โŒ

Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Today โ€” 2 April 2025Main stream

Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer over a decade ago, but it wasn't his cause of death

Val Kilmer waving
Val Kilmer died on Tuesday.

EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images

  • Val Kilmer's cause of death was pneumonia, according to his daughter.
  • Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer a decade ago and underwent a tracheotomy.
  • The tracheotomy affected his ability to speak. The procedure can also increase the risk of pneumonia.

Val Kilmer died of pneumonia on Tuesday, but his history of throat cancer โ€” an umbrella term for cancers of the throat, voice box, head, and neck โ€” may have been a contributing factor.

Though the "Top Gun" star was diagnosed with the disease a decade ago, he initially kept it a secret. The actor, who was 65 at the time of his death, only began to speak publicly about his condition a few years later, and released a 2021 documentary "Val," in which he opened up about his health struggles, including losing his voice as a result of a tracheotomy. He used a voice box to speak in the film.

Kilmer's daughter, who confirmed his death, didn't clarify whether his pneumonia was related to his cancer. However, undergoing a tracheotomy can increase the risk of pneumonia long-term according to the American Thoracic Society.

Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014

The "Batman Forever" star received his diagnosis in 2014, but publicly disclosed it for the first time in a 2017 Reddit Ask Me Anything post. He had previously denied that he had cancer in 2016 after his "The Ghost and the Darkness" costar Michael Douglas revealed his health status during a press event. He later detailed his ongoing health struggle in a 2020 memoir called "I'm Your Huckleberry."

Kilmer confirmed he was cancer-free in a 2021 People magazine cover story promoting his documentary; in the doc, the actor said he'd been cancer-free for about four years.

val kilmer
Val Kilmer poses for a portrait in Nashville, Tennessee.

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Val Kilmer wasn't able to speak due to a tracheotomy

Kilmer's vocal cords were damaged after a tracheotomy, and he permanently lost his voice.

During a tracheotomy, also called a tracheostomy, a hole is made in the front of the neck and a tube is inserted into the windpipe. The procedure is performed on people with a problem that prevents air and oxygen from reaching the lungs. This can include throat injury (such as from radiation or trauma), or a physical blockage in the windpipe (such as from cancer).

The tracheotomy tube is secured to the neck with tape, and the patient breathes through it rather than through their nose and mouth.

It's common to have difficulty speaking after a tracheotomy, but not everyone loses the ability to speak permanently. However, the problem can persist in up to 25% of patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation, according to The National Tracheostomy Safety Project.

In a 2020 New York Times profile of Kilmer, the actor said his cancer treatments had included surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. He suggested that damage from the chemo and radiation had resulted in his need for a tracheotomy tube. He also said that when he tried to remove the tube, he'd experience complications like a cough, cold, or fever.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Celebrities are paying tribute to 'Top Gun' star Val Kilmer after his death: 'Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood'

2 April 2025 at 20:46
A young Val Kilmer posing for a photo in a casino.
Celebrities are paying tribute to Val Kilmer after he died at age 65 on Tuesday.

Paul Harris/Getty Images

  • Actor Val Kilmer died on Tuesday in Los Angeles at age 65.
  • He was known for starring alongside Tom Cruise in the hit 1986 film "Top Gun."
  • Fellow celebrities and friends are paying tribute to the actor on social media.

Celebrities are paying tribute to Val Kilmer after he died at age 65 on Tuesday.

His daughter confirmed to The New York Times that pneumonia was the cause of the actor's death.

Kilmer was previously diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but recovered. However, due to a tracheostomy, his voice was permanently damaged.

He was known for his roles in 1986's "Top Gun," 1991's "The Doors," and 1995's "Batman Forever."

Following the news of Kilmer's death, friends and fellow celebrities shared their reactions on social media.

Francis Ford Coppola said Kilmer was "a joy to know"

Francis Ford Coppola worked with Kilmer on 2011's horror film "Twixt."

"Val Kilmer was the most talented actor when in his High School, and that talent only grew greater throughout his life. He was a wonderful person to work with and a joy to know โ€” I will always remember him," the filmmaker wrote on Instagram.

