2016 Celebrity Deaths - CNN

Breaking News

Africa Americas Asia Europe Middle East

U.S. Edition+

U.S.

International

Arabic

Español

People we've lost in 2016
A look back at people who died in 2016.

Celebrities, actors and directors

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Debbie Reynolds poses during a photocall to promote her UK tour 'Alive and Fabulous' on her 78th birthday at The Sofitel Hotel, St James on April 1, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Debbie Reynolds, 'Singin' in the Rain' star

American actress Carrie Fisher on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Carrie Fisher, 'Star Wars' Princess Leia

LONG BEACH, CA - MARCH 26: Actor Ricky Harris arrives at Nate Dogg aka Nathaniel Dwayne Hale Funeral Service on March 26, 2011 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)

Actor and comedian Ricky Harris

Zsa Zsa Gabor, seen here in a 1999 photo, was rushed to the hospital on October 8.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Alan Thicke 01

'Growing Pains' dad Alan Thicke

Joseph Mascolo

'Days of Our Lives' star Joseph Mascolo

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Joey Boots attends the "Bad Santa 2" New York premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater on November 15, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/WireImage)

'Howard Stern Show' personality Joey Boots

Actress Florence Henderson arrives on the red carpet for the 68th Los Angeles Emmy Awards featuring Niecy Nash, Jason George, Mary Holland, Florence Henderson and Larry King in North Hollywood, California, on July 23, 2016.
/ AFP / Angela WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)

Florence Henderson, TV's Carol Brady

Actor Robert Vaughn poses as he arrives to attend the Gold Nymph awards ceremony at the 44th Monte-Carlo Television Festival on July 3, 2004 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' actor Robert Vaughn

Actress Agnes Nixon speaks onstage at the 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards held at the Las Vegas Hilton in 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Agnes Nixon, creator of 'All My Children'

'NCIS' showrunner Gary Glasberg

Curtis Hanson at the St Regis Hotel on June 15, 2007, in Rome, Italy.

Curtis Hanson, '8 Mile' and 'LA Confidential' director

Charmian Carr, Liesl in 'The Sound of Music'

TV Personality Alexis Arquette attends the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles opening night gala at ArcLight Cinemas on April 8, 2014 in Hollywood, California.

Alexis Arquette, actress and transgender activist

Lady Chablis of 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP - "Mr. Earp Becomes a Marshall" - Airdate: September 6, 1955. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
HUGH O'BRIAN

'Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp' star Hugh O'Brian

Actor Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Actor Gene Wilder, star of 'Willy Wonka'

CPPMYC Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Actor Kenny Baker, 'Star Wars' R2-D2

David Huddleston in the Big Lebowski

Actor David Huddleston, 'The Big Lebowski'

remembering david bald eagle dances with wolves orig pkg_00004429.jpg

'Dances with Wolves' actor Chief David Bald Eagle, Jr.

Cleo Harris, best known as Miss Cleo the face and voice of the Psychic Friends Network television ads of a few years ago, is shown in Lake Worth, Florida, on February 24, 2009, where she lives and has an Internet radio show. (Photo by Lilly Echeverria/Miami Herald/MCT via Getty Images)

'Miss Cleo,' TV psychic network pitchwoman

Garry Marshall in Exit to Eden (1994)

Garry Marshall, TV and movie legend

BURBANK, CA - AUGUST 16: "Superman's" Noel Neill (Lois Lane) appears at the First Official TV Land Convention at the Burbank Airport Hilton on August 16, 2003 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Noel Neill, Lois Lane on 'Superman' TV show

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 10: Actor Anton Yelchin attends the "Green Room" and "The Chickening" premieres during the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival at Ryerson Theatre on September 10, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin

actress ann morgan guilbert obit jnd orig vstan_00000016.jpg

TV actress Ann Morgan Guilbert

Actor Ron Lester arrives at the premiere of Showtime and Creative Coalition Los Angeles premiere of "Reefer Madness" held at the Regent Showcase Cinemas on April 5, 2005, in Hollywood, California.

