Andrew Koenig was 41. He played the role of Richard "Boner" Stabone in Growing Pains.

Doug Fieger was 57. He was the lead singer of the rock band The Knack who had a hit in 1979 with "My Sharona".

Pauly Fuemana was 40. He was the frontman for OMC, the New Zealand duo who found fame with the hit song "How Bizarre". I was newly married when "How Bizarre" broke and my wife was a big fan of the tune.  The song guaranteed OMC a spot on a whole

J.D. Salinger was 91. He was the legendary author, youth hero and fugitive from fame whose "The Catcher in the Rye" shocked and inspired a world he increasingly shunned.

Zelda Rubinstein was 76. She was the diminutive character actress with the childlike voice who was best known as the psychic called in to rid a suburban home of demonic forces in the 1982 horror movie "Poltergeist."

Pernell Roberts was 81. He played the eldest Cartwright brother in TV's "Bonanza" and had the lead role in "Trapper John, M.D.".

Paul Quarrington was 56. He was an award-winning author, filmmaker, playwright and musician who gained national acclaim with his rock 'n' roll novel "Whale Music."

Kate McGarrigle was 63. She was the Canadian folk and roots music singer best known for her work with her sister, Anna, as the McGarrigle Sisters. The Kate and Anna McGarrigle song I remember most fondly is The Log Driver's Waltz from a certain NFB animated short we all know

Carl Smith was 82. He was the country music hitmaker of the 1950s and 1960s known for his dynamic voice and good looks.  He had 41 chart singles during the 1950s, including the hits "Are You Teasing Me," "Back Up Buddy," and "Hey Joe!".

Teddy Pendergrass was 59. He was one of the premier R&B singers in America, leading Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes to the top of the charts with indelible soul classics such as "If You Don't Know Me by Now" and "I Miss You."

Art Clokey was 88. He was a pioneer in the popularization of stop motion clay animation, creating Gumby and Davey and Goliath.

Vic Chesnutt was 45. He was the acclaimed singer-songwriter who built a devoted following with his folk-rock songs, many of which dealt eloquently with themes of pain and mortality.

George Michael was 70. He was a veteran Washington sportscaster who gained national recognition with his syndicated "The George Michael Sports Machine" highlights show. I used to watch The George Michael Sports Machine in the late 80s and early 90s.  Here's a clip:

Alaina Reed-Amini was 63. She was the actress best known for her long-running roles on "Sesame Street" and "227." I knew her best as Gordon's sister Olivia on the show that helped raise me.

Brittany Murphy was 32. She was the actress known for her roles in such films as "Clueless," "8 Mile" and "Girl Interrupted". My kids knew her best as the voice of Gloria in Happy Feet.

Chris Henry was 26. He was a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals. His best season with the Bengals was in 2006, when the wide receiver tallied 36 catches for 605 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games.

Oral Roberts was 91. He was a pioneer in televangelism who founded a multimillion-dollar ministry and a university that bears his name. Here's a cut from 1989 that I dug.  It's MC 900 Ft. Jesus with "Truth is Out of Style".

Haydain Neale was 39. He was the Juno Award-winning lead singer of Jacksoul.

Soupy Sales was 83. He was a pioneer of slapstick television comedy who once estimated he had taken 20,000 pies in the face.

Captain Lou Albano was 76. He was a professional wrestler, actor and all-around legend. If you don't know Captain Lou Albano as a manager in the WWF, and I personally loved his persona, you probably know him from his many cameos in Cyndi Lauper videos.  Here he is in her

Al Martino was 82. He played the Frank Sinatra-type role of Johnny Fontane in "The Godfather" and recorded hits including "Spanish Eyes" and the Italian ballad "Volare" in a 50-year musical career.

Stephen Gately was 33. He was a singer with the Irish boy band Boyzone. I must admit, I can't name a single Boyzone song.  I'm told they're a great deal more popular across the ocean than they are here in Canada.  If you'd like a taste of what we're missing,

Mary Travers was 72. She was the female component of the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary, known for their hits "Puff (The Magic Dragon)", the civil rights anthem "If I Had a Hammer" and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind".

Patrick Swayze was 57. He was the actor best-known for his roles as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries, and as romantic leading men in the films Dirty Dancing and Ghost. Sure, he showed up in some great flicks, but it's this song I'll be revisiting tonight.

Jim Carroll was 60. He was a former drug addict turned prolific poet and writer of The Basketball Diaries.