Overlooked No More: Katharine McCormick, Force Behind the Birth Control Pill

She used her wealth strategically to expand opportunities for women, underwriting the development of the pill and supporting the suffrage movement.

Michael Boudin, Independent Judge From a Family on the Left, Dies at 85

His rulings on the U.S. bench might have rankled his father, a civil liberties lawyer; his uncle, a muckraking journalist; and his sister, an imprisoned radical.

Max Frankel, Top Times Editor Who Led a Newspaper in Transition, Dies at 94

As executive editor from 1986 to 1994, he oversaw a period of financial, technological and journalistic change while lifting newsroom morale and diversifying the staff.

Slick Watts, N.B.A. Fan Favorite and Headband Pioneer, Dies at 73

An undrafted, 6-foot-1 point guard with patchy hair, he made an enduring fashion statement and became seen as the ultimate Seattle SuperSonic.

Gene Winfield, Whose Cars Starred in Film and on TV, Dies at 97

He was know for modifying cars with innovative metal work and paint jobs, and for building vehicles like the Galileo shuttle for the original “Star Trek” series.

Overlooked No More: Beulah Henry, Inventor With an Endless Imagination

She was so prolific — reimagining things as varied as toys, typewriters, umbrellas and ice-cream makers — that she earned the nickname Lady Edison.

Beulah Henry’s original patent proposals via U.S. Patent Office. Portrait by Harris & Ewing, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Art Schallock, Oldest Surviving Major Leaguer, Dies at 100

A pitcher, he played for the Yankees and the Orioles. When Mickey Mantle was sent to the minors in 1951, Schallock was called up.

Fred Stolle, 86, Golden-Age Australian Tennis Star, Dies

In addition to winning 19 Grand Slam titles, including two singles championships, he was a coach, a club pro and a television commentator.

Athol Fugard, 92, Playwright Who Exposed Torments of Apartheid, Dies

In works like “Blood Knot,” “Master Harold” and “The Island,” he laid bare the realities of racial separatism in his homeland, South Africa.

James Harrison, Whose Antibodies Helped Millions, Dies at 88

James Harrison earned the nickname “The Man With the Golden Arm” because his blood had a rare antibody that may have helped more than two million babies in Australia.

Overlooked No More: Maria W. Stewart, Trailblazing Voice for Black Women

She was the first Black woman to publicly address other women, using essays and lectures in the 1830s to champion their rights and challenge oppression.

Gene Hackman, Hollywood’s Consummate Everyman, Dies at 95

The winner of two Oscars, he was hailed for his nuanced performances in films like “The French Connection,” “Unforgiven” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.”

Ron Travisano, Adman Behind Singing Cats and Joe Isuzu, Dies at 86

The art director for Meow Mix and other memorable commercials, he began his career at the dawn of a creative revolution on Madison Avenue.

Overlooked No More: Lena Richard, Who Brought Creole Cooking to the Masses

She hosted a cooking show years before Julia Child was on the air, tantalizing viewers with okra gumbo, shrimp bisque and other Southern specialties.

Tom Robbins, Whose Comic Novels Drew a Cult Following, Dies at 92

He blended pop philosophy and absurdist comedy in best-selling books like “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” and “Skinny Legs and All.”

Gyalo Thondup, Political Operator and Brother of the Dalai Lama, Dies at 97

Mr. Thondup’s influence in Tibet has been seen as second only to his younger brother, Tenzin Gyatso, the exiled head of Tibetan Buddhism, whom he spent decades trying to help return to their homeland.

Sam Nujoma, Founding President of Namibia, Dies at 95

As the self-exiled leader of the South-West Africa People’s Organization, he directed a guerrilla army in a 24-year war for independence from South African rule.

Marion Wiesel, Translator, Strategist and Wife of Elie Wiesel, Dies at 94

A fellow survivor, she was a literary and political adviser who helped her husband gain recognition as a singular moral authority on the Holocaust.

