January 2011 Celebrity Deaths

Richard “Dick” Winters, the inspiration for the movie Band of Brothers died at age 92 on January 2, weighing in as our first celebrity death of 2011. Parkinson’s disease.

Gerry Rafferty, 63, singer, songwriter went right down to the flat line on January 4 after a long illness. Songs include Stuck In The Middle With You (with Stealers Wheel), Baker Street, and Days Gone Down.

On January 6, Don Tyson, former CEO of Tyson Foods died of cancer. Initial reports that he died from eating his own chicken proved to be false.

Tom Cavanaugh, 28, hockey player, San Jose Sharks. Found dead January 6 from blunt force trauma. Police believe suicide.

Italian ski-jumper Simona Senoner died January 7at age 17 from what doctors called a sudden onset of meningitis.

Peter Yates, director of the movies Bullitt, Breaking Away, and The Hot Rock. Yates is best known for directing the most famous car chase of all time, the 10 minute high speed tour of San Francisco in the movie Bullitt. Yates died in London on January 9 at age 81. Cause of death has not been disclosed.

John Dye, 47, played the part of Andrew the Angel of Death in the TV series Touched By An Angel.  Dye received a visit from the real Angel of Death when his heart failed him on January 10 at his San Francisco home.

David Nelson, older brother of the late Ricky Nelson and son of the later Ozzie & Harriet Nelson. This Nelson brother did not die in a plane crash while free-basing cocaine. No, this Nelson brother died of complications from lung cancer on January 11 at age 74.

On January 13, Tommy Crain, guitarist for The Charlie Daniels Band, died. He was 59.

January 14 was apparently a popular day to die. Mississippi Winn (photo not available) died at the age of 113. She was the oldest living resident of Louisiana, the oldest living African-American, and the last living child of former slaves. Also dying on this day was former actress and fashion model Georgia Carroll. She was 91. Reggie Doucet, 25, a college football player, was shot to death by the LAPD after an altercation in which he hit two officers and tried to take one of their guns. 

 Georgia Carroll

 Reggie Doucet

On January 15, Royall Marshall, producer of the popular Neal Boortz radio talk-show died of a heart attack at 43. Also on this day, Patti Gilbert, voice and character actress, died from complications from diabetes. She was 79. Roy Hartsfield, former MLB player and the first manager of the Toronto Blue Jays died at age 85 from complications from liver cancer.

Legendary rock music promoter Don Kirshner died at 77 at his Florida home on January 17.

January 18, R. Sargent Shriver, former diplomat and vice-presidential candidate, died at age 95 from complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Shriver was the father of Maria Shriver who is married to Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was married to Eunice Kennedy, brother Joe Kennedy, until her death in 2009.

On January 21, Barney Hajiro, the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient died at age 94. Also dying this day was Ed Mauser, a soldier and member of the unit that inspired the movie Band of Brothers, of cancer at age 94.

Fitness guru Jack LaLanne died in his Hollywood home on January 23 at age 96. This just goes to prove that if you eat right and exercise daily, you’re still going to die at some point.

Comic David Frye died January 24 at his home of cardiopulmonary arrest. He was 77. Frye was most widely known for his impressions of Richard Nixon, LBJ, and Gerald Ford.

January 26 was a busy day. On that day the following people died: Professional Wrestler Shawn McGrath (photo not available) committed suicide. He was 34. Country music singer Charlie Louvin died of pancreatic cancer at age 83. And Gladys Horton of the 60’s R&B group The Marvellettes died at 65 from complications from a stroke.

Charlie Louvin

Gladys Horton

Comedian and actor Charlie Callas died on January 27 at age 83.

British film composer John Barry, winner of 5 Oscars who is best known for his work on the James Bond movies died on January 30 at age 77 of a heart attack.

January 31 was another busy day. Film & TV producer Charles Sellier, creator of The Life & Times of Grizzly Adams died at age 67. Actor Michael Tolan who played in The Greatest Story Ever Told and The Mary Tyler Moore Show died from heart disease and renal failure at age 85. Director Phil Bondelli, who worked on such shows as CHiPs and The Six Million Dollar Man died at age 83. And finally, rounding out our list for January is Eunice Sandborn. At the time of her death at age 114 she was the world’s oldest living person.

 Charles Sellier

Eunice Sanborn

Michael Tolan

 Phil Bondelli

This is a big list and it's just for January. Stay tuned for the February list.

Jim