In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths

[cynicat]

3 minutes ago, SuprSuprElevated said:

The article references bipolar disorder.  It's an illness.

Gotcha. 

[ratgirlagogo]

Howard Finkel, legendary and beloved ring announcer for the WWE, is dead at 69.   Cause of death so far not revealed.  He was THE ring announcer for professional wrestling in the last forty years.  Hail and farewell.

https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/howard-finkel-the-fink-dead/

[Blergh]

14 hours ago, SuprSuprElevated said:

Such a nasty illness.  

youtube-star-behind-talking-kitty-cat-videos-steve-cash-dead

How sad that he was so tormented by his condition that he evidently seemed to have concluded  that there was no other option than to take his own life and how tragic for his family and friends! Didn't know him from Adam but I truly hope somehow Mercy has been given and he's resting in peace!

[roamyn]

I adored Brian Dennehy.  My favorite roles of his were Teasle, The Alien leader in Cocoon, and Jackie Presser.

Such a presence, even in small roles,  RIP, sir.

[MissAlmond]

Roger Beatty, who won five Emmy's writing for The Carol Burnet Show has died of prostrate cancer, age 87.

https://deadline.com/2020/04/roger-beatty-dies-emmy-winning-carol-burnett-show-writer-was-87-1202911870/

 

Edited April 19, 2020 by MissAlmond

[BW Manilowe]

From The Hollywood Reporter (THR): Tom Lester, the Wide-Eyed Farmhand Eb Dawson on Green Acres, Dead at 81 The cause of death was complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

[catlover79]

2 hours ago, BW Manilowe said:

From The Hollywood Reporter (THR): Tom Lester, the Wide-Eyed Farmhand Eb Dawson on Green Acres, Dead at 81 The cause of death was complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

He was also the last of the regular Green Acres cast to go. God rest you, kind sir. 🙏💖

[tiftgirl]

2 hours ago, BW Manilowe said:

From The Hollywood Reporter (THR): Tom Lester, the Wide-Eyed Farmhand Eb Dawson on Green Acres, Dead at 81 The cause of death was complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

I had the biggest crush on him when I was a little girl!  May he rest in peace.

[MissAlmond]

2 hours ago, BW Manilowe said:

From The Hollywood Reporter (THR): Tom Lester, the Wide-Eyed Farmhand Eb Dawson on Green Acres, Dead at 81 The cause of death was complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

Not Eb!  R.I.P Mr. Lester.

[BW Manilowe]

From The Hollywood Reporter (THR): Sirio Maccioni, Who Opened Famed Eatery Le Cirque, Dead at 88 

He had suffered from the effects of a stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease, his son said.

[MissAlmond]

Emmy nominated writer-producer Saul Turteltaub died, age 87.  From Deadline link: 

Quote

Saul Turteltaub served as a writer and producer for such iconic shows in television history as The Carol Burnett Show, Sanford and Son and That Girl. He received an Emmy nomination for The Carol Burnett Show in 1968 and earned back-to-back noms in 1964 and 1965 as part of the writing team for the U.S. version of the political satire TV series That Was the Week That Was.

https://deadline.com/2020/04/saul-turteltaub-dead-the-carol-burnett-show-sanford-and-son-that-girl-obituary-1202906621/

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/saul-turteltaub-dead-dies-1234578359/

Edited April 21, 2020 by MissAlmond

[Blergh]

14 hours ago, catlover79 said:

He was also the last of the regular Green Acres cast to go. God rest you, kind sir. 🙏💖

Mr. Lester also became good friends with Eddie Albert who he considered a surrogate father which I believe helped enhance their characters' chemistry despite Oliver almost always being impatient and exasperated with his somewhat dim but always eager farmhand and they'd stay friends until Alzheimer's Disease took Mr. Albert's life at 99. I wouldn't wish Parkinson's on anyone but at least there's a chance to keep one's mind to the end with the latter.  BTW, early in his career, his agent dropped him because he wouldn't do a beer commercial but Mr. Lester refused to compromise his principles for a quick buck so good for him! RIP, Mr. Lester.

