Notable deaths of 2008

JANUARY

Philip Agee, 72. Renegade CIA agent whose naming of operatives led to law against exposing spies. Jan. 7.

Maila Nurmi, 85. TV’s spooky, sexy “Vampira.” Jan. 10.

Sir Edmund Hillary, 88. He conquered Mount Everest; one of 20th century’s greatest adventurers. Jan. 11.

Richard Knerr, 82. Co-founded Wham-O toy company that popularized Hula Hoop, Frisbee. Jan. 14.

Brad Renfro, 25. Schoolboy-actor; played title role in “The Client.” Jan. 15. Drug overdose.

Bobby Fischer, 64. Reclusive chess genius who dethroned Soviet champion in 1972. Jan. 17.

Lois Nettleton, 80. Actress; had long career on Broadway, television. Jan. 18.

Suzanne Pleshette, 70. Beautiful, husky-voiced actress; sardonic wife on “The Bob Newhart Show.” Jan. 19.

Heath Ledger, 28. Actor nominated for Oscar for “Brokeback Mountain”; the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Jan. 22. Drug overdose.

Richard Darman, 64. White House budget director; helped persuade first President Bush to compromise on new taxes. Jan. 25.

Christian Brando, 49. Marlon Brando’s troubled son. Jan. 26. Pneumonia.

Suharto, 86. Indonesian president, a Cold War U.S. ally whose brutal regime killed hundreds of thousands. Jan. 27.

Gordon B. Hinckley, 97. Led Mormon church during major period of expansion. Jan. 27.

Margaret Truman Daniel, 83. Harry Truman’s only child; a concert singer, TV personality, mystery writer. Jan. 29.

FEBRUARY

Earl L. Butz, 98. U.S. agriculture secretary; forced out in 1976 over racist joke. Feb. 2.

Harry Richard Landis, 108. One of two surviving U.S. veterans of World War I. Feb. 4.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, around 91. Beatles’ guru; introduced transcendental meditation to West. Feb. 5.

Roy Scheider, 75. Two-time Oscar nominee (“The French Connection,” “All That Jazz”); police chief in “Jaws.” Feb. 10.

Rep. Tom Lantos, 80. 14-term California congressman; forceful voice for human rights. Feb. 11.

David Groh, 68. Played Valerie Harper’s husband on sitcom “Rhoda.” Feb. 12.

Kon Ichikawa, 92. Japanese director (Oscar-nominated 1956 “Harp of Burma.”) Feb. 13.

Robin Moore, 82. Wrote “The French Connection,” “The Green Berets,” both made into movies. Feb. 21.

Evan Mecham, 83. Firebrand Arizona governor; removed in 1988 impeachment trial. Feb. 21.

William F. Buckley Jr., 82. Erudite author, editor; helped revive conservative movement. Feb. 27.

MARCH

Gary Gygax, 69. Co-created Dungeons &Dragons; father of role-playing games. March 4.

Former Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, 90. Liberal Ohio Democrat who challenged big business. March 12.

Ivan Dixon, 76. Actor; Kinchloe on “Hogan’s Heroes.” March 16.

Anthony Minghella, 54. Oscar-winning director, turned literary works (“The English Patient”) into acclaimed movies. March 18. Hemorrhage.

Paul Scofield, 86. British actor; won Oscar for “A Man for All Seasons.” March 19.

Arthur C. Clarke, 90. Visionary science fiction writer (“2001: A Space Odyssey,”) March 19.

Neil Aspinall, 66. Longtime Beatles friend; managed their business enterprises. March 23.

Richard Widmark, 93. Hollywood leading man; made sensational debut as a giggling killer (“Kiss of Death.”) March 24.

Abby Mann, 80. Socially conscious screenwriter, won Oscar (“Judgment at Nuremberg.”) March 25.

Dith Pran, 65. Cambodian journalist whose harrowing story inspired “The Killing Fields.” March 30.

Jules Dassin, 96. Director who starred wife Melina Mercouri in “Never on Sunday.” March 31.

APRIL

Charlton Heston, 84. Oscar winner (“Ben-Hur”); later headed National Rifle Association. April 5.

Ollie Johnston, 95. Last of Disney animators called “Nine Old Men” (“Fantasia.”) April 14.

