Notable deaths of 2009

Bob May, 69, who spent 83 episodes of TV’s “Lost in Space” inside the Robot character’s prop costume. Died Jan. 18.

Billy Mays, 50, a burly, bearded TV pitchman whose boisterous hawking of products made him a pop-culture icon. Died June 28.

Jody McCrea, 74, an actor in movie and TV Westerns who was the son of film stars Joel McCrea and Frances Dee. Died April 4.

Patrick McGoohan, 80, an Emmy-winning actor who created and starred in the TV cult classic “The Prisoner.” Died Jan. 13.

Dallas McKennon, 89, who provided the voices of Gumby, Archie Andrews and “Woody Woodpecker’s” Buzz Buzzard. Died July 14.

Daniel Melnick, 77, the MGM and Columbia production head who also produced such films as “All That Jazz,” “Altered States,” “Straw Dogs” and “Network.” Died Oct. 13.

George Michael, 70, whose syndicated show “The George Michael Sports Machine” earned dozens of Sports Emmys during its 24-year run. Died Dec. 24.

Steven Miessner, 48, the motion picture Academy’s devoted “Keeper of the Oscars.” Died July 29.

Skip Miller, 62, who helmed Motown and worked with artists including Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Roy Hargrove. Died Sept. 4.

Victor Mizzy, 93, a composer for TV and films best known for his themes to the 1960s sitcoms “Green Acres” and “The Addams Family.” Died Oct. 17.

Richard Moore, 83, a cinematographer who co-founded Panavision in 1953. Died Aug. 16.

Yoshiro Muraki, 85, a production designer, art director and costume designer who worked on “Ran,” “Tora! Tora! Tora!” and “Yojimbo” and often collaborated with director Akira Kurosawa. Died Oct. 26.

Gee Nicholl, 86, best known for her support of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Program. Died Jan. 6.

Dan O’Bannon, 63, the unassuming sci-fi screenwriter and quirky horror specialist behind the “Alien” film franchise. Died Dec. 17.

Tom O’Horgan, 84, the “Busby Berkeley of the acid set” who directed the hit Boradway musicals “Hair” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Died Jan. 11.

Anne Nelson, 86, who turned a two-week temp job in 1945 into a 64-year career at CBS that made her the longest-tenured employee in company history. Died June 20.

Robert Pauley, 85, the president of the ABC Radio network from 1961-67 who hired Howard Cosell and hoped to establish a fourth TV network just for news. Died May 2.

Sultan Pepper, 47, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who worked on “The Ben Stiller Show” and “Mad TV.” Died Oct. 20.

Billy Powell, 56, the keyboardist of Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1970 until his death on Jan. 28.

Harve Presnell, 75, a character actor in such films as “Saving Private Ryan” and “Fargo” who got his start in showbiz as a classical baritone. Died June 30.

John Quade, 71, a character actor best known for his role as the leader of the biker gang in the Clint Eastwood films “Every Which Way but Loose” and its sequel. Died Aug. 9.

Corky Randall, 80, a horse trainer who worked in Hollywood for a half-century on films including “The Black Stallion.” Died April 20.

Jane Randolph, 94, who starred in the two “Cat People” film noir classics of the 1940s. Died May 4.

Kenny Rankin, 69, a singer-songwriter and musician whose song “Peaceful” was a hit for Helen Reddy. Died June 7.

Clint Ritchie, 70, best known for playing Clint Buchanan on the soap opera “One Life to Live” in parts of four decades. Died Jan. 31.

Ken Roberts, 99, a radio and TV announcer known for his work on the daytime soap operas “The Secret Storm,” “Texas” and “Love of Life.” Died June 19.

Oral Roberts, 91, a preacher who helped pioneer TV evangelism in the 1950s and used the power of the new medium to build a multimillion-dollar ministry. Died Dec. 15.

Mickey Ross, 89, an Emmy-winning comedy writer and producer who worked on “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons” and “Three’s Company.” Died May 26.

