Today (September 21, 2009) is the last day of Summer 2009. Tomorrow is the first day of Fall 2009. And so the Summer of Death 2009 comes to an end. Like they say – “All good things must come to an end.” I’m not sure if a summer death list is a good thing, but when it comes to celebrity deaths, it was certainly a fascinating 3-month time frame. Here is a list of some of the most notable celebrity deaths from the Summer of Death 2009:
- Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009): American dancer, singer, songwriter; The King of Pop
- Farrah Fawcett (February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009): American actress
- Edward Leo Peter “Ed” McMahon, Jr. (March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009): American comedian, game show host, announcer, and television personality
- William Darrell “Billy” Mays, Jr. (July 20, 1958 – June 28, 2009): American TV sales pitchman
- Steve LaTreal McNair (February 14, 1973 – July 4, 2009): Air McNair, American football quarterback
- Robert Strange McNamara (June 9, 1916 – July 6, 2009): Secretary of Defense under JFK and Lyndon Johnson
- Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (April 15, 1972 – July 11, 2009): Canadian professional boxer
- Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich, March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009): Academy Award-winning American actor
- Josephine Owaissa Cottle (April 5, 1922 – June 27, 2009): better known as Gale Storm; American actress and singer
- John Arthur “David” Carradine (December 8, 1936 — June 3, 2009): American actor known for roles in Kung Fu and Kill Bill
- Oscar Gustave Mayer, Jr. (March 16, 1914 – July 6, 2009): chairman of Oscar Mayer company
- Robert Lenard “Bob” Bogle (January 16, 1934 – June 14, 2009): founding member of the legendary instrumental combo surf group The Ventures
- Gidget the “Taco Bell chihuahua” (February 7, 1994 – July 21, 2009): Taco Bell mascot and advertising figure
- Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009): American broadcast journalist/anchorman
- Lester William Polfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 13, 2009): better known as Les Paul; American inventor, musician, songwriter, guitarist
- Guiding Light (June 30, 1952 – Septmber 18, 2009): longest-running soap opera, longest running drama in TV and radio history; started on radio in 1937
- Patrick Wayne Swayze (August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009): American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter; People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 1991
- Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009): United States Senator from Massachusetts; brother of JKF and RFK
- Donald Shepard Hewitt (December 14, 1922 – August 19, 2009): American television news producer; created 60 Minutes for CBS in 1968
- Robert David Sanders “Bob” Novak (February 26, 1931 – August 18, 2009): Prince of Darkness; syndicated columnist, journalist, television personality, author and conservative political commentator
- John Wilden Hughes, Jr. (February 18, 1950 – August 6, 2009): American film director, producer and writer
- Adam Michael Goldstein (March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009): known as DJ AM; American club DJ and musician
Well that is all for this summer. Unless someone dies today. I wouldn’t put it past Death. He’s had a busy summer. If I were a celebrity at any level, I would watch my back today. Godspeed, Death.