It was a murder case almost everyone had an opinion on. O.J. Simpson 鈥榮 鈥渢rial of the century鈥� over the 1994 killings of his ex-wife and her friend bared divisions over race and law enforcement in America and brought an intersection of sports, crime, entertainment and class that was hard to turn away from.

In a controversial verdict, the football star-turned-actor was acquitted in the criminal trial but later found civilly liable in the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Years later, he served nine years in prison on unrelated charges. His death in April brought an end to a life that had become defined by scrutiny over the killings.

But he was just one of many influential and noteworthy people who died in 2024.

Alexei Navalny, who died in prison in February, was a fierce political foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, crusading against corruption and staging protests against the Kremlin. He had been jailed since 2021 when he returned to Russia to face certain arrest after recovering in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin.

Other political figures who died this year include: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi; former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney; former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Vietnamese politician Nguyen Phu Trong; U.S. congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov; pundit Lou Dobbs; Greek politician Vasso Papandreou; former U.S. senators Joe Lieberman, Jim Inhofe, Tim Johnson and Jim Sasser; Namibian President Hage Geingob; and former Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss.

The year also brought the deaths of several rights activists, including the reverends Cecil L. 鈥淐hip鈥� Murray and James Lawson Jr.; Dexter Scott King; Hydeia Broadbent; and David Mixner.

Business leaders who died this year include: Indian industrialist Ratan Tata, The Home Depot co-founder Bernard 鈥淏ernie鈥� Marcus, financier Jacob Rothschild and Daiso retail chain founder Hirotake Yano.

Simpson wasn鈥檛 the only athlete with a complex legacy who died this year. Pete Rose, who died in September, was a career hits leader in baseball whose achievements were tarnished when it was revealed he gambled on games. Other noteworthy sports figures who died include: basketball players Jerry West and Dikembe Mutombo; baseball players Willie Mays and Fernando Valenzuela; and gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi.

The music industry lost a titan in producer Quincy Jones, who died in November. His many contributions included producing Michael Jackson鈥檚 鈥淭hriller鈥� album and working with hundreds of other musicians over a long and storied career.

Other artists and entertainers who died this year include: actors James Earl Jones, Chita Rivera, Donald Sutherland, Gena Rowlands, Louis Gossett Jr., Shelley Duvall, Kris Kristofferson, Sandra Milo, Anouk Aim茅e, Carl Weathers, Joyce Randolph, Tony Todd, Shannen Doherty and Song Jae-lim; musicians Sergio Mendes, Toby Keith, Phil Lesh, Melanie, Dickey Betts, Fran莽oise Hardy, Fatman Scoop, Duane Eddy and Frankie Beverly; filmmakers Roger Corman and Morgan Spurlock; authors Faith Ringgold, Nikki Giovanni and N. Scott Momaday; TV fitness guru Richard Simmons; sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer; talk show host Phil Donahue; and poets Shuntaro Tanikawa, John Sinclair and Kazuko Shiraishi.

Here is a roll call of some noteworthy figures who died in 2024 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):

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JANUARY

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Zvi Zamir, 98. A former director of Israel鈥檚 Mossad spy service who warned that Israel was about to be attacked on the eve of the 1973 Mideast war. Jan. 2.

Glynis Johns, 100. A Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie 鈥淢ary Poppins鈥� and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be 鈥淪end in the Clowns鈥� by Stephen Sondheim. Jan. 4.

David Soul, 80. The actor-singer was a 1970s heartthrob who co-starred as the blond half of the crime-fighting duo 鈥淪tarsky & Hutch鈥� and topped the music charts with the ballad 鈥淒on鈥檛 Give Up on Us.鈥� Jan. 4.

Franz Beckenbauer, 78. He won the World Cup both as a player and coach and became one of Germany鈥檚 most beloved personalities with his easygoing charm. Jan. 7.

Joyce Randolph, 99. A veteran stage and television actor whose role as the savvy Trixie Norton on 鈥淭he Honeymooners鈥� provided the perfect foil to her dimwitted TV husband. Jan. 13.

Jack Burke Jr., 100. He was the oldest living Masters champion and staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors. Jan. 19.

Marlena Shaw, 81. The jazz and R&B vocalist whose 鈥淐alifornia Soul鈥� was one of the defining soul songs of the late 1960s. Jan. 19.

Mary Weiss, 75. The lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included 鈥淟eader of the Pack.鈥� Jan. 19.

Gigi Riva, 79. The all-time leading goalscorer for Italy鈥檚 men鈥檚 national team was known as the 鈥淩ombo di Tuono鈥� (Rumble of Thunder). Jan. 22.

