Thug Life Army

Many notable African-Americans died in 2004. Their roles varied from entertainers to civil rights leaders to soldiers in Iraq. It's impossible to name them all, but an article on BlackNews.com has published a list and brief bio of some notable Blacks that died in 2004.

Ron O''Neal - Actor whose role as cocaine dealer Youngblood Priest in "Superfly" epitomized "blaxploitation" films; died January 14th

Malachi Favors - Jazz bassist; played with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Ensemble of Chicago; died January 30th

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Sr. - Pioneer civil rights advocate who was honored by Bill Clinton, and at 96 became the oldest African-American male to write his autobiography; died February 15th

Paul Winfield - Oscar-nominated actor ("Sounder") known for versatility on stage; died March 7th

J.J. Jackson - Helped usher in music video era as early MTV personality; died March 17th

Brenda Fassie - South Africa's first black pop star, and activist who gave voice to disenfranchised during apartheid; died May 9th

Dorothy Van Engle - Early actor who starred in films made by pioneer Black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux; died May 10th

John Whitehead - R&B legend best known for 1979 hit "Ain''t No Stoppin'' Us Now"; died May 11th

Elvin Ray Jones - Renowned jazz drummer; in John Coltrane's quartet; died May 18th

Lincoln Kilpatrick - Actor who appeared in more than 40 movies and got his first break when he was cast in the theatrical production of "A Raisin in the Sun"; died May 20th

Vernon Jarrett - Veteran journalist and broadcaster who was a prominent commentator on race relations and black history; died May 23rd

Ray Charles - Legendary blind musician who erased musical boundaries with hit songs; died June 10th

Syreeta Wright - Motown singer/songwriter best known for her duet with Billy Preston on "With You I''m Born Again."; died July 5th

Isabel Sanford - Talented actor that played "Weezie" on The Jeffersons; died July 9th

Illinois Jacquet - Tenor saxophonist who played with nearly every Jazz luminary of his time; died July 22nd

Wilton Mkwayi - Apartheid foe, imprisoned alongside former South African President Nelson Mandela; died July 23rd

Rick James - Funk legend known for 1981 hit "Super Freak"; died August 6th

Herbert Hill - NAACP pioneer and civil rights leader known as one of the loudest and most effective voices raised against racial discrimination; died August 15th

Rev. Dr. Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe - Education pioneer and founding member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority National Foundation; died September 3rd

Julius Harris - Stage and screen performer who broke stereotypes of movie roles for black actors; died October 17th

Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. - The Navy's first Black admiral and the first African American to serve as a fleet commander; died October 22nd

Cordie King - Illustrious singer and pioneering model for the Ebony Fashion Fair; died October 27th

Edward Oliver Leblanc - Former Dominica premier who helped the Caribbean island in its transition to independence; died October 29th

Mac Dre - West coast rapper who made his rap debut in 1989 with the Young Black Brotha EP; died November 1st

Old Dirty Bastard - Rap star (real name: Russell Jones) whose unique rhymes and wild lifestyle made him one of the most vivid characters in hip-hop; died November 13th

Charles Cherry - Civil rights leader, NAACP national board member, and publisher of the Daytona Times - a weekly Black newspaper; died November 16th

Norvel Smith - Pioneering educator who was the first black college president in California and the first vice chancellor of a University of California campus; died November 27th

Edgar Toppin, Sr. - Nationally known expert on black history who was key in establishing Black History Month; died December 8th

Freddie Perren - Grammy-winning Motown producer and songwriter who wrote hit songs for Jackson 5 and Gloria Gaynor; died December 16th

Other Notables Include:

Estee Lauder - Built multi-million dollar cosmetics empire; died April 24th

Ronald Reagan - Former actor and president of the United States; died June 5th

Marlon Brando - Revolutionary actor who created the iconic character of Vito Corleone in The Godfather; died July 1st

Rodney Dangerfield - The bug-eyed comic whose self-deprecating "I don''t get no respect" brought him stardom in clubs, television and movies; died October 5th

Christopher Reeves - "Superman" actor who became the nation's most recognizable spokesman for spinal cord research after a paralyzing accident; died October 10th

Yasser Arafat - Palestinian guerilla leader turned Nobel Peace Prize winner, but also reviled as a sponsor of terrorism; died November 11th.