Ron Lester, 'Varsity Blues' actor

'ALF' actor Michu Meszaros

This 1984 file photo shows actress Beth Howland. Howland, who was best known for her role as a ditzy waitress Vera Louise Gorman on the 1970s and '80s CBS sitcom "Alice," died Dec. 31, 2016 in Santa Monica, Calif. She was 74.

Actress Beth Howland, waitress on 'Alice'

circa 1964: British-born actor Alan Young and Mr Ed, the talking horse, pose together in a promotional portrait for the television comedy series, 'Mr Ed'. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Alan Young, Wilbur on 'Mister Ed'

CASABLANCA, Humphrey Bogart, Madeleine Lebeau, Leonid Kinskey, 1942

'Casablanca' actress Madeleine LeBeau

william schallert obit mobile orig mss_00000000.jpg

William Schallert, dad on 'The Patty Duke Show'

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 21: Former professional wrestler and adult film actress Chyna arrives at the 29th annual Adult Video News Awards Show at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino January 21, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Wrestler, entertainer Chyna

Doris Roberts arrives at the Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Doris Roberts, mom on 'Everybody Loves Raymond'

FILE APRIL 08: TV personality Daisy Lewellyn, who stared in Bravo's "Blood, Sweat & Heels," died after a two-year battel with cancer April 8, 2016. She was 36. NEW YORK, NY - MAY 15: Daisy Lewellyn attends the 2014 NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Upfronts at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on May 15, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Daisy Lewellyn, reality TV star

Voice of 'Star Wars' Adm. Ackbar, Erik Bauersfeld

Actor Patty Duke smiling in a still from the television series 'The Patty Duke Show'.

Actress Patty Duke

Actor James Noble, best known for playing Governor Eugene Gatling on the television show Benson, has died at the age of 94. Noble is seen here in an interview with CNN in 1981.

James Noble, Actor known as 'Benson' governor

Garry Shandling appears onstage at The Comedy Awards presented by Comedy Central in New York, Saturday, March 26, 2011.

Garry Shandling, inventive TV comedian

FILE - In this March 18, 1980 file photo, actor Joe Santos appears on the set of the NBC-TV comedy series "Me and Maxx," in Los Angeles. Santos, who is best known for his role as Lieutenant Dennis Becker on "The Rockford Files," died Friday, March 18, 2016 in Santa Monica, Calif., after suffering a heart attack earlier in the week. He was 84. (AP Photo/Wally Fong, File)

Actor Joe Santos of 'The Rockford Files'

L.A. LAW -- "L.A. Law: The Movie" -- Pictured: Larry Drake as Benny Stulwicz (Photo by Eike Schroter/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

'L.A. Law' actor Larry Drake

HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 23: Actor George Kennedy attends the 75th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater on March 23, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Actor George Kennedy

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: TV Personality Big Ang in attendance at Farrah Abrahams Christmas Event And "Bedchambers" Book Launch at the Empire Hotel Rooftop on December 11, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Mack/Getty Images)

'Big Ang' Raiola, 'Mob Wives' star

GENERAL HOSPITAL - Shoot Date: July 17, 1980. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
GEORGE GAYNES

George Gaynes, 'Punky Brewster' actor

TV and radio comedy duo Bob and Ray, Bob Elliot (left) and Ray Goulding (1922 - 1990), 1951. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Bob Elliott, half of comedy legends Bob and Ray

LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 9: Cartoon voice actor Joe Alaskey arrives at the premiere of "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" at the Chinese Theater on November 9, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Joe Alaskey, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck

Abe Vigoda in 2002.

Abe Vigoda, 'Godfather' and 'Barney Miller' actor

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRIZZYLY ADAMS -- "A Bear's Life" Episode 3 -- Pictured: (l-r) Bozo the Bear as Ben, Dan Haggerty as James 'Grizzly' Adams -- (Photo by: Frank Carroll/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

Dan Haggerty, 'Grizzly Adams' star

Rene Angelil and his wife, singer Celine Dion, arrive at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.

