Jane Kenney

It seems as though each year gets a little tougher than the last. This is because over the last few years, there have been a number of celebrity icons who have passed away. Whether it was expected or untimely, it does not prepare the world for the initial shock of the news reports and obituaries that flood the Internet. 2018 is no different. We have lost several icons this year and it has not been easy. Many of these stars were young and old, healthy and unhealthy. It may have been their time to pass on, but we will never forget the impact they've all made on millions of people throughout their lifetime. Penny Marshall Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Penny Marshall was best-known for her role as Laverne DeFazio in the 70s sitcom Laverne & Shirley. She died at age 75 on December 17th from complications of diabetes. Nancy Wilson Wikipedia Nancy Wilson was an iconic jazz vocalist and 3x Grammy Award winner. She died on December 13th at the age of 81 from complications of kidney cancer. Ken Berry Wikimedia Commons Ken Berry was best-known for his roles on F Troop and Mayberry R.F.D. He died on December 1st at age 85. A cause of death has not been disclosed. Roy Clark Wikimedia Commons Roy Clark died at 85 years old on November 15th from complications of pneumonia. He was best-known for hosting the country variety show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1997. Katherine MacGregor NBC Katherine MacGregor was best-known for playing the role of the matriarch on the television series Little House on the Prairie. She died on November 13th at 93 years old from an unknown cause. Stan Lee Wikimedia Commons Stan Lee was the Marvel Comic's legend and creator of many superheroes we've all come to know and love. He died at age 95 on November 12th. It is stated on his death certificate that the cause of death was cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and congestive heart failure as underlying causes, in addition to suffering aspiration pneumonia. Marty Balin Relix Marty Balin was the co-founder of psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane. Balin had been dealing with some health issues in recent years, yet the cause of death is currently unknown. He was 76 years old. Frank Parker TVLine Frank Parker was best-known for his role in Days of Our Lives as Grandpa Shawn Brady. He died from complications of Parkinson's Disease at the age of 79. Bill Daily Peeping Moon Bill Daily was best-known for his breakout role in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. He died at the age of 91 from natural causes. Burt Reynolds HotNewHipHop Burt Reynolds was known for being a 70s heartthrob and an absolute legend in the film industry. He was 82 years old when he died of a heart attack this year. John McCain Wikimedia Commons Republican politician and U.S. Senator of Arizona, John McCain passed away at the age of 81 on August 25th, 2018. He died shortly after it was announced he would stop treatment for brain cancer specifically an aggressive glioblastoma. Neil Simon Wikimedia Commons Neil Simon, author, playwright, and screenwriter died at the age of 91 on the morning of August 26th, 2018. Prior to his death, he had been fighting kidney failure, in addition to Alzheimer’s and dementia. Ed King Wikimedia Commons Ed King, the former guitarist of the band Lynard Skynard, died at the age of 68 on August 22, 2018. The official cause of King’s death has not been announced at this time Stefán Karl Stefánsson Instagram Stefán Karl Stefánsson was most known for his role in children's TV show LazyTown. He passed away on August 21st, 2018 after a two-year battle with bile duct cancer. He was 43. Barbara Harris Instagram Barbara Harris was well-known for her role in the 1976 film Freaky Friday. She died on August 21st, 2018 at the age of 83 after a battle with lung cancer. Click NEXT to Continue Reading... Aretha Franklin Wikimedia Commons Aretha Franklin's death shook the world as reports surfaced she had passed away at the age of 76. She died on August 16th, 2018 from a number of health complications that had rapidly worsened over the years, including pancreatic cancer. Jill Janus Wikimedia Commons Jill Janus, the lead singer of the rock band Huntress, sadly died by suicide on August 14th, 2018. She was 43. Morgana King Wikimedia Commons Morgana King died on March 22nd, 2018, but reports of her passing did not surface until August 14th, 2018. The actress died from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 87. Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart Instagram Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart's death was announced on August 13th, 2018. He was 63 years old and the cause of death was due to a head injury when he fell at his home. Click NEXT to Continue Reading... Joel Robuchon Instagram Joel Robuchon died at age 73 on August 6th, 2018 from cancer. He was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor over a year prior. Charlotte Rae Wikimedia Commons The Diff’rent Strokes and The Facts of Life actress died on August 5th, 2018 at the age of 92. She was diagnosed with bone cancer in April of 2017. Jessica Vogel Instagram Jessica Vogel, a professional chef who starred on Hell’s Kitchen and Cutthroat Kitchen, died at the age of 34 on July 30th, 2018. She was being treated for inflammatory