Remembrances

Marvin Minsky, Who Pioneered Artificial Intelligence Research, Dies At 88

6:47pm January 26, 2016

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks to Ray Kurzweil, the inventor and futurist, and founder of Kurzweil Technologies, Inc., about Marvin Minsky. Minsky, who was a founding father of artificial intelligence, has died at the age of 88.

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Actor Abe Vigoda Of 'The Godfather,' 'Barney Miller,' Has Died

5:44pm January 26, 2016

Abe Vigoda, the distinctive looking character actor and inspiration for dozens of Internet hoaxes, has died. Vigoda was known for his work in The Godfather and the television series Barney Miller.

Actor Abe Vigoda, shown in character on the Los Angeles, Ca. set as Detective Fish in

Character Actor Abe Vigoda Dies At 94

4:28pm January 26, 2016

by Laura Wagner

Vigoda, known for playing the treacherous Tessio in The Godfather and Det. Phil Fish in the TV series Barney Miller, died Tuesday.

Concepcion Picciotto, who carried out a protest vigil that lasted decades, has died. She's seen here in 2009, across the street from the White House.

Longtime White House Protester Dies, After Vigil That Started In 1981

12:27pm January 26, 2016

by Bill Chappell

Persisting through cold and rough weather, Concepcion Picciotto was a fixture outside the White House, where she was often called the president's closest neighbor.

Polar explorer Henry Worsley (right) died after breaking off an attempt to cross the Antarctic landmass unaided. He's seen here with Britain's Prince William in October, shortly before setting out on his journey.

World News

Explorer Dies Just Short Of Goal: Crossing The Antarctic Unaided

9:52am January 25, 2016

by Bill Chappell

Henry Worsley, 55, traveled more than 900 miles across the Antarctic, attempting a solo trek that would also boost a British charity that aids wounded veterans.

The cheetah known as Sarah or Sahara holds the record as the fastest land animal on earth. She has died at the age of 15.

Sarah The Cheetah, World's Fastest Land Animal, Dies At 15

5:26pm January 22, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

The Cincinnati Zoo euthanized the cheetah known as Sarah this week. Cheetahs usually live to 8 to 12, the zoo says. Sarah was famous for running 100 meters in 5.95 seconds, a record for land mammals.

In 1984, Bill Johnson won gold in the men's downhill competition in Sarajevo — the first Alpine gold medal for an American man.

Sports

Skier, Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Johnson Dies At 55

1:36pm January 22, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

Johnson, who had suffered a stroke in 2010, earned sports-legend status in 1984 after he vowed to win Olympic gold in downhill skiing. No American man ever had — but then Johnson kept his word.

Francisco Alarcon, Whose Poetry Explored Chicano Life In The U.S., Dies

7:25pm January 20, 2016

by Adrian Florido

Francisco Alarcon was an important Mexican-American poet who influenced generations of Chicano writers, including the current U.S. poet laureate. Alarcon died of cancer last week.

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Music & Culture

Co-Founder Of The Eagles Glenn Frey Dies At 67

3:04pm January 19, 2016

by Ted Robbins

The Rock and Roll community has lost another musician. Glenn Frey, who was a founding member of The Eagles, died Monday in New York of complications from arthritis, colitis and pneumonia. He was 67.

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Glenn Frey (left) and Don Henley perform in May 2014 during a concert by The Eagles at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The band's two-year world tour wrapped up this past summer.

Glenn Frey, Guitarist And Songwriter For The Eagles, Dies At 67

7:47pm January 18, 2016

by Christopher Dean Hopkins

A founding member of one of the best-selling rock bands of all time, Frey was remembered by band mate Don Henley as "funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven."