Stars we've lost in 2020

Dawn Wells, who famously played Mary Ann Summers on "Gilligan's Island," died of COVID-19-related causes on December 30. She was 82. (CBS via Getty Images)

Nick McGlashan, known as a deck boss on Discovery’s "Deadliest Catch," died in December at age 33. (Discovery)

Tony Rice, known as one of the leading bluegrass music legends of the 1970s, died on Christmas Day at age 69. (Stephen A. Ide/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Pro wrestling star Jon Huber, known as Brodie Lee in All Elite Wrestling and Luke Harper in WWE, died in December at age 41. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

"Club Kid Killer" Michael Alig — the famously flamboyant party promoter who ended up busted for murder — was found dead in his New York City home in December. (Getty Images)

John "Ecstacy" Fletcher of Whodini died at age 56 in December. (Donna Ward/Getty Images)

Leslie West, guitarist and vocalist for pioneering hard rock band Mountain, died in December at age 75 due to cardiac arrest. (Bill Tompkins/Getty Images)

K.T. Oslin, known for country hits like "Do Ya'" and "80's Ladies," died at age 78 in December. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, File)

Jeremy Bulloch, the actor best known as the original Boba Fett in the "Star Wars" franchise, died at age 75 in December. (John Phillips/Getty Images)

Ann Reinking, known for her Tony-winning work on Broadway, died in December at age 71. (Getty Images)

Carol Sutton, the actress best known for her roles in "Steel Magnolias" and the TV series "Queen Sugar," died at age 76 due to complications from the coronavirus. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

Country music legend Charley Pride, who amassed more than 50 Top 10 hits between 1967 and 1987, and won several Grammy Awards, died in December at age 86 due to complications from COVID-19. (Getty Images)

Barbara Windsor, the British actress whose career in acting spanned seven decades and ranged from cheeky comedies to the soap opera "EastEnders," died in December at age 83. (AP)

Tommy "Tiny" Lister, the heavily muscled actor and former professional wrestler, died in December after being found unconscious in a California home at age 62. (AP)

Actress and comedian Natalie Desselle Reid died in December at age 53. (Getty Images)

David Lander, known best for his role as Squiggy on "Laverne & Shirley," died at the age of 73. (Getty Images)

Warren Berlinger, an actor known for his roles in "Happy Days" and "The Cannonball Run," died in December at age 83.  (Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

Hugh Keays-Byrne, best known for his dual roles in the "Mad Max" franchise, died at age 73 in December. (Getty Images)

Abby Dalton, an actress known for her roles in the sitcom "Hennesey" and the drama "Falcon Crest," died at age 88 in November after a long battle with an undisclosed illness. (Mark Sullivan/WireImage)

David Prowse, the actor and bodybuilder who filled out Darth Vader’s tall frame in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, died in November at age 85. (THIERRY ZOCCOLAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Country singer Hal Ketchum, known for hits like "Long Haired Country Boy," died in November at age 67 due to complications stemming from dementia. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

Lynn Kellogg, who starred in the original 1968 Broadway production of the musical "Hair," died Nov. 12, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was 77. (Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

Ben Watkins, a former competitor on "MasterChef Junior," died in November at age 14 after battling a rare illness known as Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma. (FOX Entertainment)

Broadway star Lawrence Clayton, best known for his role in the 2015 revival of "The Color Purple," died on Nov. 2 at age 64 after a two-year battle with glioblastoma cancer. (Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic)

Rapper Mo3, whose real name was Melvin A. Noble, died at age 28 after a shooting on a Texas interstate (Getty Images)

Bert Belasco, known for his role in the BET series "Let’s Stay Together," died at age 38 in November after being found in a hotel room in Virginia. (Brian To/FilmMagic)

Norm Crosby, the deadpan mangler of the English language who thrived in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s as a television, nightclub and casino comedian, died in November at age 93. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

Alex Trebek, best known as the longtime host of the popular "Jeopardy!" game show, died at age 80 in November after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. (Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images)

Rapper King Von, whose real name was Dayvon Bennett, was shot and killed in early November in Atlanta at age 26. (Getty Images)

Ken Hensley, best known as the keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter for the British hard rock band Uriah Heep, died in November at age 75. (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Elsa Raven, an actress known for her roles in "Back to the Future" and "Titanic," died in November at age 91. (Angela Weiss/Getty Images)

Carol Arthur DeLuise, an actor who appeared in several Mel Brooks films and was the widow of Dom DeLuise, died in November at age 85 after an 11-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Actor Eddie Hassell, known best for his role in the 2010 Oscar-nominated film "The Kids Are All Right" and the short-lived series "Surface," died at age 30 in November after being shot in an apparent carjacking incident. (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Nate Burrell, a star from the A&E docuseries "60 Days In," died by suicide at age 33 in November. (A&E)

Nikki McKibbin, who rose to fame alongside Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini on the first season of "American Idol," died at age 42 in October after suffering a brain aneyrysm. (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

Sean Connery, the acclaimed actor who skyrocketed to fame for his iconic role as James Bond, died at age 90 in October. (Reuters)

Country music star Billy Joe Shaver, the Texas native known as the voice of "outlaw country," died in October at age 81. (Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

Jerry Jeff Walker, a country singer-songwriter known for penning the hit "Mr. Bojangles," died in October at age 78 after a battle with throat cancer. (Getty Images)

Marge Champion, a legendary actress and dancer during Hollywood’s Golden Age and Broadway stage performer, died at age 101 in October. (CBS via Getty Images)

Tony Lewis, best known as a member of the Outfield who had the hit single "Your Love," died at age 62 in October. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

