2020 In Review Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research

Updated 1:49 PM ET, Thu December 31, 2020

Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Hide Caption
1 of 161
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/31/politics/dick-thornburgh-dead/index.html" target="_blank">Richard "Dick" Thornburgh</a>, a former Republican governor of Pennsylvania who went on to serve as US attorney general under two presidents, died December 31 at the age of 88.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Richard "Dick" Thornburgh, a former Republican governor of Pennsylvania who went on to serve as US attorney general under two presidents, died December 31 at the age of 88.
Hide Caption
2 of 161
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/30/entertainment/dawn-wells-obit/index.html" target="_blank">Dawn Wells</a>, who played the lovable castaway Mary Ann Summers on "Gilligan's Island," died from Covid-19 complications on December 30, her publicist Harlan Boll confirmed to CNN. She was 82.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Dawn Wells, who played the lovable castaway Mary Ann Summers on "Gilligan's Island," died from Covid-19 complications on December 30, her publicist Harlan Boll confirmed to CNN. She was 82.
Hide Caption
3 of 161
Mexican composer and singer <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/28/entertainment/armando-manzanero-death-scli-intl/index.html" target="_blank">Armando Manzanero</a> died December 28 after battling Covid-19 for weeks. He was 85. Manzanero was a prolific composer, with more than 600 songs to his name, according to Mexico's Society for Authors and Composers. His songs were interpreted by artists from around the world, including Elvis Presley, Dionne Warwick, Perry Como, Spanish singer Raphael and fellow Mexican star Luis Miguel.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Mexican composer and singer Armando Manzanero died December 28 after battling Covid-19 for weeks. He was 85. Manzanero was a prolific composer, with more than 600 songs to his name, according to Mexico's Society for Authors and Composers. His songs were interpreted by artists from around the world, including Elvis Presley, Dionne Warwick, Perry Como, Spanish singer Raphael and fellow Mexican star Luis Miguel.
Hide Caption
4 of 161
Hall of Fame pitcher <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/27/us/phil-niekro-obit/index.html" target="_blank">Phil Niekro</a> died December 26 after a battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced. He was 81. Niekro mastered the art of throwing the knuckleball, a rarity among major league pitchers.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro died December 26 after a battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced. He was 81. Niekro mastered the art of throwing the knuckleball, a rarity among major league pitchers.
Hide Caption
5 of 161
Hall of Famer <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/25/us/kc-jones-death-spt-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">K.C. Jones</a>, who won 12 NBA championships as a player and coach, died at the age of 88, the Boston Celtics announced on December 25.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Hall of Famer K.C. Jones, who won 12 NBA championships as a player and coach, died at the age of 88, the Boston Celtics announced on December 25.
Hide Caption
6 of 161
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/25/entertainment/john-ecstasy-fletcher-death-tnrd/index.html" target="_blank">John "Ecstasy" Fletcher</a>, founder of the 1980s hip-hop group Whodini, died December 23 at the age of 56, according to a statement released by his family. The cause of death was unknown at the time.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
John "Ecstasy" Fletcher, founder of the 1980s hip-hop group Whodini, died December 23 at the age of 56, according to a statement released by his family. The cause of death was unknown at the time.
Hide Caption
7 of 161
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/stella-tennant-death-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">Stella Tennant</a>, who made her name in modeling by eschewing the traditionally feminine aesthetics that made stars out of her contemporaries, died December 22 at age 50, Vogue reported.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Stella Tennant, who made her name in modeling by eschewing the traditionally feminine aesthetics that made stars out of her contemporaries, died December 22 at age 50, Vogue reported.
Hide Caption
8 of 161
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/21/us/kevin-greene-nfl-player-death-spt-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">Kevin Greene</a>, who had the third most sacks in NFL history, died December 21, according to statements from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Greene was 58. No cause of death was given.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Kevin Greene, who had the third most sacks in NFL history, died December 21, according to statements from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Greene was 58. No cause of death was given.
Hide Caption
9 of 161
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/21/entertainment/kt-oslin-death-obit/index.html" target="_blank">K.T. Oslin</a>, a country music singer and songwriter who came to fame with her anthem "80's Ladies," died at the age of 78, it was reported on December 21. Oslin became the first woman to win the CMA Award for song of the year in 1988. She also won multiple Grammy and ACM Awards during her career. Some of her other hits include "Hold Me" and "Come Next Monday."
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
K.T. Oslin, a country music singer and songwriter who came to fame with her anthem "80's Ladies," died at the age of 78, it was reported on December 21. Oslin became the first woman to win the CMA Award for song of the year in 1988. She also won multiple Grammy and ACM Awards during her career. Some of her other hits include "Hold Me" and "Come Next Monday."
Hide Caption
10 of 161
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/18/entertainment/jeremy-bulloch-dies-scli-intl-gbr/index.html" target="_blank">Jeremy Bulloch</a>, the actor who played the character Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy, died on December 17, his agent confirmed to CNN. He was 75.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Jeremy Bulloch, the actor who played the character Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy, died on December 17, his agent confirmed to CNN. He was 75.
Hide Caption
11 of 161
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/15/us/ann-reinking-broadway-star-death/index.html" target="_blank">Ann Reinking</a>, the actress, dancer and choreographer who played Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical "Chicago," died on December 12, her manager confirmed to CNN. She was 71.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Ann Reinking, the actress, dancer and choreographer who played Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical "Chicago," died on December 12, her manager confirmed to CNN. She was 71.
Hide Caption
12 of 161
Best-selling British espionage writer David Cornwell — known to the world as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/13/europe/john-le-carr-death/index.html" target="_blank">John le Carré</a> — died December 12 at the age of 89, according to his literary agent. His most famous works spanned some six decades and included "The Spy Who Came In Form the Cold," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "A Most Wanted Man." The latter two were recently made into blockbuster movies.
Photos: People we've lost in 2020
Best-selling British espionage writer David Cornwell — known to the world as