Who died in 2023? The most memorable deaths of the year
On a November afternoon in the tiny town of Plains, Georgia, former first daughter Amy Carter, now a 56-year-old woman who has kept a low profile for decades, reluctantly approached the microphone at the funeral of her mother, 96-year-old Rosalynn Carter .
I chose something that is hard to read without tears," she said. "My mom spent most of her life loving my dad."
She then unfolded a letter Jimmy Carter wrote to his wife 75 years ago when he was in the Navy. Unable to speak, the 99-year-old former president listened to her from a hospital bed brought into the crowded church.
"My dear," the letter began.
The televised service and VIP-filled pews - three presidents, all five living first ladies - were familiar and somber, but also marked a brief return to normalcy in today's chaotic culture of angry memes and digital cynicism. Death and memory do that.
This year's annual "Passage," compiled by USA TODAY from the most notable deaths of 2023, is about life-long losses. The accomplishments of those who came before, the true "authorities" of their time, can be measured by their impact on our culture, our nation and, most importantly, the lives of those around them. Those who have gone leave lessons and sometimes evoke smiles amidst the tears.
It's hard not to smile at the hyper-energetic joy of 83-year-old singer Tina Turner , who has never done anything "nice and easy" and has influenced everyone from Janis Joplin to Beyoncé. "You paved the way," recalled Beyoncé, who performed "Proud Mary" with Turner at the 2008 Grammy Awards. "You are strength and resilience."
Against the trends, singer Tony Bennett , a 96-year-old from Queens, shortened his name to Benedetto because it had too many syllables. Through rock, disco and rap, he never gave up on the Great American Songbook. "For my money, the best singer in the business," his rival Frank Sinatra once said.
Testing cultural boundaries was TV producer Norman Lear , 101, whose socially conscious comedies such as All in the Family, Maude and The Jeffersons have raised issues such as racism, gay rights and abortion in prime time. According to Lear, "You can get away with it if you hang in there and the ratings are good." And so it was.
The long career of singer and actor Harry Belafonte , 96, was marked by music and activism. "He lived a good life," said former U.S. President Barack Obama. "He transformed the arts and championed civil rights at the same time."
Others, such as 93-year-old television evangelist Pat Robertson , have divided the nation. A self-described "happy warrior," he has been criticized for relentlessly attacking homosexuals, Democrats and Social Security. Nevertheless, according to Christian activist Ralph Reed, "he changed the Republican Party, and with it, American politics."
The architect of U.S. foreign policy for much of the 20th century, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger , 100, who opened the way to China for President Richard Nixon and helped launch and end the Vietnam War, also found himself in controversy. He won the Nobel Peace Prize, though some denounced him as a war criminal.
And then there were the deaths that just shocked everyone, like the lovable "Friends" actor Matthew Perry , 54, who drowned in his hot tub. "It hurt deeply," said his former movie colleague Jennifer Aniston. "Rest up, little brother. You always made my day."
Few people knew that 61-year-old actor Andre Braugher , the popular star of the TV series "Homicide" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," was battling lung cancer before his death in December. "This is an outstanding actor, but even more profound is the passing of a warm and kind soul," said producer Shonda Rhimes.
Lance Reddick, 60, the popular star of the TV series "The Wire" and the John Wick movies, has died of a stroke. "A man of tremendous strength and grace," actor Wendell Pierce recalled. "The epitome of class."
The loss of 76-year-old singer Jimmy Buffett , a victim of cancer, was unexpected. Rooted in calypso and dipping his feet into middle-class vacation dreams, Buffett knew it was always 5 o'clock in Margaritaville. His parrot fans were as reliable as Deadheads or Swifties, and they were all looking for a "lost strawman."
Since 42% of Americans born after 1980, according to the U.S. Census, are Millennials and subsequent generations, some of those who are gone may just be names from the 20th century, if those generations remember them at all. But all of these people, for good or ill, shaped what was to come in the future.
Newsmakers who have made a difference in the world
The dead include the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor , 93, a conservative who voted on social issues such as abortion and affirmative action; Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90; global civil rights activist Randall Robinson, 81; military analyst Daniel Ellsberg, 92, who published secret Pentagon documents on Vietnam; Bill Ellsberg, 92. Dianne Feinstein , 90, of California; global civil rights activist Randall Robinson , 81; military analyst Daniel Ellsberg , 92, who published secret Pentagon documents on Vietnam in 1971; Bill Richardson , 75, former New Mexico governor, congressman and ambassador to the United Nations; Dr. Susan Love , 75, a surgeon and breast cancer research advocate; and former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Newton Minow , 97, who called television "a vast wasteland."
