He challenged racial barriers in Hollywood, was a producer of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and earned a Tony nomination for “Home,” a paean to his Southern roots.
Category: Deaths (Obituaries)
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John Barbata, Turtles and C.S.N.Y. Drummer, Dies at 79
Barbata belonged to marquee bands of the late ’60s and ’70s, drumming on smash hits such as “Happy Together,” the first song he recorded with the Turtles.
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Daniel Kramer, Who Photographed Bob Dylan’s Rise, Dies at 91
For 366 days, he captured intimate images of the singer-songwriter as he changed the look and sound of the 1960s.
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David Sanborn, Saxophonist Who Defied Pigeonholing, Dies at 78
He was best known as a jazz musician, but his shimmering sound was also heard on classic albums by David Bowie, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen.
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Susan Backlinie, First Shark Attack Victim in ‘Jaws,’ Dies at 77
Ms. Backlinie, a stunt woman, appeared in the terrifying opening scene of the 1975 blockbuster in which a great white shark attacks.
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Alex Hassilev, the Last of the Original Limeliters, Dies at 91
The trio’s witty, urbane arrangements made it one of the top acts of the early-1960s folk music revival. His gift for languages helped.
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Roger Corman, Producer of Low-Budget Horror Films, Dies at 98
He had hundreds of horror, science fiction and crime films to his credit. He also helped start the careers of Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and many others.
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Jeannie Epper, Groundbreaking Stunt Double on ‘Wonder Woman,’ Dies at 83
Her first stunt was riding a horse bareback down a cliff when she was 9. She went on to soar on the hit TV series “Wonder Woman” and in many other places.
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Mary Wells Lawrence, High-Profile Advertising Pioneer, Dies at 95
She was the first woman to own and run a major national advertising agency. Her company, Wells Rich Greene, was best known for the “I ♥ NY” campaign.
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Ilon Specht, Who Empowered Women With ‘I’m Worth It’ Ad, Dies at 81
She came up with the feminist campaign, for a hair color product, when challenging the notions of men at her ad agency.
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Jim Simons, Math Genius Who Conquered Wall Street, Dies at 86
Using advanced computers, he went from M.I.T. professor to multibillionaire. His Medallion fund had 66 percent average annual returns for decades.
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Bill Holman, Whose Arrangements Shaped West Coast Jazz, Dies at 96
His economical, linear writing helped define the sound of Stan Kenton’s band. He also led his own 16-piece ensemble for many decades.