Random Celebrity Deaths of 2011 (65 items)

• 

  (#1) Amy Winehouse

  • Dec. at 27 (1983-2011)

  7/23/11: The very talented, but often troubled U.K. pop star was found dead Saturday in her London home. The cause of death has not been released, but she was only 27 years old.
• 

  (#2) Elizabeth Taylor

  • Dec. at 79 (1932-2011)

  3/23/11: Movie legend Elizabeth Taylor passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized for six weeks, of congestive heart failure. She was 79. Taylor had starred in a string of successful films in her career including "Lassie Come Home," "National Velvet," "Father of the Bride" and "Giant." She was one of the most famous actress (and richest) in the world by 1960 when she starred in 20th Century Fox's "Cleopatra." She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress during her lustrous career and was famously married eight times to seven husbands. In her later years, she devoted much of her time to AIDS research and created the National AIDS Research Foundation in Los Angeles.
• 

  (#3) Steve Jobs

  • Dec. at 56 (1955-2011)

  10/5/11: Chairman and Co-Founder of Apple, died due to complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 56. Jobs was known for his keynote speeches that were given each year to update the loyal Apple followers, as well as his enlightening interview style.
• 

  (#4) Randy Savage

  • Dec. at 58 (1952-2011)

  5/20/11 - "Macho Man" Randy Savage (real name Randall Mario Poffo) died this morning due to injuries from a car accident after suffering a heart attack while driving in Tampa, Florida. The pro-wrestler was popular for over twenty years on the WWE, WCW and TNA wrestling programs, He was champion over twenty times in multiple wrestling circuits and programs. He was also famous for his ring attire and his legendary catchphrase, "Ohhhh Yeahhh."
• 

  (#5) Osama bin Laden

  • Dec. at 54 (1957-2011)

  5/1/11 - The only person on this list we are definitely not mourning. Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist that orchestrated the WTC attacks on Sept. 11th, was finally found and killed in a compound outside Islamabad, Pakistan.
• 

  (#6) Kim Jong-il

  • Dec. at 70 (1941-2011)

  12/18/11: Kim Jong-Il was pronounced dead. Known in North Korea as "Dear Leader" and other places as one of the world's most famous dictators, Jong-Il served as the country's leader under the communist regime. No cause has been released. He was 69. (Not to make fun of the dead, but it's hard to resist not linking to Kim Jong-il Owns Some Cool S*#t! by user CDU827
• 

  (#7) Anne Francis

  • Dec. at 80 (1930-2011)

  1/3/11: Best known for her roles in the 1950s science-fiction film "Forbidden Planet" and the 1960s television series “Honey West,” died on complications from pancreatic cancer. She was 80.
• 

  (#8) Patrice O'Neal

  • Dec. at 41 (1969-2011)

  11/28/11: Comedian and Actor, Patrice O'Neal, was pronounced dead from complications of a stroke he suffered back in September. O'Neal had appeared on shows like "The Office" and "Chappelle Show" as well as being a regular guest on the "Opie and Anthony" radio show. He was 41.
• 

  (#9) Pete Postlethwaite

  • Dec. at 64 (1946-2011)

  1/3/11: Academy Award nominated actor succumbed to cancer after months of treatment. Remembered for roles in James and the Giant Peach, Romeo and Juliet, Brassed Off, and nominated for an Oscar for In the Name of the Father. Once called by Steven Spielberg as "the greatest actor in the world." For more of his films, check out the Pete Postlethwaite filmography.
• 

  (#10) Andy Rooney

  • Dec. at 92 (1919-2011)

  11/5/11: Emmy Award winning 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney, most famous for his A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney segment, died of complications due to a recent surgery. His final taping was on November 2, 2011 and he died on November 5, 2011.
• 

  (#11) Gerry Rafferty

  • Dec. at 63 (1947-2011)

  1/4/11: The 'Stuck In The Middle With You' and 'Baker Street' singer/songwriter died after a long illness. His family said he passed away peacefully. You can find the complete Gerry Rafferty discography here.
• 