Patricia Schroeder , 82, Colorado's first female member of Congress, ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988; Kevin Phillips , 82, helped develop the "Southern Strategy" for Republicans in the 1970s; Roslyn Pope , 84, wrote "A Call for Human Rights" in 1960, which helped advance the civil rights movement; Maria Martin , 72, was a radio pioneer and founder of Latino USA; and Samuel Wurzelbacher , 49, known as "Joe the Plumber," became a favorite of conservatives in the 2008 presidential campaign.
They were the entertainment of our lives.
Among the lost actors was 82-year-old Ryan O'Neal , star of such hit movies as "Love Story," which brought moviegoers to tears in 1970. "A huge part of my success was due to his generosity as my co-star," said Ali McGraw. "We remained lifelong friends."
Oscar winner Alan Arkin , 89, has been a reliable character actor in more than 100 films, including Wait Until Dark and The In-laws; Richard Roundtree , 81, helped launch black action movies with 1971's Shaft; Italian film icon Gina Lollobrigida , 95, has been called "the most beautiful woman in the world." In America, Raquel Welch , 82, softened her sex symbol image with comic roles; Israeli actor Topol , 87, starred in the Broadway and film versions of "Fiddler on the Roof"; and two-time Oscar winner Glenda Jackson , 87, became a member of the British Parliament. "The greatest actor this country has ever produced," said Jonathan Pryce of England.
Remembered from "Rocky" are actors Burt Young , 83; David McCallum , 90, the stylish superspy in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." Piper Laurie , 91, whose films included "Hustler" and "Carrie"; Stella Stevens , 84, who made it to the surface in "The Poseidon Adventure"; Melinda Dillon , 83, who starred in "A Christmas Story" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Lisa Loring , 64, who played the sardonic daughter Wednesday on "The Addams Family"; and Phyllis Coates , 96, who played the bold Lois Lane in the first season of TV's "The Adventures of Superman."
Comedian Tom Smothers , 86, along with his brother Dick, fought CBS censors for his 1960s TV show Smothers Brothers; game show legend Bob Barker , 99, hosted "The Price Is Right" for 35 years, saying viewers "liked me so much they invited me into their homes." Paul Reubens , 70, the unforgettable child character Pee-Wee Herman; child actor Adam Rich , 54, of "Eight Is Enough"; comedian Richard Belzer , 78, who played a grumpy detective on "Law & Order: SVU"; Cindy Williams , 75, was Shirley from "Laverne & Shirley"; and fitness guru Suzanne Somers , 76, who was fired when she fought for equal pay at Three's Company.
Among the soap opera casualties: Jackie Zeman , 70, who played the role of "bad girl and heroine" on General Hospital; Ellen Holley , 92, from One Life to Live, the first black actor to star in a soap opera (the series also lost Andrea Evans , 66); Nancy Frangione , 70, from All My Children; and from Days of Our Lives, Arlene Sorkin , 67, who was also the original animated voice of Harley Quinn.
Reliable character actor Michael Lerner , 81, starred in "Elf" and "Barton Fink"; Ron Cephas Jones , 66, won an Emmy for his role in "This Is Us"; George Maharis , 94, shared weekly adventures on "Route 66"; Marlene Clark , 85, held her own in the wise and funny "Sanford and Son." Michael Gambon , 82, who played everyone from Othello to Dumbledore; comedians Pat Cooper , 93, and Mark Russell , 90; Barry Humphries , 89, who appeared as Dame Edna; and Bill Saluga , 85, remembered for his "You Can Call Me Ray" joke.
Also gone are actor Tom Wilkinson , 75, of "The Full Monty"; Las Vegas comedian Shecky Greene , 97; Mark Margolis , 83, who played a paralyzed drug lord who communicated via phone call in "Breaking Bad." tap dancers Arthur Duncan , 97, and Maurice Hines , 80; "Dancing with the Stars" judge Len Goodman , 78; Andrea Friedman , 53, an actress with Down syndrome on "Life Goes On." Robert Blake , 89, star of "Baretta," whose career collapsed after he was acquitted of murdering his wife; Angus Cloud , 25, star of the HBO series "Euphoria"; actor Sergio Calderon , 77, who memorably played a head on a stick in "Men in Black." TV evangelist Charles Stanley , 90; "Bling Empire" matriarch Anna Shaye, 62; and shock show host Jerry Springer , 79, who ended every episode with "take care of yourselves and each other."
Behind the scenes were movie mogul Walter Mirisch , 101; underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger , 96; "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection" director William Friedkin , 87; "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" screenwriter Bo Goldman , 90; director of films exploring Latino identity, Leon Ichazo , 74; children's television producer Marty Krofft , 86; and longtime "Saturday Night Live" set designer Eugene Lee , 83.