Overlooked No More: Annie Easley, Who Helped Take Spaceflight to New Heights

She broke barriers at NASA and contributed to its earliest space missions as a rocket scientist, mathematician and computer programmer.

Muhammad Deif, Hamas Military Commander in Gaza, Is Dead

Mr. Deif was assassinated in an Israeli strike on southern Gaza on July 13, Israel said. He was one of the most senior Hamas leaders inside the territory and one of Israel’s most-wanted militants.

In Pictures, Jo Baer’s Evolution as an Artist

After becoming famous for extreme abstraction, she left Minimalism behind.

Nancy Leftenant-Colon, 104, Dies; Army Nurse Broke a Color Barrier

After years of being barred from a segregated military, she became the first Black nurse in the regular U.S. armed forces. She was later an Air Force officer.

Claire van Kampen, 71, Playwright and Arranger of Period Music, Dies

After she married Mark Rylance, the two often collaborated; her specialty was arranging music for Tudor-era plays.

Joan Plowright, Award-Winning Actress and Olivier’s Widow, Dies at 95

She won many accolades — and was honored with a damehood — during a seven-decade career on the London stage, in film and on Broadway.

Overlooked No More: Karen Wynn Fonstad, Who Mapped Tolkien’s Middle-earth

She was a novice cartographer who landed a dream assignment: to create an atlas of the setting of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.”

Agnes Keleti, World’s Oldest Olympic Champion, Dies at 103

She turned to gymnastics after surviving World War II as a persecuted Jew and won 10 Olympic medals competing against far younger athletes.

2024 Notable Deaths

As the year winds to a close, we’re recalling those we’ve lost who forged consequential lives.

In a Political Year, Some Deaths Spoke to the Struggles for Democracy

Among the notable figures who died in a sometimes polarizing 2024, many championed justice, equal rights and political freedom.

Nikki Giovanni, Poet Who Wrote of Black Joy, Dies at 81

As a writer, she tackled race, gender, sex, politics and love. She was also a public intellectual who appeared on television and toured the country.

Peter Westbrook, Pathbreaking Olympic Fencer, Dies at 72

As the first African American to win a medal in a sport long dominated by white Europeans, he was compared to Jackie Robinson and Arthur Ashe.

Overlooked No More: Margaret Getchell, Visionary Force at Macy’s

As the store’s first female executive, she helped turn it into what it is today, paving the way for other women to hold senior positions in retail.

Lawrence Robbins, D.C. Lawyer in Newsmaking Cases, Is Dead at 72

He argued 20 times before the Supreme Court and prepared witnesses like Marie Yovanovitch and Christine Blasey Ford for their congressional testimony.

Bela Karolyi, 82, Dies; Gymnastics Coach Was Revered, Then Repudiated

He rose to fame leading the Romanian and U.S. Olympic teams. He was later caught up in scandals involving the abuse of young female gymnasts.

Bill Moyes

Bill Moyes flying over Botany Bay, in Sydney, Australia, in 1970.

Mr. Moyes in 1970, assisted by his son Stephen.

Bruce Degen, Who Drew ‘The Magic School Bus,’ Dies at 79

He memorably portrayed a frizzy-haired science teacher roping her elementary school class into adventures aboard a shape-shifting yellow bus.

Ella Jenkins, Musician Who Found an Audience in Children, Dies at 100

Performing and recording, she transformed what was seen as a marginal genre in the music industry into a celebration of shared humanity.

Overlooked No More: Go-won-go Mohawk, Trailblazing Indigenous Actress

In the 1880s, the only roles for Indigenous performers were laden with negative stereotypes. So Mohawk decided to write her own narratives.

Alan Rachins, ‘L.A. Law’ and ‘Dharma & Greg’ Actor, Dies at 82

He became recognizable as a performer whose specialty was difficult men, in both absurd comedies and tense dramas.

Joey Jay, First Little Leaguer to Get to the Majors, Dies at 89

A pitcher who won 99 games in 13 seasons, he played for the Braves and the Reds. But when he retired, he never looked back.

