Milestone Moments: All The Celebrity Vitals

[ebk57]

Jim Ladd has died.

Since I live on the other coast from where he came to fame back in the day, I didn't really experience his on-air style until he came to XM Radio.  I was an immediate fan and I'll truly miss his show.  The Last DJ indeed... 

[ProudMary]

 

[Vermicious Knid]

And that's how you do an In Memoriam.

I've never heard that version of Learning to Fly. Gives it a whole different feeling. 

[BetterButter]

Norma Barzman Dies: Blacklisted Screenwriter Was 103

[Calvada]

8 hours ago, Vermicious Knid said:

And that's how you do an In Memoriam.

I've never heard that version of Learning to Fly. Gives it a whole different feeling. 

That was lovely.  I always say the people at the Academy Awards should reach out to TCM to do the In Memoriam segment for the Oscars broadcast.  

It makes me nervous when TCM releases this with almost two weeks remaining in the year; often they have to re-edit it.  

[Bastet]

On 12/20/2023 at 3:17 AM, Calvada said:

It makes me nervous when TCM releases this with almost two weeks remaining in the year; often they have to re-edit it.  

That, as much as the artistry, is why they always weave backdrop shots among the clips, so whenever they - as frequently happens - have to add people in, it's an easy edit to simply lose one or more of those shots without messing with the timing.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

On 12/19/2023 at 6:42 PM, Vermicious Knid said:

And that's how you do an In Memoriam.

I've never heard that version of Learning to Fly. Gives it a whole different feeling. 

I checked*, and that's Christina Perri singing. Last year it was The Night We Met by Lord Huron.

*Now that posts are no longer being eaten, because I'm a dolt.

[BetterButter]

Laura Lynch, Founding Dixie Chicks Member, Killed in Car Crash

[Bastet]

2 hours ago, BetterButter said:

Laura Lynch, Founding Dixie Chicks Member, Killed in Car Crash

Ugh, a crash that absolutely did not have to happen -- some impatient driver crossed over in order to pass, hit her head on, and killed her.

The Chicks are one of my favorite bands, although I never saw them perform until after Natalie Maines had taken over as lead singer.  But the group never would have existed in the first place, for me to later come to love, if not for Lynch.

From the band's Instagram:

Quote

We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together. Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band.  Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West.

Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this sad time.  

- Emily, Martie & Natalie

 

[BetterButter]

Selma Archerd, ‘Die Hard’ and ‘Melrose Place’ Actress, Dies at 98

[Irlandesa]

Gosh this shocked me and made me sad.

https://deadline.com/2023/12/kamar-de-los-reyes-dead-one-life-to-life-call-of-duty-black-opps-1235681685/

I remember Kamar de los Reyes from OLTL and I feel sad for his wife, especially since his kids are so young.

[Llywela]

Richard Franklin, who played Mike Yates in Doctor Who back in the early 70s, passed away in the early hours of Christmas Day.

[andromeda331]

9 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

Gosh this shocked me and made me sad.

https://deadline.com/2023/12/kamar-de-los-reyes-dead-one-life-to-life-call-of-duty-black-opps-1235681685/

I remember Kamar de los Reyes from OLTL and I feel sad for his wife, especially since his kids are so young.

I loved Antonio. He was one of my favorite characters. He played the villian in Law & Order's Dining Out episode. It was a good one. He killed his girlfriend because she canceled his show they worked on together. He also romances one of the dumbest jurors. It was a great episode.

[DearEvette]

On 12/25/2023 at 1:19 PM, Irlandesa said:

Gosh this shocked me and made me sad.

https://deadline.com/2023/12/kamar-de-los-reyes-dead-one-life-to-life-call-of-duty-black-opps-1235681685/

I remember Kamar de los Reyes from OLTL and I feel sad for his wife, especially since his kids are so young.

RIP Kamar. 90s OLTL was TOP TIER!  And I loved those Vega boys!  And I am so sad for Sherri and his kids.  Ugh this time of the year sucks.  December is relentless when it comes to celeb deaths.

[scarynikki12]

Reportedly suicide.

[Lugal]

12 hours ago, scarynikki12 said:

Reportedly suicide.

