NBA legend Jerry West dies aged 86 | CNN (2024)

Legendary NBA player and executive Jerry West died Wednesday, June 12, at the age of 86, according to the Los Angeles Clippers. West was a 14-time All-Star who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times. A silhouette of West during a Lakers game was famously the inspiration for the NBA's logo.

The Rev. James Lawson Jr., a civil rights icon who trained activists in nonviolent protest, died Sunday, June 9, according to the pastor at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, where Lawson was reverend emeritus. Lawson was 95.

William Anders, a NASA astronaut who was one of the first three people to orbit the moon, died in a plane crash in Washington state, his son confirmed on Friday, June 7. He was 90.

Mark Ross, the rapper who performed as Brother Marquis in the hip-hop group 2 Live Crew, died at the age of 58, according to posts shared on 2 Live Crew's social media accounts on June 3. No cause of death was shared.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen died on June 2, according to the Dallas Cowboys. He was 52. The seven-time All-Pro guard died suddenly while in Mexico vacationing with his family, according to the Cowboys.

Marian Robinson, the mother of former first lady Michelle Obama, died on May 31, according to a statement from the Obama and Robinson families. She was 86.

Bill Walton, the Hall of Fame center who won a record 88 straight games at UCLA, won two NBA championships and later put the "color" in color commentator, died May 27 following a prolonged battle with cancer, the NBA announced. He was 71.

Richard M. Sherman, who with his late brother Robert wrote songs for the 1964 Disney classic "Mary Poppins" as well as the song "It's a Small World," died May 25 at the age of 95. His death was confirmed in an announcement on the Walt Disney Company website, where Sherman was referred to as "one of the most prolific composer-lyricists in the history of family entertainment, and a key member of Walt Disney's inner circle of creative talents."

PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray died May 25 at the age of 30, and his parents later confirmed that he died by suicide. Murray won the Sony Open earlier this year, ending a six-and-a-half-year winless streak during which he admitted to struggling with mental health and physical issues.

Morgan Spurlock, the filmmaker and former CNN series host whose McDonald's documentary "Super Size Me" was nominated for an Academy Award, died of cancer complications on May 23, according to his family. He was 53.

Alice Stewart, a veteran political adviser and CNN political commentator who worked on several GOP presidential campaigns, died at the age of 58, law enforcement officials confirmed on May 18. Her body was found outdoors in a neighborhood in northern Virginia. No foul play was suspected, and officers believe a medical emergency occurred.

Dabney Coleman, a veteran film and television actor known for roles in "9 to 5," "Boardwalk Empire" and "Tootsie," died on May 16, according to a statement from his daughter Quincy Coleman. He was 92.

Alice Munro, the Nobel Literature Prize winner best known for her mastery of short stories, died at the age of 92, a spokesperson at her publisher confirmed on May 14.

Sam Rubin, a longtime entertainment anchor for KTLA in Los Angeles, died at the age of 64, fellow anchor Frank Buckley announced on May 10. Rubin was a mainstay for celebrity interviews and covered all things Hollywood for decades.

Roger Corman, a colorful producer and director whose low-budget movies helped establish major Hollywood talents such as Jack Nicholson and directors James Cameron and Martin Scorsese, died May 9 at the age of 98.

Sean Burroughs, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist, Little League World Series winner and former first-round Major League Baseball pick, died May 9, the California-based Long Beach Little League organization announced. He was 43. Burroughs died of a cardiac arrest, his mother, Debbie, told the Southern California News Group via text, the San Bernardino Sun reported.

Steve Albini, an audio engineer who influenced the sound of legendary indie and alternative rock musicians such as Nirvana and the Pixies, died of a heart attack on May 7, according to his recording studio. He was 61.

Actor Bernard Hill, best known for supporting roles in "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, died May 5, his agent told PA Media. He was 79.

Frank Stella, the American artist renowned for his abstract works, died on May 4, his longtime representative said in a statement. He was 87.

Susan Buckner, best known for playing cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical "Grease," died on May 2. She was 72.

Guitarist Duane Eddy, best known for twangy riffs on hits such as "Rebel Rouser" and "Cannonball," died at the age of 86, a representative confirmed on May 1.

Donald Payne Jr., a Democrat who represented New Jersey's 10th District, died at the age of 65, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on April 24. Payne had served in Congress since 2012, when he won a special election to succeed his late father.

