Milestone Moments: All The Celebrity Vitals

[Yogisbooboo64]

Man, they say death comes in 3’s and they weren’t kidding….from Mark Goddard to Piper Laurie and now Suzanne.  No comment yet from Joyce DeWitt?*

I used to have a Thighmaster and that sucka worked, albeit a scar on my leg from when it popped on me due to the coil breaking.  Cut to 30 years later, my thighs are like tree trunks but if I really tried, I can still crack a walnut!

My fave TC eppy was when Chrissy, Jack and Janet went to a shrink due to Chrissy winning money from a horse race.

Rest well, Mark, Piper and Suzanne!!

*ETA - Joyce did make a statement:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/joyce-dewitt-sends-love-suzanne-144109623.html

So did Patrick Duffy, who co-starred with Suzanne in Step by Step:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/patrick-duffy-remembers-dear-deep-145740321.html

 

Edited October 16, 2023 by Yogisbooboo64

[Quof]

23 minutes ago, Yogisbooboo64 said:

No comment yet from Joyce DeWitt?*

I have a strong dislike for Attention Seeking Grief Posting (not a comment on Joyce, or any other specific person)  "let me make this person's death about me by making a public pronouncement."  If you had a personal relationship with the deceased, send your condolences to their family, privately.   SJP/Kim Cattrall's brother comes to mind.  Not every thought needs to be shared publicly. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by Quof

[bluegirl147]

9 minutes ago, Quof said:

I have a strong dislike for Attention Seeking Grief Posting (not a comment on Joyce, or any other specific person)  "let me make this person's death about me by making a public pronouncement.  If you had a personal relationship with the deceased, send your condolences to their family, privately.   SJP/Kim Cattrall's brother comes to mind.  

Along those same lines I don't think people should be criticized for not making a statement.  We don't know people's relationship offscreen.  We also don't know when people reach out privately to the family.

[Laura Holt]

2 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

Along those same lines I don't think people should be criticized for not making a statement.  We don't know people's relationship offscreen.  We also don't know when people reach out privately to the family.

For celebrities this us such a Catch 22.  Many are expecting a public comment and when it doesn't happen the assumption is "Celebrity A is an uncaring so and so" rather than "Celebrity A reached out privately".  On the other hand if the celebrity does go public this isn't always well received either.  No one right answer here that's for sure.

[magicdog]

4 hours ago, Laura Holt said:

I can't remember now if John Ritter was a particularly big star when the show started  - better known than the two women, yes, but it's not like he was a major name. 

He was a bit better known for two reasons:

1) He was the son of Tex Ritter, who was a movie cowboy star in the 30s and 40s so he had some 2nd generation connections in Hollywood.

2) He had paid his dues doing small parts in other TV shows before Three's Company like,  M*A*S*H, The original Hawaii 5-0, and The Waltons (he was a semi regular for a while as a pastor).   

However Three's Company definitely put him on the map as a comic actor.  Joyce Dewitt wasn't well known and Suzanne at the time was best known for being the "Girl in Convertible" in American Graffiti.

In a different passage, the WB Ranch (formerly known as The Columbia Ranch) home of famous house facades for tons of TV and films is being demolished.  The studio is making room for new studio space.  

Edited October 16, 2023 by magicdog

[Laura Holt]

5 minutes ago, magicdog said:

The Waltons (he was a semi regular for a while as a pastor).   

I'd forgotten he was on The Waltons!  He was really good in that part.  

[Angeltoes]

And he was the minister (wearing tennis whites) who married Ted and Georgette on The Mary Tyler Moore Show .

Edited October 16, 2023 by Angeltoes

[MissAlmond]

Actor Lara Parker best known for playing the witch Angelique Bouchard on the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows has died, age 84.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/lara-parker-dead-dark-shadows-angelique-1235619789/

https://deadline.com/2023/10/lara-parker-dead-dark-shadows-1235575023/

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/lara-parker-dead-dark-shadows-1235758291/

https://soaphub.com/general-hospital/news-gh/lara-parker-star-of-dark-shadows-dead-at-84/

 

Edited October 17, 2023 by MissAlmond

[giovannif7]

#RIP Lara Parker... 😢😢😢😢 so memorably lovely and evil as the Barnabas-obsessed Angelique on Dark Shadows.

 

[Bastet]

While she had a wide-ranging career as an actor and casting director, she's probably best known as a great character on a mediocre yet prolific show -- Joanna Merlin as Judge Petrovsky on L&O: SVU has died after 92 years of life and work.

[Notabug]

9 hours ago, giovannif7 said:

#RIP Lara Parker... 😢😢😢😢 so memorably lovely and evil as the Barnabas-obsessed Angelique on Dark Shadows.

