These actors and musicians all called the Garden State home at some point in their lives. Though they have passed, their work and spirits endure.<\/p>\n
Peter Greene<\/strong><\/h2>\n1965-December 12, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\nBorn and raised in Montclair. Greene attended Montclair High School but dropped out before graduating, according to his IMDB biography<\/a>, and ran away from home as a teenager, he revealed in a 1996 magazine interview<\/a>. He struggled with homelessness and drug addiction before pursuing acting and became best known for his villainous roles in the films Pulp Fiction and The Mask. Greene was slated to begin production on an indie thriller this January, the celebrity.land reported<\/a>. He was 60.<\/p>\nAce Frehley<\/strong><\/h2>\n1951-October 16, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Ace](\"https:\/\/njmonthly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_1440606752.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPhoto: Shutterstock\/Debby Wong<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The founding member and original lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss passed away in Morristown at the age of 74. The Bronx native had been living in Sussex County and died from injuries sustained in a fall, NJ.com reported<\/a>. Frehley was a \u201cconsummate showman\u201d who influenced \u201ceveryone from Metallica to Lady Gaga,\u201d wrote Gavin Edwards in the New York Times obituary<\/a>. Kiss was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.<\/p>\nEddie Palmieri<\/strong><\/h2>\n1936-August 6, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Eddie](\"https:\/\/njmonthly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_1202807233.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPhoto: Shutterstock\/lev radin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Grammy-winning musician was a New York City native but was living in Hackensack when he died at home at the age of 88. Palmieri\u2019s decades-long career was \u201cmarked by his groundbreaking fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and jazz harmonies,\u201d wrote Manahil Ahmad in an obituary for NorthJersey.com<\/a>. \u201cHis orchestra La Perfecta, formed in the early 1960s, set a new standard for Latin music\u2026.showcasing his explosive piano style\u2014a blend of precision, power and improvisational grit.\u201d<\/p>\nPalmieri performed at the Montclair Jazz Festival<\/a> in 2019. Earlier this month, on what would have been his 89th birthday, the festival posted a tribute on their Instagram account. \u201cWe are so thankful to Eddie for his music and his friendship!\u201d it concluded. \u201cLong may his legacy continue!\u201d<\/p>\nMalcolm-Jamal Warner<\/strong><\/h2>\n1970-July 20, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Jersey City-born actor, beloved for his role as Theo Huxtable on NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, died in an accidental drowning off the coast of Costa Rica, ABC News reported<\/a>. He was 54. Warner played Theo from 1984 to 1992, and was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 1986. More recently, he starred as a surgeon on Fox medical drama The Resident until the show ended in 2023.<\/p>\n\u201cDeeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jersey City native Malcolm-Jamal Warner,\u201d Governor Phil Murphy posted on social media<\/a>. \u201c[\u2026] Malcom-Jamal brought joy and hope to millions of Americans. We are praying for the Warner family during this incredibly difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\nConnie Francis<\/strong><\/h2>\n1937-July 16, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Born and raised in Montclair. Greene attended Montclair High School but dropped out before graduating, according to his IMDB biography<\/a>, and ran away from home as a teenager, he revealed in a 1996 magazine interview<\/a>. He struggled with homelessness and drug addiction before pursuing acting and became best known for his villainous roles in the films Pulp Fiction and The Mask. Greene was slated to begin production on an indie thriller this January, the celebrity.land reported<\/a>. He was 60.<\/p>\n Photo: Shutterstock\/Debby Wong<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The founding member and original lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss passed away in Morristown at the age of 74. The Bronx native had been living in Sussex County and died from injuries sustained in a fall, NJ.com reported<\/a>. Frehley was a \u201cconsummate showman\u201d who influenced \u201ceveryone from Metallica to Lady Gaga,\u201d wrote Gavin Edwards in the New York Times obituary<\/a>. Kiss was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.<\/p>\n Photo: Shutterstock\/lev radin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Grammy-winning musician was a New York City native but was living in Hackensack when he died at home at the age of 88. Palmieri\u2019s decades-long career was \u201cmarked by his groundbreaking fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and jazz harmonies,\u201d wrote Manahil Ahmad in an obituary for NorthJersey.com<\/a>. \u201cHis orchestra La Perfecta, formed in the early 1960s, set a new standard for Latin music\u2026.showcasing his explosive piano style\u2014a blend of precision, power and improvisational grit.\u201d<\/p>\n Palmieri performed at the Montclair Jazz Festival<\/a> in 2019. Earlier this month, on what would have been his 89th birthday, the festival posted a tribute on their Instagram account. \u201cWe are so thankful to Eddie for his music and his friendship!\u201d it concluded. \u201cLong may his legacy continue!\u201d<\/p>\n The Jersey City-born actor, beloved for his role as Theo Huxtable on NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, died in an accidental drowning off the coast of Costa Rica, ABC News reported<\/a>. He was 54. Warner played Theo from 1984 to 1992, and was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 1986. More recently, he starred as a surgeon on Fox medical drama The Resident until the show ended in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cDeeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jersey City native Malcolm-Jamal Warner,\u201d Governor Phil Murphy posted on social media<\/a>. \u201c[\u2026] Malcom-Jamal brought joy and hope to millions of Americans. We are praying for the Warner family during this incredibly difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\nAce Frehley<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1951-October 16, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nEddie Palmieri<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1936-August 6, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nMalcolm-Jamal Warner<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1970-July 20, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Connie Francis<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1937-July 16, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n