<img src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/mysterio/api/b4bea551c8e336be4ccda26ab077e5d5758ba98c645b4273725b5b3e94aa07a6/lightyear_networkapi/resizefill_w976%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fusa_today_entertainment_893%2Fcec8ba1f8257327f05d9eec0743fec57.jpg” alt=”Kimmarie Johnson attends the sixth annual Television Academy Honors held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on May 9, 2013, in Beverly Hills, California.”>Kimmarie Johnson attends the sixth annual Television Academy Honors held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on May 9, 2013, in Beverly Hills, California.
Kimmarie Johnson, an actress and model who appeared on the teen drama series “Beverly Hills, 90210” and also had a role in the 2000 comedy “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” has died. She was 50.
Johnson died on Wednesday, Nov. 4, after she suffered a “heart event” Oct. 27, her niece, Rhonda Scott, confirmed to TMZ. According to Scott, Johnson was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles after the heart event and was diagnosed with a “heart aneurysm condition.” She died peacefully on Nov. 4, her niece told the outlet.
“She radiated a light so strong and bright,” Scott also told People magazine. “People who came in contact with her felt nothing but positive energy. We will miss her tremendously and will continue to honor her life forever.”
Two years later, Johnson popped up in the stoner comedy “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” starring Seann William Scott and Ashton Kutcher. She appeared in a role that was credited as Jumpsuit Chick #5 and was listed in the credits as Kim Marie Johnson.
According to her IMDb page, Johnson’s other credits included the Pamela Anderson action-comedy series “V.I.P.,” which featured her in a 2000 episode from its second season, and the Wanda Sykes‘ show “Wanda at Large,” in which she appeared in 2003. She also had roles in movies like “Shadow Fury” and “Break a Leg.”
Richard Riehle, the versatile character actor best known for his roles in “Office Space” and “Grounded for Life,” died at 78, according to a joint statement by his agency and management, which was shared with USA TODAY on Oct. 19.Riehle, who had a master of fine arts degree from the University of Minnesota, racked up hundreds of film and TV credits across his five-decade career in Hollywood. The actor’s talents spanned genres, with Riehle working in horror films, comedies, holiday movies and crime thrillers.After his breakout role in Edward Zwick’s 1989 Civil War epic “Glory,” he appeared in “The Man from Earth,” “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “Free Willy” and “Casino,” among other movies. He also had TV roles on “Barry,” The Young and the Restless” and several “Star Trek” series. (Fox Broadcasting) Longtime NPR personality Noah Adams, right, died Oct. 16 at his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio, wife Neenah Ellis told the radio broadcaster. He was 84.As a host for “All Things Considered” from 1982 to 1987 and 1989 to 2002, the writer and storyteller covered the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9/11 and human-focused stories in rural communities across the country. His former colleagues highlighted Adams’ 1981 radio documentary “Father Cares: The Last of Jonestown” as one of his standout works. (Tim Dillon/USA TODAY) Anika Rashaun, a reality TV personality and dating coach, died at 34 after being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Her friend and podcast cohost Tiara Ramos announced her death in an Oct. 5 Substack post; an exact date of death wasn’t disclosed.Rashaun was known for appearing on MTV’s “Real World Seattle: Bad Blood” in 2016 and “The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions” in 2017. She later became a matchmaker and cohosted the podcast “Breast Friends Forever,” launched after her cancer diagnosis. (Stephanie Girard) Sass Jordan, the Juno-winning rock singer-songwriter and former “Canadian Idol” judge, died Oct. 2 surrounded by her family, according to a statement shared on her Instagram account. She was 65. A cause of death has not been disclosed.Jordan was known for her powerhouse vocals and songs, including “Tell Somebody” and “Make You a Believer.” Her 1988 debut album earned her a Juno Award for most promising female vocalist, and she later served as a judge on all six seasons of “Canadian Idol.” (WILLIAM HAMES, PROVIDED BY IMPACT RECORDS) Angela Stribling, a radio personality and former BET host, died on Sept. 26 at the age of 58 following a battle with brain cancer, Stribling’s husband, Ken Washington, shared in an Instagram post.The New York-born TV personality and singer hosted BET’s entertainment news show “Screen Scene” in the 1990s and pioneered the network’s jazz coverage by hosting “Jazz Central” and other programs. (Paul Morigi) Jon Small, the music video director, producer and longtime collaborator of Billy Joel, has died. Joel confirmed Small’s death in a brief Instagram post on Sept. 7. “RIP Jon Small,” the hitmaker captioned photos of the pair.Small played with Joel in the 1970s bands the Hassles and Attila before they fell out over Joel’s affair with Small’s wife. The pair later reconciled, with Small going on to directed music videos for the “Piano Man” singer as well as Reba McEntire, Luther Vandross, Run-DMC, Garth Brooks, Enrique Iglesias, Blake Shelton and more. (Andrew H. Walker)Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Cassandra Wilson died in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, on Sept. 2, her manager told radio station WBGO. She was 70.The genre-bending singer, who infused elements of blues, country and folk into her music, won Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for 1995’s “New Moon Daughter” and Best Jazz Vocal Album for 2008’s “Loverly.” In 2022, she was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor for jazz artists. (Theo Wargo) Singer, actress and TV personality Jaye P. Morgan died at age 94 of natural causes on Aug. 24, her representatives confirmed to USA TODAY. The entertainer was known for hit recordings in the 1950s, including “Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” as well as several TV appearances, including her memorable stint as a celebrity panelist on “The Gong Show.” (Courtesty of Jaye P. Morgan) Music manager Dale Morris, who guided the careers of country stars Kenny Chesney and Alabama, died on Aug. 21, his management firm, Morris Higham Management, announced on social media. He was 89. Morris’ family said in a news release that he died in his sleep.Morris’ client Chesney went on to become one of country music’s most enduring stars following his 1994 debut. With Morris’ help, the singer scored a string of over 20 No. 1 country hits and four consecutive entertainer of the year awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards. (Morris Highham Management) Frank Beard, the Texas-born drummer for ZZ Top for 56 years, died at 77.The band’s representative shared in a statement to USA TODAY that Beard died Aug. 17 while in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, “with family members at his side.”In early August, Beard dropped off ZZ Top’s The Big One Tour due to health issues. Beard played with ZZ Top since their 1971 debut, “ZZ Top’s First Album.” The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. (Jimmy Steinfeldt for Frank Beard) “Party Rock Anthem” singer Lauren Bennett died in England on May 29 at the age of 36, according to Kent and Medway Coroner records obtained by USA TODAY. Her former band, G.R.L., formally announced the news in a heartfelt statement posted to their official Instagram page Monday, July 6, which said, “Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us.””We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us. Her beautiful spirit touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed and forever loved,” wrote Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton and Paula van Oppen. (Brett Hemmings) David Clayton-Thomas, best known as the lead singer of the Grammy-winning jazz rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears, died on June 24 at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, according to a statement released by the singer’s representatives. He was 84. A cause of death was not disclosed.”One of the most recognizable voices of his generation, Clayton-Thomas sang the hell out of every song he touched, soaring and sunny one moment, a deep and somber shade of blue the next,” the statement read. “Over a career that carried him from the streets of Toronto to the stage at Woodstock and beyond, he sold more than 40 million records and helped shape the very sound of jazz-rock.” (Diane Lafond) Veteran actor Michael Byrne, best known for roles in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1,” has died at 82. The London-born performer died June 20, according to The Guardian. Across a six-decade career, Byrne also appeared in blockbuster films including “Tomorrow Never Dies” and “Braveheart.” (Wolf Marloh) Oliver Tree, the musician behind hits “Life Goes On” and “Miss You,” died June 14 in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian authorities confirmed to USA TODAY. He was 32.Police identified Tree among six victims after two helicopters reportedly collided midair and crashed, sparking a fire. The California-born artist had recently performed in Brazil as part of his Love You Madly, Hate You Badly World’s First World Tour. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.A remembrance was shared on Tree’s social media accounts on June 21 and read, in part: “Oliver is now back in California where he can finally rest. His legacy will live on through his foundation/endowment named “Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses” coming soon. This is something that Oliver had put together before his passing, written in his will. We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish.” (Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal) Gene Shalit, the longtime NBC “Today” film and book critic known for his trademark mustache, bow ties and pun-filled reviews, died June 12 at 100. Shalit spent nearly four decades on the morning show after joining in 1970, becoming one of television’s most recognizable entertainment voices. His witty commentary, celebrity interviews and distinctive on-air persona made him a beloved media figure, while his reviews occasionally sparked controversy and debate among audiences and fellow critics. (NBC NewsWire/NBCU Photo Bank) Ronnie Schell, the actor and comedian best known for playing Duke Slater on the hit 1960s sitcom “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.,” has died at 94. Schell died of natural causes Friday, June 12, at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, his representative confirmed to USA TODAY. A longtime performer, Schell began his career as a stand-up comic before appearing on television and in films. His credits included “Good Morning World,” “That Girl,” “General Hospital” and Disney’s “Phil of the Future.” He is survived by his wife, two children and a granddaughter. (Courtesy) Talay Riley, a British singer-songwriter who worked with major artists like Britney Spears and Dua Lipa, died at 35 after being stabbed in London on June 5.Three suspects were arrested on suspicion of murder and authorities launched a homicide investigation, according to an official press release from the Metropolitan Police.Riley found massive success in his career, including winning a Grammy in 2019 for his work on H.E.R.’s self-titled album. The musician’s family honored his legacy in a touching tribute after