Broadway and television actress Doreen Montalvo died at age 56 in October after having a stroke. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for NYCLU)

Johnny Bush, the country singer-songwriter best known for writing Willie Nelson's hit "Whiskey River," died in October at age 85 reportedly of pneumonia. (Rick Kern/WireImage for Shock Ink)

Paul Matters, former AC/DC bass guitarist, died in October. (Getty Images)

Actress Rhonda Fleming, the fiery redhead who appeared with Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Ronald Reagan and other film stars of the 1940s and 1950s, died at age 97. (AP)

Saint Dog, one of the founding members of the hip-hop group Kottonmouth Kings, died in October at age 44 after being found unresponsive at a friend’s California home. (Chelsea Lauren/WireImage)

Conchata Ferrell, known best for her role on "Two and a Half Men," died in October at age 77 following a cardiac arrest incident. (Lester Cohen/WireImage)

Actress and model Margaret Nolan, known for her role in "Goldfinger" and "A Hard Day’s Night," died on Oct. 5 at age 76. (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

TV game show host Tom Kennedy, best known as the host of "Name That Tune" and "You Don’t Say," died in October at age 93 (Getty Images)

Johnny Nash, known for his hit song "I Can See Clearly Now," died in October at age 80 of natural causes. (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

One of rock 'n' roll's singular and most gifted guitarists, Eddie Van Halen, died in October at age 65 after a lengthy battle with cancer. (Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

Actor, writer, director and producer Clark Middleton, known for his memorable roles in "Twin Peaks, "The Blacklist," "Kill Bill Vol. 2" and "Snowpiercer," died in October at age 63 as a result of West Nile virus. (Noam Galai/WireImage)

Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd died at age 70 following a shooting incident in Atlanta, Ga., in October. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

DJ Cookie Monsta -- real name Tony Cook -- best known as a popular dubstep DJ died at age 31 in October. (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

Actor Archie Lyndhurst, known for his role on the Children's British Broadcasting Corporation (CBBC) show "So Awkward," died in October at age 19. (Joe Maher/FilmMagic)

Country musician Mac Davis, known for writing enduring Elvis Presley hits like "A Little Less Conversation" and "In the Ghetto" died in September at age 78 after undergoing heart surgery. (Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)

Singer Helen Reddy, best known for her hit, "I Am Woman," died in September at age 78. (AP)

Singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam who lent his mellifluous voice to some 40,000 songs across thousands of Indian film soundtracks, died in Chennai in September at age 74 due to the coronavirus. (STRDEL/AFP via Getty Images)

Coliesa McMillian, best known for starring in "My 600-lb. Life" died in September at age 41. (TLC)

Joe Laurinaitis, better known by his wrestling persona Road Warrior Animal, died in September. He was 60. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)

Tommy DeVito, one of the four original members of the band The Four Seasons, died in September. He was 92. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Caesars)

Sylvester Stallone's mother, Jackie Stallonean, an astrologer and an early wrestling promoter who appeared on the "Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling" in the 1980s, died in her sleep at age 98 in September. (by E. Charbonneau/WireImage for MGM)

Pamela Hutchinson, a singer in the R&B group The Emotions, died at the age of 61 in September after battling an undetermined illness. (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Toots Hibbert, one of reggae's founders and most beloved stars with classics such as "Pressure Drop," "Monkey Man" and "Funky Kingston," died in September. He was 77. (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Aaron Grissom, a culinary standout who competed on season 12 of the cooking series "Top Chef," died in September after a motorcycle accident in Washington state. He was 34. (Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Stevie Lee, known for his role in the "Jackass 3D" movie, died at the age of 54 in September. (GoFundMe)

Kool & the Gang co-founder and singer, Ronald "Khalis" Bell, died in September in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was 68. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

English actress Dame Diana Rigg, known for her work in "The Avengers," "Game of Thrones" and as James Bond’s wife in "Oh Her Majesty’s Secret Service" died in September of cancer. She was 82. (Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Best-selling author Shanna Hogan died in September at age 38. (GoFundMe)

Kevin Dobson, the actor known for roles in "Kojak" and "Knots Landing" among various television and movie roles dating back to the late '60s, died in September due to "medical complications," the United Veterans Council of San Joaquin County, of which he was a member and chairman of, announced in a Facebook post. (J. Countess/WireImage)

Bruce Williamson, former lead singer of the popular Motown group The Temptations, died at age 49 in September after a battle with the coronavirus. (John Lamparski/FilmMagic)

Influencer Ethan Peters, better known as Ethanisupreme died at age 17 in September. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for American Influencer Awards)

Annie Cordy, an acclaimed Belgian singer and actress known for her work in film, TV and stage, died in September. She was 92. (YOHAN BONNET/AFP via Getty Images)

YouTube personality Lloyd Cafe Cadena died in September after being hospitalized for coronavirus. He was 26. (YouTube)

Bay City Rollers bassist Ian Mitchell died at age 62 in September after a short battle with throat cancer. (George Wilkes/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

"Britain's Got Talent" stand-up comedian Ian Royce died in September after suffering from pneumonia. He was 51. (Facebook)

Erick Morillo, a DJ and music producer best known for his 1993 hit "I Like to Move It," died at the age of 49. (Matthew Eisman/Getty Images)

Marcus Smythe, best known as the romantic lead in popular soap operas throughout the 1970s and 1980s, died Aug. 20 following a three-year battle with brain cancer. He was 70. (Legacy)

