Artists, entertainers who deserted us in 2007

JANUARY:

A.I. Bezzerides, 98. Film noir screenwriter ("Kiss Me Deadly.") Jan. 1.

Del Reeves, 74. Grand Ole Opry star ("Girl on the Billboard.") Jan. 1.

Tillie Olsen, 94. Influential feminist author ("Tell Me a Riddle.") Jan. 1.

Vincent Sardi Jr., 91. Consummate host of Broadway watering hole Sardi's. Jan. 4.

Pete Kleinow, 72. Ace steel guitar player with the Flying Burrito Brothers. Jan. 6.

Yvonne De Carlo, 84. The vampire mom on "The Munsters." Jan. 8.

Iwao Takamoto, 81. Animator who created Scooby-Doo. Jan. 8.

Carlo Ponti, 94. Italian producer who discovered and married Sophia Loren. Jan. 9.

Robert Anton Wilson, 74. Co-author of science fiction cult classic "The Illuminatus! Trilogy." Jan. 11.

Michael Brecker, 57. Versatile tenor saxophonist; won 11 Grammys. Jan. 13.

Darlene Conley, 72. Actress; feisty fashion mogul Sally Spectra on "The Bold and the Beautiful." Jan. 14.

Betty Trezza, 81. Player in World War II-era women's baseball league immortalized in "A League of Their Own." Jan. 16.

Pookie Hudson, 72. Lead singer for Spaniels doo wop group ("Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight.") Jan. 16.

Ron Carey, 71. Played cocky, height-challenged policeman on "Barney Miller." Jan. 16.

Art Buchwald, 81. Pulitzer-winning Washington humorist; battled Hollywood over movie "Coming to America." Jan. 17.

Denny Doherty, 66. Member of 1960s folk-rock group the Mamas and the Papas ("California Dreamin'.") Jan. 19.

Liz Renay, 80. Colorful cult movie actress (John Waters' "Desperate Living.") Jan. 22.

Danny Finegood, 52. Prankster known for creative alterations of the Hollywood sign (Hollyweed, Ollywood, etc.) Jan. 22. Multiple myeloma.

Peter Tompkins, 87. Wrote best-sellers such as "The Secret Life of Plants." Jan. 24.

Bob Carroll Jr., 87. TV writer for Lucille Ball's shows. Jan. 27.

Tige Andrews, 86. Emmy-nominated actor; the captain in charge of "The Mod Squad." Jan. 27.

Sidney Sheldon, 89. Stage, screen writer turned best-selling novelist ("The Other Side of Midnight.") Jan. 30.

Molly Ivins, 62. Best-selling author and columnist, a sharp-witted liberal who referred to President Bush as "Shrub." Jan. 31.

FEBRUARY:

Gian Carlo Menotti, 95. Pulitzer-winning Italian composer ("The Consul," "Amahl and the Night Visitors"); founded Spoleto arts festivals. Feb. 1.

Joe Hunter, 79. Motown's first bandleader; three-time Grammy winner with the Funk Brothers. Feb. 2.

Eric von Schmidt, 75. A mainstay of the blues and folk scene in the 1950s and 1960s who influenced Bob Dylan. Feb. 2.

Billy Henderson, 67. Member of the Spinners ("Could It Be I'm Falling in Love.") Feb. 2.

Barbara McNair, 72. Pioneering black singer-actress; had her own TV variety show. Feb. 4.

Frankie Laine, 93. Big-voiced singer; one of the most popular entertainers of the 1950s ("That Lucky Old Sun.") Feb. 6.

Anna Nicole Smith, 39. Model and sometime actress. Feb. 8. Accidental overdose of medication.

Ian Richardson, 72. Actor; played Jean-Paul Marat in "Marat/Sade" on Broadway and the screen. Feb. 9.

Marianne Fredriksson, 79. One of Sweden's most admired writers ("Hanna's Daughters.") Feb. 11.