Dexter Scott King, 62. He dedicated much of his life to shepherding the civil rights legacy of his parents, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Jan. 22.

Charles Osgood, 91. He anchored 鈥淐BS Sunday Morning鈥� for more than two decades, was host of the long-running radio program 鈥淭he Osgood File鈥� and was referred to as CBS News鈥� poet-in-residence. Jan. 23.

Melanie, 76. The singer-songwriter who rose through the New York folk scene, performed at Woodstock and had a series of 1970s hits including the enduring cultural phenomenon 鈥淏rand New Key.鈥� Jan. 23.

N. Scott Momaday, 89. A Pulitzer Prize-winning storyteller, poet, educator and folklorist whose debut novel 鈥淗ouse Made of Dawn鈥� is widely credited as the starting point for contemporary Native American literature. Jan. 24.

Herbert Coward, 85. He was known for his 鈥淭oothless Man鈥� role in the movie 鈥淒eliverance.鈥� Jan. 24. Car crash.

Sandra Milo, 90. An icon of Italian cinema who played a key role in Federico Fellini鈥檚 鈥�8 1/2鈥� and later became his muse. Jan. 29.

Jean Carnahan, 90. She became the first female senator to represent Missouri when she was appointed to replace her husband following his death. Jan. 30.

Chita Rivera, 91. The dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident. Jan. 30.

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FEBRUARY

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Carl Weathers, 76. A former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the 鈥淩ocky鈥� movies, starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 鈥淧redator鈥� and teaching golf in 鈥淗appy Gilmore.鈥� Feb. 1.

Ian Lavender, 77. An actor who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom 鈥淒ad鈥檚 Army.鈥� Feb. 2.

Hage Geingob, 82. Namibia鈥檚 president and founding prime minister who played a central role in what has become one of Africa鈥檚 most stable democracies after returning from a long exile in Botswana and the United States as an anti-apartheid activist. Feb. 4.

Bob Beckwith, 91. A retired firefighter whose chance encounter with the president amid the rubble of ground zero became part of an iconic image of American unity after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Feb. 4.

Toby Keith, 62. A hit country crafter of pro-American anthems who both riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans. Feb. 5. Stomach cancer.

John Bruton, 76. A former Irish prime minister who played a key role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland. Feb. 6.

Sebasti谩n Pi帽era, 74. The two-time former president of Chile faced social upheaval followed by a pandemic in his second term. Feb. 6. Helicopter crash.

Seiji Ozawa, 88. The Japanese conductor amazed audiences with the lithe physicality of his performances during three decades at the helm of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Feb. 6.

Henry Fambrough, 85. The last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, whose hits included 鈥淚t鈥檚 a Shame,鈥� 鈥淐ould It Be I鈥檓 Falling in Love鈥� and 鈥淭he Rubberband Man.鈥� Feb. 7.

Robert Badinter, 95. He spearheaded the drive to abolish France鈥檚 death penalty, campaigned against antisemitism and Holocaust denial, and led a European body dealing with the legal fallout of Yugoslavia鈥檚 breakup. Feb. 9.

Bob Edwards, 76. He anchored National Public Radio鈥檚 鈥淢orning Edition鈥� for just under 25 years and was the baritone voice who told many Americans what had happened while they slept. Feb. 10.

Hirotake Yano, 80. He founded the retail chain Daiso known for its 100-yen shops, Japan鈥檚 equivalent of the dollar store. Feb. 12.

Alexei Navalny, 47. The fiercest foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests. Feb. 16.

Lefty Driesell, 92. The Hall of Fame coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs. Feb. 17.

Hydeia Broadbent, 39. The HIV/AIDS activist came to national prominence in the 1990s as a young child for her inspirational talks to reduce the stigma surrounding the virus she was born with. Feb. 20.

Jacob Rothschild, 87. The financier and philanthropist was part of the renowned Rothschild banking dynasty. Feb. 26.

Richard Lewis, 76. An acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname 鈥淭he Prince of Pain.鈥� Feb. 27.

Nikolai Ryzhkov, 94. A former Soviet prime minister who presided over botched efforts to shore up the crumbling national economy in the final years of the USSR. Feb. 28.

Brian Mulroney, 84. The former Canadian prime minister forged close ties with two Republican U.S. presidents through a sweeping free trade agreement that was once vilified but is now celebrated. Feb. 29.

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MARCH

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Iris Apfel, 102. A textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style. March 1.

Akira Toriyama, 68. The creator of the best-selling Dragon Ball and other popular anime who influenced Japanese comics. March 1. Blood clot.

