Remembering ‘Deadliest Catch’s Nick McGlashan & More Stars We’ve Lost in 2020 (PHOTOS)
Nick McGlashan
1987-2020
Cause of death: Unknown
Best known for: The fisherman has featured in Discovery’s long-running fan favorite series Deadliest Catch since 2013.
Charley Pride
1934-2020
Cause of death: Complications from COVID-19
Best known for: Pride made country music history by becoming the genre’s first Black superstar, with classic hits including “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” and “Just Between You and Me.” Throughout his career, which spanned more than five decades, Pride received three CMA Awards and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
David Lander
1947-2020
Cause of death: Complications due to multiple sclerosis
Best known for: Lander was best known for playing Squiggy on Laverne & Shirley. His other TV credits included The Love Boat, Matlock, Twin Peaks, Family Matters, Pacific Blue, and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Nikki McKibbin
1978-2020
Cause of death: Aneurysm
Best known for: This performer rose to fame during American Idol‘s first season in 2002. She was the third runner up behind Justin Guarini and winner Kelly Clarkson.
Sean Connery
1930-2020
Cause of death: Unnamed illness
Best known for: The actor is was best known for originating the role of James Bond onscreen and appeared in several films linked to the character including Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and more. Plus, he won an Oscar for his role in the Brian De Palma film The Untouchables.
Conchata Ferrell
1943-2020
Cause of death: Complications from cardiac arrest
Best known for: The Emmy-nominated actress is best known for her role as Berta in Two and a Half Men. Ferrell’s other work included roles in shows such as The Ranch, L.A. Law and Grace and Frankie.
Diana Rigg
1938-2020
Cause of death: Cancer
Best known for: Rigg was best known for playing Emma Peel in the TV series The Avengers and Olenna Tyrell on Game of Thrones. Her other TV credits include Victoria, Doctor Who, and Bleak House.
Zavion Davenport
1985-2020
Cause of death: Undisclosed
Best known for: Davenport, whose stage name was Chi Chi DeVayne, competed on two seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race and one season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.
Ben Cross
1947-2020
Cause of death: Illness
Best known for: Cross is best known for playing British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire (above). He also starred as Sarek in 2009’s Star Trek. His most recent TV credits include Pandora and Banshee.
Olivia De Havilland
1916-2020
Cause of death: Natural Causes
Best known for: The Oscar-winning actress is known for films such as Gone with the Wind, The Heiress and The Adventures of Robin Hood. Her TV roles include parts in Roots: The Next Generation, Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna and North and South, Book II.
Regis Philbin
1931-2020
Cause of death: Natural Causes
Best known for: The legendary TV host is best known for his role in ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly as well as Live with Regis and Kathy Lee. He also famously helmed the American version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and appeared in plenty of other shows including Single Parents, Fresh Off the Boat, The Odd Couple, New Girl and 30 Rock in recent years.
Hugh Downs
1921-2020
Cause of death: Heart ailment
Best known for: Downs was a veteran broadcaster who hosted NBC’s Today and co-anchored 20/20 with Barbara Walters. He was nominated for two Primetime Emmys, for his work on Today and Concentration, and won two Daytime Emmys, for Live from Lincoln Center and Over Easy.
Mary Pat Gleason
1950-2020
Cause of death: Cancer
Best known for: Gleason was in numerous TV shows and movies, with her most recent role on CBS’ Mom. Her previous TV credits also include guest spots on Will & Grace, How to Get Away With Murder (above), Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Bones, and Desperate Housewives.
Richard Herd
1932-2020
Cause of death: Cancer-related causes
Best known for: Herd played Captain Dennis Sheridan on T.J. Hooker and recurred as Mr. Wilhelm on Seinfeld. In addition to his roles in the movies All the President’s Men and The China Syndome, his other TV credits included Star Trek: Voyager, NYPD Blue, and most recently, a guest spot on Hawaii Five-0.
Ken Osmond
1943-2020
Cause of death: Undisclosed
Best known for: Osmond was best known as Eddie Haskell in Leave It to Beaver and appeared in Lassie along with other TV credits.
