Topic: Obituaries

Astronaut Sally Ride Awarded the Medal of Freedom

AP

On Monday afternoon President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former astronaut, physicist, and entrepreneur Sally Ride, who died last July at age 61.

By Esther Zuckerman

May 7, 2013

Ray Harryhausen, the Man Who Imagined CGI's Future, Has Died

He created the special effects for films like 1963's Jason and the Argonauts, drawing inspiration from King Kong in a prophetic career long before the dawn of CGI — and it's obvious that his influence runs deep through the rise of digital cinema.

Comments | 1,213 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Apr 18, 2013

Reuters Killed George Soros

At 5:41 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, the 162-year-old news agency accidentally published a prewritten obituary for Soros, complete with dummy text for the place and time of his future death. And it was pretty harsh!

Comments | 14,444 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Apr 12, 2013

Comedy Actor Jonathan Winters Has Died at Age 87

Comedian and lovable character actor Jonathan Winters died last night at the age of 87, according to family sources who said he passed away peacefully of natural causes. 

Comments | 546 Views

By David Wagner

Feb 14, 2013

Ronald Dworkin Was Philosophy's Master of Integrity

Perhaps the English-speaking world's most influential contemporary philosopher of law, Dworkin will be remembered for upholding equality as the law's foremost guiding principle — and for being one of the most topical scholars of his time. 

Comments | 971 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Feb 1, 2013

The Best Lines from the Great Ed Koch Obituaries

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch died early this morning at the age of 88. Below are some highlights from the many glowing remembrances of the very memorable politician.

Comments | 1,724 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 17, 2013

Pauline Phillips, the Original Dear Abby, Is Dead

The woman who turned her advice column into a worldwide phenomenon was 94 years old.

Comments | 499 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Jan 8, 2013

The Best Lines from Richard Ben Cramer Obituaries

The veteran reporter will be remembered for his award-winning work covering the 1988 presidential campaign and the Middle East.

Comments | 488 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jan 7, 2013

Legendary Architecture Critic Ada Louise Huxtable Has Died

Ada Louise Huxtable, the famed New York Times and Wall Street Journal architecture critic who won the first-ever Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1970, has died. She was 91.

Comments | 744 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Dec 19, 2012

The Best Lines from Robert Bork Obits

When someone like Robert Bork dies, the inevitable barrage of obituaries becomes something of an art form. Here are the best attempts to describe the conservative legal icon so far.

Comments | 1,045 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Dec 12, 2012

Chart of the Day

The 'Notable Deaths' This Year Didn't Include a Lot of Women, Apparently

Mother Jones noticed a discrepancy in the "notable deaths" lists assembled by major newspapers: the majority of the "notable" people listed were men.

Comments | 799 Views

By Connor Simpson

Oct 21, 2012

George McGovern, Congressman, Senator, Liberal, Dies at 90

Former Congressman and Senator George McGovern passed away Sunday morning. He was 90 years old.

Comments | 460 Views

By Adam Martin

Aug 30, 2012

Chris Lighty, Hip-Hop Manager, Dead of Apparent Suicide at 44

It hasn't yet been confirmed, but all signs point to a suicide in the death of influential hip-hop manager Chris Lighty, who managed 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Missy Elliot, Mariah Carey, and Diddy.

Comments | 1,346 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Aug 20, 2012

Phyllis Diller, Self Deprecating Comedian, Dead at 95

Sad news today, TMZ is reporting that Phyllis Diller, the legendary comedian whose career spanned decades and entire evolution of modern comedy, has died. She was 95.

Comments | 20,110 Views

By Connor Simpson

Aug 1, 2012

Corrections on The New York Times' Gore Vidal Obituary Are Amazing

He did have sex with him; he called him a crypto-Nazi, not crypto-fascist; and he wasn't related to Al Gore. The corrections on the New York Times' Gore Vidal obituary are so perfectly Vidal.

Comments | 21,163 Views

By Hannah Miet

Jul 10, 2012

The Epic Awesomeness of Robert de La Rochefoucauld, World War II Secret Agent

Count Robert de La Rochefoucauld, who fought for France in World War II as an epically awesome secret agent with the British, died this spring at 88. Drawing from two recent obituaries, one in today's New York Times and the other in The Telegraph, we bring you highlights from the life of one of the world's most fascinating men. 

Comments | 5,690 Views

By Hannah Miet

Jul 8, 2012

Ernest Borgnine, of 'Marty' and 'Mermaidman' Fame, Dies at 95

Film and television actor Ernest Borgnine, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of a lonely, living-with-mom, butcher-from-the-Bronx in 1955's Marty -- and much later voiced the "Mermaidsman" character in Spongebob Squarepants -- died on Sunday is Los Angeles. He was 95, and never retired.

Comments | 6,955 Views

By Jen Doll

May 30, 2012

Artisanal, Reluctant Branding Pioneer, Dies at Age 474

Artisanal, a word that fought early in his career to ensure recognition of craftsmen for their important contributions to society before later being drafted into the creation of a worldwide gourmet branding glut, died Wednesday.

Comments | 23,464 Views

By Eric Randall

May 24, 2012

America Will Miss Its Public Curmudgeon, Paul Fussell

Paul Fussell, author, cultural critic, and "public curmudgeon" in the words of his New York Times obituary, died Wednesday at 88.

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

May 21, 2012

Bee Gee Robin Gibb Dies at Age 62

Robin Gibb, one third of the legendary Bee Gees, died on Sunday due to complications from liver and colon cancer. 

