Who Died: April 2023 Week 1 News:
Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com, the firstweek of April 2023. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond. Musician Ryuichi Sakamoto died March 28, 2023, of cancer at the age of 71.He was a prolific movie composer who won an Academy Award for his music for the 1987 film“The Last Emperor.”
Sakamoto is also being remembered as an electronicmusic pioneer with the band Yellow Magic Orchestra. Actor Christo Jivkov died April 1, 2023, inLos Angeles. He died of lung cancer at the age of 48.He starred in the 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ” as St. John.Jivkov is also being remembered for his performance in “The Profession of Arms.”Singer Brian “Brizz” Gillis died March 29, 2023.He was a founding member of the boy band LFO, though he left the group before they had theirbiggest hit, “Summer Girls.” Gillis is being remembered for singing onsingles including their cover of “Step by Step” and “Can’t Have You.”Comedian Mark Russell died March 30, 2023, in Washington, D.C. He died of prostate cancerat the age of 90.
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He specialized in political satire, whichhe sang while playing the piano. He is being remembered for skewering politicians,celebrities, and the powerful on his PBS specials. Russell was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran whoserved in the 1950s. Musician “Sweet” Charles Sherrell diedMarch 29, 2023, after fighting emphysema at the age of 80.He was the bassist for James Brown’s band in the late 1960s, playing on hits including“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud.” Sherrell is being remembered for his influentialbass style, thumping the strings in a technique that would become a hallmark of funk music.Scientist Virginia Norwood died March 26, 2023, at the age of 96.
She invented the Multispectral Scanner that allows us to take detailed images of Earthfrom orbit. Norwood is being remembered as the “Motherof Landsat,” whose work helped give us a better understanding of our Earth.Football player John Brockington died March 31, 2023, at the age of 74.He was an All-Pro running back for the Green Bay Packers in the 1970s.Brockington is being remembered as the first NFL player to rush for over 1,000 yards ineach of his first three seasons. Writer Royston Ellis died February 27, 2023,at the age of 82.
His death was publicly announced this week.He was a poet of the Beat Generation who read his poetry over a backdrop of rock and rollmusic. He was an influence on the Beatles. Ellis is also being remembered for his wide-rangingtravel writing. Professional wrestler Bob Miller, better knownas Bushwhacker Butch, died April 2, 2023, at a hospital in Los Angeles at the age of78. Born in New Zealand, he was half of the Bushwhackerstag team in the WWE. Miller is being remembered for his funny anticsin the ring… including licking people. Chef Raghavan Iyer died March 31, 2023, ata hospital in San Francisco. He died of pneumonia after fighting colorectal cancer at the ageof 61. He was a driving force in popularizing thecuisine of his native India in the U.S. Iyer is being remembered for writing cookbooksincluding “Betty Crocker’s Indian Home Cooking” and “On the Curry Trail.”Record executive Seymour Stein died April 2, 2023, at his home in Los Angeles.
He diedof cancer at the age of 80. He co-founded Sire Records, where he famouslytook a chance on a young singer named Madonna, offering her the first record deal of herchart-topping career. Stein is being remembered for helping launchthe careers of influential bands including the Ramones, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode,and many more. Board game designer Klaus Teuber died April1, 2023, after a brief illness at the age of 70.He created the beloved board game “Settlers of Catan,” also now known simply as “Catan.”Teuber is being remembered for profoundly influencing the board game industry with hiscreations. Actress Judy Farrell died April 2, 2023, ofcomplications from a stroke at the age of 84.She was best known for playing Nurse Able on “M*A*S*H.”Farrell is also being remembered for roles on TV shows, including “Fame” and “Benson,”as well as working as a writer on “Port Charles.”U.S. Army Special Forces veteran Billy Waugh died April 4, 2023, at the age of 93.He joined the U.S. Army in 1948 and served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
He became a legend of the Special Forces, participating in the first ever HALO combatjump into enemy territory. Waugh is also being remembered for his secondcareer in the CIA. He was one of the first into Afghanistan during Operation EnduringFreedom while in his 70s. Racing driver Craig Breedlove died April 4,2023, at the age of 86. Driving his jet-propelled car, Spirit of America,he became the first person in the world to drive 500 miles per hour. Two years later,he became the first to drive 600 miles per hour.Breedlove is being remembered for fascinating the world with his land speed records in the1960s. Actor Andrés García died April 4, 2023,of cirrhosis at the age of 81. He was a movie star in Mexico, a heartthrobin films including “Pedro Navaja” and “La última noche.”García is also being remembered for his TV work, especially in telenovelas including“El cuerpo del deseo.”
