Died in the 2000s Trivia

1. This American R&B singer wrote the song "If you Need me" which was a big hit for Solomon Burke. His big breakthrough came when his 3rd single was released in 1965. "In the Midnight Hour" went on to be awarded a gold disc.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 32

Answer: Wilson Pickett

In later life he was convicted of a firearms offence, making death-threats, assaulting his girlfriend and in 1993, he was convicted of drunken driving after knocking over an 86-year-old pedestrian, for which he was jailed. After being released, he did achieve some success again when he received a Grammy Award Nomination for his 'It's Harder Now' Album of 1999. He spent the end of his career playing lots of small concerts until his health deteriorated in 2004 and he died of a heart attack on 19 January 2006.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust 23

Answer: Richard Harris

Richard was the original Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films. In 1968 he released a recording of "McArthur Park" which topped the charts in several European countries and reached No. 2 in the American charts. He died of Hodgkin's disease on 25 October 2002 a few weeks before "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" was released.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust

Answer: Walter Matthau

The Neil Simon play, "The Odd Couple" was a huge hit for Walter and his screen partner Jack Lemmon. Walter and Jack appeared together in 9 films together between 1968 and 1997. They also both appeared in "JFK" in 1971 but did not appear on screen together. He died on 1st July 2000.

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2009

Answer: Arizona State University

Walter Cronkite's influence on broadcast journalism is legendary. After serving as a newspaper and radio reporter in such places as Kansas City and Oklahoma City, he became a war correspondent for UPI during World War II. He joined CBS News in 1950, and replaced Douglas Edwards as the network's news anchor in 1962. During his career, he reported on numerous historic stories, including the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. Arizona State renamed its school of journalism and mass communication after Cronkite in 1984 - three years after his last nightly newscast for CBS.

From Quiz Deaths In The News, 2008 (Part 1)

Answer: "The Great Race"

Suzanne Pleshette made her name on "The Bob Newhart Show" in the 1970s, as Bob Hartley's wife, Emily. Her third husband, the late actor Tom Poston, had a recurring role on that show, and a starring role on Bob Newhart's second CBS sitcom in the 1980s. Another celebrated actress, Natalie Wood, starred with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in the Warner Bros. action comedy "The Great Race".

From Quiz Who we lost in 2007

Answer: Yvonne De Carlo

Canadian native Yvonne De Carlo was born Margaret Yvonne Middleton in 1922. Her break came in 1945 playing the title role in "Salome, Where She Danced". It wasn't critically acclaimed but it was a box office hit. For the next several years she was constantly working. Cast in "The Ten Commandments" in 1956 as Zipporah, Moses' wife, De Carlo was part of a major movie ensemble. "The Munsters" allowed De Carlo to demonstrate a comic flair that her films had failed to take advantage of. She reprized her role of Lily Munster in The Munster movie sequels after the series ended. Yvonne De Carlo was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Carolyn Jones played Morticia Addams. Beverly Owen and Pat Priest both played Marilyn Munster, Lily's niece.

From Quiz Deaths In The News -- 2007

Answer: Johnny Belinda

Jane Wyman earned nominations for the Best Actress Oscar in all four movies listed here, but it was her turn in "Johnny Belinda", as the deaf-mute Belinda McDonald, that earned her the Oscar in 1948. She also won the Golden Globe for the same role, as well as a Golden Globe for her work in "The Blue Veil" in 1952. Wyman is also well known for her work on the long-running CBS-TV drama "Falcon Crest".

From Quiz Deaths In The News, 2006

Answer: Depends

June Allyson was a vocal supporter of researching urological and gynecological issues for seniors in her later years. This was evident in the many commercials she did for Depends-brand undergarments.

From Quiz Deaths in the News, 2004: Part II

Answer: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

The first black actress to win an Emmy Award for best actress in a comedy series (1981), Isabel Sanford put together an impressive body of stage, film and television work during her career. In addition to "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner", she also appeared in movies such as "Lady Sings The Blues" and "The New Centurions". And in a bit of synergy, she and Sherman Hemsley, her co-star from "The Jeffersons", appeared together in the feature film "Love At First Bite", as well as a series of Old Navy commercials.

From Quiz Deaths in the News, 2004: Part I

Answer: Fidel Castro

Cuba's leader since 1959, Fidel Castro's name has been tied to e-mails claiming that he tried out for (and was rejected by) a couple Major League Baseball teams, as a pitcher. Though Castro did play baseball in his native land, he proved to be much better at leading the revolution that overthrew the Batista government. Castro wouldn't be Paar's only controversy during his legendary run as "Tonight Show" host. (Thanks to jackpaar.com and the Internet Movie Database for additional information.)