Chris Mortensen, 72. The award-winning journalist covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN. March 3.

David E. Harris, 89. He flew bombers for the U.S. military and broke barriers in 1964 when he became the first Black pilot hired at a major U.S. airline. March 8.

Eric Carmen, 74. The singer-songwriter fronted the power-pop 1970s band the Raspberries and later had soaring pop hits like 鈥淎ll by Myself鈥� and 鈥淗ungry Eyes鈥� from the hit 鈥淒irty Dancing鈥� soundtrack. March 11.

Paul Alexander, 78. A Texas man who spent most of his life using an iron lung chamber and built a large following on social media, recounting his life from contracting polio in the 1940s to earning a law degree. March 11.

David Mixner, 77. A longtime LGBTQ+ activist who was an adviser to Bill Clinton during his presidential campaign and later called him out over the 鈥淒on鈥檛 Ask, Don鈥檛 Tell鈥� policy regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer personnel in the military. March 11.

M. Emmet Walsh, 88. The character actor brought his unmistakable face and unsettling presence to films including 鈥淏lood Simple鈥� and 鈥淏lade Runner.鈥� March 19.

Lou Whittaker, 95. A legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, and who taught generations of climbers during his more than 250 trips up Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in Washington state. March 24.

Joe Lieberman, 82. The former U.S. senator of Connecticut nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election and almost became Republican John McCain鈥檚 running mate eight years later. March 27. Complications from a fall.

Louis Gossett Jr., 87. The first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 鈥淩oots.鈥� March 28.

William D. Delahunt, 82. The longtime Massachusetts congressman was a Democratic stalwart who postponed his retirement from Washington to help pass former President Barack Obama鈥檚 legislative agenda. March 30.

Chance Perdomo, 27. An actor who rose to fame as a star of 鈥淐hilling Adventures of Sabrina鈥� and 鈥淕en V.鈥� March 29. Motorcycle crash.

Barbara Rush, 97. A popular leading actor in the 1950s and 1960s who co-starred with Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman and other top film performers and later had a thriving TV career. March 31.

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APRIL

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Lou Conter, 102. The last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. April 1.

John Sinclair, 82. A poet, music producer and counterculture figure whose lengthy prison sentence after a series of small-time pot busts inspired a John Lennon song and a star-studded 1971 concert to free him. April 2.

The Rev. Cecil L. 鈥淐hip鈥� Murray, 94. An influential pastor and civil rights leader who used his tenure at one of Los Angeles鈥� oldest churches to uplift the predominantly Black neighborhoods following one of the country鈥檚 worst race riots. April 5.

Peter Higgs, 94. The Nobel prize-winning physicist proposed the existence of the so-called 鈥淕od particle鈥� that helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang. April 8.

Ralph Puckett Jr., 97. A retired Army colonel awarded the Medal of Honor seven decades after he was wounded leading a company of outnumbered Army Rangers in battle during the Korean War. April 8.

O.J. Simpson, 76. The decorated football superstar and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but later found liable in a separate civil trial. April 10.

William Strickland, 87. A longtime civil rights activist and supporter of the Black Power movement who worked with Malcolm X and other prominent leaders in the 1960s. April 10.

Robert MacNeil, 93. He created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast 鈥淭he MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour鈥� in the 1970s and co-anchored the show with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades. April 12.

Faith Ringgold, 93. An award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling. April 12.

Carl Erskine, 97. He pitched two no-hitters as a mainstay on the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a 20-game winner in 1953 when he struck out a then-record 14 in the World Series. April 16.

Bob Graham, 87. A former U.S. senator and two-term Florida governor who gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks and as an early critic of the Iraq war. April 16.

Dickey Betts, 80. The guitar legend who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 鈥淩amblin鈥� Man.鈥� April 18.

Roman Gabriel, 83. The first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL and the league MVP in 1969. April 20.

Terry Anderson, 76. The globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent became one of America鈥檚 longest-held hostages after he was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years. April 21.

William Laws Calley Jr., 80. As an Army lieutenant, he led the U.S. soldiers who killed hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai massacre, the most notorious war crime in modern American military history. April 28.

Duane Eddy, 86. A pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as 鈥淩ebel Rouser鈥� and 鈥淧eter Gunn鈥� helped put the twang in early rock 鈥榥鈥� roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless others. April 30.

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MAY

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Dick Rutan, 85. He, along with copilot Jeana Yeager, completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first round-the-world flight with no stops or refueling. May 3.

Jeannie Epper, 83. A groundbreaking performer who did stunts for many of the most important women of film and television action of the 1970s and 鈥�80s, including star Lynda Carter on TV鈥檚 鈥淲onder Woman.鈥� May 5.