Terry Anderson, the former Mideast correspondent for the Associated Press who was kidnapped in 1985 and held captive for nearly seven years in Lebanon, died on April 21, his daughter told CNN. He was 76.

Mohammad Faris, Syria's only astronaut, died April 19 from complications of a heart attack he suffered a month earlier, according to a close friend who spoke to CNN over the phone. Faris, known as the "Armstrong of the Arab World," was 72.

Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on "American Idol" in 2006, died at the age of 47, according to a statement on her verified social media on April 19. The cause of death was not immediately available.

Dickey Betts, a vocalist, guitarist and the co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band, died at age 80, according to a family statement shared by his longtime manager on April 18. Notable songs by Betts include "Ramblin' Man," "Blue Sky" and "Jessica."

Whitey Herzog, the Baseball Hall of Famer who managed the St. Louis Cardinals to the 1982 World Series title with a style of play known as "Whiteyball," died at the age of 92, his family announced via the Cardinals on April 16.

Longtime broadcast journalist Robert MacNeil, who covered some of the biggest headlines of the 20th century and co-anchored PBS nightly news for two decades, died April 12 at the age of 93. With fellow journalist Jim Lehrer, MacNeil co-founded the MacNeil/Lehrer Report that would later become PBS NewsHour.

Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli died at the age of 83, his eponymous brand confirmed on April 12. Cavalli made his mark on the fashion world with distinctive, glamorous animal prints.

O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star and broadcaster whose athletic achievements and fame were eclipsed by his 1995 acquittal in the brutal killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, died of cancer, his family announced on April 11. He was 76.

Physicist Peter Higgs, whose theory of an undetected particle in the universe changed science and was vindicated by a Nobel prize-winning discovery half a century later, died at the age of 94, the University of Edinburgh said on April 9.

Cole Brings Plenty, the "1923" actor who went missing, was found dead April 5 in a wooded area in Kansas, police and his family said. The actor, 27, was last seen in the early morning hours of March 31 leaving the Lawrence, Kansas, area in a white Ford Explorer, according to a "missing" flier posted to the Instagram page of his uncle, "Yellowstone" actor Mo Brings Plenty.

Larry Lucchino, whose Boston Red Sox teams won three World Series while he was president and CEO, died on April 2, according to his family. He was 78.

Actor Chance Perdomo, star of the "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and "Gen V," died March 30, following a motorcycle accident, according to his representative. He was 27.

Louis Gossett Jr., a star of film and television who won an Academy Award for his performance in "An Officer and a Gentleman," died on March 29, according to a statement from his family. He was 87.

Joe Lieberman, the first Jewish vice-presidential nominee of a major party, whose conscience and independent streak later led him on a journey away from his home in the Democratic Party, died on March 27, according to a statement from his family. He was 82.

Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos died March 23 at the age of 94, his family announced in a statement. Angelos, who had owned the Orioles since 1993, agreed in January to sell the franchise.

M. Emmet Walsh, a celebrated character actor with credits including "Blade Runner," "Blood Simple" and "Knives Out," died March 19 at the age of 88.

Longtime LGBTQ+ activist David Mixner, who was a leader in the fight for social change and equality, died at the age of 77, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President and CEO Annise Parker announced on March 11.

Eric Carmen, the former lead vocalist of The Raspberries and singer of "All by Myself," died at the age of 74, according to his website on March 11.

Akira Toriyama, the Japanse manga artist who created the enormously popular and influential "Dragon Ball" series, died of a brain condition at the age of 68, his production studio said on March 8.

Steve Lawrence, an award-winning pop singer who often performed with his late wife Eydie Gormé as the duo Stevie & Eydie, died from Alzheimer's disease on March 7, according to a statement from his publicist. He was 88.

Chris Mortensen, an award-winning journalist and longtime NFL insider for ESPN, died on March 3, the network announced. He was 72.

Influential interior designer Iris Apfel, a style icon who landed a major modeling contract at 97, died March 1 at the age of 102.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney died at the age of 84, according to Canadian media reports citing his daughter's social media post on February 29.

Comedian and actor Richard Lewis, whose self-deprecating humor and acerbic wit in shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Anything but Love" entertained audiences for decades, died on February 27, according to his publicist Jeff Abraham. He was 76.

Kenneth Mitchell, an actor who appeared in the series "Star Trek: Discovery" and Marvel's "Captain Marvel," died at the age of 49, his family announced in a statement on February 25. Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS in 2018.