  (#12) David Nelson

  • Dec. at 74 (1936-2011)

  1/11/11: Co-starred with his parents and little brother Rick on the popular television show 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,' Died of complications of colon cancer. He was 74.
  Nelson was born in New York City and moved to Los Angeles with his parents, where he attended Hollywood High School and the University of Southern California. 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet' aired on ABC from 1952 to 1966; Nelson's film credits included 'Peyton Place,' 'The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker,' 'The Big Circus' and 'The Big Show.'
• 

  (#13) Jack LaLanne

  • Dec. at 96 (1914-2011)

  1/23/11: Fitness guru. Brought the idea of living a healthy lifestyle into people's homes with the Jack Lalanne show. One of the first mainstream advocates of women's fitness. He was 96.
• 

  (#14) Jane Russell

  • Dec. at 89 (1921-2011)

  2/28/11: Hollywood pin-up of 1940s and 50s. Co-star of Marilyn Monroe in "Gentleman Prefer Blondes." She died of respiratory difficulties from a bad cold.
• 

  (#15) Nickolas Ashford

  • Dec. at 70 (1941-2011)
• 

  (#16) Warren Christopher

  • Dec. at 85 (1925-2011)

  3/18/11:
• 

  (#17) Sidney Lumet

  • Dec. at 86 (1924-2011)

  4/09/2011: Sidney Lumet was one of the greatest American film directors of all time. He made over 50 films in his career, including 12 Angry Men (1957), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976) and The Verdict (1982). He earned an Academy award for directing for every one of those films. His last film was Before the Devil Knows Your Dead (2007).
• 

  (#18) Elisabeth Sladen

  • Dec. at 65 (1946-2011)

  4/19/2011: Elisabeth Sladen starred as the beloved companion to the Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, in the long running Doctor Who. She passed away at 63. She had returned to the Doctor Who franchise during David Tennant's run as the doctor and spun off into her own series, The Sarah Jane Adventures.
• 

  (#19) Tim Hetherington

  • Dec. at 40 (1970-2011)

  4/20/2011: Conflict photographer Tim Hetherington was killed in Libya's third-largest city, Misurata, during his coverage of the Libya conflict. He is known for directing and producing the film "Restrepo" as well as photographing (and raising the visibility of) major world conflicts in Liberia and Afghanistan Darfur.
• 

  (#20) Jackie Cooper

  • Dec. at 88 (1922-2011)

  5/4/11 - A child star in "Our Gang" Cooper was more widely known as Perry White in the Superman films. He died at 88 in a Beverly Hills hospital.
• 

  (#21) Ryan Dunn

  • Dec. at 34 (1977-2011)

  6/20/11 Ryan Dunn, one of the regular stuntmen/daredevils on the popular MTV show and following films "Jackass" died during a stunt involving a motor vehicle, leaving the vehicle decimated and seemingly melted.
• 

  (#22) Nate Dogg

  • Dec. at 41 (1969-2011)

  3/15/11: It is believed that hip-hop legend Nate Dogg, or Nathaniel Hale, died due to natural causes at the age of 41. He had suffered through two strokes in the past few years which left him partially paralyzed and mostly bedridden.
• 

  (#23) Peter Yates

  • Dec. at 81 (1929-2011)

  1/09/11: Director of films 'Bullitt', 'Breaking Away', and 'The Hot Rock'. Yates will famously be remembered as the mastermind behind the truly amazing chase scene in Bullitt. You can see the complete Peter Yates Movie List here on Ranker.
  In remembrance, here is Peter Yates most famous scene:
  
• 

  (#24) John Dye

  • Dec. at 47 (1963-2011)

  1/13/11: Co-starred on Touch By An Angel on CBS as the Angel of Death. He died of heart failure at 47.
• 

  (#25) Dwayne McDuffie

  • Dec. at 49 (1962-2011)