René Angélil, husband of Céline Dion

Still of Alan Rickman in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Actor Alan Rickman, Harry Potter's Professor Snape

David Margulies, 'Ghostbusters' actor

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: Actor Pat Harrington attends TV Land's "Hot In Cleveland" And "Retired At 35" Premiere Party at the Sunset Tower Hotel on January 10, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

Pat Harrington, Schneider on 'One Day at a Time'

HOLLYWOOD - NOVEMBER 10: Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond speaks at the Audi Pavillion Salon during AFI FEST 2007 Presented By Audi held at the Rooftop Village at ArcLight Cinemas on November 10, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Chad Buchanan/Getty Images)

Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond

Musicians and Industry Executives

1960: A photograph taken by John Lennon showing an early incarnation of the Beatles sitting in front of the inscription 'Their Name Liveth For Evermore', at the Arnhem War Memorial in the eastern Netherlands; (left to right) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Williams' business partner and black Calypso singer Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison (1943 - 2001) and Pete Best. (Photo by John Lennon/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

Allan Williams, The Beatles' first manager

British singer-songwriter George Michael, of Wham!, in a Sydney hotel room during the pop duo's 1985 world tour, January 1985. 'The Big Tour' took in the UK, Japan, Australia, China and the US. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

80s pop star George Michael

Status Quo In Concert At The O2 Arena, London, Britain - 19 Dec 2014, Rick Parfitt - Status Quo (Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images)

Rick Parfitt, Status Quo guitarist

Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings perform at opening night of Celebrate Brooklyn! at Prospect Park Bandshell on June 8, 2016 in New York City.

Soul singer Sharon Jones

Leon Russell and Willie Nelson during "Willie Nelson and Friends: Live and Kickin'" on USA Network 2003 in New York City.

Rock 'n' roll star Leon Russell

6th December 1979: Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen at his hotel during a break in his British Tour, December 1979. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen

Grammy and Emmy Award winner Stanley Dural Jr., also known as Buckwheat Zydeco, died Saturday in Lafayette, Louisiana at the age of 68.

Music legend Buckwheat Zydeco

Hip-hop artist Shawty Lo appears on MTV's 'Sucker Free' at TRL Studios on January 23, 2008 in New York City.

Rapper Shawty Lo

In this 2006 file photo, music industry veteran Jerry Heller is photographed in New York. Heller who helped introduce N.W.A. to the masses has died. Heller's cousin, Gary Ballen, said Heller died on September. 2 in Southern California.

Former N.W.A. manager Jerry Heller

The Weavers perform in a 25th Anniversary reunion concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. From left are: Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman.

Fred Hellerman of the Weavers

LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 05: Singer Juan Gabriel performs during the 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center November 5, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Juan Gabriel, Mexican music icon

Jazz Artist Pete Fountain performs at the 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course

Jazz great Pete Fountain

FILE - In this March 11, 2011 file photo Ralph Stanley poses for a photo backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Stanley, the last of the original bluegrass legends arrives Saturday, June 14, 2014, at the Huck Finn Jubilee in Ontario for a rare Southern California appearance that was to be part of a farewell tour, that was until he put his retirement on hold. (AP Photo/Ed Rode, File)

Ralph Stanley, bluegrass music legend

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO -- Episode 240 -- Pictured: Musical guests P.M. Dawn (l-r) Prince B., J.C. the Eternal perform on June 4, 1993-- (Photo by: Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Singer Attrell Cordes of P.M. Dawn

BURBANK, CA - APRIL 20: Christina Grimmie performs at What's Trending's Fourth Annual Tubeathon Benefitting American Red Cross on April 20, 2016 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

'Voice' singer Christina Grimmie

Guy Clark, guitar-vocal, performs at the Paradiso on 9th January 1992 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Frans Schellekens/Redferns)

Singer-songwriter Guy Clark

Jane Little, a founding member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, died Sunday, May 15. She was 87 years old.