 

I spent many an afternoon sitting in front of the TV at 4 PM, watching Dark Shadows.  Everybody did back when I was in grade school.  Angelique was always up to no good, in the best way.

[Jan Spears]

On 10/15/2023 at 3:11 PM, LexieLily said:

Joyce DeWitt is the only OG from "Three's Company" left 😥

I want to say Joyce made peace with John Ritter before he died, did she and Suzanne ever make peace? 

I don't think there was ever a long-term estrangement between Joyce and John. There was a short-term rift when Three's Company was transitioning into Three's a Crowd because Joyce felt that John should have told her privately what was happening rather than her having to find out about it in a staff meeting with everybody else.

[MerBearHou]

10 hours ago, Bastet said:

While she had a wide-ranging career as an actor and casting director, she's probably best known as a great character on a mediocre yet prolific show -- Joanna Merlin as Judge Petrovsky on L&O: SVU has died after 92 years of life and work.

Oh yes, such a familiar face.  Joanna Merlin is on the OG Law & Order as we speak.  She is the defense attorney for Michael Imperioli.  I looked up at the TV and thought "wait, that's the woman Bastet wrote about this morning".  This is one of those episodes with an amazing cast in supporting roles like Margo Martindale, Josh Hopkins, Michael I. 

Edited October 17, 2023 by MerBearHou

[Angeltoes]

5 hours ago, Jan Spears said:

I don't think there was ever a long-term estrangement between Joyce and John.

I have a suspicion that those two had a fling that she took more seriously than he did.  A few years after he died she was talking about him and it bordered on hero-worship with a little bit of possessiveness thrown in.  If not, she at least had a massive crush on him.

[ProudMary]

People has an exclusive excerpt from Britney Spears soon-to-be released (10/24) memoir, "The Woman in Me."

Britney Spears Opens Up: 'Finally Free' to Share Her Story in Bombshell Memoir & New Interview — 'No More Lies' (Exclusive)

[Anduin]

16 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

People has an exclusive excerpt from Britney Spears soon-to-be released (10/24) memoir, "The Woman in Me."

Britney Spears Opens Up: 'Finally Free' to Share Her Story in Bombshell Memoir & New Interview — 'No More Lies' (Exclusive)

Interesting extracts. Sort of touching on some of the controversial moments, but not fully committing. I suppose that's to make us want the full book. But I think I'll stick with the extracts that will be shared here and elsewhere.

[WhitneyWhit]

I guess the most shocking revelation is that she had an abortion back in 2000. I will be careful talking about this because I know it can cross a line into political talk but her playing victim here and saying she would have never done such a thing had it not been for Justin not wanting to be a dad really annoyed me and I’m not even a huge Justin fan. She seems confused over Justin, who like herself was barely 19 and both of them lived a life that was the definition of chaos — didn’t want to be a father at a time when they were bouncing from one city to another, one country to another, constantly touring. Granted they would have more resources than most teen parents but they were still teenagers with incredibly unstable lives. And I seriously doubt Justin was the only one saying what a bad idea it was to become parents then. Im sure her management was less than onboard with it. 
 

Let me clarify. This is a decision that should always be up to the woman, and I’m in no way saying women should be coerced one way or the other. But what I’m saying is she doesn’t seem like she grasped what the outcome could have been for her at that time or why a teenaged Justin didn’t want to be a parent. 

Edited October 17, 2023 by WhitneyWhit

[Guest]

I’m spilt on if I want to read Britney’s book but I do want to see more of what she says about the abortion. The People quotes are fragmented and focus on Justin (for obvious reasons) so it’s hard to really know how she presents the situation. In her book, Jamie Lynn said that her parents pressured her to get an abortion so I wouldn’t be surprised if that part of the book, and her feelings on the subject, are about a lot more than just Justin. 

[Notabug]

3 hours ago, WhitneyWhit said:

I guess the most shocking revelation is that she had an abortion back in 2000. I will be careful talking about this because I know it can cross a line into political talk but her playing victim here and saying she would have never done such a thing had it not been for Justin not wanting to be a dad really annoyed me and I’m not even a huge Justin fan. She seems confused over Justin, who like herself was barely 19 and both of them lived a life that was the definition of chaos — didn’t want to be a father at a time when they were bouncing from one city to another, one country to another, constantly touring. Granted they would have more resources than most teen parents but they were still teenagers with incredibly unstable lives. And I seriously doubt Justin was the only one saying what a bad idea it was to become parents then. Im sure her management was less than onboard with it. 
 

Let me clarify. This is a decision that should always be up to the woman, and I’m in no way saying women should be coerced one way or the other. But what I’m saying is she doesn’t seem like she grasped what the outcome could have been for her at that time or why a teenaged Justin didn’t want to be a parent. 