Ellen Hanley, 80. Played Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's first wife in the Pulitzer-winning musical "Fiorello!" Feb. 12.

Robert Adler, 93. Co-inventor of the TV remote, the 1956 Zenith Space Command. Feb. 15.

Walker Edmiston, 81. The voice of Ernie the Keebler elf in TV commercials. Feb. 15.

Ray Evans, 92. Oscar-winning songwriter ("Mona Lisa," "Buttons and Bows.") Feb. 15.

Janet Blair, 85. Vivacious Hollywood actress in 1940s musicals and comedies ("My Sister Eileen.") Feb. 19

Fons Rademakers, 86. Dutch film director whose 1986 "De Aanslag" ("The Assault") won Oscar as best foreign language film. Feb. 22.

Lothar-Guenther Buchheim, 89. German author; wrote autobiographical novel "Das Boot." Feb. 22.

Mark Spoelstra, 66. Singer who was an important figure in the folk music renaissance of the 1960s. Feb. 25.

Bobby Rosengarden, 82. Jazz drummer; bandleader for "The Dick Cavett Show." Feb. 27.

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., 89. Pulitzer-winning historian; Kennedy administration "court philosopher." Feb. 28.

MARCH:

Henri Troyat, 95. One of France's most prolific and respected authors. March 2.

Marjabelle Young Stewart, 82. Etiquette authority; co-wrote "White Gloves and Party Manners." March 3.

Andy Sidaris, 76. Emmy-winning director of "Wide World of Sports." March 7.

Brad Delp, 55. Lead singer for the band Boston ("More Than a Feeling.") March 9. Suicide.

Richard Jeni, 49. Standup comedian, frequently "Tonight Show" guest. March 10. Apparent suicide.

Betty Hutton, 86. Singer-actress who brought brassy vitality to Hollywood musicals ("Annie Get Your Gun.") March 11.

Vilma Ebsen, 96. She danced in "Broadway Melody of 1936" with her brother Buddy. March 12.

Stuart Rosenberg, 79. TV, film director ("Cool Hand Luke.") March 15.

Charles Harrelson, 69. Actor Woody Harrelson's father, sentenced to life for killing a federal judge. March 15.

Carol Richards, 84. Singer; teamed with Bing Crosby on "Silver Bells." March 16.

Luther Ingram, 69. R&B singer and songwriter known for "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right)." March 19.

Calvert DeForest, 85. Played bespectacled nebbish Larry "Bud" Melman on David Letterman's shows. March 19.

Walter Turnbull, 62. Founded the acclaimed Boys Choir of Harlem. March 23.

Robert E. Petersen, 80. Publisher whose Hot Rod, Motor Trend magazines helped shape car culture. March 23.

Henson Cargill, 66. Country singer ("Skip a Rope.") March 24.

Calvin Lockhart, 72. Played underworld figures in 1970s blaxploitation films. March 29.

Tom Moore, 88. Helped ABC Television Network become competitive. March 31.

APRIL:

Danny Barcelona, 77. Drummer with Louis Armstrong. April 1.

Bob Clark, 67. Film director known for holiday classic "A Christmas Story." April 4.

Edward Mallory, 76. Portrayed angst-ridden Dr. Bill Horton on soap opera "Days of Our Lives." April 4.

Stan Daniels, 72. Emmy-winning TV writer and producer ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Taxi.")

George Jenkins, 98. Art director; won Oscar for "All the President's Men." April 6.

Barry Nelson, 89. MGM contract player; later first actor to play James Bond on screen. April 7.

Johnny Hart, 76. Cartoonist whose "B.C." showed the humorous side of the Stone Age. April 7.

Sol LeWitt, 78. Influential abstract painter, sculptor. April 8.

Kurt Vonnegut, 84. Novelist who captured the absurdity of the world in darkly humorous works such as "Slaughterhouse-Five." April 11.

Roscoe Lee Browne, 81. Emmy-winning actor known for rich voice, dignified bearing. April 11.

