A film and television star whose career spanned seven decades, Ricardo Montalban was perhaps best known for his role as the mysterious Mr. Roarke on TV's "Fantasy Island" from 1977 to 1984. He died January 14 from congestive heart failure at the age of 88.
The daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and the wife of actor Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson was a star both on Broadway and in Hollywood, where she starred in such films as "The Parent Trap" and "Maid in Manhattan." Richardson suffered a head injury while skiing on March 16, seemed fine at first, but hours later complained of a headache and eventually died two days later from an epidural hematoma. She was 45.
Husky-voiced Emmy winner Bea Arthur rose to fame as the character Maude Findlay in the '70s sitcoms "All in the Family" and "Maude," but made her most lasting impression as Dorothy Zbornak on "The Golden Girls." Arthur died of cancer on April 25, shortly before what would've been her 87th birthday.
Comic actor Dom DeLuise rose to fame starring in Mel Brooks movies as well as Burt Reynolds vehicles such as "The Cannonball Run" and "Smokey and the Bandit II." He later hosted TV's "Candid Camera" and wrote several books on cooking. He passed away from kidney failure and respiratory complications from cancer on May 4 at the age of 75.
Whether he was serving as the straight man for Johnny Carson's jokes on "The Tonight Show," introducing outtakes on "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes," or finding the next big thing on "Star Search," for decades Ed McMahon was a warm, familiar presence on Americans' televisions. McMahon died at age 86 on June 23.
One of the biggest sex symbols of the '70s, Farrah Fawcett starred in the hit TV series "Charlie's Angels," and her iconic poster extended her reach to the walls of dorm rooms and garages around the world. Once married to actor Lee Majors, she went on to have an on-again/off-again relationship with Ryan O'Neal, who was by her side when she died of cancer on June 25 at the age of 62.
Without a doubt one of the most influential and successful artists in music history, Michael Jackson had 17 #1 hits, won 13 Grammys, and sold hundreds of millions of albums. Fans around the world were shocked by news of his death on June 25, when the "King of Pop" stopped breathing and could not be resuscitated.
Actor and martial-arts expert David Carradine made a name for himself in the '70s TV series "Kung Fu" and also appeared in its '90s sequel, "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues." The veteran of more than 100 films, including "Kill Bill," was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room on June 4.
A newsman for decades, and anchor of the "CBS Evening News" for nearly 20 years, Walter Cronkite earned himself the title of "the most trusted man in America," bringing viewers definitive reports on the assassination of JFK, the space program, and the Vietnam War. Cronkite died on July 17 at the age of 92.
Filmmaker John Hughes created some of the most iconic teen movies of the '80s -- such as "Pretty in Pink," "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club," and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" -- after getting his big break by writing the screenplay for "National Lampoon's Vacation." Hughes, who retired from show business in the early '90s and became a farmer, died of cardiac arrest on August 6 at the age of 59.
Adam Michael Goldstein, aka DJ AM, emerged as a member of the rap-rock band Crazy Town and later became a frequent collaborator of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. The pair, dubbed TRV$DJAM, toured the country and were injured in a deadly September 2008 plane crash. Goldstein was found dead from an overdose in his New York apartment on August 28. He was 36.
Actor Patrick Swayze first turned heads with roles in "The Outsiders" and "Red Dawn" before establishing himself as a romantic lead in flicks like "Ghost" and "Dirty Dancing." Swayze proved he could also take on action roles, starring in the movies "Point Break" and "Road House." After a tough battle with pancreatic cancer, he died at the age of 57 on September 14.
Brittany Murphy, who got her start in "Clueless" and rose to stardom in "8 Mile," died unexpectedly on December 20 at the age of 32. The actress will appear in Sylvester Stallone's upcoming film, "The Expendables," set for release next year.
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