All articles tagged with #celebrity deaths
Peter Cullen, the veteran voice actor who gave Optimus Prime his iconic baritone, has died. No cause of death was disclosed in the initial reports, and tributes have poured in from fans and colleagues who remember the actor for defining the Transformer’s voice across decades of films and TV.
Jaye P. Morgan, a top 1950s pop artist who later became a familiar TV guest and Gong Show fixture, has died at 94 of natural causes in Longview, Washington. Born Mary Margaret Morgan in Colorado, she had 1955 hits such as “That’s All I Want From You” and “The Longest Walk,” appeared on The Tonight Show and other programs, acted in films, and became infamous as a Gong Show judge after a 1976 episode in which she briefly exposed her breasts. She is survived by a son, Paul Kane, and had been living with her nephew and niece at the time of death.
After Dolly Parton’s death, Hershey Park posted a price comparison claiming summer tickets were $49.99—cheaper than Dollywood’s $94.99—and the now-deleted reply drew swift backlash for insensitivity; the post had gone viral with millions of views, and the park apologized, saying the context was misconstrued and the message was removed to avoid controversy. Dollywood later said it would remain open on Wednesday per Parton’s wishes.
Shelley Fabares, the singer-actor famed for The Donna Reed Show and the hit Johnny Angel, died at age 82; she later appeared on Coach, leaving a lasting mark on television and 1960s pop culture.
Hayden Panettiere’s estranged mother Lesley Vogel blasts Gayle King for publicly criticizing her statements after Panettiere’s death, calling the comments hurtful and unprofessional while noting the family’s estrangement and ongoing discussions about the star’s death and her relationship with Brian Hickerson.
Neighbors say Alan “Skip” Panettiere was only beginning to recover from his son Jansen Panettiere’s 2023 death when daughter Hayden Panettiere died at 36; locals describe him as having retreated after Jansen’s passing and only recently seeming to come back, with Hayden having visited him in New York about a month before her death. The piece also notes the Panettiere family’s public struggles with addiction and trauma.
Former Married at First Sight contestant Ryan de Nino has died at 40 in New Jersey, TMZ reports; his sister Melissa DeNino posted a tribute praising his humor and loyalty, while his on-screen ex Jessica Castro is referenced from their 2014-2015 marriage; the couple divorced in 2015 amid a restraining-order dispute filed by Castro, and the show's producers offered aftercare resources at the time.
Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon, Kris Jenner's 91-year-old mother, died July 16 from cardiac arrest, with acute respiratory failure and metastatic lung cancer listed as contributing conditions on her death certificate. Jenner shared a tribute on Instagram, and Shannon had appeared on Keeping Up With the Kardashians and The Kardashians.
Lou Koller, longtime frontman and co-founder of New York hardcore band Sick of It All, died at 59 after a battle with esophageal cancer. The Queens-born singer, whose band formed in 1986 and released 12 studio albums, had battled cancer since 2024, cancelled a European tour during treatment, and was declared cancer-free in May 2025 before the cancer returned. Tributes from CM Punk, Dropkick Murphys and Lars Frederiksen highlighted his influence on NYHC and his ability to lift fans’ spirits at shows.
Yakir Levi, 45, a wealthy Los Angeles reality TV personality and Israel-born businessman, fell 28 stories from the Acqualina Resort in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida after texting 'I’m coming.' Police are treating the death as unclassified while Levi’s family disputes the suicide conclusion; he leaves behind a wife and three children and built a multimillion-dollar restoration business after serving in the IDF.
LaToya Malcolm, a 35-year-old former Miss Universe Jamaica finalist and actress/dance instructor, has died over the weekend; the cause of death has not been disclosed, and the Miss Universe Jamaica organization confirmed her passing on Instagram.
Hal Williams, the veteran TV actor known for his roles on Sanford and Son and the sitcom 227, has died at age 91. His long-running career also included parts in Private Benjamin and other TV projects, marking him as a memorable figure in classic American television.
Daveigh Chase, the former child actress known for voicing Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and for Spirited Away, died in a Los Angeles hospital on June 16 at 35, with AIDS listed as the cause and chronic polysubstance use noted as another condition. Her father, John Schwallier, told The Post he wasn’t surprised by the AIDS diagnosis, attributing it to years of addiction and homelessness on LA’s Skid Row, and he said he might pursue custody of her cremated remains. Chase had largely stepped away from acting after 2016, with friends and her longtime manager attempting to help her, while her mother Cathy received her remains.
Daveigh Chase, the actress and voice of Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and star of The Ring, died at 35. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed AIDS as her primary cause of death, with chronic polysubstance use noted; the manner of death was ruled natural. She died after meningitis and several serious blood infections led to sepsis, with her boyfriend Roy Hernandez launching a GoFundMe to support her in her final days. Chase’s career included roles in Donnie Darko and Big Love before retiring from acting in 2016.
Cathy Chase discusses the shock and pain of her daughter Daveigh Chase’s death at 35, detailing Daveigh’s long battle with drugs after a 2016 injury, the mother’s years of searching for her daughter, and the GoFundMe and SAG trust connected to her estate, while stressing she never gave up on her child.