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Pictures | Wed Jun 27, 2018 | 3:40pm EDT

Notable deaths in 2018

Joe Jackson, the patriarch of an American musical dynasty who started his son Michael and his Jackson 5 brothers on the road to stardom but also verbally and physically abused them, died at the age of 89. Jackson, who lived in Las Vegas and had been estranged from much of his family, had been suffering from cancer, according to media reports. The Jackson family was often riven by legal battles, jealousies, money disputes, Joe's philandering and allegations of child molestation against Michael, as well as Michael's eccentric lifestyle. Joe Jackson had tried careers as a boxer and a guitarist with little success in the 1950s. He was working as a crane operator at a steel plant in Gary, Indiana, when he took note of the musical talents of his sons. He called them the Jackson 5 and, with Michael as the precociously talented lead singer, they would become one of the world's top acts with a flashy stage show and irresistible pop songs. But it came at a price. As the group's manager, Jackson put his sons through long, regimented rehearsals. Michael, who died in 2009 at age 50 of a drug overdose, told interviewer Oprah Winfrey that he was so afraid of his father that he would sometimes vomit when he saw him. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Joe Jackson, the patriarch of an American musical dynasty who started his son Michael and his Jackson 5 brothers on the road to stardom but also verbally and physically abused them, died at the age of 89. Jackson, who lived in Las Vegas and had been...more

Reuters / Friday, May 23, 2014
Joe Jackson, the patriarch of an American musical dynasty who started his son Michael and his Jackson 5 brothers on the road to stardom but also verbally and physically abused them, died at the age of 89. Jackson, who lived in Las Vegas and had been estranged from much of his family, had been suffering from cancer, according to media reports. The Jackson family was often riven by legal battles, jealousies, money disputes, Joe's philandering and allegations of child molestation against Michael, as well as Michael's eccentric lifestyle. Joe Jackson had tried careers as a boxer and a guitarist with little success in the 1950s. He was working as a crane operator at a steel plant in Gary, Indiana, when he took note of the musical talents of his sons. He called them the Jackson 5 and, with Michael as the precociously talented lead singer, they would become one of the world's top acts with a flashy stage show and irresistible pop songs. But it came at a price. As the group's manager, Jackson put his sons through long, regimented rehearsals. Michael, who died in 2009 at age 50 of a drug overdose, told interviewer Oprah Winfrey that he was so afraid of his father that he would sometimes vomit when he saw him. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau
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U.S. celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, host of CNN's food-and-travel-focused "Parts Unknown" television series, killed himself in a hotel room near Strasbourg, France, where he had been working on an upcoming episode of his program. He was 61. Bourdain's career catapulted him from washing dishes at New York restaurants to dining in Vietnam with President Barack Obama. He climbed the culinary career ladder to become executive chef at New York's former Brasserie Les Halles restaurant. His fame began to grow exponentially in 1999 when the New Yorker magazine published his article "Don't Eat Before Reading This," which he developed into the 2000 book, "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly." Brash and opinionated, he also spoke openly about his use of drugs and addiction to heroin earlier in his life. He went on to host television programs, first on the Food Network and the Travel Channel, before joining CNN in 2013. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

U.S. celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, host of CNN's food-and-travel-focused "Parts Unknown" television series, killed himself in a hotel room near Strasbourg, France, where he had been working on an upcoming episode of his program. He was 61....more

Reuters / Saturday, September 12, 2015
U.S. celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, host of CNN's food-and-travel-focused "Parts Unknown" television series, killed himself in a hotel room near Strasbourg, France, where he had been working on an upcoming episode of his program. He was 61. Bourdain's career catapulted him from washing dishes at New York restaurants to dining in Vietnam with President Barack Obama. He climbed the culinary career ladder to become executive chef at New York's former Brasserie Les Halles restaurant. His fame began to grow exponentially in 1999 when the New Yorker magazine published his article "Don't Eat Before Reading This," which he developed into the 2000 book, "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly." Brash and opinionated, he also spoke openly about his use of drugs and addiction to heroin earlier in his life. He went on to host television programs, first on the Food Network and the Travel Channel, before joining CNN in 2013. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
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Kate Spade, the designer who built a fashion empire on the popularity of her signature handbags before selling the brand, was found dead in her New York City apartment in an apparent suicide, police said. She was 55. Born Katherine Noel Brosnahan in Kansas City, Missouri, Spade was a former accessories editor at the now-closed Mademoiselle magazine before she and Andy Spade launched their namesake design company, Kate Spade New York, in 1993. The couple married the following year. They began by selling handbags before expanding to include clothing, jewelry, bedding, legwear and fragrances. The brand grew into a fashion empire, known for accessories that offered affordable luxury to younger working women. Her brightly colored, clean-lined style offered a spunky take on fashion at time when luxury handbags were out of reach to most consumers and the industry was dominated by venerable European brands. The couple sold their last stake in the brand in 2006 to focus on raising their daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade. In 2016, they launched a new footwear and accessories brand called Frances Valentine, naming it after their daughter, who is now 13. Tapestry Inc, the handbag company formerly known as Coach, eventually bought the Kate Spade brand in May 2017. REUTERS/Chip East/File Photo

