Bob Hope - 1903 - 2003
The late Bob Hope lived a full life. He passed away at the age of 100 and was celebrated for his successful career as a stand-up comedian, host, actor, singer, dancer, and athlete. After a brief spell as a professional boxer during the 1910s, he started working in show business, namely in the stages of Broadway.
As an actor, Hope made it to over 70 productions. But it's his influence on stand-up comedy that earned him a place in history: he was revolutionary in the way he delivered quick one-liners and introduced America to self-deprecating humor. He hosted the Academy Awards a record 19 times.
Fred Astaire - 1899 - 1987
It's hard to say if tap dancing was big back in the '30s and '40s, or if Fred Astaire made it that way. The late dancer/actor is known as the great exponent of dancing in American pop culture and was made famous by numerous movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood, such as Top Hat and Shall We Dance.
A master of rhythm and elegance, Astaire knew exactly how to put on a good show. But he lived for his art and body of work. When he passed away in 1987, at the age of 88, his final words were directed at the fans who supported him throughout the years.
Paul Newman - 1925 - 2008
The American actor Paul Newman was and still is a legend of cinema. Born in Ohio, he served in the United States Navy before making his film debut. By the late '50s, and especially after starring alongside Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, he was one of the greatest male actors in the country.
He worked extensively in cinema throughout his life, and recordings of his voice were even used posthumously in the 2017 animated film Cars 3. Speaking of which, Newman was a big fan of racing sports: he even won several championships as a driver! He passed away in 2008, at the age of 83.
Prince - 1958 - 2016
It's still painful to remember the outstanding American musician Prince, who left us not that long ago, in 2016. Known for his greater-than-life songs, live performances, and sense of style, Prince is one of the most influential pop culture personalities of the last 50 years. He was fairly considered to be a guitar virtuoso and a very efficient songwriter.
Between 1978 and 2015, Prince released over 35 original records. He's mainly known for his series of excellent albums in the '80s, when he released classics such as Purple Rain, Parade, and Sign 'o the Times. Prince was also a visionary in the way he broke gender stereotypes.
Carol Burnett - Age 88
At the age of 88, Carol Burnett has a lot of good reasons to look back to her career in pride. Her legacy is indisputable, as she was America's first female variety/talk-show host. Her comedy series The Carol Burnett Show ran for almost 300 episodes and was listed on Time's 100 Best TV Shows of All Time.
Burnett also proved to be a talented actress, excelling in Hollywood comedies such as Annie, Noises Off, and Friendly Fire. In 2019, she was given the very first Carol Burnett Award, a distinction for career achievement in television that was named after her by the Golden Globes.
Steven Spielberg - Age 74
From D.W. Griffith to Stanley Kubrick, America has always been the land of great film directors. But Steven Spielberg, who's still very active in Hollywood, is arguably the most famous of them all. He excelled at directing hugely popular franchises, which include E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park (not to mention the unforgettable Jaws).
Over the years, Spielberg has been able to be both commercially successful and critically praised, a rare quality in Hollywood. At the age of 74, the outstanding Schindler's List director is working on a new movie, set to come out in December 2021: the musical West Side Story, an adaptation of the 1957 classic.
Dick Van Dyke - Age 95
As a slender young man from West Plains, Missouri, Dick Van Dyke had a hard time getting into the United States Army. But he found it a whole lot easier to excel in show business: as the host of the hugely popular The Dick Van Dyke Show, he found his way into the heart of every American.
The actor/comedian/singer is the embodiment of the perfect American entertainer. He made it both to the original 1964 Mary Poppins movie and the most recent Mary Poppins Returns, released in 2018. Still acting at the impressive age of 95, Van Dyke is set to appear on the upcoming comedy Capture the Flag.
Clint Eastwood - Age 90
It's hard to think of an Old West type of hero without thinking of Clint Eastwood. Alongside the great John Wayne, Eastwood is the main actor responsible for popularizing the Western genre. He made it to several Western movies in the '60s, including, most notably, the critically-acclaimed Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy.
