Celebrity Deaths by Year Trivia

1. This vocalist was an American singer and songwriter. He had hit songs with "Ain't No Sunshine", "Lean on Me" and "Lovely Day". Do you know his name?

From Quiz Celebrity Deaths in the 2020s

Answer: Bill Withers

William Harrison Withers Jr. was born on July 4, 1938. Bill left the Navy to pursue a music career in 1965. The first album Bill recorded was titled "Just as I Am" (1971), which included the track "Ain't No Sunshine". Between 1971 and 1985, a further eight albums were recorded. "Lean on Me" was Bill's greatest hit, reaching the number one position on both the Soul and Billboard Hot 100 charts. Bill was also the writer and producer of the song. Bill died from cardiopulmonary arrest in a Los Angeles hospital on March 30, 2020.

From Quiz They Died in 2021

Answer: Hank Aaron

"Hammerin' Hank" Aaron was born February 5, 1934. He played in the MLB for 21 years. He played with the Indianapolis Clowns, a professional baseball team in the Negro American League in his first three months. He was then sold to the Atlanta Braves. He played briefly in the Class - C farm team. In 87 games, he scored 89 runs. In 1953, he was moved to the Class-A Jacksonville Braves. He was often separated from his team when traveling due to the Jim Crow laws. He was usually required to take care of his lodging and meals while the team paid for the other players. He met his first future bride Barbara Lucas whom he would marry on October 6, 1958. In 1954 he started spring training with the Milwaukee Braves after left fielder Bobby Thomson injured his ankle sliding into second during a spring training game. He hit his first major league home run on April 23, 1954. Aaron was the first Atlanta Braves player to reach the 500th home run. In 1972, despite a shorter season due to a baseball strike, he hit his 673rd home run. In 1973, Hank Aaron hit his 713th home run. Many people expected him to tie Babe Ruth's record in the final game of the regular season; however, afraid of all the death threats he was getting because of the color of his skin, he did not achieve it. Lewis Grizzard (editor of "The Atlanta Journal at that time) reported that his journalists were being harassed for following the home run chase. Grizzard even wrote up Aaron's obituary thinking Aaron would be murdered before the 1974 season. He received a lot of support amongst the hate mail. Charles Schultz even printed a series of "Peanuts" comic strips in which Snoopy tried to break Babe Ruth's record, receiving a lot of hate mail. In the August 11, 1973 strip, Lucy tells Snoopy, "Hank Aaron is a great player... but you! If you break Babe Ruth's record, it'll be a disgrace." Both Snoopy and Aaron finished the 1973 season one home run less than Ruth. On April 4, 1974, Aaron tied Ruth's record. It was his first swing, on his first at-bat against the Reds pitcher Jack Bellingham. On April 8, 1974, while the Braves were at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron broke the record, hitting home run 715 against Al Downing. In his last at-bat for the Braves on October 2, 1974, he hit home run 733. With his contract up, he asked to be traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Now in the American League, he was made the designated hitter. On May 1, 1975, he broke Babe Ruth's RBI record. He hit his 755th home run on July 20, 1976, which would be his last. On January 22, 2021, he died of natural causes just two weeks before his 87th birthday.

From Quiz What Year Did I Die?

Answer: 2009

Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He attended Montclair College Prep School for 9th and 10th grade, and also had private tutoring. Michael Jackson was a member of the Jackson 5. ​He was born on August 29, 1958, and died from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25, 2009. Some of Michael Jackson's songs include "Thriller" (1995), "Beat It" (1982), "Smooth Criminal" (1988), and "Billie Jean" (1983).

From Quiz Musicians Who Passed in 2019

Answer: Dave Bartholomew

Edgard, Louisiana native and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Bartholomew wore many hats in the New Orleans music scene and was notable for his association with Fats Domino. He honed his craft while in the US Army assigned to the Army Ground Forces Band. In 1949 Dave and Fats co-wrote Fats' first hit, "The Fat Man". Bartholomew hired the session musicians and produced the record. They went on to collaborate on many of Fats' hits including "Ain't That A Shame", "I'm in Love Again", "Blue Monday" and several more. Bartholomew produced other artists for Domino's Imperial label and when Imperial relocated Bartholomew remained in New Orleans. In addition to writing hits for Domino he enjoyed success with Elvis ("Witchcraft" 1963), Ricky Nelson ("I'm Walkin'" 1963), Chuck Berry ("My Ding-A-Ling" 1972) and numerous other hits. Bartholomew was 100 when he passed of heart failure June 23, 2019. "Deacon John" Moore fronted The Ivories. Allen Toussaint played piano and produced hits for Chris Kenner, Ernie K-Doe and several other artists. Benny Spellman recorded some of Allen Toussaint's compositions.