Kate Spade, the designer who built a fashion empire on the popularity of her signature handbags before selling the brand, was found dead in her New York City apartment in an apparent suicide, police said. She was 55. Born Katherine Noel Brosnahan in...more

Reuters / Tuesday, June 05, 2018
Kate Spade, the designer who built a fashion empire on the popularity of her signature handbags before selling the brand, was found dead in her New York City apartment in an apparent suicide, police said. She was 55. Born Katherine Noel Brosnahan in Kansas City, Missouri, Spade was a former accessories editor at the now-closed Mademoiselle magazine before she and Andy Spade launched their namesake design company, Kate Spade New York, in 1993. The couple married the following year. They began by selling handbags before expanding to include clothing, jewelry, bedding, legwear and fragrances. The brand grew into a fashion empire, known for accessories that offered affordable luxury to younger working women. Her brightly colored, clean-lined style offered a spunky take on fashion at time when luxury handbags were out of reach to most consumers and the industry was dominated by venerable European brands. The couple sold their last stake in the brand in 2006 to focus on raising their daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade. In 2016, they launched a new footwear and accessories brand called Frances Valentine, naming it after their daughter, who is now 13. Tapestry Inc, the handbag company formerly known as Coach, eventually bought the Kate Spade brand in May 2017. REUTERS/Chip East/File Photo
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Tom Wolfe, an early practitioner of "new journalism" who captured the mood and culture of America across five decades with books including "The Bonfire of the Vanities," "The Right Stuff," and "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," died at the age of 88. Wolfe's works - fiction and non-fiction alike - looked at realms ranging from the art world to Wall Street to 1960s hippie culture and touched on the issues of class, power, race, corruption and sex. "I think every living moment of a human being's life, unless the person is starving or in immediate danger of death in some other way, is controlled by a concern for status," Wolfe said in a Wall Street Journal interview. Wolfe came up with "radical chic" to brand pretentious liberals, the "me decade" to sum up the self-indulgence of the 1970s and the "right stuff" to quantify intangible characteristics of the first U.S. astronauts and their test pilot predecessors. He was never deterred by the fact that he often did not fit in with his research subjects, partly because he was such a sartorial dandy, known for his white suits. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Tom Wolfe, an early practitioner of "new journalism" who captured the mood and culture of America across five decades with books including "The Bonfire of the Vanities," "The Right Stuff," and "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," died at the age of 88....more

Reuters / Friday, April 04, 2008
Tom Wolfe, an early practitioner of "new journalism" who captured the mood and culture of America across five decades with books including "The Bonfire of the Vanities," "The Right Stuff," and "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," died at the age of 88. Wolfe's works - fiction and non-fiction alike - looked at realms ranging from the art world to Wall Street to 1960s hippie culture and touched on the issues of class, power, race, corruption and sex. "I think every living moment of a human being's life, unless the person is starving or in immediate danger of death in some other way, is controlled by a concern for status," Wolfe said in a Wall Street Journal interview. Wolfe came up with "radical chic" to brand pretentious liberals, the "me decade" to sum up the self-indulgence of the 1970s and the "right stuff" to quantify intangible characteristics of the first U.S. astronauts and their test pilot predecessors. He was never deterred by the fact that he often did not fit in with his research subjects, partly because he was such a sartorial dandy, known for his white suits. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Actress Margot Kidder, best known for playing Lois Lane in the "Superman" films in the 1970s and 1980s, died at the age of 69. Canadian-born Kidder appeared in more than 70 movies and TV shows, including "The Great Waldo Pepper," "The Amityville Horror" and the 2014 children's TV series "R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour," for which she won an Emmy award. Kidder began her acting career in her 20s and shot to international fame playing the intrepid reporter Lois Lane in 1978's "Superman," opposite Christopher Reeve, and in three sequels. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

Actress Margot Kidder, best known for playing Lois Lane in the "Superman" films in the 1970s and 1980s, died at the age of 69. Canadian-born Kidder appeared in more than 70 movies and TV shows, including "The Great Waldo Pepper," "The Amityville...more

