A great disturbance in the Force
What are heart failure, heart attack and cardiac arrest?
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Singer Christina Grimmie
died June 11 from gunshot wounds. The 22-year-old singer, who finished
third on season 6 of "The Voice" on NBC, was shot while signing
autographs after a concert in Orlando.
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Hockey legend Gordie Howe,
left, scored 801 goals in his NHL career and won four Stanley Cups with
the Detroit Red Wings. Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," died June 10
at the age of 88, his son Marty said.
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Mixed martial arts fighter Kimbo Slice
died June 6 at the age of 42. Slice, whose real name was Kevin
Ferguson, initially gained fame from online videos that showed him
engaging in backyard bare-knuckle fights. He then became a professional
fighter with a natural charisma that endeared him to fans.
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Muhammad Ali,
the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who called himself "The
Greatest," died June 3 at the age of 74. Fans on every continent adored
him, and at one point he was the probably the most recognizable man on
the planet.
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Drummer Nick Menza,
who played on many of Megadeth's most successful albums, died after
collapsing on stage during a show with his current band, Ohm, on May 21.
He was 51.
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Actor Alan Young, known for his role as Wilbur Post in the television show "Mr. Ed," died on May 19. He was 96.
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CBS News legend Morley Safer, whose work on "60 Minutes" embodied the show's 50 years on air, died at the age of 84, according to CBS on May 19.
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Grammy-winning songwriter Guy Clark died May 17 at the age of 74. The Texas native died after a long illness, according to a statement from his publicist.
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William Schallert,
a familiar face in television and film thanks to roles on "The Patty
Duke Show," "Star Trek" and many more, died May 8 at age 93, his son
said.
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Madeleine LeBeau,
known for her role in "Casablanca," died May 1 after breaking her thigh
bone, her stepson Carlo Alberto Pinelli told CNN. The actress, who
played the jilted girlfriend of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) in the movie, was
92.
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Papa Wemba,
one of Africa's most flamboyant and popular musicians, died after
collapsing on stage at a music festival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on
April 23, according to a statement from the Urban Music Festival. He was
66.
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The musician Prince
died at his home in Minnesota on April 21 at age 57. The medical
examiner later determined he died of an accidental overdose of the
opioid fentanyl.
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Michelle McNamara,
the crime writer who founded the website TrueCrimeStory.com and the
wife of popular comedian Patton Oswalt, died April 21, her husband's
publicist confirmed. She was 46. No cause of death was provided.
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Joan Laurer, the former pro wrestler better known as Chyna,
was found dead in her Redondo Beach, California, apartment on April 20.
The cause of death is under investigation, but police said there were
no signs of foul play. Laurer was 45.
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Actress Doris Roberts, best known for her role as Marie Barone on the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," died April 17. She was 90.
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Will Smith,
a former first-round pick in the NFL who played for the New Orleans
Saints' Super Bowl-winning team, was shot to death after a traffic
incident on April 9. He was 34.
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Country music legend Merle Haggard died on April 6 -- his 79th birthday -- of complications from pneumonia, his agent Lance Roberts told CNN.
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Architect Zaha Hadid,
whose designs include the London Olympic Aquatic Centre, died March 31,
a spokesperson from Zaha Hadid Design told CNN. She was 65. Hadid died
of a heart attack in a Miami hospital where she was being treated for
bronchitis, according to her firm's press office.
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Actress Patty Duke,
star of "The Patty Duke Show," died March 29, at the age of 69. Duke
won an Academy Award at age 16 for playing Helen Keller in 1962's "The
Miracle Worker."
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Actor James Noble, who played Gov. Eugene X. Gatling in the television series "Benson," died from a stroke on March 28. He was 94.
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Author and poet Jim Harrison
died March 26 at his winter home in Arizona. He was 78. His many books
include "Legends of the Fall," which was made into a 1994 movie starring
Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins.
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Garry Shandling,
the inventive comedian and star of "The Larry Sanders Show," died March
24. He was 66. Shandling's comedy and mentorship influenced a
generation of comedians.
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Ken Howard,
seen here as Hank Hooper on "30 Rock," died March 23. He was 71. Howard
also starred in "The White Shadow" and appeared in many other TV
series.
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Malik Taylor, better known to fans as Phife Dawg
of the rap group A Tribe Called Quest, died March 23 at the age of 45.
He's seen here at center during a performance in 1996. Taylor had long
suffered from health issues associated with having Type 1 diabetes. In
2008, he underwent a kidney transplant.
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Actor Larry Drake,
best known for his role as Benny on "L.A. Law," died at his home in Los
Angeles on March 17, according to his manager Steven Siebert. Drake was
66.
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Frank Sinatra Jr.,
the son of the legendary entertainer who had a long musical career of
his own, died March 16, said manager Andrea Kauffman. He was 72.
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Keith Emerson,
keyboardist for the influential progressive rock group Emerson, Lake
& Palmer, died March 10, according to the band's official Facebook
page. He was 71.
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Sir George Martin,
the music producer whose collaboration with the Beatles helped redraw
the boundaries of popular music, died March 8, according to his
management company. He was 90. Above, Martin poses with the Beatles
after the album "Please Please Me" went silver in 1963.
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Former first lady Nancy Reagan,
who joined her husband on a storybook journey from Hollywood to the
White House, died of heart failure on March 6. She was known as a fierce
protector of her husband, President Ronald Reagan, as well as a
spokeswoman of the "just say no" anti-drug campaign. She was 94.
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Pat Conroy, who
used his troubled family history as grist for a series of novels,
including "The Prince of Tides" and "The Great Santini," died March 4 at
age 70.
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Bud Collins,
the legendary tennis writer who was the first newspaper scribe to
regularly appear on sports broadcasts, died March 4. He was 86. Collins
was beloved for his cheerful and enthusiastic coverage of a sport he
covered for almost 50 years.
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Lee Reherman, a former football player and star of "American Gladiators," was found dead on March 1. He was 49 years old.
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George Kennedy,
the brawny, Oscar-winning actor known for playing cops, soldiers and
blue-collar authority figures in such films as "Cool Hand Luke,"
"Airport" and the "Naked Gun" films, died February 28. He was 91.
