News

Stars We've Lost in 2015

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By ETonline Staff

11:31 PM PST, December 31, 2015

ET remembers the celebrities who died this year.
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Natalie Cole

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Natalie Cole died of congestive heart failure on Dec. 31 in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering ongoing health issues. She was 65. "It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our Mother and sister's passing," her family said in a statement to ET. "Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived..with dignity, strength and honor. Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever." Cole, the daughter of legendary singer Nat King Cole and former Duke Ellington Orchestra singer Maria Hawkins Ellington, had won multiple GRAMMYs, most recently for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2009 for her album Still Unforgettable. In addition to her incredible singing career, she was also a talented actress, making guest appearances on such shows as Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Grey's Anatomy.

Jason Wingreen

Lemmy

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Motörhead frontman and bassist Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister died on Dec. 28, 2015 after a “short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer,” the band confirmed on their Facebook page. "We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren’t words,” Motörhead’s announcement read. “Have a drink or few. Share stories. Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself. HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT.”

Rose Siggins

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American Horror Story: Freak Show actress Rose Siggins died Dec. 12. She was 43. Siggins, who played Legless Suzi on the hit TV show, checked into a hospital in Denver on Monday for kidney stone surgery, according to TMZ. During the week, she reportedly contracted an infection that spread through her body and became fatal. Siggins, who grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, was born with a rare genetic disorder called sarcal agenesis. According to her website, she had both of her legs amputated when she was two. In addition to her work on AHS: Freak Show, the actress also appeared as herself in Ripley's Believe It or Not and Extraodrinary People. She is survived by her husband, Dave Siggins, her son, Luke, and her daughter, Shelby Cecilia.

Marjorie Lord

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Actress Marjorie Lord died Nov. 28 at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She was 97. Her family shared the news on a website created to celebrate the actress’s legacy. Lord, a star during the Golden Age of Hollywood, is best known for her long-running lead role on The Danny Thomas Show from 1957 to 1964. In 2005, Lord published a memoir, A Dance and a Hug, detailing her life as a star and a philanthropist. She is survived by her daughter, her son, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Marque Lynche

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Marque "Tate" Lynche, a former cast member of The All New Mickey Mouse Club, was found dead in his NYC apartment on Dec. 6. He was 34. Lynche starred on the beloved Disney Channel variety show alongside Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling, and was a Mouseketeer from 1993 to 1995.

Karen Montgomery

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Actress and producer Karen Montgomery died at her home in Los Angeles on Dec. 4, after an almost decade-long fight with breast cancer. She was 66. Perhaps best known in front of the camera for her role as Princess Beata on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Montgomery later moving behind-the-scenes in development and production, working on films like Coming Home, The Morning After, 'Til There Was You and Diary of a Hit Man. She is survived by her husband, Christopher Monger, mother Susan Nelson, brother Carl Montgomery and beloved nieces Madison and Paulina.

Robert Loggia

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Oscar-nominated actor Robert Loggia died "peacefully at his home" at age 85 on Dec. 4. Loggia starred in movies such as Big, Independence Day and An Officer and a Gentleman, but was perhaps best known for his role as Miami drug lord Frank Lopez in Brian De Palma's 1983 gangster classic, Scarface. His supporting role in 1985's Jagged Edge earned him an Academy Award nomination.

Scott Weiland

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The former lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver was found dead on his tour bus while touring with his new band, Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts, on Dec. 3. He was 48. "Scott Weiland, best known as the lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, passed away in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his band The Wildabouts," read an announcement on the rocker's Instagram page.

Al Markim

Actor Al Markim, best known for his work on the TV sci-fi serial Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, died Nov. 24. He was 88. Markim starred as the young Venusian spaceship engineer, Astro, on the popular sci-fi series, which ran from 1950 to 1955. He later went on to serve as an executive at MGM, and worked behind the scenes on the production of Sidney Lumet's 1964 drama, The Pawnbroker. Markim also became a groundbreaking pioneer in the field of home video entertainment as the co-founder of Teletronics in 1968. He was inducted into the Video Hall of Fame in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Sondra, his children, Nancy, Dan, Gary, Nina and Carla, and 11 grandchildren.