DJ Clark Kent, Who Introduced Jay-Z to Notorious B.I.G., Dies at 58

He was a producer and club D.J. who helped rappers find their voices and fortunes, and who later became known as a raconteur of hip-hop history.

Overlooked No More: Margaret E. Knight, Innovator of the Flat-Bottomed Paper Bag

She came up with a method of automation so that workers would not have to make the bags by hand. Then she fought for credit for her work.

Overlooked No More: Gwendolyn B. Bennett, Harlem Renaissance Star Plagued by Misfortune

She was a talented young poet and artist who was central to a fledgling cultural movement, but her life was shrouded by one tragedy after another.

Alain Delon, Smoldering French Film Star, Dies at 88

The César-winning actor was an international favorite in the 1960s and ’70s, often sought after by the era’s great auteurs.

Anouk Aimée, Enigmatic Star of ‘A Man and a Woman,’ Dies at 92

The French actress had already made an impression in international film when she appeared in Claude Lelouch’s 1966 romance, a role that earned her an Oscar nomination.

David Levy, Ex-Laborer Who Became a Top Israeli Leader, Dies at 86

A native of Morocco, he often embodied the resentment of North Africans and Middle Eastern Jews toward European Israelis.

Joyce Randolph, Last of the ‘Honeymooners,’ Is Dead at 99

She played Trixie Norton in the classic sitcom and was the last survivor of a cast of four that dominated Saturday night TV in the 1950s.

Overlooked No More: Cordell Jackson, Elder Stateswoman of Rock ’n’ Roll

A pioneering record-label owner and engineer, she played guitar in a raw and unapologetically abrasive way. “Whatever song it was,” she said, “I always creamed it.”

In 2023, a Host of Consequential, and Very Long, Lives Were Lost

Life expectancy averages may be falling, but you might not have been able to tell that from reading the obituaries about many luminaries this year.

Norman Lear Dies at 101

The famed television producer Norman Lear died on Tuesday at the age 101, leaving behind a legacy of sitcoms that helped shape American culture.

Sandra Day O’Connor’s Last Times Interview

The New York Times sat down with Sandra Day O’Connor in 2008 to discuss her groundbreaking life and work as the first woman on the Supreme Court. She spoke with us with the understanding the interview would be published only after her death.

Donald Triplett, ‘Case 1’ in the Study of Autism, Dies at 89

He was widely considered the first person to be diagnosed with autism. His happy life later became the subject of a book and documentary.

A Look Back at Pelé’s Storied Soccer Career

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé was a formative 20th-century sports figure who was revered as a national treasure in his native Brazil. He was known for popularizing soccer in the United States, and citing it as a tool for connecting people worldwide.

The Last Word: Angela Lansbury

The New York Times sat down with Angela Lansbury in 2010 to discuss her life and accomplishments on the stage and screen. She spoke with us with the understanding the interview would be published only after her death.

Madeleine Albright, First Woman to Serve as Secretary of State, Dies

Under President Bill Clinton, Ms. Albright represented America at the United Nations and was the first woman to serve as secretary of state. Ms. Albright died at the age of 84.

John Wesley, an Artist Who Couldn’t Be Pinned Down, Dies at 93

With his cartoonlike work that seemed to plumb the American subconscious, he was celebrated as a Pop artist, a surrealist, an eroticist and more.

Deaths in 2021: Headline Names Against the Backdrop of Pandemic

Aaron, Sondheim, Dole and Didion. But the loss of Colin Powell from the virus spoke most directly to the moment the world is in.

The Last Word: E.O. Wilson

In a never-before-seen interview, E.O. Wilson sat down with The New York Times in 2008 to talk about his lifelong quest to explore and to protect the planet’s biodiversity.

The Last Word: Lawrence Ferlinghetti

For more than 50 years, the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti kept the bohemian and beat spirit alive at his City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. In 2007, he spoke to The Times about his life and legacy.

Overlooked No More: Roland Johnson, Who Fought to Shut Down Institutions for the Disabled

He survived 13 years of neglect and abuse, including sexual assault, at the notorious Pennhurst State School and Hospital outside Philadelphia before emerging as a champion for the disabled.

