People we lost in 2019

A look back at some of the famous names who died in the last year.

Here is a roll call of some of the people in arts, popular culture and entertainment who left the scene in the first half of 2019. Part 2 will be in Saturday’s Green Sheet. (Cause of death cited for younger people, if available.)

January

Eugene “Mean Gene” Okerlund, 76. His deadpan interviews of pro wrestling superstars like “Macho Man” Randy Savage, the Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan made him a ringside fixture. Jan. 2.

Bob Einstein, 76. The veteran comedy writer and performer known for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and his spoof daredevil character Super Dave Osborne. Jan. 2.

Daryl Dragon, 76. The cap-wearing “Captain” of Captain & Tennille who teamed with then-wife Toni Tennille on such easy listening hits as “Love Will Keep Us Together” and “Muskrat Love.” Jan. 2.

Carol Channing, 97. The ebullient musical comedy star who delighted American audiences in almost 5,000 performances as the scheming Dolly Levi in “Hello, Dolly!” on Broadway and beyond. Jan. 15.

Michel Legrand, 86. An Oscarwinning composer and pianist whose hits included the score for the ’60s romance “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” and the song “The Windmills of Your Mind.” Jan. 26.

James Ingram, 66. The Grammywinning singer who launched multiple hits on the R&B and pop charts and earned two Oscar nominations for his songwriting. Jan. 29.

Harold Bradley, 93. A Country Music Hall of Fame guitarist who played on hundreds of hit country records and with his brother, famed producer Owen Bradley, helped craft “The Nashville Sound.” Jan. 31.

February

Kristoff St. John, 52. Actor bestknown for playing Neil Winters on the CBS soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” Feb. 4. Heart disease.

Albert Finney, 82. The British actor was the Academy Award-nominated star of films from “Tom Jones” to “Skyfall.” Feb. 8.

Jan-Michael Vincent, 73. The “Airwolf ” television star whose sleek good looks belied a troubled personal life. Feb. 10.

Lee Radziwill, 85. She was the stylish jet setter and socialite who found friends, lovers and other adventures worldwide while bonding and competing with her sister Jacqueline Kennedy. Feb. 15.

Karl Lagerfeld, 85. Chanel’s iconic couturier whose accomplished designs and trademark white ponytail, high starched collars and dark enigmatic glasses dominated high fashion for the past 50 years. Feb. 19.

David Horowitz, 81. His “Fight Back!” syndicated program made him perhaps the best-known consumer reporter in the U.S. Feb. 21.

Peter Tork, 77. A talented singersongwriter whose musical skills were often overshadowed by his role as the goofy, lovable bass guitarist in the made-for-television rock band The Monkees. Feb. 21.

Stanley Donen, 94. A giant of the Hollywood musical who, through such classics as “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Funny Face,” helped provide some of the most joyous sounds and images in movie history. Feb. 21.

Katherine Helmond, 89. An Emmy-nominated and Golden Globewinning actress who played two very different matriarchs on the ABC sitcoms “Who’s the Boss?” and “Soap.” Feb. 23.

Andre Previn, 89. The pianist, composer and conductor whose broad reach took in the worlds of Hollywood, jazz and classical music. Feb. 28.

March

Keith Flint, 49. The fiery frontman of British dance-electronic band The Prodigy. March 4. Found dead by hanging in his home.

Luke Perry, 52. He gained heartthrob status as wealthy rebel Dylan McKay on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” March 4. Stroke.

Dick Dale, 83. His pounding, blaringly loud power-chord instrumentals on songs like “Miserlou” and “Let’s Go Trippin’” earned him the title King of the Surf Guitar. March 16.

Scott Walker, 76. An influential singer, songwriter and producer whose hits with the Walker Brothers in the 1960s included “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore.” March 22.

Larry Cohen, 77. The maverick B-movie director of cult horror films “It’s Alive” and “God Told Me To.” March 23.

Agnès Varda, 90. The French New Wave pioneer who charmed moviegoers while inspiring generations of filmmakers. March 29. Cancer.

Nipsey Hussle, 33. A Grammynominated rapper. March 31. Killed in a shooting.

April

Georgia Engel, 70. She played the charmingly innocent, small-voiced Georgette on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and amassed a string of other TV and stage credits. April 12.

Bibi Andersson, 83. The Swedish actress who starred in classic Ingmar Bergman films, including “The Seventh Seal” and “Persona.” April 14.

John Singleton, 51. A director who made one of Hollywood’s most memorable debuts with the Oscar-nominated “Boyz N the Hood.” April 29. Taken off life support after a stroke.

Peter Mayhew, 74. The towering actor who donned a huge, furry costume to give life to the rugged-andbeloved character of Chewbacca in the original “Star Wars” trilogy and

two other films. April 30.

May

Peggy Lipton, 72. A star of the groundbreaking late 1960s TV show “The Mod Squad” and the 1990s show “Twin Peaks.” May 11. Cancer.

Doris Day, 97. The sunny actresssinger whose frothy comedic roles opposite Rock Hudson and others made her one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the 1950s and ’60s and a symbol of wholesome American womanhood. May 13.

Tim Conway, 85. The impish second banana to Carol Burnett who won four Emmy Awards on her TV variety show, starred in “McHale’s Navy” and later voiced the role of Barnacle Boy for “Spongebob Squarepants.” May 14.

I.M. Pei, 102. The architect who revived the Louvre with a giant glass pyramid and captured the spirit of rebellion at the multi-shaped Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. May 16.

Judith Kerr, 95. A refugee from Nazi Germany who wrote and illustrated the bestselling “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” and other beloved children’s books. May 22.

Leon Redbone, 69. The blues and jazz artist known for his growly voice, Panama hat and cultivated air of mystery. May 30.

June

Dr. John, 77. The New Orleans singer and piano player who blended black and white musical styles with a hoodoo-infused stage persona and gravelly bayou drawl. June 6.

Sylvia Miles, 94. Actress whose scene-stealing appearances in “Midnight Cowboy” and “Farewell, My Lovely” earned her two Academy Award nominations. June 12.

Gloria Vanderbilt, 95. The intrepid heiress, artist and romantic who survived family tragedy and multiple marriages and reigned during the 1970s and ’80s as a designer jeans pioneer. June 17.

Judith Krantz, 91. A writer whose bestselling novels such as “Scruples” and “Princess Daisy” engrossed readers worldwide with their steamy tales of the rich and beautiful. June 22.

Dave Bartholomew, 100. A giant of New Orleans music and a rock ’n’ roll pioneer who, with Fats Domino, co-wrote and produced such classics as “Ain’t That a Shame,” “I’m Walkin’ ” and “Let the Four Winds Blow.” June 23.

Beth Chapman, 51. The wife and co-star of “Dog the Bounty Hunter” reality TV star Duane “Dog” Chapman. June 26.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Actor Luke Perry, shown in a 2018 portrait, died after a stroke at age 52.

ASSOCIATED PRESS John Singleton, shown at the 2018 American Black Film Festival Honors in Beverly Hills, Calif., was the first black director to receive an Oscar nomination — and, at 24, the youngest person nominated in the category — for “Boyz N the Hood.”