Colin Powell, Larry King and More Luminaries We Lost to COVID-19

Larry King

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Larry King
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Colin Powell
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Colin Powell

The former secretary of state to President George W. Bush, Powell died from COVID-19 complications at age 84. He was being treated for multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells, which weakened his immune system and made him vulnerable to the coronavirus despite being fully vaccinated.

nba basketball
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Sekou Smith

The NBA sportscaster, who worked for NBA TV and NBA.com was also a father of three. He was 48 when he passed away in January of this year.

Larry King
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Larry King

The beloved broadcaster whose interview-centered show was a nightly feature on CNN did not have a cause of death revealed at the time of his passing in January of this year, but he was hospitalized for COVID-19 earlier in the month. He was 87.

Dawn Wells
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Dawn Wells

You'll likely recognize Wells as Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island," which aired from 1964 to 1967. She also starred in more than 150 TV shows, seven films, and more than 60 productions on and off Broadway. Wells died on December 30, 2020 at the age of 82.


Related: 18 Ways the Pandemic Has Changed Our Lives in 2020

United Archives / Contributor
United Archives / Contributor/ Hulton Archives

Roy Horn

The dark-haired half of the illusionist team Siegfried & Roy died of complications from coronavirus May 15, 2020. In 2003, he was mauled by a white tiger on stage and was left partially paralyzed. He was 75.

Ellis Marsalis
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Ellis Marsalis

The renowned jazz pianist and father of Brandford Marsalis died April 1, 2020. He was 85.

Terrence McNally
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Terrence McNally

The four-time Tony Award-winning playwright died March 24, 2020 at age 81. He wrote "Master Class," "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and "Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune."

John Prine
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John Prine

The beloved folk and country singer died at age 73 on April 7, 2020. His wife, Fiona Whelan Prine, was also diagnosed with COVID-19 but recovered.

Nick Cordero
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Nick Cordero

Broadway star of "Waitress" and "Rock of Ages," Nick Cordero was hospitalized over 90 days with COVID-19, but succumbed to the disease July 5, 2020. He was 41. During his hospitalization, he had one leg amputated due to complications from the virus.

Tommy DeVito
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Tommy DeVito

One of the founders of the singing group The Four Seasons, DeVito died at age 92 of complications from the coronavirus. The news was released September 22, 2020.

Tom Dempsey
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Tom Dempsey

The former NFL player died April 4, 2020 at age 73. He had been a kicker for the New Orleans Saints. He had been diagnosed with dementia in 2012.

Bruce Williamson
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Bruce Williamson

The former lead singer of The Temptations died September 6, 2020 at age 49. Williamson, who became a soul singer after leaving The Temptations in 2015, was set to perform a pay-per-view concert on September 12 of last year.

Jay Johnstone
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Jay Johnstone

The former MLB player, who played for the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Diego Padres, and the Chicago Cubs died on September 26, 2020 of complications from COVID-19. He was 74.

Wallace RoneyWallace Roney
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Wallace Roney

The jazz trumpeter and protégé of the late Miles Davis died March 31, 2020 at age 59.

Herman Cain
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Herman Cain

The 2012 Republican presidential candidate died about a month after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-2020. He was 74.

Tom Seaver
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Tom Seaver

The famed New York Mets pitcher died of complications from Lewy Body Dementia and COVID-19 on August 31, 2020. He was 74. 

Adam Schlesinger
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Adam Schlesinger

The Fountains of Wayne singer, who had won Emmy and Grammy awards for his work, died at age 52 on April 1, 2020.

Floyd Cardoz
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Floyd Cardoz

The winner of the third season of "Top Chef Masters" died at age 59 on March 25, 2020. 

Yogi the Bear
Amazon

Julie Bennett

The voice of Cindy Bear in "The Yogi Bear Show" cartoons, Bennett died in Los Angeles on March 31, 2020. She was 88.

Mark Blum
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Mark Blum

The character actor and "Desperately Seeking Susan" star died on March 26, 2020 of coronavirus complications. He was 69.

Sergio Rossi
Sergio Rossi by Fábio Padinha (CC BY-SA)

Sergio Rossi

The Italian luxury footwear designer died in Cesena, Italy on April 3, 2020. He was 84.

CBS News
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Maria Mercader

The reporter and talent director worked for CBS News for over 30 years. According to CBS, she had fought cancer and other illnesses for 20 years. She died March 29, 2020 at the age of 54.

Bucky Pizzarelli
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Bucky Pizzarelli

The jazz guitarist and former band member for the "Tonight Show" orchestra died at age 94 on April 1, 2020. 

Joe Diffie
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Joe Diffie

The Grammy-winning country singer of "John Deere Green" was 61. He died of the coronavirus on March 29, 2020 just two days after he announced on Facebook that he had tested positive.

Denver Broncos, Sports Authority Field at Mile High
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Orlando McDaniel

The former player for the Denver Broncos died March 27, 2020. He was 59.

Ken Shimura
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Ken Shimura

Known as the Robin Williams of Japan, the comedian died March 30, 2020 at age 70. Prior to the Olympics being rescheduled, he was scheduled to carry the Olympic torch to represent the Tokyo suburb Higashimurayama.

 Tim Brooke-Taylor
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Tim Brooke-Taylor

The British comedian, who played a scientist in "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," died April 12, 2020 at age 79. 

Alan Merrill
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Brandis Kemp
Joan Adlen Photography / Contributor/ Hulton Archive

Brandis Kemp

The actress known for her role on "Fridays" and "AfterMASH" (on the left in the photo above) died of brain cancer and COVID-19 at age 74. She died July 4, 2020. 

Frederick Thomas
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Patricia Bosworth
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Patricia Bosworth

The celebrity biographer, who wrote books about Marlon Brando and Jane Fonda, died April 2, 2020. She was 86. She was working on a new book about the concert pianist and actor Paul Robeson.

Chris Trousdale
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Chris Trousdale

A member of the late-'90s boy band Dream Street, died at age 34 of COVID-19. He died on June 2, 2020.

Anne Glenn
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Anne Glenn

The widow of astronaut John Glenn and an advocate for those with speech disorders, Anne Glenn died May 19, 2020. She was 100.

Benedict Chijioke
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Benedict Chijioke

The Nigerian-born British rapper who went by the name Ty died in the U.K. at age 47. He died of complications from the coronavirus May 7, 2020.

Jay Benedict
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YES it's Shark Week
YES it's Shark Week by Richard Elzey (CC BY-NC-ND)

Lee Fierro

An actress best known for her role in 1975's "Jaws" (she played Mrs. Kintner, who slaps Chief Brody after her son is killed by the shark) died April 5, 2020. She was 91 and resided in an assisted-living home.