Tom Whitlock may not ring a bell to most, but there’s a very good chance his work on the Top Gun soundtrack does.

Whitlock co-wrote five songs with Giorgio Moroder for the 1986 film soundtrack. Among those songs were, perhaps, the Tom Cruise film’s most iconic anthems: Kenny Loggins’s “Danger Zone” and Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away.” (Fun fact: Whitlock and Moroder won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Take My Breath Away.”)

Per The New York Times, Whitlock died at 68. The outlet noted, “His death was confirmed by Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, which did not cite a cause.”

In addition to his work on the Top Gun soundtrack, Whitlock and Moroder collaborated on other film soundtracks including Over The Top and Rambo III.

Celebrity Deaths 2023: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost

• Jeff Beck

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  Guitar icon and two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee as a solo artist and as a member of the Yardbirds. He is one of the most influential guitar players of all time.

• Lola Mitchell

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  Gangsta Boo of Three 6 Mafia. Starting her career at age 14, she became a popular collaborator. She has worked with a number of artists, including Eminem and OutKast.

• Lisa Marie Presley

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  Singer/songwriter and only child Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Her debut album, 'To Whom It May Concern,' was released in 2003.
• Robbie Bachman and Tim Bachman

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  Co-founding member/drummer and co-founding member/guitarist and vocalist for Bachman-Turner Overdrive both passed away this year. BTO's hits included "Let It Ride," "Takin' Care Of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet."

• David Crosby

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  Singer-songwriter best known for his work with the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young). He's a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. He also released a number of solo albums in the years leading up to his passing.

• Jeremiah Green, drummer for Modest Mouse

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  Green was the drummer for Modest Mouse. He was a founding member of the group. He left in 2003, but returned shortly after.
• Anita Pointer

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  Founding member of the Pointer Sisters. She was also the lead singer on many of their other hits, including "Yes We Can Can", "Fire", "Slow Hand", and "I'm So Excited."

• Henry Grossman

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  In February 1964, he photographed the Beatles' immortal performance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' He was also a staff photographer for LIFE magazine.

• Art McNally

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  “Father of Instant Replay” in the NFL. In 2022, McNally became the first NFL game official to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Adam Rich

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  Child star on ‘Eight Is Enough.' He was often referred to as "America's Little Brother" at the time. He also guested on other shows including 'The Six-Million Dollar Man' and 'CHIPS.'

• Gina Lollobrigida

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  Actress, photojournalist and politician. She was a sex symbol during the "Golden Age Of Hollywood."

• Lynette Hardaway (L)

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  "Diamond" of conservative media personalities "Diamond and Silk." They were frequent contributors to conservative news outlet Newsmax.
• Carl Hahn, former head of Volkswagen that helped popularize the VW Beetle

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  Former head of Volkswagen. The company helped popularize the VW Beetle.

• Cindy Williams

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  Actress best known for playing Shirley Feeney in the 1970s sitcom 'Laverne & Shirley.' The show was a spinoff from 'Happy Days.'

• Burt Bacharach

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  Legendary songwriter who wrote hits for Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Jackie DeShannon, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield and more. His hits included "This Guy's in Love with You," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," and "(They Long to Be) Close to You."
• Raquel Welch

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  Actress and iconic sex symbol of the 1960s. She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical or Comedy in 1974 for her performance in 'The Three Musketeers.'

• David Jude Jolicoeur (Trugoy the Dove)

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  One-third of the influential hip-hop group De La Soul. They reissued their incredibly influential catalog months after his passing.

• Kyle Jacobs

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  Songwriter and husband of country singer Kellie Pickler.
• Charles Kimbrough

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  Actor of stage, screen and television. Best known for playing Jim Dial on the hit CBS sitcom 'Murphy Brown.'

• Bob Born

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  Confectioner best known for inventing Peeps.

• Bobby Hull

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  Hockey Hall of Famer best known for his 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Known as "The Golden Jet," he is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
• Lloyd Morrisett

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  Co-creator of 'Sesame Street'

• Jerry Blavat

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  Iconic Philadelphia DJ, "The Geator with the Heater" and "The Big Boss with the Hot Sauce."

• Tom Verlaine

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  Songwriter and guitarist from influential punk band Television.
• Lisa Loring

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  Actress best known for playing Wednesday Addams on ABC's 'The Addams Family' from 1964-1966.

• Cody Longo

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  Actor and singer/songwriter best known for his roles on 'Hollywood Heights' and 'Days of Our Lives.'

• Tim McCarver

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  MLB All-Star and two-time World Series Champion that went on to be a Hall of Fame broadcaster.
• Sal Piro

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  Noted superfan of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'

• Richard Belzer

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  Renowned stand-up comedian and actor best known for playing Det. John Munch on 'Homicide: Life on the Street' and 'Law & Order: SVU.'

• Gary Rossington

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  Guitarist and last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
• Lance Reddick

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  Actor best known for his roles on HBO's 'The Wire' and the 'John Wick' movie franchise.

• Wayne Swinny

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  Founding member and guitarist for Saliva.

• Keith Reid (L)

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  Procol Harum lyricist. Notably wrote the lyrics to "A Whiter Shade of Pale."
• Seymour Stein

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  Iconic record executive who co-founded Sire Records and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

• Nora Forster

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  Music promoter, wife of John Lydon (Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten) and mother to Arianna Forster (Ari Up from The Slits.)

• Michael Lerner

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  Iconic character actor best known for his roles in the films 'Barton Fink,' 'Elf' and 'Newsies.'
• Mary Quant

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  Famed British designer known as "The Mother of the Miniskirt."

• Blair Tindall

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  Author of the 2005 memoir 'Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classic Music,' which was later adapted into an award-winning series for Amazon.

• Barry Humphries (aka: Dame Edna)

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  Australian actor best known as the personality of Dame Edna Everage.
• Len Goodman

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  Renown British dance champion who was a longtime judge on ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars.'

• Harry Belafonte

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  Legendary singer/actor who was also an integral figure in the civil rights movement.

• Jerry Springer

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  Former politician turned notorious talk show host of 'The Jerry Springer Show.'
• Andy Rouke

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  Bassist of The Smiths.

• Gordon Lightfoot

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  Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter/folk icon.

• Jim Brown

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  Legendary NFL fullback, actor and civil rights activist whose reputation would be impacted following accusations of abuse towards women.
• Pete Brown

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  Lyricist for legendary rock band Cream.

• Ray Stevenson

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  Actor best known for roles in “Punisher: War Zone,” “King Arthur” and the “Thor” films.

• Tina Turner

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  Queen of Rock & Roll. An icon, a legend and forever the moment.
• The Iron Sheik

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  Legendary wrestler. Currently making the afterlife humble.

• Alan Arkin

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  Acclaimed Academy Award-winning actor.

• Tony Bennet

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  Iconic pop singer whose career spanned eight decades.
• Sinéad O’Connor

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  Acclaimed Irish singer best known for her moving cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U" and who was chastised for telling the truth about the Catholic Church.

• Randy Meisner

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  Founding member of the legendary band, Eagles.

• Jane Birkin

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  Renown actress and inspiration behind the iconic Hermès Birkin bag.
• Nikki McCray-Penson

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  Legendary basketball star. Two-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time WNBA All-Star.

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