Photos: In Remembrance - 2012 Passages

2012 is coming to a close, and BroadwayWorld's senior photographer Walter McBride takes a moment to look back at some of the many influential people we've lost this year. 2012 saw the death of some of the most beloved actors, musicians, comedians, writers and true heros.

This year, we said good bye to many American heros, including Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.

Writers such as Ray Bradbury, Maeve Binchy, Maurice Sendak, and Nora Ephron were lost, and some of the most legendary performers in the music industry left us, including Whitney Houston, Davy Jones, Donna Summer, Etta James, Robin Gibb, Kitty Wells, Adam Yauch, and Ravi Shankar.

On the acting front, we bid farewell to Ernest Borgnine, Larry Hagman, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jack Klugman, and Sherman Hemsley, as well as TV personalities such as Andy Griffith, Phyllis Diller, Dick Clark, and Don Cornelius.

Scroll down for photos of LeRoy Neiman, Phyllis Diller, Marvin Hamlisch, Etta James, Mike Wallace, Ernest Borgnine, Dave Brubeck, Dick Clark, Hal David, Nora Ephron, Ben Gazzara, Andy Griffith, Larry Hagman, Celeste Holm, Whitney Houston, Jack Klugman, Sylvia Kristel, Johnny Lewis, Deborah Raffin, Marty Richards, Sage Stallone, Donna Summer, Andy Williams, George McGovern, Mary Richardson Kennedy, Charles Durning, and Gore Vidal.

Aritst LeRoy Neiman (Sketching & Drawing Paul Newman).attending the Caesars Palace Grand Prix Press Conf. at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. 06/01/1981

Phyllis Diller in New York City 1984

Marvin Hamlisch in New York City. 1989

Etta James performs at the Red Parrot in New York City, July 1982

Mike Wallace at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel honoring Charles Kuralt on November 10th 1994.

Ernest Borgnine in New York City in 1981.

Dave Brubeck arriving for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. December 6, 2009

Dick Clark attending the Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Inductions at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.November 21, 1993.

Hal David attending the After Party for the Opening Night Broadway performance for "PROMISES, PROMISES" at the Plaza Hotel, New York City. April 25, 2010.

Nora Ephron attending the Casting Society of America's New York 25th Annual Artios Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Casting at the Times Center in New York City. November 2, 2009.

Ben Gazzara attending the 51st Annual Drama Desk Awards at .FH Laguardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. May 21, 2006.

Andy Griffith attending CBS AT 75 at the Hammerstein Ballroom at New York's Manhattan Center in New York City. November 2, 2003.

Larry Hagman in Los Angeles, California in 1988.

Celeste Holm attending The American Theatre Wing's Annual Luncheon at the Pierre Hotel, New York City. April 14, 2003.

Whitney Houston reveives the United Negro College Fund Award in New York City. July 1988.

Jack Klugman attending a performance of An Evening with Brett Somers at Danny's Cabaret on West 46th Street in New York City. July 28, 2003.

Sylvia Kristel at her New York City Hotel on May 5, 1982

Johnny Lewis ("Quintuplets") attending the FOX TV Network Upfront at the City Center with a party at The Boathouse in Central Park, New York City. May 20, 2004.

Deborah Raffin in Los Angeles, California. September 1987.

Marty Richards attending the Opening Night Performance of the.Broadway Revival of NINE THE MUSICAL at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York City. April 10, 2003.

Sage Stallone in Los Angeles, California. September 1988.

Donna Summer at the Savoy Theater in New York City. January 1983.

Andy Williams in New York City. 1985.

George McGovern leaving 30 Rock Plaza in New York City. 1982.

Mary Richardson Kennedy attending the Opening Night of Martin Short - FAME BECOMES ME - A COMEDY MUSICAL at The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City. August 17, 2006.

Charles Durning attending the Opening Night Performance of "LOMBARDI" at Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City. October 21, 2010. .

Marquee for 'Gore Vidal's The Best Man' at the Schoenfeld Theatre on February 25, 2012 in New York City.