December 31 – Remembering Eileen Heckart, Floyd Cramer, Rick Nelson, Pete Duel

Eileen Heckart died 8 years ago

Eileen Heckart was born on March 29, 1919 as Anna Eileen Heckart in Columbus, Ohio. She acted on the TV sitcom The 5 Mrs. Buchanans and in movies. Ms. Heckart died on December 31, 2001 in Norwalk, Connecticut.






Floyd Cramer died 12 years ago

Floyd Cramer was born on October 27, 1933 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was a great pianist. Mr. Cramer died on December 31, 1997 in Nashville, Tennessee.








Rick Nelson died 24 years ago

Rick Nelson was born on May 8, 1940 as Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey. He acted on the sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He wrote and sang the song Garden Party. Mr. Nelson died on December 31, 1985 in De Kalb, Texas.






Pete Duel died 38 years ago

Pete Duel was born on February 24, 1940 as Peter Ellstrom Deuel in Rochester, New York. He acted on the TV series Alias Smith and Jones. Mr. Duel died on December 31, 1971 in Hollywood, California.

December 30 – Remembering Artie Shaw, Richard Rodgers, and Alfred North Whitehead

Artie Shaw died 5 years ago

Artie Shaw was born on May 23, 1910 as Arthur Jacob Arshawsky in New York City, New York. He played the songs Begin the Beguine, Stardust, Moonglow, Frenesi, and Concerto for Clarinet. Mr. Shaw died on December 30, 2004 in Thousand Oaks, California.












Richard Rodgers died 30 years ago

Richard Charles Rodgers was born on June 28, 1902 in New York City, New York. He co-wrote the songs Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’, You’ll Never Walk Alone, My Favorite Things, The Sound of Music, and many more. Mr. Rodgers died on December 30, 1979 in New York City, New York.










Alfred North Whitehead died 62 years ago

Alfred North Whitehead was born on February 15, 1861 in Ramsgate, Kent, England. He co-wrote the book Principia Mathematica with Bertrand Russell. Mr. Whitehead died on December 30, 1947 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

December 29 – Remembering Don Marquis

Don Marquis died 72 years ago

Don Marquis was born on July 29, 1878 in Walnut, Illinois. He created the characters archy and mehitabel. Mr. Marquis died on December 29, 1937 in New York City, New York.

December 28 – Remembering Susan Sontag, Jerry Orbach, Clayton Moore, Dennis Wilson, Max Steiner, Theodore Dreiser, Maurice Ravel, and Eduard Strauss

Susan Sontag died 5 years ago

Susan Sontag was born on January 16, 1933 as Susan Rosenblatt in New York City, New York. She was an activist. Ms. Sontag died on December 28, 2004 in New York City, New York.




Jerry Orbach died 5 years ago

Jerry Orbach was born on October 20, 1935 as Jerome Bernard Orbach in the Bronx, New York City, New York. He acted in the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing. Mr. Orbach died on December 28, 2004 in Manhattan, New York City, New York.






Clayton Moore died 10 years ago

Clayton Moore was born on September 14, 1914 as Jack Carlton Moore in Chicago, Illinois. He acted in the leading role on the radio and TV show The Lone Ranger. Mr. Moore died on December 28, 1999 in West Hills, Los Angeles, California.




Dennis Wilson died 26 years ago

Dennis Carl Wilson was born on December 4, 1944 in Inglewood, California. He was part of the singing group The Beach Boys. Mr. Wilson died on December 28, 1983 in Marina del Rey, California.






Max Steiner died 38 years ago

Max Steiner was born on May 10, 1888 as Maximilian Raoul Steiner in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. He composed the music for the 1939 movie Gone with the Wind, the theme song to the 1959 movie A Summer Place, and many more. Mr. Steiner died on December 28, 1971 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.









Theodore Dreiser died 64 years ago

Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser was born on August 27, 1871 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He wrote the novels Sister Carrie, The Financier, and An American Tragedy. Mr. Dreiser died on December 28, 1945 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.