Albert Hofmann, 102. Discoverer of LSD, which inspired — and arguably corrupted — millions in 1960s. April 29.

MAY

Deborah Jeane Palfrey, 52. “D.C. Madam” convicted of running elite prostitution ring. May 1. Suicide.

Mildred Loving, 68. Black woman whose challenge to Virginia’s interracial marriage ban led to landmark ruling. May 2.

Irvine Robbins, 90. Co-founded Baskin-Robbins, brought exotic ice cream to every corner of America. May 5.

Eddy Arnold, 89. Country singer known for his mellow baritone (“Make the World Go Away.”) May 8.

John Phillip Law, 70. 1960s actor (“Barbarella.”) May 15.

Alexander Courage, 88. Emmy-winning composer (“Star Trek” theme.) May 15.

Robert Mondavi, 94. Vintner who helped Napa Valley become a wine-lovers’ mecca. May 16.

Hamilton Jordan, 63. Political strategist; helped Jimmy Carter win presidency. May 20.

Utah Phillips, 73. Grammy-nominated folk singer (“Moose Turd Pie.”) May 23.

Dick Martin, 86. Zany co-host of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” which took television by storm in 1960s. May 24.

J.R. Simplot, 99. Idaho’s billionaire potato king. May 25.

Earle Hagen, 88. Composed “Andy Griffith Show” theme. May 26.

Sydney Pollack, 73. Oscar-winning director, a Hollywood mainstay (“Tootsie,” “Out of Africa.”) May 26.

Harvey Korman, 81. Emmy winner for “The Carol Burnett Show”; conniving politician in “Blazing Saddles.” May 29.

JUNE

Yves Saint Laurent, 71. One of most influential fashion designers of the 20th century. June 1.

Bo Diddley, 79. Founding father of rock ‘n’ roll, known for “shave and a haircut, two bits” rhythm. June 2.

Mel Ferrer, 90. Actor (“War and Peace”), producer of movies starring then-wife Audrey Hepburn. June 2.

Bob Anderson, 75. He played young George Bailey (James Stewart) in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” June 6.

Jim McKay, 86. “Wide World of Sports” host; told Americans about killings at 1972 Olympics. June 7.

Tim Russert, 58. Host of “Meet the Press” whose personality and passion made him beloved in Washington. June 13.

Stan Winston, 62. Oscar-winning special-effects maestro (“Jurassic Park.”) June 15.

Cyd Charisse, 86. Dancer turned actress; starred in musicals with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly. June 17.

Kermit Love, 91. Costume designer; helped create Big Bird and other “Sesame Street” characters. June 21.

George Carlin, 71. The dean of counterculture comedians who taught us “Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV.” June 22.

Dody Goodman, 93. Daffy comedian (“Jack Paar Show.”) June 22.

JULY

Clay Felker, 82. Revolutionized city magazines as New York magazine’s founding editor. July 1.

Larry Harmon, 83. Turned Bozo the Clown into a show business staple. July 3.

Former Sen. Jesse Helms, 86. A champion of conservatism who spent three decades in Congress. July 4.

Evelyn Keyes, 91. She played middle O’Hara sister in “Gone With the Wind.” July 4.

Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, 99. Heart surgeon who pioneered now-common procedures such as bypass surgery. July 11.

Tony Snow, 53. White House press secretary who cheerfully sparred with reporters. July 12. Colon cancer.

Estelle Getty, 84. Actress; the sarcastic Sophia on “The Golden Girls.” July 22.

Bruce E. Ivins, 62. Army scientist named as top suspect in 2001 anthrax attacks. July 29. Suicide.

AUGUST

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 89. Nobel-winning Russian author who chronicled Stalin’s slave labor camps. Aug. 3.

Bernie Brillstein, 77. Agent, studio head; guided “Saturday Night Live” stars. Aug. 7.

Bernie Mac, 50. One of “Original Kings of Comedy” who connected with audiences across a wide spectrum (“Ocean’s Eleven.”) Aug. 9. Pneumonia.

Isaac Hayes, 65. Soul crooner who laid groundwork for disco; won Oscar, Grammy for “Theme From Shaft.” Aug. 10.

Jerry Wexler, 91. Record producer; coined “rhythm and blues,” worked with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles. Aug. 15.

