Some Notable Celebrity Deaths of 2006

Every year many people we hold dear to our hearts die, from the famous to our own close friends and family. Starting from January and going through to December, here are some of the more "notable" celebrity deaths of 2006.

On January 14th actress Shelley Winters ('Alfie' 1966, 'Arthur, Arthur' 1969) died from heart failure at the age of 85. Actor Chris Penn ('Footloose', 'Resevoir Dogs', 'True Romance', 'Corky Romano'), brother of actor Sean Penn, was found dead at the age of 40 on January 24th.

February of 2006 saw the death of four notable celebrities starting on February 3rd with the death of the Munster's Grandpa, Al Lewis, at the age of 82. Peter Benchley, the Author of 'Jaws', 'The Island', 'White Shark', died from pulmonary fibrosis on February 11th at the age of 65. On February 29th the beloved actor who played Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show, Don Knotts ('The Incredible Mr. Limpet', 'Three's Company'), died from lung cancer at the age of 81. 45 year old baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Pucket died on February 26th.

Dana Reeve, activist and widow of 'Superman' Christopher Reeve died of lung cancer at the age of 45 on March 6th. American country music star Buck Owens died from a heart attack on March 25th at the age of 76th. One time US Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger died on March 28th at the age of 88.

On June 23rd TV Mogul Aaron Spelling (Producer of 'The MOD Squad', 'S.W.A.T.', 'Fantasy Island', 'Dynasty', 'Charlie's Angels', 'The Love Boat', 'Beverly Hills, 90210', 'Melrose Place') died of complications after a stroke at the age of 83.

On July 7th the founding member of rock legend's Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, died at the age of 60 from pancreatic cancer. Comedian Red Buttons passed on from Vascular disease at the age of 87 on July 13th. Mickey Spillane, Author of the 'Mike Hammer' stories died from cancer on July 17th at the age of 88.