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Tony Burton, who played trainer Tony "Duke" Evers in the "Rocky" film franchise, died on February 25. He was 78.
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Singer Sonny James, who ruled the country music charts for nearly 20 years, died February 22 at the age of 87.
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Umberto Eco,
author of the novels "The Name of the Rose" and "Foucault's Pendulum,"
died February 19 at the age of 84, his U.S. publisher said.
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Harper Lee,
whose novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in
1961, was confirmed dead on February 19. She was 89. Her
long-anticipated second novel, "Go Set a Watchman," was published in
2015.
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Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who was the United Nations' sixth secretary-general in the early 1990s, died on February 16. He was 93.
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George Gaynes, the veteran actor best known for "Punky Brewster" and the "Police Academy" films, died on February 15. He was 98.
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Denise Matthews,
who fronted the group Vanity 6 but was best known for her collaboration
with Prince, died February 15 at a hospital in Fremont, California. She
was 57.
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U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia,
the leading conservative voice on the high court, died at the age of
79, a government source and a family friend told CNN on February 13.
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Edgar Mitchell
was the sixth man to walk on the moon and just one of 12 total who have
done so. The Apollo 14 astronaut, who was 85, died on February 4.
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Dave Mirra,
whose dazzling aerial flips and tricks made him a legend in freestyle
BMX, died February 4 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police
in North Carolina said. He was 41.
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Maurice White,
the Earth, Wind & Fire leader and singer who co-wrote such hits as
"Shining Star," "Sing a Song" and "September," died on February 4, his
brother and bandmate Verdine White said. He was 74.
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Joe Alaskey,
a voice actor who performed such characters as Bugs Bunny and Daffy
Duck, died February 3 at the age of 63. The actor voiced many other
beloved Looney Tunes characters, including Tweety Bird, Sylvester the
Cat and Plucky Duck.
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At left is Bob Elliott,
half of the TV and radio comedy duo Bob and Ray. He died February 2 at
the age of 92. For several decades, Elliott and Ray Goulding's program
parodies and deadpan routines were staples of radio and television.
Elliott was the father of comedian and actor Chris Elliott and the
grandfather of "Saturday Night Live" cast member Abby Elliott.
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Paul Kantner,
a guitarist in the '60s psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and
its successor, Jefferson Starship, died on January 28. He was 74.
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Abe Vigoda,
the long-surviving "Godfather" and "Barney Miller" actor, died January
26 at age 94. Vigoda became famous for his role as the decrepit
detective Phil Fish on the television series "Barney Miller," but it was
the inaccurate reporting of his death in 1982 that led to a
decades-long joke that he was still alive. He played into the joke in
late-night television appearances with Conan O'Brien and David
Letterman.
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Glenn Frey,
a founding member of the Eagles, died at the age of 67, a publicist for
the band confirmed on January 18. "Glenn fought a courageous battle for
the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from
rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia," read a
post on the band's official website. Frey had been suffering from
intestinal issues.
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Dan Haggerty,
who played mountain man Grizzly Adams in a hit movie followed by a TV
show, died on January 15. He was 74 and had been battling cancer.
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Alan Rickman,
the British actor who played the brooding Professor Severus Snape in
the "Harry Potter" series years after his film debut as the "Die Hard"
villain Hans Gruber, died January 14 after a short battle with cancer, a
source familiar with his career said. He was 69.
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Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Monte Irvin
died January 11 at the age of 96. Irvin was regarded as one of the best
hitters and all-around players in the Negro League, making five
All-Star teams. He became one of the first African-Americans to play in
the majors, and he played a vital role in the New York Giants' World
Series runs in 1951 and 1954.
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David Bowie,
whose incomparable sound and chameleon-like ability to reinvent himself
made him a pop music fixture for more than four decades, died January
10 after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 69.
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French
fashion designer Andre Courreges, famous for his "space age" designs of
the 1960s and 1970s, died on January 7, his family told CNN affiliate
France 3. He was 92.
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Pat Harrington,
the popular comedian and voice-over talent who made a lasting impact as
superintendent Dwayne Schneider on the hit TV sitcom "One Day at a
Time," died on January 6. He was 86.
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Producer Robert Stigwood,
the creative force behind "Saturday Night Fever," "Grease" and other
cultural blockbusters of the 1970s, died on January 4. He was 81.
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Vilmos Zsigmond,
the Oscar-winning cinematographer whose varied work included "Close
Encounters of the Third Kind," "The Deer Hunter," "McCabe and Mrs.
Miller" and "Deliverance," died on January 1. He was 85.
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Dale Bumpers,
a former U.S. senator and Arkansas governor who defended President Bill
Clinton during his impeachment trial, died on January 1. He was 90.
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Former U.S. Rep. Mike Oxley -- co-author of a landmark anti-corporate-fraud law that bears his name -- died on January 1. He was 71.
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Actress
Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the "Star
Wars" franchises, died December 27, according to her daughter's
publicist. Fisher had suffered a cardiac event just days before on December 23. She was 60 years old.
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Actor and comedian Ricky Harris,
who was a regular on the TV sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris" and first
gained attention on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," died December 26, according
to his publicist. He was 54.
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Singer George Michael, who shot to fame with the '80s band Wham!, died Christmas Day, according to Britain's Press Association. He was 53 years old.
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English
novelist Richard Adams, author of the famous children's book "Watership
Down," died at the age of 96 on Saturday, December 24.
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Zsa Zsa Gabor,
the Hungarian beauty whose many marriages, gossipy adventures and
occasional legal scuffles kept her in tabloid headlines for decades,
died Sunday, December 18, said her former longtime publicist Ed Lozzi.
She was 99.
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Craig Sager,
the longtime Turner Sports sideline reporter best known for his
colorful -- and at times fluorescent -- wardrobe, died Thursday,
December 15, after battling acute myeloid leukemia, the network said. He
was 65.
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Actor Alan Thicke,
known for his role as the father in the sitcom "Growing Pains," died on
Tuesday, December 13, according to his agent, Tracy Mapes. He was 69.
Thicke's career spanned five decades -- one in which he played various
roles on and off screen, from actor to writer to composer to author.
