Andrew McKie

Everyone from Sly Stone to Fatboy Slim stole from funk horn pioneer Cynthia Robinson, who died this week as the only black female trumpeter in the Hall of Fame.

Satoru Iwata believed imagination was more important than engineering. His genius at getting the world to play showed he was right.

An expressive voice, a patrician presence and the admiration of his fellow actors are the long-time stage and screen performer’s legacy.

The Egyptian actor who came to embody cosmopolitan sophistication almost didn’t get the role that made his career.

<p>Despite claiming he wasn’t heroic because he was never in danger, generations survived because of Nicholas Winton’s work on the <i>Kindertransport.</i></p>

<p>He’s best known for playing John Steed in <i>The Avengers</i>, but the oh-so-English actor had a more interesting life than you can imagine.</p>

Mistress to a governor (and maybe JFK), she brought a carnal playfulness to taking off her clothes.

Vampire, evil wizard, Bond nemesis and Scottish laird. There was no part Christopher Lee wouldn’t play. Oh, and he documented Nazi atrocities.

Saddam’s Eight of Spades plays his final hand.

Leo Drey, the most important conservationist you’ve never heard of, was a tireless protector of forests even as he managed them for timber.