Chris Gauthier, an actor whose credits include "Once Upon a Time," "Eureka" and several popular Hallmark Channel projects, died on February 23, according to a statement posted by his agent. The 48-year-old died "after a brief illness," the statement said.

Charles "Lefty" Driesell, who coached college basketball for more than four decades, died February 17 at the age of 92, according to a statement from James Madison University, where Driesell coached from 1988 to 1997. Driesell also coached at Davidson College, the University of Maryland and Georgia State University.

Jailed Russian opposition figure and outspoken Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, who made global headlines when he was poisoned with a nerve agent in 2020, died February 16 at the age of 47, the Russian prison service said. Navalny "felt unwell after a walk" and "almost immediately" lost consciousness, the prison service said. It said it was investigating his "sudden death."

Bob Edwards, the longtime National Public Radio host and a goliath of the broadcasting world, died on February 10, his wife, NPR reporter Windsor Johnston, confirmed in a Facebook post. He was 76.

Former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera died in a helicopter crash in Chile, his office said in a statement on February 6. Piñera, 74, was Chile's president from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022.

Country singer Toby Keith died February 5 after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 62. Keith was known for hits including "Red Solo Cup" and "I Wanna Talk About Me." His 2002 song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," released in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, made him a household name.

Actor Carl Weathers, who came to fame as Apollo Creed in the "Rocky" movies and proceeded to appear in dozens of movies and TV shows from "Predator" to "The Mandalorian," died on February 1, according to his manager Matt Luber. Weathers was 76.

Jean Carnahan, who became the first woman to represent Missouri in the US Senate after she was appointed to replace her husband following his death, died Tuesday, January 30. She was 90.

Chita Rivera, an iconic performer of stage and screen with credits including "Chicago," "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and "Sweet Charity," died on January 30. She was 91. Rivera's longtime publicist Merle Frimark confirmed the news to CNN, saying Rivera died "in New York after a brief illness."

Melanie Safka, the singer who went by the mononym Melanie, died on January 23, according to Billy James of Glass Onyon PR. She was 76. Melanie performed at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and was famous for songs including "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" and "Brand New Key."

Former CBS journalist Charles Osgood died January 23, at his home in New Jersey, CBS News reported. He was 91. Osgood was best known as the anchor of the network's venerable "CBS Sunday Morning" program from 1994 to 2016, succeeding original host Charles Kuralt.

Italian soccer great Luigi "Gigi" Riva died January 22 at the age of 79, according to the Italian Football Federation. Riva is Italy's all-time leading goalscorer.

Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr., died after a battle with prostate cancer, according to statements from his family and the King Center on January 22. He was 62.

Norman Jewison, an Oscar-nominated director whose diverse resume included "In the Heat of the Night" and "Fiddler on the Roof," died on January 20, according to his publicist. He was 97.

Mary Weiss, a singer who was part of the 1960s girl group the Shangri-Las, died, Miriam Linna of Norton Records confirmed to Rolling Stone on January 19. She was reportedly 75 years old.

Canadian world champion pole vaulter Shawn Barber died January 17 at the age of 29, his agent Paul Doyle told CNN. Barber passed away from medical complications, according to a statement from the University of Akron's athletics department. "Barber had fallen ill and had been experiencing poor health for some time," the statement said.

Actor Bill Hayes, who was a mainstay on the NBC soap opera "Days of Our Lives" for more than 50 years, died on January 12, his agent confirmed in an email. He was 98.

Actor Adan Canto, known for his roles in TV shows "The Cleaning Lady" and "Designated Survivor," died of appendiceal cancer on January 8, according to his publicist Jennifer Allen. He was 42.

German soccer icon Franz Beckenbauer, widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game, died on January 7, according to the German football federation. He was 78.

Soccer icon Mário Zagallo, a four-time World Cup winner with Brazil as a player and coach, died at the age of 92, a post on his official Instagram account announced on January 6.

David Soul, best known for his role in the popular 1970s television series "Starsky & Hutch" died on January 4, his wife announced in a statement to CNN. He was 80.

Glynis Johns, the British actress known for her role as feminist icon Mrs. Banks in 1964's "Mary Poppins," died on January 4, her longtime manager Mitch Clem told CNN. She was 100. Johns' career as a film, TV and stage actor spanned nearly nine decades.