Cher paid tribute to Kilmer, whom she dated in the '80s

Val Kilmer and Cher in the '80s.
Cher and Kilmer briefly dated in the '80s.

William Nation/Sygma via Getty Images

"VALUS Will miss u,U Were Funny,crazy,pain in the ass,GREAT FRIEND,kidsโ™ฅU, BRILLIANT as Mark Twain, BRAVE here during ur sickness," the "Believe" singer wrote in a post on X, using her nickname for the actor.

In 2021, she told People that Kilmer and she had nicknames for each other.

"We called ourselves Sid and Ethel. Val didn't want to yell 'Cher' and I didn't want to yell 'Val,'" Cher said. "We also called ourselves Valus Maximus and Cherus Reprimandus. It was just kind of who I was in the household. Of course, he was Maximus, come on."

Michael Douglas shared a photo of himself and Kilmer from 1996's "The Ghost and the Darkness"

"RIP Val Kilmer. It was an honor working with Val on The Ghost and the Darkness nearly 30 years ago. Val will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on forever in the films and performances he so brilliantly shared with us," Michael Douglas wrote in his Instagram caption accompanying the photo.

Josh Brolin shared a heartfelt message to Kilmer

Actor Josh Brolin, who portrays Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, shared a heartfelt message to Kilmer on Instagram.

"See ya, pal. I'm going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There's not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts," Brolin wrote in his caption.

Michael Mann posted a throwback photo of Kilmer

"While working with Val on 'Heat' I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val's possessing and expressing character. After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news," filmmaker Michael Mann wrote in his caption.

Mann worked with Kilmer in 1995's crime drama film "Heat," which also starred Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino.

Michelle Monaghan shared a photo of herself and Kilmer, whom she worked with on "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"

"A kind, curious, committed, rebellious, and radical gent. I learned from one of the greats. An artist through and through. I treasured my time with you," The "White Lotus" star wrote in her caption. "Godspeed buddy."

Josh Gad thanked Kilmer for being a part of many movies from his childhood

Josh Gad, best known for voicing Olaf in Disney's "Frozen" franchise and for playing Elder Arnold Cunningham in the Broadway musical "The Book of Mormon," shared a tribute to Kilmer on Instagram along with a photo of the "Top Gun" star.

"RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon," Gad wrote in his caption.

Matthew Modine shared an anecdote about meeting Val Kilmer in 1985

RIP Val Kilmer. If it wasn't for our chance encounter at the Source in 1985, I may never have been cast in FULL METAL JACKET. Thanks, Val. ๐Ÿ™โ˜ฎ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/YTMRjy78vC

โ€” Matthew Modine (@MatthewModine) April 2, 2025

"RIP Val Kilmer. If it wasn't for our chance encounter at the Source in 1985, I may never have been cast in FULL METAL JACKET. Thanks, Val," Matthew Modine, who also starred in "Stranger Things," wrote on X.

Accompanying Modine's post was a video telling how his bumping into Kilmer in a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard set off a chain of events that eventually culminated in him getting cast in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket."

Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash posted a photo of Kilmer from the film "Tombstone"

In the 1993 film, Kilmer plays the American outlaw Doc Holliday.

"RIP #ValKilmer," Slash wrote in his caption.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Yesterday โ€” 1 April 2025Main stream

'Top Gun' star Val Kilmer dead at 65

1 April 2025 at 22:30
val kilmer
Val Kilmer, known for his roles in "Top Gun" and "Batman Forever," has died at 65.

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

  • Val Kilmer, known for his roles in "Top Gun" and "The Doors," has died at age 65.
  • His daughter confirmed to The New York Times that pneumonia was the cause of the actor's death.
  • He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, and his voice was permanently damaged from a tracheostomy.

Val Kilmer, the actor known for his roles in "Top Gun" and "Batman Forever," died on Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 65.

His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to The New York Times that the cause of death was pneumonia.

Originally a stage actor, Kilmer made his film debut in 1984's "Top Secret." In 1986, he was cast alongside Tom Cruise in "Top Gun," a film about students at the United States Navy's elite Fighter Weapons School.

