Roone Arledge, 71: He was told he was crazy when describing his idea for the primetime Monday Night Football. Thank goodness he didn't listen. He also gave us Wide World of Sports.
Milton Berle, 93: Everyone loved Uncle Miltie,
he put TV comedy on the map. He opened his variety show in a different
costume each and every week. Berle is in the Television Hall of Fame,
and was the first member of the International Comedy Hall of Fame.
Otis Blackwell, 70: You may not have heard of his name, but he wrote Don't Be Cruel for Elvis and Great Balls of Fire for Jerry Lee Lewis.
Jack Buck, 77: Famous St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster; many of us remember his phrase "I don't believe what I just saw!" when describing Kirk Gibson's dramatic pinch-hit game-winning homerun in the 1988 World Series.
Rosemary Clooney, 74: she starred in many films, including White Christmas, and in song, bid us to Come On-a My House; aunt of actor George Clooney.
Carrie Hamilton, 38: actress and daughter of Carol Burnett.
Waylon Jennings, 64: country music legend, his biggest hit was Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys with Willie Nelson.
Darryl Kile, 33: you may not have known him before his death, but you now know he was the St. Louis' Cardinals #1 pitcher at the time, and he died from a sudden and unexplainable blocked arteries condition within days of the passing of Jack Buck (above).
Ward Kimball, 88: One of Walt Disney's original "Nine Old Men" animators, he directed Fantasia and Dumbo.
Ann Landers, 83: famed advice columnist and sister to Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby); Landers real name was Eppie Lederer.
Peggy Lee, 81: she sang "He's a Tramp" for Disney's Lady and the Tramp (1955), and voiced four different parts for the animated film - Darling, Si, Am, and Peg.
Lisa Lopes, 30: member of female rap trio TLC; died in car accident.
Linda Lovelace, 53: while most have heard of her as a porn film star, she actually became an anti-porn advocate in her later years.
Dudley Moore, 66: actor's breakout film was 10 (1979) with Julie Andrews and Bo Derek.
Richard Mudd, 101: grandson of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was convicted of conspiring to kill President Abraham Lincoln because he set the broken leg of assassin John Wilkes Booth.
Bill Peet, 87: As a Walt Disney artist, he wrote the screenplay for 101 Dalmatians and created the Captain Hook character for Peter Pan, saying he designed Hook to look like Walt, after the two had had a disagreement.
Avery Schreiber, 66: one of the old school improv comedians and part of the Burns and Schreiber comedy team; he actually made more money doing Doritos commercials.
Howard K. Smith, 87: famed broadcaster for both ABC and CBS television networks, beginning with "Behind the News" in 1959.
Sam Snead, 89: renown golfer, he taught the sport to himself and holds the record for most PGA Tour wins with 82.
Dave Thomas, 69: he named his Wendy's restaurant chain after his daughter and became famous and recognizable by appearing in many TV commercials for the fast food chain.
Johnny Unitas, 69: many feel this Hall of Famer was the greatest quarterback of all time, and a pioneer of the forward pass.
Robert Urich, 55: star of many TV shows, his first appearance was in TV series The F.B.I. in 1972 at age 25.
Pat Weaver, 93: former NBC president, he created the Today and Tonight shows; father of Alien and Ghostbusters actress Sigourney Weaver.
Ted Williams, 83: most feel he was the greatest pure baseball hitter of all time, and was the last player to bat over .400 in a season (.406 in 1941 after going 6 for 8 in a season-ending doubleheader).
