The people we lost in 2017 in arts, entertainment and pop culture

Associated Press Published 10:55 a.m. CT Dec. 26, 2017

Cast members Heather Menzies-Urich (Louisa von Trapp) and Duane Chase (Kurt von Trapp) attend "The Sound of Music" 40th Anniversary Special Edition DVD Cast Reunion at The Tavern on the Green Nov. 10, 2005 in New York City. Actress Heather Menzies-Urich, best known for playing Louisa Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, died on Dec. 24, 2017 in Frankford, Ontario, Canada. Menzies-Urich had several film and TV roles. She was the widow of actor Robert Urich, who died of cancer in 2002. Menzies-Urich died of brain cancer. She was 68. Paul Hawthorne, Getty Images

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An undated photo released by NASA shows the official Space Shuttle portrait of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, attired in the Shuttle Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Suit with Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) attached and American flag in background.NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless, the first person to fly freely and untethered in space, died on Dec. 23, 2017, at age 80. NASA via AFP/Getty Images

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In this Sept. 29, 2016, file photo, Dick Enberg, the voice of the San Diego Padres, poses in his booth prior to the Padres' final home baseball game of the season in San Diego. Enberg, the sportscaster who got his big break with UCLA basketball and went on to call Super Bowls, Olympics, Final Fours and Angels and Padres baseball games died on Dec. 21, 2017. He was 82. Engberg's daughter, Nicole, confirmed the death to The Associated Press. She said the family became concerned when he didn't arrive on his flight to Boston on Thursday, and that he was found dead at his home in La Jolla, a San Diego neighborhood. Lenny Ignelzi, AP

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Hiep Le, who starred in Oliver Stone's "Heaven and Earth" movie, passed away on Dec. 19, 2017, in the Los Angeles area. She was 46. Roland Neveu, Warner Bros.

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Bernard Cardinal Law, Archbishop of Boston, center, stands with some of the estimated 200 couples who renewed their marriage vows on Feb. 25, 2001, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. Law, the embattled former Boston cardinal whose legacy amid the clergy sex abuse scandal ushered in a painful era for the nation and the Roman Catholic Church,has died, according to a church official. He was 86. Michael Dwyer, AP

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During his last appearance at the Speedway, Jim Nabors smiles to the applause of fans before the 98th Indianapolis 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25, 2014. Nabors died peacefully at his home in Honolulu on Nov. 30, 2017, with his husband Stan Cadwallader at his side. He was 87. Mike Fender , The Indianapolis Star

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Actor Rance Howard and Judy Howard attend the Tribute to Bruce Dern with SAG-AFTRA, SAGindie And The National SAGindie Committee during AFI FEST presented by Audi at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 11, 2013 in Hollywood, Calif. Director Ron Howard says his actor father Rance Howard has died at age 89. Howard announced his father's passing Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, on Twitter. He appeared in several of Ron Howard's films, including "Apollo 13," ''A Beautiful Mind," ''Splash," ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas," ''Parenthood" and "Grand Theft Auto," along with other film and television series credits. Valerie Macon, Getty Images

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David Cassidy attends the 5th Annual New Jersey Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on June 9, 2012, in Newark. Former teen idol Cassidy of "The Partridge Family" fame has died at age 67, publicist said on Nov. 21, 2017. Bobby Bank, WireImage

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This October 1991 file photo shows actress Della Reese. Reese, the actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in the long-running television drama "Touched by an Angel," died at age 86. A family representative released a statement Monday that Reese died peacefully on Nov. 19, 2017, in California. No cause of death or additional details were provided. Douglas C. Pizac, AP

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Charles Manson is escorted to his arraignment In this 1969 file photo, on conspiracy-murder charges in connection with the Sharon Tate murder case. Authorities say Manson, cult leader and mastermind behind 1969 deaths of actress Sharon Tate and several others, died on Nov. 19, 2017. He was 83. AP

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Musician Mel Tillis performs onstage during 2011 Stagecoach: California's Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 30, 2011, in Indio, Calif. Tillis, the longtime country star who wrote hits for Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs and many others, and overcame a stutter to sing on dozens of his own singles, has died. A spokesman for Tillis, Don Murry Grubbs, said Tillis died early Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Fla. He was 85. Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

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Malcolm Young of AC/DC performs at the Bank Atlantic Center on Dec. 20, 2008, in Sunrise Florida. AC/DC guitarist and co-founder Malcolm Young has died aged 64, the band announced on Nov. 18, 2017. mpi04/MediaPunch/IPX