Bernard Hill, 79. An actor who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King鈥� and went down with the ship as the captain in 鈥淭itanic.鈥� May 5.

Steve Albini, 61. An alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more. May 7.

Kim Ki Nam, 94. A North Korean propaganda chief who helped build personality cults around the country鈥檚 three dynastic leaders. May 7.

Pete McCloskey, 96. A pro-environment, anti-war California Republican who co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and co-founded Earth Day. May 8.

Ralph Kennedy Frasier, 85. The last surviving member of a trio of African American youths who were the first to desegregate the undergraduate student body at North Carolina鈥檚 flagship public university in the 1950s. May 8.

Roger Corman, 98. The 鈥淜ing of the Bs鈥� helped turn out such low-budget classics as 鈥淟ittle Shop of Horrors鈥� and 鈥淎ttack of the Crab Monsters鈥� and gave many of Hollywood鈥檚 most famous actors and directors early breaks. May 9.

Alice Munro, 92. The Nobel laureate was a Canadian literary giant who became one of the world鈥檚 most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history鈥檚 most honored short story writers. May 13.

Dabney Coleman, 92. The mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in 鈥�9 to 5鈥� and the nasty TV director in 鈥淭ootsie.鈥� May 16.

Peter Buxtun, 86. The whistleblower who revealed that the U.S. government allowed hundreds of Black men in rural Alabama to go untreated for syphilis in what became known as the Tuskegee study. May 18.

Ebrahim Raisi, 63. The Iranian president was a hard-line protege of the country鈥檚 supreme leader who helped oversee the mass executions of thousands in 1988 and later led the country as it enriched uranium near weapons-grade levels, launched a major attack on Israel and experienced mass protests. May 19. Helicopter crash.

Hossein Amirabdollahian, 60. Iran鈥檚 foreign minister and a hard-liner close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who confronted the West while also overseeing indirect talks with the U.S. over the country鈥檚 nuclear program. May 19. Helicopter crash.

Ivan F. Boesky, 87. The flamboyant stock trader whose cooperation with the government cracked open one of the largest insider trading scandals in the history of Wall Street. May 20.

Morgan Spurlock, 53. The documentary filmmaker and Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America鈥檚 food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald鈥檚 for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet. May 23. Complications of cancer.

Bill Walton, 71. He starred for John Wooden鈥檚 UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Fame center for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting. May 27.

Robert Pickton, 74. A Canadian serial killer who took female victims to his pig farm during a crime spree near Vancouver in the late 1990s and early 2000s. May 31. Injuries from a prison assault involving another inmate.

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JUNE

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Tin Oo, 97. One of the closest associates of Myanmar鈥檚 ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi as well as a co-founder of her National League for Democracy party. June 1.

Janis Paige, 101. A popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 90s. June 2.

David Levy, 86. An Israeli politician born in Morocco who fought tirelessly against deep-seated racism against Jews from North Africa and went on to serve as foreign minister and hold other senior governmental posts. June 2.

Brigitte Bierlein, 74. The former head of Austria鈥檚 Constitutional Court became the country鈥檚 first female chancellor in an interim government in 2019. June 3.

Paul Pressler, 94. A leading figure of the Southern Baptist Convention who was accused of sexually abusing boys and young men and later settled a lawsuit over the allegations. June 7.

The Rev. James Lawson Jr., 95. An apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction. June 9.

Lynn Conway, 86. A pioneer in the design of microchips that are at the heart of consumer electronics who overcame discrimination as a transgender person. June 9.

Fran莽oise Hardy, 80. A French singing legend and pop icon since the 1960s. June 11.

Jerry West, 86. Selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, his silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo. June 12.

George Nethercutt, 79. The former U.S. congressman was a Spokane lawyer with limited political experience when he ousted Democratic Speaker of the House Tom Foley as part of a stunning GOP wave that shifted national politics to the right in 1994. June 14.

Kazuko Shiraishi, 93. A leading name in modern Japanese 鈥渂eat鈥� poetry, she was known for her dramatic readings 鈥� at times with jazz music. June 14.

Willie Mays, 93. The electrifying 鈥淪ay Hey Kid鈥� whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball鈥檚 greatest and most beloved players. June 18.

Anouk Aim茅e, 92. The radiant French star and dark-eyed beauty of classic films including Federico Fellini鈥檚 鈥淟a Dolce Vita鈥� and Claude Lelouch鈥檚 鈥淎 Man and a Woman.鈥� June 18.