Maurice Ravel died 72 years ago

Joseph-Maurice Ravel was born on March 7, 1875 in Ciboure, France. He composed Pavane pour une infante défunte and Bolero. Mr. Ravel died on December 28, 1937 in Paris, France.






Eduard Strauss died 93 years ago

Eduard Strauss was born on March 15, 1835 in Vienna, Austria. He was a composer. Mr. Strauss died on December 28, 1916 in Vienna, Austria.

December 27 – Remembering Vestal Goodman, Hoagy Carmichael, and Gustave Eiffel

Vestal Goodman died 6 years ago

Vestal Goodman was born on December 13, 1929 as Vestal Freeman in Fyffe, Alabama. She was a member of the singing group The Happy Goodman Family. Ms. Goodman died on December 27, 2003 in Celebration, Florida.




Hoagy Carmichael died 28 years ago

Hoagy Carmichael was born on November 22, 1899 as Hoagland Howard Carmichael in Bloomington, Indiana. He composed the music to the songs Stardust, Georgia on My Mind, Heart and Soul, Skylark, and others. Mr. Carmichael died on December 27, 1981 in Rancho Mirage, California.












Gustave Eiffel died 86 years ago

Gustave Eiffel was born on December 15, 1832 as Alexandre Gustave Eiffel in Dijon, France. He designed the Eiffel Tower. Mr. Eiffel died on December 27, 1923 in Paris, France.

December 26 – Remembering Vincent Schiavelli, Nigel Hawthorne, Jason Robards, Curtis Mayfield, Elsa Lanchester, Dian Fossey, Jack Benny, Melvil Dewey

Vincent Schiavelli died 4 years ago

Vincent Andrew Schiavelli was born on November 11, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He acted in the 1990 movie Ghost and in many more. Mr. Schiavelli died on December 26, 2005 in Polizzi Generosa, Italy.




Nigel Hawthorne died 8 years ago

Nigel Barnard Hawthorne was born on April 5, 1929 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England. He acted in the 1999 movie The Winslow Boy and in many more. Mr. Hawthorne died on December 26, 2001 in Hertfordshire, England.






Jason Robards died 9 years ago

Jason Nelson Robards, Jr. was born on July 26, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He acted in the 1976 movie Raise the Titanic! and in many more. Mr. Robards died on December 26, 2000 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.






Curtis Mayfield died 10 years ago

Curtis Lee Mayfield was born on June 3, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. He wrote the song Let’s Do It Again and co-wrote the song He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You). Mr. Mayfield died on December 26, 1999 in Roswell, Georgia.








Elsa Lanchester died 23 years ago

Elsa Sullivan Lanchester was born on October 28, 1902 in Lewisham, London, England. She acted in the 1942 movie Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake and in many, many more. Ms. Lanchester died on December 26, 1986 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.






Dian Fossey died 24 years ago

Dian Fossey was born on January 16, 1932 in San Francisco, California. She was a zoologist. Ms. Fossey died on December 26, 1985 in Volcanoes NP, Rwanda.




Jack Benny died 35 years ago

Jack Benny was born on February 14, 1894 as Benjamin Kubelsky in Chicago, Illinois. He was a comedian. Mr. Benny died on December 26, 1974 in Beverly Hills, California.




Melvil Dewey died 78 years ago

Melvil Louis Kossuth Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 in Adams Center, New York. He invented the Dewey Decimal Classification system. Mr. Dewey died on December 26, 1931 in Lake Placid, Florida.

December 25 – Remembering Eartha Kitt, James Brown, Denver Pyle, Dean Martin, Joan Blondell, Charlie Chaplin, and W.C. Fields

Eartha Kitt died 1 year ago

Eartha Kitt was born as Eartha Mae Keith on January 17, 1927 in North, South Carolina. She sang the song Santa Baby and acted on the TV series Batman. Ms. Kitt died on December 25, 2008 in Weston, Connecticut.






