Each year, we lose beloved stars, athletes, authors, and pop culture figures and 2011 was no exception. Here’s a few of those that died in 2011:
January 2011
If you are a Rocky Horror Picture Show fan, you no doubt remember the line “Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet” from Science Fiction/Double Feature, the opening ode to great sci-fi films of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Francis, who also was the star of the television show “Honey West” died on January 3 at age 80 due to complications from pancreatic cancer.
Gerry Rafferty made his name with hits such as “Baker Street,” “Right Down the Line,” and “Stuck in the Middle with You.” But the singer/songwriter suffered from alcohol addiction and was on life support for multiple organ failure in November 2010. He died on January 4 at the age of 63.
The last remaining Nelson of “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” died on January 11. David Nelson, 74, died of complications from colon cancer.
Maria Shriver’s father, Sargent Shriver died on January 18 at age 95. Shriver, married to Eunice Kennedy, helped found the Peace Corps, Job Corps, and Head Start among other government programs.
I never thought I’d see it happen, but fitness guru Jack Lalanne died this year on January 23 at age 96. The fitness dynamo was reportedly performing his daily workouts just days before his death from pneumonia.
February 2011
When I was a youngster, I was horrified by the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III. Only seven years old than me, Getty III was kidnapped and his uber-wealthy grandfather balked at paying the random. Getty’s ear was cut off to show the kidnappers were serious and his father John Jr. finally borrowed the money from his old man, with interest. Getty III suffered a drug-induced stroke when he was 25 that left him a blind quadriplegic. He died at age 54 on February 5.
Brooklyn Dodger great Duke Snider passed away on February 27 at age 84. Snider carried a lifetime batting average of .295 with 407 home runs, was selected to the All-Star team 8 times, and was a two time world champ with the Dodgers in 1955 and 1959.
Bombshell actress Jane Russell died on February 28th at age 89 of respiratory difficulties. A sex symbol of the ‘40s and ‘50s, Russell’s debut was in Howard Hughes’ The Outlaw which underwent censorship due to her revealing cleavage.