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John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, died December 8, according to the Ohio State University. He was 95.
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Joseph Mascolo,
the actor who portrayed archvillain Stefano DiMera in the NBC soap
opera "Days of Our Lives," died December 7 after a battle with
Alzheimer's disease, the network said. He was 87.
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Greg Lake,
a founding member of influential progressive rock group Emerson, Lake
& Palmer, died December 7 after a bout with cancer, his manager
said. He's seen here at left with bandmates Keith Emerson, center, and
Carl Palmer in 1972.
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Actor Ron Glass,
known for his role on the police sitcom "Barney Miller," died November
25, his agent said. Glass also starred in "Firefly" and its film sequel
"Serenity."
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Florence Henderson,
whose "Brady Bunch" character Carol Brady was one of television's most
famous mothers, died November 24 at the age of 82, her manager, Kayla
Pressman, said.
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Sharon Jones,
the powerful lead singer of the Dap-Kings, died November 18 after a
battle with pancreatic cancer, manager Alex Kadvan told CNN. She was 60.
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Gwen Ifill,
the veteran journalist and newscaster who co-anchored "PBS NewsHour,"
died after a battle with endometrial cancer, according to PBS on
November 14. She was 61.
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Leon Russell,
who emerged as a rock 'n' roll star in the 1970s after working behind
the scenes as a session pianist for other musicians, died November 13,
his wife told CNN. He was 74.
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Robert Vaughn,
who played a slick spy on TV's "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", died November
11, his manager, Matthew Sullivan, told CNN. Vaughn was 83.
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Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen
died at the age of 82, according to a post on his official Facebook
page on November 10. A highly respected artist known for his poetic and
lyrical music, Cohen wrote a number of popular songs, including the
often-covered "Hallelujah."
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Janet Reno,
the first female US attorney general, died November 7 following a long
battle with Parkinson's disease, her sister Maggy Hurchalla said. Reno,
78, served in the Clinton White House from 1993 to 2001.
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Tom Hayden, a peace activist whose radical views helped spur the anti-Vietnam War movement, died October 23. He was 76.
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Actor and comedian Kevin Meaney,
who had been a regular on late-night TV and was famous for delivering
the line, "That's not right," died, his agent said October 21. Meaney's
age and the cause of death weren't immediately known.
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Phil Chess,
the co-founder of the iconic rock-and-roll and blues label Chess
Records, died October 18, according to his son. He was 95. Phil and his
brother Leonard founded Chess Records in the late 1940s and helped spawn
the careers of many popular musicians in the 1950s.
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Dylan Rieder,
a professional skateboarder and model, died on October 12 due to
complications from leukemia, according to his father. He was 28.
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Actor Tommy Ford,
best known for his role as Tommy in the 1990s hit sitcom "Martin," died
in Atlanta, a spokeswoman for his family announced on October 12. Ford
was 52.
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Award-winning author Gloria Naylor,
whose explorations of the lives of black women in the 1980s and 1990s
earned her wide acclaim, died on September 28. She was 66.
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Golfing legend Arnold Palmer,
who helped turn the sport from a country club pursuit to one that
became accessible to the masses, died September 25 at the age of 87,
according to the U.S. Golf Association.
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Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, one of baseball's brightest stars, was killed in a boating accident September 25, Florida authorities said. He was 24.
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Veteran actor Bill Nunn, best
known for playing Radio Raheem in "Do the Right Thing" and Robbie
Robertson in the "Spider-Man" trilogy, died September 24 at age 63.
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Grammy and Emmy Award winner Stanley Dural Jr., also known as Buckwheat Zydeco, died September 24 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was 68.
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"L.A. Confidential" director and writer Curtis Hanson,
71, died of natural causes on September 20, Los Angeles police said. He
won an Oscar with Brian Helgeland for the screenplay on "L.A.
Confidential," and he also directed "8 Mile" and "Wonder Boys."
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Charmian Carr,
best known for her role as Liesl in "The Sound of Music," died
September 17 at the age of 73, according to her family. Carr died of
complications from a rare form of dementia.
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W.P. Kinsella, the author of "Shoeless Joe," the award-winning novel that became the film "Field of Dreams," died at 81 on September 16.
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Legendary playwright Edward Albee
-- whose works included "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" -- died at
the age of 88 after a short illness, according to his personal assistant
Jakob Holder. Albee died September 16 at his home in Montauk, New York.
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Actress and transgender rights activist Alexis Arquette died September 11. She was 47.
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The Lady Chablis,
the unabashed Savannah, Georgia, transgender queen who became a gay
icon after finding fame in the 1990s through the "Midnight in the Garden
of Good and Evil" book and movie, died September 8. She was 59.
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Actor Hugh O'Brian,
best known for his portrayal of the title role in the 1950's TV Western
"The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp," died on September 5. He was 91.
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Character
actor Jon Polito, who appeared in films such as "American Gangster" and
"The Big Lebowski," died September 2, his manager confirmed. He was 65.
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Fred Hellerman,
a singer and composer who was the last surviving member of the iconic
and influential folk music quartet the Weavers, died September 1 at the
age of 89. He is on the right along with the other members of his
quartet.
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Actor Gene Wilder,
who brought a wild-eyed desperation to a series of memorable and iconic
comedy roles in the 1970s and 1980s, died August 29 at the age of 83.
Some of his most famous films include "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing
Saddles" and "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."
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Mexican music icon Juan Gabriel, who wooed audiences with soulful pop ballads that made him a Latin American music legend, died August 28 at the age of 66.
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Actor Steven Hill,
best known for playing District Attorney Adam Schiff on NBC's "Law
& Order," died August 23, his son confirmed to CNN. He was 94.
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Matt Roberts,
former guitarist of the band 3 Doors Down, died August 21, his father
said. Roberts, seen here at center, was 38. A cause of death was not
immediately known.
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British actor Kenny Baker, best known for playing R2-D2 in the "Star Wars" films, died on August 13, Baker's niece, Abigail Shield, told CNN. He was 81.
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Famous New Orleans jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain died August 6 of heart failure. He was 86.
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Actor David Huddleston, perhaps best known for his role in the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski," died August 2 at the age of 85.