Jane Little, Guinness World Record holding bassist

INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Prince performs live at the Fabulous Forum on February 19, 1985 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Singer Prince

Merle Haggard performs in Fresno, California in 1986.

Merle Haggard, country music's outsider hero

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Frank Sinatra Jr. sings the national anthem on Frank Sinatra Night before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 18, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Frank Sinatra Jr.

Keith Emerson, keyboardist for influential progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, has died, according to the band's official Facebook page. Emerson performing with ELP at the Oakland Coliseum in August 1977.

Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 08: Music producer Sir George Martin attends the fifth anniversary celebration of "The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil" show at The Mirage Hotel & Casino June 8, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Cirque Apple LLC)

Sir George Martin, Beatles producer

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 28: Joey + Rory are Joey Martin Feek, Rory Feek perform at The 17th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on October 28, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CCMA)

Joey Martin Feek of country duo Joey + Rory

Country western star Sonny James performs at Tennessee State Prison in 1977 in Nashville. (AP Photo)

Country music legend Sonny James

Vanity now known as Denise Matthews performs with the group Vanity 6 on the TV Show "Solid Gold". (Photo by Ron Wolfson/WireImage) *** Local Caption ***

Denise Matthews, Prince protege Vanity

Close-up portrait of Maurice White, Grammy award winning singer and songwriter, and one of the founding members of the music group Earth, Wind, and Fire, late twentieth century. (Photo by Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)

Maurice White, leader and founder of Earth, Wind & Fire

GARBERVILLE, CA - AUGUST 10: Paul Kantner of Paul Kantner's Wooden Ships performs at the Eel River on August 10, 1991 in Garberville, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Paul Kantner, Jefferson Airplane guitarist

INDIO, CA - MAY 02: Musician Glenn Frey of the Eagles performs onstage during day 1 of the 2008 Stagecoach Country Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on May 2, 2008 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The Eagles' Glenn Frey

David Bowie, master of reinvention

Australian music impresario Robert Stigwood at 'The Music for UNICEF Concert: A Gift of Song' benefit concert held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, 9th January 1979. Stigwood was the concert's organiser and executive producer. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Robert Stigwood, force behind 'Saturday Night Fever'

Journalists, authors, innovators, media and academic figures

Robert Hulseman, the inventor of the Soio cup.

Robert Leo Hulseman, inventor of the Solo cup

Illustrator Wong Tyrus' evocative sketches of deer in a forest captured the attention of Walt Disney which developed into the character Bambi.

Walt Disney 'Bambi' artist Tyrus Wong

English novelist Richard Adams holding a pet mouse, 3rd March 1974. (Photo by Tom Smith/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

'Watership Down' author Richard Adams

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: World famous astronomer Vera Rubin, 82, in her office at Carnegie Institution of Washington in Washington, DC on January 14, 2010. (Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images).

Vera Rubin, dark matter pioneer

PBS journalist and debate moderator Gwen Ifill looks at Democratic vice presidential candidate U.S. Senator Joe Biden during the vice presidential debate at the Field House of Washington University's Athletic Complex in October 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri.

PBS newscaster Gwen Ifill

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Author Natalie Babbitt poses with the cast of "Tuck Everlasting during Broadway's "Tuck Everlasting The Musical" at The Broadhurst Theatre on April 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

'Tuck Everlasting' author Natalie Babbitt

Recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize for Literature, Dario Fo attends a press conference at the Foreign Press club in Rome on December 3, 2015.
Dario Fo, is an Italian actor-playwright, comedian, singer, theatre director, stage designer, songwriter, painter and political campaigner. His plays have been translated into 30 languages and performed across the world. Fo's solo pièce célèbre, titled Mistero Buffo is recognised as one of the most controversial and popular spectacles in postwar European theatre. / AFP / Gabriel BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Actor, playwright and Nobel laureate Dario Fo

