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In Memoriam: Celebrity Deaths 2018

Jason Fraley | jfraley@wtop.com

December 26, 2018, 12:02 AM

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Before we turn the page to 2019, it’s important to look back at the famous people we lost in 2018.

In addition to politicians (George H.W. Bush, John McCain), scientists (Stephen Hawking) and televangelists (Billy Graham), we also lost plenty of influential figures in the world of entertainment.

Click through the gallery for a chronological look back at those who died this year.

Click through the gallery for a chronological look back at those who died this year. (WTOP collage via AP)
WTOP collage via AP
Jan. 5: Jerry Van Dyke Actor of “Coach” (AP Photo/Chris Martinez, File)
AP Photo/Chris Martinez, File
Dolores O'Riordan of Irish rock group "The Cranberries" perfoms at the Sant Jordi Club in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Jan. 15: Dolores O’Riordan Singer of The Cranberries (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
Jan. 19: Dorothy Malone Actress of “Written on the Wind” (AP Photo, File)
AP Photo, File
Dennis Edwards attends the 26th Annual Heroes and Legends Awards held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP)
Feb. 1: Dennis Edwards Singer of The Temptations (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP)
Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP
Feb. 4: John Mahoney Actor of “Frasier” (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)
AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File
Feb. 9: Reg E. Cathey Actor of “House of Cards” (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File
Feb. 11: Vic Damone Singer of “An Affair to Remember” (AP Photo/Ed Bailey, File)
AP Photo/Ed Bailey, File
Feb. 23: Lewis Gilbert Director of three James Bond films (YouTube)
YouTube
March 3: David Ogden Stiers Actor of “M*A*S*H” (AP Photo/Huynh, File)
AP Photo/Huynh, File
March 4: Russell Solomon Founder of Tower Records (Michael A. Jones/The Sacramento Bee via AP, File)
Michael A. Jones/The Sacramento Bee via AP, File
Television writer/producer Steven Bochco poses for a portrait at his office on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, in Santa Monica, Calif. In his memoir "Truth Is a Total Defense: My Fifty Years in Television" Bochco takes the reader through his prolific career, which he began at 22 as a story editor on a popular NBC drama, "The Name of the Game," and continues today with his latest creation, "Murder in the First," in its third season on TNT. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
April 1: Steven Bochco Creator of “Hill Street Blues” (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
April 13: Milos Forman Director of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar, File)
AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar, File
April 15: R. Lee Ermey Actor of “Full Metal Jacket” (Charles Sykes/AP Images for IAVA and Victory Motorcycles)
Charles Sykes/AP Images for IAVA and Victory Motorcycles
April 20: Avicii EDM musician (AP Photo)
AP Photo
April 21: Verne Troyer Actor of “Austin Powers” (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
May 8: Anne Coates Editor of “Lawrence of Arabia” (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File
May 13: Margot Kidder Actress of “Superman” (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
AP Photo/Reed Saxon
May 14: Tom Wolfe Author of “The Right Stuff” (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews
FILE - In this May 13, 2004 file photo, designer Kate Spade poses with handbags and shoes from her next collection in New York. Law enforcement officials say Tuesday, June 5, 2018, that New York fashion designer Kate Spade has been found dead in her apartment in an apparent suicide. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
June 5: Kate Spade Clothing designer   (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File
Anthony Bourdain speaks during South By Southwest at the Austin Convention Center on Sunday, March 13, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
June 8: Anthony Bourdain Chef and host of “No Reservations” (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP
Vinnie Paul, co-founder and drummer of metal band Pantera, has died at 54. File. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
June 22: Vinnie Paul Drummer of Pantera (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP
Joe Jackson attends The Friars Foundation Gala honoring Robert De Niro and Carlos Slim at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
June 27: Joe Jackson Founder of The Jackson 5 (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
July 5: Claude Lanzmann Director of “Shoah” (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, File)
AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, File
Actor Tab Hunter is shown in this undated photo. (AP Photo)
July 8: Tab Hunter Singer of “Young Love”” (AP Photo)
AP Photo
July 13: Nancy Sinatra Wife of Frank Sinatra (AP Photo/Murray Becker, File)
AP Photo/Murray Becker, File
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2014, file photo, Charlotte Rae arrives at the 2014 PALEYFEST Fall TV Previews - "The Facts Of Life" Reunion in Beverly Hills, Calif. Rae recounts in her new autobiography, her own life bore little resemblance to the sitcom-grade serenity of her "Facts of Life" character, Edna Garrett, instead marked by challenges that included son Andy’s autism and her husband's late-in-life disclosure that he was bisexual and wanted an open marriage. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, FILE)
Aug. 5: Charlotte Rae Actress of “The Facts of Life” (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, FILE)
Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, FILE
Aug. 16: Aretha Franklin Singer of “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Aug. 21: Barbara Harris Actress of “Freaky Friday” (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)
AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File
Aug. 22: Ed King Founder of Lynyrd Skynyrd (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson, File)
AP Photo/Stuart Ramson, File
Aug. 24: Robin Leach Host of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Aug. 26: Neil Simon Playwright of “The Odd Couple”   (AP Photo/Gary Stuart, File)
AP Photo/Gary Stuart, File
Sept. 6: Burt Reynolds Actor of “Smokey & The Bandit” (AP Photo/Red McLendon)