This one hurts. I loved him in Dairy of a Prosecutor and My Mister.

[cynicat]

On 12/25/2023 at 3:59 PM, Llywela said:

Richard Franklin, who played Mike Yates in Doctor Who back in the early 70s, passed away in the early hours of Christmas Day.

There's something oddly full circle about a Doctor Who actor dying on Christmas Day.

[Browncoat]

RIP Tommy Smothers, the Yo-Yo Man:

I'm gutted.  😢

[tessaray]

Crud. This is not the way I want to reminisce about my childhood. 

"Mom always liked you best." RIP Tommy.

 

 

[badhaggis]

I was fortunate enough to see them performing in person. My mom loved their humor so I ordered tickets for us to go. That was a wonderful evening. Their comedic timing was incredible! This one makes me very sad...

[tessaray]

2 hours ago, cynicat said:

There's something oddly full circle about a Doctor Who actor dying on Christmas Day.

Agreed. Mainly sad though, since the UNIT episodes were always some of my favorites.  (Those of us in the US didn't really have that same experience, since we only got premieres synced with the BBC schedule a few years back.) 

We need an emoji for "I know, right?". 🙂

[giovannif7]

R.I.P. TV host/reporter/interviewer/VH1 VJ Bobby Rivers

 

[BetterButter]

David Leland, ‘Wish You Were Here,’ ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘Concert for George’ Filmmaker, Dies at 82

[Blergh]

On 12/27/2023 at 11:00 AM, Browncoat said:

RIP Tommy Smothers, the Yo-Yo Man:

I'm gutted.  😢

While I'd see their show rerun later on, the first place I recall Tommy Smothers was as the voice of the rebellious Ted E. Bear who wanted to see if winter might be worth skipping hibernation in The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (1973)! I mean, it seemed there was an entire dimension of toy-sized bears who lived in a human-like world. Yes, it could have been totally sappy but somehow the way he voiced the character, it got me to think that he was curious about this parallel human world enough to rebel and leave everyone he knew to seek it out!

  On a more sombre note, this had been  a rather sad year for him as not only did he find out he had stage 2 lung cancer but he  lost his younger sister Sherry as well as  his eldest son Thomas Bolyn Smothers IV by his first union (by who he has a grandson). It also needs to be noted that the siblings'  father  was Major Thomas Bolyn Smothers, Jr.- a West Point graduate who been a military man who died at age 36  being held in a Japanese POW ship in  the last days of WWII in 1945 after surviving the Bataan Death March- having sent the rest of his family (including his wife Ruth pregnant with their daughter)back to California shortly before the Japanese forces invaded.

I hope he soon gets to catch up  with his father,sister and his son and the four get to share some amazing stories from their lives. RIP, Mr. Smothers!

Edited December 29, 2023 by Blergh

[Vermicious Knid]

Cher files for conservatorship of adult son Elijah Blue.

Quote

 

Cher’s petition to become her 47-year-old temporary conservator is due to Allman being “currently unable to manage his assets due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues,” according to the filings. If the judge grants the conservatorship, Cher will receive distributions owed to Allman from the trust fund set up for him by his late father, Gregg Allman, for his benefit.

“Elijah is entitled to regular distributions from the Trust, but given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues, Petitioner [Cher] is concerned that any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah’s life at risk,” the file reads.

 

[Blergh]

23 minutes ago, Vermicious Knid said:

Cher files for conservatorship of adult son Elijah Blue.

Since the younger Mr. Allman doesn't appear to have any career or even to be earning his own living and appears to have had legit issues which would require fiscal if not physical supervision, at this point, I'm giving his mother Cher the benefit of the doubt re pursuing this legal conservatorship of him.  I can't imagine that the hearings will be pleasant for any of their family [regardless of what the judge rules] and I don't think this had been an easy decision for Cher.  No matter what happens, I hope he can somehow find his peace and make the most of his middle-aged life.

[Blergh]

As per news services Kathy Griffin has filed for divorce from Randy Biggs, days before   their 4th weddinganniversary.  As surprised as I was that the marriage had happened, I'm sorry that it didn't work out and hope each can find their respective individual peaces.