Frank Bielec
1948-2020
Cause of death: Heart Attack
Best known for: Bielec was best known for his years of designing on the TLC hit Trading Spaces.
Phyllis George
1949-2020
Cause of death: Complications from Leukemia
Best known for: George is best known for her work as a sports newscaster on The NFL Today. She also was crowned Miss America in 1971.
Lynn Shelton
1965-2020
Cause of death: Blood Disorder
Best known for: Shelton’s best known for directing on titles such as Little Fires Everywhere, Dickinson, Mad Men, Master of None, GLOW, The Good Place, Love and many more. She also served as an executive producer on Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere.
Fred Willard
1933-2020
Cause of death: Natural causes
Best known for: Willard was best known for his film collaborations with Christopher Guest including Best in Show, This Is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind. His TV credits included roles in Modern Family and Everybody Loves Raymond among others.
Michael Keenan
1939-2020
Cause of death: Natural causes
Best known for: Keenan was best known for his roles on Picket Fences (as Bill Pugen) and the original Dallas (as Keller). He also appeared on three Star Trek series (The Next Generation, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine) and voiced characters on several kids’ shows, including Rugrats and Aaahh!!! Rea Monsters.
Sam Lloyd
1963-2020
Cause of death: Complications from an inoperable cancerous brain tumor
Best known for: Lloyd was best known for his portrayal of lawyer Ted Buckland on Scrubs. The nephew of actor Christopher Lloyd, Sam appeared in dozens of TV and film roles, including Malcolm in the Middle, Desperate Housewives, Shameless, Modern Family, and Cougar Town.
Shirley Knight
1936-2020
Cause of death: Natural causes
Best known for: Knight was nominated for two Oscars, as a Supporting Actress in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs in 1960 and Sweet Bird of Youth in 1962. Her TV credits included guest spots on NYPD Blue (for which she won an Emmy), as well as Emmy-nominated appearances on Desperate Housewives, Law & Order, and thirtysomething.
Tom Lester
1938-2020
Cause of Death: Complications from Parkinson’s disease
Best known for: Lester was best known for playing farmhand Eb Dawson on the CBS sitcom Green Acres. He also played the character on Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies. His other TV credits included guest spots on Marcus Welby, M.D., Little House on the Prairie, and Knight Rider.
Brian Dennehy
1938-2020
Cause of Death: Natural causes
Best known for: Dennehy was known for his roles in the films First Blood, Silverado, and Cocoon. His most recent TV credits were The Blacklist and Hap and Leonard, with guest spots on The Good Wife, 30 Rock, and Law & Order: SVU. He’s also known for roles on Dynasty and Star of the Family.
David Schramm
1946-2020
Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Best known for: Schramm was best known for his role as Roy Biggins on Wings in the ’90s. He also appeared in titles such as Working Girl, Max Monroe and Kennedy.
Floyd Cardoz
1960-2020
Cause of Death: Coronavirus
Best known for: Cardoz won Top Chef Masters Season 3. The chef also appeared on Netflix’s Ugly Delicious.
Kenny Rogers
1938-2020
Cause of Death: Natural Causes
Best known for: Kenny Rogers’ talent, husky voice, amiable charm and sex appeal turned the singer/songwriter into a superstar in a career that spanned six decades.
Between 1977 and 1987, Rogers logged 20 No. 1 Country hits, many of which crossed over to climb the pop charts. Hits during this period included “Lucille” (1977), “The Gambler” (1978, written by Don Schlitz), “She Believes in Me” (1979), “Coward of the County” (1979) and “Lady” (1980, written by Lionel Richie). He also had memorable duets with Kim Carnes for “Don’t Fall in Love With a Dreamer” in 1980, with Sheena Easton for “We’ve Got Tonight” in 1983 and with Dolly Parton for “Islands in the Stream” in 1983.
Rogers’ charisma also lent itself to a secondary career as an actor. He notably appeared in some made-for-television movies, including a series of five films based on “The Gambler.”