From Quiz Deaths in 2003 - Part 2

Answer: Maurice Gibb

Along with brothers Barry and Robin, the Bee Gees sold more than 120 million albums. Maurice was their keyboard player. He died at the age of 53.

From Quiz Deaths in 2003 - Part 1

Answer: Idi Amin

Amin was ousted from Uganda in 1979, after killing 300,000 people in the country. He left the country in social and economical devastation. He died in Saudi Arabia on August 16.

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2003

Answer: Blondie Bumstead

Born Dorothy McNulty in Philadelphia in 1908, Penny Singleton took her last name from her dentist husband, Lawrence Singleton, when the two married in 1937. Between 1938 and 1950, Singleton starred opposite Arthur Lake in 28 films revolving around the lives of Dagwood and Blondie Bumstead, characters originally created for the funny pages by Chic Young in 1930. As a member of the voice cast of "The Jetsons", Singleton worked with greats Mel Blanc (the voice of Mr. Spacely), Daws Butler (Elroy Jetson) and Don Messick (Astro the dog). (Thanks to CNN.com for additional information.)

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2002

Answer: Francis

A native of Aurora, Illinois, Francis Dayle Hearn--he earned the nickname "Chick" after someone pulled a prank on him involving a chicken--moved out to Los Angeles in 1956 to become the play-by-play voice for USC's football and basketball games. In March 1961, Hearn became the play-by-play man for the Lakers, and called all but three of their games between then and December 2001, including an amazing 3,338 consecutive games between 1965 and 2001. It was only fitting that Chick's last game on the mike was a victory, as the Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets to win their third straight NBA title in 2002. (Thanks to ESPN.com for information on Chick Hearn.)

From Quiz Deaths in 2003

Answer: 1948

Thurmond ran in 1948 as the candidate of the States Rights Party and won four southern states. In 1954 he became the first person to win a seat in Congress by write-in ballot when he was elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina. In 1956 Thurmond set a record for the longest filibuster in Senate history when he spoke against the civil rights bill for 24 straight hours. However, he later moderated his views on race, and became the first southern Senator to hire a Black aide.

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2000

Answer: "Shoe"

MacNelly cut his teeth as a cartoonist for The Daily TarHeel, the student newspaper at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and the Chapel Hill Weekly. After leaving Chapel Hill for the Richmond News Leader, he created his strip. The title character, a cigar-chomping old bird, was named for his editor at the Chapel Hill Weekly. (Thanks for macnelly.com and CNN.com for information on Jeff MacNelly.)

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 30

Answer: Anne Bancroft

Anne was married twice, her second husband of over 40 years being the actor/director/writer Mel Brooks. In "The Graduate" (1967), she played the mature woman (a 'cougar') who seduced Dustin Hoffman's nervous character despite being only six years older than Dustin. Her final film, the animated feature "Diego"(2008). was released after her death. She died of uterine cancer on 6 June 2005.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust 23

Answer: Rod Steiger

He was offered, and turned down, the title role of "Patton" (1970) and later admitted it was his "dumbest career move" as George C. Scott won the Oscar for it. It was a case of swings and roundabouts though as Scott had turned down the role of Gillespie in "In the Heat of the Night" to direct his wife in a Broadway play. Rod died 9 July 2002.

From Quiz Deaths In The News, 2008 (Part 1)

Answer: Tula

Texas-born Tula Finklea's older brother couldn't quite say "sister". So she wound up being nicknamed "Sid". After marrying her first husband, Nico Charisse, the folks at MGM changed the spelling of her nickname to make it sound more exotic. The leggy dancer and actress was a member of the famed Ballet Russe as a teenager and appeared in many films, including "Brigadoon" and "Singin' in the Rain". In 2006, she was honored by the National Endowment for the Arts with the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities.

From Quiz Who we lost in 2007

Answer: Frankie Laine

Frankie Laine was born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio on March 30, 1913. He was one of the most successful singers of the twentieth century. Often billed as "America's Number One Song Stylist", his other nicknames include "Mr. Rhythm" and "Old Man Jazz". His hits include "That's My Desire", "That Lucky Old Sun," "Mule Train", "Jezebel," "High Noon" theme, "I Believe", "Cool Water", "Rawhide", and "Lord, You Gave Me a Mountain". He also sang the theme song for Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles". Elvis was initially described by critics as "a cross between Johnnie Ray and Frankie Laine". Johnny Ray was a contemporary of Laine's who died in 1990. Jack Coombs was a radio station programmer who suggested Frankie change his name. Johnny Moore was the band leader Frankie sang for early in his career.