Steven Rothenberg, 50, Lionsgate’s film releasing president and a distribution veteran known for his energetic work habits and broad knowledge of his field. Died July 16.

Charles H. Schneer, 88, a producer who collaborated with special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen to make such fantasy films as “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” and “Jason and the Argonauts.” Died Jan. 21.

Aaron Schroeder, 83, a songwriter, independent publisher and innovative record producer who wrote “It’s Now or Never” for Elvis Presley. Died Dec. 2.

Budd Schulberg, 95, who won an Academy Award for the screenplay for “On the Waterfront” and penned the definitive portrait of a Hollywood hustler in his novel “What Makes Sammy Run?” Died Aug. 5.

Dan Seals, 61, who was England Dan in the pop duo England Dan and John Ford Coley and later had a successful country career. Died March 25.

Ron Silver, 62, who won a Tony as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow.” Died March 15.

Howard J. Smit, 98, a respected makeup artist who helped found IATSE Local 706 more than seven decades ago and led the campaign to recognize his craft with an Oscar each year. Died Aug. 1.

Blake Snyder, 51, a screenwriter and screenwriting teacher whose books encouraged a host of aspiring writers, producers and development executives to see the patterns in all successful movies. Died Aug. 4.

Arnold Stang, 91, an actor who appeared alongside Milton Berle and Frank Sinatra and was known for his nerdy looks and distinctive nasal voice. Died Dec. 20.

Gale Storm, 87, an actress and singer who became one of early television’s biggest stars on “My Little Margie” and “The Gale Storm Show” after starring in numerous B movies opposite such stars as Roy Rogers, Eddie Albert and Jackie Cooper. She also had a run of hit singles from 1955-57. Died June 27.

Ned Tanen, 77, the former Universal Pictures and Paramount chairman who greenlighted a string of hits including “Top Gun” and “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.” Died Jan. 5.

Richard Todd, 90, who re-enacted his wartime exploits in the 1962 film “The Longest Day” and was Ian Fleming’s choice to play James Bond. Died Dec. 3.

Harry Towers, 88, a film producer whose best-known movies include “The Face of Fu Manchu” and “Cry the Beloved Country.” Died July 31.

Mary Travers, 72, one-third of the hugely popular 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Died Sept. 16.

Paul Wendkos, 84, the “Gidget” director who helmed more than 100 films and TV shows during a 50-year career. Died Nov. 12.

Michael Wiener, 71, the founder of the Infinity Broadcasting chain of radio stations. Died Aug. 2.

Kitty White, 86, a jazz vocalist who also who worked in films including “The Night of the Hunter” and “King Creole.” Died Aug. 11.

James Whitmore, 87, a two-time Oscar nominee who played such American icons as Harry Truman, Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt. Died Feb. 6.

Collin Wilcox, 74, who played the white girl who accused a black man of raping her in the classic film “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Died Oct. 14.

Joseph Wiseman, 91, who played the sinister scientist and title character of Dr. No in the first James Bond feature. Died Oct. 19.

Edward Woodward, 78, a prolific stage actor best known for his lead role in the 1973 cult classic “The Wicker Man.” Died Nov. 16.

John Updike, 76, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, prolific man of letters and erudite chronicler of sex, divorce and other adventures in the postwar prime of the American empire. Died Jan. 27.

Otha Young, 66, a singer, songwriter and longtime musical partner of Grammy-winning country-pop artist Juice Newton. Died Aug. 6.

Howard Zieff, 81, a famed director of TV commercials in the 1960s who went on to specialize in Hollywood comedies like “Private Benjamin.” Died Feb. 22.

Related Stories

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qbvLpbCwp5%2BZv6a8zqurnqpemLyue8GuqqKmlajAcK7UrKCnnaOoeq%2Bx1qxmp6eklq%2BtsYydnJqsmKh6c3yPcmRyamZqfnA%3D