Milestones

DIED With his round face, friendly eyes and messages about friendship, Thomas the Tank Engine quickly became a children's favorite when he debuted on British television in 1984. A creator of the original program, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, David Mitton wrote or directed 180 episodes and saw the show expand to the U.S., where Ringo Starr (and later, George Carlin) starred as Mr. Conductor. Mitton also worked on the popular series Thunderbirds and started his own children's-television production company. Ever devoted to his craft, Mitton was developing another project, a kids' series called Adventures on Orsum Island, during his final days. He was 69.

For a time, General Motors heir Stewart Mott drove a Volkswagen. A self-described "avant-garde philanthropist," Mott lived briefly on a Chinese junk, publicized his sexual conquests and cultivated a farm--replete with compost pile and chicken coop--atop his Manhattan penthouse. Yet these eccentricities didn't obscure his lavish contributions to a range of progressive causes, including abortion rights, arms control and the presidential bids of Senators Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern. He was 70.

In the golden age of the Hollywood musical, actress and dancer Cyd Charisse shimmered. The Texas native had a series of small roles until she wowed audiences with her lithe yet sultry performance alongside Gene Kelly in 1952's Singin' in the Rain. Known for her never-ending legs, Charisse soon became a sought-after partner, often paired with Kelly or Fred Astaire, captivating audiences in musicals including Brigadoon and The Band Wagon, in which she had her first starring role. She was 86.