From Quiz Deaths In The News -- 2007

Answer: Tax evasion

Helmsley's undoing came about as the result of a vacation home that she and her husband, Harry, had purchased and renovated in Connecticut. After contractors found out that the Helmsleys were trying to write off the renovation expenses as business expenses, which would allow them to write those expenses off their taxes, they took their invoices to the New York Post. The Post's story on the issue ultimately led to an indictment from U.S. Attorney (and future New York mayor) Rudy Guliani. Helmsley's original sentence of 16 years was dramatically reduced after several charges were dropped.

From Quiz Deaths in the News, 2004: Part II

Answer: John Wayne

Adair served as the technical consultant on "Hellfighters", which tells the story of oil well firefighter Chance Buckman (Wayne) and the fires he has to fight in the field and at home.

From Quiz Deaths in the News, 2004: Part I

Answer: Michigan

Hirsch got his nickname from a Chicago sports reporter, Francis Powers, who covered a game between Wisconsin and Great Lakes Naval Station in 1942. Powers described Hirsch as running like a demented duck, "his crazy legs...gyrating in six different directions at the same time", on a long touchdown run. As a pro, Hirsch played wide receiver opposite the prolific Tom Fears, and caught passes from the likes of Norm Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968, Hirsch went on to spend 18 years as the athletic director at Wisconsin and helped restore a football program that had fallen on hard times. (Thanks to sportsencyclopedia.com for additional information.)

From Quiz Deaths in 2003 - Part 2

Answer: Gregory Peck

Peck also starred in "Twelve O'Clock High", and was the title character in "MacArthur", to name a very few. He died on June 12.

From Quiz Deaths in 2003 - Part 1

Answer: Barry White

White was famous for songs including, "Can't get enough of your love, babe".

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2003

Answer: 1957

A native of South Carolina, Gibson's family moved to Harlem when she was very young. As a teenager, she took up tennis and won the very first tournament she entered. Gibson was a force on the all-black American Tennis Association circuit, winning ten straight national championships. In 1950, she became the first black person of either sex to play at Forest Hills and did the same at Wimbledon in 1951. In 1956, she won her first major, the French Championships, then won back-to-back titles at Wimbledon and the US Nationals in 1957 and 1958. After retiring from tennis, Gibson spent seven years on the LPGA tour, and spent much more time encouraging young black men and women to play individual sports. (Thanks to altheagibson.com for additional information.)

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2002

Answer: Car crash

Lopes was a member of TLC, one of the most successful all-female recording groups in history, along with Ronzanda "Chilli" Thomas and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins. But money and fame didn't shield Lopes from some off-the-mike problems, most notably setting fire to then-Atlanta Falcons receiver Andre Rison's home in 1994. Lopes and Rison had an on-again, off-again relationship that would end the year before she died. (Thanks to CNN.com for information on Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.)

From Quiz Deaths in 2003

Answer: David Brinkley

Brinkley, noted for his terse, biting comments and his dry wit, started his broadcasting career with NBC in 1943, and retired in 1998 after 15 years of hosting ABC's Sunday morning show "This Week with David Brinkley". The show fell apart after he left, as his unique, fatherly presence was what made it work.

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2000

Answer: Billie Jo

MacRae was actually the third Billie Jo Bradley, following Jeannine Riley (1963-65) and Gunilla Hutton (1965-66). She remained with the series until the end of its run in 1970. She was later a fixture on the game show circuit and served as a host for many years on the United Cerebral Palsy telethon. (Thanks to tvtome.com, CNN.com, and the Dead People Server for information on Meredith McRae.)

From Quiz Deaths In The News: 2009

Answer: Colorectal Cancer

After the assassination of her husband, Benigno Aquino, Jr., in 1983, Corazon Aquino became active in Philippine politics. She reluctantly put her hat into the ring in 1986, when over one million signatures were presented to her in support. Former senator Salvador Laurel, considered the front runner in replacing Ferdinand Marcos, became her running mate. During Mrs. Aquino's tenure, the Philippines adopted a new constitution and endured several natural disasters, including the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. Mrs. Aquino, like her mother, was a victim of colorectal cancer.

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