Chadwick Boseman, an actor who embodied the legendary Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown on his way to becoming the face of the venerable Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe died at age 43 in September after a secret battle with cancer. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Riley Gale, the lead singer of the metal band Power Trip, died in August at age 34. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Adult Swim)

Internet personality Landon Clifford died after suffering a brain injury. He was 19 (YouTube)

Allan Rich, a character actor who overcame being blacklisted in Hollywood and managed to star in classic films like "Serpico," "Amistad" and "Quiz Show," died in August at age 94. (George Hurrell)

Justin Townes Earle, the son of singer Steve Earle, died in August. He was 38. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Stagecoach)

Frankie Banali, a drummer for Quiet Riot and W.A.S.P., died in August after a battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He was 68. (Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)

Jack Sherman, a guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers during their debut in the 1980s, died at the age of 64 in August. (Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Chi Chi DeVayne, whose real name was Zavion Davenport and appeared in multiple seasons of "RuPaul's Drag Race," died at the age of 34 in August after revealing to her fans that she was hospitalized. (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)

Jesse Goins, a gold miner who was a familiar face on Discovery's "Gold Rush: Dave Turin's Lost Mine," died in August at age 60. (Facebook)

Ben Cross, known for starring in "Chariots of Fire" and appearing in 2009's "Star Trek," died at the age of 72 in August after battling an undisclosed illness. (Stefanie Keenan/WireImage)

Emmy-winning producer Ash Christian died in August at the age of 35 while on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Actress Linda Manz, best known for her roles in the movies "Days of Heaven" and "Out of the Blue" died in August at age 58 after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. (Caterine Milinaire/Sygma via Getty Images)

Trini Lopez, who was known for his hit "If I Had a Hammer," died in August at age 83 (eter Bischoff/Getty Images)

Raymond G. Allen, best known for his role in the popular 1970's sitcom "Sanford and Son," died in August. He was 91. (Sanford and Son)

Former WWE star James "Kamala" Harris has died at age 70 in August. (WWE)

Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association died at age 68 in August after a battle with lung cancer. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

Reni Santoni, an actor known for his role alongside Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry," died in August. He was 81. (Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

Mahlon Reyes of "Deadliest Catch" fame died at age 38 in August after suffering a heart attack. (Discovery)

Wilford Brimley, who worked his way up from movie stunt rider to an indelible character actor who brought gruff charm, and sometimes menace, to a range of films that included "Cocoon," "The Natural" and "The Firm," died in August. He was 85. (AP)

Alan Parker, a successful and sometimes surprising filmmaker whose diverse output includes "Bugsy Malone," "Midnight Express," and "Evita,"died at 76 in July after a long illness. (David M. Benett/Getty Images for Lyric Hammersmith)

Sonia Darrin, an actress from Hollywood’s golden era who is best known for appearing in the 1946 film "The Big Sleep" alongside Humphrey Bogart, died at age 96 in July. (Sonia Darrin Warner Bros The Big Sleep in WP)

Rapper and founding member of The Roots, Malik B., died at age 47 in July. (@mpozitolbertphotography)

Broadway actress Royana Black, best known for her time as the lead on the CBS sitcom "Raising Miranda," died at age 47 after a long battle with cancer in July. (YouTube)

Reality TV star Charlie Balducci, best known for documenting his wedding on the MTV series "True Life: I’m Getting Married," died in New York at age 44. (Facebook)

John Saxon, known best for playing Lt. Thompson in "A Nightmare on Elm Street," died at age 83 in July due to pneumonia. (Getty Images)

Olivia de Havilland, legendary Golden Age Hollywood star died of natural causes in July at age 104. (AP)

Regis Philbin, the iconic television personality best-known for his hosting duties on "Live!" with co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa, and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," died in July at the age of 88. (Richard Cartwright/ABC via Getty Images)

Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green died in his sleep at age 73 in July. (Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Jamie Oldaker, best known as the drummer of the country group the Tractors died in July at age 68 after a long battle with cancer. (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Annie Ross, a popular jazz singer in the 1950s before crossing over into a successful acting career, died in July. She was 89. (AP)

Demitra "Mimi" Roche of "Bad Girls Club" fame died in July at the age of 34. (Demitra 'Mimi' Roche/Facebook)

Tim Smith, the frontman of the British cult rock band Cardiacs, died in July at age 59. He was suffering from a neurological disorder called dystonia prior to his death. (Brigitte Engl/Redferns)

Phyllis Somerville, an actress with a lengthy career of roles in film, television and Broadway productions, died in July of natural causes. She was 76. (AP)

Galyn Gorg, an actress who starred in "RoboCop 2" and "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" among other film and television roles, died in July after battling cancer. (Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic)

"Glee" actress Naya Rivera has died following an accident at Lake Piru near Los Angeles, Calif. She was 33. The actress was missing for days before authorities finally uncovered her body. (Getty Images)

Grant Imahara, a longtime host of the Discovery Channel show "Mythbusters," died of a brain aneurysm in July at age 49. (Discovery Channel)

Actress Kelly Preston, who starred in movies such as "Jerry Maguire" and "Twins," died in July at age 57, her husband, John Travolta, confirmed the news in a heartfelt Instagram post at the time. (Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File)

YouTube star Nicole Thea and her unborn child died in July at age 24. (Nicole Thea/Youtube)

French Princess Hermine de Clermont-Tonnerre died in July of injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash. She was 54. (Getty Images)

Brandis Kemp, a veteran actress and comedian known for roles on the old ABC late-night show "Fridays" and the short-lived "MASH" spin-off "AfterMASH," died in July at age 76. (Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