Reuters / Monday, February 06, 2006
Actress Margot Kidder, best known for playing Lois Lane in the "Superman" films in the 1970s and 1980s, died at the age of 69. Canadian-born Kidder appeared in more than 70 movies and TV shows, including "The Great Waldo Pepper," "The Amityville Horror" and the 2014 children's TV series "R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour," for which she won an Emmy award. Kidder began her acting career in her 20s and shot to international fame playing the intrepid reporter Lois Lane in 1978's "Superman," opposite Christopher Reeve, and in three sequels. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
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Verne Troyer, the diminutive actor who starred in the Austin Powers movies' as "Mini Me," died at the age of 49. Troyer, who was 2 feet 8 inches (81 cm) tall, is best known for Austin Powers movies "The Spy Who Shagged Me" and "Austin Power in Goldmember." He also had the role of the goblin Griphook in the Harry Potter movies. Troyer's height was due to achondroplasia dwarfism, Variety reported. He once said that his parents "never treated me any different than my other average-sized siblings. I used to have to carry wood, feed the cows and pigs and farm animals." He was never trained as an actor, but while he was a telephone customer service worker, a friend told him that Hollywood producers were looking for someone to be a stunt double for a baby, Troyer told an entertainment news website, HollywoodChicago.com. He had more than 25 other film credits to his name, including roles in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "The Love Guru," and "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." REUTERS/Ralph Freso

Verne Troyer, the diminutive actor who starred in the Austin Powers movies' as "Mini Me," died at the age of 49. Troyer, who was 2 feet 8 inches (81 cm) tall, is best known for Austin Powers movies "The Spy Who Shagged Me" and "Austin Power in...more

Reuters / Sunday, March 24, 2013
Verne Troyer, the diminutive actor who starred in the Austin Powers movies' as "Mini Me," died at the age of 49. Troyer, who was 2 feet 8 inches (81 cm) tall, is best known for Austin Powers movies "The Spy Who Shagged Me" and "Austin Power in Goldmember." He also had the role of the goblin Griphook in the Harry Potter movies. Troyer's height was due to achondroplasia dwarfism, Variety reported. He once said that his parents "never treated me any different than my other average-sized siblings. I used to have to carry wood, feed the cows and pigs and farm animals." He was never trained as an actor, but while he was a telephone customer service worker, a friend told him that Hollywood producers were looking for someone to be a stunt double for a baby, Troyer told an entertainment news website, HollywoodChicago.com. He had more than 25 other film credits to his name, including roles in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "The Love Guru," and "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." REUTERS/Ralph Freso
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Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii, one of the biggest stars of electronic dance music (EDM) in Europe, died at the age of 28. Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, was known for international hits like "Wake Me Up" and "Hey Brother". He announced in 2016 that he was retiring from touring, but he kept making music and was nominated for a Billboard music award earlier in the week that he died. Avicii told Billboard magazine he decided to stop touring in 2016 for health reasons. Three years earlier, he underwent surgery for a ruptured appendix and a blocked gall bladder and in 2012, he was hospitalized with pancreatitis. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii, one of the biggest stars of electronic dance music (EDM) in Europe, died at the age of 28. Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, was known for international hits like "Wake Me Up" and "Hey Brother". He...more

Reuters / Sunday, November 24, 2013
Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii, one of the biggest stars of electronic dance music (EDM) in Europe, died at the age of 28. Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, was known for international hits like "Wake Me Up" and "Hey Brother". He announced in 2016 that he was retiring from touring, but he kept making music and was nominated for a Billboard music award earlier in the week that he died. Avicii told Billboard magazine he decided to stop touring in 2016 for health reasons. Three years earlier, he underwent surgery for a ruptured appendix and a blocked gall bladder and in 2012, he was hospitalized with pancreatitis. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
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Former U.S. first lady Barbara Bush, the only woman to see her husband and son both sworn in as president, died at the age of 92. Bush was the wife of the 41st president, George H.W. Bush, and mother of the 43rd, George W. Bush. Dubbed "The Silver Fox" by her husband and children, Bush was known for her snow-white hair and for being fiercely protective of her family. Bush had an independent streak and could be sharp-tongued. As first lady, she promoted literacy and reading but said she was more interested in running a household than helping her husband run the country. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Former U.S. first lady Barbara Bush, the only woman to see her husband and son both sworn in as president, died at the age of 92. Bush was the wife of the 41st president, George H.W. Bush, and mother of the 43rd, George W. Bush. Dubbed "The Silver...more