bowel disease when her heart just gave out. Brian Lawler Wikipedia Brian Lawler was found hanging in his prison cell in the Hardeman County Jail on July 29th, 2018. He was 46 years old. Click NEXT to Continue Reading... Nicholas 'Duffy' Fudge Instagram Nicholas 'Duffy' Fudge was a cast member on National Geographic Channel’s Wicked Tuna. He was 28 when he died on July 22nd. No official cause of death was released. Elmarie Wendel Instagram Elmarie Wendel was announced dead on July 21st, 2018. She was 89 years of age and no official cause of death was released. Annabelle Neilson Instagram Annabelle Neilson, an actress of Bravo’s reality show Ladies of London, died on July 12th at age 49. It was reported that she died of a heart attack. Tab Hunter kate gabrielle / Flickr Tab Hunter died of cardiac arrest on July 8th, 2018 at the age of 86. He is remembered most for being a natural Hollywood heartthrob. Click NEXT to Continue Reading... Richard Swift Wikimedia Commons Richard Swift, a member of The Black Keys, passed away on July 3rd, 2018. He was 41 years old and the cause of death was reported to be hepatitis and other health complications relating to his alcohol addiction. Alan Longmuir View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trina Minnich (@trina70) Alan Longmuir died on July 2nd and he was 70 years old. His cause of death was not revealed. Joe Jackson Wikimedia / Georges Biard Joe Jackson, who was most known for being Michael Jackson's father and manager of the Jackson family, died on June 27th, 2018 at the age of 89. He had been battling terminal pancreatic cancer. Richard Harrison Wikimedia Commons Known for starring in the hit TV show Pawn Stars, Richard Harrison died on June 25th, 2018, at the age of 77. He had been battling Parkinson's disease. Vinnie Paul View this post on Instagram A post shared by _blacktoothfromhell_ (@_blacktooth_from_hell_) Famous drummer Vinne Paul, who played in bands like Pantera, Damageplan, and HELLYEAH, died at the age of 54 on June 23rd, 2018. He reportedly died of a heart attack in his sleep. Charles Krauthammer View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blaze Media (@theblazetv) Fox News commentator and conservative columnist, Charles Krauthammer, died on June 21st, 2018 at age 68. He reportedly passed away due to cancer of the small intestine. Sophie Gradon Instagram Sophie Gradon, who starred on the British reality dating show Love Island was reported dead on June 20th, 2018. She was 32. Her death was ruled a suicide. Leon White Wikimedia Commons Leon White was known as Big Van Vader, or just Vader, to his fans. He passed away on June 18th, 2018 of heart failure. He was 63. Georgann Johnson Instagram Georgann Johnson, who was best known for her roles on TV and on Broadway, died at the age of 91 on June 4th, 2018. There was no official cause of death released. D.J. Fontana Wikimedia Commons D.J. Fontana, who was best known for being Elvis Presley's drummer, died on June 13th, 2018 at the age of 87. He passed away in his sleep after being in poor health after a hip fracture. Jackson Odell Instagram Jackson Odell, best known for starring on ABC's The Goldbergs, died at the young age of 20 at a sober living agency. He was found unresponsive on June 8th, 2018. Anthony Bourdain Wikimedia Commons Anthony Bourdain, an award-winning author, chef, and more, died at the age of 61 from an apparent suicide. His death was announced on June 8th, 2018. Click Next to Continue Reading Alan O'Neill Instagram Alan O'Neill, best known for acting in Sons of Anarchy, was reported dead on June 6th, 2018. He was 47. He had been dealing with coronary artery disease. Kate Spade iHeartsy-Music / Flickr Fashion designer Kate Spade was reported dead on June 5th, 2018 from an apparent suicide. She was just 55 years old. Frank Doubleday Instagram Frank Doubleday, who was best known for his role in Escape from New York, died at the age of 73 on March 3rd, 2018. His cause of death was from complications of esophageal cancer. Blake Painter Instagram Former Deadliest Catch captain Blake Painter was reported dead on May 25th, 2018. He was 38 years old. There was apparently an assortment of pills at the scene in addition to other drug paraphernalia. Tom Wolfe Wikimedia Commons Writer Tom Wolfe passed away on May 14th, 2018 at the age of 88. He had apparently been hospitalized with an infection. Margot Kidder Instagram Margot Kidder passed away on May 13th, 2018 at age 69. Her cause of death was ruled a suicide. She is best known for her role as Lois Lane in Superman: The Movie. Scott Hutchinson Wikimedia Commons Scott Hutchinson, the lead singer and guitarist for the band Frightened Rabbit, was announced dead on May 10th, 2018. He was 36 years old and his death was ruled a suicide. Click Next to Continue Reading Carlos Carvalho Instagram The filmmaker Carlos Carvalho died on May 3rd, 2018 after suffering an injury received on set by having a run-in with a giraffe. He was only 37 years old. Pamela Gidley Instagram The official announcement of Pamela Gidley's death came on April 29th, 2018. She was 52 years old and the cause of death was not officially disclosed. Verne Troyer Wikimedia Commons Verne Troyer died at the age of 49 due to an apparent alcohol poisoning. The statement on his death was released on April 21st, 2018. Avicii Wikimedia