James Brown died 3 years ago

James Joseph Brown, Jr. was born on May 3, 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina. He wrote and sang the song I Got You (I Feel Good). Mr. Brown died on December 25, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia.




Denver Pyle died 12 years ago

Denver Dell Pyle was born on May 11, 1920 in Bethune, Colorado. He acted as “Uncle Jesse Duke” on the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard. Mr. Pyle died on December 25, 1997 in Burbank, California.






Dean Martin died 14 years ago

Dean Martin was born as Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917 in Steubenville, Ohio. He sang the songs That’s Amore and Everybody Loves Somebody. Mr. Martin died on December 25, 1995 in Beverly Hills, California.






Joan Blondell died 30 years ago

Rose Joan Blondell was born on August 30, 1906 in New York City, New York. She acted in the 1951 movie The Blue Veil and in many others. Ms. Blondell died on December 25, 1979 in Santa Monica, California.






Charlie Chaplin died 32 years ago

Charlie Chaplin was born as Charles Spencer Chaplin on April 16, 1889 in Walworth, London, England. He acted in many movies and composed the songs Smile and the Limelight theme. Mr. Chaplin died on December 25, 1977 in Vevey, Switzerland.








W.C. Fields died 63 years ago

W.C. Fields was born as William Claude Dukenfield on January 29, 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He acted in the 1939 movie You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man, in the 1940 movie My Little Chickadee, and in others. Mr. Fields died on December 25, 1946 in Pasadena, California.

December 24 – Remembering Rossano Brazzi, Norman Vincent Peale, Peter Lawford, and John Muir

Rossano Brazzi died 15 years ago

Rossano Brazzi was born on September 18, 1916 in Bologna, Italy. He acted in the 1954 movie Three Coins in the Fountain and in the 1958 movie South Pacific. Mr. Brazzi died on December 24, 1994 in Rome, Italy.








Norman Vincent Peale died 16 years ago

Norman Vincent Peale was born on May 31, 1898 in Bowersville, Ohio. He wrote about The Power of Positive Thinking. Mr. Peale died on December 24, 1993 in Pawling, New York.




Peter Lawford died 25 years ago

Peter Lawford was born as Peter Sydney Vaughn Aylen on September 7, 1923 in London, England. He acted in the 1948 movie Easter Parade and many others. Mr. Lawford died on December 24, 1984 in Los Angeles, California.








John Muir died 95 years ago

John Muir was born on April 21, 1838 in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland. He was a nature explorer. Mr. Muir died on December 24, 1914 in Los Angeles, California.

December 23 – Remembering Victor Borge, Billy Barty, Charles Atlas, and Thomas Malthus

Victor Borge died 9 years ago

Victor Borge was born on January 3, 1909 as Børge Rosenbaum in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was a comedic pianist. Mr. Borge died on December 23, 2000 in Greenwich, Connecticut.




Billy Barty died 9 years ago

Billy Barty was born on October 25, 1924 as William John Bertanzetti in Millsboro, Pennsylvania. He acted in the 1981 movie Under the Rainbow. Mr. Barty died on December 23, 2000 in Glendale, California.






Charles Atlas died 37 years ago

Charles Atlas was born on October 30, 1892 in Acri, Italy. He was a bodybuilder. Mr. Atlas died on December 23, 1972 in Long Beach, New York.




Thomas Malthus died 175 years ago

Thomas Robert Malthus was born on February 13, 1766 in Surrey, England. He wrote the book An Essay on the Principle of Population. Mr. Malthus died on December 23, 1834 in Bath, England.

December 22 – Remembering Dennis Linde and Butterfly McQueen

Dennis Linde died 3 years ago

Dennis Linde was born on March 18, 1943 in Abilene, Texas. He wrote the song Burning Love. Mr. Linde died on December 22, 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee.




