Famous Faces Who Passed Away in May 2019
Celebrity Deaths May 2019
Rachel Held Evans
Popular Christian writer Rachel Held Evans passed away on May 4, 2019, at the age of 37. Evans had been hospitalized two weeks prior to her passing for an infection and brain seizures. Her books include “Faith Unraveled,” ” A Year of Biblical Womanhood” and “Searching for Sunday.”
Barbara Perry
Actress Barbara Perry passed away on May 5, 2019, of natural causes at the age of 97. Perry was well-known for her multiple television appearances, which included “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Murphy Brown,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “Baskets.”
Clement von Franckenstein
Actor Clement von Franckenstein passed away at the age of 74 on May 9, 2019. Von Franckenstein portrayed the president of France in the acclaimed film “The American President” opposite Michael Douglas and Annette Bening. He also appeared in “Lionheart,” “Death Becomes Her” and “The Evening Star.” He was named one of “America’s Top 50 Bachelors” by People magazine in 2001.
Allene Roberts
Actress Allene Roberts passed away at the age of 90 on May 9, 2019. Roberts starred opposite Humphrey Bogart in “Knock on Any Door.” She also appeared in the films “The Red House,” “Union Station,” “Bomba on Panther Island,” as well as television appearances in “Adventures of Superman” and “Dragnet.”
Alvin Sargent
Screenwriter Alvin Sargent died at the age of 92 on May 9, 2019. Sargent was a two-time Oscar winner for his 1977 adapted screenplay “Julia” and the 1981 film “Ordinary People.” Other notable films he worked on were “Paper Moon,” “A Star is Born,” “What About Bob?” and three “Spider-Man” movies.
Peggy Lipton
Seventy-two-year-old Actress Peggy Lipton passed away on May 11, 2019. Lipton famously starred as Julie Barnes in “The Mod Squad” and as Norma Jennings in “Twin Peaks.” Lipton was married to record producer Quincy Jones for 16 years. The couple had two children together: Designer Kidada Jones and actress Rashida Jones.
Doris Day
Legendary actress Doris Day passed away on May 13, 2019, at the age of 97. Day began her singing career at the age of 15 and had her first chart-topping hit with the 1945 song “Sentimental Journey.” Her cinematic career began in 1948 with the film “Romance on the High Seas.”
Day was nominated for an Oscar for her acting in the 1959 film “Pillow Talk.” She went on to win two Oscars for songs she sang in the films “Calamity Jane” and “The Man Who Knew Too Much.”
Grumpy Cat
Arizona native Grumpy Cat rose to fame in 2013 for her scowling face. Sadly, the famed feline passed away at the age of 7 on May 14, 2019, after suffering from treatment complications from a urinary tract infection.
Grumpy Cat, who was actually named Tardar Sauce, made numerous television appearances, was featured in promotional advertisements and released a book, “Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book” that cracked the New York Times Best Sellers list. Lifetime also released a film about the feline titled “Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever.”
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Tim Conway
Legendary actor and comedian Tim Conway passed away on May 14, 2019, at the age of 85. Conway suffered complications from Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus prior to his death. Americans fell in love with Conway during his weekly appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show.” He was also well-known for his role on “McHale’s Navy,” along with appearances on “30 Rock,” “Two and a Half Men” and “Glee.” Conway also voiced the character “Barnacle Boy” on “Spongebob Squarepants.”
Sammy Shore
Actor and stand-up comedian Sammy Shore died at the age of 92 on May 18, 2019. Shore co-founded the world-famous Los Angeles comedy club, the Comedy Store, with his first wife Mitzi and writer Rudy Deluca. Shore was also the father of actor-comedian Pauly Shore. During his career, Shore opened and toured with celebrities such as Elvis Presley, Tony Orlando, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones, Ann-Margret, Connie Stevens, Bobby Darin and Glen Campbell.
Judith Kerr
On May 22, 2019, Judith Kerr passed away at the age of 95. Kerr wrote and illustrated the bestselling children’s book “The Tiger Who Came to Tea.” The book was first published in 1968 and has never been out of print, selling over 5 million copies. Kerr was also a refugee from Nazi Germany.
Bart Starr
NFL legendary quarterback Bart Starr passed away on May 26, 2019, at the age of 85. Starr led the Green Bay Packers to six division titles, five NFL championships and wins in the first two Super Bowls. Starr was inducted in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1977. He also coached the Packers from 1975-1983.
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Daniel Wright
Former “Biggest Loser” contestant Daniel Wright passed away at the age of 30 on May 26, 2019. Wright appeared on seasons 7 and 8 of the popular television show. It’s also where he met his wife, Rebecca. The couple collectively lost nearly 250 pounds on the show in 2009 but had reportedly gained almost of all it back by 2016. Wright was diagnosed with leukemia in 2017 and would ultimately succumb to the condition.
Tony Horwitz
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Tony Horwitz passed away on May 27, 2019. Horwitz suffered from an apparent cardiac arrest and died at the age of 60. He won his Pulitzer Prize in 1995 for a Journal series on income inequality and low wage jobs. His book “Confederates in the Attic” was a best seller.
Carmine Caridi
Actor Carmine Caridi passed away at the age of 85 on May 28, 2019. Caridi was best known for his role as Carmine Rosato in “The Godfather: Part II.” He also appeared in “Murder, She Wrote,” “Money Pit,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “Taxi,” “Fame,” “Simon & Simon” and “NYPD Blue.” Caridi was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for sharing screeners and was ordered to pay $300,000, plus attorney’s fees, by a U.S. district judge for violating federal law.
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