We Last Saw Them in 2023 - Vol. III Quiz

Answer: Denny Laine

Denny Laine was born Brian Frederick Arthur Hines in 1944. In 1964, he co-founded the group the Moody Blues, playing guitar and singing vocals on many of their songs, including "Go Now" (1964). He was a member of Wings (also known as Paul McCartney and Wings) during the group's lifespan from 1971 to 1981, where he sang such songs as "Time to Hide" (1976).

He had a solo and collaboration career following 1981, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 with the Moody Blues. He died on December 5, 2023, from interstitial lung disease, at the age of 79.

Answer: Ryan O'Neal

Ryan O'Neal was born in 1941. Originally training as a boxer, he became famous as an actor following his part in the soap opera "Peyton Place" in 1964. He later starred in such hit movies as "Love Story", garnering an Academy Award nomination for his role.

He also starred in "Paper Moon" (1973), "Barry Lyndon" (1975), and "A Bridge Too Far" (1977). He was also the father of four children, including the actress Tatum O'Neal. He had a longstanding relationship with the actress Farah Fawcett. He died on December 8, 2023.

He was 82.

Answer: Norman Lear

Norman Lear was born in the United States in 1922; he is credited with having played a part in making over 100 television shows. He began with writing television scripts during the 1950s, including for "The Martin and Lewis Show". He later created shows such as "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" (a spin-off of "All in the Family"). Lear was overseeing many television shows even at the time of his death on December 5, 2023, at the age of 101.

Answer: Frank Howard

Born in 1936, Frank Howard gained many nicknames over his career, including "Hondo" and "the Washington Monument". He was first signed on by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958, and between then and 1974 he played for the Washington Senators, the Texas Rangers, the Detroit Tigers, and the Taiheiyo Club Lions.

He was an outfielder and first baseman, held a batting average of .273, and boasted 382 home runs. Following his playing career he was a coach until 1999. He was a Wold Series champion in 1963, and an All-Star 4 times between 1968 and 1971.

He died at the age of 87 on October 30, 2023, after a stroke.

Answer: Shane MacGowan

Born in 1957, Shane MacGowan was known from an early age for, unfortunately, his abuse of drugs and alcohol. He was a founding member of the Irish punk group the Pogues, with whom he wrote and sang many songs, including the Christmas song "Fairytale of New York" (1987) with Kristy MacCool, "A Pair of Brown Eyes" (1985), and "Summer in Siam" (1990).

He later led other groups including The Shane Gang, and had a solo career under the name Shane O'Hooligan. He died from pneumonia on November 30, 2023, at the age of 65.

Answer: George "Funky" Brown

George Brown, given the nickname "Funky", was a founding member of Kool & the Gang when it formed in 1964, along with Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, Ricky Westfield, and Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow.

They had such hits as "Get Down On It" (1981), "Celebration" (1980), and "Cherish" (1985). George played drums for the band until 1998, and continued with keyboards, percussion, and backing vocals all the way until 2023 when he passed away.

He died on November 16, 2023, at the age of 74.

Answer: Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry was born in Massachusetts in 1969. He starred as Chandler Bing in the television series "Friends" from 1994-2004. He also starred in many other television series, including " Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006-2007) and "The Odd Couple" (2015-2017).

He had several leading film roles as well, including "Almost Heroes" (1998). Perry died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54.

Answer: Jeff Beck

Geoffrey Arnold Beck was born in 1944. He was a popular session guitarist beginning in the 1960s, and in 1965 was hired by the Yardbirds to succeed Eric Clapton. He was fired from the group, however, because of failed appearances on tour. He later created the Jeff Beck Group, then the group Beck, Bogart & Appice. Following this he was a very influential soloist and contributed to many other groups, including playing the main guitar on Bon Jovi's 1990 hit record "Blaze of Glory".

He won his eighth and final Grammy Award in 2010. During the 2020s, Beck collaborated extensively with actor Johnny Depp on musical recordings. Jeff Beck died on January 10th, 2023, from bacterial meningitis. He was 78.

Answer: Dick Butkus

Born Richard Marvin Butkus in 1942, Dick Butkus was incredibly successful in College Football, playing with Illinois Fighting Illini, with whom he won the Rose Bowl in 1963. As a linebacker, he played with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1983. Having intercepted 22 passes and recovered 27 fumbled, which was a record at the time, the Bears retired his number, 51, in his honor in 1983.

The Butkus Award is still given in recognition of the most promising linebackers. Dick Butkus died on October 5, 2023, at the age of 80.

He died of a stroke and underlying conditions.

Answer: Sir Michael Gambon

Born in 1940, Sir Michael Gambon acted at the Royal National Theater under Sir Laurence Olivier during his early years. With Olivier, Gambon debuted on screen in "Othello" (1965); he went on to star in such films as "Amazing Grace" (2006) and "The King's Speech" (2010). From 2004 to 2011, he played Albus Dumbledore in 6 of the 8 "Harry Potter" films.

Television period drama book adaptations were Gambon's specialty. He starred in such series as "The Singing Detective" (1986), "Wives and Daughters" (1999), "Longitude" (2000), "Cranford" (2007) and "Emma" (2009). In 1998, Gambon was knighted. He died on September 27, 2023, at the age of 82, after having suffered from pneumonia.