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Youree Dell Harris,
better known as "Miss Cleo," the pitchwoman for the Psychic Readers
Network, died July 26 of cancer, according to an attorney for her
family. She was 53.
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Timothy LaHaye,
the evangelical minister and co-author of the "Left Behind" book
series, died July 26 following a massive stroke. He was 90 years old.
Here, he is seen at left with co-author Jerry B. Jenkins in 2004.
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Garry Marshall,
who created popular TV shows such as "Mork and Mindy" and "Happy Days"
and directed hit films such as "Pretty Woman" and "The Princess
Diaries," died July 19 at the age of 81, his publicist said.
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Actress Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane in the 1950s TV version of "Superman," died July 3 at the age of 95.
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Director Michael Cimino, whose searing 1978 Vietnam War drama "The Deer Hunter" won five Oscars, including best picture, died July 2. He was 77.
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Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel
died at the age of 87 on July 2. Wiesel's book "La Nuit" is the story
of the Wiesel family being sent to Nazi concentration camps.
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Scotty
Moore, a legendary guitarist credited with helping to launch Elvis
Presley's career, died at the age of 84 on June 28. Moore is a member of
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he was ranked No. 29 on Rolling
Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists.
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Pat Summitt,
who built the University of Tennessee's Lady Volunteers into a
perennial power on the way to becoming the winningest coach in the
history of major college basketball, died June 28 at the age of 64. Her
death came five years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
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Bill Cunningham,
one of the most recognizable figures at The New York Times and in all
of New York, died June 25 at the age of 87. Cunningham was a street-life
photographer; a cultural anthropologist; a fixture at fashion events;
and a celebrity in spite of his desire to keep the camera focused on
others, not himself.
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Bluegrass music pioneer Ralph Stanley died
June 23 at the age of 89, publicist Kirt Webster announced on Stanley's
official website. Stanley was already famous in bluegrass and roots
music circles when the 2000 hit movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
thrust him into the mainstream. He provided a haunting a cappella
version of the dirge "O Death" and ended up winning a Grammy.
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Anton Yelchin,
who played Pavel Chekov in the most recent "Star Trek" movies, died
June 19 after a freak car accident outside his home, police said. He was
27.
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Actor Ron Lester,
who portrayed Billy Bob in the 1999 football movie "Varsity Blues,"
died June 17 at the age of 45, according to his representative Dave
Bradley. Bradley said Lester died of organ failure -- specifically his
liver and his kidneys. Lester had openly talked about his struggle with
his illness on Twitter.
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Singer Attrell Cordes,
known as Prince Be of the music duo P.M. Dawn, died June 17 after
suffering from diabetes and renal kidney disease, according to a
statement from the group. He was 46.
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Michu Meszaros,
the actor who played "Alf" in the popular '80s sitcom, died June 12,
according to his longtime friend and manager Dennis Varga. Meszaros was
77.
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Singer Christina Grimmie
died June 11 from gunshot wounds. The 22-year-old singer, who finished
third on season 6 of "The Voice" on NBC, was shot while signing
autographs after a concert in Orlando.
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Hockey legend Gordie Howe,
left, scored 801 goals in his NHL career and won four Stanley Cups with
the Detroit Red Wings. Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," died June 10
at the age of 88, his son Marty said.
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Mixed martial arts fighter Kimbo Slice
died June 6 at the age of 42. Slice, whose real name was Kevin
Ferguson, initially gained fame from online videos that showed him
engaging in backyard bare-knuckle fights. He then became a professional
fighter with a natural charisma that endeared him to fans.
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Muhammad Ali,
the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who called himself "The
Greatest," died June 3 at the age of 74. Fans on every continent adored
him, and at one point he was the probably the most recognizable man on
the planet.
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Drummer Nick Menza,
who played on many of Megadeth's most successful albums, died after
collapsing on stage during a show with his current band, Ohm, on May 21.
He was 51.
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Actor Alan Young, known for his role as Wilbur Post in the television show "Mr. Ed," died on May 19. He was 96.
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CBS News legend Morley Safer, whose work on "60 Minutes" embodied the show's 50 years on air, died at the age of 84, according to CBS on May 19.
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Grammy-winning songwriter Guy Clark died May 17 at the age of 74. The Texas native died after a long illness, according to a statement from his publicist.
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William Schallert,
a familiar face in television and film thanks to roles on "The Patty
Duke Show," "Star Trek" and many more, died May 8 at age 93, his son
said.
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Madeleine LeBeau,
known for her role in "Casablanca," died May 1 after breaking her thigh
bone, her stepson Carlo Alberto Pinelli told CNN. The actress, who
played the jilted girlfriend of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) in the movie, was
92.
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Papa Wemba,
one of Africa's most flamboyant and popular musicians, died after
collapsing on stage at a music festival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on
April 23, according to a statement from the Urban Music Festival. He was
66.
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The musician Prince
died at his home in Minnesota on April 21 at age 57. The medical
examiner later determined he died of an accidental overdose of the
opioid fentanyl.
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Michelle McNamara,
the crime writer who founded the website TrueCrimeStory.com and the
wife of popular comedian Patton Oswalt, died April 21, her husband's
publicist confirmed. She was 46. No cause of death was provided.
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Joan Laurer, the former pro wrestler better known as Chyna,
was found dead in her Redondo Beach, California, apartment on April 20.
The cause of death is under investigation, but police said there were
no signs of foul play. Laurer was 45.
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Actress Doris Roberts, best known for her role as Marie Barone on the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," died April 17. She was 90.
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Will Smith,
a former first-round pick in the NFL who played for the New Orleans
Saints' Super Bowl-winning team, was shot to death after a traffic
incident on April 9. He was 34.
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Country music legend Merle Haggard died on April 6 -- his 79th birthday -- of complications from pneumonia, his agent Lance Roberts told CNN.
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Architect Zaha Hadid,
whose designs include the London Olympic Aquatic Centre, died March 31,
a spokesperson from Zaha Hadid Design told CNN. She was 65. Hadid died
of a heart attack in a Miami hospital where she was being treated for
bronchitis, according to her firm's press office.
