Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com, the fourth
week of October 2022. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,
or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond.
Actor Ron Masak died October 20, 2022, in Thousand Oaks, California. He died of natural
causes at the age of 86. He was best known for playing Sheriff Metzger
on “Murder, She Wrote”—whose star, Angela Lansbury, died nine days before he did.
He is also being remembered as “The King of Commercials,” for his voice-over work
during the 1980s and ‘90s, for brands including Vlasic pickles.
Masak was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Singer Zuri Craig died October 21, 2022, at
the age of 44. He competed on season 10 of “America’s
Got Talent” in 2015, making it to the finals. Craig is also being remembered for appearing
in Tyler Perry movies, including his role singing in “Madea Gets a Job.”
Advertising executive Dan Wieden died September 30, 2022, at the age of 77.
He was the co-founder of the Wieden & Kennedy ad agency, where he coined a slogan that would
energize Nike shoes for years: “Just Do It.”
Wieden is also being remembered for ad campaigns including “Bo Knows” and ESPN’s “This
Is Sportscenter” spots. Singer and journalist Joanna Simon died October
19, 2022, in New York City. She died of thyroid cancer at the age of 85.
She was an opera singer, who performed as a mezzo soprano with companies including the
New York City Opera. Simon is also being remembered as the sister
of singer Carly Simon, and as an Emmy Award-winning arts correspondent for “The Macneil-Lehrer
News Hour.” Composer and singer Lucy Simon died October
20, 2022, at her home in Piermont, New York. She died of breast cancer at the age of 82,
just one day after her sister Joanna also died of cancer.
She was a Broadway composer who was nominated for a Tony Award for her music for “The
Secret Garden.” Simon is also being remembered for performing
and recording with her sister, Carly Simon, as the Simon Sisters in the 1960s.
Billionaire Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz died October 22, 2022, at the age
of 78. He co-founded the popular energy drink company,
Red Bull. Mateschitz is also being remembered for founding
the Red Bull Formula One Racing Team, along with other Red Bull-sponsored sports teams.
Former U.S. cabinet member Ashton Carter died October 24, 2022, at his home in Boston. He
died of a heart attack at the age of 68. He was the Secretary of Defense under President
Barack Obama, from 2015 to 2017. Carter is being remembered for removing barriers
that prevented women from serving in combat, and transgender people from serving openly
in the military. Musician Don Edwards died October 23, 2022,
at the age of 86. He was a Grammy-nominated cowboy singer known
for songs including “Coyotes.” Edwards is also being remembered for appearing
in the Robert Redford movie “The Horse Whisperer.” Author John Jay Osborn Jr. died October 19,
2022, at his home in San Francisco. He died of squamous cell cancer at the age of 77.
He was a third-year student at Harvard Law School when he wrote the best-selling novel,
“The Paper Chase,” which became a popular film and TV series.
Osborn is also being remembered as a lawyer and a law professor – he specialized in
contract law, just like the protagonist of “The Paper Chase.”
Hatmaker Vanilla Beane died October 23, 2022, at a hospital in Washington, DC. She died
of complications following an aortic tear at the age of 103.
She was known as “DC’s Hat Lady” for the elegant hats she created for the women
of Washington and beyond. Beane is being remembered for hats that can
be seen on a US postage stamp, in the Smithsonian, and on generations of grateful customers.
Filmmaker Jules Bass died October 25, 2022, in Rye, New York at the age of 87.
He co-founded Rankin-Bass Productions, known for their beloved stop-motion animated holiday
specials, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
Bass is also being remembered as the director of animated classics including “The Hobbit”
and “The Last Unicorn.” Actor Michael Kopsa died October 23, 2022,
of complications from a brain tumor at the age of 66.
He had roles in TV shows including “The X-Files,” “Fringe,” and “Stargate
SG-1.” Kopsa is also being remembered for his voice
work in cartoons and anime such as “Mobile Suit Gundam,” “X-Men: Evolution,” and
“Littlest Pet Shop.” Actor Leslie Jordan died October 24, 2022,
in Los Angeles. He died following a car crash at the age of 67.
He won an Emmy Award for his performance as Beverley Leslie on “Will & Grace,” and
he had memorable roles on TV shows including “American Horror Story” and “Call Me
Kat.” Jordan is also being remembered for bringing
smiles to the faces of his millions of Instagram followers, with the funny videos he made and
shared during the COVID-19 pandemic. At Legacy.com, ANY family can publish an obituary
in honor of a loved one’s memory, online and in local newspapers everywhere. Just visit
Legacy.com and select your local community. Every week in the United States, flags are
lowered to half-staff to honor the lives of Americans whose communities are mourning their
loss. Here are the most recent half-staff memorial flag honors.
Flags in Massachusetts have been lowered to honor the memory of U.S. Army Private First
Class Edward J. Reiter. Flags in Pennsylvania have been lowered to
honor the memory of National Guard Specialist Mackenzie L. Shay.
Flags in Alaska have been lowered to honor the memory of former Senate President Ben
Stevens. Flags in Georgia have been lowered to honor
the memory of football hall of famer Charles Louis "Charley" Trippi.
Flags in Nevada have been lowered to honor the memory of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police
Officer Truong Thai, who died in the line of duty.
This week also marks several notable anniversaries. Five years ago this week, musician Fats Domino
died at the age of 89. He was one of the great pioneers of rock and roll, whose classic songs
include “Blueberry Hill.” Five years ago this week, actor Robert Guillaume
died at the age of 89. He won two Emmy Awards as he starred in the TV shows “Soap” and
“Benson.” Thirty years ago this week, actor Cleavon
Little died at the age of 53. He was a Tony Award winner who starred in the classic comedy
“Blazing Saddles.” Fifty years ago this week, baseball player
Jackie Robinson died at the age of 53. He was an All-Star legend of baseball as the
first Black player in the major leagues. Seventy years ago this week, actress Hattie
McDaniel died at the age of 59. She became the first Black person to win an Academy Award
when she was honored as Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Gone With the Wind.”
Actress Annette Funicello was born 80 years ago this week. She died in 2013 at the age
of 70. She was a Mouseketeer who starred in beach party movies, recorded hit singles,
and became the face of Skippy peanut butter. Actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee
was born 100 years ago this week. She died in 2014 at the age of 91. She was known for
films including “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Do the Right Thing.”
Actress Arlene Francis was born 115 years ago this week. She died in 2001 at the age
of 93. She was a longtime panelist on the TV game show “What’s My Line?”
You can read more about the lives of the people featured in this video on Legacy.com.
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stay up to date on national news deaths.