Sebastián Athié, star of Disney Channel Latin America's "O11CE," died in July at the age of 24 of a ‘sudden heart attack,’ according to his representatives. (Disney Channel Latin America)

Country Music legend Charlie Daniels, best known for his monster 1979 hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," died in July of a hemorrhagic stroke. He was 83. (Erick Anderson)

Tony Award-nominated actor Nick Cordero, 41, died in July after a battle with the coronavirus that stretched for months. (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

Earl Cameron, a trailblazing actor known for appearing in the James Bond movie "Thunderball," died at age102 in July. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP, file)

Byron "Reckful" Bernstein, a popular Twitch streamer and "World of Warcraft" gamer, died in July of an apparent suicide. He was 31. (Twitter)

Danny Hicks, best known for his role in "Evil Dead II," died in July following a battle with cancer. He was 68. (Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

Johnny Mandel, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning songwriter of "The Shadow of Your Smile," "Emily" and the theme from "M*A*S*H," died in June. He was 94. (Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Songwriter's Hall of Fame)

Legendary actor, director and producer Carl Reiner, best known for his work on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," died in June at age 98. (Getty Images)

Linda Cristal, the fiery and humble Argentine-born actress who became a star and pioneer for minority and women performers after fleeing to the U.S. as a child, died in June. She was 89. (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Benny Mardones, the musician best known for his 1980 smash hit "Into the Night," died in June after a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 73. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Charles Webb, a lifelong non-conformist whose debut novel "The Graduate" was a deadpan satire of his college education and wealthy background adapted into the classic film of the same name died in June. He was 81. (Getty Images)

TikTok star Siya Kakkar, who rose to fame on the app for her artistic talents and dancing, died by suicide in June. She was reportedly 16. (Siya Kakkar Facebook)

Rapper Huey, best known for the track "Pop, Lock & Drop It," was fatally shot outside a home in Missouri in June. He was 32. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Joe Sinnott, the veteran comic book artist best recognized for his work with Jack Kirby on the "The Fantastic Four" in the 1960s, died in June. He was 93. (Facebook)

Longtime film producer, financier and ex-husband of Elizabeth Hurley died after falling from his Los Angeles apartment building in June. (Jason Merritt/FilmMagic)

Joel Schumacher, the Hollywood director behind two "Batman" films, as well as "The Lost Boys," "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Falling Down," died in New York City in June morning following a year-long battle with cancer. He was 80. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, File)

Rapper Tray Savage is dead after he was shot and killed in Chicago in June. He was 26. (Instagram)

Ian Holm, the legendary actor who brought Bilbo Baggins to life in "The Lord of the Rings" movies, died in June in London at age 88 due to issues related to Parkinson’s disease. (Jon Furniss/WireImage)

K-pop star Yohan, a popular member of the boy band TST, died in June at age 28. (Instagram)

Ricky Valance, whose controversial song "Tell Laura I Love Her" was briefly banned by the BBC, died in June at age 84 after a long battle with dementia. (Photo by Richi Howell/Redferns))

Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai home in June at age 34. (Prodip Guha/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Actor Mel Winkler -- known for his work alongside Denzel Washington in "Devil in a New Dress," as well as the films "Doc Hollywood" and "Coach Carter" -- died at age 78 in June. (Joe Scarnici/WireImage)

Jas Waters, known for her work writing for TV shows such as "This Is Us" and "Kidding," died by suicide in June. (Facebook)

Spanish artist Pau Dones, the lead singer of the popular rock band Jarabe de Palo, known for hits like "La Flaca," "Depende," "Agua" and "Bonito," died in Spain at age 53 in June after a battle with cancer. (Angel Manzano/Redferns)

Bonnie Pointer, known as one of the original Pointer Sisters died at age 69 in June due to cardiac arrest. (Photo courtesy of Neal Public Relations)

Steve Priest, founding member of and bassist in the British rock band The Sweet died at age 72 in June. His wife, Maureen, confirmed the news that he had pneumonia. (Photo by Dick Barnatt/Redferns)

Actress Mary Pat Gleason, known for her role in "Mom" died in June after being in hospice care with cancer for several months. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)

Chris Trousdale, who was a member of the boy band Dream Street died at age 34 in June. (Photo by Maury Phillips/WireImage)

Peggy Pope, who played a secretary in the 1980 movie "9 to 5," appeared in dozens of TV series and acted on Broadway, died in May. She was 91. Her family said Pope died May 27 in Fort Collins, CO, but did not give a cause of death. (Photo by JACKIE SNOW/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Joey Image, a former drummer for the rock band The Misfits, died in May. He was 63. The punk band’s Twitter account confirmed the death writing: ""RIP Joey Image, March 5, 1957 - June 1, 2020. Misfits drummer 78 – 79. Appears on the Misfits classic 'Horror Business' & 'Night of the Living Dead' 7-inches. Seen here on drums with the Misfits live at Irving Plaza Halloween night 1979 in NYC. #themisfits #ripjoeyimage." (Joey Image/Facebook)

Bob Kulick -- a guitarist known for performing with KISS, Lou Reed and Meat Loaf, died at age 70 in May. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic)

Actor Anthony James, who starred in the films "Unforgiven" and "In the Heat of the Night," died of cancer in May. He was 77. (Warner Bros)

Larry Kramer, the famed playwright and AIDS activist, died in May in Manhattan. He was 84. (Donald Traill/Invision/AP, File)

Richard Herd, best known for his role on "Seinfeld," died at age 87 in May. (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Japanese professional wrestler and Netflix star Hana Kimura died in May at age 22. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

Actor Hagen Mills, known for his role in "baskets," died after allegedly attempting to carry out a murder-suicide in Kentucky. He was 29. (Getty)

John Patrick Mahon, a director and actor known for his roles in "L.A. Confidential" and "Zodiac," died of natural causes in his home in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 3. He was 82. (Warner Bros.)