Remembered for music and much more
Guitar heroes include 78-year-old Brit Jeff Beck , who played with The Yardbirds, Rod Stewart and made classic rock feel new again; 80-year-old Robbie Robertson , who wrote Americanized music such as "The Weight" with The Band; 79-year-old Denny Laine , a founding member of the Moody Blues and a member of Paul McCartney's band Wings; 72-year-old Bernie Marsden of Whitesnake; 76-year-old George Tickner of Journey; and 73-year-old Tom Verlaine of the punk rock band Television.
Outspoken David Crosby , 81, a founding member of the Byrds and later Crosby, Stills and Nash, spent nine months in prison for drug possession and later wrote a personal advice column for Rolling Stone magazine; Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor , 56, shocked viewers by ripping apart a photo of the Pope on the Saturday Night Live show; Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot , 84; Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White , 67; George "Funky" Brown , 74, drummer for Kool & the Gang; folk singer Len Chandler , 88; and Randy Meissner , 77, of the Eagles.
Also gone are John Gosling , 75, of the Kinks; Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell , 56; Gary Rossington , 71, the last member of Lynyrd Skynyrd; Procol Harum lyricist Keith Reid , 76; and Chieftains fiddler Sean Keane , 76 ; Andy Rourke , 59, a member of the Smiths; Moon Bin, 25, star of the K-pop boy band Astro; Bobby Osborne , 91, a member of the country band Osborne Brothers; and bluegrass singer Jesse McReynolds , 93.
From the early days of rock and pop music were Huey "Piano" Smith , 89, whose song "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" defined what rock 'n' roll was; Gene Knight , 80, who recorded the song "Mr. Big Stuff"; Barrett Strong of Motown , 81, who first recorded the song "Money (That's What I Want)"; Charlie Thomas , 85, of the Drifters; Kathryn Anderson , 79, of the Marvelettes; Larry Chance , 82, of Earls, who is said to have been discovered on a street corner; Rudolph Isley , 84, and Fuzzy Haskins , 81, who channeled the doo-wop sound into Parliament-Funkadelic.
The world of jazz and improvisation has lost pianist Peter Nero , 89, who could blend jazz, classical and pop; saxophonist Wayne Shorter , 89; Astrud Gilberto , 83, the voice behind "The Girl from Ipanema"; trombonist Curtis Fowlkes , 73; pianists Ahmad Jamal , 92, and George Winston , 74; bassist Richard Davis , 93; and experimental composer Carla Bley , 87, who on NPR praised musicians who "have managed to survive without major record companies."
Also gone are classical pianist Andre Watts , 77; Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto , 71; opera sopranos Renata Scotto , 89, and Grace Bumbry , 86; postmodern choreographer Rudy Perez , 93; ballerinas Lupe Serrano , 92, and Lynn Seymour , 83; and painter Jesse Treviño , 76.
The hip-hop world lost Memphis rapper Lola Mitchell , 43, known as Gangsta Boo; Dove Shack rapper Arnez Blount , 52, known as C-Knight; David Jolicoeur , 54, of De La Soul; and Melvin "Magoo" Barcliffe , 50, who worked with Timbaland and Missy Elliott.
Backstage were such songwriters as Burt Bacharach , 94, a three-time Oscar winner whose hits include "Walk On By," "Alfie" and "The Look of Love"; Cynthia Weil , 92, who with husband Barry Mann wrote such hits as "On Broadway" and "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling." Bobby Schiffman , 94, who made Harlem's Apollo Theater a showcase for R&B; and Jerry Moss , 88, who with Herb Alpert founded A&R Records.Also gone are Bob Feldman , 83, co-writer of "Hang On Sloopy"; Chicago DJ Casper , 58, creator of "Cha Cha Slide"; Clarence Avant , 92, an adviser to many black artists; KoKo Lee , 48, a singer-songwriter from the Mandarin version of Mulan; and Seymour Stein , 80, who gave punk a home at Sire Records and signed Madonna , who later said "he changed and shaped my world."
Sports legends set the standard for new generations
In some cases, all it takes is the names of sports legends who died in 2023: Jim Brown , 87 (running back for the Cleveland Browns); Brooks Robinson , 86 (third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles); Bobby Hull , 84 (scoring leader for the Chicago Blackhawks); Bob Knight , 83 (basketball coach at Indiana); Willis Reed , 80 (two-time champion New York Knicks); Dick Butkus , 80 (fierce midfielder for the Chicago Bears).
In baseball: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Dick Groat , 92 ; New York Yankees outfielder Joe Pepitone , 82 ; Oakland A's pitcher Vida Blue , 73, and third baseman Sal Bando , 78 ; Roger Craig , 93, who pitched and managed four World Series teams ; Jesus Alou , 80, the youngest of the three Alou brothers; San Diego Padres player Nate Colbert , 76; Washington Senators player Frank Howard , 87, and New York Met player Frank Thomas , 93; Detroit defenseman Willie Hernandez , 69, who helped the Tigers to a championship in 1984; and pitcher Jean Faux , 98, of the South Bend Blue Sox of the Women's Baseball League.