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Actress Patty Duke,
star of "The Patty Duke Show," died March 29, at the age of 69. Duke
won an Academy Award at age 16 for playing Helen Keller in 1962's "The
Miracle Worker."
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Actor James Noble, who played Gov. Eugene X. Gatling in the television series "Benson," died from a stroke on March 28. He was 94.
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Author and poet Jim Harrison
died March 26 at his winter home in Arizona. He was 78. His many books
include "Legends of the Fall," which was made into a 1994 movie starring
Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins.
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Garry Shandling,
the inventive comedian and star of "The Larry Sanders Show," died March
24. He was 66. Shandling's comedy and mentorship influenced a
generation of comedians.
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Ken Howard,
seen here as Hank Hooper on "30 Rock," died March 23. He was 71. Howard
also starred in "The White Shadow" and appeared in many other TV
series.
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Malik Taylor, better known to fans as Phife Dawg
of the rap group A Tribe Called Quest, died March 23 at the age of 45.
He's seen here at center during a performance in 1996. Taylor had long
suffered from health issues associated with having Type 1 diabetes. In
2008, he underwent a kidney transplant.
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Actor Larry Drake,
best known for his role as Benny on "L.A. Law," died at his home in Los
Angeles on March 17, according to his manager Steven Siebert. Drake was
66.
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Frank Sinatra Jr.,
the son of the legendary entertainer who had a long musical career of
his own, died March 16, said manager Andrea Kauffman. He was 72.
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Keith Emerson,
keyboardist for the influential progressive rock group Emerson, Lake
& Palmer, died March 10, according to the band's official Facebook
page. He was 71.
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Sir George Martin,
the music producer whose collaboration with the Beatles helped redraw
the boundaries of popular music, died March 8, according to his
management company. He was 90. Above, Martin poses with the Beatles
after the album "Please Please Me" went silver in 1963.
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Former first lady Nancy Reagan,
who joined her husband on a storybook journey from Hollywood to the
White House, died of heart failure on March 6. She was known as a fierce
protector of her husband, President Ronald Reagan, as well as a
spokeswoman of the "just say no" anti-drug campaign. She was 94.
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Pat Conroy, who
used his troubled family history as grist for a series of novels,
including "The Prince of Tides" and "The Great Santini," died March 4 at
age 70.
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Bud Collins,
the legendary tennis writer who was the first newspaper scribe to
regularly appear on sports broadcasts, died March 4. He was 86. Collins
was beloved for his cheerful and enthusiastic coverage of a sport he
covered for almost 50 years.
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Lee Reherman, a former football player and star of "American Gladiators," was found dead on March 1. He was 49 years old.
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George Kennedy,
the brawny, Oscar-winning actor known for playing cops, soldiers and
blue-collar authority figures in such films as "Cool Hand Luke,"
"Airport" and the "Naked Gun" films, died February 28. He was 91.
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Tony Burton, who played trainer Tony "Duke" Evers in the "Rocky" film franchise, died on February 25. He was 78.
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Singer Sonny James, who ruled the country music charts for nearly 20 years, died February 22 at the age of 87.
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Umberto Eco,
author of the novels "The Name of the Rose" and "Foucault's Pendulum,"
died February 19 at the age of 84, his U.S. publisher said.
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Harper Lee,
whose novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in
1961, was confirmed dead on February 19. She was 89. Her
long-anticipated second novel, "Go Set a Watchman," was published in
2015.
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Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who was the United Nations' sixth secretary-general in the early 1990s, died on February 16. He was 93.
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George Gaynes, the veteran actor best known for "Punky Brewster" and the "Police Academy" films, died on February 15. He was 98.
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Denise Matthews,
who fronted the group Vanity 6 but was best known for her collaboration
with Prince, died February 15 at a hospital in Fremont, California. She
was 57.
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U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia,
the leading conservative voice on the high court, died at the age of
79, a government source and a family friend told CNN on February 13.
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Edgar Mitchell
was the sixth man to walk on the moon and just one of 12 total who have
done so. The Apollo 14 astronaut, who was 85, died on February 4.
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Dave Mirra,
whose dazzling aerial flips and tricks made him a legend in freestyle
BMX, died February 4 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police
in North Carolina said. He was 41.
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Maurice White,
the Earth, Wind & Fire leader and singer who co-wrote such hits as
"Shining Star," "Sing a Song" and "September," died on February 4, his
brother and bandmate Verdine White said. He was 74.
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Joe Alaskey,
a voice actor who performed such characters as Bugs Bunny and Daffy
Duck, died February 3 at the age of 63. The actor voiced many other
beloved Looney Tunes characters, including Tweety Bird, Sylvester the
Cat and Plucky Duck.
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At left is Bob Elliott,
half of the TV and radio comedy duo Bob and Ray. He died February 2 at
the age of 92. For several decades, Elliott and Ray Goulding's program
parodies and deadpan routines were staples of radio and television.
Elliott was the father of comedian and actor Chris Elliott and the
grandfather of "Saturday Night Live" cast member Abby Elliott.
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Paul Kantner,
a guitarist in the '60s psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and
its successor, Jefferson Starship, died on January 28. He was 74.
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Abe Vigoda,
the long-surviving "Godfather" and "Barney Miller" actor, died January
26 at age 94. Vigoda became famous for his role as the decrepit
detective Phil Fish on the television series "Barney Miller," but it was
the inaccurate reporting of his death in 1982 that led to a
decades-long joke that he was still alive. He played into the joke in
late-night television appearances with Conan O'Brien and David
Letterman.
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Glenn Frey,
a founding member of the Eagles, died at the age of 67, a publicist for
the band confirmed on January 18. "Glenn fought a courageous battle for
the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from
rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia," read a
post on the band's official website. Frey had been suffering from
intestinal issues.
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Dan Haggerty,
who played mountain man Grizzly Adams in a hit movie followed by a TV
show, died on January 15. He was 74 and had been battling cancer.
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Alan Rickman,
the British actor who played the brooding Professor Severus Snape in
the "Harry Potter" series years after his film debut as the "Die Hard"
villain Hans Gruber, died January 14 after a short battle with cancer, a
source familiar with his career said. He was 69.