Production designer Norman Reynolds:
Production designer Norman Reynolds died inApril 2023 at the age of 89. He designed iconic scenes for the Star Warsmovies, including the carbon freezing chamber where Han Solo was captured and Yoda’s homeon Dagobah. Reynolds is also being remembered for hiswork on “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” including the scene in which a giant boulder chasesIndiana Jones. Actress Sharon Acker died March 16, 2023,at a retirement home in Toronto at the age of 87.She was known for the movie “Point Blank,” in which she appeared opposite Lee Marvin,as well as starring on the TV show “The New Perry Mason.”Acker is being remembered for her guest role on a 1969 episode of “Star Trek.”At Legacy.com, ANY family can publish an obituary in honor of a loved one’s memory, onlineand in local newspapers everywhere.
Just visit Legacy.com and select your local community.At least 33 people died in a series of tornadoes and strong storms across the South and Midweston Friday, March 31, 2023. Fatalities were reported in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois,Indiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. At least five people died in a tornado insoutheastern Missouri on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.Every week in the United States, flags are lowered to half-staff to honor the lives ofAmericans whose communities are mourning their loss. Here are the most recent half-staffmemorial flag honors. Flags in Kentucky have been lowered to honorthe memory of the Fort Campbell soldiers who died during a training exercise.Flags in New Jersey have been lowered to honor the memory of Sergeant David Solinas of Oradell,who died in the helicopter accident near Fort Campbell.Flags in North Carolina have been lowered to honor the memory of U.S. Army Staff Sgt.Joshua “Caleb” Gore,
who died in the helicopter accident near Fort Campbell.Flags in North Carolina have also been lowered to honor the memory of former state SenatorDavid Hoyle. Flags in Ohio have been lowered to honor thememory of Springfield Township Police Officer Tim Unwin and William Dunson, who were killedin an automobile accident. Flags in Illinois have been lowered to honorthe memory of Firefighter and EMT Jermaine Pelt of the Chicago Fire Department.This week also marks several notable anniversaries. Twenty-five years ago this week, singer andsongwriter Tammy Wynette died at the age of 55. She was a country music legend, knownfor songs including “Stand by Your Man” and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.”Fifty-five years ago this week, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed at the age of 39.One of the greatest civil rights leaders of all time, he won a Nobel Peace Prize for hisnonviolent work toward racial equity. Writer Maya Angelou was born 95 years agothis week. She died in 2014 at the age of 86. She was honored with awards
includingthe Presidential Medal of Freedom for her groundbreaking career as a poet and memoirist.Actor James Garner was born 95 years ago this week. He died in 2014 at the age of 86. Hestarred in the popular TV series “Maverick” and “The Rockford Files.”Musician Muddy Waters was born 110 years ago this week. He died in 1983 at the age of 70.He was one of the most important blues musicians of all time, known for songs including “HoochieCoochie Man.” Actress Bette Davis was born 115 years agothis week. She died in 1989 at the age of 81. She was the first performer nominatedfor 10 acting Academy Awards – and she won two, for “Dangerous” and “Jezebel.”Actor and dancer Buddy Ebsen was born 115 years ago this week. He died in 2003 at theage of 95. He was beloved for TV roles on “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “BarnabyJones.” There are many more celebrity anniversariesthis week, and we pay tribute to them in our new Tuesday video series, “Death Anniversaries.”You can read more about the lives of the people featured in this video on Legacy.com.You can also follow Legacy.com on Facebook and subscribe to our channel on YouTube tostay up to date on national news deaths.