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Liz Smith leaves the Celebration of Life Memorial ceremony for Walter Cronkite on Sept. 9, 2009, at Avery Fisher Hall in New York. Prominent gossip columnist Smith, known as the 'Dame of Dish,' died of natural causes on Nov. 12, 2017. She was 94. Stephen Chernin, AP

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Actor John Hillerman poses for a portrait in circa1982 in Honolulu. A spokeswoman for the family of Hillerman says the co-star of TV’s “Magnum, P.I.” has died. Hillerman was 84. Spokeswoman Lori De Waal said Hillerman died Thursday at his home in Houston. She said the cause of death has yet to be determined. Donaldson Collection via Getty Images

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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay poses for a photo in 2005. Roy Halladay, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who pitched a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter, died when his private plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 7, 2017. He was 40. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY

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Music recording legend Fats Domino, 79, poses at Tipitina's on Aug. 19, 2007. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music even as it honored the grand, good-humored tradition of the Crescent City, has died. He was 89. Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, La., coroner's office, said Domino died Oct. 24, 2017. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY

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Actor Robert Guillaume poses for a portrait in Los Angeles in this Sept. 4,1991 photo. Guillaume, who won Emmy Awards for his roles on "Soap" and "Benson" died Oct. 24, 2017 in Los Angeles at age 89. Guillaume's widow Donna Brown Guillaume says he had been battling prostate cancer. Chris Martinez, AP

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New York Giants quarterback Y.A. Tittle squats on the field Sept. 20, 1964, after being hit hard while passing during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Pittsburgh. Tittle, the Hall of Fame quarterback and 1963 NFL Most Valuable Player, has died. He was 90. Dozier Mobley, AP

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Tom Petty performs on the Acura Stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on April 28, 2012. Musician Tom Petty died after suffering a cardiac arrest Oct. 2, 2017 at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. Petty was found unconscious Sunday night at his home in Malibu. He was 66. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY

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Conde Nast chairman, Si Newhouse Jr., leaves a news conference in New York, May 25, 2011. The billionaire media mogul died at his New York home, Oct. 1, 2017. He was 89. Mary Altaffer, AP

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Monty Hall, longtime host of "Let's Make a Deal." The popular game show host has died after a long illness at age 96. His daughter Sharon Hall says he died Sept. 30, 2017, at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. Game Show Network

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Hugh Hefner poses for a photograph at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles on June 10, 2005. The Playboy magazine founder died at his home of natural causes on Sept. 27, 2017, surrounded by family. He was 91. Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY

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Actor Bernie Casey arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Black Dynamite" on Oct. 13, 2009 in Hollywood. Casey, the professional football player turned actor known for parts in "Revenge of the Nerds" and "I’m Gonna Git You Sucka," died Sept. 19, 2017, in Los Angeles after a brief illness. He was 78. Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

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In this Feb. 23, 1945, photo, Jake LaMotta, left, of the Bronx borough of New York City, and Ray Robinson of the Harlem section of New York City, fight at Madison Square Garden in New York. Robinson won the fight on a decision. LaMotta fought Sugar Ray Robinson six times, handing Robinson his first defeat. LaMotta, whose life was depicted in the film "Raging Bull," died Sept. 19, 2017, at a Miami-area hospital from complications of pneumonia. He was 95. Matty Zimmerman, AP

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This June 9, 1973, file photo shows Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat, reacting after her horse won the Belmont Stakes, and the Triple Crown, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. Chenery, who bred and raced 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat as well as realizing her disabled fathers dream to win the Kentucky Derby in 1972 with Riva Ridge, died Sept. 16, 2017, at her Boulder, Colo., home following complications from a stroke, her children announced Sunday through Leonard Lusky, her longtime friend and business partner. She was 95. Jack Kanthal, AP

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In this Feb. 4, 2008, file photo, actor Harry Dean Stanton arrives at a celebration for actress Marion Cotillard in West Hollywood, Calif. Legendary character actor Stanton has died at age 91. Stanton's agent John S. Kelly says the actor died Sept. 15, 2017, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Kelly said Stanton died of natural causes, but gave no further details. Chris Pizzello, AP

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Troy Gentry, of the country band Montgomery Gentry, was killed in a New Jersey helicopter crash Sept 8, 2017 just before he was set to perform. He was 50. Here he performs at the 2nd Annual Academy of Country Music USO Concert at Nellis Air Force Base April 2, 2011 in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Musician Walter Becker of Steely Dan performs onstage during Day 1 of the 2015 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 10, 2015, in Indio, Calif. Becker, the co-founder of the band 'Steely Dan', passed away on Sept. 3, 2017, at the age of 67. Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic

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Actor Richard Anderson arrives at the TCM Classic Film Festival opening night premiere of the 40th anniversary restoration of Cabaret" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on April 12, 2012, in Hollywood, Calif. Richard Anderson, the tall, handsome actor best known for co-starring simultaneously in television's The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman in the 1970s, has died at age 91. Anderson died of natural causes on Aug. 31, 2017, family spokesman Jonathan Taylor said. Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

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Jerry Lewis, actor, comedian is photographed in 1995. Lewis died at age 91, on August 20, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nev. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY NETWORK

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Actor Jay Thomas attends the 40th Anniversary St. Jude Hollywood Gala honoring Danny Thomas and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on March 7, 2002, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Known for his roles in Murphy Brown, Cheers, and Love & War, had died of cancer. He was 69. Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

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In this July 21, 2012 file photo, comedian and activist Dick Gregory poses for a portrait during the PBS TCA Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. Gregory, the comedian and activist and who broke racial barriers in the 1960s and used his humor to spread messages of social justice and nutritional health, has died. He was 84. Gregory died on Aug. 19, 2017, in Washington, D.C., after being hospitalized for about a week, his son Christian Gregory told The Associated Press. He had suffered a severe bacterial infection. Matt Sayles, Invision/AP

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Glen Campbell poses for a portrait in the living room of his home in Malibu, Calif., in this Aug. 5, 2013 file photo. Musician Glen Campbell died on Aug. 8, 2017 at 81. Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY

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In this Oct. 28, 1992, file photo, Don Baylor is all smiles as he answers questions after being named the first manager of the Colorado Rockies baseball club, in Denver. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died on Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman. David Zalubowski, AP

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1993 file photo of Darren Daulton of the Philadelphia Phillies. Daulton, the All-Star catcher who was the leader of the Phillies' NL championship team in 1993, has died. He was 55. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY

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In this Jan. 1, 1971, file photo, Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian is carried off the field by his players after defeating Texas, 24-11, in the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game, in Dallas. Parseghian, who took over a foundering Notre Dame football program and restored it to glory with two national championships in 11 seasons, died on Aug. 2, 2017, at his home in Granger, Ind. He was 94. AP

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In this Sept. 29, 2011 file photo, actor Sam Shepard poses for a portrait in New York. Shepard, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Oscar-nominated actor and celebrated author whose plays chronicled the explosive fault lines of family and masculinity in the American West, died of complications from ALS, Thursday, July 27, 2017, at his home in Kentucky. He was 73. Charles Sykes, AP

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In this Sept. 15, 2013 file photo, June Foray arrives at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the then Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, in Los Angeles. Foray's niece, Robin Thaler, said Thursday, July 27, 2017, that Foray died in a Los Angeles hospital of cardiac arrest. She was 99. Richard Shotwell, Invision/AP

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Actor John Heard poses for a portrait at the Getty Images Portrait Studio during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2006 in Park City, Utah. Heard, who played the father figure in the Home Alone films died on July 22, 2017 at the age of 72. Mark Mainz, Getty Images

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Singer Chester Bennington of Linkin Park performs onstage during the band's "One More Light" album release party at the iHeartRadio Theater on May 22, 2017 in Burbank, Calif. Bennington was found hanging at his home on July 20, 2017. He was 41. Scott Dudelson, WireImage

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Portrait of Martin Landau on Sept. 28, 1994. Landau died July 16, 2017. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

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Director George A. Romero is surrounded by actors dressed as zombies as he arrives for the world premiere of his movie "Land of the Dead" during the final night of the CineVegas film festival at the Brenden Theatres at the Palms Casino Resort on June 18, 2005 in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Iranian Professor of mathematics Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to receive the prestigious Fields Medal for mathematics, has died on July 15, 2017 of breast cancer at the age of 40. Stanford University via European Pressphoto Agency

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Actor Nelsan Ellis arrives at the premiere of HBO's "True Blood" Season 3 at The Cinerama Dome on June 8, 2010 in Hollywood, Calif. Ellis, famous for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on "True Blood", died after complications from heart failure on July 8, 2017. He was 39. Michael Buckner, Getty Images

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Nicky Hayden of USA and Red Bull Honda World Superbike team prepares to start on the grid during the Race 2 during the FIM Superbike World Championship - Race 2 at Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 14, 2017 in Imola, Italy. Hayden died on May 22, 2017, five days after he was hit by a car while training on his bicycle. He was 35. Mirco Lazzari gp, Getty Images

