Obituaries

Dori Wilson has her hair styled by Leigh Jones at his salon in Chicago on June 5, 2002. (David Klobucar/baiduhai)

Leigh Jones, prominent hairstylist for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, dies at 81

By Bob Goldsborough

October 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The salon owner built a large and loyal clientele of prominent figures, and was a...

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...

FILE – Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock participate in the BUILD Speaker Series to discuss the film, “Go North”, at AOL Studios on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who skewered fast food industry, dies at 53

By Mark Kennedy

May 24, 2024 at 10:23 a.m.

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous work skewered American food and...

Raydell Lacey is seen in her Chicago home on April 30, 2019. Lacey started the organization Not Before My Parents after both her daughter and grandson died due to violence. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Community mourns Englewood’s Raydell Lacey, founder of nonprofit Not Before My Parents

By Darcel Rockett

May 22, 2024 at 12:41 p.m.

The founder of Chess Moves Against Violence and the nonprofit Not Before My Parents helped...

Ben Weese, architect and preservationist who helped save Glessner House, dies at 94

By Bob Goldsborough

May 21, 2024 at 3:19 p.m.

Ben Weese, an architect and historic preservationist who was part of the “Chicago Seven” architectural group...

FILE – Ivan F. Boesky, center, leaves federal court in New York, April 24, 1987 after pleading guilty to one count of violating federal securities laws. Boesky, the flamboyant stock speculator whose cooperation with the government cracked open one of the largest insider trading scandals on Wall Street, has died at the age of 87. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett, File)

Ivan Boesky, stock trader convicted in insider trading scandal, dead at 87

By Associated Press

May 20, 2024 at 3:10 p.m.

Ivan F. Boesky, the flamboyant stock trader whose cooperation with the government cracked open one...

Stuart Rosenberg, who died on May 7, played many instruments in many bands and musical genres and was a huge influence on generations of musicians. (Photo by Chip Covington).

Chicago music legend Stuart J. Rosenberg dies at age 68

By Bob Goldsborough

May 20, 2024 at 7:40 a.m.

Whether performing music, hosting radio programs, producing events or helping to create a concert space,...

FILE – Saxophonist David Sanborn performs on the Stravinski Hall stage at the 43rd Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland on July 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Keystone/Martial Trezzini, File)

David Sanborn, Grammy-winning saxophonist who played on hundreds of albums, dies at 78

By Associated Press

May 14, 2024 at 3:19 p.m.

David Sanborn, the Grammy-winning saxophonist who played lively solos on such hits as David Bowie’s...

Canadian author Alice Munro in Victoria, British Columbia on Dec.10, 2013. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press via AP)

Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92

By Hillel Italie

May 14, 2024 at 2:59 p.m.

Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most...

Stuart Rosenberg played with music groups including Rogues, the Laketown Buskers and The Otters. (Chip Covington)

In memoriam: Musician Stuart Rosenberg turned the world from ‘black and white to Technicolor’

By Rick Kogan

May 14, 2024 at 9:26 a.m.

“I love everything, all music, and that’s why I do what I do. My great...

Dr. Cyril Wecht, celebrity pathologist who argued more than 1 shooter killed JFK, dies at 93

By Associated Press

May 13, 2024 at 3:26 p.m.

Dr. Cyril Wecht, a pathologist and attorney whose biting cynicism and controversial positions on high-profile...

Today in History: Bob Marley dies at 36

By Associated Press

May 11, 2024 at 4:00 a.m.

On May 11, 1981, legendary reggae artist Bob Marley died in a Miami hospital at...

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