Former WWE pro wrestler Shad Gaspard was found dead after going missing while swimming in Los Angeles with his son in May. He was 39. (Gaspard Family)

Gregory Tyree Boyce, an actor known for appearing in "Twilight," died at age 30 in May. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images)

Ken Osmond, who was best known for his role as Eddie Haskell on the comedy series "Leave It to Beaver," died in his Los Angeles home in May at age 76. (Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

Lynn Shelton, a director known for her recent work on "Little Fires Everywhere," died at the age of 54 in May due to a "previously unidentified blood disorder." (Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)

Fred Willard, the beloved star with a long list of acting credits including "Best in Show," "The Spinal Tap" and "Everybody Loves Raymond," died of natural causes in May at age 86. (Richard Cartwright/ABC via Getty Images)

Phyllis George, the former Miss America who became a female sportscasting pioneer on CBS's "The NFL Today" and served as the first lady of Kentucky, died in May. She was 70. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)

"Trading Spaces" designer Frank Bielec died in May at age 72 one day after suffering a heart attack. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery)

Astrid Kirchherr, a German-born photographer who captured some of the earliest images of the Beatles, died in May. She was 81. (Max Scheler - K & K/Redferns)

Corey La Barrie, known for his presence on the video-sharing platform YouTube, died in May at the age of 25 after being involved in a car accident. (Corey La Barrie/Youtube)

Up and coming rapper Nick Blixky, whose real name was Nickalus Thompson, died at age 21 in New York City after a shooting in May. (Instagram)

Paul L. Vasquez, who shot to fame after a video of his emotional and awestruck reaction to seeing a double rainbow went viral in 2010, died in May at age 57. (Instagram)

Betty Wright, a Grammy-winning soul singer and songwriter known for influential hits such as "Clean Up Woman" and "Where is the Love," died at age 66 at her home in Miami in May after a battle with cancer. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Jerry Stiller, the comedian who was best known for his roles on "Seinfeld" and "The King of Queens," died of natural causes, Ben Stiller, his son, announced in May. He was 92. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff, File)

Little Richard, the rock legend best known for the hits "Tutti Frutti" and "Good Golly Miss Molly," died in May. He was 87. (Paul Morigi/WireImage)

Roy Horn, who found fame as one half of the Siegfried & Roy duo of Las Vegas-based magicians, died at age 75 in May due to complications from the coronavirus. (Getty)

Barry Farber, a longtime conservative radio host in New York City, died of natural causes in May, a day after turning 90. (AP Photo/Dan Grossi, File)

Bad Company vocalist Brian Anthony Howe died in May at age 66 after suffering from cardiac arrest at his home in Florida. (Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images for Pollstar)

Rosalind Elias, an American mezzo-soprano who created roles in a pair of Samuel Barber world premieres and made her Broadway debut at 81, died in May at age 90 due to congestive heart failure. (AP Photo/Ray Howard, File)

Dave Greenfield, the keyboardist for British punk band The Stranglers, died at age 71 in May due to complications from the coronavirus. (Getty)

Country singer and songwriter Cady Groves, known for hits like "This Little Girl" and "Oil and Water," died in May at age 30. (Facebook)

Sam Lloyd, best known for portraying lawyer Ted Buckland on the sitcom "Scrubs" died at age 56 due to complications from lung cancer in May. (Mitch Haaseth/ABC via Getty Images)

Top Indian actor Rishi Kapoor, a scion of Bollywood’s famous Kapoor family, died in April at age 67 after a battle with leukemia. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)

Irrfan Khan, an Indian actor who appeared in the Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2008 as well as many other films in India, Britain and the U.S., died in April at a Mumbai hospital. He was 53. (REUTERS/Fred Prouser)

Grammy-nominated Gospel singer Troy Sneed died in April from complications related to the coronavirus. He was 52. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

"Little Women: Atlanta" star Ashley "Minnie" Ross died in April following a hit-and-run car accident she was involved in. She was 34. (Lifetime)

Harold Reid, who sang bass for the Grammy-winning country group the Statler Brothers, died after a long battle with kidney failure in April. He was 80. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Actor Dimitri Diatchenko, who was known for his role in "Chernobyl Diaries," died at age 52 in April. (Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images)

Fred the Godson, a rapper from New York City whose real name is Fredrick Thomas, died due to complications from battling the coronavirus in April. He was 35. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Derek Jones, the guitarist who co-founded the punk-pop band Falling in Reverse, died in April at age 35.Jones served as the lead guitarist for A Smile From the Trenches before expanding to form Falling in Reverse and maintained roles with both bands until venturing out in 2010. (Getty)

Shirley Knight, a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress died of natural causes in April at age 83. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, File)

Former Playboy Playmate who won the title of Miss March in 2011, Ashley Mattingly, died in April at age 33. (John Sciulli/WireImage)

Tom Lester, a devoted evangelist who starred as friendly farmhand Eb Dawson on the ‘60s series "Green Acres," died in April at 81. (CBS via Getty Images)

Ranjit Chowdhry, best known for playing Vikram on the sitcom "The Office," died in April at 64. (Leonard Adam/WireImage)

YouTube star Steve Cash, known for popular "Talking Kitty" videos, took his own life in April at age 40. (Youtube @ Talking Kitty Cat)

