Derrick Johnson and a statement from the organization’s Legal Defense Fund.

Comedian Jackie Mason, known for his rapid-fire befuddled observations in a decades-long standup career, died July 24 at the age of 93, longtime friend and collaborator Raoul Felder told CNN.

Rapper Biz Markie, best known for his lighthearted 1989 hit “Just a Friend,” died July 16 at the age of 57, his manager told CNN. Markie also expanded his career to include acting, appearing in several films and TV shows, including “Men in Black II” and “Yo Gabba Gabba.”

Actor and filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. died July 7 at the age of 85. He is perhaps best known for his films “Putney Swope” and “Greaser’s Palace.” He also appeared in “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia” and “To Live and Die in L.A.”

Suzzanne Douglas, an accomplished stage and screen actress who starred in the film “Tap” and the television series “The Parent ‘Hood,” died in July at the age of 64, her representative told CNN in a statement. No cause of death was shared.

Richard Donner, an accomplished Hollywood producer and director known for his work on the “Lethal Weapon” franchise and “The Goonies,” died on July 5. He was 91.

Terry Donahue, a longtime UCLA football coach, died July 4 at the age of 77, the school announced. Donahue died after a two-year battle with cancer, the school said.

Donald Rumsfeld, the acerbic architect of the Iraq War and a master Washington power player who served as US secretary of defense for two presidents, died at the age of 88, his family announced on June 30.

Former US Sen. Mike Gravel, an Alaska Democrat who garnered national attention by reading the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record and waged two unsuccessful bids for president, died June 26 at the age of 91.

Qatari sprinter Abdalelah Haroun, who won bronze in the 400 meters at the 2017 World Championships, died June 26 at the age of 24. The Qatar Olympic Committee, which announced Haroun’s death on social media, did not say how he died.

Daredevil Alex Harvill died June 17 while practicing for a world-record motorcycle ramp jump, officials in Washington state said. He was 28 years old. Harvill was hoping to break the record of a 351-foot jump, according to the Moses Lake Airshow, where his attempt was scheduled.

Actor Frank Bonner, best known for his role as an overconfident sales manager in the TV sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died on June 16, his daughter Desiree Boers-Kort told CNN. He was 79 years old.

Actress Lisa Banes, who appeared in numerous television series and films such as “Gone Girl,” died June 14 after suffering injuries sustained from being hit by a scooter in New York City, the NYPD and a law enforcement official told CNN. She was 65.

Ned Beatty, an Oscar-nominated character actor whose many films include “Deliverance” and “Superman,” died June 13 at the age of 83.

Clarence Williams III, who played Linc Hayes in “The Mod Squad,” died at his home in Los Angeles after battling colon cancer, his manager Peg Donegan told CNN in a statement on June 6. Williams was 81.

David Dushman, the last surviving soldier who helped liberate Auschwitz-Birkenau, died June 5 at the age of 98, the Jewish community of Munich and Upper Bavaria said in a statement on its website.

F. Lee Bailey, a prominent and controversial defense attorney, died June 3 at the age of 87. His death was confirmed to CNN by Jennifer Sisson, a manager at Bailey’s consulting firm. Bailey was best known for his participation in the successful defenses of high-profile clients, including O.J. Simpson.

Gavin MacLeod, known for his roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Love Boat,” died on May 29, his nephew Mark See told Variety. He was 90 years old.

Grammy-winning singer B.J. Thomas died May 29 of complications from lung cancer, his publicist said. Thomas was 78. He was propelled to stardom in 1970 when he was chosen to perform “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” for the film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

Former Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton died at the age of 64, the team confirmed in a statement on May 29. Eaton was found unconscious near his home in Summit County, Utah, after being involved in what appeared to be a bicycle crash, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. Eaton was transported to a nearby hospital where he died. Eaton was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and has the fourth-most blocks in league history. He still holds the record for most blocked shots in a season, amassing 456 blocks during the 1984-85 season.

John Warner, who represented Virginia in the US Senate for three decades and was widely respected for his views on military affairs, died May 25 at the age of 94.

Samuel E. Wright, the actor who voiced Sebastian the crab in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and sang the film’s Oscar-winning song “Under the Sea,” died May 24 at the age of 74.

Eric Carle, the author and artist of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and dozens of other popular children’s books, died on May 23. He was 91.

Paul Mooney, an actor-comedian famous for starring on “Chappelle’s Show” and “Bamboozled,” died on May 19, according to a rep for the actor. He was 79.

Charles Grodin, a versatile comedic actor best known for his roles in movies like “Midnight Run” and “The Heartbreak Kid,” died May 18 after battling cancer, according to his son. He was 86.

