Country Joe McDonald Passes Away at 84; Ghostbusters Actress Jennifer Runyon Dead at 65; Will & Grace Actor Corey Parker Dies at 60; Gunfire Reported at Rihanna’s L.A. Home, Suspect Arrested

National Barbie Day is celebrated; The Velvet Underground's John Cale, Oscar Isaac, Brittany Snow, and Suni Lee have birthdays

From the LifeMinute.tv Team

March 9, 2026

Singer-songwriter Country Joe McDonald passes at 84 
Singer-songwriter Country Joe McDonald has died at the age of 84. He passed away Saturday at his home in Berkeley, California. According to a statement from his wife, Kathy McDonald, the cause of death was complications from Parkinson’s disease. McDonald was a central figure in the 1960s counterculture and psychedelic rock movement. He is best known for the iconic 1967 anti–Vietnam War anthem “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag,” recorded with his band Country Joe & the Fish. The song became one of the defining protest anthems of the era, especially after McDonald’s memorable solo performance at the 1969 Woodstock festival. A U.S. Navy veteran, McDonald later devoted much of his life to advocating for Vietnam veterans. He also helped organize efforts that led to the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Berkeley. After Country Joe & the Fish disbanded around 1970, McDonald continued a prolific solo career, releasing more than 30 albums, including a tribute to folk legend Woody Guthrie. McDonald is survived by his wife of 43 years, Kathy; five children—Seven, Devin, Tara, Emily, and Ryan—and four grandchildren.

Ghostbusters and Charles in Charge actress Jennifer Runyon passes away at 65 following a brief battle with cancer 
Actress Jennifer Runyon, best known for her roles in Ghostbusters and the TV sitcom Charles in Charge, has died at the age of 65 following a brief battle with cancer. Runyon passed away Friday after a six-month fight with the disease. In a statement, her family said she died surrounded by loved ones after what they described as a “long and arduous journey.” Born in Chicago, Runyon rose to prominence in the 1980s. She appeared in the opening scene of Ghostbusters as the student participating in Dr. Peter Venkman’s ESP test opposite Bill Murray. On Charles in Charge, she portrayed Gwendolyn Pierce, the love interest of Scott Baio’s character during the show’s first season. Her other television work included playing Cindy Brady in the 1988 TV movie A Very Brady Christmas, replacing Susan Olsen for the role. She also appeared on the soap opera Another World as Sally Frame, and made guest appearances on series such as Quantum Leap, Murder, She Wrote, and Beverly Hills, 90210. In later years, Runyon stepped back from acting. She worked as a teacher and co-hosted a cooking podcast. She is survived by her husband, collegiate basketball coach Todd Corman, and their two children, Wyatt and Bayley.

Will & Grace actor Corey Parker passes away at 60 
Actor and acting coach Corey Parker has died at the age of 60. He passed away Thursday in Memphis, according to his aunt, Emily Parker, after battling stage 4 metastatic cancer. Parker was widely recognized for his guest role on the hit sitcom Will & Grace, where he portrayed Josh, a romantic interest for Grace Adler, played by Debra Messing. He first gained attention in the 1980s with film roles including Pete in the horror sequel Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985). The following year, he appeared in the romantic drama 9½ Weeks, continuing to build his presence in film and television. Later in his career, Parker became a respected acting coach and mentor within the industry. He worked with performers on productions such as the Ms. Marvel series on Disney+ and the music-drama series Sun Records on CMT. Parker was the son of the late actress Rocky Parker, who was once married to Patrick Dempsey, and the brother of actress Noelle Parker.

Rihanna's LA home shot at while she was inside, woman arrested
Singer Rihanna was inside her Los Angeles home Sunday afternoon when gunfire erupted outside the property, according to authorities. The incident occurred around 1:20 p.m. in the Beverly Crest neighborhood. Police say a Florida woman allegedly fired roughly ten rounds from an AR-15-style rifle from a vehicle parked across the street from the gated entrance to the home. The vehicle was reportedly a white Tesla. Rihanna was not injured in the shooting. After the shots were fired, the suspect fled the area but was quickly tracked by a police helicopter. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department arrested the woman about three minutes later in a parking lot in Sherman Oaks. Authorities confirmed that Rihanna was at the residence when the gunfire occurred. It remains unclear whether her partner, A$AP Rocky, or their three children were also at the home during the incident.

Today’s holidays:
National Barbie Day, National Napping Day, National Meatball Day, National Get Over It Day, National Crab Meat Day.

In today’s birthday news:
The Velvet Underground's John Cale 84, Linda Fiorentino 68, Juliette Binoche 62, Oscar Isaac 47, Chingy 46, Brittany Snow 40, Suni Lee 23.