  2/21/11: Comic book and animation writer who co-founded Milestone Media, a company known for creating multicultural comics line. He died a day after his birthday from complications after having undergone heart surgery.
• 

  (#26) Mike Starr

  • Dec. at 44 (1966-2011)

  3/8/11: The original bassist in rock band Alice in Chains. He also starred on VH1's Celebrity Rehab in 2010 for heroin addiction as well as its spinoff Sober House. Starr was arrested on February 18, 2011 and booked on suspicion of drug possession and found dead less than a month later in a residence in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• 

  (#27) Michael Gough

  • Dec. at 94 (1916-2011)

  3/17/11: Michael Gough or--as most people know him--Batman's butler Alfred Pennyworth in the Batman films died at the age of 94. He was sick for the past year and was at home surrounded by family members when he passed. Gough appeared in four Batman movies, different TV series in the 60s and several Tim Burton films.
• 

  (#28) Loleatta Holloway

  • Dec. at 64 (1946-2011)

  3/21/11: Disco-era singer Loleatta Holloway d**d at the age of 64 due to a brief illness. She's mainly known for her 1980 hit single "Love Sensation" which has been resampled over the years by several high-profile bands.
• 

  (#29) Gerard Smith

  • Dec. at 36 (1974-2011)

  4/20/2011: After a battle with lung cancer, TV on the Radio bassist Gerard Smith passed away. The band is currently touring but will be canceling their five upcoming tour dates.
• 

  (#30) Dana Wynter

  • Dec. at 79 (1931-2011)

  5/5/11- Most known for her role in the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," actress Dana Wynter died of congestive heart failure at Ojai Valley Community Hospital's Continuing Care Center. She was 79 years old and her son said "she stepped off the bus very peacefully."
  Source
• 

  (#31) Arthur Laurents

  • Dec. at 93 (1917-2011)

  5/5/11- Arthur Laurents, the playwright, screenwriter and director who wrote and ultimately transformed two of Broadway’s landmark shows, "Gypsy" and "West Side Story," and created one of Hollywood’s most well-known romances, "The Way We Were," died on Thursday at his home in Manhattan due to complications from pneumonia. He was 93.
  source
• 

  (#32) John Walker

  5/7/2011- John Walker, an American-born musician and frontman of the British rock group Walker Brothers, died of liver cancer at the age of 67. As the guitarist and vocalist for the Walker Brothers, he had great success in producing hits such as 1964's "Love Her" and a string of other hits.
• 

  (#33) Robert Stempel

  • Dec. at 77 (1933-2011)

  5/7/2011- Robert Stempel, former Chairman and CEO of General Motors, died in Florida at the age of 77. Known for being a great engineer, Stempel helped develop technologies including front-wheel-drive cars, the catalytic converter and battery-powered cars. He is survived by his wife and three children.
• 

  (#34) Carlos Trillo

  • Dec. at 68 (1943-2011)

  5/8/2011- One of the biggest Argentinian comic book writers, Carlos Trillo died in London while on holiday with his wife. His work "La Grande Amaque" won the Prize for Scenario at the Angouleme International Comics Festival in 1999.
• 

  (#35) Dolores Fuller

  • Dec. at 88 (1923-2011)

  5/9/2011- Dolores Fuller died of complications of a stroke at the age of 88. She was an actress (most known for her role in "Glen or Glenda") and muse of cross-dressing writer and director Ed Wood Jr.
• 

  (#36) Mia Amber Davis

  • Dec. at 36 (1974-2011)

  5/10/11- Model and actress Mia Amber Davis (36) died due to complications from a routine knee surgery. She is known for her role in "Road Trip as Rhonda" and is considered to be one of the most successful plus size models in the industry.
• 

  (#37) M-Bone

  5/15/11- Rapper M-Bone (real name Montae Talbert) of the popular hip hop group Cali Swag District was victim of a drive-by shooting in front of a liquor store in his hometown of Inglewood, California. The "Teach Me How to Dougie" star was in the driver's seat when a group of gunmen pulled up beside him and fired off two rounds.
• 