I wonder if Lily Tomlin who conducted their matrimonial service will have anything to say on the subject (and has she officiated any other couples' weddings?).

[Vermicious Knid]

NPR In Memorium: The Musicians We Lost

[ebk57]

Maurice Hines has died.

I saw him way back in Eubie and Sophisticated Ladies.  He was spectacular. 

This clip isn't very clear, but here he is with Gregory at the Tonys in 1979.

 

 

[voiceover]

Tom Wilkinson has passed away.

Always brought the quiet power to every performance.  My favorite, though, will always be his buttoned-up Gerald in The Full Monty (“I used to have a proper job, me!” he laments as he strips down).

[CrazyInAlabama]

I loved his performance in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.   I love his other performances, but Marigold's character was so real, and touching.  

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, voiceover said:

Tom Wilkinson has passed away.

Always brought the quiet power to every performance.  My favorite, though, will always be his buttoned-up Gerald in The Full Monty (“I used to have a proper job, me!” he laments as he strips down).

That's my favorite, too (I love that film, full stop, and he's one of the many reasons why).

[kittykat]

RIP Tom Wilkinson.  The baguette scene in Michael Clayton ("the last place you want to see me is in a courtroom.") Is a master class in acting.

[Browncoat]

Rough week.  RIP Tom Wilkinson.  I also loved him in The Full Monty.  The scene where they're all in line at the employment office, subtly dancing, is great.

And yes, so sublime in Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, another movie that exceeded my expectations.

[ProudMary]

Here is Time Magazine's 2023 "In Memorium" compilation. (Length 8:30)

I think it's very well done. Presented in chronological order by month, it includes two photos--in a few cases, a short video clip--of each subject, generally one of their younger self and one of more recent vintage. 

 

[Spartan Girl]

I remember Tom Wilkinson from In the Bedroom. A very sad and haunting movie where he plays a father that winds up killing his son’s murderer. “I couldn’t wait.” Yeah, after the bastard had the audacity to try to justify the murder to him, I don’t blame him.

[Bastet]

59 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

I remember Tom Wilkinson from In the Bedroom.

That earned him his first (of two) Oscar nominations.  Another great performance.  But he's one of those actors I never saw give a bad one; I always enjoyed what he did with the roles I saw him play, even if I didn't love the project as a whole.

[BetterButter]

Richard Romanus Dies: Actor In ‘Mean Streets’ And ‘The Sopranos’ Was 80

[shapeshifter]

“2023 Obituaries: A Host of Consequential, and Very Long, Lives Lost - The New York Times” — gift link to article

Although a few of the people mentioned at the top of the article are not in the entertainment industry or the arts, or even the sciences, most of them are — including too many actors, artists, musicians, poets, etc. for me to list separately, or even to count. 

And although the article focuses on longevity, some who died too soon are included too.

So many.

Edited December 31, 2023 by shapeshifter

[ProudMary]

@shapeshifter Excellent article. Thank you for sharing it.

[JustHereForFood]

17 hours ago, voiceover said:

Tom Wilkinson has passed away.

Always brought the quiet power to every performance.  My favorite, though, will always be his buttoned-up Gerald in The Full Monty (“I used to have a proper job, me!” he laments as he strips down).

Oh no. He's one of those actors I've seen in so many movies, I couldn't possibly pick a favorite performance. 

[Lugal]

Journalist and Documentarian John Pilger has died

https://news.yahoo.com/tributes-pour-journalist-campaigner-john-172703670.html

 

[ProudMary]

I don't know if everyone's tolerance for "In Memorium" compilations is reaching the limit, but this one from today's CBS Sunday Morning is particularly good. All video clips, with some quite extended ones for the likes of Norman Lear, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett, Matthew Perry, Tina Turner and several others including Tommy Smothers, who has been missing from most of these as they were prepared before he passed away last week. (Video length: 18:54)

 

[ProudMary]

I had not commented on Tom Wilkinson's passing, as I would have been echoing my thoughts on many of the same great films that have already been mentioned here, but I'd like to share an exchange I had with my Millennial son this afternoon, who tends to like very different films than I do. Occasionally, our preferences will intersect, but not that often. He was scrolling through his phone and suddenly said, "Oh, this is four days old, but Tom Wilkinson died." Me: "How do you know Tom Wilkinson?"  Son: "Uh Batman, Mom."  The scenes quickly passed through my mind. I had completely forgotten that Wilkinson had played Carmine Falcone in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and did a great job in that villainous role. The man certainly had range!

