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

Levon Helm was 71.  He was a singer and drummer for the Band, singing such classics as "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Up on Cripple Creek," "Rag Mama Rag," and "The Weight".

Dick Clark was 82.  He was the music industry maverick, longtime TV host and powerhouse producer who changed the way we listened to pop music with American Bandstand, and whose trademark Rockin' Eve became a fixture of New Year's celebrations.

Randy Starkman was 51. He covered premier amateur athletics for the Toronto Star, exposing sprinter Ben Johnson’s second positive steroid test in 1993, and covering 12 Olympic Games.

Mike Wallace was 93.  He was the grand inquisitor of CBS’s 60 Minutes who once declared there was “no such thing as an indiscreet question.”

Jim Marshall was 88. He was dubbed "the Father of Loud" for creating kit used by some of the biggest names in rock.

Earl Scruggs was 88. He was a bluegrass legend and banjo pioneer who helped profoundly change country music with Bill Monroe and later with guitarist Lester Flatt.

Bert Randolph Sugar was 74. He was a legendary boxing writer and historian, and one of the sport's most iconic characters. I always loved his appearances on Prime Time Sports.  The man knew boxing and knew how to tell a story like no other.

Davy Jones was 66. He was the singer-songwriter and actor best known as a member of the Monkees.  Along with Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork they churned out a bunch of hits including, "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer." He's also the reason young

Jan Berenstain was 88. She co-created the beloved Berenstain Bears book series with her husband Stan Berenstain.  Stan passed away in 2005. When my son was two, we spent many an evening watching The Berenstain Bears.  James loved bears.

Gary Carter was 57. The Kid was an 11-time All-Star catcher for the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2003.