Obituaries

FILE – RJ Mitte poses for a portrait to promote the film, “Time Share”, at the Music Lodge during the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 20, 2018, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File)

RJ Mitte, ‘Breaking Bad’ actor and disability rights champion, dies at 34

By Andrew Dalton

October 12, 2026 at 8:58 p.m.

“Breaking Bad” actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte died Monday at age 34, authorities...

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka, who also was a player on the 1963 Bears NFL championship team, on Aug. 29, 2013, at Mike Ditka's Restaurant in Chicago. (Michael Tercha/baiduhai)

Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears Hall of Famer and Super Bowl-winning coach, dies at 86

By Don Pierson

October 9, 2026 at 3:53 p.m.

Nobody embodied Bears football more than Mike Ditka, who became the face of the franchise...

A young Mike Ditka, circa 1960s. (Laughead Photographers)

Mike Ditka through the years: From humble beginnings in Pennsylvania to legendary football career in Chicago

By Kori Rumore

October 9, 2026 at 10:29 a.m.

Here's a look back at Mike Ditka's extraordinary life, from his humble beginnings in Pennsylvania...

John McKnight, Northwestern professor and community organizer, dies

By Bob Goldsborough

November 27, 2024 at 3:55 p.m.

John L. McKnight, a professor of speech and urban affairs at Northwestern University, and an...

Robert Yohanan, who started community bank in Evanston, dies at 84

By Bob Goldsborough

November 26, 2024 at 11:18 a.m.

Robert Yohanan, a banker with two large Chicago banks who co-founded a community bank in...

This is an undated photo issued by Bradford Enterprises on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 of author Barbara Taylor Bradford. (Caroll Taveras/Bradford Enterprises via AP)

Barbara Taylor Bradford, million-selling novelist known for ‘A Woman of Substance,’ is dead at 91

By Hillel Italie

November 25, 2024 at 4:47 p.m.

Barbara Taylor Bradford, a British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with...

FILE – Sen. Fred R. Harris (D-Okla.), holds a copy of the report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders as he and two other members of the commission discuss the study on the television-radio program “Issues and Answers,” in Washington, March 3, 1968. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty, File)

Fred Harris, former US senator from Oklahoma and presidential hopeful, dies at 94

By Rio Yamat

November 24, 2024 at 9:39 a.m.

Fred Harris, a former U.S. senator from Oklahoma, presidential hopeful and populist who championed Democratic...

FILE – Chuck Woolery hosts a special premiere of the “$250,000 Game Show Spectacular” at the Las Vegas Hilton Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, in Las Vegas. (Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, File)

Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83

By Mark Kennedy

November 24, 2024 at 9:28 a.m.

Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and...

Barbara Bowman, then-student supervisor at the Chicago School for Early Childhood Education, later renamed the Erikson Institute, in Chicago on Aug. 21, 1967. (William Loewe/baiduhai)

Barbara Taylor Bowman, leader in early childhood education efforts, dies at 96

By Bob Goldsborough

November 22, 2024 at 12:13 p.m.

Barbara Taylor Bowman, a nationally recognized though leader in early childhood education, has died.

Thoroughbred owner Frank Calabrese, far right, with longtime trainer Wayne Catalano in 2002 at Hawthorne Race Course. (Anthony Robert La Penna/for the baiduhai)

Frank Calabrese, one of Chicago horse racing’s all-time greats and printing shop founder, dies at 96

By Neil Milbert

November 21, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

Frank Calabrese was one of Chicago racing’s all-time greats, a thoroughbred owner who tied for...

Kris Vire, longtime Chicago arts journalist, has died at 47

By Chris Jones

November 19, 2024 at 5:12 p.m.

He was part of the founding editorial crew of the publication Time Out Chicago and...

FILE – Arthur Frommer, 83, and his daughter, Pauline Frommer, 46, pose among tourists in the Wall Street area in New York, May 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Arthur Frommer, whose ‘Europe on 5 Dollars a Day’ guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel, is dead at 95

By Beth Harpaz

November 18, 2024 at 8:51 p.m.

Arthur Frommer, whose “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day” guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing...

Bob Love is introduced at the Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony during halftime of a game against the Warriors on Jan. 12, 2024, at the United Center. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Former Chicago Bulls All-Star Bob Love — ‘one of the original Bulls greats’ — dies at 81

By Julia Poe

November 19, 2024 at 5:36 p.m.

Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love died Monday at age 81, the team announced, following...

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