Afrika Bambaataa, hip-hop pioneer and founder of Universal Zulu Nation, dies at 68

Afrika Bambaataa, a man widely considered one of the main pioneers of hip-hop, died in Pennsylvania of prostate cancer on Thursday, according to his lawyer. He was 68. Bambaataa’s sudden death was met with an outpouring of condolences from friends, family and fans across the world, who paid tribute to his profound and unmistakable impact … Read more

‘Game of Thrones’ Actor Michael Patrick dies at 35

Michael Patrick, an actor who appeared in “Game of Thrones,” has died after a battle with Motor Neuron Disease. He was 35. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Patrick’s wife, Naomi Sheehan, shared news of his death on Instagram on Tuesday, saying he passed away after … Read more

Jim Whittaker, first American to climb Everest, dies at 97

SEATTLE — Jim Whittaker, who in 1963 became the first American to reach the top of Mount Everest, has died. He was 97. Whittaker’s 1963 ascent to the summit of Mount Everest came 10 years after Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay first scaled the peak. Whittaker died Tuesday at his home in Port Townsend, … Read more

Joseph J. Collins, pivotal figure in TV’s transition to cable and internet, dies at 81

Joseph J. Collins, a pivotal figure in the evolution of television’s transition from broadcast dominance to cable and ultimately the internet, died Thursday at his home in Rhode Island. He was 81. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. “Joe was instrumental in building the first cable … Read more

Gabrielle Union’s father dies after yearslong struggle with dementia

Gabrielle Union’s father has died at 81 after a battle with dementia, the actress shared in a tribute to Sylvester “Cully” Union Jr. In a lengthy social media post on Saturday, Union honored her father while describing the pain of gradually losing a loved one to the disease. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get … Read more

15-year-old Texas student shoots high school teacher, then dies at scene

A teacher at a Texas high school was shot by a student Monday morning and that student is now dead, law enforcement said. The teacher was hospitalized with unknown injuries, and the student, a 15-year-old boy, died at the scene, the Comal County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Facebook. “We know this … Read more

Actor and comedian Alex Duong dies at 42 after cancer battle

Alex Duong, an actor and comedian known for his work on “Blue Bloods,” died Saturday after a battle with cancer, according to an update on a GoFundMe page started last year to support Duong and his family during treatment. He was 42. “With the heaviest hearts, we share that our dear Alex passed away peacefully … Read more