Nathaniel Marston

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Soap opera star Nathaniel Marston died on Nov. 10, less than two weeks after sustaining traumatic injuries in an Oct. 30 car accident. He was 40. "My beloved and cherished son, Nathaniel Marston, who was putting up the good fight until last night was not able to continue due to the traumatic and devastating nature of his injuries,” Marston’s mother, Elizabeth Jackson, shared in a Facebook message. “Nathaniel now lives with Father God, surrounded with peace, love and light.”

Gunnar Hansen

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Horror icon Gunnar Hansen died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Maine on Saturday, Nov. 7. He was 68. Hansen, who was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, is best known for playing the hulking, nightmarish serial killer Leatherface in the 1974 horror classic . He was also an accomplished author whose 2013 book Chain Saw Confidential gave a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the low-budget horror flick. In 1993, Hansen wrote Islands at the Edge of Time: A Journey To America's Barrier Islands, about his travels between Texas and North Carolina along the barrier islands. Hansen is survived by his long-time partner, Betty Tower.

Fred Thompson

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Fred Thompson, a former United States senator for Tennessee and Law & Order actor, died on Nov. 1 in Nashville, Tennessee, after a recurrence of lymphoma, ET has confirmed. He was 73. Thompson balanced both politics and acting throughout much of his adult life. Though he was best known for his role as District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law & Order, his other TV and film credits include Sinister, Die Hard 2, The Hunt for Red October and Cape Fear. The Tennessee-born politician served as a conservative Republican for nine years in the U.S. Senate before retiring from his seat in 2002 when his term expired. For a brief time, he was also a GOP nominee. In 2007, he announced a bid for presidency, before shortly backing out a year later.

Al Molinaro

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Actor Al Molinaro died Oct. 29, in a Wisconsin hospital. He was 96. Molinaro is best known for playing Al DelVecchio, owner of Arnold's Drive-In on the iconic ABC sitcom Happy Days. He stayed on the show for 10 years and appeared on the spin-off series Joanie Loves Chachi. Molinaro died after developing very serious gall stones, according to the actor's son, Michael, who confirmed the news to TMZ. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and a son.

Maureen O'Hara

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Celebrated actress Maureen O'Hara died on Oct. 24 of natural causes. She was 95. O'Hara, best known for her role in in 1947 Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street, died in her sleep at her home in Boise, Idaho, according to a statement from the family to CNN. As a star during Hollywood's Golden Age she frequently worked with the four-time Oscar-winning director John Ford. Their first film together was in Ford's 1941 classic How Green Was My Valley, which took home five Academy Awards. She was also famously close friends with John Wayne, who she starred alongside in classics like The Quiet Man and Rio Grande. In 2014, O'Hara received an honorary Oscar to commemorate her lifetime of beloved work. She is survived by her daughter, Bronwyn FitzSimons, her grandson, Conor FitzSimons, as well as two great-grandchildren.

Marty Ingels

The actor and comedian passed away on Oct. 21 in Tarzana, California, following complications from a stroke. He was 79. His wife, actress and singer Shirley Jones, announced his death, saying, "He often drove me crazy, but there's not a day I won't miss him and love him to my core." Ingels famously appeared in two episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show as Sol Pomeroy, an army buddy of Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke). He also acted in films such as Armoured Command, A Guide for the Married Man and The Picasso Summer.

Kevin Corcoran

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Actor Kevin Corcoran, best known for his role as Arliss Coates in Old Yeller, died Oct. 6 of colorectal cancer. He was 66. "We are extremely sad to hear of the passing of Kevin Corcoran," the Walt Disney Family Museum said on Facebook. Corcoran starred in several films for Disney as a young actor, then moved behind the camera, serving as a first assistant director on popular '80s TV shows like Baywatch and Quantum Leap, and later producing The Shield and Sons of Anarchy.

Catherine Coulson

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Actress Catherine Coulson, best known as the "Log Lady" on Twin Peaks, died on Sept. 28 at the age of 71. Coulson's agent and friend Mary Dangerfield confirmed her death to The Hollywood Reporter. "Today, I lost one of my dearest friends, Catherine Coulson," Twin Peaks creator David Lynch said in a statement. "Catherine was solid gold. She was always there for her friends — she was filled with love for all people, for her family, for her work. She was a tireless worker. She had a great sense of humor -- she loved to laugh and make people laugh. She was a spiritual person -- a longtime TM meditator. She was the Log Lady."

