Born June 11, 1937, Florida-born and Harlem raised Brown wanted to be remembered as a well-rounded entertainer. According to the Hollywood Reporter, before Good Times fame, Brown appeared on Broadway twice and was a regular on the sketch-comedy show Rowan & Martins Laugh-In. Brown reportedly was in line for the role of Lamont on Sanford and Son, but his contract with Laugh-In prevented him from taking the opportunity. Hayden Panettieres brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly in February. He is survived by his ex-wife and five children. However, an official cause of death was not immediately reported. The final post on Kay Slays Instagram page is from Jan. 4 and encouraged his fans to keep the positive energy up for a speedy recovery. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The whole time I worked with him, I was in awe, Brown said. Got word that he passed. Download theGrio.com today! Paul Ritter died at the the of 54 in April 2021. BE 100s Janis Hunter Gaye, the second wife of celebrated soul singer Marvin Gaye and the mother of singer-actress Nona Gaye, died on Dec. 3 at the age of 66. She was also a proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists and a past vice president-broadcast for the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists. Her cause of death was not released. Lymon was the lead singer for the group The Teenagers, which had its heyday in the late 50s and 60s. Remembering the Movers and Shakers We Lost This Decade, 10% off in-store, in-app and online orders, Vacation ideas, savings tips and special offers, 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items, AARP Online Fitness powered by LIFT session, Customized workouts designed around your goals and schedule, SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS. Black Rob (June 8, 1968 April 17, 2021)Former Bad Boy rapper Black Rob died after a long illness, dealing yet another blow to hip-hop culture. Michael Jackson. SEE ALSO: Black Celebrities We Lost Between 2010 - 2020 1. I had a 30-year relationship with Sammy Davishe was an inspiration.. Never Knew Love Like This, which Mtume wrote for songstress Stephanie Mills, won a Grammy for Best R&B song. He even became a radio icon with the introduction of his Legends of Jazz show in 1990, which translated even better on television years later. ", AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. One of the kindest, gentlest men I have ever known, he said in a tweet. Eric Garner died after he was wrestled to the ground by a New York police officer on suspicion of illegally selling cigarettes. The incident led to multiple waves of protests and civil unrest in Ferguson, boosting the Black Lives Matter movement further. He was part of the infamous Orr-Bouie combo, playing alongside retired all-American Roosevelt Bouie. Phil Spector would ultimately die in prison as a convicted murder following their divorce. He was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2018, but was deemed cancer free six months after undergoing chemotherapy. The late actress' cause of death was confirmed asdilated cardiomyopathy. Ive known him since he was 16 years old. She made it to heaven and will light the sky up like a flame. Born in Cleveland, OH McGees family moved a lot when he was growing up finally landing in Chicago in High School. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Black Vietnam veteran finally honored with Medal of Honor McGee retired at the rank of Colonel in 1973. Plummer became the oldest Academy Award acting winner in history at the age of 82 in 2012. Cody is survived by his wife, Stephanie Longo, and their three young children. She is remembered not only for her role as a leader but for being a colleague, friend, and most of all, sister. DMX - Earl Simmons - died at the age of 50 in April 2021. Tawny Kitaen died at the age of 59 in May 2021. (June 1, 1926 July 3, 2012)It's hard to think of Andy Griffith without thinking of the lighthearted whistle that openedThe Andy Griffith Show(196068). Both Fame and FlashdanceWhat A Feeling were international hits, topping the charts in the UK. Yvonne Staples, of the famed Staple Sisters, died on April 10, 2018. Singer and actress Traci Braxton passed away at 50. She died on Saturday at her home in Rhode Island. She also made appearances on shows such as Police Woman and Sanford and Son. Police said Block, whose dangerous stunts made him a YouTube sensation, was riding on a steep slope when his vehicle upended and landed on top of him, fatally injuring him. She served looks and dazzled in TV and film as well as on the theater stage. The Boston Globe reported that Owens had recently been in declining health, including testing positive for COVID-19. The entire sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated mourns the loss of President Hickmon. Powells death was announced by his sister, Tamara Powell, who penned a series of poignant Instagram posts she dedicated to the late singer. He retired after the 1983-84 season boasting impressive career averages of 20.1 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game. Cook is survived by her husband Tom Troupe, who she married in 1964. Black America Web Featured Video Over the