Stan Lee Is Dead at 95; Superhero of Marvel Comics

Mr. Lee helped create Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man and others while overseeing his company’s emergence as a media behemoth.

Irving Like, 93, Dies; Foe of Power Plant and Friend of Fire Island

Mr. Like, an environmental lawyer, waged a long and ultimately successful fight against the Shoreham nuclear generator on Long Island.

Russ Heath, Whose Comics Caught Lichtenstein’s Eye, Dies at 91

In a long and prolific career, Mr. Heath drew countless comic books. He was known for his viscerally illustrated combat stories.

The Last Word: Neil Simon

Neil Simon was one of Broadway’s most successful and bankable writers, writing such hit plays as “Barefoot in the Park” and “The Odd Couple.”

The Last Word: Lorraine Gordon

Lorraine Gordon kept independent jazz alive at the legendary Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village. The club hosted musical greats like Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

The Last Word: Philip Roth

The New York Times sat down with Philip Roth in 2008 to talk about his life and accomplishments.

The Last Word: Liz Smith

A never-before-seen interview with Liz Smith, the famed gossip columnist who emerged from a modest upbringing in Texas to become one of the highest-paid and most influential journalists in New York.

Fay Chiang, 65, Poet Who Championed Asian-American Culture, Dies

Ms. Chiang’s poetry reflected her anxieties as a first-generation Chinese-American and her work as a community activist in New York City.

The Last Word: John G. Morris

Mr. Morris was a picture editor who chose many of the photographs that defined the way modern history was viewed, from World War II through the Vietnam War.

Last Word: Arnold Palmer

The golfer Arnold Palmer was one of the most celebrated and charismatic athletes of the 20th century.

Last Word: Ed Koch

In an interview conducted in 2007, former Mayor Edward I. Koch reflected on his life and political career, and talked of how he would like to be remembered.

Last Word: Mike Wallace

Mike Wallace, the tough-guy interrogator of “60 Minutes,” was the personification of 20th-century television news. He made his name confronting the famous and infamous on camera.

The Last Word: Sidney Lumet

Sidney Lumet was one of America's most prolific filmmakers. Here he discusses his career, his gritty New York films and his legacy.

Last Word: Geraldine A. Ferraro

In 1984, Geraldine A. Ferraro became the first woman nominated for national office by a major party.

Last Word: Bob Feller

Bob Feller is one of the greatest baseball pitchers ever to play the game. He began his major league career as a teenager in 1936, throwing a fastball the game has not seen since.

Last Word: Ted Kheel

For decades the mediator Ted Kheel was a dominant force in labor disputes. He developed his unique technique mediating teacher, transit and press strikes.

Last Word: Theodore C. Sorensen

Theodore C. Sorensen was President John F. Kennedy's political strategist, confidant and his favorite speechwriter. Mr. Sorensen helped craft some of the president's most memorable lines.

Last Word: Les Paul

Les Paul was a virtuoso guitarist and inventor whose solid-body electric guitar changed the course of 20th-century music.

Last Word: Budd Schulberg

In a Last Word video, Mr. Schulberg reflects on his brief writing partnership with F. Scott Fitzgerald, his disenchantment with the Communist Party and his screenplay for “On the Waterfront.”

The Last Word - Stewart R. Mott

Stewart R. Mott, philanthropist and heir to the General Motors fortune, dedicated his life and money to liberal politics and progressive causes.

The Last Word: Stewart R. Mott

Stewart R. Mott, philanthropist and heir to the General Motors fortune, dedicated his life and money to liberal politics and progressive causes.

Last Word: Dith Pran

New York Times photographer Dith Pran survived the Cambodian killing fields. He dedicated his life to telling the story of the Khmer Rouge's genocide.

Art Buchwald: I Just Died

Art Buchwald was one of the great American humorists. He delighted in skewering the powerful and the pompous. (Producer: Brent McDonald | Reporter: Tim Weiner)