[MissAlmond]

Actress Shirley Knight has died, age 83.  From Broadway World link:

Quote

Standout performances in her over 60-year acting career include: films The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (Academy Award nomination), Sweet Bird of Youth opposite Paul Newman (Academy Award nomination),The Group, Petulia, Francis Ford Coppola's The Rain People and Amiri Baraka's Dutchman (Volpi Cup for Best Actress); theatre productions Lee Strasberg's Three Sisters with Kim Stanley and Geraldine Page, The Young Man from Atlanta (Tony Award nomination) Kennedy's Children (Tony Award); and television shows Indictment: The McMartin Trial (Emmy and Golden Globe Awards), NYPD Blue (Emmy Award), Thirtysomething (Emmy Award), Playing for Time and Desperate Housewives (Emmy nominations). In addition to her award-winning performances, (Miss) Knight also appeared in such pop culture favorites as Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Stuart Saves His Family, Grandma's Boy, and As Good As It Gets.

https://deadline.com/2020/04/shirley-knight-dead-obituary-sweet-bird-of-youth-actress-83-1202914994/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shirley-knight-dead-sweet-bird-youth-dark-at-top-stairs-dutchman-actress-was-83-1133636

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Award-Winning-Actress-Shirley-Knight-Dies-at-83-20200422

Edited April 22, 2020 by MissAlmond

[MissAlmond]

Wildlife photographer Peter Beard has been found dead after being reported missing by his family three weeks ago.  Mr. Beard suffered from dementia and had at least one stroke according to his family.  Peter Beard was 82. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/19/arts/peter-beard-dead.html

https://apnews.com/17280b30b32d2101cf17609a1c9f38bc

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52366158

 

Edited April 22, 2020 by MissAlmond

[Spartan Girl]

2 hours ago, MissAlmond said:

Actress Shirley Knight has died, age 83.  From Broadway World link:

https://deadline.com/2020/04/shirley-knight-dead-obituary-sweet-bird-of-youth-actress-83-1202914994/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shirley-knight-dead-sweet-bird-youth-dark-at-top-stairs-dutchman-actress-was-83-1133636

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Award-Winning-Actress-Shirley-Knight-Dies-at-83-20200422

Oh damn. She was in that one Law and Order episode @GHScorpiosRule and I always mock:

"We were married for twenty-five yeeeeeeeeeeeeeears!"

Edited April 22, 2020 by Spartan Girl

[GHScorpiosRule]

42 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

Oh damn. She was in that one Law and Order episode @GHScorpiosRule and I always mock:

"We were married for twenty-five yeeeeeeeeeeeeeears!"

Get out of my head! I was just going to post this in the Law & Order thread! Mocking aside, Shirley Knight was a great talent. And now I gotta go rewatch that episode!

[Robert Lynch]

She was also the hip mother to Helen Hunt's character in As Good As It Gets. She was very pretty in Sweet Bird of Youth. I think Geraldine Page won an award for that role. 

Edited April 22, 2020 by Robert Lynch

[WendyCR72]

5 minutes ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

Get out of my head! I was just going to post this in the Law & Order thread! Mocking aside, Shirley Knight was a great talent. And now I gotta go rewatch that episode!

*Screams into the night*

But RIP to Shirley Knight; she had a great career and was a great actress, even if many did mock that Law & Order role [the writers needed to give her more than one line to repeat!]. I know her daughter was on Another World in the '90s and looked a lot like her.

[tessaray]

I mainly know Shirley Knight from episodes of The Virginian and The Texan.  I used to find my husband's Westerns habit tedious but these days it's fun just to see the future stars and all the horses. Which is a different conversation for another day, I guess. 

I do remember her from Desperate Housewives though. 

[Bort]

I remember Shirley Knight from Grandma’s Boy.

[Constant Viewer]

The Group was just on last night on TCM! She played Polly, 

[Hiyo]

Quote

even if many did mock that Law & Order role

Well, it got her an Emmy nomination, so I guess it all balances out?

[WendyCR72]

6 minutes ago, Hiyo said:

Well, it got her an Emmy nomination, so I guess it all balances out?

I didn't know that. I guess it's a nice consolation prize!

[BW Manilowe]

From Variety: ‘Magnum P.I.’, ‘Knight Rider’ Producer Joel Rogosin Dies of Coronavirus at MPTF Retirement Home He was 87. He died at the Retirement Home operated by the Motion Picture & Television Fund.

[SunnyBeBe]

Jason Davis  died in Feb.  It's since  been determined it was from Fentanyl effects.  It's sad too.  He was co-founder for Cure Addiction Now.  He always had so many medical problems.  I wonder if it was prescribed. 

https://pagesix.com/2020/04/23/recess-actor-jason-davis-cause-of-death-revealed-fentanyl/

I recall him from Celebrity Rehab.  Based on those episodes, I was surprised that he survived so long.  He seemed to be very troubled. 

http://www.vh1.com/video-clips/04s3i3/celebrity-rehab-with-dr-drew-jason-davis-enters-rehab

 

Edited April 23, 2020 by SunnyBeBe

[catlover79]

On 4/22/2020 at 5:43 PM, Spartan Girl said:

Oh damn. She was in that one Law and Order episode @GHScorpiosRule and I always mock:

"We were married for twenty-five yeeeeeeeeeeeeeears!"