Reuters / Sunday, February 05, 2006
Former U.S. first lady Barbara Bush, the only woman to see her husband and son both sworn in as president, died at the age of 92. Bush was the wife of the 41st president, George H.W. Bush, and mother of the 43rd, George W. Bush. Dubbed "The Silver Fox" by her husband and children, Bush was known for her snow-white hair and for being fiercely protective of her family. Bush had an independent streak and could be sharp-tongued. As first lady, she promoted literacy and reading but said she was more interested in running a household than helping her husband run the country. REUTERS/Jason Reed
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Stephen Hawking, who sought to explain the origins of the universe, the mysteries of black holes and the nature of time itself, died aged 76. Hawking's formidable mind probed the very limits of human understanding both in the vastness of space and in the bizarre sub-molecular world of quantum theory, which he said could predict what happens at the beginning and end of time. Ravaged by the wasting motor neurone disease he developed at 21, Hawking was confined to a wheelchair for most of his life. As his condition worsened, he had to speak through a voice synthesizer and communicating by moving his eyebrows - but at the same time became the world's most recognizable scientist. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Stephen Hawking, who sought to explain the origins of the universe, the mysteries of black holes and the nature of time itself, died aged 76. Hawking's formidable mind probed the very limits of human understanding both in the vastness of space and in...more

Reuters / Sunday, May 20, 2007
Stephen Hawking, who sought to explain the origins of the universe, the mysteries of black holes and the nature of time itself, died aged 76. Hawking's formidable mind probed the very limits of human understanding both in the vastness of space and in the bizarre sub-molecular world of quantum theory, which he said could predict what happens at the beginning and end of time. Ravaged by the wasting motor neurone disease he developed at 21, Hawking was confined to a wheelchair for most of his life. As his condition worsened, he had to speak through a voice synthesizer and communicating by moving his eyebrows - but at the same time became the world's most recognizable scientist. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
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Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who emerged as a combative anti-apartheid campaigner during her husband Nelson Mandela's decades in jail but whose reputation was later tarnished by allegations of violence, died at the age of 81. Madikizela-Mandela campaigned tirelessly for her husband's release from jail during the years of white minority rule and became a liberation hero in her own right. But her legacy was later tarnished. As evidence emerged in the dying years of apartheid of the brutality of her Soweto enforcers, known as the "Mandela United Football Club", some South Africans questioned her 'Mother of the Nation' sobriquet. Blamed for the killing of activist Stompie Seipei, who was found near her Soweto home with his throat cut, she was convicted in 1991 of kidnapping and assaulting the 14-year-old because he was suspected of being an informer. Her six-year jail sentence was reduced to a fine and a 2-year suspended sentence on appeal. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who emerged as a combative anti-apartheid campaigner during her husband Nelson Mandela's decades in jail but whose reputation was later tarnished by allegations of violence, died at the age of 81. Madikizela-Mandela...more

Reuters / Saturday, December 16, 2017
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who emerged as a combative anti-apartheid campaigner during her husband Nelson Mandela's decades in jail but whose reputation was later tarnished by allegations of violence, died at the age of 81. Madikizela-Mandela campaigned tirelessly for her husband's release from jail during the years of white minority rule and became a liberation hero in her own right. But her legacy was later tarnished. As evidence emerged in the dying years of apartheid of the brutality of her Soweto enforcers, known as the "Mandela United Football Club", some South Africans questioned her 'Mother of the Nation' sobriquet. Blamed for the killing of activist Stompie Seipei, who was found near her Soweto home with his throat cut, she was convicted in 1991 of kidnapping and assaulting the 14-year-old because he was suspected of being an informer. Her six-year jail sentence was reduced to a fine and a 2-year suspended sentence on appeal. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
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U.S. evangelist Billy Graham, who counseled presidents and preached to millions across the world from his native North Carolina to communist North Korea during his 70 years in the pulpit, died at the age of 99. According to his ministry, he preached Christianity to more people than anyone else in history, reaching hundreds of millions of people either in person or via TV and satellite links. Graham became the de facto White House chaplain to several U.S. presidents, most famously Richard Nixon. He also met with scores of world leaders and was the first noted evangelist to take his message behind the Iron Curtain. REUTERS/Stringer

U.S. evangelist Billy Graham, who counseled presidents and preached to millions across the world from his native North Carolina to communist North Korea during his 70 years in the pulpit, died at the age of 99. According to his ministry, he preached...more

Reuters / Tuesday, April 08, 2008
U.S. evangelist Billy Graham, who counseled presidents and preached to millions across the world from his native North Carolina to communist North Korea during his 70 years in the pulpit, died at the age of 99. According to his ministry, he preached Christianity to more people than anyone else in history, reaching hundreds of millions of people either in person or via TV and satellite links. Graham became the de facto White House chaplain to several U.S. presidents, most famously Richard Nixon. He also met with scores of world leaders and was the first noted evangelist to take his message behind the Iron Curtain. REUTERS/Stringer
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Actress Sridevi, arguably Bollywood's first female superstar, died at the age of 54. Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, she started acting at age four, appearing in several Tamil films in the 60's and 70's, and eventually dropping out of school for a career in the movies. She acted in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films, making her presence felt performing alongside leading men such as Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Actress Sridevi, arguably Bollywood's first female superstar, died at the age of 54. Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, she started acting at age four, appearing in several Tamil films in the 60's and 70's,...more