Donald Sutherland, 88. The Canadian actor whose wry, arresting screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from 鈥淢.A.S.H.鈥� to 鈥淭he Hunger Games.鈥� June 20.

Bill Cobbs, 90. The veteran character actor became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man. June 25.

Martin Mull, 80. His droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including 鈥淩oseanne鈥� and 鈥淎rrested Development.鈥� June 27.

P氓l Enger, 57. A talented Norwegian soccer player turned celebrity art thief who pulled off the sensational 1994 heist of Edvard Munch鈥檚 famed 鈥淭he Scream鈥� painting from the National Gallery in Oslo. June 29.

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JULY

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Jim Inhofe, 89. A powerful fixture in Oklahoma politics for over six decades, the Republican U.S. senator was a conservative known for his strong support of defense spending and his denial that human activity is responsible for the bulk of climate change. July 9.

Joe Bonsall, 76. A Grammy award winner and celebrated tenor of the country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys. July 9.

Tommy Robinson, 82. A former U.S. congressman who gained notoriety as an Arkansas sheriff for tactics that included chaining inmates outside a state prison to protest overcrowding. July 10.

Shelley Duvall, 75. The intrepid, Texas-born movie star whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick鈥檚 鈥淭he Shining.鈥� July 11.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 96. The diminutive sex therapist became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics. July 12.

Shannen Doherty, 53. The 鈥淏everly Hills, 90210鈥� star whose life and career were roiled by illness and tabloid stories. July 13.

Richard Simmons, 76. He was television鈥檚 hyperactive court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. July 13.

James Sikking, 90. He starred as a hardened police lieutenant on 鈥淗ill Street Blues鈥� and as the titular character鈥檚 kindhearted dad on 鈥淒oogie Howser, M.D.鈥� July 13.

Jacoby Jones, 40. A former NFL receiver whose 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. July 14.

Cheng Pei-pei, 78. A Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee鈥檚 鈥淐rouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.鈥� July 17.

Bob Newhart, 94. The deadpan accountant-turned-comedian became one of the most popular TV stars of his time after striking gold with a classic comedy album. July 18.

Lou Dobbs, 78. The conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade. July 18.

Nguyen Phu Trong, 80. He was general secretary of Vietnam鈥檚 ruling Communist Party and the country鈥檚 most powerful politician. July 19.

Sheila Jackson Lee, 74. The longtime congresswoman from Texas helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday. July 19.

Abdul 鈥淒uke鈥� Fakir, 88. The last surviving original member of the beloved Motown group the Four Tops, which was known for such hits as 鈥淩each Out, I鈥檒l Be There鈥� and 鈥淪tanding in the Shadows of Love.鈥� July 22.

Edna O鈥橞rien, 93. Ireland鈥檚 literary pride and outlaw scandalized her native land with her debut novel 鈥淭he Country Girls鈥� before gaining international acclaim as a storyteller and iconoclast that found her welcomed everywhere from Dublin to the White House. July 27.

Francine Pascal, 92. A onetime soap opera writer whose 鈥淪weet Valley High鈥� novels and the ongoing adventures of twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield and other teens captivated millions of young readers. July 28.

Betty Prashker, 99. A pioneering editor of the 20th century who as one of the first women with the power to acquire books published such classics as Kate Millett鈥檚 鈥淪exual Politics鈥� and Susan Faludi鈥檚 鈥淏acklash鈥� and helped oversee the careers of Jean Auel, Dominick Dunne and Erik Larson among others. July 30.

Ismail Haniyeh, 62. Hamas鈥� top leader in exile landed on Israel鈥檚 hit list after the militant group staged its surprise Oct. 7 attacks. July 31. Killed in an airstrike in Iran.

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AUGUST

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Jack Russell, 63. The lead singer of the bluesy 鈥�80s metal band Great White, whose hits included 鈥淥nce Bitten Twice Shy鈥� and 鈥淩ock Me,鈥� and who was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island. Aug. 7.

Juan 鈥淐hi Chi鈥� Rodriguez, 88. A Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport鈥檚 most popular players during a long professional career. Aug. 8.

Susan Wojcicki, 56. A pioneering tech executive who helped shape Google and YouTube. Aug. 9.

Wallace 鈥淲ally鈥� Amos, 88. The creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire went on to become a children鈥檚 literacy advocate. Aug. 13.

Gena Rowlands, 94. She was hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes. She later charmed audiences in her son鈥檚 tear-jerker 鈥淭he Notebook.鈥� Aug. 14.

Peter Marshall, 98. The actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on 鈥淭he Hollywood Squares.鈥� Aug. 15.