From Quiz The Goodbye Song

Answer: David Bowie

Born David Jones, and also known as the Thin White Duke and Ziggy Stardust, he was a British singer and songwriter whose signature hits included 'Let's Dance', 'Heroes', 'Life on Mars' and 'Space Oddity'. Over his career, he collaborated with several other musicians, including Trent Reznor, the Pet Shop Boys and Iggy Pop. He also played the odd acting role, such as the Goblin King in 'Labyrinth'. Bowie died of liver cancer two days after his 69th birthday. 'Blackstar's producer Tony Visconti described the album as a 'parting gift'; Bowie had been seriously ill during the recording, but had kept his illness private.

From Quiz 2017: Celebrity Deaths

Answer: Soundgarden

Cornell was known as the lead singer for both Soundgarden and Audioslave. He was a founding member of Soundgarden in 1984, but left the band in 1997. After a few years in various projects and with a solo career he joined Audioslave from 2001-07. Soundgarden broke up when he left. After years with Audioslave, Cornell and his former band mates rejoined in 2010 and started touring and recording again as Soundgarden. He was found dead in a Detroit hotel room May 18. His death, at age 52, was ruled a suicide.

From Quiz 2016 in Review: Celebrity Deaths

Answer: January

Just two days after his 69th birthday the Starman died Jan. 10. He was an accomplished musician and actor. "Space Oddity," "Fame" and "Let's Dance" were among my favorite songs he performed.

From Quiz Tragic Losses of 2016

Answer: David Bowie

David Bowie was, to many, an important trendsetter of the 1970s...and '80s...and '90s...and soforth, releasing twenty-five albums, appearing in films like "Labyrinth" and "The Prestige", and shaping art and culture internationally all the while. In January 2016, the release of his final album, "Blackstar", was met with great acclaim and was, to many, a final gift from a man who knew that his time was short. Bowie died of cancer on January 10, two days after the release. His final single, "Lazarus", was an eerily present metaphor for a man who would be everlasting in his own works.

From Quiz Died on April 23

Answer: William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth (April 7, 1770 to April 23, 1850) was an English poet. He was England's Poet Laureate from 1843 to his death. His most well known work was "The Prelude", a partially autobiographical poem of his early years. Wordsworth is credited with launching the 'Romantic Age in English Literature' when he collaborated with Samuel Taylor Coleridge with the joint publishing of "Lyrical Ballads" in 1798. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (September 29, 1547 to April 23, 1616) was a Spanish author most known for the novel "Don Quixote". Garcilaso de la Vega (April 12, 1539 to April 23, 1616) was a Peruvian author best known for his writings on historian and writer who is recognized primarily for his contributions to Incan history and life. He was known as "El Inca" Garcilaso de la Vega because there was another author with the same name. The date of his demise is unsure due to record keeping at the time, although April 23 is the most accepted. William Shakespeare (April ??, 1564 to April 23, 1616) wrote (debatably) 38 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems. Before the notes start flying, Shakespeare's birth date of April 23 is a point of conjecture...it IS known that he was baptized on the twenty-sixth of April...his EXACT birth date is unknown, again, due to record keeping of the era.

From Quiz These Great People Died In 2005 #2

Answer: Michael Sheard

A widely know actor in the UK, Sheard had many roles and movies, including a short time on the British version of 'Law and Order' in 1978. He passed away on August 31st at the age of 67. Of course Phil Brown played Luke's Uncle Owen, David Prowse wore the Darth Vader suit, and Peter Mayhew was Chewbacca.

From Quiz These Great People Died in 2005 #1

Answer: John Vernon

Vernon passed away on February 1st at the age of 72. John Vernon played many roles, including Dr. Stone, in the 1982 movie, "Airplane II, The Sequel."

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2005

Answer: Los Angeles Rams

Davis was "Mr. Outside" opposite teammate Felix "Doc" Blanchard, who was known as "Mr. Inside", at Army. He scored 59 touchdowns during his college career, and in 1945 averaged an astonishing 11.5 yards per carry. The year Davis won the Heisman, he beat some pretty good company, including teammate Blanchard (who finished fourth that year), running back Herman Wedemeyer and quarterback Bobby Layne. After spending three years in the US Army, Davis led the Rams to the NFL Championship Game, but only played one more season beyond that due to knee injuries. (Thanks to wikipedia.com and davidpietruza.com for additional information.)