Allen Daviau, an Oscar-nominated cinematographer who shot three of Steven Spielberg’s films including "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," died in April at age 77. (AP Photo/Julie Markes)

WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel, known by many as "The Fink," died at age 69 in April. (Getty)

Veteran actor Brian Dennehy, known for roles in "Rambo: First Blood," "Tommy Boy" and "To Catch A Killer," died in April at age 81. (John Lamparski/WireImage)

Danny Goldman, the actor who voiced Brainy Smurf and played the persistent medical student whose prying questions drove Gene Wilder’s irate doctor to stab his own leg with a scalpel in the opening scene of Young Frankenstein, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles from complications of two recent strokes. He was 80. ("Young Frankenstein," 20th Century Fox)

Hilary Heath, a former horror film star and producer, died in April from complications related to coronavirus. She was 74. (British Film Productions)

Timothy Brown, a former NFL running back who later appeared in both the film and TV versions of "M*A*S*H," died April 4 from complications with dementia. He was 82. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

Rapper Chyna Rogers died at age 25 in April. The musician and model whose stage name was "Chynna" died at her Philadelphia, Pa. home, her manager John Miller confirmed in a statement to Fox News. (Nicky Digital/http://NickyDigital.com/Corbis via Getty Images)

Thomas L. Miller, prolific Hollywood and Broadway producer, died in April at the age of 79 due to complications from heart disease. Miller died Sunday in Salisbury, Connecticut, from complications of heart disease, a spokeswoman for Miller’s family said Wednesday. (Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank via AP) (AP)

Comedian Vic Henley, a legendary performer within the New York comedy circuit, died in April after a pulmonary embolism. He was 57. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Actor Allen Garfield, known for his roles in films like "The Conversation," "The Candidate," "The Stunt Man" and "Nashville," died at age 80 in April due to complications from the coronavirus. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

John Prine, one of the most influential artists in folk and country music, died in April at age 73 following a battle with coronavirus, according to his family. (Getty Images)

Fox News confirmed that film and TV music producer Hal Willner died in April at 64 years old. (Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

James Drury -- the star of the Western series, "The Virginian" -- died in April of natural causes. He was 85. (Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Honor Blackman, the actress best known as Pussy Galore in the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger," died in April at age 94 due to natural causes in her southeastern England town of Lewes. (Rosie Greenway/Getty Images)

James King, who appeared on the TLC reality series "My 600-lb Life," died in a Nashville hospital on April 3 at age 49. (TLC)

Lee Fierro, the actress recognized from portraying Jeffrey Voorhees' mother Mrs. Kinter in 1975’s "Jaws," as well as its 1987 sequel, died in April due to complications form the coronavirus. She was 91. (Universal Pictures)

Forrest Compton, the actor who played Co. Edward Gray on "Gomer Pyle, USMC" and Mike Karr in "The Edge of Night," died in April. He was 94. ((Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images))

Actor Jay Benedict, known for his roles in "Aliens" and "The Dark Knight Rises," died in April at age 68 due to complications from COVID-19. (Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage)

Canadian actress and activist Shirley Douglas, known for her work alongside acclaimed directors such as Stanley Kubrick ("Lolita"), David Cronenberg ("Dead Ringers") and winning a Gemini Award for her performance in the 1999 TV film "Shadow Lake," died in April at age 86. (Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Patricia Bosworth, an actress who once starred alongside Audrey Hepburn and later wrote biographies on several stars including Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, died in April from complications of the coronavirus. She was 86. (AP Photo/Marty Reichenthal, FILE)

Logan Williams, the young face of Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen in the popular CW series "The Flash," died in April. (Instagram)

Bill Withers, known for writing and singing enduring hit songs from the 1970s such as "Lean on Me," "Lovely Day" and "Ain't No Sunshine," died from heart complications at age 81 in April. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

Julie Bennett, known as the voice of Cindy Bear in "The Yogi Bear Show," died in April at the age of 88 from coronavirus complications, her talent agent Mark Scroggs confirmed to Fox News. (Image provided by Mark Scroggs)

Emmy and Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Adam Schlesinger who was also known for his work on the TV show "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" died in April following a battle with the coronavirus. (Mireya Acierto/Getty Images)

Andrew Jack, known for his work as a dialect coach on "Lord of the Rings" and as an actor on "Star Wars," died just outside London in April from complications due to the novel coronavirus. He was 76. (Lucasfilm)

David Schramm, an actor known for his prolific work in theater as well as his role on the NBC sitcom "Wings," died in March at age 73. (Monty Brinton/NBCU Photo Bank)

Alan Merrill, known for co-writing the Joan Jett hit song "I Love Rock and Roll," died on March 29 in New York due to complications from the coronavirus. He was 69. (Neil H Kitson/Redferns)

Grammy-winning country star Joe Diffie died in March at the age of 61 following a battle with coronavirus. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM)

Jan Howard, a country icon and Grand Ole Opry member of 49 years, died in March at age 91 in Gallatin, Tenn (GAB Archive/Redferns)

John Callahan, best known for his role on "All My Children," died in March after suffering a massive stroke at his Palm Desert, Calif. Home at age 66. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

Actor Mark Blum, known for his work in theater as well as in films "Desperately Seeking Susan," "Crocodile Dundee" and the Netflix series "You," died at age 69 in March due to complications from the coronavirus. (Andrew Toth/Getty Images)

Bill Rieflin, a remarkably versatile drummer whose work over the past 30 years spanned Ministry, R.E.M., Nine Inch Nails and King Crimson, among many others, died in March after a battle with cancer, according to friends and social media posts from several artists he performed with. He was 59. (Getty)

