Rough year for celebrity passings

Johnny Cash, musician, died September 12 at the age of 71.

John Ritter, actor best known for tv sitcom Three's Company, died September 11 at the age of 54.

Leni Riefenstahl, director best known for Triumph of the Will, died September 8 at the age of 101.

Charles Bronson, actor best known for the Death Wish series, died August 31 at the age of 81.

Bobby Bonds, baseball star now best known as Barry Bonds father, died August 23 at the age of 57.

Idi Amin, former dictator, died August 16 at the age of 80.

Bob Hope, comedian, died July 27 at the age of 100.

John Schlesinger, director best known for Midnight Cowboy, died July 25 at the age of 77.

Buddy Ebsen, actor best known as Jed on The Beverly Hillbillies, died July 6 at the age of 95.

Barry White, singer known for his sexy songs, died July 4 at the age of 58.

Buddy Hackett, comedian, died June 30 at the age of 79.

Katharine Hepburn, actress, died June 29 at the age of 96.

Strom Thurmond, ultra conservative US politician, died June 26 at the age of 100.

Leon Uris, author best known for novels such as Exodus and Trinity, died June 21 at the age of 78.

Hume Cronyn, actor most recently known for Cocoon, died June 15 at the age of 91.

Gregory Peck, movie star best known as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, died June 12 at the age of 87.

David Brinkley, news anchorman, died June 11 at the age of 82.

June Carter Cash, country music star, died May 15 at the age of 73.

Robert Stack, actor best known for starring in TV's The Untouchables, died May 14 at the age of 84.

Robert C. Atkins, diet doctor, died April 17 at the age of 72.

Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter, archbishop emeritus of Toronto, died April 6 at the age of 91.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan, one time US senator for New York, died March 26 at the age of 76.

Joseph Coors, brewing giant, died March 16 at the age of 85.

Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers fame, died February 27 at the age of 74.

Nell Carter, known for her role in Gimme a Break, died January 23 at the age of 54.

Richard Crenna, actor known for such films as The Sand Pebbles and Wait Until Dark, died January 17 at the age of 76.

Maurice Gibb, star of the Bee Gees, died January 11 at the age of 53.

Sydney Omarr, astrologer to the stars, died January 2 at the age of 76.