Leroy Sievers, 53. National Public Radio commentator; shared his struggle with cancer. Aug. 15.

Dave Freeman, 47. Co-author of “100 Things to Do Before You Die.” Aug. 17. Injured in fall.

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, 58. First black congresswoman from Ohio. Aug. 20. Brain hemorrhage.

SEPTEMBER

Don LaFontaine, 68. In a world where voiceover artists are rarely known by name, his distinctive work livened up innumerable movie trailers. Sept. 1.

Jerry Reed, 71. Witty country singer (“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”) and actor (“Smokey and the Bandit.”) Sept. 1.

David Foster Wallace, 46. Author famed for complex, darkly witty works (“Infinite Jest.”) Sept. 12. Suicide.

Norman Whitfield, 67. Motown songwriter, producer (“I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”) Sept. 16.

Paul Newman, 83. Oscar-winning actor/philanthropist who never lost the heartthrob cool of his anti-hero performances. Sept. 26.

OCTOBER

Edie Adams, 81. Singer-actress; partnered with husband Ernie Kovacs. Oct. 15.

Levi Stubbs, 72. Dynamic Four Tops frontman (“Baby I Need Your Loving.”) Oct. 17.

Mr. Blackwell, 86. Designer whose worst-dressed list skewered fashion felonies. Oct. 19.

Gerard Damiano, 80. Directed “Deep Throat,” 1972 porn film that became unlikely hit. Oct. 25.

Tony Hillerman, 83. Author of acclaimed Navajo mystery novels. Oct. 26.

Studs Terkel, 96. Broadcaster, Pulitzer-winning author; cele­brated the common people. Oct. 31.

NOVEMBER

Madelyn Payne Dunham, 86. President-elect Barack Obama’s grandmother, who helped raise him. Nov. 2.

Steve Fossett, 63. Millionaire adventurer who vanished during 2007 flight. Death confirmed Nov. 3.

Michael Crichton, 66. Author whose books became blockbuster films (“Jurassic Park.”) Nov. 4.

Miriam Makeba, 76. South African singer who wooed the world with her sultry voice. Nov. 10.

Mitch Mitchell, 61. Drummer with Jimi Hendrix Experience (“Purple Haze.”) Nov. 12

Clive Barnes, 81. Witty, erudite critic for New York Post. Nov. 19.

John Michael Hayes, 89. Screenwriter; worked with Alfred Hitchcock in 1950s (“Rear Window.”) Nov. 19.

Edna Parker, 115. World’s oldest person. Nov. 26.

DECEMBER

Paul Benedict, 70. Actor; played English neighbor Harry Bentley on “The Jeffersons.” Dec. 1.

Odetta, 77. Folk singer with powerful voice who inspired civil rights marchers. Dec. 2.

Beverly Garland, 82. Actress in 1950s cult hits (“Swamp Women.”) Dec. 5.

Nina Foch, 84. Oscar-nominated actress (“Executive Suite,” “Spartacus.”) Dec. 5.

Martha “Sunny” von Bulow, 76. Comatose heiress; husband was acquitted of attempted murder. Dec. 6.

Robert Prosky, 77. Prolific character actor (“Hill Street Blues”). Dec. 8.

Bettie Page, 85. Beauty who daringly bared it all in the straitlaced ’50s. Dec. 11.

Van Johnson, 92. Boy-next-door Hollywood star (“30 Seconds Over Tokyo.”) Dec. 12.

Sam Bottoms, 53. Actor who had small but memorable roles in “Apocalypse Now,” “The Last Picture Show.” Dec. 16. Brain cancer.

W. Mark Felt, 95. FBI second-in-command who revealed himself as “Deep Throat” 30 years after Watergate. Dec. 18.

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, 76. “Star Trek” actress (Nurse Christine Chapel); widow of creator Gene Roddenberry. Dec. 18.

Robert Mulligan, 83. Academy Award-nominated director of “To Kill a Mockingbird”; later helped launch Reese Witherspoon’s career. Dec. 20.

Harold Pinter, 78. British Nobel laureate who produced some of his generation’s most influential dramas and later became a staunch critic of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Dec. 24.

Eartha Kitt, 81. A sultry singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality. Dec. 25.