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...

Jan Petry, longtime art director at Leo Burnett with a strong passion for art, dies at 85

By Bob Goldsborough

October 10, 2024 at 3:37 p.m.

Jan Petry was a longtime art director at the Leo Burnett advertising agency who was...

FILE – Ethel Kennedy, widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, watches a video about her late husband during the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights awards ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 5, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Ethel Kennedy, social activist and widow of Robert F Kennedy, has died

By STEVE LeBLANC

October 10, 2024 at 10:45 a.m.

Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy who raised their 11 children after...

Lawyer and Olive-Harvey College co-founder David Truitt. (Jerry Thomas)

David Truitt, lawyer who co-founded Olive-Harvey College and revived Chicago ‘Christmas Ship,’ dies at 90

By Bob Goldsborough

October 8, 2024 at 4:09 p.m.

Chicago lawyer David Truitt, who helped co-found Olive-Harvey College and used his passion for boating...

FILE – Cissy Houston performs during McDonald’s Gospelfest 2013 on May 11, 2013 in Newark, N.J. Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in her New Jersey home. She was 91. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston’s mother and a Grammy-winning singer, dies at 91

By Jonathan Landrum Jr.

October 7, 2024 at 4:02 p.m.

Cissy Houston, the mother of the late Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who...

FILE - Christopher Ciccone, brother of Madonna and author of "Life With My Sister Madonna," poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Madonna’s brother, Christopher Ciccone, dies at 63

By Lindsey Bahr

October 7, 2024 at 3:29 p.m.

Christopher Ciccone, a multihyphenate artist, dancer, designer and younger brother of Madonna, has died. He...

FILE – This image released by Craftsman shows Frank Fritz from the History channel series “American Pickers,” during the Craftsman Finding America’s Treasures event at the Sears Hometown Store in Clinton, Iowa on May 7, 2011. Fritz, a Davenport native, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024 at age 60. (Mark Hirsch/Craftsman via AP)

Frank Fritz of the reality TV Show ‘American Pickers’ dies at 60

By Heather Hollingsworth

October 1, 2024 at 3:58 p.m.

Frank Fritz, who drove around the U.S. looking for antiques and collectibles to buy and...

John Amos | Emmy nominee John Amos has played some of the most iconic characters ever to appear on both the big and small screens, including Kunta Kinte in "Roots," James Evans Sr. in "Good Times," and Cleo McDowell in "Coming to America." A veteran of the New Jersey National Guard, Amos is the Honorary Master Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard.

John Amos, ‘Good Times’ and Emmy-nominated ‘Roots’ star, dies at 84, actor’s publicist says

By Beth Harris

October 1, 2024 at 3:16 p.m.

John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times"...

Pete Rose speaks during a statue dedication ceremony before a Cincinnati Reds game on June 17, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Pete Rose, baseball’s banned hits leader, has died at age 83

By Hillel Italie

October 1, 2024 at 7:13 a.m.

Pete Rose, baseball's career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and...

Kris Kristofferson performs at City Winery in West Town on March 22, 2017.

Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter and actor, dies at 88

By Associated Press

September 29, 2024 at 5:47 p.m.

Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became...

FILE - John Ashton arrives at the premiere of "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" on June 20, 2024, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, file)

John Ashton, ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ actor, dies at 76

By Jake Coyle

September 29, 2024 at 4:29 p.m.

John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective...

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