Jackie Collins

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The best-selling author died on Sept. 19, after more than six years of privately battling breast cancer. The English novelist has written 32 novels, all of which made The New York Times bestsellers list. Collins is survived by her three daughters, Tracy, Tiffany and Rory, her older sister, Joan, and her younger brother, Bill.

Martin Milner

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Martin Milner, star of the classic TV series Adam-12 and Route 66, died on Sept. 7. He was 83. The actor's iconic Adam-12 role in the late '60s and '70s is credited with inspiring many young people to seek careers in law enforcement, and the LAPD put up an Instagram remembering him. "Martin Milner, in his role on Jack Webb's inspiring television series, Adam-12 portrayed the LAPD at its best," said Deputy Chief Beatrice Girmala in a statement. "He honored police officers in every episode, by demonstrating with professionalism and poignancy life on the beat." Milner is survived by his wife of 58 years, Judith Bess "Judy" Jones, as well as his daughter, Molly, and his sons, Stuart and Andrew. Their daughter Amy, who also appeared in Adam-12, died of leukemia in 2004.

Dean Jones

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Wes Craven

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Horror movie maestro Wes Craven died on Aug. 30 in Los Angeles after battling brain cancer. He was 76. His family announced the news in a statement released to ET, sharing that the legendary director "was surrounded by love, in the presence of his family" when he died. Craven, best known for creating the hugely famous and influential Scream and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises is survived by his wife, Iya Lubunka, son Johnathan, daughter Jessica, stepdaughter Nina and three grandchildren.

Joyce Ingalls

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Actress and model Joyce Ingalls died on Aug 5. She was 65. A rep for her husband confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter on Aug. 19.  In addition to co-starring with Sylvester Stallone in 1978's Paradise Alley, Ingalls also had roles in 1975's The Man Who Would Not Die, 1983's Deadly Force and 1998's Lethal Weapon 4.. She is survived by husband Fetty, whom she married in 1984, and their two sons, Derek and Tyler.

Frank Gifford

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Hall of Fame football player and broadcaster Frank Gifford died in Connecticut on Aug 9. He was 84. Gifford, husband of the Today show host Kathie Lee Gifford, was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1930, and attended the University of Southern California. He played his entire NFL career with the New York Giants -- from 1952 through 1965 -- before switching gears to sportscasting. He worked at CBS and NBC and was known for being a part of the famous Monday Night Football team with Howard Cosell and Don Meredith. Gifford is survived by Kathie Lee, his third wife, their two children, Cody and Cassidy, as well as Gifford's three children Jeff, Kyle and Victoria, from his first marriage to Maxine Avis Ewart.

George Cole

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English film and TV star George Cole died on Aug. 5, 2015. He was 90. Cole's career spanned 70 years and included more than 40 feature films, but he is perhaps best known for his role as the cigar-smoking con man Arthur Daley on the British crime dramedy Minder. His stint on the popular program lasted from 1978-1994. Cole died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital surrounded by his family. He is survived by his second wife, Penny, and his two children, Tara and Toby.

Cilla Black

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Roddy Piper

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Lynn Anderson

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Daron Norwood

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Country music singer Daron Norwood was found dead in his apartment in Texas on July 22. He was 49. Norwood began perusing his dream of becoming a country singer in 1988 when he moved to Nashville. He released three albums over the course of his career, beginning with a self-titled album in 1993 and Ready, Willing and Able in 1995. After a long break from recording, Norwood released his third and final album, I Still Believe, in 2012. He was best known for his singles "Cowboys Don’t Cry," and "If It Wasn’t For Her I Wouldn’t Have You." In 2002, Norwood spoke candidly with Country Weekly regarding his substance abuse problems during his career, and how he managed to turn things around with the help of his wife, Kim. According to the singer, he overcame his dependency by pulling back from public life and stardom. No cause of death has yet been determined, but authorities told The Associated Press that they do not suspect foul play.

Alex Rocco

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Iconic character actor Alex Rocco, best known for playing tough guys and mafiosos in a career that spanned over 50 years, died on July 18. He was 79. Rocco was perhaps best known for his role as Moe Green in the 1972 classic The Godfather. He also won an Emmy in 1990 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Al Floss in The Famous Teddy Z. While his mainstay was playing tough guys, he also appeared in many comedic roles, and even provided his iconic gravelly voice for the character Thorny in the 1998 Pixar classic A Bug's Life. Rocco is survived by his wife, actress Shannon Wilcox, as well as his daughter, Jennifer, and his son, Lucien.