From Quiz Celebrity Deaths in 2004

Answer: Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve broke his neck in an equestrian competition in 1995. He later became an advocate for stem-cell research.

From Quiz Expired in 2001

Answer: 'Picket Fences'

Ray Walston won two Emmies for his portrayal of crotchity Judge Bone.

From Quiz They Left Us In 2001

Answer: Stanley Kramer

He also directed 1963's, 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'.

From Quiz In Which Year Did They Die?

Answer: 2000

Jim Varney died February 10th, 2000 of lung cancer.

From Quiz Celebrity Deaths in the 2020s

Answer: Diana Rigg

Born, Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg, on July 20, 1938 Diana was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England. The first major appearance of Diana was as a secret agent and partner of John Steed in the TV programme "The Avengers". Diana also had a career in theatre, appearing in over thirty productions between 1967 and 2018 and featuring in twenty-one films from 1966 to 2021. Her role in TV also played a big part in her career, appearing in many TV programmes. Diana was on programmes like "Doctor Who", "Game of Thrones", "All Creatures Great and Small", and "Extras", to name a few. Diana was diagnosed with cancer in March 2020 and sadly died aged 82 in London, England, on September 10, 2020.

From Quiz They Died in 2021

Answer: Ed Asner

Eddie "Ed" Asner was born on November 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up on the Kansas side, however. His Hebrew name was Yitzhak. In 1951 he was drafted and served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps for two years. In 1962, he made his movie debut as Frank Gerson in the Elvis Presley movie "Kid Galahad" for which he was not credited. In 1970, after guest-starring on various tv shows, he landed the role of Lou Grant on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". He then continued to play Lou in his own series, the spin-off, "Lou Grant". While "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was a 30-minute sitcom, "Lou Grant" was an hour-long drama. Ed Asner is one of the few to win a Prime Time Emmy Award for the same role in the comedy and drama categories. He also guest-starred as Lou Grant on "Rhoda" and "Roseanne". In 1977, he played Captain Davies in the miniseries "Roots", for which he also won an Emmy. He has also done much voice acting work, including J. Jonah Jameson on the 1990s cartoon "Spider-Man". In 1996, he was inducted into the Academy of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame. 2001, he was given the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2009, he voiced Carl Fredrickson in the Pixar movie "Up". In 2018 he was cast in the Netflix original series "Dead to Me:" Before his death on August 29, 2021, at age 91, from natural causes, he played himself on "Let's Be Real" and voiced Claude in "Muppets Haunted Mansion".

From Quiz What Year Did I Die?

Answer: 1967

Vivien Leigh, born Vivian Mary Hartley, was a British actress. Vivien Leigh almost had the screen name "April Morn", but kept her first name and changed the spelling from Vivian to Vivien. She made her first husband's name her last name. She was born on November 5, 1913, and died from tuberculosis on July 8, 1967. She had suffered from tuberculosis for nearly a quarter of a century. On July 8, 1967, she was walking to the bathroom and collapsed. Her lungs filled with liquid, and she suffocated. Some movies that Vivien Leigh starred in include "Gone With the Wind" (1939), "Gentlemen's Agreement" (1935), "Ship of Fools" (1965), and "A Yank at Oxford" (1938).

From Quiz Musicians Who Passed in 2019

Answer: Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)

Cincinnati native Doris Mary Kappelhoff took singing lessons while she was recovering from an automobile accident. After changing her name she began her singing career in 1939 fronting Les Brown's orchestra. After leaving Brown she recorded over 600 songs as a solo artist. In 1948 she began a twenty year film career with a role in "Romance on the High Seas". She was a versatile actor who starred alongside such notables as Rock Hudson, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Clark Gable. It was her dramatic appearance opposite James Cagney in "Love Me or Leave Me" (1955) that garnered critical acclaim. She received her only Oscar nomination in 1959 starring opposite Rock Hudson in "Pillow Talk". In 1968 she turned her attention to television and hosted "The Doris Day Show" until 1973. She continued to appear as a guest star on various television shows until her death at age 97 in 2019. "Secret Love" was composed by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster for the film "Calamity Jane" (1953). "Sentimental Journey" was Doris' first Number One single. "Move Over Darling" was the theme from the 1963 film of the same name starring Doris and James Garner.