The NFL mourns, among others, wide receiver Otis Taylor , 80, who won Super Bowl IV with the Kansas City Chiefs; Minnesota Vikings coach Bud Grant , 95, and quarterback Joe Kapp , 85; "The Terrible," San Francisco quarterback Dave Wilcox , 80; and New York Giants wide receiver Homer Jones , 82, the first to kick a field goal after a touchdown.
Also gone is Larry "Gator" Rivers , 73-year-old Harlem Globetrotters player, University of Louisville basketball coach Denny Crum , 86-year-old winner of two NCAA titles, two-time World Series champion and television announcer Tim McCarver , 81, college basketball announcer Billy Packer , 82, and Pittsburgh sports broadcaster Stan Savran , 76.
Other notables include Cale Yarborough , 84, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion; Ferdie Pacheco , 89, Muhammad Ali's "fight doctor" and others; professional wrestlers Antonio Inoki , 79, and "Iron Sheik" Hossein Khosrow Ali Waziri , 81; golfers Andy Bean , 70, and Don January , 93; LPGA champion Betsy Rawls , 55, 95; and race car driver Craig Breedlove , 86, the first to hit 600 mph.
Olympic history includes Ralph Boston , 83, the first to jump 27 feet in the long jump; track and field star Tori Bowie , 32; diver Pat McCormick , 92; Dick Fosbury , 76, the namesake of the "Fosbury Flop," a backward leap over a high bar; and pole vaulter Bob Richards , 97, the first athlete pictured on a Wheaties box.
They made us think, laugh and cry.
Among the authors were Cormac McCarthy , 89, whose violent images appear in No Country for Old Men and The Road; dystopian crime writer Anne Perry , 84; Martin Amis , 73, who showed the excesses of modern life; romance writer Julie Garwood , 78; Carol Higgins Clark , 66; Louise Meriweather , 100, who wrote about her childhood in Harlem; Milan Kundera , 94, who wrote "The Unbearable Lightness of Being"; and Harold Kushner , 88, a rabbi who wrote "When Bad Things Happen to Good People."
Robert Gottlieb, 92, who has edited books by Toni Morrison, John le Carré and Robert Caro; James Hoge , 87, editor of Foreign Affairs magazine; Betty Rollin , 87, whose book "First You Cry" chronicles her battle with breast cancer; Mimi Sheraton , 97, the first female food critic for The New York Times; Heather Armstrong , 47, known as the "queen of mommy bloggers"; and feminism advocate Linda Hirschman , 79, who argued that "the real glass ceiling for women is at home."" Humorist Dan Greenburg , 87, wrote the best-selling book "How to Be a Jewish Mother" in 1964; Jan Falconer , 63, created the children's heroine Olivia; Mary Ann Hoberman , 92, wrote rhyming children's books; designers Mary Quant , 93, and Jane Birkin , 76; Tatiana Patitz , 56, one of the first supermodels; and photojournalist Kwame Brathwaite , 85, helped popularize "Black is Beautiful."
Gone are New Yorker illustrator Bruce McCall , 87, whose covers evoked the whimsical cityscapes of the 1940s; Roger Castel , 92, who terrified moviegoers with his shark poster for Jaws; Marvel artist John Romita , 93, who brought love and tragedy to Spider-Man; and cartoonist Al Jaffe , 102, known for "Mad Faulds" in MAD magazine, who, in his 90s, hasn't moved to a computer: "I still like the feel of ink on paper."
Making money and building a future
Japanese Shoichiro Toyoda , 97, saw Toyota take over the American auto market; billionaire philanthropist Leon Levine , 85, was the founder of Family Dollar; takeover investor Sam Zell , 81, was the self-proclaimed "chairman of everything, CEO of nothing."
The company lost Adobe co-founder John Warnock , 82, and Intel co-founder Gordon Moore , 94.
Graphic designer Berkey Belser , 76, created the ubiquitous nutrition label, hailed by Consumer Reports president Rhoda Karpatkin , 93; Hedda Kleinfeld Schachter , 99, ran Kleinfeld 's, the nation's largest retailer for brides, with her husband; Marianne Mantell , 93, was an audiobook developer; and Nobel laureate John B . was involved in creating the electric future . Goodenough , 100, who helped develop lithium batteries.
Finally, at the end of a tumultuous 1968, Frank Borman , who died last month at age 95, orbited the moon for the first time on Christmas Eve with two other Apollo 8 astronauts. Earth was blue marble in space, and they took turns reading Genesis to millions of radio listeners. Bormann summarized it this way:
"And from the crew of Apollo 8, we wish you good night, good luck, Merry Christmas, and may God bless you all - all of you who live on the good Earth."