Reuters / Friday, September 14, 2012
Actress Sridevi, arguably Bollywood's first female superstar, died at the age of 54. Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, she started acting at age four, appearing in several Tamil films in the 60's and 70's, and eventually dropping out of school for a career in the movies. She acted in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films, making her presence felt performing alongside leading men such as Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
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A powerful orator from humble beginnings, Morgan Tsvangirai was arguably Zimbabwe's most popular politician and came within a whisker of unseating Robert Mugabe only to be outmaneuvered and ultimately outlived by his long-time nemesis. At the peak of his career, the self-taught son of a brick-layer served as prime minister to Mugabe's president in a 2009-2013 unity government cobbled together after a disputed and violent election in which scores of his supporters were killed. His presence helped stabilize an economy in freefall but Mugabe reneged on pledges to overhaul the former British colony's partisan security forces and Tsvangirai was shunted back into his familiar role as opposition gadfly. A hefty electoral defeat in 2013, blamed in part on Tsvangirai's involvement in two sex scandals, put paid to his dreams of one day leading the southern African nation and three years later he revealed he was being treated for colon cancer. He died aged 65, after 18 months of treatment in neighboring South Africa. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

A powerful orator from humble beginnings, Morgan Tsvangirai was arguably Zimbabwe's most popular politician and came within a whisker of unseating Robert Mugabe only to be outmaneuvered and ultimately outlived by his long-time nemesis. At the peak of...more

Reuters / Tuesday, November 21, 2017
A powerful orator from humble beginnings, Morgan Tsvangirai was arguably Zimbabwe's most popular politician and came within a whisker of unseating Robert Mugabe only to be outmaneuvered and ultimately outlived by his long-time nemesis. At the peak of his career, the self-taught son of a brick-layer served as prime minister to Mugabe's president in a 2009-2013 unity government cobbled together after a disputed and violent election in which scores of his supporters were killed. His presence helped stabilize an economy in freefall but Mugabe reneged on pledges to overhaul the former British colony's partisan security forces and Tsvangirai was shunted back into his familiar role as opposition gadfly. A hefty electoral defeat in 2013, blamed in part on Tsvangirai's involvement in two sex scandals, put paid to his dreams of one day leading the southern African nation and three years later he revealed he was being treated for colon cancer. He died aged 65, after 18 months of treatment in neighboring South Africa. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
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The eldest son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, committed suicide on aged 68 after being treated for months for depression, Cuban state-run media reported. The nuclear scientist was also known as "Fidelito", or Little Fidel, because of how much he looked like his father. Fidelito, who had the highest public profile of all Castro's children, was born in 1949 out of his brief marriage to Mirta Diaz-Balart before he went on to topple a U.S.-backed dictator and build a communist-run state on the doorstep of the United States during the Cold War. Through his mother, Castro Diaz-Balart was the cousin of some of Castro's most bitter enemies in the Cuban American exile community, U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart and former U.S. congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart. He was also the subject of a dramatic custody dispute between the two families as a child. Cuba scholars say his mother took him with her to the United States when he was aged five after announcing she wanted a divorce from Castro, while he was imprisoned for an attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago. Castro was able to bring Fidelito back to Cuba after the 1959 revolution. A multilingual nuclear physicist who studied in the former Soviet Union, Castro Diaz-Balart was head of Cuba's national nuclear program from 1980 to 1992, and spearheaded the development of a nuclear plant on the Caribbean's largest island until his father fired him. Fidelito had been working for his uncle President Raul Castro as a scientific counselor to the Cuban Council of State and Vice-president of the Cuban Academy of Sciences at the time of his death. REUTERS/Claudia Daut

The eldest son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, committed suicide on aged 68 after being treated for months for depression, Cuban state-run media reported. The nuclear scientist was also known as "Fidelito",...more

Reuters / Thursday, February 08, 2007
The eldest son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, committed suicide on aged 68 after being treated for months for depression, Cuban state-run media reported. The nuclear scientist was also known as "Fidelito", or Little Fidel, because of how much he looked like his father. Fidelito, who had the highest public profile of all Castro's children, was born in 1949 out of his brief marriage to Mirta Diaz-Balart before he went on to topple a U.S.-backed dictator and build a communist-run state on the doorstep of the United States during the Cold War. Through his mother, Castro Diaz-Balart was the cousin of some of Castro's most bitter enemies in the Cuban American exile community, U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart and former U.S. congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart. He was also the subject of a dramatic custody dispute between the two families as a child. Cuba scholars say his mother took him with her to the United States when he was aged five after announcing she wanted a divorce from Castro, while he was imprisoned for an attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago. Castro was able to bring Fidelito back to Cuba after the 1959 revolution. A multilingual nuclear physicist who studied in the former Soviet Union, Castro Diaz-Balart was head of Cuba's national nuclear program from 1980 to 1992, and spearheaded the development of a nuclear plant on the Caribbean's largest island until his father fired him. Fidelito had been working for his uncle President Raul Castro as a scientific counselor to the Cuban Council of State and Vice-president of the Cuban Academy of Sciences at the time of his death. REUTERS/Claudia Daut
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Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer of Irish rock group The Cranberries, died at the age of 46. O'Riordan's distinctive Irish lilt and yodel helped fuel the Cranberries' rapid rise in the early 1990s with global hits "Linger", "Dreams" and "Zombie." The band went on to sell over 40 million records to become Ireland's second-best-selling rock band after U2. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer of Irish rock group The Cranberries, died at the age of 46. O'Riordan's distinctive Irish lilt and yodel helped fuel the Cranberries' rapid rise in the early 1990s with global hits "Linger", "Dreams" and "Zombie."...more