Alain Delon, 88. The internationally acclaimed French actor embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world. Aug. 18.

Phil Donahue, 88. His pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others. Aug. 18.

Ruth Johnson Colvin, 107. She founded Literacy Volunteers of America, was inducted into the National Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame and received the nation鈥檚 highest civilian award: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Aug. 18.

Al Attles, 87. A Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador. Aug. 20.

John Amos, 84. He starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom 鈥淕ood Times鈥� and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries 鈥淩oots.鈥� Aug. 21.

Salim Hoss, 94. The five-time former Lebanese prime minister served during some of the most tumultuous years of his country鈥檚 modern history. Aug. 25.

Leonard Riggio, 83. A brash, self-styled underdog who transformed the publishing industry by building Barnes & Noble into the country鈥檚 most powerful bookseller before it was overtaken by the rise of Amazon.com. Aug. 27.

Edward B. Johnson, 81. As a CIA officer, he traveled into Iran with a colleague to rescue six American diplomats who fled the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran. Aug. 27.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31. An NHL player known as 鈥淛ohnny Hockey,鈥� he played 10 full seasons in the league. Aug. 29. Killed along with his brother when hit by a car while riding bicycles.

Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, 69. As New Zealand鈥檚 M膩ori King, he was the seventh monarch in the Kiingitanga movement. Aug. 30.

Fatman Scoop, 56. The hip-hop artist topped charts in Europe with 鈥淏e Faithful鈥� in the early 2000s and later lent his distinctive voice and ebullient vibe to hits by artists including Missy Elliott and Ciara. Aug. 30. Died after collapsing on stage.

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SEPTEMBER

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Linda Deutsch, 80. A special correspondent for The Associated Press who for nearly 50 years wrote glittering first drafts of history from many of the nation鈥檚 most significant criminal and civil trials including Charles Manson, O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. Sept. 1.

James Darren, 88. A teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film 鈥淕idget.鈥� Sept. 2.

Sergio Mendes, 83. The Grammy-winning Brazilian musician whose hit 鈥淢as Que Nada鈥� made him a global legend. Sept. 5.

James Earl Jones, 93. He overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen, eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, 鈥淭he Lion King鈥� and Darth Vader. Sept. 9.

Frankie Beverly, 77. With his band Maze, he inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including 鈥淏efore I Let Go.鈥� Sept. 10.

Jim Sasser, 87. He served 18 years in the U.S. Senate and six years as ambassador to China. Sept. 10.

Alberto Fujimori, 86. His decade-long presidency began with triumphs righting Peru鈥檚 economy and defeating a brutal insurgency only to end in autocratic excess that later sent him to prison. Sept. 11.

Joe Schmidt, 92. The Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Detroit Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team. Sept. 11.

Tito Jackson, 70. One of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5. Sept. 15.

John David 鈥淛D鈥� Souther, 78. A prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. Sept. 17.

Kathryn Crosby, 90. She appeared in such movies as 鈥淭he 7th Voyage of Sinbad鈥�, 鈥淎natomy of a Murder,鈥� and 鈥淥peration Mad Ball鈥� before marrying famed singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby. Sept. 20.

John Ashton, 76. The veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the 鈥淏everly Hills Cop鈥� films. Sept. 26.

Maggie Smith, 89. The masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for the 1969 film 鈥淭he Prime of Miss Jean Brodie鈥� and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. Sept. 27.

Hassan Nasrallah, 64. The Hezbollah leader who transformed the Lebanese militant group into a potent paramilitary and political force in the Middle East. Sept. 27. Killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Kris Kristofferson, 88. A Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor. Sept. 28.

Drake Hogestyn, 70. The 鈥淒ays of Our Lives鈥� star appeared on the show for 38 years. Sept. 28.

Pete Rose, 83. Baseball鈥檚 career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied. Sept. 30.

Dikembe Mutombo, 58. A Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game. Sept. 30. Brain cancer.

Gavin Creel, 48. A Broadway musical theater veteran who won a Tony Award for 鈥淗ello, Dolly!鈥� opposite Bette Midler and earned nominations for 鈥淗air鈥� and 鈥淭horoughly Modern Millie.鈥� Sept. 30. Cancer.

Humberto Ortega, 77. The Nicaraguan guerrilla fighter and a Sandinista defense minister who later in life became a critic of his older brother President Daniel Ortega. Sept. 30.

Ken Page, 70. A stage and screen actor who starred alongside Beyonc茅 in 鈥淒reamgirls,鈥� introduced Broadway audiences to Old Deuteronomy in 鈥淐ats鈥� and scared generations of kids as the voice of Oogie Boogie, the villain of the 1993 animated holiday film 鈥淭he Nightmare Before Christmas.鈥� Sept. 30.

