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Musicians, actors and politicians were among the notable people who passed away this past year. Some were famous. Others, not so well-known, made behind the scene contributions. Guitarist B.B. King, who thrilled his fans with songs like The Thrill is Gone, left an indelible mark on blues music. His style was unusual in that he didn't like to sing and play at the same time. Almost to the time of his death at age 89, he was still performing. Composer James Horner scored some of the most memorable music in movies for more than 25 years, including the story of the sinking Titanic, which earned him two Academy Awards. At age 61, he tragically died in a plane crash. Horner also composed music for the film, A Beautiful Mind, inspired by the brilliant but eccentric mathematician, John Nash, who struggled with schizophrenia. Nash, who was awarded the 1994 Nobel Prize for economics, died in a car crash in May. Actor Leonard Nimoy will be forever known as the logical science officer, Mr. Spock, from the Star Trek TV series and films. He had other parts but could never escape the half-human, half-Vulcan role that made him popular. Egyptian-born actor Omar Sharif, was a leading man in the 1960s classic Lawrence of Arabia that catapulted him to fame. He appeared in more than 100 films, including Doctor Zhivago, where audiences loved his portrayal of a young doctor in a love triangle. | 