AP Photo/Red McLendon
Sept. 7: Mac Miller Hip-hop star (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File
Sept. 4: Bill Daily Actor of “I Dream of Jeannie” (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File
Sept. 27: Marty Balin Singer of Jefferson Airplane (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File
Oct. 6: Scott Wilson Actor of “In Cold Blood” (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File
FILE - In this Nov. 1, 1997 file photo, actress/director/author Sondra Locke poses for a photograph at a garden in Beverly Hills, Calif. A death certificate obtained by The Associated Press shows Oscar-nominated actress Locke died Nov. 3, 2018, at age 74 at her home in Los Angeles of cardiac arrest stemming from breast and bone cancer. She was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress for 1968's "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," her first film. (AP Photo/ Damian Dovarganes, File)
Nov. 3: Sondra Locke Actress of “The Outlaw Josey Wales” (AP Photo/ Damian Dovarganes, File)
AP Photo/ Damian Dovarganes, File
Nov. 11: Douglas Rain Actor of “2001: A Space Odyssey” (Robert C Ragsdale/Stratford Festival via AP)
Robert C Ragsdale/Stratford Festival via AP
Nov. 12: Stan Lee Creator of “Spider-Man” (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File
Roy Clark picks his way through a performance at his theater in Branson, Mo., Oct. 14, 1996. Clark was the first big name to have a theater in Branson and lead the way for others to come. He gives his last performance in Branson next month. (AP Photo/John S. Stewart)
Nov. 15: Roy Clark Musician/host of “Hee Haw” (AP Photo/John S. Stewart)
AP Photo/John S. Stewart
Nov. 24: Ricky Jay Star of “Boogie Nights” (Getty Images/Jamie McCarthy)
Getty Images/Jamie McCarthy
Nov. 26: Stephen Hillenburg Creator of “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File
FILE - Feb. 1972 file photo of Italian movie director Bernardo Bertolucci. Bertolucci, who won Oscars with "The Last Emperor" and whose erotic drama "Last Tango in Paris" enthralled and shocked the world, has died at the age of 77. Bertolucci's press office, Punto e Virgola, confirmed the death Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, in an email to The Associated Press. (AP Photo)
Nov. 26: Bernardo Bertolucci Director of “The Last Emperor” (AP Photo)
AP Photo
TV actresses Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams smile at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 1979. The duo play television's "Laverne and Shirley." (AP Photo/George Brich)
Dec.  17: Penny Marshall Actress of “Laverne & Shirley,” director of “Big” (AP Photo/George Brich)
AP Photo/George Brich
(1/45)
Dolores O'Riordan of Irish rock group "The Cranberries" perfoms at the Sant Jordi Club in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Dennis Edwards attends the 26th Annual Heroes and Legends Awards held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP)
Television writer/producer Steven Bochco poses for a portrait at his office on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, in Santa Monica, Calif. In his memoir "Truth Is a Total Defense: My Fifty Years in Television" Bochco takes the reader through his prolific career, which he began at 22 as a story editor on a popular NBC drama, "The Name of the Game," and continues today with his latest creation, "Murder in the First," in its third season on TNT. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
FILE - In this May 13, 2004 file photo, designer Kate Spade poses with handbags and shoes from her next collection in New York. Law enforcement officials say Tuesday, June 5, 2018, that New York fashion designer Kate Spade has been found dead in her apartment in an apparent suicide. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Anthony Bourdain speaks during South By Southwest at the Austin Convention Center on Sunday, March 13, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Vinnie Paul, co-founder and drummer of metal band Pantera, has died at 54. File. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Joe Jackson attends The Friars Foundation Gala honoring Robert De Niro and Carlos Slim at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Actor Tab Hunter is shown in this undated photo. (AP Photo)
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2014, file photo, Charlotte Rae arrives at the 2014 PALEYFEST Fall TV Previews - "The Facts Of Life" Reunion in Beverly Hills, Calif. Rae recounts in her new autobiography, her own life bore little resemblance to the sitcom-grade serenity of her "Facts of Life" character, Edna Garrett, instead marked by challenges that included son Andy’s autism and her husband's late-in-life disclosure that he was bisexual and wanted an open marriage. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, FILE)
FILE - In this Nov. 1, 1997 file photo, actress/director/author Sondra Locke poses for a photograph at a garden in Beverly Hills, Calif. A death certificate obtained by The Associated Press shows Oscar-nominated actress Locke died Nov. 3, 2018, at age 74 at her home in Los Angeles of cardiac arrest stemming from breast and bone cancer. She was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress for 1968's "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," her first film. (AP Photo/ Damian Dovarganes, File)
Roy Clark picks his way through a performance at his theater in Branson, Mo., Oct. 14, 1996. Clark was the first big name to have a theater in Branson and lead the way for others to come. He gives his last performance in Branson next month. (AP Photo/John S. Stewart)
FILE - Feb. 1972 file photo of Italian movie director Bernardo Bertolucci. Bertolucci, who won Oscars with "The Last Emperor" and whose erotic drama "Last Tango in Paris" enthralled and shocked the world, has died at the age of 77. Bertolucci's press office, Punto e Virgola, confirmed the death Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, in an email to The Associated Press. (AP Photo)
TV actresses Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams smile at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 1979. The duo play television's "Laverne and Shirley." (AP Photo/George Brich)

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Jason Fraley

Hailed by The Washington Post for “his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online.

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