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Actor Michael Nyqvist poses during a photo call for the Sky Series Night '100 Code' on March 15, 2015 in Munich, Germany. Nyqvist, known for his role in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, died of lung cancer June 27, 2017. He was 56. Joerg Koch, Getty Images

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Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, shown in a March 12, 1998 photo, who was celebrated as the father of German reunification and an architect of European integration, died on June 16, 2017 at the age of 87. Paul Vicente, AFP/Getty Images

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Stephen Furst at the The Directors Guild of America in Hollywood, Calif. Furst died on June 17, 2017 of complications from diabetes. He was 63. Justin Kahn, WireImage

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Adam West, who played Batman during the 1960s TV series, joined USA TODAY for a fun interview and photo shoot at San Diego Comic-Con in 2014. West died on June 10, 2017 after a short battle with leukemia. He was 88. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

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Frank Deford, editor and publisher of The National Sports Daily, holds a proof of the final front page of the newspaper after a news conference at the paper's offices in New York on June 12, 1991. Award-winning sports writer and commentator Frank Deford, 78, died May 28, 2017, in Key West, Fla., his family confirmed. Susan Ragan, AP

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Gregg Allman is shown during a Jan. 12, 2011, interview. Allman died on May 27, 2017, at the age of 69. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

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Philadelphia Phillies' pitcher Jim Bunning shown in a March 1966 photo. Bunning was elected to the Senate in 1998 as a senator from Kentucky. He died on May 26, 2017, at the age of 85. AP

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President Jimmy Carter shakes hands with his national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, as he presents Brzezinski with the Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony in Washington on Jan. 17, 1981. Brzezinski, the national security adviser to President Carter, has died at age 89. His death was announced on social media, May 26, 2017, by his daughter, MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski. AP

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British actor Roger Moore, playing the title role of secret service agent 007, James Bond, is shown on location in England in 1972. Moore, played Bond in seven films, more than any other actor. Roger Moore's family said May 23, 2017, that the former James Bond star has died after a short battle with cancer. AP

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Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of Fox News and chairman of FOX Television Stations, is photographed in the Fox newsroom in New York City on Sept. 29, 2006. Ailes died on May 18, 2017. He was 77. Eileen Blass, USA TODAY

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Chris Cornell of U.S. band Soundgarden during his performance at the Greenfield Openair, Interlaken, Switzerland on June 14, 2014. Audioslave and Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell died May 18, 2017, at age 52, according to Cornell's representative Brian Bumbery. GIAN EHRENZELLER, Keystone via European Pressphoto Agency

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Powers Boothe attends the "Nashville" panel at the Disney ABC TCA Day 2 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 27, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Boothe died May 14, 2017. He was 68. Todd Williamson, Invision/AP

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Erin Moran arrives at the Fox Reality Channel Really Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 24, 2008. Moran, the former child star who played Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," died April 22, 2017, at 56. Police in Harrison County, Ind., said that she was found unresponsive after authorities received a 911 call. Matt Sayles, AP

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USA-1 pilot Steven Holcomb reacts after heat 4 of men's four-man bobsleigh during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Sanki Sliding Center. Holcomb was found dead in his sleep May 6, 2017, at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

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In this May 31, 2015, file photo, Bill Paxton arrives

In this May 31, 2015, photo, Bill Paxton arrives at the Critics' Choice Television Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Paxton's death certificate states the actor died from a stroke days after surgery to replace a heart valve and repair damage to his aorta. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. He died on Feb. 25, 11 days after the surgery. Richard Shotwell, Invision/AP

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Joseph Wapner, star of television show, The People's Court, is shown Oct. 22, 1986. Wapner died Feb. 26, 2017, from respiratory failure. He was 97. AP

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Legendary singer and composer Chuck Berry, one of the pioneers of rock-and-roll, performs at a concert in Montevideo on April 15, 2013. Berry died on March 18, 2017. He was 90. Pablo Porciuncula, AFP/Getty Images

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In this March 15, 2017, file photo, Defendant Aaron

Defendant Aaron Hernandez listens during his double murder trial in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston. Massachusetts prison officials said Hernandez hanged himself in his cell and pronounced dead at a hospital early on April 19, 2017. He was 28. Pool photo by Elise Amendola

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In this April 1, 2014, file photo, the recipient of

