ANNA NICOLE SMITH, 39
MODEL

"Anna was bigger than life. Her private life was as public as her professional life. You can become a celebrity for being a celebrity, but she was more"
—HUGH HEFNER

TOM SNYDER, 71
TALK SHOW HOST

"Tom made the camera disappear and talked directly to the viewer, and it was just conversation. There really was no one like him."
—EXECUTIVE PRODUCER PETER LASSALLY

CHARLES NELSON REILLY, 76
ACTOR

"He was hysterical and creative. When you were with him, he would regale you with stories. He was a wonderful raconteur, always, always funny."
—DOM DELUISE

DEBORAH KERR, 86
ACTRESS

"Deborah was a gracious lady and always professional. She had a very lively sense of humor and wasn't the prim or proper lady that comes across in film."
—AGENT ANNE HUTTON

BEVERLY SILLS, 78
SOPRANO

"You couldn't believe she could make those notes sound so gorgeous. Her voice was a gift from God. She was a gift from God"
—FRIEND CAROL BURNETT

KURT VONNEGUT, 84
AUTHOR

"He was an excellent writer and man. He mattered."
—AUTHOR PETER MATTHIESSEN

CHRIS BENOIT, 40
PRO WRESTLER

"He was in his prime. He had it all in front of him."
—FORMER WWF WRESTLER GARY SABAUGH

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI, 71
TENOR

"His voice was bright and beautiful and had a sweetness to it"
—SOPRANO DEBORAH VOIGT

YVONNE DE CARLO, 84
ACTRESS

"She was very striking and had a lot of charisma, but she was not a prima donna. She did not act like a movie star"
—HER MUNSTERS COSTAR BUTCH PATRICK

MERV GRIFFIN, 82
TV HOST AND GAME SHOW PIONEER

"He was positive, always up and very gregarious"
—ALEX TREBEK

'LADY BIRD' JOHNSON, 94
FORMER FIRST LADY

"She chose a cause she really cared about, the environment, and because of that, she really made a difference. That was her genius."
—BIOGRAPHER JAN JARBOE RUSSELL

LARRY 'BUD' MELMAN, 85
COMEDIAN

"He was the unofficial ambassador of the David Letterman show. He was the one who went out and met the public. He was like your favorite uncle."
—MELMAN'S AGENT KENNY DICAMILLO

DON HO, 76
SINGER

"Don was larger than life, but I always saw the smile beneath the smile. He didn't take himself too seriously onstage, he liked to goof around .... He was a natural showman."
—ACTOR/FRIEND BARRY WILLIAMS

ALICE GHOSTLEY, 84
ACTRESS

"She claimed not to know why she was funny, but she was that and so much more. A gifted singer and dramatic actress, she was completely original and authentic."
—FRIEND ANNIE POTTS

TAMMY FAYE MESSNER, 65
FORMER TV EVANGELIST

"She had a lot of adversity in her life, but she never bit back."
—ACTOR AND FRIEND JIM J. BULLOCK

IKE TURNER, 76
MUSICIAN

"He was a seminal figure in the birth of rock and roll."
—TERRY STEWART, CEO, ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

DONDA WEST, 58
PROFESSOR AND MOTHER OF KANYE

"Raised a brilliant son, but she wasn't just the mother of a superstar. She was an accomplished, beautiful woman in her own right."
—JOHN LEGEND

INGMAR BERGMAN, 89
DIRECTOR

"He was very demanding, but that's great stimulation for an actor. He gave us a lot of freedom to work. He inspired great enthusiasm among all of us."
—MAX VON SYDOW

ROBERT GOULET, 73
SINGER/ACTOR

"Bob was a very fine actor and had such a remarkable voice. It's one thing to be able to sing; it's another to sing like him. He set hearts beating."
—LONGTIME FRIEND LESLIE NIELSEN

JOEY BISHOP, 89
COMEDIAN

"Most comedians want to be loved; he was like Groucho, he didn't care. His best audience was Frank Sinatra—he always thought Joey was funny."
—LAUGH-IN PRODUCER GEORGE SCHLATTER

TOM POSTON, 85
ACTOR

"Tom could make any situation a little more fun. He could always make you laugh."
—LONGTIME FRIEND TIM CONWAY

JERRY FALWELL, 73
TV EVANGELIST

"He had strong convictions, but a loving heart to those who might differ with him."
—FRIEND AND PASTOR JERRY VINES

LIZ CLAIBORNE, 78
DESIGNER

"Her design sense was instinctual. She didn't study trends, she just knew."
—DESIGNER DANA BUCHMAN

NORMAN MAILER, 84
AUTHOR

"He spoke in exquisite paragraphs. He wasn't trying to impress. He couldn't help being smart."
—JAMES LIPTON

MARCEL MARCEAU, 84
MIME

"Many speak and say nothing. For him, the silence brought a whole melody."
—BROADCASTER JACQUES CHANCEL

DAN FOGELBERG, 56
SINGER-SONGWRITER

"The world became a little brighter because of his music."
—SINGER-SONGWRITER GRAHAM NASH

BORIS YELTSIN, 76
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

"He was always true to himself."
—FORMER UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT LEONID MAKAROVICH KRAVCHUK

JOEL SIEGEL, 63
FILM CRITIC

"He loved everything about movies. His words would make you want to run to the theater and grab a bag of popcorn."
—ROBIN ROBERTS

JANE WYMAN, 90
ACTRESS

"She was one of the classiest actresses in Hollywood."
—SON AND RADIO TALK SHOW HOST MICHAEL REAGAN

ART BUCHWALD, 81
HUMORIST

"Some people write amusing things, but he was amusing. He was not only good, he was the best we had in 50 years."
—ANDY ROONEY

PORTER WAGONER, 80
SINGER

"A masterful showman who understood the art of the final act—he left the world on top."
—SINGER MARTY STUART

EVEL KNIEVEL, 69
DAREDEVIL

"My dad was more of an inspiration than a sports figure. He embodied the ideas of doing your best, being the best and of not being afraid. He was physically tough, but also tough in his drive and determination and in forging the character of Evel Knievel. He was living his life until the very end."
—SON KELLY