Goodbye to greats: A roll call of entertainers

updated 6:56 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2006

In films such as “Nashville,” Robert Altman constructed a complex world, interweaving a large ensemble of players, famous and unknown, to portray human beings in all their wisdom and folly.

When Altman died in November at age 81, he was celebrated for his vivid characters, his realistic use of overlapping dialogue, his pungent blend of humor and drama, his stubborn independence from Hollywood norms.

Katherine Dunham, who died in May at 96, was another artistic independent. As a dancer and choreographer, she brought African and Caribbean influences to America’s European-dominated dance world. She also was an activist who, in her 80s, staged a hunger strike to protest to protest U.S. policy toward Haitian refugees.

They are just two of the exceptional artists and entertainers who died in 2006.

The frank, outspoken Shelley Winters went from blond bombshell to socially conscious, Oscar-winning dramatic actress and author of well-received memoirs.

Don Knotts had a bug-eyed face, puny physique and squeaky voice — great ingredients for a funnyman — and added a perfect sense of comic timing to create Deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show.”

In her plays such as “The Heidi Chronicles” and “The Sisters Rosensweig,” Wendy Wasserstein portrayed the contradictions of the modern woman seeking to juggle life, love and fulfillment.

Singer Lou Rawls could be smooth — expressing aching regret in “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” — or gritty, conjuring up the biting winter wind of Chicago in his riveting “Dead End Street.”

Buck Owens put out a string of country hits — “Act Naturally” was even covered by the Beatles. Jane Wyatt was America’s mom on “Father Knows Best.” Novelist William Styron depicted the human torment of slavery and the Holocaust in “The Confessions of Nat Turner” and “Sophie’s Choice.”

German soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was ranked alongside Maria Callas as a giant of the opera and concert stage. Gerald Levert, gone too soon at age 40, sang passionate R&B love songs. Mickey Spillane created tough guy detective Mike Hammer.

Television brought us phenomenally popular producer Aaron Spelling, crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, who combined love of nature and keen showmanship, and Ed Bradley of “60 Minutes,” who interviewed everyone from Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh to music legend Lena Horne.

Here, a roll call of some of the notables in the arts and popular culture who died in 2006. (Cause of death cited for younger people if available.)

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