"I am not a piece of FURNITURE, Mr. Stone!!!"

RIP, Ms. Knight.

[BookWoman56]

I remember Shirley Knight mainly from her role on Thirtysomething as Hope's mother; the characters had a tense relationship at times. Even though I don't remember the dialogue verbatim, there was a scene in one episode of the first season, during which Hope's parents are visiting, in which Shirley Knight gave a short speech regarding how Hope's experience right now with her infant daughter is so positive, but the day will come when her daughter pushes her away, just as Hope has been doing to her. I remember it vividly because the scene made my own mother cry. Knight infused that character with depth when it would have been so easy for the character to be nothing other than a stereotype. 

[SuprSuprElevated]

I have always enjoyed Shirley Knight's work, without knowing it was Shirley Knight.  As with an actor who recently passed, she had a lifetime of quality work, with no evidence of being a publicity hound.  When we watched her at her craft, we were seeing the character, not the actress.  If that makes any sense.

[praeceptrix]

Fred the Godson has died from covid-19. His genre is not my favorite, but from what I have read, he was very talented and witty. More than that, 41 is just too young.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/arts/music/fred-the-godson-dead-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage

[MissAlmond]

Actor Dimitri Diatchenko from Chernobyl Diaries has died, age 52.  From the Deadline link:

Quote

A native of San Francisco, Diatchenko was a first-generation American of Ukrainian, Greek and Swedish descent. He landed guest starring and recurring roles on How I Met Your Mother, Bones, Sons of Anarchy, 2 Broke Girls and Criminal Minds.

https://deadline.com/2020/04/chernobyl-diaries-actor-dimitri-diatchenko-dead-1202917628/

[CarolinaPam]

Harold Reid of The Statler Brothers dies at 80.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/statler-brothers-harold-reid-dead-obituary-990001/amp/

[atlantaloves]

I loved Miss Knight in The Group. the Group is up there with another favorite of mine, The Best of Everything, it is so wonderfully horrible and sexist and just totally glam glam glam. Loved Knight, a good Broadway actress too, I love an actor that comes back to the stage again and again.  She was a treasure. 

[auntlada]

On 4/25/2020 at 2:11 PM, CarolinaPam said:

Harold Reid of The Statler Brothers dies at 80.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/statler-brothers-harold-reid-dead-obituary-990001/amp/

I loved the Statler Brothers when I was growing up. We wore out an eight-track of "Entertainers On and Off the Record." At my first newspaper job out of college, I got to interview Don Reid over the phone for a local charity event concert they were coming to town to do. I so wanted to go, but I was too poor to buy a ticket for the charitable event, and the organizers never thought to give a ticket or two to the local media.

I was irritated with the woman who asked me to write a story, though. She insisted on sitting next to my desk while I talked to Don on the phone and also told me all about the band and which songs were best (she was wrong). I wanted to tell her, "Lady, I've been listening to these guys since at least third grade. I forgot more than you'll ever know about them," but I figured she wouldn't have gotten the reference.

[ABay]

"Counting Flowers on the Wall" is on my mp3 player and the chorus is sadly apt for quarantine:

Counting flowers on the wall, that don't bother me at all

Playing solitaire til dawn with a deck of 51

Smoking cigarettes and watching Capt. Kangaroo

Now don't tell me I've nothing to do

[MissAlmond]

Peter H. Hunt, Tony award winning director of 1776 has died, age 81.  Hunt also directed the film adaptation of 1776 which is a July 4th tradition at my house.  R.I.P. Mr. Hunt.

https://deadline.com/2020/04/peter-h-hunt-dead-obituary-1776-director-tony-award-touched-by-an-angel-81-1202920205/

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Peter-H-Hunt-Director-of-1776-Dies-at-81-20200426

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-04-28/peter-h-hunt-director-dies-1776-touched-by-an-angel

[bmasters9]

Not a Hollywood celebrity, but still well-remembered: former WIS News 10 anchor Ed Carter has passed on from COVID-19 at 81 (WIS being the NBC station of Columbia); he was known for being on that NBC station's 7:00 Report alongside Susan Aude Fisher, Joe Daggett and Joe Pinner.