Of course, the final decision on the fate of the pregnancy has to belong to the mother, but Justin was perfectly entitled to express his opinion, too, as the father.  It's unfortunate if Britney terminated a pregnancy she wanted because her boyfriend didn't; but she's not the first woman who has faced this dilemma.  Considering Britney has not had a great track record as a parent even up to the present day, I think it seems pretty obvious that she wasn't ready to parent as a teen, either.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Notabug

[Guest]

I really dislike going off what TMZ says, but they are the only outlet that claims to have more details than the brief snippets People has published. According to their sources, Britney said that she was reluctant at first and that she wasn’t raised to view abortion as an option. And that after multiple discussions they both decided an abortion was the best decision. Based on the picture they paint, it doesn’t seem like Britney is portraying Justin as a villain in this particular situation. 

[Annber03]

I also don't doubt they were getting a lot of pressure and suggestions from people around them, too. This was the era of purity rings, and when every single one of the teen pop girls had to make a big to do in their interviews and whatnot about how they were saving themselves for marriage, and the media kept going on and on about how Britney and other famous teen pop stars like her had to be good role models for young girls (the guys never had to be role models, mind, only the girls) and all that sort of thing.

So to have two of their biggest teen pop stars not only hook up, but have one get the other pregnant besides? Oh, yeah, that would definitely not fly in some corners. So naturally they'd want to find a way to avoid that potential media firestorm. 

[AgentRXS]

6 hours ago, Annber03 said:

I also don't doubt they were getting a lot of pressure and suggestions from people around them, too. This was the era of purity rings, and when every single one of the teen pop girls had to make a big to do in their interviews and whatnot about how they were saving themselves for marriage, and the media kept going on and on about how Britney and other famous teen pop stars like her had to be good role models for young girls (the guys never had to be role models, mind, only the girls) and all that sort of thing.

So to have two of their biggest teen pop stars not only hook up, but have one get the other pregnant besides? Oh, yeah, that would definitely not fly in some corners. So naturally they'd want to find a way to avoid that potential media firestorm. 

Yup and this was during the time she was proclaiming she was still a virgin too. So their management definitely would have forced a shotgun wedding if she decided to keep it. The resentment of a forced marriage at the height of their careers and pause of Britney’s career while she gives birth and tended to the baby would have been disastrous. Both of them to this day seem to be selfish, immature narcissists who love to play the victim. Life would have been emotionally difficult for that child. 

[bluegirl147]

Even though I think it would have been a mistake for Britney to have a child at that time I don't think she should have been pressured by anyone to have an abortion.  It doesn't sound like she wanted to terminate the pregnancy and I think that is something she has regretted.   Her father's conservatorship and him having control over reproductive choices during that time is all the more gross to me now.

[AstridM]

On 10/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Quof said:

I have a strong dislike for Attention Seeking Grief Posting (not a comment on Joyce, or any other specific person)  "let me make this person's death about me by making a public pronouncement."  If you had a personal relationship with the deceased, send your condolences to their family, privately.   SJP/Kim Cattrall's brother comes to mind.  Not every thought needs to be shared publicly. 

I completely agree.

[magicdog]

21 hours ago, Angeltoes said:

I have a suspicion that those two had a fling that she took more seriously than he did.  A few years after he died she was talking about him and it bordered on hero-worship with a little bit of possessiveness thrown in.  If not, she at least had a massive crush on him.

That seemed to carry over to some degree in the show.  I had always thought Jack and Janet could have made a nice romantic couple when the show  was coming to an end.

[BetterButter]

Burt Young, Who Played Paulie in ‘Rocky’ Films, Dies at 83

[voiceover]

Paulie was everyone’s “Oh-crap-I’m-related-to-him!” family member.  Burt Young embraced that role head-on.

RIP.

[Spartan Girl]

9 hours ago, BetterButter said:

Burt Young, Who Played Paulie in ‘Rocky’ Films, Dies at 83

Ah, Paulie. I don’t know why Rocky and Adrian put up with him, considering what a jerk he was to Adrian in the first movie. And he still was kind of a jerk in the second movie, yelling at Adrian when she was pregnant (though to be fair he was trying to get her to be more supportive to Rocky for the rematch). But I did like the moment in the third movie when Ricky told him to stop being such a victim and blaming everyone else for his problems. That was a big turnaround for the character, and he was a significantly less of a jerk after that. Not to mention how he was there for Rocky after Adrian died.

RIP.

[Yogisbooboo64]

Aw mannn!  When Rocky came out, all the girls were on Sylvester Stallone, but I stanned on Burt Young as I thought he was sexy af plus his paintings were beautiful.

Paulie aside, I remember him on Miami Vice as a vicious drug lord….he was so sleezy and icky, plus he made one of the female agents (Gina Calabrese) sleep with him to prove she wasn’t an informant.