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Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Monte Irvin
died January 11 at the age of 96. Irvin was regarded as one of the best
hitters and all-around players in the Negro League, making five
All-Star teams. He became one of the first African-Americans to play in
the majors, and he played a vital role in the New York Giants' World
Series runs in 1951 and 1954.
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David Bowie,
whose incomparable sound and chameleon-like ability to reinvent himself
made him a pop music fixture for more than four decades, died January
10 after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 69.
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French
fashion designer Andre Courreges, famous for his "space age" designs of
the 1960s and 1970s, died on January 7, his family told CNN affiliate
France 3. He was 92.
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Pat Harrington,
the popular comedian and voice-over talent who made a lasting impact as
superintendent Dwayne Schneider on the hit TV sitcom "One Day at a
Time," died on January 6. He was 86.
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Producer Robert Stigwood,
the creative force behind "Saturday Night Fever," "Grease" and other
cultural blockbusters of the 1970s, died on January 4. He was 81.
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Vilmos Zsigmond,
the Oscar-winning cinematographer whose varied work included "Close
Encounters of the Third Kind," "The Deer Hunter," "McCabe and Mrs.
Miller" and "Deliverance," died on January 1. He was 85.
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Dale Bumpers,
a former U.S. senator and Arkansas governor who defended President Bill
Clinton during his impeachment trial, died on January 1. He was 90.
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Former U.S. Rep. Mike Oxley -- co-author of a landmark anti-corporate-fraud law that bears his name -- died on January 1. He was 71.
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Actress
Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the "Star
Wars" franchises, died December 27, according to her daughter's
publicist. Fisher had suffered a cardiac event just days before on December 23. She was 60 years old.
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Actor and comedian Ricky Harris,
who was a regular on the TV sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris" and first
gained attention on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," died December 26, according
to his publicist. He was 54.
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Singer George Michael, who shot to fame with the '80s band Wham!, died Christmas Day, according to Britain's Press Association. He was 53 years old.
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English
novelist Richard Adams, author of the famous children's book "Watership
Down," died at the age of 96 on Saturday, December 24.
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Zsa Zsa Gabor,
the Hungarian beauty whose many marriages, gossipy adventures and
occasional legal scuffles kept her in tabloid headlines for decades,
died Sunday, December 18, said her former longtime publicist Ed Lozzi.
She was 99.
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Craig Sager,
the longtime Turner Sports sideline reporter best known for his
colorful -- and at times fluorescent -- wardrobe, died Thursday,
December 15, after battling acute myeloid leukemia, the network said. He
was 65.
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Actor Alan Thicke,
known for his role as the father in the sitcom "Growing Pains," died on
Tuesday, December 13, according to his agent, Tracy Mapes. He was 69.
Thicke's career spanned five decades -- one in which he played various
roles on and off screen, from actor to writer to composer to author.
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John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, died December 8, according to the Ohio State University. He was 95.
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Joseph Mascolo,
the actor who portrayed archvillain Stefano DiMera in the NBC soap
opera "Days of Our Lives," died December 7 after a battle with
Alzheimer's disease, the network said. He was 87.
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Greg Lake,
a founding member of influential progressive rock group Emerson, Lake
& Palmer, died December 7 after a bout with cancer, his manager
said. He's seen here at left with bandmates Keith Emerson, center, and
Carl Palmer in 1972.
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Actor Ron Glass,
known for his role on the police sitcom "Barney Miller," died November
25, his agent said. Glass also starred in "Firefly" and its film sequel
"Serenity."
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Florence Henderson,
whose "Brady Bunch" character Carol Brady was one of television's most
famous mothers, died November 24 at the age of 82, her manager, Kayla
Pressman, said.
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Sharon Jones,
the powerful lead singer of the Dap-Kings, died November 18 after a
battle with pancreatic cancer, manager Alex Kadvan told CNN. She was 60.
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Gwen Ifill,
the veteran journalist and newscaster who co-anchored "PBS NewsHour,"
died after a battle with endometrial cancer, according to PBS on
November 14. She was 61.
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Leon Russell,
who emerged as a rock 'n' roll star in the 1970s after working behind
the scenes as a session pianist for other musicians, died November 13,
his wife told CNN. He was 74.
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Robert Vaughn,
who played a slick spy on TV's "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", died November
11, his manager, Matthew Sullivan, told CNN. Vaughn was 83.
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Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen
died at the age of 82, according to a post on his official Facebook
page on November 10. A highly respected artist known for his poetic and
lyrical music, Cohen wrote a number of popular songs, including the
often-covered "Hallelujah."
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Janet Reno,
the first female US attorney general, died November 7 following a long
battle with Parkinson's disease, her sister Maggy Hurchalla said. Reno,
78, served in the Clinton White House from 1993 to 2001.
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Tom Hayden, a peace activist whose radical views helped spur the anti-Vietnam War movement, died October 23. He was 76.
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Actor and comedian Kevin Meaney,
who had been a regular on late-night TV and was famous for delivering
the line, "That's not right," died, his agent said October 21. Meaney's
age and the cause of death weren't immediately known.
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Phil Chess,
the co-founder of the iconic rock-and-roll and blues label Chess
Records, died October 18, according to his son. He was 95. Phil and his
brother Leonard founded Chess Records in the late 1940s and helped spawn
the careers of many popular musicians in the 1950s.
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Dylan Rieder,
a professional skateboarder and model, died on October 12 due to
complications from leukemia, according to his father. He was 28.
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Actor Tommy Ford,
best known for his role as Tommy in the 1990s hit sitcom "Martin," died
in Atlanta, a spokeswoman for his family announced on October 12. Ford
was 52.
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Award-winning author Gloria Naylor,
whose explorations of the lives of black women in the 1980s and 1990s
earned her wide acclaim, died on September 28. She was 66.
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Golfing legend Arnold Palmer,
who helped turn the sport from a country club pursuit to one that
became accessible to the masses, died September 25 at the age of 87,
according to the U.S. Golf Association.
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Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, one of baseball's brightest stars, was killed in a boating accident September 25, Florida authorities said. He was 24.
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Veteran actor Bill Nunn, best
known for playing Radio Raheem in "Do the Right Thing" and Robbie
Robertson in the "Spider-Man" trilogy, died September 24 at age 63.