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 1992 file photo, Gloria Naylor, author of "The Women of Brewster Place," poses at her home in New York. Naylor‚Äôs death was confirmed, Monday, Oct. 3, 2016, by Cara Reilly, an assistant at the literary agency Sterling Lord Literistic. Reilly provided no other details. Naylor was 66. (AP Photo/Tom Keller, File)

Author Gloria Naylor

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 13: Playwright Edward Albee attends the "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?" Broadway Opening Night curtain call at the Booth Theatre on October 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Desiree Navarro/WireImage)

Legendary playwright Edward Albee

File-This Oct. 23, 1992, file photo shows Canadian author W.P. Kinsella standing on the baseball field before game five of the World Series between Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves in Toronto, Ontario. Kinsella, the author of "Shoeless Joe," the award-winning novel that became the film "Field of Dreams," has died at 81. His literary agency confirms the writer had a doctor-assisted death on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, in Hope, British Columbia, Canada. The agency did not provide details about Kinsella's health. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy,File)

W.P. Kinsella, whose book inspired 'Field of Dreams'

Author and illustrator Anna Dewdney passed away on September 3,2016 after a fifteen-month battle with brain cancer

Children's author Anna Dewdney

George E. Curry

George Curry, champion of black press

FILE - In this April 28, 2012 file photo, John McLaughlin arrives at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington. McLaughlin, the conservative political commentator and host of the namesake long-running television show that pioneered hollering-heads discussions of Washington politics, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, according to the Facebook page for "The McLaughlin Group." He was 89. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

PBS' John McLaughlin

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners and offensive MVP is interviewed by ESPN's John Saunders after the Sooners 48-20 victory against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

ESPN's John Saunders

UNITED STATES - MARCH 2: Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel waits to participate in a forum with Sen. Ted Cruz on guarding against a nuclear Iran on Monday, March 2, 2015, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate

Will King

CNN's Will King

60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer attends the Paul Simon Songbook to Benefit Jazz at Lincoln Center gala concert & dinner at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 18, 2012 in New York City.

Morely Safer, '60 Minutes' legend

FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 10: Jim Harrison awarded literary prize of the thirtieth Deauville US film festival for his novel 'True North' (De Marquette a Vera Cruz) in Deauville, France on September 10, 2004. (Photo by David LEFRANC/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Jim Harrison, author of 'Legends of the Fall'

US programmer Raymond Samuel Tomlinson arrives to the Reconquista Hotel in Oviedo on October 22, 2009, prior to the presentation of the Prince of Asturias awards. Tomlinson and compatriot Martin Cooper have been awarded the 2009 Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research for their contribution to the great technological advances in human communications in the development of the mobile phone and email. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL RIOPA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images)

Ray Tomlinson, creator of email

404945 07: Author Pat Conroy, known best for his book "Prince of Tides," discusses his upcoming book at a breakfast held at the BookExpo May 5, 2002 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. (Photo by Monika Graff/Getty Images)

Pat Conroy, author of 'Prince of Tides' and 'Great Santini'

MAINZ, GERMANY - OCTOBER 02: Umberto Eco, writer and professor, receives the 10.000 Euro Gutenberg price, on October 2, 2014 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)

Umberto Eco, famed author of 'The Name of the Rose'

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: Pulitzer Prize winner and "To Kill A Mockingbird" author Harper Lee smiles before receiving the 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House November 5, 2007 in Washington, DC. The Medal of Freedom is given to those who have made remarkable contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, culture, or other private or public endeavors. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Harper Lee, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' author

NEW YORK - APRIL 27: MIT professor Marvin Minsky attends the "Conversations In Cinema: 2001: A Space Odyssey" panel discussion held at PACE University during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival on April 27, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)

Marvin Minsky, Pioneer of artificial intelligence

Chefs, sport, design, art and business figures

TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager waves to fans at a game between the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls on April 7, 2016. Sager has been battling leukemia since 2014.

