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Famous People Who Died in 2012
In 2012, we said goodbye to many iconic figures—the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong and the first American woman in space, Sally Ride. We lost writers such as Ray Bradbury, Maeve Binchy, Maurice Sendak and Nora Ephron. We said farewell to musicians and singers who left an indelible mark on the soundtrack of our times—among them Whitney Houston, Davy Jones, Donna Summer, Etta James, Robin Gibb, Kitty Wells, Adam Yauch and Ravi Shankar. We also lost great actors such as Ernest Borgnine, Larry Hagman, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jack Klugman and Sherman Hemsley, as well as TV personalities such as Andy Griffith, Phyllis Diller, Dick Clark and Don Cornelius.
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Featured Famous People Who Died in 2012
View some of the legendary performers, television personalities and other history-makers who died in 2012, including Whitney Houston, Dick Clark, Mike Wallace, Robin Gibb, Andy Griffith, Neil Armstrong and Etta James.
See all Famous People Who Died in 2012 (64)
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Whitney Houston
- In these groups:
- Ladies of Pop Music
- Celebrity Self-Imploders
- Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Film Actress, Singer / 1963 - 2012
Whitney Houston was an American singer and actress whose first four albums, released between 1985 and 1992, amassed global sales in excess of 86 million copies.
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Neil Armstrong
- In these groups:
- Eagle Scouts
- Famous Lefties
- Famous Leos
Neil Armstrong
Astronaut, Explorer, Pilot / 1930 - 2012
Astronaut, military pilot, and educator, Neil Armstrong made history on July 20, 1969, by becoming the first man to walk on the moon.
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Robin Gibb
- In these groups:
- The Bee Gees
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Singers
Robin Gibb
Songwriter, Singer / 1949 - 2012
Singing with two of his brothers as the Bee Gees, Robin Gibb scored numerous hits in the 1970s, including "Stayin' Alive" and "How Deep Is Your Love."
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Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Actor, Talk Show Host / 1926 - 2012
Andy Griffith is an actor and singer best known for his 1960s starring role in The Andy Griffith Show. He later returned to TV in the drama Matlock.
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Sally Ride
- In these groups:
- Daring Female Adventurers
- Groundbreaking Women
- Girl Scouts
Sally Ride
Educator, Astronaut, Physicist / 1951 - 2012
In 1983, astronaut and astrophysicist Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger. Ride died on July 23, 2012 at the age of 61, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
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Donna Summer
- In these groups:
- Influential Female Musicians of the 1970s
- Soul Train Guests
- Musical Monikers
Donna Summer
Songwriter, Singer / 1948 - 2012
Donna Summer was a singer-songwriter who became the "Queen of Disco" in the 1970s with such hits as "Love to Love You Baby," "I Feel Love" and "Last Dance."
profile name: Whitney Houston profile occupation: Film Actress, Singer
profile id: 20728001
profile name: Robin Gibb profile occupation: Songwriter, Singer
profile id: 9542091
profile name: Andy Griffith profile occupation: Actor, Talk Show Host
profile id: 9188943
profile name: Neil Armstrong profile occupation: Astronaut, Explorer, Pilot
profile id: 9458284
profile name: Sally Ride profile occupation: Educator, Astronaut, Physicist
profile id: 9499073
profile name: Donna Summer profile occupation: Songwriter, Singer
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Ike and Tina Turner
View groupAs rock 'n' roll couples go, Ike and Tina Turner's relationship was one of the most volatile. Ike was a successful blues singer when he met Tina, who was a teenager trying to break into singing. Tina started singing for Ike's band, and in 1960 she had his baby. In 1962 the couple married. Even as Tina's career took off, and Ike produced her albums, the relationship was famously turbulent. Tina accused Ike of many instances of spousal abuse, and she even attempted suicide in 1968. In 1978, the couple finally divorced, and Tina launched a successful career comeback, on her own, in the 1980s.
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