Rest well, Mr. Young.

 

[Miss Anne Thrope]

Paulie who?  Mr Young will always be Lou from Back to School at my house.  Thank you and RIP, sir, 

 

 

[Llywela]

English actress Haydn Gwynne has died of cancer aged 66.

I don't know how well known she is or isn't outside of the UK, but I gasped out loud when I saw the headline. She was brilliant in everything I've ever seen her in.

[MerBearHou]

Meryl Streep and her husband Don Gummer have been living separately for 6 years.  That came as a surprise to me.  I’ve always felt that they have a very private and independent relationship, but them actually saying they’ve been unofficially separated for 6 years was the surprise.  They’ve been married for 45 years.  Wonder why they decided now to let people know.  

[buttersister]

5 minutes ago, MerBearHou said:

Wonder why they decided now to let people know.  

He was jealous of her love scenes with Marty Short? 🤔🙄

Usually happens when one finds someone else. Sad, 45 years! 

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, MerBearHou said:

Meryl Streep and her husband Don Gummer have been living separately for 6 years.  That came as a surprise to me.  I’ve always felt that they have a very private and independent relationship, but them actually saying they’ve been unofficially separated for 6 years was the surprise.  They’ve been married for 45 years.  Wonder why they decided now to let people know.  

One of them could be in a relationship and they don’t want the possibility of cheating rumors. The strike also means it is a good time for actors to make announcements knowing they can’t do any press. 

[shapeshifter]

6 hours ago, Dani said:

The strike also means it is a good time for actors to make announcements knowing they can’t do any press. 

Huh. That does make sense. 

[JustHereForFood]

On 10/21/2023 at 6:55 AM, MerBearHou said:

Meryl Streep and her husband Don Gummer have been living separately for 6 years.  That came as a surprise to me.  I’ve always felt that they have a very private and independent relationship, but them actually saying they’ve been unofficially separated for 6 years was the surprise.  They’ve been married for 45 years.  Wonder why they decided now to let people know.  

If I wanted to be snarky, I would say that maybe she wanted to let Jada Pinkett Smith know she is not so special?

[Mabinogia]

58 minutes ago, JustHereForFood said:

If I wanted to be snarky, I would say that maybe she wanted to let Jada Pinkett Smith know she is not so special?

If that was why, I would love Meryl forever! Get a bunch of celeb couples to be all "oh, yeah, we did that too" so we can all see what Jada comes up with next to make herself feel like the specialist little snowflake of all. 

[Cobalt Stargazer]

Because the internet remains undefeated:

[Zella]

This is the one that was sending me and my coworkers earlier this week:

Edited October 22, 2023 by Zella

[Crashcourse]

I love the SNL snark on Jada last night.

 

[rcc]

14 minutes ago, Crashcourse said:

I love the SNL snark on Jada last night.

 

"Can't have that." Lol Probably true.

[AgentRXS]

This is fantastic and so accurate:

 

[MissAlmond]

Actor Elaine Devry who appeared The Atomic Kid and A Guide for the Married Man and guest starred in television shows such as Perry Mason, Bonanza, Family Affair, and My Three Sons has died, age 93.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/elaine-devry-dead-mickey-rooney-1235624219/

https://deadline.com/2023/10/elaine-devry-dead-actress-the-atomic-kid-a-guide-for-the-married-man-obituary-1235580248/

https://variety.com/2023/film/news/elaine-devry-dead-the-atomic-kid-1235764561/

Edited October 24, 2023 by MissAlmond

[CountryGirl]

I can almost believe that Tupac faked his death to get away from Jada.

[Fool to cry]

Recent news has put this tweet I saw last year in a new light:

 

 

[Ohiopirate02]

2 hours ago, Fool to cry said:

Recent news has put this tweet I saw last year in a new light:

 

 

If Meryl has been with Don for 45 years, then she met him not long after John died.  Thirty-nine years is a hell of a run for a rebound relationship.

[MerBearHou]

7 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

If Meryl has been with Don for 45 years, then she met him not long after John died.  Thirty-nine years is a hell of a run for a rebound relationship.

After John died, Meryl was moving out of the apartment where she lived with him.  Meryl's brother and his friend, Don Gummer, helped Meryl move -- that's when she met Don.  They married six months later.  

[AimingforYoko]

He was a very good boy: Bobi, the world's oldest dog, dies at 31.

[Crashcourse]

I'm glad that he lived such a good life.

[Wiendish Fitch]

Re: Jada (and, let's face it, Britney)

All joking aside, I personally don't think it's sweet or romantic to idealize a past love; in fact, I think it's unhealthy and depressing, because to some, it's much easier to dwell on what could have been instead of facing what is. 

Dear readers, take my advice: Don't carry a torch for too long, you're just going to burn your hand.