In this April 1, 2014, photo, the recipient of the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature Derek Walcott attends a news conference in Mexico City. Walcott, known for capturing the essence of his native Caribbean and became the region's most internationally famous writer, died early on March 17, 2017, on the island of St. Lucia, according to his son, Peter. He was 87. Berenice Bautista, AP

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Norma McCorvey, left, is shown in this April 26, 1989 photo with her lawyer, Gloria Allred, in Washington D.C. McCorvey was the woman whose demand for an abortion led to the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. She was known as Jane Roe in the landmark Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. She was 70. J. Scott Applewhite, AP

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In this Nov. 2, 2004, file photo, author-columnist

In this Nov. 2, 2004, photo, author-columnist Jimmy Breslin poses for in his New York apartment. Breslin, the Pulitzer Prize-winning chronicler of wise guys and underdogs who became the brash embodiment of the old-time, street smart New Yorker, died March 19, 2017. His stepdaughter said Breslin died at his Manhattan home of complications from pneumonia. He was 86. Jim Cooper, AP

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In this Sept. 4, 2015 photo, legendary drummer Clyde Stubblefield plays a set on the drums at Sosonic studio before a performance to raise money for a scholarship fund established in his name in Madison, Wis. Stubblefield, a drummer for James Brown who created one of the most widely sampled drum breaks ever, died Feb. 18, 2017, at age 73. His wife, Jody Hannon, told The Associated Press that Stubblefield died of kidney failure at a Madison, Wis., hospital. Amber Arnold, Wisconsin State Journal via AP

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In this Aug. 6, 2011 photo, J. Geils, left, and Peter Wolf of J.Geils Band perform at the Fleet Boston Pavilion in Boston. Musician J. Geils, founder of The J. Geils Band known for such peppy early 80s pop hits as 'Love Stinks,' ''Freeze Frame' and 'Centerfold,' died in his Massachusetts home at 71. Groton police said officers responded to Geils' home around 4 p.m. April 11, 2017, for a well-being check and found him unresponsive. Faith Ninivaggi, The Boston Herald via AP

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In this Sept. 13, 2016, file photo, Jonathan Demme,

In this Sept. 13, 2016, photo, Jonathan Demme, director of the concert film 'Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids,' appears at the premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto. Demme died, April 26, 2017, of complications from esophageal cancer in New York. He was 73. Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP

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This is a Oct. 28, 2011 file photo of Sinn Fein's Martin

A Oct. 28, 2011 photo of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness as he waves while waiting to hear the results in the first count in the presidential election at Dublin Castle, Ireland. McGuinness, an IRA and Sinn Fein leader who became a minister of peacetime Northern Ireland, died on March 21, 2017. Peter Morrison, AP

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Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka appears at the Spooky Empire Mayhem Horror Convention at the DoubleTree Hotel on May 31, 2014, in Orlando, Fla. Snuka, a professional wrestler and actor died on Jan. 15, 2017. He was 73. Jeff Daly, Invision/AP

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A file picture dated Feb. 11, 2007 shows Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau is shown in 2007 holding his Grammy for best traditional R&B performance at the 49th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. On Feb. 12, 2017, the singer died at the age of 76. European Pressphoto Agency

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A file picture dated May 25, 2013 shows British actor

British actor John Hurt attends the press conference for 'Only Lovers Left Alive' at the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 25, 2013. Best known for his role in 'The Elephant Man,' Hurt died at the age of 77 on Jan. 27, 2017. Sebastien Nogier, European Pressphoto Agency

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A file image dated May 28, 2009 shows actress Mary

A May 28, 2009, photo shows actress Mary Tyler Moore speaking at the at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C., USA. Moore died on Jan 25, 2017. Denny Henry, European Pressphoto Agency

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American navy commander and astronaut for the upcoming Apollo 10 mission Eugene Cernan is pictured in his space suit, in1969. Cernan died on Jan. 16, 2017. He was 82. AP

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Actor Don Rickles of the film 'Mr. Warmth, The Don Rickles Project' poses in the portrait studio during AFI FEST 2007 presented by Audi held at ArcLight Cinemas on Nov. 9, 2007 in Hollywood, Calif. Rickles died on April 6, 2017. He was 90. Mark Mainz, Getty Images for AFI

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Richard Hatch is shown in a publicity photo from the original T.V. series 'Battlestar Galactica.' Hatch died on Feb. 7, 2017. He was 71. SCI FI CHANNEL

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'The Exorcist' author, William Peter Blatty, stands on what are popularly known as The Exorcist Steps in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C. in this Sept. 3, 2013 photo. Blatty died on Jan 12, 2017. He was 89. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY

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Robert Osborne, columnist and critic for the Hollywood Reporter, signs copies of '75 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards' on Nov. 4, 2003 at The Grove in Los Angeles, Calif. Osborne died on March 6, 2017. He was 84. Doug Benc, Getty Images

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Joni Sledge of Sister Sledge appears on stage at the amfAR's 23rd Cinema Against AIDS Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 19, 2016 in Cap d'Antibes, France. Sledge died on March 10, 2017. She was 60. Andreas Rentz, Getty Images

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Charlie Murphy is shown in a Nov. 2012 photo while attending at 'Eddie Murphy: One Night Only,' a celebration of Eddie's career in Beverly Hills. Murphy died on April 12, 2017. He was 57. Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP

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They made music that inspired legions of fans, left an indelible mark with their comedy, and created characters that still loom large on the pop-culture landscape.

Here is a roll call of some of the people in arts, entertainment and popular culture who died in 2017.

January

Tommy Allsup, 85. A guitarist best known for losing a coin toss that kept him off a plane that later crashed and killed rock 'n' roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson. Jan. 11. Complications from a hernia operation.

William Peter Blatty. 89. Author of "The Exorcist" who won an Oscar for his screenplay for the movie version, and went on to direct one of its sequels. Jan. 12.

Masaya Nakamura, 91. The "Father of Pac-Man" who founded the Japanese video game company behind the hit creature-gobbling game. Jan. 22.

Butch Trucks, 69. A drummer who was one of the founding members of the Southern rock legend The Allman Brothers Band. Jan. 24. Suicide.

Mary Tyler Moore, 80. The star of TV's beloved "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" whose comic realism helped revolutionize the depiction of women on the small screen. Jan. 25.

John Hurt, 77. British actor deft at playing vulnerable characters on either side of madness, from Caligula in "I, Claudius" to Winston in "1984." Jan. 27.

February

Richard Hatch, 71. Actor best remembered for playing a space pilot in TV's first "Battlestar Galactica" series. Feb. 7.

Al Jarreau, 76. A Grammy-winning jazz singer, born in Milwaukee, who transcended genres over a 50-year career. Feb. 12.

Clyde Stubblefield, 73. Versatile drummer who — a fixture in the Madison, Wis., music scene since the 1970s — created some of soul music's most widely sampled drum breaks as a drummer with James Brown. Feb. 18.

Alan Colmes, 66. The radio and television host and commentator best known as the amiable liberal foil to the hard-right Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel. Feb. 23.

Bill Paxton, 61. A prolific and charismatic actor who had memorable roles in such blockbusters as "Apollo 13" and "Titanic" as well as the low-budget thriller "One False Move" and HBO's "Big Love." Feb. 25. Complications due to surgery.

Joseph Wapner, 97. The retired Los Angeles judge who presided over "The People's Court" with steady force during the heyday of the reality courtroom show. Feb. 26.

March

Robert Osborne, 84. Hollywood journalist and historian who was a genial host on the cable channel Turner Classic Movies for more than two decades. March 6.

Robert James Waller, 77. His bestselling, bittersweet 1992 romance novel "The Bridges of Madison County" was turned into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood and later into a Broadway musical. March 10.

Joni Sledge, 60. With her sisters, she recorded the enduring dance anthem "We Are Family." March 10.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, 51. A popular author, filmmaker and speaker who brightened lives with her wide-eyed and generous spirit — and broke hearts when she wrote of being terminally ill and leaving behind her husband. March 13.

Derek Walcott, 87. Nobel Prize-winning poet and playwright whose work reflected the world of his birth, the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. March 17.

Chuck Berry, 90. He was rock 'n' roll's founding guitar hero and storyteller who defined the music's joy and rebellion in such classics as "Johnny B. Goode," ''Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Roll Over Beethoven." March 18.

Chuck Barris, 87. His game-show empire included "The Dating Game," ''The Newlywed Game" and "The Gong Show." March 21.

April

Paul O'Neill, 61. He founded the progressive metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra that was known for its spectacular holiday concerts filled with theatrics, lasers and pyrotechnics. April 5.

Don Rickles, 90. The big-mouthed, bald-headed comedian whose verbal assaults endeared him to audiences and peers and made him the grandmaster of insult comedy. April 6.

J. Geils, 71. Influential guitarist and namesake of rock's J. Geils Band. April 11.

Charlie Murphy, 57. Popular stand-up comic (and actor-comedian Eddie Murphy's older brother) who was a regular on "Chappelle's Show." April 12.