last 10 years, we have lost titans of the entertainment, sports and political world including the likes of Whitney Houston, Prince, Aretha Franklin, Muhammad Ali, and Nelson Mandela. She learned how to fly high, and her lyrics will continue inspiring future generations. Artimus Lamont Bentley Artimus Lamont Bentley (Oct. 25, 1973 - Jan. 19, 2005) was an African-American television and film actor. The rapper, whose real name was Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, reportedly suffered a fatal drug overdose, though the official cause of death was not immediately revealed. Dorothy Pitman Hughes, a noted feminist who was also renowned for her work advocating for child welfare as well as being an activist, died On Dec. 1 at the age of 84, the Associated Press reported. In a statement, his former team said, Demaryius humility, warmth, kindness and infectious smile will always be remembered by those who knew him and loved him., bell hooks (September 25, 1952 December 15, 2021)An acclaimed author, activist and professor, hooks was best known for writing books and articles about the connection between race, gender, class and spirituality. 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But after a widely respected and storied career, launched decades ago with a 1965 appearance onThe Tonight Show, she's also remembered as an incomparable pioneer for women in comedy. Thanks for contacting us. Jessie Lee Daniels from the Force MDs has died at the age of 57. Orr was a second-round draft pick by Indiana in 1980 and played two seasons with the Pacers before spending six seasons playing for the New York Knicks from 1982 to 88. Reynolds was also a noteworthy film historian, businesswoman and humanitarian. Gone To Soon: Celebrities Who've Committed Suicide - MadameNoire Butts was a part of the legendary church for 50 years. Lusia Lucy Harris-Stewart, the legendary, barrier-breaking hall of fame basketball player whose largely unknown life story was recently told in a new documentary already being mentioned as an Academy Award contender, has died at the age of 66. During his time in the NFL, Harris rushed for 12,120 years and won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. She even co-starred in the classic PBS show The Electric Company. Shaw, who rose to journalistic prominence as the face of CNN for more than 20 years after becoming one of the then-upstart networks first news anchors, gained the collective trust of America as he reported on myriad history-making moments in the U.S. as well as around the world. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agencys Washington bureau and worked in news gathering forUSA Todayand Al Jazeera English. (June 25, 1956 June 8, 2018)The dynamic celebrity chef with a knack for storytelling ran several New York restaurants and eventually became an executive chef at brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan. FOREVER REMEMBER HER NAME!. News reports indicate the 64-year-old actress and director died after a battle with meningitis. Despite his trailblazing accomplishments, Cooke died under controversial circumstances when he was fatally shot by a motel manager who alleged that he had attacked her on Dec 11, 1964. He also said he believed that Tytyana was in a better place, at peace and free. The glue that held me together, the Dukes of Hazzard star wrote on social media. The actor was best known for playingStanford Blatch onthe hit series Sex and the Cityand the later filmsSex and the CityandSex and the City 2. She continued to act and sing until her death from either an accidental drug overdose or an embolism on Sept. 8, 1965. He was voted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. The cause of death is unknown, and Knights family has asked for privacy as they grieve their loved one. (June 11, 1933 Aug. 29, 2016)A comedic genius best remembered for portraying Willy Wonka in the 1971 film adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's novel,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Oscar-nominated actor starred in a string of other comedy classics includingThe Producers(1967),Stir Crazy(1980),Young Frankenstein(1974) andBlazing Saddles(1974). The 28-year-old passed away in hospital as a result of his injuries Credit: AFP. Its easy to muse over what these superstars could have gone on to achieve in their already stellar careers, had the universe extended them more time. Her death, which has been confirmed by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on their website and social media, comes just months after Hickmon took over as National President. He was 81. After earning money in the Civilian Conservation Corps, McGee went on to the University of Illinois. A gifted lyricist and outspoken figure, Shakur ruffled more than a few feathers in his time but it was his brutally honest approach to his craft that drew fans. I lost my best friend in a police shooting. Harold Nichols Dancer and actor Harold Nichols, who you see here as "the sarge" in "The Five Heartbeats", died on July 3, 2000. He will be remembered for his warm personality and signature suspenders. Former coach Tony Dungy also shared some kind words. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer.