In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths

[praeceptrix]

4 hours ago, Silver Raven said:

Dancer/choreographer Paul Taylor has died, age 88.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/obituaries/paul-taylor-dead.html

A friend texted me about this earlier today. I damned near broke down crying in front of my students (no, I wasn't texting during class, I was checking my campus email to tell a student if I had received the homework assignment -- after class). I've been a Paul Taylor fan for close to 40 years. I love his choreography, the way his dancers move, the sheer beauty of the movement... This death is hitting me far more than any other. I don't want to accept that there will be no more new pieces after the spring 2019 season (I am sure the company will present whatever he'd been working before he died).

You were a twisted genius, Paul. I hope you are dancing with Christopher Gillis (one of his dancers who he'd been grooming as a successor, until Chris died of AIDS in 1993).

[scarynikki12]

9 hours ago, VCRTracking said:

Oh these got to me.  They remind me of that drawing that came out after Mel Blanc died of the Looney Tunes characters looking mournfully at an empty microphone with the word Speechless underneath.  These characters feel so real so often that we can imagine them grieving the deaths of their creators along with us. 

[Brookside]

19 hours ago, WarnerCL45 said:

I’m not sure why this kind of thing is televised.  Everyone reading things into every move.  Bereaved people don’t need cameras in their faces.  Someone even commented on the widow’s hairstyle.

It couldn't/wouldn't be televised unless the family agreed to it, whether they are doing it for money/publicity/political exposure.

Edited August 31, 2018 by Brookside

[WarnerCL45]

9 hours ago, Brookside said:

It couldn't/wouldn't be televised unless the family agreed to it, whether they are doing it for money/publicity/political exposure.

 

Obviously, the family agreed to it.  

As for the grieving cartoon characters - oy vey.

Edited August 31, 2018 by WarnerCL45

[BW Manilowe]

From People: The Late Aretha Franklin Was Dressed in Powder Blue in Second Outfit Change for Public Viewing

[Vixenstud]

So.  Um.

Faith Hill singing What a Friend We Have in Jesus at Aretha's funeral:

See, this is precisely why I don't like going to funerals....everyone in my family seems to get the giggles at inopportune times, and I know if I were there and heard this?  I would have had to go to the back.  And the big guy looking like the Grim Reaper?

Whoopi Goldberg had a right handsome escort with her.

Why did Minister Louis Farrakhan have the Fred Mertz pants look?

Yeah, good thing I wasn't there.

Edited August 31, 2018 by Vixenstud

[Jaded]

I've been watching Aretha's celebration of life of and on for the past few hours. I see some people left that were on stage earlier, people in the band in the back are falling asleep and some attendees are wearing sunglasses that weren't before.

The Clintons were there for the first couple hours when Ariana Grande came on to sing and Bill's face lit up like a Christmas tree while the other guys next to him with the exception of Louis Farrakhan were looking without trying to be obvious.

[Bastet]

More than 100 pink Cadillacs filled 7 Mile Road for an entire city block

[AgentRXS]

Yikes. That Faith Hill performance was painful. Bless her heart.

I about fell over when I saw Arianas lackluster performance and Bill practically drooling over her. Oh,Bill.

I just want to sit next to Whoopi and gossip about folks.

Fantasia's performance was awesome though. 

[Vixenstud]

Yeah, Ariana's mic kept going in and out....heiffa's got great legs though.  From some of the comments her ex, Big Sean was in the audience and the camera kept on him whilst she was singing.

Fantasia was great.

Jesse Jackson's Parkinson's must have been getting to him because he kept wandering from the stage while performers were singing.

[BW Manilowe]

From The Hollywood Reporter: Actress Vanessa Marquez, Best Known for Roles in ER and Stand and Deliver, Shot and Killed by South Pasadena (CA) Police During Welfare Check. She was 49.

She had the recurring role of Nurse Wendy Goldman on ER & played Ana Delgado, 1 of Jaime Escalante’s AP Calculus students, in Stand and Deliver. If you saw the movie, which I did multiple times, I think Ana Delgado was the student who dropped out because she was apparently needed to help her family run their restaurant, then came back after what felt like a short time, possibly after an “intervention” of sorts, by Escalante, his wife, or both.

Reports say police were called by Marquez’s landlord. When they arrived she was said to be having seizures & additional medical help was requested. She later became uncooperative while talking to officers, possibly due to mental health issues, & an LA County Mental Health Clinician was sent to the scene. After talking with them for about 90 minutes, she retrieved a gun & pointed it at the officers; they shot her. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital & it was later learned Marquez’s gun was a BB gun.

In October of last year, in a series of Tweets on Twitter, Marquez accused (now former) ER star George Clooney of helping to have her “blacklisted” after she spoke out about alleged sexual misconduct by her male co-stars on the show. Clooney responded, in a statement the same month, that he had no idea Vanessa (felt she) had been blacklisted, but he took her at her word. He said he wasn’t a writer, producer, or director on the show; he had nothing to do with casting; he was an actor & only an actor. Clooney also said that if someone told her that he was involved in any decision involving her career, then she was lied to. He continued to say that the fact that he couldn’t affect her career is only surpassed by the fact that he wouldn’t.

Edited September 1, 2018 by BW Manilowe
To add italics and a period, and to remove extra spacing.

[Ohwell]

Faith Hill.  Bless her heart.

Lawd.

1 hour ago, AgentRXS said:

Yikes. That Faith Hill performance was painful. Bless her heart.

Yup, you beat me to it.

[Ohwell]

2 hours ago, Vixenstud said:

Yeah, Ariana's mic kept going in and out....heiffa's got great legs though. 

Yes, she does have great legs but that short outfit was totally inappropriate for the service.  She made it all about her.  There's always somebody who won't look right at a funeral.

[AimingforYoko]

Panama Jackson from The Root definitely called it.

[WarnerCL45]

5 hours ago, Jaded said:

I've been watching Aretha's celebration of life of and on for the past few hours. I see some people left that were on stage earlier, people in the band in the back are falling asleep and some attendees are wearing sunglasses that weren't before.

The Clintons were there for the first couple hours when Ariana Grande came on to sing and Bill's face lit up like a Christmas tree while the other guys next to him with the exception of Louis Farrakhan were looking without trying to be obvious.

Soooo long.  I don't know who could sit through all of that.  Bill is certainly looking his 72 years, but he's still Bill!

Edited September 1, 2018 by WarnerCL45

[Apprentice79]

On ‎8‎/‎31‎/‎2018 at 9:36 PM, WarnerCL45 said:

Soooo long.  I don't know who could sit through all of that.  Bill is certainly looking his 72 years, but he's still Bill!

 

It was long, but, fitting for a Queen like Aretha. I laughed, cried and danced with happiness knowing that Riri was being celebrated.  Whatever sadness that I had about her death dissipated and I was left with a feeling of peace. 

Plus, the Black church has always been a source of comfort, love and fellowship through the darkest times in Black American history in the states.  The civil rights movement has it's roots in the Black church. I learned today that the famous I have a dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr. was given first in a church by the late civil rights leader and Mahalia Jackson told him to say it at the march in D.C.

Edited September 2, 2018 by Apprentice79

[Bastet]

At the changing of the guard in Buckingham Palace, the band played Respect in honor of Ms. Aretha:

Edited September 1, 2018 by Bastet

[Annber03]

Aw, that's really cool. 

[BW Manilowe]

5 hours ago, Ohwell said:

Yes, she does have great legs but that short outfit was totally inappropriate for the service.  She made it all about her.  There's always somebody who won't look right at a funeral.

I finally saw a clip of Ariana Grande from Aretha’s funeral. ET posted a wrap up report of musical performances & speakers (with some comments by some participants, usually after the performances)that was aired/will air in the show, on at least their Twitter account; but mostly they showed the singers. All I have to say about Ariana’s choice of outfit is, at least it was black (chuckling... I guess).

They included Faith Hill too. She may not have been the best, but I don’t necessarily think she was the absolute worst either. 

And I saw Gladys Knight. I thought she looked like she’d lost some weight; but she didn’t have that “scary thin” look people have when they’re fighting a medical condition that causes drastic weight loss (like Rock Hudson towards the end of his AIDS fight, like Karen Carpenter during her eventually fatal Anorexia struggle, & like Aretha looked in at least 1 pic that I’ve seen more than once since they announced she was sick, &/or that her death was imminent).

Edited September 1, 2018 by BW Manilowe
To fix punctuation.

[VCRTracking]

7 hours ago, BW Manilowe said:

From The Hollywood Reporter: Actress Vanessa Marquez, Best Known for Roles in ER and Stand and Deliver, Shot and Killed by South Pasadena (CA) Police During Welfare Check. She was 49.

She had the recurring role of Nurse Wendy Goldman on ER & played Ana Delgado, 1 of Jaime Escalante’s AP Calculus students, in Stand and Deliver. If you saw the movie, which I did multiple times, I think Ana Delgado was the student who dropped out because she was apparently needed to help her family run their restaurant, then came back after what felt like a short time, possibly after an “intervention” of sorts, by Escalante, his wife, or both.

 

 

Yeah, I always remember her as the cute, shy student with the glasses.

Edited September 1, 2018 by VCRTracking

[AgentRXS]

I love that her funeral was just as extra as she was in real life. She is music royalty and deserved every minute of it. We will not see accomplishments like hers again in our lifetime--the music industry isn't designed that way anymore.

That being said,  this was one of the days where I really miss Prince, because his reactions to some of the stuff going on would have been top-level shade.

[BW Manilowe]

10 hours ago, Vixenstud said:

So.  Um.

Faith Hill singing What a Friend We Have in Jesus at Aretha's funeral:

 

See, this is precisely why I don't like going to funerals....everyone in my family seems to get the giggles at inopportune times, and I know if I were there and heard this?  I would have had to go to the back.  And the big guy looking like the Grim Reaper?

Whoopi Goldberg had a right handsome escort with her.

Why did Minister Louis Farrakhan have the Fred Mertz pants look?

Yeah, good thing I wasn't there.

 

I wonder if Whoopi’s been invited/is going to Senator McCain’s National Cathedral Memorial tomorrow or the Naval Academy Cemetery interment Sunday, since Meghan McCain is 1 of her co-hosts on The View? Or maybe she might’ve been invited to 1 of the Phoenix-based funeral-related events for him earlier in the week (though that would be a kinda long, outta the way method to attend both; it’s more workable if she’s gotten over her notorious fear of flying).

Edited September 1, 2018 by BW Manilowe
To add boldface type in 1 place; also a comment.

[BW Manilowe]

From CNN: One of McCain’s Final Acts in Office Was Sending a Letter to a New Graduate

[BW Manilowe]

From People: Aretha Franklin Wears Rose Gold Gown in Third Outfit Change for Last Viewing Before Funeral 

And... Bishop at Aretha Franklin Funeral Mistakes Ariana Grande for a Taco Bell Menu Item

Edited September 1, 2018 by BW Manilowe
To add a link.

[BW Manilowe]

For anybody who’s forgotten, coverage of Senator John McCain’s memorial service from the Washington National Cathedral is scheduled to start, on TV & online livestreaming (on sites including the online news channels for the major networks), at 9AM Eastern Time (CBS will have preliminary coverage starting at 7AM Eastern Time). The major networks & the all-news cable networks should be covering it; apparently CNBC will also, as Comcast owns NBC & since there’s no financial programming on weekends—especially holiday weekends (it’s Labor Day weekend in the US)—they’re using the channel as another place to see the funeral. Hopefully it won’t last as long as Aretha’s Homegoing did.

Edited September 1, 2018 by BW Manilowe
To fix punctuation.

[merylinkid]

2 hours ago, BW Manilowe said:

Hopefully it won’t last as long as Aretha’s Homegoing did.

It won't.   It's time with military precision, like the Naval Captain he was.   

I'm going back and watching clips of Ms. Franklin's service.    Even as a recovering Catholic, I don't think I could have handled a service that long.

[WarnerCL45]

52 minutes ago, merylinkid said:

It won't.   It's time with military precision, like the Naval Captain he was.   

I'm going back and watching clips of Ms. Franklin's service.    Even as a recovering Catholic, I don't think I could have handled a service that long.

He’s already had two funerals.  AF had a 6-hour funeral.  I know people have to grieve, but the spectacles are getting out of hand!  Just my opinion.

[Brookside]

4 hours ago, BW Manilowe said:

From People: Aretha Franklin Wears Rose Gold Gown in Third Outfit Change for Last Viewing Before Funeral 

 

I find the whole concept of open caskets weird, but to change the corpse's clothes is beyond creepy and, IMHO, disrespectful.

[AgentRXS]

2 minutes ago, Brookside said:

I find the whole concept of open caskets weird, but to change the corpse's clothes is beyond creepy and, IMHO, disrespectful.

I'm sure all of this was pre-planned by Aretha, just to remind us all that she is a true diva and intends to go out as such. I bet Mariah Carey is revising her funeral plans right now, saying "I must have at least 5 wardrobe changes, dahling". Gotta love that old-school diva attitude.

[Ohwell]

14 minutes ago, Brookside said:

I find the whole concept of open caskets weird, but to change the corpse's clothes is beyond creepy and, IMHO, disrespectful.

I don't mind open caskets, giving folks a chance to say a final goodbye.  However, I agree that in Ms. Franklin's case, the clothes changing is like some kind of macabre joke.  And I still can't get that picture of those feet out of my mind.

Speaking of funerals, I'm watching Meghan McCain right now and while I sympathize with her, I wish she didn't have such a high profile in the proceedings over the other children.  If you watch the media coverage, one would think that she was his only "true" child.

Oh, now here's James McCain.  That's it? 

Edited September 1, 2018 by Ohwell

[cynicat]

18 hours ago, BW Manilowe said:

From The Hollywood Reporter: Actress Vanessa Marquez, Best Known for Roles in ER and Stand and Deliver, Shot and Killed by South Pasadena (CA) Police During Welfare Check. She was 49.

Wasn't she the cray cray from the first season of Intervention who was a shopaholic and went bankrupt?

[doodlebug]

40 minutes ago, cynicat said:

Wasn't she the cray cray from the first season of Intervention who was a shopaholic and went bankrupt?

Yes, that was her on Intervention.  She had a long history of mental illness, seizures and other problems.

[WarnerCL45]

4 hours ago, Ohwell said:

I don't mind open caskets, giving folks a chance to say a final goodbye.  However, I agree that in Ms. Franklin's case, the clothes changing is like some kind of macabre joke.  And I still can't get that picture of those feet out of my mind.

Speaking of funerals, I'm watching Meghan McCain right now and while I sympathize with her, I wish she didn't have such a high profile in the proceedings over the other children.  If you watch the media coverage, one would think that she was his only "true" child.

Oh, now here's James McCain.  That's it? 

Not a big fan of the open casket either, prefer to remember the person alive.

Not everyone wants to speak at a funeral.  Perhaps, the family selected spokespersons.

[Ohwell]

5 minutes ago, WarnerCL45 said:

Not everyone wants to speak at a funeral.  Perhaps, the family selected spokespersons.

I imagine Meghan McCain was chosen to be the spokesperson, it's just strange that her other grown children didn't speak, and throughout the past several days the media focus has been mainly on her and her crying, even more than Mrs. McCain.  I know Meghan is on one of those talk shows, but I think there has been too much focus on her.  YMMV  

[WarnerCL45]

1 minute ago, Ohwell said:

I imagine Meghan McCain was chosen to be the spokesperson, it's just strange that her other grown children didn't speak, and throughout the past several days the media focus has been mainly on her and her crying, even more than Mrs. McCain.  I know Meghan is on one of those talk shows, but I think there has been too much focus on her.  YMMV  

She’s a very prominent pundint, though.  ?   I guess that’s why the media focus.

[Ohwell]

5 minutes ago, WarnerCL45 said:

She’s a very prominent pundint, though.  ?   I guess that’s why the media focus.

I don't watch these talk shows, can't stand them.  I've heard about her though.

[bannana]

37 minutes ago, Ohwell said:

I imagine Meghan McCain was chosen to be the spokesperson, it's just strange that her other grown children didn't speak, and throughout the past several days the media focus has been mainly on her and her crying, even more than Mrs. McCain.  I know Meghan is on one of those talk shows, but I think there has been too much focus on her.  YMMV  

I heard that each of the children had a speaking role either at the AZ funeral, the Rotunda or today's funeral.