  (#38) Harmon Killebrew

  • Dec. at 74 (1936-2011)

  5/17/11- Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew lost his battle with esophageal cancer at the age of 74. He was diagnosed with the disease six months prior. Known as "The Killer," Killebrew was an 11-time All-Star and helped take the Twins to the World Series for the first time in 1965.
• 

  (#39) Gil Scott-Heron

  • Dec. at 62 (1949-2011)

  5/27- American poet.
• 

  (#40) Jeff Conaway

  • Dec. at 60 (1950-2011)

  5/27- The embattled reality show star fell into a coma and passed away. He had become more famous in recent years for his battle with drugs and alcohol on "Celebrity Rehab" than for his role Kanicky in Grease.
• 

  (#41) Jack Kevorkian

  • Dec. at 83 (1928-2011)

  6/3- Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan pathologist who put assisted suicide on the world's medical ethics stage died at the Beaumont Hospital. He was 83. The assisted-suicide advocate had been hospitalized in Michigan for pneumonia and a kidney-related ailment, his attorney Mayer Morganroth has said.
• 

  (#42) Wild Man Fischer

  • Dec. at 66 (1944-2011)

  6/16/2011 - Songwriter and music pioneer died of complications from a heart condition.
• 

  (#43) Clarence Clemons

  • Dec. at 69 (1942-2011)

  June 18th, AKA the Big Man, Clemeons was the saxophonist in the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen's back up band. He died of complications from a stroke.

  Bruce Springsteen's statement: "Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band." -- From the blog The Music's Over
• 

  (#44) Peter Falk

  • Dec. at 83 (1927-2011)

  6/24/11 Peter Falk, an actor best known for his role in "Columbo," died at the age of 83. He died at his home in Beverly Hills and his cause of death has not been released by his family. But, he has been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease for awhile.
• 

  (#45) Betty Ford

  • Dec. at 93 (1918-2011)

  7/8/2011 Betty Ford died at the age of 93. She was known primarily for her work post-whitehouse and for founding one of the most famous rehabilitation facilities (The Betty Ford clinic) in the world. Widow of former president Gerald Ford.
• 

  (#46) Bubba Smith

  • Dec. at 66 (1945-2011)

  8/3/11: 10-year NFL veteran and "Police Academy" franchise star Bubba Smith died at age 66 in his Los Angeles home. Authorities believe that he died of natural causes though no official cause of death was announced. The imposing 6-foot-7 Smith retired from the NFL in 1976 after stints as a defensive lineman with the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers. He appeared twice in the Pro Bowl while playing for the Colts. After retiring from football, Smith turned to acting, most notably starring as Moses Hightower in all but one of the "Police Academy" films.
• 

  (#47) Cliff Robertson

  • Dec. at 88 (1923-2011)

  9/10/11: Oscar-winning actor Cliff Robertson, best known to modern audiences as Uncle Ben from the "Spider-Man" films, died just one day after his 88th birthday.
• 

  (#48) Andy Whitfield

  9/11/11: Best known for his turn in the title role of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand", Andy Whitfield died at the age of 39 in Sydney Australia due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• 

  (#49) DJ Mehdi

  • Dec. at 34 (1977-2011)

  9/13/11: The popular French DJ, real name Mehdi Favéris-Essadi, died during the early morning when the roof of the building he was standing on collapsed. He was best known for his work with such groups as Daft Punk, Cassius and MC Solaar.
• 

  (#50) Frances Bay

  • Dec. at 92 (1919-2011)

  9/14/11: Frances Bay, best known for her roles in "Happy Gilmore" and "Seinfeld", died in Los Angeles after being admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. She was 92.
• 

  (#51) Arch West

  9/20/11: The creator of Doritos, Arch West, died of natural causes in Dallas. His family plans on sprinkling Doritos in the dirt as he is buried. He was 97.
• 

  (#52) Charles Napier

  • Dec. at 75 (1936-2011)