news of his death. “We will always cherish his kindness, beautiful spirit, and remarkable talent,” they said. (British Metropolitan Police) Longtime “Storage Wars” star Darrell Sheets was found dead in his western Arizona home at age 67, local police confirmed April 22. The Lake Havasu City Police Department said authorities found Sheets dead around 2 a.m. that day. His manner of death was suspected to be suicide, authorities said.A&E, which airs “Storage Wars,” said in a statement to USA TODAY that the network is “saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.” Sheets appeared in 163 episodes of “Storage Wars,” which premiered in 2010, but has only sporadically appeared in the latest seasons after he revealed he’d suffered a heart attack in 2019. Upon leaving the locker trade industry, he moved to Arizona and owned an antiques store. (Maggie Shannon/A+E Networks)Dave Mason, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and founding member of ‘60s prog-rock band Traffic, died at 79 on April 19, a spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY. In addition to his guitar work with Traffic, Mason is regarded for playing with Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones as well as writing the soulful “Feelin’ Alright?”“Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved,” read the statement. (Courtesy of Chris Jensen) Chip Taylor, the “Angel of the Morning” and “Wild Thing” songwriter whose family members include brother Jon Voight and niece Angelina Jolie, has died. He was 86. The singer – born James Wesley Voight – died Monday, March 23, according to his label, Train Wreck Records.After British rock band The Troggs recorded his track “Wild Thing,” it shot up the Billboard charts, topping the Hot 100 in 1966. In 2019, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its “lasting qualitative or historical significance.” It also played a part in an iconic moment in music history when a kneeling Jimi Hendrix doused his guitar with lighter fluid and set it on fire to close out the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s set at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Merrilee Rush popularized Taylor’s song “Angel In The Morning” with her 1968 recording, but it was Juice Newton’s version in 1981 that entered the Billboard Hot 100.He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016, with his brothers accompanying Taylor at the ceremony. (Tania Savayan/The Journal News) Tommy DeCarlo, a singer who made the leap from fan to touring lead vocalist for the rock band Boston, has died. He was 60.”It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our dad, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9th, 2026. After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end,” a message shared on his social media accounts — signed by Annie, Talia and Tommy DeCarlo Jr. — read.Boston founder Tom Scholz paid homage to his bandmate in a statement shared with USA TODAY, which read, “This morning Tommy lost his fight with cancer. Everyone who has heard Tommy sing on stage, or on BOSTON albums, knows what a gifted artist he was, but few know how hard he worked to fill that role of BOSTON’s lead vocalist, and to turn himself into a top-tier live performer – or more importantly, what a dedicated father he was to his children.”Scholz noted DeCarlo “appeared out of nowhere to rescue BOSTON in 2007” after singer Brad Delp’s death. (Ron Elkman/USA TODAY NETWORK) Catherine O’Hara, the legendary actress known for “Home Alone,” “Best in Show” and “Schitt’s Creek,” died on Jan. 30 at the age of 71, O’Hara’s manager confirmed to People magazine. A cause of death was not given.A veteran in the entertainment industry, O’Hara has been one of the most lauded and respected actors of her generation, winner of two career Emmy awards, a Golden Globe and two Actor Awards (formerly Screen Actors Guild Awards). She was nominated for two Emmys at the 2025 ceremony. (Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY)Chuck Negron, founding member of “One” and “Til the World Ends” rockers Three Dog Night, has died. He was 83.The singer died Feb. 2 at his home in Los Angeles’ Studio City neighborhood from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complications, publicist Zach Farnum confirmed to USA TODAY.Singers Danny Hutton and Cory Wells invited the New York City native to found Three Dog Night in 1967, going on to lead a successful run through the early ’70s. Their 21 Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit singles include “Til the World Ends” and “Joy to the World.” But the band is perhaps best known for their covers, popularizing Leo Sayer’s “The Show Must Go On,” Eric Burdon’s “Mama Told Me,” “Easy to Be Hard” from the musical “Hair” and Harry Nilsson’s “One.”Negron embarked on a solo career, releasing the albums “Am I Still in Your Heart?,” “Long Road Back” and the Christmas record “Joy to the World.” (Jack Corn, The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK) Bob Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died on Jan. 10 at age 78. Weir’s death was announced in a post on Instagram, which said the cause was “underlying lung issues.” “For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music,” the post said. “His work did more than fill rooms with music; it was warm sunlight that filled the soul, building a community, a language, and a feeling of family that generations of fans carry with them.” (Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY)
Outside of acting, Johnson worked as a model: According to Voyage LA, she was originally from Pittsburgh and was a former Miss Pennsylvania, who participated in the Miss USA beauty pageant. She also founded Skin Glow, a skin care company offering “selectively hand crafted and curated” beauty products “with no chemical residue or after effects,” in 2011.