Don Ho, 76. Hawaiian crooner ("Tiny Bubbles"); entertained tourists for decades. April 14.

Brant Parker, 86. Illustrated "The Wizard of Id" comic strip. April 15.

James B. Davis Sr., 90. Founded gospel group the Dixie Hummingbirds. April 17.

Kitty Carlisle Hart, 96. Singer-actress; long career spanned Broadway, opera, television and film ("A Night at the Opera.") April 17.

Andrew Hill, 75. Jazz pianist, composer known for complex post-bop style. April 20.

Anne Pitoniak, 85. Tony-nominated actress ("'night, Mother.") April 22.

David Halberstam, 73. Journalist whose acclaimed books included towering study of Vietnam War, poignant portrait of aging baseball stars. April 23.

Bobby "Boris" Pickett, 69. Did his dead-on Boris Karloff impression in the novelty hit "Monster Mash." April 25.

Jack Valenti, 85. Film industry lobbyist; instituted movie ratings system. April 26.

Mstislav Rostropovich, 80. The ebullient master cellist who fought for the rights of Soviet-era dissidents. April 27.

Dabbs Greer, 90. Character actor; played minister in "Little House on the Prairie." April 28.

Tommy Newsom, 78. "The Tonight Show" musician whose "Mr. Excitement" nickname was a running joke for Johnny Carson. April 28.

Tom Poston, 85. The tall, pasty-faced TV comic whose characters were clueless. ("Newhart.") April 30.

Zola Taylor, 69. Singer with the Platters ("The Great Pretender.") April 30.

Isabella Blow, 48. Vibrant guru of British fashion scene. May 7.

Bernard Gordon, 88. Screenwriter, blacklisted in the 1950s. ("55 Days at Peking.") May 11.

Lloyd Alexander, 83. Children's book author ("The Chronicles of Prydain.") May 17.

Carl Wright, 75. Tap dancer turned actor ("Barbershop," "Big Momma's House.") May 19.

Charles Nelson Reilly, 76. Tony Award winner; later known for ribald TV game show appearances. May 25.

Gretchen Wyler, 75. Broadway actress ("Silk Stockings.") May 27.

Mark Harris, 84. Novelist ("Bang the Drum Slowly.") May 30.

William Meredith, 88. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet ("Partial Accounts: New and Selected Poems.") May 30.

JUNE

Nellie Lutcher, 93. Jazz vocalist ("He's a Real Gone Guy.") June 8.

Sembene Ousmane, 84. The father of Senegalese cinema and one of the pioneers of the art in Africa. June 9.

Mala Powers, 75. Actress; played Roxanne to Jose Ferrer's "Cyrano de Bergerac." June 11.

Don Herbert, 89. Television's "Mr. Wizard." June 12.

Thommie Walsh, 57. Tony-winning choreographer ("A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine.") June 16. Lymphoma.

Gianfranco Ferre, 62. Italian designer known as "architect of fashion." June 17.

Hank Medress, 68. Singer with the doo wop group the Tokens ("The Lion Sleeps Tonight.") June 18.

Antonio Aguilar, 88. Mariachi singer, actor during Mexican cinema's Golden Era. June 19.

Nazek al-Malaika, 85. Iraqi poet; used free verse rather than classical rhyme. June 20.

J.B. Handelsman, 85. New Yorker cartoonist; used dry wit to deflate human folly, injustice. June 20.

Chris Benoit, 40. World Wrestling Entertainment star. Found June 25; apparent suicide after killing wife, 7-year-old son.

Liz Claiborne, 78. Designer whose styles became a cornerstone of career women's wardrobes. June 26.

Joel Siegel, 63. Longtime "Good Morning America" movie critic. June 29.

Fred T. Saberhagen, 77. Science fiction and fantasy writer ("Berserker" series.) June 29.

Edward Yang, 59. Taiwan fim director; "Yi Yi (A One and a Two)," honored at Cannes in 2000. June 29.

George McCorkle, 60. Marshall Tucker Band member; wrote "Fire on the Mountain." June 29. Cancer.

JULY

Beverly Sills, 78. Opera diva with a dazzling voice, bubbly personality. July 2.

Hy Zaret, 99. Wrote haunting lyrics to "Unchained Melody." July 2.

Buck Brown, 71. Cartoonist; created Playboy's naughty "Granny." July 2.

Boots Randolph, 80. His spirited saxophone made "Yakety Sax" a hit. July 3.

Regine Crespin, 80. French opera great. July 5.

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, 68. Pioneer of modern historical romance novel ("The Flame and the Flower.") July 6.

Charles Lane, 102. Prolific character actor whose face was recognizable to generations of moviegoers. July 9.

Doug Marlette, 57. Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist, creator of comic strip "Kudzu." July 10. Car accident.

John Graham, 80. Children's book author ("I Love You, Mouse.") July 16.

Teresa Stich-Randall, 79. American soprano; became a leading opera singer in Austria. July 17.

Jerry Hadley, 55. Tenor known for his agile voice. July 18. Apparent suicide.

Sekou Sundiata, 58. Poet, recording artist ("The Blue Oneness of Dreams"). July 18.

Bill Flemming, 80. Longtime ABC Sports broadcaster. July 20.

Tammy Faye Messner, 65. Helped then-husband Jim Bakker build an evangelism empire that later collapsed; reality TV performer. July 20.

Laszlo Kovacs, 74. Cinematographer whose stylistic inventions transformed cinema ("Easy Rider," "Five Easy Pieces.") July 22.

Ulrich Muehe, 54. German actor acclaimed for role in Oscar-winning "The Lives of Others." July 22. Stomach cancer.

Ron Miller, 74. Songwriter ("For Once in My Life.") July 23.

George Tabori, 93. Avant-garde playwright-director in postwar Germany ("Goldberg Variations.") July 23.

William J. Tuttle, 95. Oscar-winning movie makeup artist. July 27.

Michel Serrault, 79. French actor; "La Cage aux Folles" made him internationally known. July 29.

Tom Snyder, 71. Late-late night TV talk show host with a robust laugh, trademark cloud of cigarette smoke. July 29.

Art Davis, 73. Renowned jazz bassist. July 29.

Ingmar Bergman, 87. Swedish filmmaker; one of the greatest artists in cinema history ("The Seventh Seal," "Cries and Whispers.") July 30.

Michelangelo Antonioni, 94. Italian filmmaker whose depiction of modern-day malaise made him a symbol of art-house cinema ("Blow-Up," "L'Avventura.") July 30.

AUGUST:

Tommy Makem, 74. Irish singer; starred with the Clancy Brothers during the folk music boom. Aug. 1.

Frank Rosenfelt, 85. MGM chief who helped green-light "Network," "Doctor Zhivago." Aug. 2.

Lee Hazlewood, 78. Singer, songwriter; produced Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'." Aug. 4.

Stanley Myron Handelman, 77. Comic known for subtle humor, trademark oversized glasses. Aug. 5.

Mel Shavelson, 90. Screenwriter-director twice nominated for best-screenplay Oscars ("The Seven Little Foys," "Houseboat.") Aug. 8.

Merv Griffin, 82. Singer turned TV host turned impresario who parlayed game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire. Aug. 12.

Brooke Astor, 105. Philanthropist who gave millions to New York City arts institutions. Aug. 13.

Max Roach, 83. Jazz drummer whose rhythmic innovations defined bebop. Aug. 16.

Grace Paley, 84. Acclaimed poet and short story writer. Aug. 22.

Edward Seidensticker, 86. Scholar of Japanese literature; translated the epic "Tale of Genji." Aug. 26.

Hilly Kristal, 75. His Manhattan club CBGB was birthplace of punk rock. Aug. 28.

Miyoshi Umeki, 78. Oscar-winning actress ("Sayonara.") Aug. 28.

SEPTEMBER:

Marcia Mae Jones, 83. Child actress; Shirley Temple's pal in "Heidi." Sept. 2.

