Low-Key Celebrity Deaths Of 2019

​Welcome to the Third Edition of The Low-Key Celebrity Deaths. The 2017 and 2018 editions provided a few shocks and awes, as not many people even knew about some of the deaths – that’s the point, to provide entertainment goers with deaths that were overlooked by the media on a large scale. Below you will see a combination of actors, directors and professional wrestlers that have passed on. 

​Rip Torn
(6th of February 1931 - 9th of July 2019)

The Emmy award winning actor for his role in The Larry Sanders Show, and Oscar nominated for his role in Cross Creek (1983), is probably best known for his portrayal of Zed in Men in Black parts 1 and 2, passed away on 9th of July, aged 88 from Alzheimer’s disease. 
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Doris Day
(3rd of April 1922 - 13th of May 2019)

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A singer and actress, best known for her own show titled The Doris Day Show and also her Oscar nominated performance in Pillow Talk. She had largely been unsighted since her show finished in 1973, but was a known animal rights activist, and her songs are still being used for movies and TV shows. She passed away on 13th of May, aged 97 from pneumonia. 
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​Peggy Lipton 
(30th of August 1946 - 11th of May 2019)

Another Twin Peaks alumni has passed away. Best known for her role as Norma Jennings in the Twin Peaks series and movie, and also her Golden Globe winning performance in the TV show The Mod Squad. She passed away on May 11th, aged 72 from cancer. 
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​John Singleton
(6th of January 1968 - 28th of April 2019)

In what came as a massive shock to the film industry, famed director of the Oscar nominated Boyz n the Hood (1991), and also other well received movies such as Higher Learning, Shaft and Four Brothers – passed away on April 28th, aged 51 from a sudden stroke. 
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​Harley Race
(11th of April 1943 - 1st of August 2019)

A legendary professional wrestler in the famed NWA (National Wrestling Alliance), where he was a 7-time NWA Champion, and later wrestled in the WWE as ‘King’ Harley Race. He was also inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, passed away August 1st, aged 76 from lung cancer. 
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René Auberjonois
(1st of June 1940 - 8th of December 2019)

A character actor and voice actor on many cartoons, is best known for his work on TV including Boston Legal, Benson and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but Police Academy fans may remember him as the main villain in Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach. René passed away on December 8th, aged 79 from lung cancer. 
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Ashley Massaro
(26th of May 1979 - 16th of May 2019)

A former professional wrestler with the WWE in mid 2000’s. She made her debut in 2005 after winning the WWE Diva Search, where she performed on Monday Night Raw, Smackdown and ECW. Her highest achievement was wrestling Melina for the WWE Women’s Championship at Wrestlemania 23. During her time in the WWE, she posed for Playboy, and also guest starred on Smallville. She passed away on May 16th aged 39 – no official cause of death. 
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​Kristoff St. John
(15th of July 1966 - 3rd of February 2019)

Daytime TV lovers were left in shock when Kristoff passed away. Best known for playing the role of Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless for 28 years. He tragically died on February 3rd, aged 52 from heart failure. 

​Mean Gene Okerlund
(19th of December 1942 - 2nd of January 2019)

A professional wrestling interviewer, announcer and television host. Best known for his work in the WWE and WCW (World Championship Wrestling). Was part of the first nine Wrestlemania events between 1985-1993 before joining WCW and staying until 2001. He re-joined WWE shortly after as a television host, and would do work on the WWE Network until his death on January 2nd, aged 76 from complications after a fall. 
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​King Kong Bundy
(7th of November 1955 - 4th of March 2019) 

A former professional wrestler, who is best known for wrestling in the WWE between 1984-1987 and then again in 1994-95. During his time in the WWE, he main evented Wrestlemania 2, when he wrestled WWE Champion Hulk Hogan in a steel cage match, and faced The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 11.  Bundy also did a little acting, and guest starred on Married…With Children as Uncle Irwin. Bundy passed away on March 4th, aged 63 from diabetes. 
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Written by Matthew.
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