Butterfly McQueen died 14 years ago

Butterfly McQueen was born on January 7, 1911 as Thelma McQueen in Tampa, Florida. She acted as “Prissy” in the 1939 movie Gone with the Wind. Ms. McQueen died on December 22, 1995 in Augusta, Georgia.

December 21 – Remembering Richard Long and F. Scott Fitzgerald

Richard Long died 35 years ago

Richard Long was born on December 17, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois. He acted on the TV drama series The Big Valley and on the TV sitcom The Nanny and the Professor. Mr. Long died on December 21, 1974 in Los Angeles, California.








F. Scott Fitzgerald died 69 years ago

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He wrote the novel The Great Gatsby and others. Mr. Fitzgerald died on December 21, 1940 in Hollywood, California.

December 20 – Remembering Hank Snow, Carl Sagan, Arthur Rubinstein, Bobby Darin, John Steinbeck, and Moss Hart

Hank Snow died 10 years ago

Hank Snow was born on May 9, 1914 as Clarence Eugene Snow in Brooklyn, Queens County, Nova Scotia, Canada. He sang the song I’ve Been Everywhere. Mr. Snow died on December 20, 1999 in Madison, Tennessee.




Carl Sagan died 13 years ago

Carl Edward Sagan was born on November 9, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He wrote the novel Contact. Mr. Sagan died on December 20, 1996 in Seattle, Washington.




Arthur Rubinstein died 27 years ago

Arthur Rubinstein was born on January 28, 1887 in Łódź. He was a great pianist. Mr. Rubinstein died on December 20, 1982 in Geneva, Switzerland.






Bobby Darin died 36 years ago

Bobby Darin was born on May 14, 1936 as Walden Robert Cassotto in the Bronx, New York City, New York. He co-wrote and sang the song Splish Splash. He wrote and sang the song Dream Lover. Mr. Darin died on December 20, 1973 in Los Angeles, California.








John Steinbeck died 41 years ago

John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California. He wrote the novels Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, and East of Eden. Mr. Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968 in New York City, New York.










Moss Hart died 48 years ago

Moss Hart was born on October 24, 1904 in New York City, New York. He co-wrote the play The Man Who Came to Dinner and other works. Mr. Hart died on December 20, 1961 in Palm Springs, California.

December 19 – Remembering Renata Tebaldi, Hope Lange, Pops Staples, Emily Brontë

Renata Tebaldi died 5 years ago

Renata Ersilia Clotilde Tebaldi was born on February 1, 1922 in Pesaro, Italy. She was a soprano singer. Ms. Tebaldi died on December 19, 2004 in San Marino.




Hope Lange died 6 years ago

Hope Elise Ross Lange was born on November 28, 1933 in Redding, Connecticut. She acted in the 1957 movie Peyton Place and on the TV sitcom The Ghost & Mrs. Muir. Ms. Lange died on December 19, 2003 in Santa Monica, California.








Pops Staples died 9 years ago

Pops Staples was born on December 28, 1914 as Roebuck Staples near Winona, Mississippi. He was a member of the singing group The Staple Singers, that sang songs such as I’ll Take You There. Mr. Staples died on December 19, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois.




Emily Brontë died 161 years ago

Emily Brontë was born on July 30, 1818 in Thornton, West Yorkshire, England. She wrote the novel Wuthering Heights. Ms. Brontë died on December 19, 1848 in Haworth, Yorkshire, England.

December 18 – Remembering Paul Tortelier

Paul Tortelier died 19 years ago

Paul Tortelier was born on March 21, 1914 in Paris, France. He was a cellist. Mr. Tortelier died on December 18, 1990 near Paris, France.

December 17 – Remembering Jack Anderson

Jack Anderson died 4 years ago

Jack Anderson was born on October 19, 1922 as Jackson Northman Anderson in Long Beach, California. He was an investigative journalist. Mr. Anderson died on December 17, 2005 in Bethesda, Maryland.

