1979

Loretta Jane Swit 

Stage and television actress Loretta Swit is known for her character roles such
as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H (1972-1983, CBS).

 
Kenneth Ronald “Ken” Berry

Berry is a sitcom actor, dancer and singer. Berry has had success in many television shows, one being with his friend and mentor, Andy Griffith. Berry starred in the very
successful comedies F Troop on ABC (1965-1967) , The Andy Griffith Show spin-off
on CBS Mayberry R.F.D.(1968-1971), and The Carol Burnett Show spin-off Mama’s Family on NBC from 1983-1984 and syndication from 1986-1990. He also appeared
on Broadway.

               Michael Landon (Eugene Maurice Orowitz) 

                         (October 31, 1936 – July 1, 1991)

Actor Michael Landon was also a  writer, director, and producer. He is
known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza (1959–1973),
Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983), and Jonathan
Smith in Highway to Heaven (1984–1989), all on NBC-TV.  Landon has 
appeared on the cover of TV Guide 22 times, second only to Lucille Ball.

The Cartwright’s from left: Dan Blocker,Michael Landon, Lorene Greene, and
Pernell Roberts

June 1991

Landon began to suffer from severe abdominal pain in February 1991. On
April 5, 1991, pancreatic cancer was diagnosed; it had metastasized into his
liver and lymph nodes. The cancer was inoperable and the doctors’ prognosis
was terminal. On July 1, 1991, at age 54, Landon died in Malibu, California

 
        Hal Brett Needham (March 6, 1931 – October 25, 2013)

LOS ANGELES (AP) –  Hal Needham, a top Hollywood stuntman who
turned to directing rousing action films including "Smokey and the Bandit"
(1977) and "The Cannonball Run” (1981).

His business managers tell the Los Angeles Times that Needham died on
Friday in Los Angeles.

A former paratrooper, Needham was a billboard model for Viceroy Cigarettes
while beginning a career in Hollywood as a motion picture stuntman. He had 
appeared in thousands of TV episodes and hundreds of movies, performing
and designing stunts and new equipment to execute them.

Needham’s first break was as the stunt double for actor Richard Boone on
the popular CBS-TV western Have Gun, Will Travel (1957-1963).

Needham jumped from planes, was dragged by horses and wrecked cars —
breaking 56 bones in the process. He received an honorary Oscar last year.

           
       
      Tim Maguire