In June we said farewell to many beloved figures, including the reigning world's oldest person and the world's most famous sheep.
Elmer 'Geronimo' Pratt
1947-2011
Pratt was a leader of the Black Panther Party. Federal authorities targeted him, and he was falsely accused of the kidnap and murder of Caroline Olsen. After spending 27 years in prison, he reached this victory.
Jack Kevorkian
Dr. Kevorkian made a name for himself in terminal patients' advocacy through physician-assisted suicide. In 1999, he was convicted of second-degree murder
Miriam Karlin
1925-2011
Karlin was a British actress who worked with Sir Laurence Olivier and a well-known filmmaker. She's appeared in several movies and performed on stage well into her eighties.
John Henry Johnson
1929-2011
Johnson was a well-known NFL fullback and is best remembered for being a member of the famed "Million Dollar Backfield"
Shrek the sheep
1994-2011
Shrek was a sheep who rose to international fame for his extraordinary long hair and defiance to haircuts
John R. Alison
1912-2011
Alison was a highly decorated World War II hero and veteran of another war. He's also known as the father of Air Force Special Operations
Edgar Tekere
1937-2011
Tekere was an accomplished politician who is remembered as a freedom fighter.
Leonard Stern
1923-2011
Stern was a prolific screenwriter, producer and director. He was also the co-creator of a popular word game
Genaro Hernández
1966-2011
Hernández was a world champion boxer whose career ended in a tough fight with this world champion.
Jim Northrup
1939-2011
Northrup was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played 10 years for one team and was a great left-handed batter
Carl Gardner
1928-2011
Gardner was a self-made man who established a long career in R&B with the band The Coasters. His son has since taken over as lead singer and still carries on the group.
Laura Ziskin
1950-2011
Ziskin was a successful film producer and was the first woman to produce one of TV's biggest awards shows. She died from this disease at her home at age 61.
Bob Banner
1921-2011
Banner, who grew up as a musician, was a TV programming pioneer and an Emmy-winning writer, producer and director
Wild Man Fischer
1944-2011
Fischer was a unique singer-songwriter who suffered from this mental disorder as well as this mental illness. He was the first musician to record for Rhino Records.
Yelena Bonner
1923-2011
Bonner was a Russian human rights activist and wife of controversial physicist Andrei Sakharov. She also wrote often on Russia and human rights, earning her many international awards.
Clarence Clemons
1942-2011
Clemons also known as "The Big Man" was the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Clemons was also a celebrity in his own right, as a musician and an actor
Brian Haw
1949-2011
Haw was a British peace activist who held an unprecedented decade-long protest spurred by Iraq sanctions.
Ryan Dunn
1977-2011
Dunn was part of the "Jackass" gang with Johnny Knoxville and the spinoff, "Viva La Bam." He starred in a notorious toy-car skit in "Jackass: The Movie"
Maria Gomes Valentim
1896-2011
Valentim was named the world's oldest person. She died just weeks shy of her next birthday.
Peter Falk
1927-2011
Falk was a prolific actor who started out with an Oscar-nominated role in this movie. He then rose to great popularity as a detective in the long-running show, "Columbo."
1947-2011
Pratt was a leader of the Black Panther Party. Federal authorities targeted him, and he was falsely accused of the kidnap and murder of Caroline Olsen. After spending 27 years in prison, he reached this victory.
Dr. Kevorkian made a name for himself in terminal patients' advocacy through physician-assisted suicide. In 1999, he was convicted of second-degree murder
1925-2011
Karlin was a British actress who worked with Sir Laurence Olivier and a well-known filmmaker. She's appeared in several movies and performed on stage well into her eighties.
1929-2011
Johnson was a well-known NFL fullback and is best remembered for being a member of the famed "Million Dollar Backfield"
1994-2011
Shrek was a sheep who rose to international fame for his extraordinary long hair and defiance to haircuts
1912-2011
Alison was a highly decorated World War II hero and veteran of another war. He's also known as the father of Air Force Special Operations
1937-2011
Tekere was an accomplished politician who is remembered as a freedom fighter.
1923-2011
Stern was a prolific screenwriter, producer and director. He was also the co-creator of a popular word game
1966-2011
Hernández was a world champion boxer whose career ended in a tough fight with this world champion.
1939-2011
Northrup was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played 10 years for one team and was a great left-handed batter
1928-2011
Gardner was a self-made man who established a long career in R&B with the band The Coasters. His son has since taken over as lead singer and still carries on the group.
1950-2011
Ziskin was a successful film producer and was the first woman to produce one of TV's biggest awards shows. She died from this disease at her home at age 61.
1921-2011
Banner, who grew up as a musician, was a TV programming pioneer and an Emmy-winning writer, producer and director
1944-2011
Fischer was a unique singer-songwriter who suffered from this mental disorder as well as this mental illness. He was the first musician to record for Rhino Records.
1923-2011
Bonner was a Russian human rights activist and wife of controversial physicist Andrei Sakharov. She also wrote often on Russia and human rights, earning her many international awards.
1942-2011
Clemons also known as "The Big Man" was the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Clemons was also a celebrity in his own right, as a musician and an actor
1949-2011
Haw was a British peace activist who held an unprecedented decade-long protest spurred by Iraq sanctions.
1977-2011
Dunn was part of the "Jackass" gang with Johnny Knoxville and the spinoff, "Viva La Bam." He starred in a notorious toy-car skit in "Jackass: The Movie"
1896-2011
Valentim was named the world's oldest person. She died just weeks shy of her next birthday.
1927-2011
Falk was a prolific actor who started out with an Oscar-nominated role in this movie. He then rose to great popularity as a detective in the long-running show, "Columbo."