December 16 – Remembering Dan Fogelberg, W. Somerset Maugham, and Camille Saint-Saëns

Dan Fogelberg died 2 years ago

Dan Fogelberg was born on August 13, 1951 as Daniel Grayling Fogelberg in Peoria, Illinois. He composed the song Leader of the Band and Believe in Me. Mr. Fogelberg died on December 16, 2007 in Deer Isle, Maine.






W. Somerset Maugham died 44 years ago

W. Somerset Maugham was born on January 25, 1874 as William Somerset Maugham in Paris, France. He wrote the novel Of Human Bondage. Mr. Maugham died on December 16, 1965 in Nice, France.




Camille Saint-Saëns died 88 years ago

Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was born on October 9, 1835 in Paris, France. He composed The Carnival of the Animals. Mr. Saint-Saëns died on December 16, 1921 in Algiers, Algeria.

December 15 – Remembering Walt Disney and Glenn Miller

Walt Disney died 43 years ago

Walter Elias Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. He co-founded The Walt Disney Company. Mr. Disney died on December 15, 1966 in Burbank, California.




Glenn Miller disappeared 65 years ago

Glenn Miller was born on March 1, 1904 as Alton Glenn Miller in Clarinda, Iowa. He composed the music to the song Moonlight Serenade. Mr. Miller disappeared on December 15, 1944 probably in the English Channel.

December 14 - Remembering Dinah Washington, William Bendix, and Norman Fell

Norman Fell died 11 years ago

Norman Fell was born on March 24, 1924 as Norman Noah Feld in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He acted as “Mr. Roper” on the TV sitcoms Three’s Company and The Ropers. Mr. Fell died on December 14, 1998 in Los Angeles, California.



William Bendix died 45 years ago

William Bendix was born on January 14, 1906 in New York City, New York. He acted in the 1948 movie The Time of Your Life and in many other movies. Mr. Bendix died on December 14, 1964 in Los Angeles, California.





Dinah Washington died 46 years ago

Dinah Washington was born on August 29, 1924 as Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She sang the songs What a Difference a Day Made and Cold, Cold Heart. Ms. Washington died on December 14, 1963 in Detroit, Michigan.

December 13 - Remembering Grandma Moses

Grandma Moses died 48 years ago

Grandma Moses was born on September 7, 1860 as Anna Mary Robertson in Greenwich, New York. She was a painter. Ms. Moses died on December 13, 1961 in Hoosick Falls, New York.

December 12 - Remembering Tallulah Bankhead, Jack Cassidy, and Ike Turner

Ike Turner died 2 years ago

Ike Wister Turner was born on November 5, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He co-sang the song Proud Mary. Mr. Turner died on December 12, 2007 in San Marcos, California.



Jack Cassidy died 33 years ago

Jack Cassidy was born on March 5, 1927 as John Joseph Edward Cassidy in Richmond Hill, New York. He acted on the TV sitcom Bewitched and in many more movies . Mr. Cassidy died on December 12, 1976 in West Hollywood, California.



Tallulah Bankhead died 41 years ago

Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was born on January 31, 1902 in Huntsville, Alabama. She acted in the 1931 movie Tarnished Lady and in other movies. Ms. Bankhead died on December 12, 1968 in New York City, New York.

December 11 - Remembering Sam Cooke and Percy Kilbride

Percy Kilbride died 45 years ago

Percy W. Kilbride was born on July 16, 1888 in San Francisco, California. He acted as “Pa Kettle” in the movie series Ma and Pa Kettle. Mr. Kilbride died on December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles, California.



Sam Cooke died 45 years ago

Sam Cooke was born on January 22, 1931 as Samuel Cook in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He wrote and sang the song You Send Me. Mr. Cooke died on December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles, California.

December 10 - Remembering Otis Redding, Shirley Hemphill, Gary Webb, and Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor died 4 years ago

Richard Pryor was born on December 2, 1940 as Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III in Peoria, Illinois. He was a comedian. Mr. Pryor died on December 10, 2005 in Encino, California.



