Tv, Celebrity Deaths | featured news

Dick Clark married music and television long before "American Idol." But his legacy extends well beyond the persona of the laid-back host of "American Bandstand" whose influence can still be seen on TV today.

Dick Clark is dead after suffering a heart attack, according to TMZ. ABC confirmed the report. The 82-year-old longtime TV producer and host had been at St. John's Hospital in L.A. after undergoing an outpatient procedure on Tuesday, according to TMZ. Clark reportedly suffered the heart attack following the procedure and died on Wednesday after unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate him.

CBS newsman Mike Wallace, the dogged, merciless reporter and interviewer who took on politicians, celebrities and other public figures in a 60-year career highlighted by the on-air confrontations that helped make "60 Minutes" the most successful primetime television news program ever, has died. He was 93.

Davy Jones, British-born lead singer with 60s band The Monkees, dies aged 65, his publicist confirms.

"Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius was found dead at his Sherman Oaks on home Wednesday morning.

The body of Joe Bodalai, who co-wrote the script for the first "Wayne's World" movie, was discovered at a Los Angeles hotel on Monday.

Emmy-winning character actor Harry Morgan, whose portrayal of the fatherly Col. Potter on television's "M-A-S-H" highlighted a show business career that included nine other TV series, 50 films and the Broadway stage, died Wednesday. He was 96.

Andy Rooney so dreaded the day he had to end his signature "60 Minutes" commentaries about life's large and small absurdities that he kept going until he was 92 years old. Just a month ago, Rooney delivered his last regular essay on the CBS newsmagazine. CBS said he died Friday night in New York from complications from a recent surgery.

Andy Whitfield, the 39-year-old star of the cable series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," has died. "On a beautiful sunny Sydney spring morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his loving wife, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18 month battle with lymphoma cancer," Whitfield's wife Vashti said in a statement. "He passed peacefully surrounded by love. Thank you to all his fans whose love and support have help carry him to this point. He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was."

The best way to celebrate Peter Falk's life is to savor how Columbo, his signature character, fortified our lives....