Reuters / Monday, February 06, 2006
Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer of Irish rock group The Cranberries, died at the age of 46. O'Riordan's distinctive Irish lilt and yodel helped fuel the Cranberries' rapid rise in the early 1990s with global hits "Linger", "Dreams" and "Zombie." The band went on to sell over 40 million records to become Ireland's second-best-selling rock band after U2. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico
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French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy, an aristocrat who founded the house of Givenchy in the 1950s, becoming famous for dressing the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Grace Kelly, died at the age of 91. A commanding presence in fashion from the moment he presented his first collection in Paris at the age of 24, Givenchy became synonymous with elegance and an insouciant glamor. He designed the black dress Audrey Hepburn wore in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". His hallmark creations, including balloon-sleeved blouses and calf-length trousers with flared hems, were hailed in their time as airy alternatives to the tight waists and artificial curves of the then-dominant "New Look" of Christian Dior. After more than 30 years in charge, he sold his label to the French luxury goods group LVMH Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton in 1988, staying on under LVMH control before retiring in 1995. REUTERS/Stringer

French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy, an aristocrat who founded the house of Givenchy in the 1950s, becoming famous for dressing the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Grace Kelly, died at the age of 91. A commanding presence in fashion...more

Reuters / Tuesday, May 12, 2009
French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy, an aristocrat who founded the house of Givenchy in the 1950s, becoming famous for dressing the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Grace Kelly, died at the age of 91. A commanding presence in fashion from the moment he presented his first collection in Paris at the age of 24, Givenchy became synonymous with elegance and an insouciant glamor. He designed the black dress Audrey Hepburn wore in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". His hallmark creations, including balloon-sleeved blouses and calf-length trousers with flared hems, were hailed in their time as airy alternatives to the tight waists and artificial curves of the then-dominant "New Look" of Christian Dior. After more than 30 years in charge, he sold his label to the French luxury goods group LVMH Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton in 1988, staying on under LVMH control before retiring in 1995. REUTERS/Stringer
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Mark Salling, an actor who played a supporting role in the TV show "Glee," died at age 35, weeks before his March 2018 sentencing on child pornography charges. Salling pleaded guilty to a federal charge of possessing child pornography, admitting he had downloaded 25,000 sexual images of children onto his computer from the Internet. Salling faced a sentence of between four to seven years in prison under the plea agreement he reached with prosecutors, the Justice Department said in December 2017. From 2009 to 2015, Salling appeared in "Glee," an award-winning show on Fox. He played Puck, a bully and a football player who showed a softer side when he joined the glee club at his high school. REUTERS/Jason Redmond

Mark Salling, an actor who played a supporting role in the TV show "Glee," died at age 35, weeks before his March 2018 sentencing on child pornography charges. Salling pleaded guilty to a federal charge of possessing child pornography, admitting he...more

Reuters / Monday, September 19, 2011
Mark Salling, an actor who played a supporting role in the TV show "Glee," died at age 35, weeks before his March 2018 sentencing on child pornography charges. Salling pleaded guilty to a federal charge of possessing child pornography, admitting he had downloaded 25,000 sexual images of children onto his computer from the Internet. Salling faced a sentence of between four to seven years in prison under the plea agreement he reached with prosecutors, the Justice Department said in December 2017. From 2009 to 2015, Salling appeared in "Glee," an award-winning show on Fox. He played Puck, a bully and a football player who showed a softer side when he joined the glee club at his high school. REUTERS/Jason Redmond
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Denmark's Prince Henrik died at age 83, taking to the grave his resentment at playing second fiddle to his wife, Queen Margrethe. Resenting never being named king, in 2016, he renounced the title of prince consort and spent much of his time at a chateau on a vineyard in southwestern France, although he remained married to the queen and officially still lived with her. In August 2017, Henrik announced he did not wish to be buried next to the queen, breaking a 459-year-old tradition. Shortly afterwards, the palace announced he had dementia. Born Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat in France in 1934, Henrik married Margrethe in 1967. They have two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim. Both loved and criticized by the Danes for his aristocratic manner, exemplified by his colorful clothes and thick French accent, in recent years Henrik found support particularly amongst the Danish youth for breaking with Danish norms. Known for his love of wine and food, the prince also wrote poetry, made sculptures and published cookery books. Scanpix Denmark/Keld Navntoft/via REUTERS