In the movie, which became a cult classic, Kilmer played Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, a rival to Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell.

Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise on the set of "Top Gun."
Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise played rivals in the 1986 film "Top Gun."

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

He starred as Jim Morrison in 1991's "The Doors," in which he was praised for his uncanny depiction of the troubled rock singer. Kilmer's singing voice was used in the film.

In 1995, Kilmer played the Dark Knight in "Batman Forever," taking over the role from Michael Keaton. The film was met with mixed reviews and he was replaced by George Clooney for 1997's "Batman & Robin."

Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but recovered. However, his voice was permanently damaged due to a tracheostomy.

To reprise his role as Iceman in 2022's "Top Gun: Maverick," the actor worked with a London tech company, Sonantic, to use AI to recreate his voice for the sequel.

Jerry Bruckheimer, a producer on the "Top Gun" sequel, said in 2022 that Cruise was the "driving force" behind getting Kilmer to return for the movie.

"He said, 'We have to have Val, we have to have him back. We have to have him in the film,'" Bruckheimer told People. "And he was the driving force. We all wanted him, but Tom was really adamant that if he's going to make another 'Top Gun,' Val had to be in it."

Kilmer has two children, son Jack Kilmer and daughter Mercedes Kilmer, with his ex-wife, Joanne Whalley, whom he divorced in 1996.

A representative for Kilmer and Kilmer's agent did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. BI was not immediately able to reach Mercedes Kilmer for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Before yesterdayMain stream

Celebrities who died in 2025

David Lynch sitting on a red bench in a movie theater with a coffee cup.
David Lynch.

Gilles Mingasson/Gettty Images

  • Actors Gene Hackman, Val Kilmer, and Michelle Trachtenberg died in 2025.
  • Musicians Roberta Flack, Marianne Faithfull, and Peter Yarrow also passed away.
  • So did director David Lynch, boxing legend George Foreman, and MLB Hall of Famer Bob Uecker.

Below, we look back at those we lost in 2025.

Jeff Baena, 47
Jeff Baena in a green sweater
Jeff Baena.

Rich Polk/Getty

Baena was known for writing and directing comedic independent movies like "Life After Beth," "The Little Hours," and "Horse Girl."

Many of them starred his wife Aubrey Plaza.

He also wrote the 2004 movie "I Heart Huckabees" with director David O. Russell.

Baena died by suicide on January 3.

If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or has had thoughts of harming themself or taking their own life, get help. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is also available through the Crisis Text Line โ€” just text "HOME" to 741741. The International Association for Suicide Prevention offers resources for those outside the US.

Dick Button, 95
Dick Button staking on ice
Dick Button.

Bettmann Archive/Getty

Button was one of the greats in men's figure skating.

His dominance in the sport began in the late 1940s, when he began winning on the amateur circuit by landing moves no one had ever seen done before in competition, including the double axel and the triple jump.

He would go on to win two Olympic gold medals and five consecutive world championships.

Once he retired, he went on to become an Emmy-winning analyst and even was one of the minds behind the popular 1970s competition show "Battle of the Network Stars," in which celebrities challenged one another in various sports competitions.

Button died on January 30. No cause was given.

Richard Chamberlain, 90
Richard Chamberlain leaning against a fence
Richard Chamberlain.

Micheline Pelletier/Sygma/Getty

A beloved actor on the stage and screen for decades, Chamberlain was the face of the acclaimed 1980s miniseries "The Thorn Birds" and "Shogun," both of which garnered him Emmy nominations.

He also found acclaim onstage, starring in revivals of "My Fair Lady" and "The Sound of Music."

In the 2000s, Chamberlain had memorable guest-starring roles on shows like "Will and Grace" and "Desperate Housewives."

Chamberlain died on March 29 of complications following a stroke.

Leslie Charleson, 79
Leslie Charleson riding a horse
Leslie Charleson.

ABC Photo Archives/Getty

For 50 years, fans of "General Hospital" knew Charleson as Dr. Monica Quartermaine, a role she played since 1977.