From Quiz The Goodbye Song

Answer: Alan Rickman

As well as Professor Snape, Alan Rickman's many roles included Marvin the Paranoid Android in 'The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy', the Sheriff of Nottingham in 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves', Colonel Brandon in 'Sense & Sensibility', and Hans Gruber in 'Die Hard'. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and started out in theatre. Outside film, he co-edited the play 'My Name is Rachel Corrie', about a pro-Palestine activist. Like Bowie, Rickman died of cancer - in his case, pancreatic cancer - and kept the fact that his illness was terminal private. 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', in which he played Absolem the Butterfly, was dedicated to his memory.

From Quiz 2017: Celebrity Deaths

Answer: Pitcher

Roy Halladay retired from baseball in 2013 after a 15 season professional career. He died in a plane crash near the Gulf of Mexico on November 7, 2017. He was a multiple time all-star, and won the Cy Young Award as baseball's best pitcher in both the American and National Leagues during his career.

From Quiz 2016 in Review: Celebrity Deaths

Answer: 94

The actor was well known for his roles in "The Godfather" movies, and the "Barney Miller" television show among many other roles. He died January 26, 2016, about a month shy of his 95th birthday. The earliest reports of his death happened in "People" magazine in 1982, several times over the years he would appear on television talk shows and the like to report he was still alive.

From Quiz Died on April 23

Answer: Paulette Goddard

Charlie Chaplin (April 16, 1889 to December 25, 1977) was an English comedic actor and silent film star. Paulette Goddard (June 3, 1910 to April 23, 1990) was Chaplin's third wife from 1936 to 1942. Goddard was an American film and theater actress. She was also married to Burgess Meredith and Erich Maria Remarque. She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role in "So Proudly We Hail!" (1943). Paulette had the 'honor' of being the oldest of Charlie's wives, when they married she was 26 he was 47. Mildred Harris (November 29, 1901 to July 20, 1944) was an actress during the silent film era and Charlie's first wife, from 1918 to 1921. Notice the year, Harris was 17 when they married, he was 27. Lita Grey (April 15, 1908 to December 29, 1995) was also an actress. She was the second wife of Charlie Chaplin, from 1924 to 1927. Again, note the year, Grey was sixteen when they married, Charlie was 35. Oona O'Neill (May 14, 1925 to September 27, 1991) was the daughter of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Eugene O'Neill. She was his fourth and final wife, from 1943 to his death in 1977. Once again notice the year...she was 18 and Charlie was 54. Charlie apparently had a penchant for young gorgeous women.

From Quiz These Great People Died In 2005 #2

Answer: Wendie Jo Sperber

Wendie also starred along with Tom Hanks in the 1980's sitcom 'Bosom Buddies.' She guest starred on many television shows over the years, including: '8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter', 'Home Improvement', and 'Will and Grace.' She passed away after a long battle with breast cancer.

From Quiz These Great People Died in 2005 #1

Answer: Chris LeDoux

LeDoux passed away on March 9th from liver cancer.

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2005

Answer: Fred Flintstone

After the death of Alan Reed in 1977, Henry Corden took on the voice of Fred Flintstone, one of Hanna-Barbara's most famous characters. Not only did Corden give life to the character in animated series and specials, but he also voiced the role in a myriad of cereal commercials and video games. Among his live-action roles were guest appearances on series like "I Dream of Jeannie", "The Monkees" and "Hogan's Heroes". (Thanks to Wikipedia and The Internet Movie Database for additional information.)

From Quiz Celebrity Deaths in 2004

Answer: Rodney Dangerfield

Born Jacob Cohen, he later changed his name to Rodney Dangerfield, and with his legendary line of, "Hey, I never get no respect", died at the age of 82. Rodney boosted his career by appearing on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" on a couple of occasions. Dangerfield also starred in the movie "Caddyshack" in 1980, and "Back to School" in 1986, amongst other movie greats.

From Quiz Deaths in the News: 2001

Answer: "My Mother, The Car"

In 1965, NBC launched what has been called one of television's biggest turkeys. "My Mother, The Car" featured Jerry Van Dyke as Dave Crabtree, an ordinary family man who hears the voice of his deceased mother (Sothern) through an old 1928 Porter automobile. Like many other fantasy-type TV characters of the era, Crabtree was the only person who could hear the voice.

From Quiz Expired in 2001

Answer: Roy Rogers

Dale Evans was Roy's wife and singing partner for 51 years.

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