Denmark's Prince Henrik died at age 83, taking to the grave his resentment at playing second fiddle to his wife, Queen Margrethe. Resenting never being named king, in 2016, he renounced the title of prince consort and spent much of his time at a...more

Reuters / Wednesday, September 06, 2017
Denmark's Prince Henrik died at age 83, taking to the grave his resentment at playing second fiddle to his wife, Queen Margrethe. Resenting never being named king, in 2016, he renounced the title of prince consort and spent much of his time at a chateau on a vineyard in southwestern France, although he remained married to the queen and officially still lived with her. In August 2017, Henrik announced he did not wish to be buried next to the queen, breaking a 459-year-old tradition. Shortly afterwards, the palace announced he had dementia. Born Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat in France in 1934, Henrik married Margrethe in 1967. They have two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim. Both loved and criticized by the Danes for his aristocratic manner, exemplified by his colorful clothes and thick French accent, in recent years Henrik found support particularly amongst the Danish youth for breaking with Danish norms. Known for his love of wine and food, the prince also wrote poetry, made sculptures and published cookery books. Scanpix Denmark/Keld Navntoft/via REUTERS
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Singer Yvonne Staples (L, seen here with her sister Mavis, R) died at the age of 80. She was part of gospel and soul group The Staple Singers, known as "God's greatest hitmakers." The group was formed in 1948 with Pops on guitar and siblings Mavis, Cleotha, Pervis and Yvonne singing. The group first played churches in the Midwest and put out their first recording in 1953. Their gospel hits included "On My Way to Heaven," "With the Circle Be Unbroken" and "Pray On." The family became active in the civil rights movement in 1962 after hearing Martin Luther King Jr. speak while the family was on tour. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Singer Yvonne Staples (L, seen here with her sister Mavis, R) died at the age of 80. She was part of gospel and soul group The Staple Singers, known as "God's greatest hitmakers." The group was formed in 1948 with Pops on guitar and siblings Mavis,...more

Reuters / Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Singer Yvonne Staples (L, seen here with her sister Mavis, R) died at the age of 80. She was part of gospel and soul group The Staple Singers, known as "God's greatest hitmakers." The group was formed in 1948 with Pops on guitar and siblings Mavis, Cleotha, Pervis and Yvonne singing. The group first played churches in the Midwest and put out their first recording in 1953. Their gospel hits included "On My Way to Heaven," "With the Circle Be Unbroken" and "Pray On." The family became active in the civil rights movement in 1962 after hearing Martin Luther King Jr. speak while the family was on tour. REUTERS/Mike Segar
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Roger Bannister, who died aged 88, will live forever in the annals of athletics history as the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. The record-breaking run was on the Oxford University track during a local athletics meeting with only a few spectators witnessing the Englishman's destruction of the myth that no human being could run so fast. Bannister made headlines around the world at the age of 25. His achievement opened the physical and psychological door for many other milers who have since beaten his time of three minutes 59.4 seconds. REUTERS/David Bebber

Roger Bannister, who died aged 88, will live forever in the annals of athletics history as the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. The record-breaking run was on the Oxford University track during a local athletics meeting with only a few...more

Reuters / Sunday, May 24, 2009
Roger Bannister, who died aged 88, will live forever in the annals of athletics history as the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. The record-breaking run was on the Oxford University track during a local athletics meeting with only a few spectators witnessing the Englishman's destruction of the myth that no human being could run so fast. Bannister made headlines around the world at the age of 25. His achievement opened the physical and psychological door for many other milers who have since beaten his time of three minutes 59.4 seconds. REUTERS/David Bebber
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Democratic U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, a Kentucky blacksmith's daughter who became a leading progressive voice in Congress from New York, died at age 88. Born in Kentucky, Slaughter was first elected to Congress in 1986. She served as chair of the powerful House Rules Committee from 2007 to 2011, the first woman to hold the position. At the time of her death, Slaughter was the top Democrat on the panel. One of the longest-serving women in the House of Representatives, Slaughter fought for the rights for women and minorities throughout her tenure. She backed the Affordable Care Act, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and student aid legislation. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Democratic U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, a Kentucky blacksmith's daughter who became a leading progressive voice in Congress from New York, died at age 88. Born in Kentucky, Slaughter was first elected to Congress in 1986. She served as chair...more