Manu Dibango, who fused African rhythms with funk to become one of the most influential musicians in world dance music, died in March due to the coronvirus, according to his music publisher. He was 86. (AP)

Kenny Rogers, a longtime star of country music known for hits such as "The Gambler," "Lady," "Island in the Stream" and "Lucille," died in March in Shady Springs, Ga. of natural causes at age 81. (Reuters)

Stuart Whitman, the Oscar-nominated star of "The Mark," died of natural causes in Montecito, Calif. In March at age 92. (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

Lyle Waggoner, known for his work on "The Carol Burnett Show" and "Wonder Woman," died in March at the age of 84 after a lengthy battle with cancer. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)

Suzy Delair, a French actress who found fame in the ‘40s and ‘50s, died in March at age 102 in a Paris retirement home. Born Suzette Delaire in France on New Year’s Eve in 1917, the chanteuse made her mark in cabaret and music halls. (Majestic-Film/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Lorenzo Brino, former child actor known for his role on the TV series "7th Heaven" died on March 9 after being involved in a fatal car accident. (Twitter)

Acclaimed actor from 'The Exorcist' 'Star Wars' and 'Game of Thrones,' Max von Sydow, died at age 90. Representatives for the star confirmed to Fox News that he died on Sunday, March 8, 2020, but did not comment on any official cause of death. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Dodge)

Nicholas Tucci, known for starring in the cult horror film 'You’re Next,' died following a 'private' illness, his family said in March. He was 38. (Jerod Harris/WireImage)

Danny Tidwell a renowned dancer who was the runner-up of Season 3 of the reality competition series 'So You Think You Can Dance' in 2007, died at age 35 in March. (Chris Ryan/Corbis via Getty Images)

Roscoe Born, known for his roles in soap operas including "The Young and the Restless," "One Life to Live" and "Days of Our Lives," died in March at age 69. (Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

James Lipton, the revered executive producer, writer and longtime host of "Inside the Actors Studio" died on in March at his New York City home. During his time he interviewed the likes of Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn, Betty White, Ben Affleck, Al Pacino, Halle Berry, Ron Howard, Anthony Hopkins, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Faye Dunaway, just to name a few. (Reuters)

Claudette Nevins, known for roles on Broadway and in films such as "Sleeping with the Enemy," died in February at the age of 82. (Getty)

Lee Phillip Bell, the co-creator of "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful," died at age 91 of natural causes in February. (Tara Ziemba/Getty Images)

Ben Cooper, a Western film actor most famous for his role as the bandit Turkey Ralston in "Johnny Guitar" and numerous other projects for the big and small screens, died in February at age 86. (John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

David Roback, the founding member of popular bands such as Mazzy Star, Opal and Rain Parade died at age 61 in February. (Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Diana Serra Cary, the child silent film star known by the nickname Baby Peggy, died in February in Gustine, Calif. She was 101. (Jason Merritt/WireImage)

B. Smith, known for her modeling career and her television program "B. Smith With Style," died at age 70 in February after fighting early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. (AP)

Lindsey Lagestee, the lead singer and a founding member of the Midwest country band Dixie Crush, died in a car accident in February at age 25. (Facebook)

Aspiring rapper who went by the stage name of Pop Smoke was killed during a home invasion in February. He was 20. Two men whose faces were covered with masks broke in and fired off multiple gunshots according to reports. (Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images)

Four-time Tony Award winner Zoe Caldwell, who brought humanity to larger-than-life-characters, whether it be the dotty schoolteacher Miss Jean Brodie, an aging opera star Maria Callas or the murderous Medea, died in February in her Pound Ridge, N.Y. home. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File)

Ja'Net DuBois, one of the stars from the TV series "Good Times" died in February of apparent natural causes. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

Esther Scott, known for her roles in "Boyz n the Hood" and "Dreamgirls," died on Feb. 11 in Scott's Santa Monica, Calif. at age 66. (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Ann E. Todd (left), a former child star in the 1930s and ‘40s who appeared in films such as "Intermezzo" and "All This, and Heaven Too" before making her mark in sitcoms during the '50s has died on Feb. 7 at age 88. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Kellye Nakahara, who starred as Lieutenant Nurse Kellye Yamato on "M*A*S*H," died at age 72. A family source said the artist and actress passed away peacefully in February at her home in Pasadena, Calif., following a brief battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her close friends and family (Mark Sullivan/WireImage)

British music producer and DJ Andrew Weatherall, who helped bring the underground sounds of acid house to a mass audience, died at age 56 in February. (Getty)

Dr. Amie Harwick, the ex-fiancée of comic and "The Price Is Right" host Drew Carey, was found dead in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood in February. Harwick, 38, a Los Angeles family therapist, apparently plummeted from a third-floor balcony to her death. (Getty)

Jason Davis, best known as the voice of Mikey Blumberg on Disney Channel’s animated series "Recess," died in February in Los Angeles at age 35. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race To Erase MS)

The star of Disney's "Queen of Katwe" Nikita Pearl Waligwa has died at the age of 15 in February. She was reportedly diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and received an all-clear in 2017 before another tumor was discovered last year. (Disney)

Former 'Love Island' host Caroline Flack died at age 40 in February. The television host's death comes nearly two months after she decided to quit her job as host of the popular British reality show following an assault arrest in London. (AP)

Lynn Cohen, a Broadway star who also appeared in "Sex and the City," died at age 86 in February. In addition to the popular sitcom, Cohen's television credits also include roles in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Blue Bloods, "Law & Order: SVU," "Chicago Med" and more.