Erin Moran, 56. The former child star who played Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi." April 22. Cancer.

Jonathan Demme, 73. Oscar-winning movie director ("The Silence of the Lambs") adept everything from indie-style comedy ("Something Wild") to serious drama ("Philadelphia"). April 26.

May

Powers Boothe, 68. Actor who frequently played authority figures (sometimes sinister ones) in movies and TV from "Red Dawn" to "Nashville." May 14.

Chris Cornell, 52. A rocker who gained fame as the lead singer of the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave and was one of the leading voices of the 1990s grunge movement. May 17. Suspected suicide.

Roger Ailes, 77. He transformed TV news by creating Fox News Channel, only to be ousted at the height of his reign for alleged sexual harassment. May 18.

Reema Lagoo, 59. The Bollywood actress was the ever-smiling screen mother to some of India's top actors. May 18. Cardiac arrest.

Roger Moore, 89. The suavely insouciant star of seven James Bond films. May 23.

Patti Upton, 79. She founded the multimillion-dollar home fragrance company Aromatique thanks to a popular homemade mix of pine cones, oils and spices she concocted to help a friend's shop "smell like Christmas." May 23.

Gregg Allman, 69. A music legend whose bluesy vocals and soulful touch on the Hammond B-3 organ helped propel The Allman Brothers Band to superstardom and spawn Southern rock. May 27. Cancer.

June

Adam West, 88. His straight-faced portrayal of Batman in a campy 1960s TV series lifted the tight-clad Caped Crusader into the national consciousness. June 9.

Stephen Furst, 63. Actor-turned-director best known for one of his first roles, as the underachieving fraternity pledge Flounder in "National Lampoon's Animal House." June 17.

Carla Fendi, 79. One of the five sisters who transformed the family leather goods business into a global luxury fashion house long known for its furs. June 19.

Michael Nyqvist, 56. Actor best known as the journalist pursuing a killer in the Swedish version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and its sequels. June 27. Lung cancer.

July

Nelsan Ellis, 39. Actor who made his mark in TV's "True Blood" and "Elementary." July 8. Complications from heart failure.

Martin Landau, 89. The chameleon-like actor who gained fame as the crafty master of disguise in the 1960s TV show "Mission: Impossible," then capped a long and versatile career with an Oscar for his portrayal of aging horror star Bela Lugosi in 1994's "Ed Wood." July 15.

George Romero, 77. His classic "Night of the Living Dead" and other horror films turned zombie movies into social commentaries, spawning countless imitators, remakes and homages. July 16.

Chester Bennington, 41. The Linkin Park lead singer whose screeching vocals helped the rock-rap band become one of the most commercially successful acts in the 2000s. July 20. Apparent suicide.

John Heard, 72. Actor who played flawed figures in and out of authority, from the dad in the "Home Alone" movies to a detective on "The Sopranos." July 22.

Barbara Sinatra, 90. The fourth wife of singer Frank Sinatra and a prominent children's advocate and philanthropist who raised millions of dollars to help abused youngsters. July 25.

Sam Shepard, 73. Prolific playwright and actor, known for work reflecting hard truths about American life in both disciplines. July 27.

June Foray, 99. Voice-over actor who created some of animation's most beloved characters, from Cindy-Lou Who to Rocky the Flying Squirrel. July 27.

August

Glen Campbell, 81. The affable superstar singer of "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Wichita Lineman" whose appeal spanned country, pop, television and movies. Aug. 8.

Dick Gregory, 84. The comedian and activist — a regular on the front lines in the fight for civil rights in Milwaukee in the 1960s — who broke racial barriers and used his humor to spread messages of social justice and nutritional health. Aug. 19.

Jerry Lewis, 91. The manic, rubber-faced showman who rose to fame in a lucrative partnership with Dean Martin, settled down to become a self-conscious screen auteur and found an even greater following as the host of the annual muscular dystrophy telethons. Aug. 20.

Jay Thomas, 69. Acerbic comic and radio show host also known for his roles on TV's "Cheers" and "Murphy Brown."

Tobe Hooper, 74. The horror-movie pioneer whose low-budget sensation "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" took a buzz saw to audiences. Aug. 26.

Richard Anderson, 91. Actor best known for co-starring simultaneously in the popular 1970s television shows "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman." Aug. 31.

September

Walter Becker, 67. The guitarist, bassist and co-founder of the 1970s rock group Steely Dan, which sold more than 40 million albums and produced such hit singles as "Reelin' in the Years" and ''Rikki Don't Lose that Number." Sept. 3.