Janis Martin, 67. Rockabilly pioneer billed as "The Female Elvis." ("Will You Willyum.") Sept. 3.

Luciano Pavarotti, 71. Opera superstar hailed as "king of the high C's." Sept. 6.

Madeleine L'Engle, 88. Author who captivated schoolchildren with "A Wrinkle in Time." Sept. 6.

Percy Rodrigues, 89. Pioneering black actor; played a neurosurgeon on "Peyton Place." Sept. 6.

Jane Wyman, 90. Won Oscar as deaf rape victim in "Johnny Belinda"; later in TV's "Falcon Crest." Ronald Reagan's ex-wife. Sept. 10.

Joe Zawinul, 75. Jazz keyboardist; one of the creators of jazz-rock fusion with Weather Report ("Birdland.") Sept 11.

Bobby Byrd, 73. Longtime James Brown collaborator; co-founder of Famous Flames. Sept. 12.

Brett Somers, 83. Actress-comedian; amused "Match Game" viewers in the 1970s. Sept. 15.

Robert Jordan, 58. Author of "Wheel of Time" fantasy novels. Sept. 16. Blood disease.

Alice Ghostley, 81. Tony-winning actress ("The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window.") Sept. 21.

Marcel Marceau, 84. French master of pantomime who transformed silence into poetry. Sept. 22.

Charles Griffith, 77. Wrote screenplay for "Little Shop of Horrors." Sept. 28.

Martin Manulis, 92. Producer of the TV classic "Playhouse 90." Sept. 28.

Lois Maxwell, 80. Miss Moneypenny in 14 James Bond movies. Sept. 29.

OCTOBER:

Ned Sherrin, 76. British broadcaster; directed influential news satire show "That Was The Week That Was." Oct. 1.

George Grizzard, 79. Tony-winning Broadway actor ("A Delicate Balance.") Oct. 2.

Enrico Banducci, 85. His San Francisco nightclub, the hungry i, hosted comedians such as Mort Sahl. Oct. 9.

Carol Bruce, 87. Tony-nominated actress ("Do I Hear a Waltz?") Oct. 9.

Werner von Trapp, 91. Member of singing family made famous by "The Sound of Music." Oct. 11.

Sri Chinmoy, 76. Indian-born spiritual leader; inspired followers to perform various athletic feats. Oct. 11.

Ernest Withers, 85. Photographer who documented black history from Beale Street blues to the civil rights movement. Oct. 15.

Deborah Kerr, 86. Actress who kissed Burt Lancaster on a beach in "From Here to Eternity," danced with Yul Brynner in "The King and I." Oct. 16.

Barbara West Dainton, 96. Englishwoman believed to be one of the last two survivors from the Titanic. Oct. 16.

Joey Bishop, 89. Stone-faced TV and nightclub comedian; last of the Rat Pack. Oct. 17.

Teresa Brewer, 76. She topped the charts in the 1950s ("Till I Waltz Again With You.") Oct. 17.

Lucky Dube, 43. South African reggae star. Oct. 18. Shot in apparent carjacking attempt.

Vincent DeDomenico, 92. Co-inventor of Rice-A-Roni, famed for catchy TV jingle. Oct. 18.

Peg Bracken, 89. Wrote hugely popular "I Hate to Cook Book." Oct. 20.

R.B. Kitaj, 74. A key figure in the British Pop Art movement. Oct. 21.

Lowell Smith, 56. Dance Theater of Harlem member known for forceful but fluid body movements. Oct. 22. Lung cancer.

Friedman Paul Erhardt, 63. Television's "Chef Tell." Oct. 26.

Porter Wagoner, 80. Rhinestone-clad Grand Ole Opry star who helped launch the career of Dolly Parton. Oct. 28.

Robert Goulet, 73. Baritone made Broadway debut in "Camelot;" won Tony in 1968 for "The Happy Time." Oct. 30.