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OCTOBER

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Megan Marshack, 70. An aide to Nelson Rockefeller who was with the former New York governor and vice president when he died under circumstances that spurred intense speculation. Oct. 2.

Mimis Plessas, 99. A beloved Greek composer whose music was featured in scores of films, television shows and theatrical productions and who provided the soundtrack to millions of Greeks鈥� lives. Oct. 5.

Cissy Houston, 91. A two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist who sang with Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and other stars and knew triumph and heartbreak as the mother of singer Whitney Houston. Oct. 7.

Tim Johnson, 77. The former U.S. senator was the last Democrat to hold statewide office in South Dakota and was adept at securing federal funding for projects back home during his nearly three decades in Washington. Oct. 8.

Ratan Tata, 86. One of India鈥檚 most influential business leaders, the veteran industrialist was former chairman of the $100 billion conglomerate Tata Group. Oct. 9.

Leif Segerstam, 80. The prolific Finnish conductor and composer was one of the most colorful personalities in the Nordic country鈥檚 classical music scene. Oct. 9.

Ethel Kennedy, 96. The wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family鈥檚 legacy for decades thereafter. Oct. 10.

Lilly Ledbetter, 86. A former Alabama factory manager whose lawsuit against her employer made her an icon of the equal pay movement and led to landmark wage discrimination legislation. Oct. 12.

Philip G. Zimbardo, 91. The psychologist behind the controversial 鈥淪tanford Prison Experiment鈥� that was intended to examine the psychological experiences of imprisonment. Oct. 14.

Liam Payne, 31. A former One Direction singer whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans. Oct. 16. Died after falling from a hotel balcony.

Yahya Sinwar, 61. The Hamas leader who masterminded the surprise Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel that shocked the world and triggered the longest, deadliest and most destructive war in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Oct. 16. Killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Mitzi Gaynor, 93. The effervescent dancer and actor starred as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film 鈥淪outh Pacific鈥� and appeared in other musicals with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. Oct. 17.

Vasso Papandreou, 79. A trailblazing Greek politician who served as a government minister, European commissioner and leading advocate for women鈥檚 representation in politics. Oct. 17.

Thelma Mothershed Wair, 83. One of nine Black students who integrated a high school in Arkansas鈥� capital city of Little Rock in 1957 while a mob of white segregationists yelled threats and insults. Oct. 19.

Fethullah G眉len, 83. A reclusive U.S.-based Islamic cleric who inspired a global social movement while facing unproven accusations that he masterminded a failed 2016 coup in his native Turkey. Oct. 20.

Fernando Valenzuela, 63. The Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired 鈥淔ernandomania鈥� while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981. Oct. 22.

The Rev. Gustavo Guti茅rrez, 96. The Peruvian theologian was the father of the social justice-centered liberation theology that the Vatican once criticized for its Marxist undercurrents. Oct. 22.

Phil Lesh, 84. A classically trained violinist and jazz trumpeter who found his true calling by reinventing the role of rock bass guitar as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Oct. 25.

Teri Garr, 79. The quirky comedy actor rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star in such favorites as 鈥淵oung Frankenstein鈥� and 鈥淭ootsie.鈥� Oct. 29. Multiple sclerosis.

Colm McLoughlin, 81. An Irishman who landed in the deserts of the United Arab Emirates and helped lead Dubai Duty Free into becoming an airport retail behemoth generating billions of dollars. Oct. 30.

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NOVEMBER

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Quincy Jones, 91. The multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson鈥檚 historic 鈥淭hriller鈥� album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists. Nov. 3.

Bernard 鈥淏ernie鈥� Marcus, 95. The co-founder of The Home Depot, a billionaire philanthropist, and a big Republican donor. Nov. 4.

Murray Sinclair, 73. A former First Nation judge, senator and chair of the commission that delved into Canada鈥檚 troubled history of residential schools for First Nations students. Nov. 4.

Elwood Edwards, 74. He voiced America Online鈥檚 ever-present 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got mail鈥� greeting. Nov. 5.

Tony Todd, 69. An actor known for his haunting portrayal of a killer in the horror film 鈥淐andyman鈥� and for roles in many other films and television shows. Nov. 6.

Bobby Allison, 86. He was founder of racing鈥檚 鈥淎labama Gang鈥� and a NASCAR Hall of Famer. Nov. 9.

Reg Murphy, 90. A renowned journalist whose newsgathering career included stints as an editor and top executive at newspapers in Atlanta, San Francisco and Baltimore 鈥� and who found himself the subject of national headlines when he survived a politically motivated kidnapping. Nov. 9.