Troy Gentry, 50. One of half of the country duo Montgomery Gentry, which had a slew of hit albums and a half-dozen No. 1 country singles. Sept. 8. Killed in a helicopter crash.

Harry Dean Stanton, 91. Character whose quiet (sometimes) intensity helped him stand out in movies and TV shows from "Twin Peaks and "Repo Man" to "Pretty in Pink." Sept. 15.

Bernie Casey, 78. Versatile actor whose roles ranged from action ("Cleopatra Jones") to comedy ("Revenge of the Nerds"). Sept. 19.

Hugh M. Hefner, 91. The Playboy magazine founder who revved up the sexual revolution in the 1950s and built a multimedia empire of clubs, mansions, movies and television. Sept. 27.

Monty Hall, 96. The genial TV game show host whose long-running "Let's Make a Deal" traded on love of money and merchandise and the mystery of which door had the car behind it. Sept. 30.

October

Tom Petty, 66. An old-fashioned rock superstar and everyman who drew upon the Byrds, the Beatles and other bands he worshiped as a boy and produced new classics such as "Free Fallin,' " "Refugee" and "American Girl." Oct. 2.

Robert Guillaume, 89. Actor who gave indelible performances as Benson, the butler who became a governor on TV's "Soap" and "Benson"; the boss on "Sports Night"; and the voice of Rafiki in Disney's "The Lion king." Oct. 24.

Fats Domino, 89. The amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of New Orleans. Oct. 24.

November

John Hillerman, 84. Understated actor and voice-over artist best remembered as Higgins, the foil to Tom Selleck's Magnum on "Magnum, P.I." Nov. 9.

Nancy Zieman, 64. Longtime host of Wisconsin Public Television's "Sewing With Nancy" who taught several generations to sew through her nationally syndicated program. Nov. 14.

Malcolm Young, 64. The rhythm guitarist and guiding force behind the bawdy hard rock band AC/DC who helped create such head-banging anthems as "Highway to Hell" and "Back in Black." Nov. 18.

Della Reese, 86. Gospel singer turned actress best known for her role in the long-running inspirational TV series, "Touched by an Angel." Nov. 19.

Mel Tillis, 85. The affable country music star who wrote hits for Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs and many others, and overcame a stutter to sing on dozens of his own singles. Nov. 19.

David Cassidy, 67. The teen idol who starred in the 1970s sitcom "The Partridge Family" and sold millions of records as the musical group's lead singer. Nov. 21.

Rance Howard, 87. Veteran character actor who became a lucky charm for his director son, Ron Howard, appearing in nearly all of the latter's movies. Nov. 25.

Jim Nabors, 87. The Alabama-born comic actor who starred as TV's dim but good-hearted Southern rube Gomer Pyle and surprised audiences with his twang-free operatic singing voice. Nov. 30.

Heather North, 71. TV ("Days of Our Lives") and movie actress best known as the voice of Daphne on the "Scooby-Doo" cartoons. Nov. 30.

December

Johnny Hallyday, 74. France's biggest rock star for more than half a century and an icon who packed sports stadiums with his pumping pelvis and high-voltage tunes. Dec. 6.

Bob Givens, 99. Animator who, after getting his start with Walt Disney, joined Warner Bros. and helped develop Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, among other characters. Dec. 14.

Keely Smith, 89. Pop and jazz singer known for her solo recordings of jazz standards as well as her musical partnership with bandleader (and one-time husband) Louis Prima. Dec. 16.

Hiep Le, 46. Actress and restaurateur whose first role as the star of Oliver Stone's 1993 Vietnam drama "Heaven and Earth." Dec. 19.

Dick Enberg, 82. Sportscaster who broadcast Wimbledon, college basketball and Major League Baseball, and wrote a play about his longtime on-air partner, former Marquette coach Al McGuire. Dec. 21.

Dominic Frontiere, 86. Emmy-winning composer who wrote the themes for, among other shows, "The Outer Limits," "The Flying Nun" and "The Rat Patrol." Dec. 21.

Jerry Greenberg, 81. Film editor who won an Oscar for his work on 1971's "The French Connection. Dec. 22.

Heather Menzies-Urich, 68. Actress best known for playing Louisa von Trapp in the 1965 musical "The Sound of Music. Dec. 24.

Additional information for this story was compiled from reports from USA Today, Variety and Entertainment Weekly, with added information from IMDB.com.

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The people we lost in 2017 in arts, entertainment and pop culture

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