In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths

[BW Manilowe]

Rocky actor Tony Burton (he played Apollo Creed's trainer) dies at age 78.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tony-burton-dead-rocky-actor-869887?utm_source=twitter

[Ohwell]

RIP, Tony.

[BW Manilowe]

Alabama's first Miss America (Miss America 1951), Yolande Betbeze Fox, dies at age 87.

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/02/first_miss_alabama_miss_americ.html

And...

Lennie Baker, Sha Na Na saxophonist, dies at 69.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2016/02/26/lennie-baker-of-sha-na-na-dies-at-69/80998458/

Edited February 27, 2016 by BW Manilowe

[legaleagle53]

That's what, the fourth celebrity this year to die at the age of 69?  "Just a number," my foot!

[BetterButter]

Frank Kelly, Father Ted's foul-mouthed priest, dies aged 77

[Rick Kitchen]

Actor George Kennedy has died at 91.

[Ohwell]

Nooooooo!  Not George!  Damn.

 

RIP.

[legaleagle53]

I was just coming in here to post about that:  http://tvline.com/2016/02/29/george-kennedy-dead-actor-airplane-dallas/

 

I guess having an extra day this year meant that February 2016 couldn't resist the urge to get in one last shot.  RIP, Mr. Kennedy.

[Bastet]

I just re-watched the Naked Gun movies this past week, so he's present - and much younger - in my mind, such that his death was a little jarring for a moment until my brain caught up to reality.

[bmasters9]

George from the latter seasons of original-recipe Dallas (1988-91); also from the J.R. Returns and War of the Ewings reunion films in 1996 and 1998 respectively

 

 

 

[Inquisitionist]

Many years ago, I read that Kennedy's "for your consideration" ad to Academy voters showed him in a scene from CHL holding up Paul Newman with single-word caption, Supporting.  I haven't been able to find this image online.  If anyone else does, please share it!

 

On a shallow note, my search did turn up many fine photos of Newman's bare torso, which are always welcome.  ;-)

[Spartan Girl]

I loved George's character in Cool Hand Luke. That was one of the best bromances in movie history.

[BetterButter]

Gil Hill, movie star and former Detroit councilman, dies

Craig Windham, NPR Newscaster, Dies

[roamyn]

I had no idea Gil Hill was a real cop. Very interesting article, BetterButter.

[DeLurker]

Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead...

This will never not be funny.

[ABay]

He's in stable condition.

[BetterButter]

R.I.P. Lee Reherman, Hawk from American Gladiators

[SmithW6079]

R.I.P. Lee Reherman, Hawk from American Gladiators

Oh, that's a shame. He was younger than I. I always enjoyed "American Gladiators." It was the "American Ninja Warrior" of its day. Edited March 2, 2016 by SmithW6079

[SnideAsides]

Both Dean Cain (who played football against him in college, and later did an American Gladiators celebrity special) and one of the UK Gladiators have tweeted about it. We seem to have lost one of the good ones.

[Slade347]

Legendary Tennis broadcaster and journalist Bud Collins has died, at the age of 86. 

 

He always seemed to be one of those people who always seemed to love what he was doing. We don't have enough of those in the world. RIP.

[QueerGirrl]

Legendary Tennis broadcaster and journalist Bud Collins has died, at the age of 86. 

 

He always seemed to be one of those people who always seemed to love what he was doing. We don't have enough of those in the world. RIP.

 

Noooooo!!!!!!  I grew up watching tennis and listening to him!  A sad day for Tennis.  RIP Bud.  :-(

[BetterButter]

R.I.P. Tony Dyson, the man who built R2-D2

[Rick Kitchen]

Pat Conroy dies just a couple of weeks after announcing he had cancer.

[kathyk24]

Boston Globe reporter and tennis expert Bud Collins also passed away today.

[Inquisitionist]

The only novel of Conroy's I ever read was The Prince of Tides.  It's lush and overlong and overwrought, but thoroughly compelling, and once you know about his own life, its style makes perfect sense.  Not a fan of Babs in the Lowenstein role.  On screen, I prefer The Great Santini (Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, and a young Michael O'Keefe are a sensational trio).  RIP, Mr. Conroy.  Despite the immense difficulties of your life, your obituary made me smile.
 

When his mother was dying of leukemia, as he recounted to The Guardian of London in 1996, she told him, “Son, I find it hard to relax when I’m dying, knowing you’re going to write down every damn word I say.”

 

“One of the greatest gifts you can get as a writer is to be born into an unhappy family,” Mr. Conroy told the writer John Berendt for a Vanity Fair profile in 1995. “I could not have been born into a better one.”

