Celebrity Deaths - 2017

Introduction

As 2017 fastly comes to an end, we review the celebrities that have passed on:

Ralphie May

Comedian rose to fame as the runner-up to Last Comic Standing in 2003.  He died of cardiac arrest on October 6 at the age of 45.

Tom Petty

Rising to fame with his band, The Heartbreakers and songs like “American Girl”, “Learning to Fly”, and “I Won’t Back Down,” Petty passed away on October 2 at the age of 66 of cardiac arrest in Malibu.  He was surrounded by family, friends and band members.

Hugh Hefner

The Playboy Magazine mogul, passed away at the age of 91.

Monty Hall

The original “Let’s Make a Deal” host and co-creator, passed away on September 30 at the age of 96.  He was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by current “Let’s Make a Deal” host, Wayne Brady at the 2017 Daytime Emmy’s Show.

Jake LaMotta

The boxing champion who’s rise and fall was inspired by the Martin Scorcese film “Raging Bull”, died on September 19.   He was 95.

Frank Vincent

Known for tough guy roles in “The Sopranos” and “Goodfellas,” Vincent died on September 13 at the age of 78.

Jerry Lewis

A legendary actor, comedian, as well as host of several telethons died on August 20 at the age of 91.

Glen Campbell

A country music artist with more than 45 million records sold, 12 gold albums, 75 chart hits like “Rhinestone Cowboy”, Campbell passed away on August 8 at 81 from complications with Alzheimer’s disease.

Sam Shepard

A Publitizer Prize-winning playwright, whose western drawl and laconic presence earned him movie star status and an Oscar for “The Right Stuff,” died on July 3 from complications of Lou Gehrig’s disease at 73.

Barbara Sinatra

 The fourth and last wife of legendary Frank Sinatra died on July 25 at her Rancho Mirage home at the age of 90.

Chester Bennington

One of the lead singers of the rap-rock band, Linkin Park, Bennington was found dead by hanging on July 20 at the age of 41.

Adam West

The original Batman, the actor passed away in Los Angeles on June 9 following a battle with leukemia at 88.

Glenne Headley

An actress best known for her roles in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” and “Dick Tracy,” Headley passed away at the age of 63 on June 8.

Roger Moore

The longest to serve as British spy, James Bond, Moore passed away on May 23 after a brief bout with cancer at the age of 89.

Jonathon Demme

The director who earned an Oscar for the 1991 film “Silence of the Lambs,” passed away on April 26 at the age of 73.

Erin Moran

Known for her role as Joanie Cunningham in “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi” passed away on April 23 at 56.

Charlie Murphy

Comedian and older brother of comedian, Eddie Murphy, as well as star of “Chapelle’s Show” died on April 12 at 57.

Don Rickles

A comedian known as the “Merchant of Venom” for his insult humor, Rickles passed away on April 6 at the age of 90.

Mary Tyler Moore

An American actress who starred in her own hit TV show, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” as well as many others, died on January 25 at the age of 80.

Miguel Ferrer

Known for his CBS role on “NCIS: Los Angeles” and the 1987 sci-fi hit “RoboCop”, Ferrer passed away on January 19 at the age of 61 from complications of cancer.

William Peter Blatty

An American author whose novel, “The Exorcist” was made into a successful film died on January 13 at the age of 89.

Francine York

An actress who appeared in numerous TV shows and movies in a decades-long career, died on January 7 at the age of 80.

As we sadly remember what these celebrities gave our lives, we will forever miss them in hearts.