But Eastwood is more than everybody's favorite cowboy. He's an incredibly versatile actor and an Academy Award-winning director. As he prepares to celebrate his 91st birthday, Eastwood is showing no signs of wanting to stop. In 2021, he will starr and direct in the upcoming thriller/Western Cry Macho.
Audrey Hepburn - 1929 - 1993
Out of all the iconic feminine symbols of the 20th century, Audrey Hepburn is perhaps the most beloved. Considered to be a fashion icon, Hepburn was, first and foremost, a hugely talented British actress. She's still famous for her timeless elegance and exquisite sense of style, but her legacy was built on remarkable performances in movies such as The Nun's Story and Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Her influence, however, goes way beyond the realms of fashion and Hollywood. She was a prolific humanitarian and UNICEF collaborator. In 1992, one month before her death, Hepburn was granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Gene Wilder - 1933 - 2016
Can you name a more iconic duo than Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor? We certainly can't. The two actors/comedians made for a laugh-out-loud combo in movies such as Silver Streak and Another You. But on his own, Wilder is best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Willy Wonka in the movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.
Wilder accepted his final acting job in 2003, a guest role on Will & Grace. From then on, he turned his attention to writing and published a handful of novels and memoir books. He passed away in 2016, at the age of 83, from complications related to Alzheimer's disease.
Dolly Parton - Age 75
It's hard to imagine country music without Dolly Parton. The hugely popular American singer-songwriter is the proverbial "whole package": she can write great songs, she can sing, she's a naturally gifted stage performer, and she's an intense, beautiful, and charismatic woman.
From Pittman Center, Tennessee to every American record collection, Parton established herself as one of country music's greatest ever with her impressive 65-year career. Besides singing and performing live, Parton also works as an actress and businesswoman. At the age of 75, she's still active: her latest record, A Holly Dolly Christmas, was released in 2020.
David Bowie - 1947 - 2016
The English singer-songwriter David Bowie made a name for himself mainly for... being himself. A true artist, he remained faithful to his principles and aesthetic vision throughout his entire career. In the meantime, he landed numerous successes, which include songs as notable as "Space Oddity" and "Starman."
Bowie was so focused on his legacy that he ended up transforming his death into an object of art. In 2016, two days before passing away, Bowie released his final record. It's a critically-acclaimed masterpiece titled Blackstar, which explores subjects as deep as the meaning of life and Bowie's own, personal fight against liver cancer.
Jimi Hendrix - 1942 - 1970
It's fair to say that the American musician Jimi Hendrix and his guitar were part of the same body and mind. Hendrix was so good with the instrument he made the most technically challenging passages of play look like a child's game. More than simply a virtuoso, he was a revolutionary musician and exquisite showman.
One of rock and roll's unmissable greats, Hendrix popularized a new style of psychedelic rock, which was heavily influenced by funk and groundbreaking pedal effects. He died tragically at the age of 27, leaving all of us wondering what could've been. Despite his precocious death, Hendrix's body of work is still widely influential today.
Paul McCartney - Age 78
If there's a man out there who requires no introduction, he's probably Sir Paul McCartney. One of the leading singer-songwriters of a little British band called The Beatles, he's more than a key figure in the history of pop-rock music: in a way, he invented the entire genre!
While McCartney's post-Beatles career wasn't as influential as the time he spent with his Liverpool buddies, he remains a much-beloved and active figure in the music business; he's often praised for his humble manners and charming British ways. In 2021, he collaborated with artists such as Beck and Phoebe Bridgers to release McCartney III Imagined, a rework/remix of a same-titled 2020 album.
Betty White - Age 99
How many professionals, particularly in show business, can claim to have an 8-decades career? The outstanding American actress/comedian Betty White is one of the few, if not the only, to have "survived" in Hollywood pretty much for a lifetime. And the most remarkable thing is that she keeps going at it at the impressive age of 99!
The first woman to produce a sitcom (Life with Elizabeth), White is mainly known for her roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls and her animal rights advocacy. In 2021, she appeared in a Hollywood Insider episode titled Celebrating 99 Years of Betty White: An Icon.
