We welcomed them into our lives through TV, movies, music, art and more. The New Jersey talents lost in 2024 span the big screen and small screen and stages and galleries across the globe. Here’s a look at some Jersey entertainers and personalities who died this year.
Many grew up here, others made their homes here, and still others became associated with the state’s pop culture profile. Cissy Houston Cissy Houston, a legend of gospel music , had Alzheimer’s disease and was 91 when she died in October. Newark’s Houston was the mother of pop superstar Whitney Houston and aunt to enduring music icon Dionne Warwick , both Grammy-winning members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Cissy Houston won her own Grammys — two — for best traditional soul gospel album. Born Emily Drinkard, she grew up in a family of singers and performed gospel with The Drinkard Singers . Houston, who also performed with The Sweet Inspirations , was choirmaster and minister of music at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church .
The Amazing Kreskin Mentalist The Amazing Kreskin was 89 when he died in December. He gained fame from his many performances and appearances on talk shows like “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “Late Night with David Letterman.” Kreskin, born George Joseph Kresge Jr.
, grew up in Montclair and made his TV debut in the 1960s. He became a household name in the 1970s. Kreskin made predictions about presidential races, Super Bowls and world events, but did not c.