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, ProudMary said:

I don't know if everyone's tolerance for "In Memorium" compilations is reaching the limit, but this one from today's CBS Sunday Morning is particularly good. All video clips, with some quite extended ones for the likes of Norman Lear, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett, Matthew Perry, Tina Turner and several others including Tommy Smothers, who has been missing from most of these as they were prepared before he passed away last week. (Video length: 18:54)

 

Thank you! I would've otherwise missed this since I no longer watch CBS Morning Sunday — maybe I should start again.
Excellent selections and narration and images!
A sample of the quotes:

Quote

One of the good things about being a singer songwriter is that you get to leave a legacy. And I feel like I’m gonna leave a good one.
[David Crosby]

 

[Sarahsmile416]

2 hours ago, ProudMary said:

I don't know if everyone's tolerance for "In Memorium" compilations is reaching the limit, but this one from today's CBS Sunday Morning is particularly good. All video clips, with some quite extended ones for the likes of Norman Lear, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett, Matthew Perry, Tina Turner and several others including Tommy Smothers, who has been missing from most of these as they were prepared before he passed away last week. (Video length: 18:54)

 

Thank you for this! This was a lovely In Memorium.   I had no idea about Marilyn Lovell so that hit kind of hard…

[shapeshifter]

 

“Shecky Greene, High-Energy Comedy Star, Is Dead at 97,” New York Times, Jan. 1, 2024, gift link.

Quote

…Mr. Greene, who had a family history of mental illness, went public with his condition in the 1990s and, with the help of a new therapist and new medication, gradually resumed his career. He even incorporated his illness into his shtick.

“I’m bipolar,” he told a Las Vegas television interviewer in 2010. “I’m more than bipolar. I’m South Polar, North Polar. I’m every kind of polar there is. I even lived with a polar bear for about a year.”

…Fred Sheldon Greenfield was born on April 8, 1926, in Chicago. (In 2004 he legally changed his name to Shecky Greene, long after his professional first name had come to connote a certain kind of brash, aggressive, old-school comedian even to people who had never seen him perform.)

…Interviewed by The Washington Times in 2017, Mr. Greene looked back on his career philosophically:

“Why did I do this and that? At 90 I still don’t know. Once in a while I’ll have a nice sleep. Most nights I wake up yelling, ‘Why did I do that?’

“Life is strange, but if you’ve had a mixture of a life like I had, it’s all right.”

I appreciate how NYT obituaries for those who live into their 90s can be thoughtfully written and edited tributes because they were able to be prepared in advance, even though these obits may not have the immediacy or the emotional impact of those written for Matthew Perry or Sinéad O'Connor or Andre Braugher.

Edited January 1 by shapeshifter

[Bastet]

6 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I appreciate how NYT obituaries for those who live into their 90s can be thoughtfully written and edited tributes because they were able to be prepared in advance, even though these obits may not have the immediacy or the emotional impact of those written for Matthew Perry or Sinéad O'Connor or Andre Braugher.

Major media outlets have pre-written (and pre-packaged in the case of video obits) obituaries for big name people of all ages, which get updated regularly and have the details filled in upon death.  (This has led to some embarrassing retractions, when an update to an advanced obituary of a still-very-much-alive celebrity was accidentally published.)

[ABay]

Shecky Greene! That's a name I've heard in decades.

[Vermicious Knid]

Ana Ofelia Murguía, voice of Mama Coco, dead at 90

Quote

 

She earned multiple awards for her work. In 2023, the National Autonomous University of Mexico gave her its Ingmar Bergman Medal for her acting. At the ceremony, fans and peers praised her long career. When it was Murguía's turn to speak, she said that she was exhausted from all the attention. "Why me?" she asked. "Why for me?"

But she accepted the award graciously and told the crowd that if you work hard, there will be people who notice. "And that's the marvelous thing," she said.