Name at birth: Ellen Naomi Cohen

"Mama Cass" Elliot was a member of the hippie pop group The Mamas & The Papas, along with John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty. The group had their first hit in 1966 with "California Dreamin'" and recorded the popular tunes "Monday Monday" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Later, Elliot became a pop culture legend for how she didn't die. Initial reports from London said that she had choked to death on a sandwich, and this became an enduring rumor. In fact, an autopsy concluded that she died of a heart attack.