Gary Webb died 5 years ago

Gary Webb was born on August 31, 1955 in Corona, California. He wrote the book Dark Alliance. Mr. Webb died on December 10, 2004 in Carmichael, California.



Shirley Hemphill died 10 years ago

Shirley Ann Hemphill was born on July 1, 1947 in Asheville, North Carolina. She acted on the TV sitcom What’s Happening!! (see episodes here). Ms. Hemphill died on December 10, 1999 in West Covina, California.



Otis Redding died 42 years ago

Otis Redding was born on September 9, 1941 as Otis Ray Redding, Jr. in Dawson, Georgia. He co-wrote and sang the song (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay. Mr. Redding died on December 10, 1967 in Madison, Wisconsin.

December 9 - Remembering Vincent Gardenia

Vincent Gardenia died 17 years ago

Vincent Gardenia was born on January 7, 1922 as Vincenzo Scognamiglio in Naples, Italy. He acted as “Frank Lorenzo” on the TV sitcom All in the Family. Mr. Gardenia died on December 9, 1992 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

December 8 - Remembering Antônio Carlos Jobim, Slim Pickens, Marty Robbins, and John Lennon

Antônio Carlos Jobim died 15 years ago

Antônio Carlos Jobim was born on January 25, 1927 as Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He composed the music to the song Garota de Ipanema. Mr. Jobim died on December 8, 1994 in New York City, New York.



Slim Pickens died 26 years ago

Slim Pickens was born on June 29, 1919 as Louis Burton Lindley, Jr. in Kingsburg, California. He acted in the 1974 movie Blazing Saddles and in many others. Mr. Pickens died on December 8, 1983 in Modesto, California.



Marty Robbins died 27 years ago

Marty Robbins was born on September 26, 1925 as Martin David Robinson in Glendale, Arizona. He wrote and sang the songs A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation) and El Paso. Mr. Robbins died on December 8, 1982 in Nashville, Tennessee.





John Lennon died 29 years ago

John Winston Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. He wrote and performed the song Imagine. He co-wrote the song Happy Xmas (War Is Over). Mr. Lennon died on December 8, 1980 in New York City, New York.

December 7 - Remembering Jerry Scoggins and Thornton Wilder

Jerry Scoggins died 5 years ago

Jerry Scoggins was born on September 30, 1911 in Mount Pleasant, Texas. He sang the song The Ballad of Jed Clampett. Mr. Scoggins died on December 7, 2004 in Westlake Village, California.





Thornton Wilder died 34 years ago

Thornton Niven Wilder was born on April 17, 1897 in Madison, Wisconsin. He wrote the play Our Town. Mr. Wilder died on December 7, 1975 in Hamden, Connecticut.

December 6 - Remembering Don Ameche, Sammy Fain, Frances Bavier, and Roy Orbison

Don Ameche died 16 years ago

Don Ameche was born on May 31, 1908 as Dominic Felix Amici in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He acted in the 1985 movie Cocoon and in many more. Mr. Ameche died on December 6, 1993 in Scottsdale, Arizona.





Sammy Fain died 20 years ago

Sammy Fain was born on June 17, 1902 as Samuel E. Feinberg in New York City, New York. He wrote the music to the songs That Old Feeling, Secret Love , and Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing. Mr. Fain died on December 6, 1989 in Los Angeles, California.







Frances Bavier died 20 years ago

Frances Elizabeth Bavier was born on December 14, 1902 in New York City, New York. She acted as “Aunt Bee” on the TV sitcoms The Andy Griffith Show (see an episode here) and Mayberry R.F.D. (see an episode here). Ms. Bavier died on December 6, 1989 in Siler City, North Carolina.





Roy Orbison died 21 years ago

Roy Kelton Orbison was born on April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas.
He co-wrote and sang the song Crying and others. Mr. Orbison died on December 6, 1988 in Hendersonville, Tennessee.