2010: Remembering the Stars of Hollywood, Music, Journalism & Comedy We Lost in 2009

This is a memorial litany tribute to the many stars that we sadly lost to death within 2009 that have graced the screens of Hollywood, stages of Broadway, the concert music arena's and our television-sets at home. Some of which have entertained, or informed us, and in some cases as far back as our grandparents that will live-on forever to be embroiled in our hearts and minds.

Startling Update:

Brittany Murphy - (November 10, 1977 - December 20, 2009) The year is just barely weeks away the shocking news of Brittany Murphy brings yet another widely admired star to the list of celebrities whom have passed this year. Brittany Murphy starred in such films as: 'Clueless", 'Girl Interrupted" and a stellar performance in the film, '8 Mile".

Michael Jackson - (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009)

It is to say, without a doubt there will never be another Michael Jackson and if your not familiar with the lengthy litany of Micheal Jackson's success, your not of this earth. Motown's, "Golden Child" has a career that many will never achieve - ever--.

Farrah Fawcett - (February 2, 1947 - June 25, 2009)

Who can forget Farrah Fawcett, the American actress that played the role of private investigator, Jill Munroe on Aaron Spelling's famous Charlie's Angels television series back in 1976. Her sex-symbol status blew-up when her more famous poster graced the wall of almost every teenage boy, and none the less, the walls of many teenage girls that emulated her. Farrah Fawcett was a Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee multiple times. Her pop-iconic setting hairstyle was adorned by thousands of women, and her sex symbol status stratified for men from the 1970's all the way to the 1980's.

Dom DeLuise - (August 1, 1933 - May 4, 2009)

Dom DeLuise not only played a campy comedian in many Mel Brooks films, and devoted long-time friend of Burt Reynolds, but he was also a film director, television producer, chef, and author of a series of children books.

Natasha Richardson - (May 11, 1963 - March 18, 2009)

Natasha Richardson was the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave, wife to actor Liam Neeson, and a Mother to two sons, Micheal and Daniel. A very accomplished English-American stage and screen actress playing such roles as Mary Shelley and Patty Hearst in feature films. On the stage she played "Sally Bowles" in the 1998 Broadway revival of 'Cabaret."

Walter Cronkite - (November 4, 1916 - July 17, 2009)

Walter Cronkite was an legendary American broadcast journalist, best known as the CBS anchorman on the Evening News for 19 years. From doing so he was polled as and then titled: "The most trusted man in America." Mr. Cronkite covered many world-wide events such as: World War II bombings, the infamous Nuremberg trials, the hell-fire combat in Vietnam, the untimely death of President John F. Kennedy that shocked the Nation, Watergate, and the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Bea Arthur - (May 13, 1922 - April 25, 2009)

Bea Arthur had a whooping seven decade spanning career as an American actress, comedian and singer. He most notable role was played as Maude Findlay in the very popular, yet sometimes very controversial television show created by Norman Lear in the 1970s sitcom 'Maude." She later went on to play in the equally popular 'Golden Girls" as "Dorothy Zbornak" in the 1980s in which she won an Emmy Award for doing so. Bea Arthur was a stage actress long before her television sitcom career.

Ricardo Montalban - (November 25, 1920 - January 14, 2009)

Ricardo Montalban's career also spanned seven decades, pitching everything from Corinthian leather in TV advertisements for the Chrysler Cordoba to fantasies playing Mr. Roarke form 1977 to 1984 on the television series, 'Fantasy Island". He played the evil Khan Noonien Singh in both the 1967 episode "Space Seed" of the first season of the original Star Trek series, and the 1982 film 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." He took an Emmy Award in 1978, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1993. In the seven decades he still persevered and played "Grandfather Valentin" in the 'Spy Kids" films.

Patrick Swayze - (August 18, 1952 - September 14, 2009)

Patrick Swayze was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991 most likely due to his work in the film 'Dirty Dancing" where he played a dancer at a Summer get-away for the rich, and for his work in the famous chick-flick 'Ghost". Swayze was one of the most favorite with the lady's by playing romantic leading men as an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter.

David Carradine - (December 8, 1936- June 3, 2009)

David Carradine appeared in over 100 feature films, however in the four decades his work spanned he was best known and became most popular from the 1970's TV series Kung Fu and the recent Quentin Tarantino films 'Kill Bill". He was an American character actor of stage as well and has directed. An avid and accomplished martial artists he also was a singer and spokesman for many products in television. For all of his efforts in his television work he was nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award.

Ed McMahon - (March 6, 1923 - June 23, 2009)

Ed McMahon most famous gig was as Johnny Carson's trusty side-kick on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992; he went on host his own show, Star Search from 1983 to 1992; honorably co-hosted The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon; co-hosted TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes with Dick Clark from 1982 to 1986; presented sweepstakes prizes for the direct marketing company, American Family Publishers; and was a one-time fighter pilot. Ed McMahon made fame on the silver-screen in films such as: The Incident, Fun With Dick and Jane, Full Moon High, and Butterfly.

Source: IMDb