Honest Ed Mirvish was 92.  He was the Toronto businessman and philanthropist best known for his world-famous "Honest Ed's" bargain store on the corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets.

Bill Pinkney was 81.  He was the last survivor of the original members of the musical group The Drifters.

Beverly Sills was 78.  She was the world-renowned soprano who became the most popular opera singer in America in modern times.

Boots Randolph was 80.  His spirited saxophone playing on "Yakety Sax" endeared him to fans for years on Benny Hill's TV show.

Hy Zaret was 99.  He wrote the haunting words to "Unchained Melody," one of the most frequently recorded songs of the 20th century.

Joel Siegel was 63. He was best known as the resident movie critic on ABC's "Good Morning America" for 25 years.

Liz Claiborne was 78.  She was the fashion designer whose styles became a cornerstone of career women's wardrobes in the 1970s and 1980s.

Chris Benoit was 40.  He was a Canadian wrestling star  in the WWE known as the "Canadian Crippler".

Rod Beck was 38.  He was a relief pitcher who wore a bushy mustache while earning 286 career saves, primarily for the San Francisco Giants.

Hank Medress was 68.  His vocals with the doo wop group the Tokens helped propel their irrepressible single "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" to the top of the charts.

"Sensational" Sherri Martel was 49.  She was a professional wrestler who defeated The Fabulous Moolah for the WWF Women's Title.

Don Herbert was 89.  He explained the wonderful world of science on television as "Mr. Wizard."

Tony Thompson was 31.  He sang on the 1990s R&B hits "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" and "She's Playing Hard to Get" as part of the group Hi-Five.

Charles Nelson Reilly was 76.  He was the Tony Award winner who later became known for his ribald appearances on the "Tonight Show" and various game shows.

Bobby "Uncle Bobby" Ash was 82.  He was a popular Canadian children's entertainer during the 1960s and '70s.

Jerry Falwell was 73.  He was the leader of the religious right who battled in the political arena against abortion and homosexuality. He was also a evil bigot who preached hateful things and uttered disgusting phrases like this gem: "AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's

Wally Schirra was 84.  He was was one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts chosen for the Project Mercury, America's first effort to put men in space.

Gordon Scott was 80.  He was the "intelligent and nice" Tarzan in 1950s movies.

Tom Poston was 85.  He was the tall, pasty-faced comic who found fame and fortune playing a clueless everyman on such hit television shows as "Newhart" and "Mork and Mindy."

Josh Hancock was 29.  He was a relief pitcher who helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series last season.

Bobby "Boris" Pickett was 69.  He was best known for singing and co-writing the 1962 hit novelty song, "Monster Mash".

Boris Yeltsin was 76.  As president he engineered the final collapse of the Soviet Union and pushed Russia to embrace democracy and a market economy.

Kitty Carlisle Hart was 96.  Her long career spanned Broadway, opera, television and film, including the classic Marx Brothers movie "A Night at the Opera."

Gaetan Duchesne was 44.  He played 1028 NHL games for the Washington Capitals, Quebec Nordiques, Minnesota North Stars, San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers.

Don Ho was 76.  He entertained tourists for decades wearing raspberry-tinted sunglasses and singing the catchy signature tune "Tiny Bubbles."