Larry Hagman was 81.  He was the actor best known for playing J. R. Ewing in Dallas and Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie.

Lincoln Alexander was 90.  He was lieutenant governor of Ontario from 1985 to 1991 and Canada's first black member of Parliament, elected to the House of Commons in 1968 as the Progressive Conservative candidate for Hamilton West.

Alex Karras was 77.  He was a defensive lineman and four-time Pro Bowl selection who played for the Detroit Lions from 1958 to 1970, went on to star in the 1980s sitcom “Webster” and also played the horse-punching Mongo in the 1974 movie “Blazing Saddles".

Barbara Ann Scott was 84.  She was known as “Canada’s sweetheart”, capturing world and Olympic figure skating titles in 1947 and 1948.

Andy Williams was 84.  He was an Emmy-winning TV host and popular singer best known for his rendition of "Moon River."

Sam Sniderman was 92.  He was the founder of Sam the Record Man.  I spent many hours perusing the floors of his flagship store at 347 Yonge Street.

Michael Clarke Duncan was 54.  He was best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

Neil Armstrong was 82.  He was the first man to walk on the moon.

Ron Palillo was 63. He portrayed  class joker Arnold Horshack in the 1970s television series Welcome Back, Kotter.

Maeve Binchy was 72.  He was the novelist best known for her novels Circle of Friends and Light a Penny Candle. My Irish grandmother ate Maeve Binchy books for breakfast.  Every time I'd visit we'd end up at the Bradford library where she'd pick up a Binchy book or two

Sherman Hemsley was 74.  He was the actor most famous for his role as George Jefferson on All in the Family and The Jeffersons, and as Deacon Ernest Frye on Amen.

Ernest Borgnine was 95.  He was the film and television actor who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a lovelorn butcher in 1955's "Marty." If you're like me, you loved Ernest Borgnine in The Simpsons episode "Boy-Scoutz N the Hood".  I can't find a good clip of Borgnine

Andy Griffith was 86.  He starred as Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show and later on Matlock, a show super popular with Abe Simpson's crew. Here's Andy Griffith vs. The Patriot Act. He was always awfully sensible.

Nora Ephron was 71.  She was the Oscar-nominated director and author best known for writing When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and Julie & Julia.

Henry Hill was 69.  Martin Scorsese’s 1990 movie “Goodfellas,” starring Ray Liotta as Hill, chronicled his blood-spattered rise in the underworld, the 1978 Lufthansa heist at Kennedy Airport, his descent into the world of drugs and his eventual arrest. Hill testified against his former associates to avoid a possible

Ray Bradbury was 91.  He was the author of more than 27 novels and story collections, most famously “The Martian Chronicles,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “Dandelion Wine” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes”, and more than 600 short stories.

Richard Dawson was 79.  He was the wisecracking British entertainer who was among the schemers in the 1960s sitcom Hogan's Heroes and a decade later began kissing thousands of female contestants as host of the game show Family Feud.

Jim Unger was 75.  He was the Canadian cartoonist best known for his syndicated comic strip Herman which ran for eighteen years in 600 newspapers in 25 countries. Herman was always one of my favourites.

Robin Gibb was 62.  He was the singer and songwriter best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice and older brother Barry.

Donna Summer was 63.  She was the Queen of Disco, known for such hits as "Last Dance," "Love to Love You Baby," "I Feel Love," "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff."

Vidal Sassoon was 84.  He was a widely recognized British hairdresser, credited with creating a simple geometric, "Bauhaus-inspired" hair style, also called the bob. I only know his name because of ads like this and couldn't be escaped in the 80s.

Maurice Sendak was 83.  He was the children's book author and illustrator who saw the sometimes-dark side of childhood in books like "Where the Wild Things Are" and "In the Night Kitchen."

George Lindsey was 83.  He spent nearly 30 years as the grinning Goober Pyle, Gomer's cousin, on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hee Haw."

Adam "MCA" Yauch was 47.  He co-founded the Beastie Boys in 1979 with Mike D, Mix Master Mike, and Ad-Rock. I'm a big Beastie Boys fan.  Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head rank among my favourite albums of all time. Adam Yauch was a practising Buddhist, and because of that,

Junior Seau was 43.   He was a 12-time Pro Bowler and 6-time First-Team All-Pro NFL linebacker, enjoying his best seasons with the San Diego Chargers. Early reports indicate Junior Seau died from a self-inflicted gunshot. That's a damn shame, he was one of my favourites. Update: Junior Seau is the