Alfred Hitchcock - 1899 - 1980
Do you like suspenseful movies with shocking twists and turns? Well, you better thank Alfred Hitchcock for that! One of the best film directors ever, he's the man responsible for coining the Hollywood thriller, and it's fair to say nobody has been able to match his ability to deliver sensational, scandalous, and groundbreaking movies.
The filmography of this great American director reads like a list of bonafide classics: it goes from Dial M For Murder to Psycho, not to mention Vertigo or the brilliant Rear Window. Hitchcock passed away in 1980, at the age of 80, but his influence remains pretty much alive; his movies are a must-watch for every wannabe director.
Ray Charles - 1930 - 2004
Blind since childhood, the Georgia-born Ray Charles was able to overcome every difficulty and make a name for himself as a great American musician. He did so by innovating and taking risks, melting together influences from Gospel, country music, soul, and jazz.
More than a blind man, Charles was an African-American who grew up in a racially divided Southeastern state and who struggled for years with drug addiction. Somehow, he overcame it all to become one of the most influential musicians in U.S. history. He was dubbed "The Genius" and his life story can be seen in the 2004 biopic Ray, starring a brilliant Jamie Foxx.
Louis Armstrong - 1901 - 1971
Jazz was simply a novelty back when Louis Armstrong and his trumpet first showed up. Alongside other Dixieland/swing pioneers, Armstrong was responsible for putting the music of New Orleans on the map. Today, and thanks to musicians like Armstrong, jazz is a worldwide phenomenon.
While Armstrong made a career mostly out of his exquisite ability to play the trumpet, he's best known in pop culture for his characteristically deep voice and scat singing. "What a Wonderful World" remains his most popular song. A naturally gifted entertainer, Armstrong acted alongside the likes of Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand in a couple of Hollywood movies. He passed away in 1971, aged 69.
Lucille Ball - 1911 - 1989
Born in New York in 1911, the iconic Lucille Ball worked hard as a model, Broadway performer, and supporting actress before becoming one of the most famous female entertainers of all time. A do-it-all show business professional, Ball is best known for being the star/producer of the sitcoms The Lucy Show, I Love Lucy, and Here's Lucy.
Alongside her first husband Desi Arnaz, Ball became the first female head of a major Hollywood studio, Desilu Productions. On April 18, 1989, she was diagnosed with a dissecting aortic aneurysm which cost her her life a few days later. She was 77 when she passed away.
Judy Garland - 1922 - 1969
If The Wizard of Oz is one of the most influential films of all time, the same can be said of its main star: the beautiful Judy Garland, who portrayed Dorothy Gale to perfection. A passionate actress/singer/dancer, Garland excelled both in film and music, even becoming the first woman to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1961.
She received Academy Award nominations for her roles in A Star Is Born (the 1954 adaptation) and the courtroom epic Judgment at Nuremberg. She passed away at the young age of 47, after succumbing to a tragic barbiturate overdose in 1969.
Frank Sinatra - 1915 - 1998
In the early days of the 20th century, the popularization of the microphone gave rise to a new type of entertainer: the crooner singer, who delivered passionate performances in a low, often whispered, vocal register. Out of all the crooners who have ever been, none is greater than the late Frank Sinatra, a singer so good he was dubbed "The Voice."
One of the ultimate representants of American entertainment, Sinatra is one of the best-selling musicians of all time and arguably the most iconic romantic singer ever. His immense catalog includes songs as timeless as "Somethin' Stupid", "My Way", and "I've Got You Under My Skin", just to name a few.
Elvis Presley - 1935 - 1977
There's no doubt American music would be very different without Elvis Presley. But would America itself be the same without its greatest icon? Presley was such an impactful musician that he helped to promote American values across borders, giving rise to the mythical figure of the All-American boy.
"The King" was not perfect, but he fully deserved his crown. More than a gracious dancer and steamy teenage icon, he was a passionate singer and performer who delivered some of the best romantic songs known to men. In 2018, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Aretha Franklin - 1942 - 2018
In 2010, the American singer Aretha Franklin was ranked number 1 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Singer of All Time. Considering the "Queen of Soul" is the classic example of a soulful, prodigious singer, it's hard not to agree with Rolling Stone's distinction.
