After the slight interruption by the implosion of Sinead O’Connor’s 17 day marriage, I now return you to those we lost in 2011.
May 2011
I think I can safely say that not everyone mourned when terrorist Osama Bin Laden was killed during a U.S. attack on May 1st in his compound outside Islamabad, Pakistan. Bin Laden, who was on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List, was 54 years old.
“Our Gang” lost another member when Jackie Cooper, the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination, died on May 4. The actor made the transition from child star to adult actor and was also known for playing Perry White in the Superman films. Cooper died of natural causes at age 88.
Playwright Arthur Laurents, known for making “Gypsy” and “West Side Story” successes on Broadway, died of pneumonia on May 5th. The 93-year-old also penned the ‘70s romance film The Way We Were.
Golfer Seve Ballesteros, 54, who earned nine wins on the PGA Tour and 50 on the European Tour, died on May 7th due to complications from a brain tumor.
Plus size model and actress Mia Amber Davis died on May 10th at age 36 due to complications from knee surgery.
New York Rangers player Derek Boogaard died on May 13th at age 28. An enforcer known as the “Boogeyman,” Boogaard had been recovering from a concussion when he died of an accidental drug/alcohol overdose. An autopsy showed that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy that may have been caused by too many concussions.
Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, who was an 11-time All-Star and two times World Series champion, died of esophageal cancer on May 17th at age 74.
Sports fans continued to take a hit in May as wrestling star Randy “Macho Man” Savage died on May 20th after suffering a heart attack. Savage was 58.
Actor Jeff Conaway, known for playing Kenickie in Grease and Bobby on “Taxi,” had been plagued with health problems and substance abuse issues when he died on May 27th at age 60.
June 2011
Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who had helped many with assisted suicide over the years, died of pneumonia and a kidney ailment, on June 3rd. He live to the ripe old age of 83.
Many may not have known James Arness was the older brother of actor Peter Graves, but almost everyone remembers his iconic role as Marshal Matt Dillon on “Gunsmoke.” Arness also died on June 3rd at age 88 from natural causes.
Clarence Clemons, known as the Big Man, was a large presence on stage as the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. He also had solo success and was featured in several films. Clemons died on June 18th at age 69 due to complications from a stroke.
Ryan Dunn, age 34, was a daredevil and reality star who appeared on “Jackass” and “Viva La Bam” as well as hosting “Homewrecker” and “Proving Ground.” He died on June 20th in a car crash.
Actor Peter Falk, star of the hit series “Colombo,” died on June 24th at the age of 83. Falk, who had been suffering from both Alzheimer’s and dementia, was twice nominated for an Academy Award (for Murder, Inc. and Pocketful of Miracles).