Story by Gabriel Nuñez ”
Stewart McLean – May 22
Canadian actor known for appearances in popular TV shows including “Virgin River,” “Arrow,” “Supernatural,” “Travelers,” “Murder in a Small Town,” “Happy Face,” and “The Irrational.” McLean was reported missing after he was last seen at his home in Lions Bay, near Vancouver, and Canadian authorities later confirmed that his death was being investigated as a homicide. He was 45 years old. ©Stewart McLean
Grizz Chapman – May 22-
American actor best known for playing Tracy Jordan’s loyal, soft-spoken bodyguard and friend—on the hit NBC sitcom “30 Rock”, where his chemistry with Tracy Morgan made him a fan favorite across 80 episodes. Chapman originally worked as a bouncer and bodyguard before Morgan helped him break into acting. Standing nearly seven feet tall, he often spoke about being typecast because of his size while advocating for broader opportunities for tall actors. He also appeared in projects like “Blue Bloods”, “The Blacklist”, and the film “Money Monster”, and became a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation after battling kidney disease and receiving a transplant in 2010. He passed away at the age of 52. : ©NBC
Gabriel Ganley – May 23- Brazilian bodybuilder and fitness influencer who built a massive following by posting training, nutrition, and bodybuilding content, amassing more than 2.2 million Instagram followers and around 1 million on TikTok. He made his bodybuilding competition debut in 2023. Known for his charisma and authenticity—earning him the popular nickname “Bbzinho” among fans—Ganley became an inspirational figure for many young athletes. He passed away at the age of 22. ©Gabriel Ganley
Claudine Longet – May 14
French-American singer and actress who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, known for her soft, breathy vocals and her marriage to legendary singer Andy Williams. While she enjoyed a successful recording career and appeared in films like the cult comedy “The Party” (1968), her legacy was forever defined by the 1976 fatal shooting of her boyfriend, Olympic skier Vladimir “Spider” Sabich, in Aspen, Colorado. Claiming the gun discharged accidentally while Sabich was showing her how to use it, Longet was ultimately convicted of the misdemeanor of negligent homicide and served a brief 30-day sentence. She spent the following five decades living a private life in Aspen, largely away from the spotlight, until her passing at the age of 84.
Donald Gibb – May 12 –American actor best known for his towering screen presence and memorable roles as the lovable brute “Ogre” in the cult comedy franchise “Revenge of the Nerds” and Ray Jackson in the martial arts classic “Bloodsport” alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme. Gibb became a familiar face in 1980s and 1990s film and television, also appeared in “Conan the Barbarian”, “Hancock”, and the HBO series “1st and Ten”, while making guest appearances on shows like “The X-Files” and “Seinfeld”. Gibb passed away at the age of 71. ©Cannon Films
Brandon Clarke – May 11– Canadian professional basketball player best known as a high-energy forward for the Memphis Grizzlies in the National Basketball Association. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on September 19, 1996, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, as a child and later starred in college basketball at San Jose State University and Gonzaga University, where he emerged as one of the nation’s top defensive players. Selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder before being immediately traded to Memphis, Clarke quickly became a key part of the Grizzlies’ young core and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2020. Known for his athleticism, shot-blocking, and efficient scoring around the basket, he spent seven seasons with Memphis, though injuries limited parts of his later career. Clarke died unexpectedly at age 29, prompting tributes across the basketball world for both his talent and his positive impact as a teammate and community figure. ©NBA
Jack Taylor – May 12- American actor best known as a cult icon of the European horror cinema. After starting with small television roles in the U.S. during the 1950s, he moved first to Mexico and later settled in Spain in the 1960s, where his distinctive aristocratic look and commanding screen presence made him a staple of fantaterror films such as “Succubus,” “Count Dracula,” “Female Vampire,” and “Pieces.” Though closely associated with low-budget horror, he also appeared in major international productions including “Cleopatra,” “Conan the Barbarian,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and “The Ninth Gate,” alongside Johnny Depp, working with directors such as Roman Polanski and Miloš Forman. Jack Taylor died at the age of 99. ©Universal Studios
Michael Pennington – May 10-English actor, director, and author best known for his extensive Shakespearean stage work and for playing Moff Jerjerrod, the Imperial officer overseeing the construction of the second Death Star in “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi”. Born in Cambridge in 1943, he became one of Britain’s most respected classical actors through his long association with the Royal Shakespeare Company and later co-founded the English Shakespeare Company with director Michael Bogdanov, helping to modernize Shakespeare for contemporary audiences. Beyond acting, he wrote several acclaimed books on Shakespeare and performance. Michael Pennington passed away at the age of 82. ©LucasFilm
Ted Turner – May 6-American entrepreneur, media pioneer, and philanthropist best known for founding CNN, the world’s first 24-hour cable news channel, which revolutionized global television journalism. He built a vast media empire through the Turner Broadcasting System, launching networks such as TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network, while also pioneering the “superstation” concept that expanded cable TV nationwide. Beyond media, Turner was a prominent philanthropist and environmentalist—donating $1 billion to create the United Nations Foundation and supporting conservation efforts—while also owning major sports teams like the Atlanta Braves and achieving success as a yachtsman, including winning the America’s Cup in 1977. Ted Turner passed away at the age of 87. ©Depositphotos
Jonathan Tiersten – May 5-American actor and musician best known for playing Ricky Thomas in the cult 1983 horror film “Sleepaway Camp”, a role he later reprised in its sequel “Return to Sleepaway Camp”. Born in New York in 1965, he built a career largely within independent horror cinema, appearing in films such as “The Perfect House”, “Terror Tales”, and “Lake of Shadows”, while also pursuing music as the lead singer of the band Ten Tiers. He passed away at the age of 60. ©Jonathan Tiersten
Alex Zanardi – May 1-Italian racing driver and Paralympic athlete renowned for his exceptional career and resilience in the face of adversity. A two-time CART World Series champion in the late 1990s, he also competed in Formula One across the 1990s for several teams. Following a catastrophic racing accident in 2001 that resulted in the amputation of both his legs, Alex Zanardi staged a remarkable comeback, returning to professional motor racing with specially modified cars. Beyond his accomplishments in motorsport, he became an iconic figure in para-cycling, winning four gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympics, along with multiple World Championship titles. Alex Zanardi passed away at the age of 59. ©Michelin