Daniel Lee Martin, musician and former reality show host, was found dead at age 54 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Florida home, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said in a statement to Fox News in February. (PASCO COUNTY SHERIFF)

Paula Kelly, an actress who earned Emmy nominations for roles on NBC’s 1980s sitcom "Night Court" and 1989 ABC miniseries "The Women of Brewster Place," died February 8 in Whittier, Calif., from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was 77. (Getty Images)

Jazz keyboardist Lyle Mays, whose work won nearly a dozen Grammy awards, died in Los Angeles in February at age 66. Mays had a "long battle with a recurring illness," according to musician Pat Metheny's website. (Getty)

Raphael Coleman, a child actor who starred alongside Emma Thompson in "Nanny McPhee" died at the age of 25 in February. Coleman moved on from acting to become a scientist "to save the planet." (Getty)

Robert Conrad, the rugged, contentious actor who starred in the hugely popular 1960s television series "Hawaiian Eye" and "The Wild, Wild West," died in February of heart failure. He was 84. (AP)

Orson Bean, a veteran actor known in the 1950s and 1960s for appearances on "The Twilight Zone" and other shows, then later as a panelist on TV game shows such as "To Tell the Truth," died in February in Los Angeles. He was 91. (Paul W. Bailey/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Kirk Douglas, one of the most famous American leading men of the mid-20th century remembered for his dimpled chin, chiseled features, and virile Hollywood roles, died in February at the age of 103. (AP)

Gene Reynolds, best known for co-creating the hit comedy series "M*A*S*H," died in February at age 96. "M*A*S*H" ran for 11 seasons after the success of the 1970 comedy film of the same name. The show won eight Golden Globes, 14 Emmys and a Peabody Award. (Getty)

Veteran soap opera actress Marj Dusay who played Alexandra Spaulding on "Guiding Light" for over two decades died in January at age 83. In addition to "Guiding Light," Dusay appeared in a number of soap operas, including "Days of Our Lives," "All My Children" and "Capitol." (Fernando Leon/Getty Images)

Bob Shane, the last surviving original member and lead singer of the popular folk group the Kingston Trio died at a hospice in Phoenix, Ariz. in January at age 85. (AP Photo/File)

Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest NBA players of all-time and a superstar Lakers player who transcended sports, died at 41 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. on the day of the 2020 Grammy Awards along with eight others including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

"Bachelorette" contestant Tyler Gwozdz, who was featured on Hannah Brown's season of the popular ABC dating show, has died in January at the age of 29. (ABC)

Character actor John Karlen, best known for his roles "Dark Shadows" and "Cagney & Lacey," died at age 86. The Emmy-winning actor suffered congestive heart failure at a hospice in Burbank, Calif., friend and family spokesman Jim Pierson said in January. (P Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Terry Jones, one of the comedians that made up the famed Monty Python comedy troupe, died in January at age 77 after battling dementia. (AP)

Folk singer-songwriter David Olney died in January after he suffered an apparent heart attack Saturday while performing at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. Olney was 71. (Getty)

IIt was revealed in January that veteran actress Norma Micheals, best known for her recurring role as Josephine on the hit CBS series "King of Queens" died at age 95 in Palm Springs, Calif. on Jan. 11. (Getty)

Christopher Tolkien, a son of famed author J.R.R Tolkien and preserver of his father's legacy, died at 95, the Tolkien Society revealed in January. (Tolkien Society)

The WWE confirmed in January that Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson, former WWE star and father to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, died at the age of 75. (Getty)

Actor Stan Kirsch, best known for his role as Richie Ryan on the original "Highlander" TV series, was found dead at his home in Los Angeles in January of an apparent suicide. He was 51. (NBC)

Neil Peart, the legendary drummer for the popular Canadian rock trio Rush, died in Santa Monica, Calif. in January at age 67 after battling brain cancer. (Christie Goodwin/Redferns via Getty Images)

Harry Hains, actor, musician and model -- and the son of "Mission: Impossible" star Jane Badler -- died at the age of 27. The 66-year-old confirmed the news on Instagram in January. (Getty)

Ed Byrnes, known for "Grease" and "77 Sunset Strip" died unexpectedly of natural causes in Santa Monica, Calif. in January. He was 87. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)

Alexis Eddy, known for her role on the MTV series "Are You The One?," was found dead in West Virginia in January. She was 23 years old. (MTV)

Buck Henry, the Hollywood screenwriter known for "The Graduate" and "What’s Up, Doc?" and who co-created the TV comedy series "Get Smart," died in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack in January. He was 89 years old. (Walter McBride/Getty Images)

"Ugly Betty" creator Silvio Horta's body was found in a Florida hotel room on Jan. 7. He was 45. (Getty)

Elizabeth Sellars, the Glasgow-born actress who appeared in films that starred Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart and Peter O’Toole, on TV with Laurence Olivier and onstage opposite Alec Guinness, died at her home in France on Dec. 30. She was 98. (Getty Images)

Rapper Lexii Alijai, who was featured in songs from rappers Drake, Meek Mill, Nas, Kehlani and more, died at age 21 in January. (Getty Images)

The ex-fiancé of the late Bobbi Kristina Brown, Nick Gordon, suffered a series of heart attacks after an alleged drug overdose and died at age 30 in January. (Getty Images)

Jack Sheldon, once known to America’s schoolkids as the voice behind "I’m Just a Bill," "Conjunction Junction" and other songs on "Schoolhouse Rock," and to older TV viewers as a sidekick of talk-show host Merv Griffin, died at age 88 in late December. (AP)