In memory of American Legends who died in 2008

Every year brings its joys but also its sorrows.

The beginning of a new year is a time to honor the men and women of national acclaim who have died and to acknowledge their legacies that are left behind.

In 2008, the world lost some kings of comedy, some great actors and actresses, some Washington power brokers, some musicians and even a mountain climber.

Paul Newman, 1925-2008. He was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian and auto-racing enthusiast.

Richard Widmark, 1914-2008. He was an American actor of films, stage, radio and television.

Charlton Heston, 1923-2008. He was an American actor of film, theater and television.

Sydney Pollack, 1934-2008. He was an American film director, producer and actor.

Sir Edmund Hillary, 1919-2008. He was known as the first climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.

Tony Snow, 1955-2008. He was an American political commentator, TV news anchor, syndicated columnist, radio host, and White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush.

Sen. Jesse Helms, 1921-2008. He was a Republican U.S. Senator from North Carolina who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001.

Tim Russert, 1950-2008. He was an American TV journalist and lawyer who appeared as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press.

Jim McKay, 1921-2008. He was an American television sports journalist best known for hosting ABC's Wide World of Sports.

Bobby Fischer, 1943-2008. He was an American-born chess Grandmaster, and the eleventh World Chess Champion.

Estelle Getty, 1923-2008. She was an American actress, who appeared in film, theatre and TV.

Harvey Korman, 1927-2008. He was an American comedic actor who performed on TV and in movies.

George Carlin, 1937-2008. He was an American stand-up comedian, actor and author.

Estelle Reiner, 1914-2008. She was an actress and singer who was the wife of Carl Reiner and the mother of Rob Reiner.

Suzanne Pleshette, 1937-2008. She was an American actress, on stage, TV and in movies.

Dr. Judah Folkman, 1933-2008. He was an American medical scientist best known for his research on a branch of cancer research called ‘anti-angiogenesis therapy.’

Dr. Michael Debakey, 1908-2008. He was a world-renowned American heart surgeon, bypass surgery pioneer, innovator, medical educator, and international medical statesman.

Anthony Minghella, 1954-2008. He was an Academy Award-winning English film director, playwright and screenwriter.

Arthur C. Clarke, 1917-2008. He was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist.

Michael Crichton, 1942-2008. He was an American author, producer, director and creator of TV series ER.

Dith Pran, 1942-2008. He was a journalist and Cambodian genocide survivor and subject of the film ‘The Killing Fields.’

William Buckley Jr., 1925-2008. He was an American author and conservative commentator.

Studs Terkel, 1912-2008. He was an American author, historian, actor, and activist broadcaster.

Bill Melendez, 1916-2008. He was a Mexican-born American character animator, film director and producer, known for his cartoons for Warner Brothers and the Peanuts series.

Oliver “Ollie” Johnston, 1912-2008. He was an American motion picture animator for Disney.

Wes Saint Laurent, 1936-2008. He was a French fashion designer hailed as a 20th century cultural innovator revolutionizing women’s fashion.

Mark Felt, 1913-2008. He was the Assoc. Director of the FBI and Watergate scandal whistleblower "Deep Throat."

Israel “Cachao” Lopez, 1918-2008. He was a Cuban mambo musician, bassist and composer, who helped bring mambo music to popularity in the U.S. in the 1950s.

Bo Diddley, 1928-2008. He was an original influential American rock & roll singer, guitarist and songwriter.

Leroi Moore, 1961-2008. He was an American saxophonist best known as a founding member of Dave Matthews Band.

Levi Stubbs, 1936-2008. He was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of The Four Tops.

Bernie Mac, 1957-2008. He was an American actor and comedian.

Roy Scheider, 1932-2008. He was an American actor. (Jaws)

Isaac Hayes, 1942-2008. He was an American singer-songwriter, actor and musician.

Cyd Charisse, 1921-2008. She was an American dancer and actress.

Van Johnson, 1916-2008. He was an American film and TV actor and dancer who was a major star at MGM studios during World War II.

Paul Scofield, 1922-2008. He was an English actor of stage and screen.

Brad Renfro, 1982-2008. He was an American actor who made his movie debut in 1994 in the title role of ‘The Client.’

Heath Ledger, 1979-2008. He was an Australian TV and film actor.