Comments | 862 Views

By Jen Doll

May 8, 2012

Where the Wild Things Were

Can one even begin to count the contributions to kid lit, and later, to our adult lives, made by Maurice Sendak?

Comments | 1,429 Views

By Jen Doll

May 4, 2012

Passing the Mic: What Adam Yauch Meant to a Generation

To a certain generation of people, the Beastie Boys were as monumental and important as the Beatles, as groundbreaking, as formative, as sweeping and meaningful in their celebrity but also in their music, always the music.

Comments | 9,420 Views

By Eric Randall

Apr 19, 2012

The Band's Levon Helm is Dead at 71

Levon Helm, singer and drummer for The Band, passed away at 71, after battling throat cancer.

Comments | 4,469 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Feb 17, 2012

Journalists and Readers Mourn the Loss of Foreign Reporter Anthony Shadid

Anthony Shadid, who spent two decades covering conflicts and change in the Middle East as a correspondent for The New York TimesThe Washington Post, and others, died yesterday while on assignment in Syria

Comments | 1,290 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Feb 11, 2012

Whitney Houston Dies at 48

Whitney Houston has died at age 48 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. She was scheduled to appear at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy bash tonight.

Comments | 9,518 Views

By Ray Gustini

Feb 2, 2012

How the NBA Lost China; The High Cost of Hosting a Super Bowl

Also: Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel is back on a campus in Ohio, Gordie Howe is sick, and Serena Williams is spending quality time in Paris with Grigor Dimitrov.

Comments | 987 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Jan 28, 2012

Former Boston Mayor Kevin White Dies at 82

The man who ran Boston for 16 years has died after a ten-year battle with Alzheimer's.

Comments | 1,379 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Dec 16, 2011

Remembering Christopher Hitchens

The death of Christopher Hitchens last night, from complications from esophageal cancer at age 62, ended one of the great intellectual careers of the last 40 years.

Comments | 4,271 Views

By Ray Gustini

Jul 12, 2011

'Gilligan's' and 'Brady' Creator Sherwood Schwartz Has Died

The creator of two of television's most iconic shows died today at 94

Comments | 518 Views

By Adam Martin

Jun 3, 2011

Former Black Panther Geronimo Pratt Dies at 63

Wrongly incarcerated for 27 years, the former Black Panther died at his Tanzania home

Comments | 2,227 Views

By Alex Eichler

Apr 26, 2011

Punk Singer Poly Styrene Dies at 53

The X-Ray Spex frontwoman was one of the most prominent female voices in punk rock

Comments | 1,661 Views

By Bryan Hood

Apr 9, 2011

Film Director Sidney Lumet Dies at 86

He sought to examine our conscience in films like '12 Angry Men' and 'Network'

Comments | 286 Views

By Alex Eichler

Dec 29, 2010

Remembering Denis Dutton, Professor and Web Pioneer

The Arts & Letters Daily founder dies at 66

Comments

By Ray Gustini

Nov 23, 2010

Top Tweets: Philadelphia Spectrum Demolition Edition

For a classic American venue, a date with the wrecking ball

Comments

By Ray Gustini

Oct 26, 2010

9 Tender Reflections on Paul the Psychic Octopus, Dead at 2.5

Internet mourns passing of tentacled soccer-prognosticator

Comments | 172 Views

By John Hudson

Jul 12, 2010

Remembering 'American Splendor' Author Harvey Pekar

The irascible comic book innovator died in his Cleveland home Monday

Comments | 15 Views

By Eleanor Barkhorn

Jan 28, 2010

J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye Author, Dead at 91

Obituaries split between extolling his literary influence and reflecting on his puzzling self-seclusion

Comments | 749 Views

By John Hudson

Jan 14, 2010

Teddy Pendergrass: R&B Icon, Sex Symbol

Dead at 59, the '70s legend is remembered as a black icon and a ladies' man

Comments | 172 Views

By Benjamin F. Carlson

Jan 4, 2010

Spatwatch

Our Commenters 'Made Me Want to Spit'

Melinda Henneberger is fed up with scurrilous visitors to Politics Daily

Comments | 425 Views

By Benjamin F. Carlson

Dec 22, 2009

Arnold Stang, Comic Sidekick and Voice Actor, Dies at 91

The actor is remembered for playing nerdy characters alongside Frank Sinatra and Arnold Schwarzenegger

Comments | 30 Views

By John Hudson

Dec 17, 2009

NFL's Chris Henry Dies: Was He on a Path to Reform?

The Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver had a trouble past, but fans and fellow players saw signs of improvement

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By John Hudson

Dec 17, 2009

Roy E. Disney, Dead at 79, Rejuvenated the Family Brand

Walt's influential nephew is credited with revitalizing Disney's animation division

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By John Hudson

Dec 15, 2009

Oral Roberts Dies at 91: Remembering America's Televangelist

Roberts leaves behind a multimillion dollar ministry and a university bearing his name

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By Mara Gay

Sep 28, 2009

William Safire Dies at 79

Remembering Washington's most beloved wordsmith

Comments | 172 Views

By Mara Gay

Sep 22, 2009

The Last Conservative

In the wake of Irving Kristol's death, columnists wax nostalgic for the intellectual conservatism he championed

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By Mara Gay

Sep 18, 2009

Irving Kristol Dead at 89

First reactions to the "Godfather" of neoconservatism's death

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By Katharine Rust

Sep 18, 2009

Remembering NCAA President Myles Brand

He'll always be known as the man who fired Bobby Knight, but Myles Brand was a great reformer, too

Comments

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