NOVEMBER:

Igor Moiseyev, 101. Choreographer who transformed folk dance into a legitimate art, showcasing Russian culture worldwide. Nov. 2.

George Osmond, 90. Patriarch of singing Osmond family. Nov. 6.

Hank Thompson, 82. Country singer, bandleader ("The Wild Side of Life.") Nov. 6.

Fred W. McDarrah, 81. Village Voice photographer who chronicled New York's cultural, political events. Nov. 6.

Norman Mailer, 84. The pugnacious prince of American letters. Nov. 10.

Donda West, 58. Mother of Kanye West. Nov. 10, after undergoing plastic surgery.

Laraine Day, 87. Actress in nearly 50 films including Hitchcock thriller "Foreign Correspondent." Nov. 10.

Delbert Mann, 87. Directed "Marty," classic lonely-guy teleplay that became multiple Oscar-winning film. Nov. 11.

Ira Levin, 78. Best-selling novelist ("Rosemary's Baby," "The Boys From Brazil.") Nov. 12.

Peter Zinner, 88. Film editor on "The Godfather"; won Oscar for "The Deer Hunter." Nov. 13.

Ronnie Burns, 72. George Burns and Gracie Allen's son; played himself on their TV show. Nov. 14.

Hy Lit, 73. One of Philadelphia's hottest DJs during heyday of rock 'n' roll. Nov. 17.

Paul Wasserman, 73. Celebrity publicist; clients included Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Jack Lemmon. Nov. 18.

Dick Wilson, 91. Played the fussy, mustachioed grocer who begged customers "Please, don't squeeze the Charmin." Nov. 19.

Fernando Fernan Gomez, 86. Actor-director; one of Spain's most beloved entertainers. Nov. 21.

Maurice Bejart, 80. Avant-garde French choreographer. Nov. 22.

Kevin Dubrow, 52. Lead singer for heavy metal band Quiet Riot ("Cum on Feel the Noize.") Found Nov. 25.

Mel Tolkin, 94. Head writer for Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows." Nov. 26.

Roger B. Smith, 82. As General Motors chief, was the subject of Michael Moore's documentary "Roger & Me." Nov. 29.

Evel Knievel, 69. Motorcycle daredevil known for spectacular jumps and bone-crushing crashes. Nov. 30.

DECEMBER:

Elizabeth Hardwick, 91. Leading intellectual author ("Sleepless Nights") and critic. Dec. 2.

Pimp C, 33. Rapper with the Texas hip-hop group Underground Kingz ("Super Tight.") Found Dec. 4.

Karlheinz Stockhausen, 79. Avant-garde German composer; pioneer of electronic music. Dec. 5.

Roger M. King, 63. CBS and King World Productions executive who helped bring such stars as Oprah Winfrey to television. Dec. 8.

Freddie Fields, 84. Colorful Hollywood agent, producer ("Glory") and studio executive. Dec. 11.

Ike Turner, 76. Rock innovator who teamed with wife Tina Turner (and denied abusing her). Dec. 12.

Diane Middlebrook, 68. Wrote acclaimed biographies of poets Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath. Dec. 15.

Dan Fogelberg, 56. His gentle, poignant hits ("Longer," "Leader of the Band") helped define soft-rock. Dec. 16. Cancer.

Joel Dorn, 65. Won back-to-back record of the year Grammys producing Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Killing Me Softly With His Song." Dec. 17.

Frank Capra Jr., 73. Television and movie producer; son of famed director. Dec. 19.

Arabella Spencer-Churchill, 58. Helped found Britain's Glastonbury rock festival. Dec. 20. Cancer.

Julien Gracq, 97. Celebrated French surrealist writer. Dec. 22.

Michael Kidd, 92. Choreographer whose athletic dances ("Seven Brides for Seven Brothers") won him five Tonys and a special Oscar. Dec. 23.

Oscar Peterson, 82. Jazz pianist whose hard-driving swing and melodic improvisations were hugely influential. Dec. 23.