Virginia Davis (1918-2009)

Disney’s little known first star. I actually had a conversation with her once four years ago, she was a very animated grandmotherly sort, seemed to keep her youthful enthusiasm her whole life.

Lou Jacobi (1913-2009)

Some actors only need one role to be memorable, and he was so funny as Moustache in Irma La Douce (1963), that that alone warrants him mention here.

Henry Gibson (1935-2009)

Like Jacobi, Gibson had a long and successful career as a character actor, but when the folks at Boston Legal brought him on as Judge Clark Brown, did they know what a treasure they had, I think so.

Lou Albano (1933-2009)

Super Mario himself.

Ertuğrul Osman (1912-2009)

The last claimant to the throne of the Ottoman Empire.

Irving Kristol (1920-2009)

One of the least known but mostly politically influential Americans of the 20th century, his son continues the family’s neo-conservative tradition but isn’t as impressive.

William Safire (1929-2009)

Journalist, political figure, “libertarian conservative”.