Category: dies

Mississippi State Football Coach Mike Leach Dies at 61

Gruff, pioneering and unfiltered, Mike Leach was one of the most influential football coaches of this or any generation. His boundless curiosity and fascination for people, places and things made him famous beyond the field, a unique character in sports. Leach, who was in his third year at Mississippi State after helping revolutionize the game…


Bob McGrath, ‘Sesame Street’ Legend, Dies at 90

Bob McGrath, an actor, musician and children’s author widely known for his portrayal of one of the first regular characters on the children’s show “Sesame Street” has died at the age of 90. McGrath’s passing was confirmed by his family who posted on his Facebook page on Sunday: “The McGrath family has some sad news…


Longtime Arizona GOP Rep. Jim Kolbe Dies at 80

PHOENIX—Jim Kolbe, a Republican congressman who represented a heavily Democratic region of Arizona for more than two decades, has died. He was 80. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said in a statement that Kolbe died Saturday. Ducey ordered flags lowered until sunset Sunday. Kolbe served in the Arizona Legislature before being elected in 1984 to Congress,…


US Medal of Honor Recipient Hiroshi Miyamura Dies at 97

PHOENIX, Ariz.—Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura, the son of Japanese immigrants who was awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor for holding off an attack to allow an American squad to withdraw during the Korean War, has died. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announced that Miyamura died Tuesday at his home in Phoenix. He was 97. Born…


Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 79

NEW YORK—Christine McVie, the British-born Fleetwood Mac vocalist, songwriter, and keyboard player, died Wednesday at age 79. Her death was announced on the band’s social media accounts. No cause of death or other details were immediately provided, but a family statement said she “passed away peacefully at hospital this morning” with family around her after…


Wilko Johnson, British Rocker Who Defied Cancer, Dies at 75

LONDON—Wilko Johnson, the guitarist with British blues-rock band Dr. Feelgood who had an unexpected career renaissance after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, has died. He was 75. A statement posted Wednesday on Johnson’s official social media accounts on behalf of his family said the musician died Monday evening at his home in southeast England. In…


Robert Clary, Last of the ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ Stars, Dies at 96

LOS ANGELES—Robert Clary, a French-born survivor of Nazi concentration camps during World War II who played a feisty prisoner of war in the improbable 1960s sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes,” has died. He was 96. Clary died Wednesday of natural causes at his home in the Los Angeles area, niece Brenda Hancock said Thursday. “He never let…


Man Stayed by Wife’s Side in Missouri House Fire; Both Died

NEW MELLE, Mo.—An elderly Missouri couple died in a fire when a man refused to leave his wife as their home burned and the floor that was their escape route collapsed, fire officials said. Kenneth and Phyllis Zerr, both 84, died in the fire Thursday at their home in New Melle, Missouri, about 37 miles…


Brazilian Singer Gal Costa Dies at 77

RIO DE JANEIRO—Singer Gal Costa, an icon in the Tropicalia and Brazilian popular music movements who enjoyed a nearly six-decade career, died on Wednesday. She was 77. Her death was confirmed by a press representative, who provided no further information. The soprano with wild curls of dark hair was best known for lending her unique…


Leslie Phillips, ‘Carry On’ Star, Voice of Sorting Hat, Dies

LONDON—Leslie Phillips, the British actor best known for his roles in the bawdy “Carry On” comedies and as the voice of the Sorting Hat in the “Harry Potter” movies, has died. He was 98. His agent, Jonathan Lloyd, confirmed Tuesday that Phillips died “peacefully at home” on Monday. The veteran actor made his first film…