Charleson was beloved by fans and used her celebrity to support charities for breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, and AIDS awareness.

Charleson's other credits include "Adam 12," "Barnaby Jones," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Ironside," "Kung Fu," and "The Rockford Files."

She also starred in "Happy Days" and gave Ron Howard his first on-screen kiss.

Charleson died on January 12 following a long illness.

Marianne Faithfull, 78
Marianne Faithfull in a blue top
Marianne Faithfull.

CA/Redferns/Getty

Faithfull was a fixture in the London music scene during the 1960s.

She was discovered by The Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, which led to her finding instant stardom not just for her chart-topping music, like "As Tears Go By," which became a top 5 single in the UK, but also for her hard-partying ways alongside her then-flame Mick Jagger.

Throughout the 1960s, she was the inspiration for Stones hits "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Wild Horses" while being a co-writer on "Sister Morphine." But she was also in a deep addiction to drugs. She was famously found wearing nothing but a fur rug during a 1967 drug bust at Keith Richards' Sussex home.

Faithfull made a comeback with the 1979 album "Broken English," which earned her a Grammy nomination.

Other hit songs include "This Little Bird," "Summer Nights," and "Come and Stay With Me."

She also starred in movies like 1967's "I'll Never Forget What's'isname" and 1968's "The Girl on the Motorcycle."

Faithfull died on January 30. No cause was given.

Roberta Flack, 88
Roberta Flack smiling wearing a dress
Roberta Flack.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Flack's smooth R&B vocals made her a star in the 1970s with Grammy-winning hits like "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face," "Killing Me Softly with His Song," and "Feel Like Makin' Love."

Over her career, Flack scored six top-10 pop hits and 10 top-10 R&B singles. She was also the first artist to win the record of the year Grammy in two consecutive years, for 1973's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and 1974's "Killing Me Softly with His Song."

Flack was introduced to a new generation in the 1990s when The Fugees did a Grammy-winning cover of "Killing Me Softly" in 1996.

Flack died on February 24. No cause was given.

George Foreman, 76
George Foreman with his fists up
George Foreman.

Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty

Foreman was a two-time heavyweight boxing champion, winning his titles in 1973 at the age of 24 and again in 1994 at the age of 45.

Foreman fought formidable legends throughout his long-lasting boxing career, including Muhammad Ali in 1974 โ€” dubbed The Rumble in the Jungle, one of the most-watched televised sporting events of the time โ€” and Evander Holyfield in 1991.

Toward the end of his career, Foreman became the face of Salton Inc.'s George Foreman Grill, making millions through his household name.

His family announced onย social mediaย that he died on March 21. No cause was given. Foreman was 76.

Irv Gotti, 54
Irv Gotti pointing with both hands
Irv Gotti.

David Pomponio/FilmMagic/Getty

In an era of hip-hop where the producers were as prominent as the artists, Irv Gotti was one of the shining stars of the late 1990s and 2000s.

Gotti, who was born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. and later went by DJ Irv, came on the scene as A&R for Def Jam. He brought in artists that would define the next generation of hip-hop to the label like Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule.

His coming out party was producing one of Jay-Z's first hits, "Can I Live," from his 1996 debut album "Reasonable Doubt."

Soon after, his Irv Gotti persona was created when he founded the rap label Murder Inc. Records, bringing along artists like DMX and Ja Rule and signing others like Ashanti.

There he became the face of smash hits like Jay-Z's "Can I Get Aโ€ฆ," DMX's "What's My Name," Ja Rule's "Holla Holla," Fat Joe's "What's Luv?," Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real," and Ashanti's "Foolish."

In recent years, Gotti had suffered strokes and battled diabetes-related issues. He died on February 5. No cause was given.

Gene Hackman, 95
Gene Hackman leaning up against a fence
Gene Hackman.

Evening Standard/Getty

Hackman was a superstar in the skin of a character actor.

From his breakout in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" to his final movie, 2004's "Welcome to Mooseport," this skilled actor did it all with low-key confidence.

