All articles tagged with #obituaries
Tim Curry, the English actor famed for his flamboyant Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, died at 80 in Los Angeles after years of health issues following a 2012 stroke; his death cause was not disclosed. A versatile performer on stage, film and television, Curry earned Daytime Emmy, Tony and Olivier nods and left a lasting legacy with roles from Shakespeare to cult films like Legend, Clue, Home Alone 2 and IT.
Jesikah Suggs, 32, a writer-producer on Netflix’s My Life With The Walter Boys, died August 18 in Studio City after an eight-year battle with breast cancer. A Baylor film graduate, she started as a TV intern, later wrote for Jason Katims’s Parenthood, and rose to co-producer on Walter Boys Seasons 2–3, while also contributing to It’s Not Like That and As We See It. She is survived by her husband Dustin Ingram, sister Liz Suggs, and other family; memorials were held in Los Angeles and Grapevine, Texas.
Dolly Parton, the iconic country singer, actress and philanthropist who defined American pop culture with her rhinestones and fearless feminist voice, has died at 80. Her storied career spanned music, film and humanitarian work, leaving a lasting impact on entertainment and society.
Defector contributor Soraya Roberts, a sharp yet generous arts critic who helped freelancers navigate a tough industry, has died at 46. In a personal tribute, Tom Ley recalls her breezy warmth in calls about pitches and budgets, her dedication to developing a personal aesthetic in criticism, and the plan to celebrate her work by curating her pieces on the homepage.
Michael Wright, the actor best known as Eddie King Jr. in The Five Heartbeats and for a turn in HBO’s Oz, died at 70 in Los Angeles from apparent heart failure with complications related to the rare Marchiafava-Bignami disease. His wife Susan Wright confirmed the death; he is survived by his wife, children and a grandchild. Wright’s career spanned The Wanderers, V (and its sequels), The Principal, Sugarhill, Lionheart and many other roles, earning tributes from colleagues including Robert Townsend. The family asked for privacy as they grieve.
Adult-film star Zachary Christian Jaghab, known as Christian Styles, has died at 29; a cause of death has not been disclosed. A viewing and service are planned in Livonia, Michigan, with a GoFundMe raising funds for final expenses. Styles had a large following on X and ran an OnlyFans page; he began in the industry in 2021 and was honored as a GayVN Awards fan favorite in 2023 with 2024 nominations. Friends memorialized him on social media.
Jo Gardiner, a fan-favorite participant in Race Across the World’s second season, died at 61 after a long battle with cancer, a year after her son Sam died in a car crash; BBC and Studio Lambert paid tribute, highlighting her vibrant spirit and devoted family ties.
Bunny Levine, a former New Jersey school librarian who pursued acting, has died at age 97. Over four decades she appeared on TV in roles described as “Old Lady” or “Grandma,” with credits on Gilmore Girls, Shameless and other shows, and she appeared in Adam Sandler films including Don’t Mess With the Zohan and Sandy Wexler, among others.
Bunny Levine, a librarian-turned-actress whose TV credits included Gilmore Girls, Shameless, Law & Order and New Girl, and whose film roles spanned La La Land and You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, died peacefully in her Tarzana home at age 97 after a decades-long career that began after she returned to acting following her husband’s death.
Phyllida Law, the Scottish actress and mother of Emma and Sophie Thompson, died peacefully at home at age 94. A Bristol Old Vic alum, Law appeared in film and theatre alongside her daughters—highlighted by roles in Emma, Much Ado About Nothing, and Nanny McPhee—and was awarded an OBE in 2014 for her contributions to drama and charity. She is survived by her two daughters and three grandchildren.
ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard died at 77 in hospice in Richmond, Texas, on Aug. 17, after health issues that briefly paused touring; the band canceled Aug. 18–19 shows and planned to resume Aug. 22–23 with Michael Monahan filling in; Beard, who joined ZZ Top in 1971, was the only member without facial hair in the popular era, and his death leaves Billy Gibbons as the sole surviving member of the band's classic lineup, following Dusty Hill's 2021 passing.
Hayden Panettiere, the former child actress famous for Heroes and Nashville, died at 36 in South Carolina after suffering a cardiac arrest; authorities reported no signs of trauma and said the cause is under investigation, with her May memoir detailing the difficulties of growing up in the public eye.
Former MTV reality star Tyler Duckworth, a Real World: Key West alum and six-time Challenge contestant, was found dead in his North Dakota apartment; authorities reported no immediate signs of foul play, with a toxicology report pending, while his mother posted a notice of his passing and burial plans will be announced.
Tommy John, the left-handed pitcher whose 1974 elbow reconstruction—the first successful ulnar collateral ligament transplant—extended his career to 26 seasons, helped redefine modern baseball, and earned four All-Star selections while playing for the Dodgers, White Sox and Yankees, died at 83.
Tommy John, the left-handed pitcher whose 1974 elbow reconstruction—the procedure that bears his name—extended his career, died at 83 in hospice in Bradenton, Florida. Over 26 MLB seasons he posted 288 wins (164 after the surgery) with stints for the White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels and A’s, becoming a defining figure in pitching longevity.