Colt Brennan, a former football quarterback who starred at the University of Hawaii, died at a California hospital at the age of 37, his family confirmed to CNN on May 11. His sister, Carrera Shea, said he had been in a long-term rehab facility and relapsed. Brennan set the NCAA single-season record for touchdown passes when he threw 58 of them in 2006. That record was eclipsed by LSU’s Joe Burrow in 2019.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Lloyd Price died at the age of 88, his longtime manager confirmed to CNN on May 9. Price was called “Mr. Personality” for his smash recording of “Personality,” and he was known for adapting the New Orleans sound starting in the 1950s with hits such as “Stagger Lee” and “Lawdy Miss Clawdy.”

Pervis Staples, one of the founding members of the legendary Chicago gospel group the Staple Singers, died on May 6, according to a funeral home notice and Facebook post. He was 85. Staples is seen here, third from left, along with the rest of the Staple Singers.

Nick Kamen, a British model and singer who appeared in a famous 1985 Levi’s commercial, died at the age of 59, his family confirmed to the PA Media news agency on May 5. Kamen also collaborated with Madonna on the 1986 record “Each Time you Break my Heart.”

Race car driver Bobby Unser, winner of the 1968, 1975 and 1981 Indianapolis 500s, died May 2 at the age of 87. Unser is one of 10 drivers to win the prestigious Indy 500 at least three times, and he was the first driver to win the race in three different decades.

Actress Olympia Dukakis, who won an Oscar for her role in the 1987 film “Moonstruck,” died on May 1, according to her agent. She was 89 years old.

Former New York Jets football player Pete Lammons died in an accident during a fishing tournament in Texas on April 29, according to tournament officials and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He was 77.

Geno Hayes, a former NFL linebacker, died April 26, according to his former high school football coach Frankie Carroll. The cause of death was related to liver disease, Carroll said. Hayes played at Florida State University before going on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was 33.

Celebrated fashion designer Alber Elbaz, perhaps best known for his work at Yves Saint Laurent and Lanvin, died of Covid-19 on April 24, a spokesperson for the luxury fashion company Richemont told CNN. Elbaz was 59.

Walter “Fritz” Mondale, who served as vice president under President Jimmy Carter before waging his own unsuccessful White House bid in 1984, died on April 19. He was 93.

Helen McCrory, the British actress best known for her roles in the Harry Potter films and the TV series “Peaky Blinders,” died April 16 at the age of 52. Her husband, actor Damian Lewis, tweeted that she died “peacefully at home” after a “heroic battle with cancer.”

Prince Philip, the lifelong companion of Queen Elizabeth II and the longest-serving consort in British history, died on April 9. He was 99.

DMX, a rapper known as much for his troubles as his music, died after being hospitalized following a heart attack, according to a statement released by his family on April 9. He was 50. The Grammy-nominated artist sold millions of albums, boosted by hits like “Get At Me Dog” in 1998, “Party Up” in 1999 and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” in 2003.

US Rep. Alcee Hastings, a civil rights activist and the longest-serving member of Florida’s congressional delegation, died at the age of 84, his chief of staff Lale M. Morrison told CNN on April 6.

G. Gordon Liddy — a former FBI agent, organizer of the Watergate break-in and radio show host — died March 30 at the age of 90, his son confirmed to CNN.

Children’s book author Beverly Cleary died March 25 at the age of 104, her publishing company announced. Cleary’s books have sold more than 85 million copies and were translated into 29 different languages.

Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Larry McMurtry died March 25 at the age of 84, according to his publicist. McMurtry won the Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for the novel “Lonesome Dove.”

Jessica Walter, an award-winning actress beloved for her role in the television series “Arrested Development,” died March 24, her daughter confirmed in a statement to CNN. She was 80.

George Segal, a prolific actor with a career that spanned more than six decades, died at age 87, his wife said on March 23. Segal received an Oscar nomination in 1966 for his role in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

Basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, who played for the Lakers for 14 seasons and was an All-Star 11 times, died March 22 at the age of 86.

Elsa Peretti, the famed jewelry designer for Tiffany & Co., died on March 18, according to her foundation. She was 80. “A masterful artisan, Elsa was responsible for a revolution in the world of jewelry design,” said a statement from Tiffany. “Her collections of organic, sensual forms have inspired generations.”

Yaphet Kotto, an actor known for bringing gravitas to his roles across television and film, died March 14, according to his agent. He was 81. Kotto’s notable film work includes roles in “Alien,” “The Running Man,” “Midnight Run” and “Live and Let Die,” in which he played iconic Bond villain Mr. Big. In television, his longest-running role was as Lt. Al Giardello on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street.”

Former boxing champion “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler died March 13 at the age of 66, according to his wife. Hagler dominated the middleweight division for nearly a decade.

Lou Ottens, the Dutch inventor of the cassette tape, died at the age of 94, his family confirmed to CNN on March 11.

Jahmil French, an actor known for his role as Dave Turner on the Canadian series “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” died on March 1, according to his manager, Gabrielle Kachman. He was 29. No details on the cause of death were made available.

Vernon Jordan, a civil rights leader and close adviser to former President Bill Clinton, died on March 1, multiple sources close to the family told CNN. He was 85.