George Coe

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Actor George Coe, one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live, died on July 18 after a long battle with an illness. He was 86. Coe's career spanned over 50 years and a score of different film and television projects. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1996 for the comedy short film The Dove. Coe also served on the Board of Directors for the Screen Actors Guild for over a decade.Most recently, Coe lent his voice talents to several animated television shows, including providing the voice of Woodhouse on the FX comedy Archer.

Roger Rees

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Welsh stage and screen star Roger Rees died on July 10 at his home in New York after a battle with cancer. He was 71. Rees was best known for his role as Lord John Marbury on The West Wing and Robin Colcord on Cheers, as well as for his brilliantly funny performance in Mel Brooks' classic comedy Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Hewas also a celebrated stage actor, winning an Olivier Award in 1980 and a Tony Award in 1982 for his performance in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. Rees is survived by his husband, playwright Rick Elice.

Omar Sharif

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Renowned actor Omar Sharif died on July 10, at the age of 83. His agent, Steve Kenis, told The Telegraph that Sharif had a heart attack in a Cairo hospital. He was also suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The Egyptian actor, born Michel Demetri Chalhoub, is best known for his roles as Sherif Ali in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia and Yuri Zhivago in the 1965 drama Doctor Zhivago. His role as Sherif Ali won him two Golden Globes and earned him an Oscar nomination, while his third Golden Globe came for playing Yuri.

Irwin Keyes

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The character actor, best known for his roles as George Jefferson's bodyguard on The Jeffersons and Wheezy Joe in Intolerable Cruelty, died at his California home on July 8. He was 63. Keyes' manager Phil Brock confirmed the death to Entertainment Weekly, adding that Keyes suffered from acromegaly, a rare pituitary gland disorder, and had been in a rehabilitation center for the past few months.

Amanda Peterson

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The actress, who starred opposite Patrick Dempsey in the hit 1987 rom-com Can't Buy Me Love, was found dead in her Colorado home on July 5. 

Patrick Macnee

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Patrick Macnee, a British actor best known for playing secret agent John Steed on the '60 spy series The Avengers, died on June 25 at age 93. Macnee died of natural causes, surrounded by family at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. Macnee also appeared as Sir Denis Eton-Hogg in Christopher Guest's 1984 cult heavy metal satire, This Is Spinal Tap.

James Horner

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Celebrated composer James Horner, best known for his Oscar-winning score for Titanic, died in a plane crash on June 22. Horner was 61. Horner won two Oscars for his work on Titanic, one for Best Original Score and the other for Best Song, having written the music for the Celine Dion hit "My Heart With Go On." Horner was also the go-to composer for director James Cameron, including Avatar, as well as filmmakers Ron Howard and Mel Gibson.He had completed scores for several upcoming movies, including Southpaw, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and The 33, with Antonio Banderas.

Anne Meara

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Actress and comedian Anne Meara passed away on May 23. She was 85. Meara was born in Brooklyn, New York, on Sept. 20, 1929. She met actor Jerry Stiller in 1953 -- when she was 23, he was 25 and both were out-of-work actors -- and the two wed a few months later. Their daughter, Amy Stiller, was born in 1961, and their son, actor Ben Stiller, was born in 1965. The native New Yorker was best known for being in the comedy duo Stiller and Meara with her husband, as well as for her work on All My Children, Archie Bunker's Place and Awakenings.

B.B. King

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Iconic blues musician B.B. King died on May 13. He was 89. Universal Music Enterprises Senior Vice-President Sujata Murthy confirmed that the legendary artist passed away in his sleep at his Las Vegas home. The blues legend took home 16 GRAMMY Awards during his life, winning his first GRAMMY in 1971 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his version of the song “The Thrill Is Gone,” and he took home his last in 2009 for Best Traditional Blues Album for One Kind Favor. At the start of May, King announced on his personal website that he had entered hospice care in his home after having to be hospitalized twice for high blood pressure and his long battle with diabetes.