Craig Sager, colorful Turner Sports reporter

13th August 1948: Danish yachtsmen Paul Elvstrom, winner of the Firefly class at the 1948 Olympics in Torquay, Devon. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Paul Elvstrom, sailing great

10 Dec 1994: COLORADO RUNNING BACK RASHAAN SALAAM WITH THE HEISMAN TROPHY AFTER BEING NAMED AS THE 60TH WINNER OF THE AWARD AT THE DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB IN NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 14: Professional skateboarder Dylan Rieder poses for photos at a DKNY photo shoot in Times Square on October 14, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

Dylan Rieder, pro skateboarder and model

American golfer Arnold Palmer. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images) Date created: 01 Jan 1968

Golfing great Arnold Palmer

Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch against the Mets in August 29 in New York.

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez

$Caption:7 Jan 1996: A portrait of Joao Havelange, the President of FIFA at the the African Cup of Nations tournement in Johannesburg, South Africa. \ Mandatory Credit: Gary M Prior/Allsport$

Former FIFA President João Havelange

Former NFL head coach Dennis Green

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2013, file photo, former Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt smiles as a banner is raised in her honor before the team's NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame in Knoxville, Tenn. Amid reports of Summitt's failing health as her Alzheimer's disease progresses, her family issued a statement Sunday, June 26, 2016, asking for prayers and saying that the former Tennessee women's basketball coach is surrounded by the people who mean the most to her. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

Pat Summitt, legendary women's basketball coach

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 28: Photographer Bill Cunningham attends the Chloe show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2015 on September 28, 2014 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Fashion photographer Bill Cunningham

FILE- In this Nov. 10, 1963 file photo, the Detroit Red Wings' Gordie Howe (9) acknowledges applause from the fans during a 20-minute standing ovation after he scored the 545th cgoal of his National Hockey League career at Detroit's Olympia Stadium, to set the leagues' to set the all-time scoring mark. The NHL has the best names in the business. Nicknames, that is. Little Ball of Hate. The Great One. Tazer. Bicksy. How is known as the "Mr. Hockey." (AP Photo/File)

Hockey legend Gordie Howe

MONTREAL- MAY 8: Kimbo Slice punches Matt Mitrione in their heavyweight bout at UFC 113 at Bell Centre on May 8, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

MMA fighter Kimbo Slice

Muhammad ali will they remember me maryum ali ts orig jason carroll _00000530.jpg

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali

Comic book artist Darwyn Cooke

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Zaha Hadid attends De Beer's Moments in Light at Claridge's Hotel on September 18, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)

Architect Zaha Hadid

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 18: Tray Walker #25 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during pre-game warm ups prior to playing the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 18, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

NFL Ravens' Tray Walker

Robert Redbird

Robert Redbird, iconic Native American artist

Lee Reherman arrives at the 2009 Hot Summer Nights benefiting the United Breast Cancer Foundation at The Playboy Mansion on August 15, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage)

'American Gladiator' Lee Reherman, 'The Hawk'

FILE - In a Thursday, June 9, 2005 file photo, BMX rider Dave Mirra pauses during practice for the Panasonic Open event, in Louisville, Ky. Police say veteran X Games biker Dave Mirra has died in North Carolina. Greenville police said Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, that Mirra's body was found earlier in the day with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.He was 41. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

BMX legend Dave Mirra

Benoit Violier, chef of the Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville, poses for a photo after been awarded First restaurant of La Liste Award in Paris on December 17, 2015. / AFP / THOMAS SAMSON (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images)

World's 'top chef' Benoit Violier

Bill Johnson, Former Olympic gold medal skier

'Iron' Mike Sharpe, WWE Superstar

MANHATTAN, NY - 1950's: Outfielder Monte Irvin of the New York Giants poses for a portrait prior to a 1950's game at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, New York. Irvin played for the Giants from 1949-1955. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)

Monte Irvin, Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 31: Lawrence Phillips #1 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers runs with the ball during a college football game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on August 31, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Lawrence Phillips, imprisoned ex-NFL rusher

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 02: Andrew Smith #44 of the Butler Bulldogs goes up for the ball against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the National Semifinal game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Reliant Stadium on April 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Steppig-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith, former Butler basketball player