Broadcasting pioneer and former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Irv Cross died on February 28, the Philadelphia Eagles announced on the team’s website. He was 81. Cross was the first African American sports analyst on national television when he worked for CBS Sports as an NFL analyst and commentator from 1971 to 1994.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the Beat poet, publisher and founder of San Francisco’s beloved City Lights bookstore, died February 22 at the age of 101. Ferlinghetti was one of the last surviving members of the Beat Generation, and he played a key role in expanding the literary movement’s focus to the West Coast.

Rush Limbaugh, the conservative media icon who for decades used his perch as the king of talk radio to shape the politics of both the Republican Party and nation, died February 17 after a battle with cancer. He was 70.

Johnny Pacheco, considered the “godfather of salsa” for popularizing the Latin musical genre, died at the age of 85 according to his wife and and former record label on February 15.

Renowned jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea died from “a rare form of cancer,” a statement on the musician’s website said on February 11. He was 79. Over a career that spanned more than 50 years, Corea worked with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Mann and Miles Davis.

Larry Flynt, the Hustler magazine founder and outspoken First Amendment activist who built an adult entertainment empire, died on February 10, his nephew, Jimmy Flynt Jr., told CNN. He was 78.

Mary Wilson, a founding member of “The Supremes,” died on February 8 at the age of 76, according to a statement from her longtime friend and publicist, Jay Schwartz.

George P. Shultz, who played a central role in helping to bring the Cold War to an end as President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state, died February 6 at the age of 100, according to the Hoover Institution at Stanford University where he worked for over 30 years.

Susan Bayh, the former first lady of Indiana, died February 5 from complications due to glioblastoma, her family announced. She was 61.

Christopher Plummer, the elegantly voiced, Oscar-winning actor perhaps most fondly remembered for “The Sound of Music,” died February 5 at the age of 91.

Dianne Durham, who as a teen became the first Black gymnast to win a USA Gymnastics national championship, died on February 4. She was 52.

Dustin Diamond, who played the role of Screech on the popular 1990s high school comedy “Saved by the Bell,” died February 1 after a recent cancer diagnosis, according to Diamond’s manager, Roger Paul. He was 44.

Cicely Tyson, an award-winning icon of the stage and screen who broke barriers for Black actresses, died on January 28, her longtime manager Larry Thompson confirmed to CNN. She was 96.

Cloris Leachman, the acclaimed actress whose one-of-a-kind comedic flair made her a legendary figure in film and television for seven decades, died on January 27. She was 94.

Corky Lee, an award-winning photographer who captured the everyday lives and political activism of the Asian American community, died January 27 after a battle with Covid-19. He was 73.

Sekou Smith, an NBA reporter and analyst for more than two decades, died from Covid-19 on January 26. He was 48. Smith covered the NBA for more than two decades, including 11 years with Turner Sports, which, like CNN, is owned by WarnerMedia.

Larry King, the longtime CNN host who became an icon through his interviews with countless newsmakers, died January 23 at the age of 87.

Hal Holbrook, a legendary Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor, died January 23 at the age of 95. Holbrook portrayed iconic author Mark Twain in one-man shows for more than six decades.

Hank Aaron, the Baseball Hall of Famer who broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record and lived a life as an ambassador to the game, died January 22 at the age of 86.

Hall of Fame baseball player Don Sutton died January 18 at the age of 75, according to a tweet from his son. Sutton, a right-handed pitcher, spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Joanne Rogers, the widow of Fred Rogers, star of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” died at age 92, Fred Rogers Productions announced on January 14.

John Reilly, a longtime soap-opera actor known for his time on “General Hospital,” died on January 9, his daughter confirmed to CNN. He was 86.

Tommy Lasorda, who spent seven decades in the Dodgers organization — first as a player in Brooklyn and then in Los Angeles as a two-time World Series-winning manager — died January 8 at the age of 93.

British filmmaker and documentarian Michael Apted died January 7 at the age of 79. Apted directed the 1980 movie “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” which won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the musical and comedy category. Other notable works he directed include “Agatha,” “Gorky Park,” “Gorillas in the Mist,” “Nell,” and “Enough.”

Marion Ramsey, the actress best known for her role as Officer Laverne Hooks in the film franchise “Police Academy,” died January 7 at the age of 73.

Chef and restaurateur Albert Roux died January 4 at the age of 85. Roux founded Britain’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Gavroche, and revolutionized London’s restaurant scene.

Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the 1960s British rock band Gerry and the Pacemakers, died of a heart infection at the age of 78, his friend and radio broadcaster Pete Price announced on January 3. Marsden was known for his cover of the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical “Carousel.” It became the anthem for his hometown football team, Liverpool FC.

Former NBA player and coach Paul Westphal died January 2 after a battle with brain cancer, according to the University of Southern California. He was 70. In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Westphal “one of the great all around players of his era.” He won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 1974.

Hall of Fame football player Floyd Little died January 1 at the age of 78. Little rushed for more than 6,000 yards and scored 43 touchdowns for the Denver Broncos.