Errol Brown

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Hot Chocolate's frontman Errol Brown passed away at the age of 71 on May 6. His manager, Phil Dale, tweeted, "I lost my friend today. It was a joy being his Manager and his legacy is his music which will live on." According to a statement Dale gave the BBC, Brown died in the Bahamas with his wife Ginette and daughters Colette and Leonie by his side. Brown was suffering from liver cancer. The singer was born in Jamaica in 1948 and moved to the United Kingdom with his mother when he was 12. In 1969, he got his big break when he recorded a version of John Lennon's song "Give Peace a Chance" with some friends, and he sent it to the record label, Apple. Brown and his band Hot Chocolate rose to fame in the '70s and '80s. In the mid-'80s, he concentrated on a solo career, releasing songs such as "It Started With a Kiss" and "Still Sexy (Yes U Are)." In 2004, Brown received an Ivor Novello Award for his outstanding contributions to British music.

Jayne Meadows Allen

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Jayne Meadows Allen, award winning stage and screen actress, died peacefully of natural causes in her Encino, Calif. home on April 26 at age 95, ET has learned. Allen -- who was born in Wuchang, China to missionary parents -- enjoyed more than six decades in the entertainment industry, from Broadway roles like The Gazebo in 1958 to her Emmy-nominated role on CBS' High Society in 1995. Jayne was also a regular panelist on the CBS hit program, I've Got a Secret. During her run on the show, Jayne was the highest rated actress on CBS, second only to Lucille Ball. In film, she appeared in many roles, including 1946's Undercurrent alongside Katharine Hepburn. Her one woman show, Powerful Women in History -- which toured the United States for seven years -- earned her the International Platform Association Award. Jayne received the Susan B. Anthony Award for her continued positive portrayals of women in her acting.

Geoffrey Lewis

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Veteran character actor Geoffrey Lewis died on April 7 from a heart attack. He was 79. Lewis, best known for his work in a number of Westerns opposite Clint Eastwood, appeared in over 200 film and television projects during the course of his career, and even earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance on the 1980 TV series Flo. Lewis is also the father of Oscar-nominated actress Juliette Lewis, who currently stars on the ABC crime drama Secrets and Lies. He is survived by his wife, Paula and daughter Juliette, as well as his nine other children.

James Best

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Actor James Best, most famous for playing Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on the classic CBS sitcom The Dukes of Hazzard, died on April 6, from complications stemming from pneumonia. He was 88. According to the Charlotte Observer, Best passed away at a hospice facility in Hickory, North Carolina. In addition to the The Dukes of Hazzard, Best also appeared on classic TV sitcoms and drams such as Bonanza, Mod Squad, Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Andy Griffith Show, among hundreds of others. Best is survived by his son and his two daughters and three grandchildren.

Richard Dysart

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Actor Richard Dysart, known for his work on the legal drama L.A. Law, died on April 5, in his home in Santa Monica, California, after a long battle with cancer. He was 86. Dysart is best remembered for his role as senior partner Leland McKenzie on NBC's L.A. Law, which ran for eight seasons from 1986 to 1994. The actor appeared in all of the show's 171 episodes. For four years in a row, Dysart was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on L.A. Law. He finally won the prize in 1992. Dysart is survived by his wife, Kathryn, stepson Arie, brother John, and two grandchildren, Abby and Levi.

Terry Pratchett

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Renowned British novelist Terry Pratchett, best known for his fantasy series Discworld, died March 12, at his home in Salisbury, England. He was 66. Pratchett was a prolific writer during his long and celebrated career, penning over 70 fantasy and science fiction novels. He had been battling aggressive Alzheimer's for the last seven years, publicly addressing his condition, which he called "an embuggerance," and working to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's research. Pratchett is survived by his wife Lyn and their daughter Rhianna, as well as his beloved cat, who Finlay noted was sleeping next to Pratchett when he passed, surrounded by his family.

Richard Glatzer

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Filmmaker Richard Glatzer, best known for co-writing and co-directing Still Alice alongside his husband, Wash Westmoreland, died on March 10, from complications due to ALS. He was 63. Glatzer was first diagnosed with ALS in 2011 when he began working on adapting Still Alice from a novel by Lisa Genova. As production progressed, his condition deteriorated severely, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Glatzer and Westmoreland met in 1995 and got married in 2013. During their time together, they worked on several other well-received dramas, including The Fluffer, Quinceanera and The Last of Robin Hood. Glatzer is survived by his husband, his sister, Joan, and his daughter, Ruby.

