Elmore Leonard, American Author, Dead at 87

Elmore Leonard, the crime and western author called "the closest thing America has to a national writer," passed away this morning of complications from a stroke he suffered in July. His longtime researcher Gregg Sutter announced the death on Facebook.
Actor and martial artist Jim Kelly, best known as Williams in Enter the Dragon, has died.
Tax-evading financier Marc Rich, pardoned by President Clinton on his last day in office for some funny business about illegally selling Iranian oil while the country held Americans hostage, has died in Switzerland.
N.J. Senator Frank Lautenberg, Oldest Member of Senate, Dies at 89
Democratic New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg passed away this morning of viral pneumonia. He was 89.
Jack Vance, the science-fiction master and author of the Dying Earth series, has died. The New York Times Magazine profiled him in 2009.
Ray Manzarek, the keyboard player for the Doors who went on to produce records by X and Echo and the Bunnymen, has died at 74.
Country Legend George Jones Dead at 81
Legendary country singer George Jones has died, WMSV reports. Jones was hospitalized last week with a fever. He was 81.
Did you know that Maj. Sidney Freedman from M*A*S*H was once married to Diane Arbus? Rest in peace, Maj. Sidney Freedman from M*A*S*H.
Richie Havens, the legendary folk singer who opened Woodstock in 1969, died of a heart attack at his home in New Jersey today. He was 72.
Chinua Achebe, Author of Things Fall Apart, Dead at 82
Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian author and critic best known for his first novel Things Fall Apart, has died in Boston following an illness. He was 82.
Jason Molina, Magnolia Electric Co. Songwriter, Dead at 39
Jason Molina, the musician and songwriter behind the great Magnolia Electric Co. and Songs: Ohia, passed away on Saturday at 39, Chunklet's Henry Owings reports. Molina had struggled with severe alcoholism, and had released no new recordings since 2009; in 2011 his family held a fundraiser to pay for medical bills…
Hugo Chávez Is Dead
Hugo Chávez, president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, has died at the age of 58 after a long battle with an undisclosed type of cancer, Vice President Nicolás Maduro announced today.
Hugo Chavez Dead at 58
Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, has died of cancer at age 58, Vice President Nicolás Maduro announced this afternoon. Chavez had been fighting the disease since 2011, flying twice to Cuba for surgeries, and hadn't been seen in public for months before his death. Nevertheless, the former paratrooper, who…
The Co-Creator of 'Underdog' Has Died, as Has Your Childhood
William Watts Biggers, the co-creator of "Underdog," the dimly recalled yet foundational mod cartoon you once watched at your grandmother's house, thrilling as the shy and awkward shoe-shine dog transformed himself into a brave and awkward superhero to save his love Sweet Polly Purebred from all manner of canine…