  10/5/11: Character actor, Charles Napier, most well known for his roles in "Rambo", "The Blues Brothers" and the voice of "Duke" in "The Critic", died from, as of yet, unknown causes. He was 75.
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  (#53) Al Davis

  • Dec. at 82 (1929-2011)

  10/8/11: Longtime owner of the Oakland Raiders football team died at 82. As commissioner of the American Football League in the '60s, he was instrumental in organizing the merger with the NFL that led to the current league as we know it today. Davis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
• 

  (#54) Mikey Welsh

  • Dec. at 40 (1971-2011)

  10/9/11: Former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh died from a suspected drug overdose in a Chicago hotel room. He was 40 years old. In an odd twist, Welsh had predicted his death - down to the correct weekend - on Twitter weeks before. He had written that he had a dream about dying in a Chicago hotel room from a heart attack on that weekend.
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  (#55) Dan Wheldon

  • Dec. at 33 (1978-2011)

  10/16/11: IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died after suffering severe injuries in a 15-car wreck at the Las Vegas Indy 300. He was 33 years old. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (including this year's event) was critically hurt when his car sailed over the top of another during a massive, fiery wreck on Lap 13.
• 

  (#56) Sue Mengers

  • Dec. at 79 (1932-2011)

  10/16/11: Hollywood talent agent Sue Mengers died in her home in Beverly Hills after a long illness. Over her storied career she represented such Hollywood greats as, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, Barbra Streisand, Nick Nolte and Burt Reynolds to name a few. She was 79.
• 

  (#57) Dorothy Howell Rodham

  • Dec. at 92 (1919-2011)

  11/1/11: Mother of Secretary-of-State and former Senator and First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dorothy Rodham died of illness. She was 92.
• 

  (#58) Joe Frazier

  • Dec. at 67 (1944-2011)

  11/7/11: Former Heavyweight Champion, Smokin' Joe Frazier, succumbed to liver cancer at the age of 67. Winner of 27 out of 32 fights, Friazier only lost 4 times in his career, twice to George Foreman and twice to Muhammad Ali.
• 

  (#59) Heavy D

  • Dec. at 44 (1967-2011)

  11/8/11: popular rapper Heavy D (real name: Dwight Arrington Myers) was rushed to an LA hospital after collapsing at his Beverly Hills home. Though Heavy was conscious when first responders arrived at the scene, he died shortly thereafter.
• 

  (#60) Bil Keane

  • Dec. at 89 (1922-2011)

  11/8/11: Creator of the long running newspaper comic "Family Circus", Bil Keane passed at the age of 89.
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  (#61) Anne McCaffrey

  • Dec. at 85 (1926-2011)

  11/21/11: Notable author of such Science Fiction book series as "Dragonriders of Pern" , Anne McCaffrey, died from complications due to a stroke. She was 84.
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  (#62) Ken Russell

  • Dec. at 84 (1927-2011)

  11/27/11: English Director, Ken Russell, died at the age of 84. He was most known for his films, "Women in Love", "The Who's Tommy" and "Altered States".
• 

  (#63) Harry Morgan

  • Dec. at 96 (1915-2011)

  12/7/11: Harry Morgan, most known for his turn as Colonel Sherman T. Potter in the smash TV show "M*A*S*H" when he replaced McLean Stevenson in the fourth season. (Before that he played Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele.) Morgan was also Bill Gannon on "Dragnet", died in his home in Los Angeles. He was 96.
• 

  (#64) Christopher Hitchens

  • Dec. at 62 (1949-2011)

  12/15/11: Prolific writer and politico, Christopher Hitchens passed away at the age of 62 from complications due to cancer. He was known as an outspoken anti-theist and socialist with popular books such as "God is Not Great" and "Hitch-22".
• 

  (#65) Václav Havel

  • Dec. at 75 (1936-2011)

  12/18/11: Playwright and President of both Czechoslavacia and the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel died in his home at the age of 75.

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