Windell Middlebrooks

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Actor Windell Middlebrooks, best known for playing the straight-talking beer delivery man in a series of popular Miller High Life commercials, died on March 9, 2015. He was 36. In a statement released to CBS News, the actor's family said, "The Middlebrooks, with sorrowed hearts, announce the passing of a young, black star. Windell took his final bow and with great joy exited stage left in the early morning of March 9th, 2015." Aside from his work in Miller commercials, Middlebrooks was a regular cast member on the ABC drama Body of Proof, and guest starred on several television shows including Scrubs, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Parks and Recreation, and Entourage, among others.

Sam Simon

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The Simpsons co-developer Sam Simon died on March 8, after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 59. "It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over," Simon's foundation wrote on Facebook. "We all miss him, and in his honor, we will continue bringing his vision to light through our work at The Sam Simon Foundation. We take comfort in knowing how many greetings he is receiving across that Rainbow Bridge. We love you Sam!" The writer/producer reportedly passed away at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by his family and his dog. His entire fortune -- valued at $100 million -- is expected to go to charity. Animal welfare and feeding the homeless were causes that were especially important to him. His Sam Simon Foundation's "Feeding Families" program alone feeds 400 families a day in Los Angeles.

Leonard Nimoy

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Actor Leonard Nimoy, best known for his role as Mr. Spock in the original Star Trek television and movie series, passed away the morning of Feb. 27, in his Bel-Air home. He was 83. According to the actor's wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, who confirmed his death, her husband's passing was due to the end stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPOD). Nimoy sent out his final tweet to his 1.1 million followers on Feb. 23, reading: "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP."

The actor is survived by his wife, two children, stepson, six grandchildren, great-grandchild and an older brother.

Ben Woolf

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Lesley Gore

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Bob Simon

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Veteran 60 Minutes reporter Bob Simon was killed on Feb. 11 in a car accident in New York City. The celebrated journalist was 73. According to reports, Simon was a passenger in a livery cab. The vehicle was driving south on the West Side Highway when it suddenly rear-ended another car and then crashed into the median. Simon was rushed to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, where he later died. Simon's illustrious career spanned five decades, during which time he was awarded four Peabody awards and 24 Emmys. Simon is survived by his wife, Francoise, and their daughter, Tanya.

Greg Plitt

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Fitness model Greg Plitt was killed Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, when he was struck by a Metrolink train in Burbank, California. He was 37. Plitt was perhaps best known for appearing as a cover model on many fitness magazines as well as for his appearances on the Bravo reality series Work Out.

He was struck while filming on the train tracks. It is unclear what Plitt was recording, however Burbank police told People that his death appears to be an accident, and not suicide. Bravo released a statement, saying: "This is a very sad tragedy. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with Greg's family and friends."

Taylor Negron

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Actor-comedian Taylor Negron died at age 57 after battling cancer. His cousin, Chuck Negron, broke the news in a YouTube video posted on Jan. 11, 2015. "I want to inform you that my cousin Taylor Negron just passed away," Chuck says in the video. "His mother, his brother Alex and my brother Rene, and his wife Julie were all there with him. May he rest in peace."

Negron is best known for his roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Seinfeld, Friends, Easy Money and Better Off Dead. He starred in 130 movies and TV shows.

Rod Taylor

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Actor Rod Taylor, star of The Birds, passed away at 84 on Jan. 7. An Australian actor who transitioned into a Hollywood leading man with his breakthrough role in the 1960 sci-fi thriller The Time Machine, Taylor's career spanned nearly six decades. He is perhaps best known for his role in Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 horror classic The Birds. His most recent appearance was a cameo in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 war film Inglorious Basterds playing Winston Churchill. Taylor died after suffering a heart attack in his Los Angeles home. He is survived by his wife, Carol Kikumura, and daughter Felicia.

Stuart Scott

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SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott died on Jan. 4 after a long-time battle with cancer. He was 49. Scott was diagnosed with cancer in November of 2007, and ESPN reports that he had undergone several surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and clinical trials in his fight against the disease. Joining ESPN in 1993, the anchor became known for his enthusiasm and catchy phrases like "Boo-ya" and "As cool as the other side of the pillow." Scott is survived by his two daughters, Taelor and Sydni.

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