Vardis J. Vardinoyannis, 90. A powerful and pivotal figure in Greek shipping and energy who survived a terrorist attack and cultivated close ties with the Kennedy family. Nov. 12.

Timothy West, 90. A British actor who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain鈥檚 waterways. Nov. 12.

Song Jae-lim, 39. A South Korean actor known for his roles in K-dramas 鈥淢oon Embracing the Sun鈥� and 鈥淨ueen Woo.鈥� Nov. 12.

Shuntaro Tanikawa, 92. He pioneered modern Japanese poetry 鈥� poignant but conversational in its divergence from haiku and other traditions. Nov. 13.

Bela Karolyi, 82. The charismatic, if polarizing, gymnastics coach turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport. Nov. 15.

Olav Thon, 101. A billionaire entrepreneur recognizable for his bright red cap who went from selling leather and fox hides in his youth to building one of Norway鈥檚 biggest real estate empires. Nov. 16.

Arthur Frommer, 95. His 鈥淓urope on 5 Dollars a Day鈥� guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad. Nov. 18.

Alice Brock, 83. Her Massachusetts-based eatery helped inspire Arlo Guthrie鈥檚 deadpan Thanksgiving standard, 鈥淎lice鈥檚 Restaurant Massacree.鈥� Nov. 21.

Fred Harris, 94. A former U.S. senator from Oklahoma, presidential hopeful and populist who championed Democratic Party reforms in the turbulent 1960s. Nov. 23.

Chuck Woolery, 83. The affable, smooth-talking game show host of 鈥淲heel of Fortune,鈥� 鈥淟ove Connection鈥� and 鈥淪crabble鈥� who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19. Nov. 23.

Barbara Taylor Bradford, 91. A British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the saga 鈥淎 Woman of Substance鈥� and wrote more than a dozen other novels that sold tens of millions of copies. Nov. 24.

Mary McGee, 87. A female racing pioneer and subject profiled in the Oscar-contending documentary 鈥淢otorcycle Mary.鈥� Nov. 27.

Prince Johnson, 72. The Liberian former warlord and senator whose brutal tactics shocked the world. Nov. 28.

Ananda Krishnan, 86. One of Malaysia鈥檚 richest tycoons with a vast business empire including telecommunications, media, petroleum and real estate. Nov. 28.

Lou Carnesecca, 99. The excitable St. John鈥檚 coach whose outlandish sweaters became an emblem of his team鈥檚 rousing Final Four run in 1985 and who was a treasured figure in New York sports. Nov. 30.

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DECEMBER

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Debbie Nelson, 69. The single mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics. Dec. 2.

Nikki Giovanni, 81. The poet, author, educator and public speaker who rose from borrowing money to release her first book to decades as a literary celebrity sharing her blunt and conversational takes on everything from racism and love to space travel and mortality. Dec. 9.

George Joseph Kresge Jr., 89. He was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin. Dec. 10.

Jim Leach, 82. A former congressman who served 30 years as a politician from eastern Iowa and later headed the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dec. 11.

John Spratt, 82. A former longtime Democratic congressman from South Carolina who successfully pushed for a balanced budget deal in the 1990s but was unseated decades later when his district turned Republican. Dec. 14.

Zakir Hussain, 73. One of India鈥檚 most accomplished classical musicians who defied genres and introduced tabla to global audiences. Dec. 15.

Fred Lorenzen, 89. A NASCAR Hall of Famer and the 1965 Daytona 500 champion. Dec. 18.

Tsuneo Watanabe, 98. The powerful head of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan鈥檚 largest newspaper, who had close ties with the country鈥檚 powerful conservative leaders. Dec. 19.

Rickey Henderson, 65. The baseball Hall of Famer was the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball鈥檚 leadoff position. Dec. 20.

Shyam Benegal, 90. A renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a new wave cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s. Dec. 23.

Desi Bouterse, 79. A military strongman who led a 1980 coup in the former Dutch colony of Suriname then returned to power by election three decades later despite charges of drug smuggling and murder. Dec. 24.

Osamu Suzuki, 94. The charismatic former boss of Suzuki Motor Corp. helped turn the Japanese mini-vehicle maker into a globally competitive company. Dec. 25.

Manmohan Singh, 92. India鈥檚 former prime minister who was widely regarded as the architect of India鈥檚 economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States. Dec. 26.

Richard Parsons, 76. One of corporate America鈥檚 most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup. Dec. 26.

Bernard Mcghee, The Associated Press