Celebrity Deaths

Tributes have been pouring in from friends, colleagues and fans ever since the news of James Gandolfini's death broke yesterday. But one of the most fitting tributes took place last night at Hosten's Brookdale Confectionary in Bloomfield, NJ, where the finale of 'The Sopranos' was filmed.

It is with a heavy heart and our thumbs way, way down that we report that film critic Roger Ebert has passed away at the age of 70 after a long public battle with cancer.

Andre Cassagnes, the man responsible for inventing the venerable Etch A Sketch, a toy that inspired countless children ever since it was introduced in 1960, has died at age 86 in France.

Ed Koch, who was mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989, died today from congestive heart failure. He was 88 years old. Older New York residents might remember him as the mayor whose terms were plagued by the crack and AIDS epidemics of the '80s, as well as police brutality and corruption...

For those outside the state of California, Huell Howser, who passed away late Sunday night, might be something of a mystery. There's a chance you saw him on 'Tracy Takes On ... Hollywood,' or heard his voice on an episode of 'The Simpsons.' Southern Californians, however, are surely familiar with his self-produced travelogues of the state, which aired on KCET in Los Angeles, in all their incarnati

Queen Elizabeth's beloved corgi Monty passed away of old age. He was 13 years old, which is like 91 in people years. You might remember Monty from a James Bond-themed sketch in this year's Olympics. He's also one of the dogs that put the smack down on Princess Beatrice's terrier, although the scuffle did not contribute to Monty's passing...

Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, passed away this weekend from complications caused by recent heart surgery. He was 82 years old.

It's a sad day for lovers of 'Sesame Street' everywhere -- Jerry Nelson, the puppeteer who gave Count von Count his voice passed away Thursday of unspecified causes at the age of 78.

Phyllis Diller, the comedy legend and "Homely Friendmaker," passed away in her home at the age of 95 after a period of declining health. You can read her full bio over at ScreenCrush, and we've put together a slew of her funniest videos for your enjoyment below.  With everything from stand-up to 'Scooby Doo' under her belt, Phyllis truly left a one-of-a-kind mark on pop culture. (You mig

Director Tony Scott, best known for the mega-hits 'Top Gun,' 'Beverly Hills Cop 2' and 'Days of Thunder,' died from an apparent suicide on Sunday when he jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, CA.

Ron Palillo, who played sweathog Arnold Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter,' has died at 63.

Sherman Hemsley, a television fixture of the '70s and '80s, has died at his home in El Paso, Texas at age 74. His passing is being attributed to "natural causes."

Donald J. Sobol, the author of the extremely popular boy-detective book series 'Encyclopedia Brown,' died last week of natural causes. He was 87.

Ernest Borgnine, the iconic movie and television actor, passed away on Sunday.

Iconic television actor Andy Griffith, best known for 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Matlock,' died today in North Carolina. He was 86-years-old.