 

[UYI]

Country singer Joey Feek has died at age 40. She and her husband Rory were a country/bluegrass group, Joey + Rory, and their newest album was nominated for a Grammy, and has been doing well on the charts recently. She was diagnosed with cancer shortly after giving birth to their daughter two years ago. :(

 

http://www.today.com/health/country-singer-joey-feek-dies-40-she-heaven-t56271

Edited March 5, 2016 by UYI

[crazycatlady58]

I am watching ABC news, they have just announced Nancy Reagan has died.

[merylinkid]

RIP Nancy Reagan.

 

Regardless of politics and her "just say no" campaign, she was an integral part of Amercian history for many years.   

[Inquisitionist]

she was an integral part of Amercian history for many years.

 

Sad, but true. She was also pregnant with Patti when she roped Ronnie into marrying her.  And since I can't say anything nice about her, I'll stop there.

[Blergh]

I didn't always agree with her stances. However; having to watch one's spouse die from the inside out over a very long period of time cannot have been easy for anyone so I have to say I salute Mrs. Reagan for her courage and resolve to make his last days as comfortable as possible even long after he himself knew who he'd been or who she was.  I hope she and her daughter were able to resolve their differences before the end and agreed to disagree. RIP, Mrs. Reagan [born Ann Frances Robbins].

[BW Manilowe]

I am watching ABC news, they have just announced Nancy Reagan has died.

When I was a Senior in High School, I had the honor & privilege of being part of a group connected to a national babies & children's health charity which got to meet both the late President & Mrs. Reagan while they were in the White House (ironically, our reception with the then-First Couple was exactly a week to the day before the Hinckley assassination attempt). They both were very nice people, to me as an individual & to our group as a whole--we were even offered refreshments (assorted cookies & at least various kinds of juices, as I remember; they may have also offered coffee &/or tea, but I don't remember for sure). We didn't get any jellybeans though.

[Rick Kitchen]

Beatles producer George Martin has died at the age of 90.

[Inquisitionist]

RIP to George Martin.  He added so much to the Beatles' music, and seemed like a humble individual despite his many accomplishments.  90 is good long while to have lived and loved what he was doing.

[BatmanBeatles]

If next year's Grammy's doesn't recognize him, I'm going to be so mad.

[cpcathy]

Ouch, that one hurts. I am a huge Beatles fan, and Sir George was a brilliant man. Thank you for all your contributions, Sir George.

[BatmanBeatles]

I'm glad he gave them a chance when other record labels said singing groups were on the way out.

[BetterButter]

Richard Davalos, ‘East of Eden’ Actor, Dies at 85

[Joe]

Aussie rocker, Jon English. He was 66.

[BetterButter]

R.I.P. Ken Adam, production designer for James Bond and Stanley Kubrick

[Inquisitionist]

From Rolling Stone:  Keith Emerson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer Keyboardist, Dead at 71

 

A cause of death has not been disclosed.

[legaleagle53]

What is it with you and musicians and actors in their late 60s and early 70s, 2016?  Didn't we already talk about this?

Edited March 12, 2016 by legaleagle53

[BW Manilowe]

From Rolling Stone: Keith Emerson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer Keyboardist, Dead at 71

A cause of death has not been disclosed.

The Hollywood Reporter is saying the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, which is being investigated as a possible suicide.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-emerson-dead-emerson-lake-874650

[BizBuzz]

Ugh ... I have been in la la land lately ... I just heard about George Martin, and then right after, Keith Emerson.

 

2016 SUCKS

The Hollywood Reporter is saying the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, which is being investigated as a possible suicide.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-emerson-dead-emerson-lake-874650

 

I had heard he lost the use of his hand, got severely depressed.  Ugh.

[legaleagle53]

Ugh ... I have been in la la land lately ... I just heard about George Martin, and then right after, Keith Emerson.

 

2016 SUCKS

 

And it's only March 12!

[BW Manilowe]

The Wayward Wind singer Gogi Grant dies at age 91.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gogi-grant-dead-wayward-wind-875006?utm_source=twitter

[Ohwell]

I remember that song as a kid.  RIP, Ms. Grant. 

[Medicine Crow]

I remember that song as a kid.  RIP, Ms. Grant. 

One of my all-time favorites!!!!

[ABay]

When I was growing up, my parents had a compilation album with The Wayward Wind on it. The album cover had a bunch of colored circles on it with the names of the songs and singers. I have a feeling it was something to do with Lucky Strikes because both parents were smokers. Anyway, this song in particular stayed with me because we lived in a small house (not quite a shack) near railroad tracks. 

[praeceptrix]

Composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies has died. He was 81.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35802564

[BW Manilowe]

Jazz singer & Grammy nominee Ernestine Anderson dies at 87.

http://news-sentinel.com/entertainment/Jazz-singer-and-Grammy-nominee-Ernestine-Anderson-dies-at-872016-03-14T06-13-09