Over his career, Rogers sold more than 50 million albums in the United States alone. He was a three-time Grammy winner, a five-time CMA Award-winner and entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
Maggie Griffin
1920-2020
Cause of Death: Dementia
Best known for: Mother to comedienne Kathy Griffin, Maggie was best known for her role in the show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.
Lyle Waggoner
1935-2020
Cause of Death: Undisclosed Illness
Best known for: Waggoner was best known for his roles in TV like The Carol Burnett Show and Wonder Woman.
Max von Sydow
1929-2020
Cause of Death: TBD
Best known for: Known for his film roles in The Exorcist and Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, he played the Three-Eyed Raven on Game of Thrones and Cardinal Von Waldburg on The Tudors.
Roscoe Born
1950-2020
Cause of Death: TBD
Best known for: Born had roles on soap operas including The Young and the Restless, All My Children, and One Life to Live.
Bobbie Battista
1952-2020
Cause of Death: Cervical Cancer
Best known for: She was the anchor of CNN’s TalkBack Live.
James Lipton
1926-2020
Cause of Death: Bladder Cancer
Best known for: Inside the Actors Studio which he created, hosted and wrote. Other TV roles included parts in Arrested Development and Guiding Light.
Kellye Nakahara
1948-2020
Cause of Death: Cancer
Best known for: She was best known for her role as Lt. Kellye Yamato, RN, on M*A*S*H. She was also in Clue, Growing Pains, , and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
Ja’net DuBois
1945-2020
Cause of Death: TBD
Best known for: DuBois was best known for playing Willona Woods on Good times. She also appeared on The PJs, As Told by Ginger, Everybody Loves Raymond, and The Wayans Bros..
Caroline Flack
1979-2020
Cause of Death: Suicide
Best known for: Flack was best known for hosting the UK’s Love Island. She also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor: Celebrity.
Esther Scott
1953-2020
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Best known for: The actress starred in many TV shows and films, including Beverly Hills, 9020 and Boyz n the Hood. Her TV credits also included Hart of Dixie, The Geena Davis Show, and Ewoks.
Lynn Cohen
1933-2020
Cause of Death: TBD
Best known for: Cohen was best known for playing Magda on Sex and the City. The actress’ most recent TV credits included God Friended Me, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Blue Bloods, and Chicago Med.
Robert Conrad
1935-2020
Cause of Death: Heart failure
Best known for: Conrad is best remembered as Secret Service agent James T. West in the classic series The Wild Wild West (1965-69). Earlier, he had headlined the detective series Hawaiian Eye (1959-63), and later starred in the World War II-set drama series Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976-78). Also a singer, Conrad recorded a number of pop and rock songs in the 1950s and ’60s under the name Bob Conrad.
Kirk Douglas
1916-2020
Cause of Death: TBD
Best known for: The iconic actor and father of Michael Douglas was best known for his roles in movies like Spartacus, Lust for Life, and others. He also appeared in TV miniseries Arthur Hailey’s the Moneychangers and Queenie and more.
Jim Lehrer
1934-2020
Cause of Death: Unknown
Best known for: The reporter delivered the news on television for nearly four decades, serving on PBS NewsHour and more.
Terry Jones
1942-2020
Cause of Death: Complications from dementia
Best known for: Jones was the co-founder of Monty Python, the banner under which he worked on various titles including Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Stan Kirsch
1968-2020
Cause of Death: Suicide
Best known for:Highlander, JAG and Invincible.
Buck Henry
1930-2020
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Best known for: Some recent roles include parts on 30 Rock and Hot in Cleveland, Henry’s also known for creating the series Get Smart.
Silvio Horta
1974-2020
Cause of Death: Suicide
Best known for: Horta created the popular series Ugly Betty
We’re nearing the end of 2020, during which we’ve had to say goodbye to some beloved TV stars.
Though they may be gone, their legacies will live on. Audiences can still enjoy their TV projects, so a little part of them will be celebrated and remembered forever.
Click through the gallery above for all of the small-screen celebs who have left us so far this year.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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