George Mikan was 80.  He was the "gentle giant" who a half-century ago brought fame and stability to the fledgling world of professional basketball and literally transformed the game.

Oscar Brown Jr. was 78.  He was a legendary rhythm & blues and jazz singer known for such compositions "The Snake," "Signifyin' Monkey" and lyrics for Miles Davis' "All Blues."

John D'Amico was 67.  He was a Hall of Fame hockey linesman who officiated close to 2,000 career NHL games.

Eddie Albert was 99.  He was an actor best known as the constantly befuddled city slicker-turned-farmer in television's "Green Acres".

Domenic Troiano was 59.  His unparalleled guitar playing talent led him to replace Robbie Robertson as the lead guitarist for Ronnie Hawkins and Randy Bachman in The Guess Who in the mid '70s.

Thurl Ravenscroft was 91.  He voiced Tony the Tiger for more than 50 years, along with roles in a number of animated Disney films, including "The Jungle Book", "Mary Poppins", "Alice in Wonderland" and "Lady and the Tramp". For "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", he sang "You're a Mean One,

Frank Gorshin was 72.  He was the impressionist with 100 faces best known for his Emmy-nominated role as The Riddler on the old "Batman" television series.

Bob Hunter was 63.  He co-founded Greenpeace and was also a broadcaster, journalist, author and political hopeful.  He was most recently the ecology news specialist for CHUM's Citytv and CP24 TV channels and the man behind Paper Cuts, a segment in which he wore a bathrobe and commented on the

William Bell was 78.  He was an Emmy award-winning daytime TV soap writer, producer and co-creator of "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful".

Reginald (Red) Horner was 95.  He played for both the Toronto Marlies and the Maple Leafs, spending his entire career in Toronto scoring 42 goals and 110 assists with 1264 penalty minutes in a hall of fame career.

John Mills was 97.  He won an Oscar in 1971 for his portrayal of a mute village idiot in "Ryan's Daughter" but he made his name in patriotic films during and after World War II including "The October Man," "Scott of the Antarctic," "Dunkirk" and "Ice Cold in Alex."

Debralee Scott was 52.  She appeared in the sitcom "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and some of the "Police Academy" movies as Cadet Fackler.

Prince Rainier III of Monoco was 81.  He was Europe's longest-serving monarch who brought glamor to his Mediterranean principality with his marriage to American Hollywood star Grace Kelly.

Saul Bellow was 89.  He was a master of comic melancholy who in "Herzog," "Humboldt's Gift" and other novels both championed and mourned the soul's fate in the modern world. I still remember my University essay about his "Seize the Day".

Frank Clair was 87.  He transformed the Ottawa Rough Riders into a CFL powerhouse in the 1960s and 1970s and his all-time coaching mark stands at 174-124-8.

Pope John Paul II was 84.  He headed the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years.

Mitch Hedberg was 37.  He was a very funny comedian and frequent guest on Howard Stern's morning radio show and "Late Show With David Letterman".

Terri Schiavo was 41.  She was the brain-damaged Florida woman at the heart of a wrenching dispute over her fate that drew in the Congress and President Bush and ignited a media frenzy.

Johnnie Cochran was 67.  He became a legal superstar after helping clear O.J. Simpson during a sensational murder trial in which he uttered the famous quote "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit".

Paul Hester was 46.  He was the drummer from popular 1980s Australian rock band Crowded House.

Paul Henning was 93.  He created the hit TV show "The Beverly Hillbillies" and wrote its theme song.

Barney Martin was 82.  He was a former New York City detective who went into show business and became best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's father Morty on the comedian's hit television series. It's rough when a player on one of your favourite shows of all time passes away.  I've

Rod Price was 57.  He was a founding member of the blues boogie band Foghat.

David Little was 46.  He was a durable linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers who was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1990.

David Boone was 53.  He was an all-star defensive lineman who helped the Edmonton Eskimos win five consecutive Grey Cups.