Celebrity Deaths

The music world is in a state of shock and sadness with passing of Beastie Boy Adam Yauch from what are believed to be complications from parotid gland cancer. Yauch, who was better known by his stage name MCA, was 47-years-old. It was Yauch who founded the Beastie Boys -- which was initially a hardcore punk band -- in 1979...

Adam Yauch, better known to fans as "MCA" of the seminal hip-hop trio the Beastie Boys, has died after a long-standing battle with cancer. He was 47-years-old.

Dick Clark, the iconic television producer and host of 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' and 'American Bandstand,' died from a reported heart attack on Wednesday. The news of his death came as a shock to the American public, and many celebrities and Clark fans sent their condolences out on Twitter.

Dick Clark, whose 'American Bandstand' revolutionized the way we listen to music, died Tuesday morning at 82 as a result of a "massive heart attack."

You might not know his name, but you definitely know his work. Thomas Kinkade painted quaint scenes of cottages, cobblestone paths and warm, glowing windows, seemingly lit as an invitation to come inside. He had mass appeal that made him a household name and the target of disapproval from art critics. Kinkade passed away unexpectedly on Friday at the age of 54.

Yesterday, the world lost a pop culture icon. Davy Jones, lead singer and adorable tambourine player for the TV troublemakers and original boy band The Monkees, passed away after a sudden heart attack. Much like his Beatles counterparts, this British heart throb was a teen idol and drove girls crazy around the world.

Fans of the Berenstain Bears children's books are in mourning today after it was announced that co-creator Jan Berenstain died of a stroke on Friday at the age of 88.

The music world is still reeling from the death of 'Soul Train' creator Don Cornelius, who died yesterday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In particular, members of the R&B and hip hop community were moved by the passing of an icon whose TV show introduced many of them to legends like Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson.

Law enforcement sources are confirming that Don Cornelius, the creator of ‘Soul Train,’ was found dead in his home in Sherman Oaks, CA this morning. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.

Someone get Mr. Kotter a box of tissues. Robert Hegyes, who played Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein -- better known as simply Epstein -- on the 1970s sitcom 'Welcome Back Kotter' died from an apparent heart attack on Thursday at the age of 60.

Legendary blues singer Etta James passed away today in a California hospital due to complications from leukemia, according to her longtime manager Lupe De Leon. She was 73-years-old.

While several huge stars -- Elizabeth Taylor and Amy Winehouse among them -- died in 2011, a slew of other wildly talented but perhaps lesser-known celebs passed away as well. Here are just a few.

So many people pass away every year, including in the entertainment industry, that it's hard to remember just who died, beyond the few very famous people. Turner Classic Movies has a nice montage that helps us remember the talents we've lost in 2011.

Comedian Patrice O'Neal passed away Tuesday at the age of 41 due to complications from a stroke he had suffered in October. To celebrate the life of a very funny man who brought laughter to many, check out this hilarious riff O'Neal did on "white people music" -- specifically the Radiohead song 'Creep' -- during a radio interview.

Influential rapper Heavy D died yesterday at the age of 44. According to reports, the rapper was climbing stairs at his condominium when he experienced trouble breathing. He was immediately rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was pronounced dead 90 minutes later. Cause of death is pending an autopsy.