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Grammy and Emmy Award winner Stanley Dural Jr., also known as Buckwheat Zydeco, died September 24 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was 68.
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"L.A. Confidential" director and writer Curtis Hanson,
71, died of natural causes on September 20, Los Angeles police said. He
won an Oscar with Brian Helgeland for the screenplay on "L.A.
Confidential," and he also directed "8 Mile" and "Wonder Boys."
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Charmian Carr,
best known for her role as Liesl in "The Sound of Music," died
September 17 at the age of 73, according to her family. Carr died of
complications from a rare form of dementia.
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W.P. Kinsella, the author of "Shoeless Joe," the award-winning novel that became the film "Field of Dreams," died at 81 on September 16.
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Legendary playwright Edward Albee
-- whose works included "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" -- died at
the age of 88 after a short illness, according to his personal assistant
Jakob Holder. Albee died September 16 at his home in Montauk, New York.
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Actress and transgender rights activist Alexis Arquette died September 11. She was 47.
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The Lady Chablis,
the unabashed Savannah, Georgia, transgender queen who became a gay
icon after finding fame in the 1990s through the "Midnight in the Garden
of Good and Evil" book and movie, died September 8. She was 59.
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Actor Hugh O'Brian,
best known for his portrayal of the title role in the 1950's TV Western
"The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp," died on September 5. He was 91.
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Character
actor Jon Polito, who appeared in films such as "American Gangster" and
"The Big Lebowski," died September 2, his manager confirmed. He was 65.
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Fred Hellerman,
a singer and composer who was the last surviving member of the iconic
and influential folk music quartet the Weavers, died September 1 at the
age of 89. He is on the right along with the other members of his
quartet.
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Actor Gene Wilder,
who brought a wild-eyed desperation to a series of memorable and iconic
comedy roles in the 1970s and 1980s, died August 29 at the age of 83.
Some of his most famous films include "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing
Saddles" and "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."
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Mexican music icon Juan Gabriel, who wooed audiences with soulful pop ballads that made him a Latin American music legend, died August 28 at the age of 66.
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Actor Steven Hill,
best known for playing District Attorney Adam Schiff on NBC's "Law
& Order," died August 23, his son confirmed to CNN. He was 94.
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Matt Roberts,
former guitarist of the band 3 Doors Down, died August 21, his father
said. Roberts, seen here at center, was 38. A cause of death was not
immediately known.
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British actor Kenny Baker, best known for playing R2-D2 in the "Star Wars" films, died on August 13, Baker's niece, Abigail Shield, told CNN. He was 81.
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Famous New Orleans jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain died August 6 of heart failure. He was 86.
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Actor David Huddleston, perhaps best known for his role in the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski," died August 2 at the age of 85.
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Youree Dell Harris,
better known as "Miss Cleo," the pitchwoman for the Psychic Readers
Network, died July 26 of cancer, according to an attorney for her
family. She was 53.
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Timothy LaHaye,
the evangelical minister and co-author of the "Left Behind" book
series, died July 26 following a massive stroke. He was 90 years old.
Here, he is seen at left with co-author Jerry B. Jenkins in 2004.
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Garry Marshall,
who created popular TV shows such as "Mork and Mindy" and "Happy Days"
and directed hit films such as "Pretty Woman" and "The Princess
Diaries," died July 19 at the age of 81, his publicist said.
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Actress Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane in the 1950s TV version of "Superman," died July 3 at the age of 95.
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Director Michael Cimino, whose searing 1978 Vietnam War drama "The Deer Hunter" won five Oscars, including best picture, died July 2. He was 77.
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Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel
died at the age of 87 on July 2. Wiesel's book "La Nuit" is the story
of the Wiesel family being sent to Nazi concentration camps.
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Scotty
Moore, a legendary guitarist credited with helping to launch Elvis
Presley's career, died at the age of 84 on June 28. Moore is a member of
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he was ranked No. 29 on Rolling
Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists.
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Pat Summitt,
who built the University of Tennessee's Lady Volunteers into a
perennial power on the way to becoming the winningest coach in the
history of major college basketball, died June 28 at the age of 64. Her
death came five years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
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Bill Cunningham,
one of the most recognizable figures at The New York Times and in all
of New York, died June 25 at the age of 87. Cunningham was a street-life
photographer; a cultural anthropologist; a fixture at fashion events;
and a celebrity in spite of his desire to keep the camera focused on
others, not himself.
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Bluegrass music pioneer Ralph Stanley died
June 23 at the age of 89, publicist Kirt Webster announced on Stanley's
official website. Stanley was already famous in bluegrass and roots
music circles when the 2000 hit movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
thrust him into the mainstream. He provided a haunting a cappella
version of the dirge "O Death" and ended up winning a Grammy.
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Anton Yelchin,
who played Pavel Chekov in the most recent "Star Trek" movies, died
June 19 after a freak car accident outside his home, police said. He was
27.
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Actor Ron Lester,
who portrayed Billy Bob in the 1999 football movie "Varsity Blues,"
died June 17 at the age of 45, according to his representative Dave
Bradley. Bradley said Lester died of organ failure -- specifically his
liver and his kidneys. Lester had openly talked about his struggle with
his illness on Twitter.
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Singer Attrell Cordes,
known as Prince Be of the music duo P.M. Dawn, died June 17 after
suffering from diabetes and renal kidney disease, according to a
statement from the group. He was 46.
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Michu Meszaros,
the actor who played "Alf" in the popular '80s sitcom, died June 12,
according to his longtime friend and manager Dennis Varga. Meszaros was
77.
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Story highlights
- A heart attack is a muscle problem, but sudden cardiac arrest is an electrical problem
- A heart attack can lead to sudden cardiac death, leaving a patient only minutes to live unless treated
(CNN)A string of recent celebrity deaths serves as a stark reminder that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer around the world.
Actress Carrie Fisher died
Tuesday morning at age 60 after suffering a massive heart attack days
earlier aboard a flight bound for Los Angeles, a family representative
confirmed. Singer George Michael died at age 53 on Christmas Day when, according to his manager, his heart "failed" him while lying peacefully in bed. Alan Thicke,
"Growing Pains" actor and father of pop singer Robin Thicke, died at
age 69 after suffering a heart attack while playing hockey with his
youngest son on December 13.