Over the years, the late Franklin built a massively successful career both as a recording and live performance artist. She also worked briefly as an actress and producer during her life, but her most significant non-musical contribution to the world was her civil rights activism. She supported many civil rights and women's rights groups since the early '70s.
Sammy Davis Jr. - 1925 - 1990
Considering Sammy Davis Jr. started his vaudeville career at the age of 3, you can make the case he was literally born to perform live. In fact, Davis was once called the "greatest entertainer ever to grace a stage in these United States" by a critic.
After performing live with his father and serving in the United States Army, Davis became an overnight sensation in the early '50s. He was particularly known for his celebrity impressions and energetic stage presence. He passed away in 1990, at the age of 64, and was highlighted for his role in helping to break the race barrier in the once-segregated entertainment industry.
Bette Davis - 1908 - 1989
Women weren't always rightfully represented in the Hollywood industry. But in the '30s, '40s, and '50s, the hugely talented American actress Bette Davis was the lady directors called whenever they needed to have a strong-willed female character on the screen. A remarkable film talent, Davis made it to over 100 movies and won two Academy Awards.
Maybe because she played lots of unlikeable characters, Davis had some less-successful periods in her career, but she continued acting pretty much until the year of her death. In 1989, she passed away from breast cancer. She was wholly committed to her job, even though she was married and divorced on four different occasions.
Freddie Mercury - 1946 - 1991
The British singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury was said to have a four-octave vocal range, which means he could easily sing 48 different notes! One of the best rock frontmen of all time, Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) helped Queen to popularize songs as iconic as "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Don't Stop Me Now", and "We Are the Champions."
A showman of uncanny talent who always maintained a positive attitude, Mercury passed away all-too-soon, at the age of 45, due to complications from AIDS. However, his influence on the development and widespread acceptance of the LGTB community proved vital in the fight for free love and against social discrimination.
Charlie Chaplin - 1889 - 1977
You can't tell the history of comedy without mentioning Sir Charlie Chaplin. But the great English actor/filmmaker did more than producing super funny, groundbreaking movies. He was one of the first visionaries to weaponize comedy, using brilliant visual jokes to convey a message of political change and progress.
Chaplin is most commonly associated with The Tramp, his popular hat-and-cane character that became a symbol of pop culture. Known as a perfectionist, Chaplin liked to do it all when it came to his movies, including editing and music composition! He passed away in 1977, at the age of 88.
Johnny Cash - 1932 - 2003
Before low-singing, deeply lyrical country musicians became almost a standard, Johnny Cash was the man paving the way. His songs and style added a grave seriousness to the genre, often exploring very profound themes. For that reason, as well as his all-black stage attire, Cash was known as "The Man in Black."
Covered by hundreds of artists and copied by many, Cash is one of the few musicians inducted in the Country, Gospel Music, and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. He sold a whopping 90 million records worldwide. He struggled with diabetes from the late '90s onwards and ended up passing away in 2003.
Michael Jackson - 1958 - 2009
The moment Michael Jackson passed away in 2009 made for breaking news all over the world. That's just an example of how influential the "King of Pop" was and still is. His catalog is filled with number-one hits, including unforgettable songs like "Thriller" and "Billie Jean."
Jackson started playing live with his family band, the Jackson 5, in 1964. A stage prodigy, he went on to build a solo career of unprecedented success. Throughout his life, he struggled with mental health issues and had a hard time dealing with the fame. He changed the way he looked on many occasions, to the point of becoming almost unrecognizable.
Tina Turner - Age 81
Ike & Tina Turner made for a rock-and-rolling husband-and-wife duo in the early '60s. But when Turner decided to go solo, she found even more success. In 1984, she crafted a major comeback with the album Private Dancer, which featured the hit song "What's Love Got To Do With It."
One of the few pop-rock singers to hit her peak of fame after turning 40, Turner has built a massively successful career on top of that unexpected '80s comeback. In total, she's believed to have sold an incredible 200 million records worldwide, which may help to explain why she has a personal fortune of $250 million.