Reuters / Saturday, March 20, 2010
Democratic U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, a Kentucky blacksmith's daughter who became a leading progressive voice in Congress from New York, died at age 88. Born in Kentucky, Slaughter was first elected to Congress in 1986. She served as chair of the powerful House Rules Committee from 2007 to 2011, the first woman to hold the position. At the time of her death, Slaughter was the top Democrat on the panel. One of the longest-serving women in the House of Representatives, Slaughter fought for the rights for women and minorities throughout her tenure. She backed the Affordable Care Act, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and student aid legislation. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
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Actor John Mahoney, best known for his role as Martin Crane, the cranky father of two psychiatrists on television series "Frasier," died at age 77. The British-born actor trained at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago as he was nearing age 40. Mahoney received two Emmy nominations for his role on "Frasier," and also won a Tony Award for best featured actor in a play for his performance in "The House of Blue Leaves." REUTERS/Mike Blake

Actor John Mahoney, best known for his role as Martin Crane, the cranky father of two psychiatrists on television series "Frasier," died at age 77. The British-born actor trained at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago as he was nearing age 40....more

Reuters / Sunday, February 05, 2006
Actor John Mahoney, best known for his role as Martin Crane, the cranky father of two psychiatrists on television series "Frasier," died at age 77. The British-born actor trained at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago as he was nearing age 40. Mahoney received two Emmy nominations for his role on "Frasier," and also won a Tony Award for best featured actor in a play for his performance in "The House of Blue Leaves." REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Rusty Staub, a beloved slugger dubbed "Le Grand Orange" by fans of the Montreal Expos and later embraced as a team leader of the New York Mets, died at age 73 after a 23-year Major League Baseball career and a retirement devoted to charity. Staub was awarded spots on six All-Star teams over a career with five teams in which he compiled a solid .279 batting average, with 2,716 base hits, 292 home runs and 1,466 runs batted in. After baseball, Staub became restaurant owner and an active philanthropist and fundraiser. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine

Rusty Staub, a beloved slugger dubbed "Le Grand Orange" by fans of the Montreal Expos and later embraced as a team leader of the New York Mets, died at age 73 after a 23-year Major League Baseball career and a retirement devoted to charity. Staub was...more

Reuters / Sunday, September 28, 2008
Rusty Staub, a beloved slugger dubbed "Le Grand Orange" by fans of the Montreal Expos and later embraced as a team leader of the New York Mets, died at age 73 after a 23-year Major League Baseball career and a retirement devoted to charity. Staub was awarded spots on six All-Star teams over a career with five teams in which he compiled a solid .279 batting average, with 2,716 base hits, 292 home runs and 1,466 runs batted in. After baseball, Staub became restaurant owner and an active philanthropist and fundraiser. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine
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Actor Reg E. Cathey died at the age of 59. He appeared on television shows such as "The Wire," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," and played Freddy on "House of Cards," a role for which he won a 2015 Emmy for outstanding guest actor. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Actor Reg E. Cathey died at the age of 59. He appeared on television shows such as "The Wire," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," and played Freddy on "House of Cards," a role for which he won a 2015 Emmy for outstanding guest actor. REUTERS/Danny...more

Reuters / Saturday, September 12, 2015
Actor Reg E. Cathey died at the age of 59. He appeared on television shows such as "The Wire," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," and played Freddy on "House of Cards," a role for which he won a 2015 Emmy for outstanding guest actor. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
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Canadian mining magnate Peter Munk, who built Barrick Gold Corp from a single mine into the world's largest producer of gold, died at the age of 90. Munk forged Barrick to dominate the global gold mining industry via a string of canny acquisitions after founding the Toronto-based company in 1983. Born in Budapest, he fled after Hungary was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1944 and cited a "tremendous obligation" to repay his debt to Canada, which took in him and 13 family members during World War Two. The blunt-spoken Munk, who once said getting old was "not for sissies", was a dedicated philanthropist, donating millions to healthcare and universities in Toronto and Israel. He was named a Companion to the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honor, in 2008. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Canadian mining magnate Peter Munk, who built Barrick Gold Corp from a single mine into the world's largest producer of gold, died at the age of 90. Munk forged Barrick to dominate the global gold mining industry via a string of canny acquisitions...more

Reuters / Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Canadian mining magnate Peter Munk, who built Barrick Gold Corp from a single mine into the world's largest producer of gold, died at the age of 90. Munk forged Barrick to dominate the global gold mining industry via a string of canny acquisitions after founding the Toronto-based company in 1983. Born in Budapest, he fled after Hungary was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1944 and cited a "tremendous obligation" to repay his debt to Canada, which took in him and 13 family members during World War Two. The blunt-spoken Munk, who once said getting old was "not for sissies", was a dedicated philanthropist, donating millions to healthcare and universities in Toronto and Israel. He was named a Companion to the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honor, in 2008. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
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