Washington  – Their personalities had dominated the American scene for so many decades that many seemed almost ageless: actor Paul Newman, writer Michael Crichton and Charlton Heston, the deep voice
of Moses and Ben Hur.

Yet by the end of 2008, they were gone, along with other US luminaries known worldwide, such as musician Bo Diddley, chess terror Bobby Fischer and the astrophysicist who gave black holes their name, John Archibald Wheeler.

Here is a selected overview of those who passed:

Paul Newman, 83, best known for his intense blue eyes and his roles in Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Sting, Newman also gave hundreds of millions to charity through his food company.

Michael Crichton, 66, the author-physician who burst onto the scene with the 1969 science thriller, The Andromeda Strain, at age 27, and went on to write Congo, Timeline, Jurassic Park and more. He also created the TV series ER.

Oscar-winner Charlton Heston, 84, famous for his starring role in the 1959 epic Ben Hur and for his political work as leader of the US gun lobby, the National Rifle Association. He also portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the 1950s and 1960s.

Suzanne Pleshette, 70, an actress with a sultry voice best known for her role of Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s. She played lead roles in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds and Rome Adventure.

Tom Lantos, 80, the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the US Congress. A native of Hungary, Lantos was the influential Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, an outspoken defender of human rights and sharp critic of authoritarian regimes zduring his 27 years in the House of Representatives.

William F Buckley Jr, 82, the witty, motorcycle-riding intellectual credited with founding the modern American conservative movement. After starting the conservative magazine National Review in 1955, he remained at the helm until 1990. He also had a long-running TV show, Firing Line.

Tim Russert, 58, one of America’s leading TV political journalists and icon of election coverage who put his stamp on the venerable Sunday talk show Meet the Press.

Bobby Fischer, 64, the US chess genius who claimed international fame with his 1972 win over Russian Boris Spassky. He then went on to an eccentric life as a global nomad who defied US sanctions against Yugoslavia and provoked headlines with anti-Semitic remarks. He greeted the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US as “wonderful news.”

Roy Scheider, 75, best-known for his role as the police chief and reluctant shark hunter in Jaws.

Estelle Getty, 84, actress of film, stage and TV. She is best known for her long-running role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992, on The Golden Palace from 1992 to 1993 and on Empty Nest from 1993 to 1995.

George Carlin, 71, the irreverent comedian whose profanity-laced skewering of US political and social conventions made him a counter- culture hero.

Bo Diddley, 79, rock guitar pioneer whose greatest hits included You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover, Who Do You Love?, And Before You Accuse Me. His greatest contribution was was his signature 5/4 rhythm that laid the foundation for much of the blues-influenced rock music of the 1960s and 1970s.

Soul music legend Isaac Hayes, 65, famous for his Oscar and Grammy-winning Theme From Shaft.

Jerry Wexler, 91, the record producer who invented the term “rhythm and blues” and dominated the music scene from the 1950s to the 1980s, producing performers such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan.

Estelle Reiner, 89, little-known actress who uttered one of the most famous lines ever in a film: “I’ll have what she’s having.” The movie was the 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally, in the New York Katz’s Deli scene where Meg Ryan’s character fakes an orgasm amidst an argument with Billy Crystal’s character.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Leonid Hurwicz, 90, known for his work on the decision-making process behind economic transactions.

Jesse Helms, 86, the retired conservative senator who was a staunch backer of racial apartheid and one-time chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

John Archibald Wheeler, 96, the theoretical physicist who gave black holes in space their name and worked on the Manhattan Project to build the atom bomb.

Filmmaker and Oscar winner Sydney Pollack, 73, known for producing intelligent, commercially successful, star-laden films such as Out of Africa, Tootsie and The Way We Were.

Richard Widmark, 93, the poker-faced actor who made his name portraying sadistic villains and gunslingers.

Cyd Charisse, 86, whose elegant dance moves on the silver screen wooed co-stars Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

Robert Rauschenberg, 82, a pioneer of pop art who made his wildly creative pieces from almost anything that came to hand.

Mel Ferrer, 90, a reluctant film star married to the late actress Audrey Hepburn. He was known for his classic portrayals in Lili in 1953 and the 1956 filming of Tolstoy’s War and Peace.

Actor and comedian Bernie Mac, 50, who played in the Ocean’s 11 series of films.

American Mormon leader Gordon B Hinckley, 97, president of the Chruch of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. He led Mormons through 12 years of global expansion starting in 1995.

Physician Michael DeBakey, 99, known as the father of modern heart surgery. His patients included film diva Marlene Dietrich, former US president Lyndon Johnson and Russia’s former president Boris Yeltsin.

Writer Tony Hillerman, 83, whose mystery novels shone a light on the clash between Navajo traditions and modern society.

Studs Terkel, 96, activist, humorist, and radio-TV personality, and outspoken liberal during the McCarthy era, who was blacklisted in the entertainment industry.

David Foster Wallace, 46, famous for his sprawling and sardonic novel Infinite Jest, published in 1996. (dpa)