All three deaths were early and unexpected.
More on Carrie Fisher
Story: Actress dies at 60
Photos: Fisher through the years
Story: How she died
Story: 7 things you didn't know about Carrie Fisher
Video: Her most memorable moments
Story: Hollywood royalty, but a writing jester
Video: Her affair with Harrison Ford
CNN interview: 'I didn't want to be famous'
Fast facts on Fisher
Photos: Fisher through the years
Story: How she died
Story: 7 things you didn't know about Carrie Fisher
Video: Her most memorable moments
Story: Hollywood royalty, but a writing jester
Video: Her affair with Harrison Ford
CNN interview: 'I didn't want to be famous'
Fast facts on Fisher
"That's why it's very important for all of us to learn how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation," said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association who had no direct knowledge of Fisher's condition or death.
"That's
the first step when someone collapses to help save their life," added
Goldberg, who is also medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for
Women's Health at the NYU Langone Medical Center in NYC.
What is heart failure?
The American Heart Association
describes heart failure as a condition that occurs when this important
organ, essentially a pump, cannot effectively push blood out through the
arteries and circulatory system to the body's other organs and tissues.
Congestive
heart failure, a worsening of this general condition, means blood flow
from the heart through the arteries has slowed while blood returning to
the heart through the veins has begun to back up and combined they cause
congestion -- a blood traffic jam -- in the body's tissues.
The
result is edema, or swelling, usually in the legs and ankles, though
edema can happen anywhere in the body. Heart failure also impairs the
kidneys' ability to dispose of water and sodium, causing even more
swelling. When pulmonary edema happens, fluid collects in the lungs and
interferes with breathing.
Conditions
that can lead to heart failure include high blood pressure, diabetes,
obesity and coronary artery disease: when plaque builds up in the walls
of arteries causing them to narrow and increasing the difficulty of
pumping blood.
Heart failure, then, is a medical condition that needs to be treated to prevent a life-threatening heart attack.
What is a heart attack?
"A
heart attack is a circulation problem," said Goldberg. When circulation
is blocked or cut off in some way and blood is no longer supplied to
the heart muscle, this can damage that muscle, she explained. Though
it's commonly described as a heart attack, doctors refer to this
condition as "myocardial infarction."
Blockages
causing heart attacks are mostly caused by a buildup of plaque in the
arteries. Plaque forms when cholesterol combines with fat, calcium and
other substances in the blood.
Combined,
these elements harden into plaque, which can then rupture, causing a
blood clot to form. Large clots can completely block the flow of blood
through an artery.
"People who are
at risk for heart attacks are people who have a family history of heart
attack, having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of
exercise, cigarette smoking -- the major risk factors we always
discuss," Goldberg said.
Another
less frequent cause of a heart attack is a spasm caused by tobacco or
possibly illicit drugs, such as cocaine, which disables the heart
muscle, according to the American Heart Association. A tear in the
artery, though rare, can also result in a heart attack.
The
association says heart attacks can be fatal, but they do not
automatically lead to death. The group advises that immediate emergency
medical help can often prevent a heart attack.
"And
if you think someone is having an heart attack, call 911. Don't wait,"
Goldberg said, explaining that the reason it's important to take an
ambulance to the hospital instead of, say, hitching a ride with a family
member or friend is that the ambulance is equipped to treat cardiac
arrest on the way to the emergency room.
What is sudden cardiac arrest?
Though
a heart attack occurs when circulation of blood is blocked, cardiac
arrest is the result of electrical disturbances that cause the heart to
suddenly stop beating.
"Sudden
cardiac death is an electrical problem, where your heart's rhythm is
rapid and irregular and your heart can't pump effectively, so you
suddenly collapse," Goldberg said.
As
you might expect, a sudden, unexpected loss of heart function results
in an equally sudden loss of breathing and consciousness.
Survival
is possible after sudden cardiac arrest, with treatment. Once again,
CPR, a defibrillator or chest compressions could save someone's life
until emergency personnel arrive.
One cause of sudden cardiac arrest is a heart attack.
"Sometimes,
people who are having heart attack have a complication of sudden
cardiac death if they don't get to the hospital soon enough," Goldberg
said. Yet most heart attacks do not lead to sudden arrest, according to
the American Heart Association.
Goldberg
added that another risk factor for sudden cardiac death is a genetic
predisposition to heart rhythm problems. In families in which people are
known to die suddenly, members are screened and closely monitored,
Goldberg said.
Symptoms and numbers
The most common warning signs
of a heart attack are discomfort (sometimes pain) in the chest;
lightheadedness, nausea or vomiting; pain in the jaw, neck or back;
discomfort in the arm or shoulder; and shortness of breath. Some of
these may occur more often among women and others more often among men.
By comparison, sudden cardiac arrest strikes without warning: A person collapses and has no pulse, no consciousness and no breathing.
Overall, heart attacks are more common than cardiac arrest in the United States.
During
2014, for example, the American Heart Association calculated about
565,500 sudden cardiac arrests. By comparison, nearly 750,000 Americans
have a heart attack each year, according to the association.
Worldwide, heart disease is the leading cause of death,
accounting for more than 17.3 million deaths each year, a number that
the American Heart Association expects to grow to more than 23.6 million
by 2030. "Heart disease" includes all forms of possible heart troubles,
such as heart failure, heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest, heart
defects at birth, arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart
muscle usually caused by genetics), high blood pressure and high
cholesterol.
Though any heart
problem can ultimately lead to death, the most immediately
life-threatening are heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest.
"I
think it's really important for us to focus on preventing people from
having heart attack through lifestyle changes," Goldberg said,
suggesting not only good diet and physical activity but also the need to
get routine checkups and, if necessary, treat any blood pressure or
cholesterol problems.
"Interestingly
enough, our rate of heart attacks in men and women have decreased over
the last 10 years," she said. "I think it will take time with the recent
increase in all these risk factors to see if we are going to see a
bump, but I can't predict that." Though hopeful, she sighed, adding,
"That's a concern of mine."
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