Commons Avicii, Swedish deejay, died on April 20th, 2018 at 28 years old. His death was ruled a suicide. Bruno Sammartino Instagram Bruno Sammartino, a WWE wrestler, died on April 18th, 2018 at age 82. He was dealing with multiple organ failure due to heart issues. Click Next to Continue Reading Barbara Bush Wikimedia Commons Former first lady Barbara Bush passed away on April 17th, 2018 at the age of 92. She had been undergoing a series of hospitalizations over the years, and soon announced she would no longer be continuing medical treatment. Harry Anderson Instagram Harry Anderson died on April 16th, 2018 at the age of 65. Reports have said that Anderson suffered a stroke. Matthew Mellon Wikipedia Matthew Mellon passed away at a rehab facility on April 16th, 2018. He was 53 years old. He apparently suffered a heart attack after consuming a hallucinogenic drink. R. Lee Ermey Instagram R. Lee Ermey died on April 15th, 2018 from complications of pneumonia. He was 74 years old. Yvonne Staples Instagram Yvonne Staples was a member of the gospel group, the Staple Singers. She died on April 10th, 2018 following a battle with colon cancer. She was 80 years old. Susan Anspach Wikimedia Commons Susan Anspach died on April 2nd, 2018 at the age of 75. The cause of death was a coronary failure. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Instagram Winnie Madikizela-Mandela died on April 2nd, 2018 after a long illness at the age of 81. Steven Bocho Wikimedia Commons Steven Bocho died after battling leukemia on April 1st, 2018, at the age of 74. Click Next to Continue Reading Stephen Hawking Wikimedia Commons Stephen Hawking died on March 14th, 2018 at the age of 76. He passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease. Hubert De Givenchy Wikipedia The designer of Givenchy died in his sleep at the age of 91 on March 10th, 2018. Emma Chambers Instagram Emma Chambers died on February 21st, 2018 at the age of 53. It was reported that she died of natural causes. Nanette Fabray Wikimedia Commons Nanette Fabray died on February 22nd, 2018 at the age of 97 of natural causes. Billy Graham Wikimedia Commons Billy Graham, an influential Baptist preacher, died on February 21st, 2018 at the age of 99. He had been treated for cancer, pneumonia, and other ailments in recent years. He was also diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1989. Daryle Singletary Instagram Daryle Singletary died on February 12th, 2018 at his home at the age of 46. A cause of death has not been released. Vic Damone Wikimedia Commons Vic Damone died on February 11th, 2018 at the age of 89. He had been battling a respiratory disease. John Gavin Wikimedia Commons John Gavin died on February 9th, 2018 at the age of 86. He died from complications of pneumonia. John Perry Barlow Wikimedia Commons John Perry Barlow, a lyricist for the Grateful Dead, died on February 7th, 2018. He was 70 years old when he died in his sleep. Mickey Jones Instagram Mickey Jones died on February 7th, 2018 at the age of 76. Reports say that he died after a long illness. John Mahoney Instagram John Mahoney died on January 4th, 2018 at the age of 77. He apparently had head and neck cancer. Dennis Edwards Wikimedia Commons Dennis Edwards of the Temptations died on February 2nd, 2018 at the age of 74. He apparently was battling meningitis. Click Next to Continue Reading Mark E. Smith Wikipedia Mark E. Smith of English post-punk band The Fall died on January 24th, 2018. He was 60 years old. He died after a battle with lung cancer. Olivia Cole Wikimedia Commons Olivia Cole died on January 19th, 2018 at the age of 75 from a heart attack. Joel Taylor Instagram Joel Taylor (pictured in the red shirt), who starred on Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers, died on January 23rd, 2018 at the age of 38. It was revealed that the cause of death was a drug overdose. Hugh Masekela Wikimedia Commons Hugh Masekela died on January 23rd, 2018 at the age of 78 after a battle with prostate cancer. Simon Shelton Barnes Instagram Simon Shelton Barnes, best known for being the original actor of Tinky Winky on the Teletubbies TV show, died on January 17th, 2018 at the age of 52. He apparently died from hypothermia. Connie Sawyer Instagram Connie Sawyer died at the age of 105 on January 21st, 2018 of a heart attack. Naomi Parker Fraley Instagram Naomi Parker Fraley, best known for her role as the iconic Rosie the Riveter during World War II, died at the age of 96 on January 20th, 2018. She had been battling cancer. Jerry Van Dyke Instagram Jerry Van Dyke died at the age of 86 on January 19th, 2018. His health had been deteriorating over the years after a car accident back in 2015. Click Next to Continue Reading Dolores O'riordan Instagram Dolores O'riordan died on January 15th, 2018. She was 46 and the cause of death has not yet been released. Bobby Zarin Instagram Bobby Zarin, the husband of Jill Zarin of Real Housewives of New York City, died on January 13th, 2018 after a battle with cancer. Eddie Clarke Instagram Eddie Clarke died at the age of 67 on January 10th, 2018 of pneumonia. Rayya Elias Instagram Rayya Elias died on January 4th, 2018 following a battle with pancreatic and liver cancer. She was 58 years old. Please SHARE this article to honor the legacy of these 75 beautiful men and women who have passed. May they all rest in peace.