Even when he played the diabolical villain Lex Luthor in the Christopher Reeve "Superman" movies, Hackman's deft performance was never about upstaging other actors.

But audiences couldn't help but gravitate to him. Taking on roles in projects that would become classics like the gritty cop "Popeye" Doyle in "The French Connection," which earned him an Oscar; a surveillance expert in "The Conversation;" a tough but fair basketball coach in "Hoosiers;" and showing his comedy chops in "Get Shorty" and "The Birdcage," Hackman became beloved.

He abruptly retired in 2004 and spent the rest of his life writing novels and enjoying life with his wife Betsy Arakawa.

Hackman and Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26. An investigation is ongoing.

Val Kilmer, 65
Val Kilmer in a white shirt
Val Kilmer.

Donaldson Collection/Getty

Val Kilmer was a quintessential movie star who delivered some of the most memorable performances in movie history.

As the hotshot flyer "Iceman" in 1986's Top Gun, he became a scene stealer who could hold his own against Tom Cruise.

From there, Kilmer shot to superstardom in movies like 1988's "Willow," Oliver Stone's 1991 biopic "The Doors," in which he played the band's legendary frontman Jim Morrison; 1993's "Tombstone," in which he played Doc Holliday; and Michael Mann's 1995 classic "Heat," in which he played a thief opposite Robert De Niro.

That same year, he would also become a major box office draw playing Batman in the 1995 movie "Batman Forever."

In 2014, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer and recovered, but his voice was permanently damaged from a tracheotomy.

His final movie appearance was reprising his Iceman role in 2022's "Top Gun: Maverick."

Kilmer died on April 1 of pneumonia.

David Lynch, 78
David Lynch pointing finger at lens
David Lynch.

Guy Kinziger/WireImage/Getty

Lynch was the visionary director of surrealist films like "The Elephant Man," "Blue Velvet," "Mulholland Drive," and the hit TV series "Twin Peaks."

His groundbreaking works blended elements of everything from horror to film noir to surrealism, creating a uniquely skewed vision of America.

After adapting Frank Herbert's "Dune" in 1984, resulting in a box office flop, Lynch produced a string of surrealist works that would define his career: 1986's "Blue Velvet," 1990's "Wild at Heart," 1992's "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" (the prequel to his hit TV show "Twin Peaks," which ran from 1990 to 1991), and 1997's "Lost Highway."

Each title showcased Lynch's seemingly limitless creativity as he pushed the boundaries of narrative structure while dazzling the viewer with exquisite production design and cinematography.

The Lynch family announced his passing on January 16. In August 2024, the filmmaker announced that he had emphysema following decades of smoking, but said he hadn't smoked in over two years.

Sam Moore, 89
Sam Moore holding a microphone
Sam Moore.

Gie Knaeps/Getty

Moore's R&B sound influenced everyone from Michael Jackson to Bruce Springsteen.

Alongside Dave Prater, Moore found fame in the 1960s with Sam & Dave, a duo who had hits like "Hold On, I'm Comin'" and "Soul Man."

"Soul Man" would gain renewed popularity in the late 1970s when Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi began performing the song as their alter egos, R&B singers The Blues Brothers, on "Saturday Night Live." The song would continue to find new fans in 1980 when "The Blues Brothers" movie was released.

Moore went solo in 1970 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Moore died on January 10 from complications while recovering from surgery.

Geneviรจve Page, 97
Geneviรจve Page in a hat and mink sitting inside a car
Geneviรจve Page.

Daily Express/Getty

Thanks to her stunning beauty, Page became a fixture in both French cinema and Hollywood through the 1960s.

She's best known for playing Madame Anais, the owner of a high-class brothel in Luis Buรฑuel's 1967 masterpiece "Belle de Jour."

In the movie, Anais oversees the actions of Catherine Deneuve's character Severine, a bored housewife who turns to prostitution to spice up her life. But she only works in the afternoon while her husband is away at work, leading to Anais calling her "Belle de Jour" ("Beauty of the Day").

Page also starred in "El Cid," the 1961 medieval epic also starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren, and Billy Wilder's 1970 film "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes."

Page died on February 14. No cause was given.

