Celebrities who died in March 2023: Gary Rossington, Robert Blake, Willis Reed and more
The entertainment and sports worlds lost several big names in March, including Robert Blake, Willis Reed, Joe Pepitone and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Here’s a look at celebrities who died during the third month of the year.
Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd seen at KAABOO Texas at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
GARY ROSSINGTON
Who: Founding guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd and last original member of the classic Southern rock band. Rossington, a stoic figure, wasn’t a showboat on stage but his skillful and slippery slide playing on hits such as “Free Bird” helped to fuel the band’s legend and make that song a rock classic.
Died: March 5 at age 71. No cause of death was given, but Rossington had suffered from heart problems for several years.
READ MORE: Gary Rossington, last original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, dead at 71
Actor Robert Blake leaves court for the lunch break, Oct. 3, 2005, after his second day of testimony in a wrongful death lawsuit, brought by the family of Bonny Lee Bakley, in Burbank, Calif. Blake, the Emmy award-winning performer who went from acclaim for his acting to notoriety when he was tried and acquitted of murdering his wife, died Thursday, March 9, 2023, at age 89.AP Photo/Nick Ut, File
ROBERT BLAKE
Who: Movie and TV actor, Emmy winner for his role in 1970s TV show “Baretta.” As a youngster, Blake starred in the “Our Gang” comedies and acted in “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” As an adult, he was praised for his portrayal of real-life murderer Perry Smith in the movie of Truman Capote’s true crime best seller “In Cold Blood.”
Died: March 9 at age 89.
READ MORE: Robert Blake, ‘Baretta’ actor acquitted of killing wife Bonny Lee Bakley, dead at 89
FILE – New York Knicks Hall-of-Famer Willis Reed responds to questions during an interview before an NBA basketball game between the Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks, Friday, April 5, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) APAP
WILLIS REED
Who: Legendary basketball star and Hall of Famer for the New York Knicks. Reed, known simply as “The Captain,” also served as coach and general manager after his playing career ended in 1974. He also coached and was an executive with the Nets when they played their games in New Jersey and was an executive with the New Orleans Hornets from 2004-2007.
Died: March 21, at age 80. No cause of death was given, but Reed had been suffering from congestive heart problems.
READ MORE: Willis Reed, New York Knicks Hall of Famer, dead at 80
Actor Tom Sizemore poses in New York, April 18, 2013. Sizemore, the “Saving Private Ryan” actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died Friday, March 3, 2023, at age 61.AP File Photo/John Carucci
TOM SIZEMORE
Who: Actor, best known for his roles in movies such as “Saving Private Ryan,” “Natural Born Killers,” “True Romance,” “Heat” and “The Relic.”
Died: March 3 at age 61. Sizemore had suffered a brain aneurysm on Feb. 18 at his home in Los Angeles.
READ MORE: Tom Sizemore, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ actor, dies at 61
From left, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, and Joe Pepitone pose for a photo after their 8-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 14, 1964 in the sixth game of the World Series in St. Louis. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS
JOE PEPITONE
Who: Baseball All-Star, Gold Glove first baseman on the 1960s New York Yankees who gained renown for his flamboyant personality, hairpieces and penchant for nightlife.
Died: March 13 at age 82. The cause of death was not immediately clear, but son BJ Pepitone said a heart attack was suspected, according to the Associated Press.
FILE – Actor Lance Reddick appears at the “White House Down” premiere in New York on June 25, 2013. Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, including “The Wire,” @Fringe” and the “John Wick” franchise, died suddenly on Friday, March 17, 2023. He was 60. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
LANCE REDDICK
Who: Character actor who specialized in authority figures in movies and on TV; known for roles in “The Wire,” “Fringe” and “John Wick” franchise. He was 60.
Died: March 17 at age 60. Reddick’s publicist attributed his death to natural causes, according to the Associated Press.
FILE – Israeli actor Chaim Topol speaks during an interview in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 8, 2015. Chaim Topol, a leading Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in “Fiddler on the Roof,” has died in Tel Aviv, Israeli leaders said Thursday, March 9, 2023. He was 87. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)AP
CHAIM TOPOL
Who: Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Died: March 8 at age 87, according to the Associated Press.
READ MORE: Chaim Topol, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ actor, dead at 87
Newark jazz legend Wayne Shorter.
WAYNE SHORTER
Who: Grammy-winning saxophonist and influential composer. According to The New York Times, Shorter was known as an “enigmatic, intrepid saxophonist who shaped the color and contour of modern jazz.”
Died: March 2 at age 89, according to NPR.
Bobby Caldwell performs onstage at the 2013 Soul Train Awards at the Orleans Arena on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP)Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP
BOBBY CALDWELL
Who: R&B crooner, best known for hits such as “What You Won’t Do For Love” and “Open Your Eyes.”
Died: March 14 at age 71, according to USA Today.
Tom Leadon performs with Mudcrutch at the Tabernacle on Thursday, June 2, 2016, in Atlanta. (Photo by Robb D. Cohen/Invision/AP)
TOM LEADON
Who: Singer and guitarist, best known for co-founding the band Mudcrutch with Tom Petty in the early 1970s and participating in a reunion beginning in 2008.
Died: March 22 at age 71, according to Variety.
In this Sept. 2019 photo, Darcelle XV, performs in Portland, Ore. Walter C. Cole, better known as the iconic drag queen who performed for decades as Darcelle, has died of natural causes in Portland, Ore, on Thursday, March 24, 2023. (Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian via AP)AP
DARCELLE XV
Who: Drag queen, entertainer and cabaret owner in Portland, Oregon. Born Walter Cole, earned an entry in Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest drag performer.
Died: March 23 at age 92, according to The New York Times.
Wayne Swinny performs with Saliva during day two of the Rock Fest on July 15, 2011, in Cadott, Wis. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
WAYNE SWINNY
Who: Guitarist and founding member of the rock band Saliva.
Died: March 22 at age 59. Swinny had a brain hemorrhage the previous day while the band was on tour, according to Variety.
Paul O’Grady dressed as Lily Savage poses for a photo at home, in south London, Aug. 16, 1993. Entertainer Paul O’Grady, who achieved fame as drag queen Lily Savage before becoming a much-loved comedian and host on British television, has died. He was 67. O’Grady’s partner Andre Portasio said he died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
PAUL O’GRADY
Who: British comedian, actor and TV host — known for his docuseries “Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs,” as well as his drag queen alter-ego, Lily Savage.
Died: March 28 at age 67, according to CNN.
ALSO:
- Nicholas Lloyd Webber, composer, record producer and son of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Died March 25 at age 43.
- Peter Werner, prolific director who won an Oscar for Best Live-Action Short and worked on TV series such as “Moonlighting,” “Justified” and “Elementary.” Died March 21 at age 76.
- Paul Grant, British actor and stuntman who appeared in “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter” movies. Died March 16 at age 56.
- Bert I. Gordon, sci-fi director, writer, producer, and visual effects artist behind several famous giant-monster films. Died March 8 at age 100.
- Ted Donaldson, former child actor who appeared in movie version of “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” and original radio version of “Father Knows Best.” Died March 1 at age 89.
- Steve Mackey, bassist for the rock band Pulp and record producer. Died March 2 at age 56.
- Brian “Brizz” Gillis, co-founder of boy band LFO. Died March 29 at age 47.
- Gunter Nezhoda, an actor and an favorite competitive bidder on A&E’s “Storage Wars.” Died March 21 at age 67.