obituaries

James Earl Jones, voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa, dies at 93

By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press

Working deep into his 80s, he won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement.

Brazilian music legend Sergio Mendes of ‘Mas Que Nada’ fame dies at 83

By David Biller, Gabriela Sá Pessoa, Associated Press

Sergio Mendes, the celebrated Brazilian musician whose 1966 hit “Mas Que Nada” made him a global superstar and helped launched a long, Grammy-winning career, has died after months battling the effects of long COVID.

Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan, known for trap jams like ‘Type of Way,’ dies at 33

By Jonathan Landrum Jr., Andrew Dalton, Associated Press

Rich Homie Quan, one of the biggest names in hip-hop in the mid-2010s, gained mainstream fame through the trap singles “Type of Way” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh).”…

Wally Amos, cookie empire creator and literacy advocate, dies at 88

By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Associated Press

Amos created the Famous Amos cookie empire and eventually lost ownership of the company — as well as the rights to use the catchy Amos name.

Acting legend Gena Rowlands dies at 94

By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press

Rowlands was hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies directed by her husband, John Cassavetes.

Susan Wojcicki, longtime Google executive and former YouTube CEO, has died at 56

By Ken Miller, Mae Anderson, Associated Press

Wojcicki played a key role in Google’s creation and served nine years as YouTube's CEO, stepping down last year to focus on her "family, health, and personal projects I’m passionate about,” she said at the time.

Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hall of Fame golfer and among the sport’s most popular players, dies at 88

By Doug Ferguson, Associated Press

Rodriguez said he learned to play golf by hitting tin cans with a guava tree stick and then found work as a caddie.

Edna O’Brien, iconoclastic Irish author who wrote ‘The Country Girls,’ dies at 93

By Hillel Italie, Associated Press

Edna O'Brien, Ireland's literary pride and outlaw who scandalized her native land with her debut novel “The Country Girls” before gaining international acclaim as a storyteller and iconoclast that found her welcomed everywhere from Dublin to the White House, has…

Longtime Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who had pancreatic cancer, dies at 74

By Jim Vertuno, Associated Press

Longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, has died.

Comedian Bob Newhart, known for his deadpan delivery and everyman persona, dies at 94

By Associated Press

Bob Newhart, the deadpan accountant-turned-comedian who became one of the most popular TV stars of his time after striking gold with a classic comedy album, has died at 94.