Angie Stone, 63
Singer Angie Stone attends the Urban One Honors: Best In Black in January 2024.
Angie Stone.

Brian Stukes/FilmMagic

Stone was a member of the female hip-hop trio The Sequence, who is known for songs like "Funk You Up" and "Monster Jam."

She later launched a solo career in the late 1990s with her debut album, "Black Diamond." Her 2001 song, "Wish I Didn't Miss You," became one of her most popular songs.

Stone's publicist told TMZ that Stone died in a car crash on March 1 after performing in Montgomery, Alabama. The Grammy-nominated artist was traveling in a van with eight other people, including backup singers and crew, when it crashed on Interstate 65.

Michelle Trachtenberg, 39
Michelle Trachtenberg smiling
Michelle Trachtenberg.

Mark Mainz/Getty

Trachtenberg dedicated her life to acting and found fame in the process.

She landed her first major role in the mid-1990s as Nona F. Mecklenberg on the Nickelodeon series "The Adventures of Pete & Pete." In 1996, she played the lead in the Nickelodeon-produced movie "Harriet the Spy."

By the early 2000s, she had landed more mature roles in movies like the comedy "Euro Trip" and the indie drama "Mysterious Skin," both of which were released in 2004. At the same time, she was gaining fandom on the small screen playing Dawn Summers on "Buffy and the Vampire Slayer," and later appearing as Georgina Sparks on the hit CW series "Gossip Girl," which ran from 2007 to 2012.

Trachtenberg was found dead in a New York City apartment on February 26. A cause of death hasn't yet been determined.

DJ Unk (Anthony Platt), 42
Man with Atlanta Hawks hat on
DJ Unk.

Ben Rose/WireImage/Getty

This Atlanta rapper brought snap music to the masses thanks to his hit 2006 songs "Walk it Out" and "2 Step."

Anthony Platt, better known by his stage name DJ Unk, was a fixture in the Atlanta rap scene in the late 1990s. He DJed at everything from pep rallies to proms.

He released his first album, "Beat'n Down Yo Block!" in 2006 and found huge acclaim due to his two big hit songs, "Walk it Out" and "2 Step."

"Walk it Out" got as high as No. 10 on the Billboard charts and went platinum.

His second album, "2econd Season," was released in 2008 but didn't find the same acclaim as his debut.

In 2009, due to non-stop touring and hard partying, DJ Unk suffered a heart attack.

DJ Unk died on January 24. His wife, Sherkita Long-Platt, said in a Facebook post that he died in his sleep after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Bob Uecker, 90
Bob Uecker smiling holding a bat
Bob Uecker.

ABC Photo Archives/Getty

Uecker had a respectable career as a Major League Baseball backup catcher on four clubs through the 1960s, playing with his hometown Milwaukee Brewers and winning a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. But it was his work off the field that made him one of the most memorable figures in MLB history.

After retiring in 1967, Uecker started his second career as a broadcaster, calling games for the Brewers (which he did until his death) and being the color man for network games.

His self-deprecating style made him a likable figure, leading to him becoming a fixture on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, where he earned the nickname "Mr. Baseball." Suddenly Uecker landed everything from beer commercials to a hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live."

But his most memorable gigs outside of baseball were playing sportswriter George Owens on the hit TV show "Mr. Belvedere" from 1985 to 1990 and starring as sarcastic broadcaster Harry Doyle in the beloved 1989 movie "Major League" and its sequels.

Uecker was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

He died on January 16 after battling small-cell lung cancer since 2023.

Peter Yarrow, 86
Peter Yarrow holding a guitar
Peter Yarrow.

Chelsea Lauren/WireImage/Getty

Yarrow was a singer-songwriter who was a member of the iconic folk music group Peter, Paul and Mary.

Along with Paul Stookey and Mary Travers, the trio had six Billboard Top 10 singles, two No. 1 albums, and won five Grammys. Their major hit was "Puff the Magic Dragon," which Yarrow cowrote.

Yarrow died on January 7 after a battle with bladder cancer.

Read the original article on Business Insider

โŒ
โŒ