Here's his obit from WIS:

https://www.wistv.com/2020/04/28/former-wis-anchor-ed-carter-dies/

And here's an opening with him and the others, from 1985:

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by bmasters9
Forgot obit

[Browncoat]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/29/asia/irrfan-khan-death-intl-hnk/index.html

 

Irrfan Khan, the Bollywood actor from "Life of Pi" and "The Lunchbox" (an excellent movie) died today.  He was also in "Slumdog Millionaire".  RIP, Mr. Khan.

[Hiyo]

Very young too, he was only 53 years old.

[MissAlmond]

1 hour ago, Browncoat said:

Irrfan Khan, the Bollywood actor from "Life of Pi" and "The Lunchbox" (an excellent movie) died today.  He was also in "Slumdog Millionaire".  RIP, Mr. Khan.

Sorry to hear of Irrfan Khan's passing.  The Lunchbox is indeed a most excellent movie.  R.I.P. Mr. Khan.

[MissAlmond]

Veteran casting director Cis Corman has died, age 93.  Corman was also the long time president of Barbra Streisand's production company as well as a close friend.  From the Hollywood Reporter link:

Quote

Corman collaborated with Martin Scorsese on Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1982) — she hired stand-up comedian Sandra Bernhard for that — and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988); with Michael Cimino on the best picture Oscar winner The Deer Hunter (1978) and Heaven's Gate (1980); and with Michael Winner on Death Wish (1974), The Sentinel (1977) and Firepower (1979).

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cis-corman-dead-casting-director-death-wish-raging-bull-deer-hunter-was-93-1292486

https://deadline.com/2020/04/casting-director-cis-corman-remembered-by-best-friend-barbra-streisand-1202921797/

https://variety.com/2020/film/obituaries-people-news/cis-corman-casting-director-barbra-streisand-friend-dead-dies-1234593790/

 

[Lugal]

Rishi Kapoor has died.

Fans are mourning the death of Rishi Kapoor. 

According to CNN, citing a family representative, the actor died in hospital on Thursday after a two-year battle with leukemia. He was 67 years old.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1146546/actor-rishi-kapoor-dead-at-67-priyanka-chopra-and-more-stars-pay-tribute?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories

[GHScorpiosRule]

59 minutes ago, Lugal said:

Rishi Kapoor has died.

Fans are mourning the death of Rishi Kapoor. 

According to CNN, citing a family representative, the actor died in hospital on Thursday after a two-year battle with leukemia. He was 67 years old.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1146546/actor-rishi-kapoor-dead-at-67-priyanka-chopra-and-more-stars-pay-tribute?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT CHINTU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😭

[GHScorpiosRule]

Rakesh Roshan, friend and who co-starred in many films with Rishi. Rakesh is also Hrithik Roshan's father.

Alia Bhatt

I grew up watching him. He was just so adorable. Funny. Just a very versatile actor.

 

[MissAlmond]

Matty Simmons producer of Animal House and National Lampoon's Vacation and co-founder of National Lampoon and the Diner's Card has died, age 93. 

https://deadline.com/2020/05/matty-simmons-dead-obituary-national-lampoon-animal-house-vacation-producer-93-1202923447/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matty-simmons-dead-national-lampoon-founder-animal-house-producer-was-93-1292827

https://www.thewrap.com/matty-simmons-national-lampoon-animal-house-dead-dies/

https://variety.com/2020/film/news/matty-simmons-dead-dies-animal-house-vacation-1234595427/

Edited May 1, 2020 by MissAlmond

[biakbiak]

No article up yet but Sam Lloyd from Scrubs has died.

 

[Browncoat]

Oh, that makes me sad.  RIP, Lawyer Ted.

[Bastet]

I didn't watch Scrubs, but I knew I recognized him from something -- one of the crackpots from "The Crackpots and These Women" episode of The West Wing.  (He was in Seinfeld, too, but it was the UFO guy that I was specifically remembering when I looked at him.)

Here's a brief obituary from The Wrap; he was only 56, and died of cancer (insert expletive here) - he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last year.

[callie lee 29]

I just saw that on Zach Braff's Twitter page.  I know he was sick again as I think the cancer came back, but i still so very sad for all of them and his family.

[punkypower]

I'm ashamed to say that I watched both GoT and The Fall, but I don't remember him.

RIP, Mr. Hogg!!

https://popculture.com/celebrity/amp/news/bj-hogg-game-of-thrones-the-fall-give-my-head-peace-star-dead-at-65/

[Moose135]

18 hours ago, Bastet said:

I knew I recognized him from something -- one of the crackpots from "The Crackpots and These Women" episode of The West Wing.  (He was in Seinfeld, too, but it was the UFO guy that I was specifically remembering when I looked at him.)

I never watched Scrubs, but definitely remember him from The West Wing. RIP