[doodlebug]

18 minutes ago, bannana said:

I heard that each of the children had a speaking role either at the AZ funeral, the Rotunda or today's funeral.

His daughter Sidney, from his first marriage as well as at least one of his sons, did readings at the service today.  I believe Meghan was the only one who eulogized him, but, I presume, that, if one of the other children had wanted to give a eulogy, they could've done so.  Since Meghan is the only one of them whose career involves public speaking, it seems pretty obvious why she was in that role.

[Browncoat]

I suspect everyone involved (including Senator McCain) had some say in how the funeral(s) would be handled/organized.  It wouldn't surprise me if they had started planning the service(s) months ago. 

ETA: I appreciate the televising of celebrity funerals, since I obviously wouldn't be able to attend -- much like royal weddings.

Edited September 1, 2018 by Browncoat

[doodlebug]

59 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

I suspect everyone involved (including Senator McCain) had some say in how the funeral(s) would be handled/organized.  It wouldn't surprise me if they had started planning the service(s) months ago. 

ETA: I appreciate the televising of celebrity funerals, since I obviously wouldn't be able to attend -- much like royal weddings.

Senator McCain had a huge part in the planning and it was started months ago.  President Obama said that John McCain called him last spring to ask him to speak at his funeral.  Meghan referenced talking with him about what she should say in her eulogy.

[BW Manilowe]

I think (I was listening to the TV & not watching it) Bridget was the person who quoted part—I’m pretty sure not all—of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (aka the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds) at the Phoenix memorial service.

[andromeda331]

54 minutes ago, BW Manilowe said:

I think (I was listening to the TV & not watching it) Bridget was the person who quoted part—I’m pretty sure not all—of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (aka the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds) at the Phoenix memorial service.

I always loved that passage and song.

[merylinkid]

I was doing fine until I watched the Changing of the Guard play RESPECT.   I was crying by the end.   But also laughing because I know a conductor has to follow the beat, but he so looked like he wanted to just start dancing.   Farewell Ms. Franklin, your memory IS a blessing.

 

I'm DEFINITELY not ready for any parts of the McCain funeral (except President Bush passing mints from Laura Bush to Michelle Obama while President Obama tries not to crack up).

[Blergh]

15 minutes ago, merylinkid said:

I was doing fine until I watched the Changing of the Guard play RESPECT.   I was crying by the end.   But also laughing because I know a conductor has to follow the beat, but he so looked like he wanted to just start dancing.   Farewell Ms. Franklin, your memory IS a blessing.

 

I'm DEFINITELY not ready for any parts of the McCain funeral (except President Bush passing mints from Laura Bush to Michelle Obama while President Obama tries not to crack up).

One can't help that the Queen of Soul would have gotten a good chuckle at the thought of the Queen having that played. Although Her Majesty's musical tastes seem to lean towards classical, she's been known to surprise with other genres even admitting to liking the Beatles'  'Yellow Submarine' (and perhaps had her fun imagining the Duke of Edinburgh's reaction to the lyrics of the late Miss Franklin's iconic tune)!

[AgentRXS]

23 minutes ago, Blergh said:

One can't help that the Queen of Soul would have gotten a good chuckle at the thought of the Queen having that played

I read somewhere (long before Aretha's death) that Queen Elizabeth always wanted Aretha to come to Buckingham Palace but Aretha was afraid to fly. It tickles me to imagine a younger Queen Elizabeth blasting Aretha records and singing at the top of her lungs when Philip got on her last gotdamn nerve LOL.

[MsTree]

16 hours ago, AgentRXS said:

I'm sure all of this was pre-planned by Aretha, just to remind us all that she is a true diva and intends to go out as such. I bet Mariah Carey is revising her funeral plans right now, saying "I must have at least 5 wardrobe changes, dahling". Gotta love that old-school diva attitude.

If it indeed was pre-planned by Aretha, then I find her to be very selfish.  IOW, she has enough time to plan her own funeral complete with wardrobe changes, and yet she couldn't find an hour to see an attorney and plan her estate (i.e. make a will)??  That's f'ed up!

[WarnerCL45]

6 hours ago, MsTree said:

If it indeed was pre-planned by Aretha, then I find her to be very selfish.  IOW, she has enough time to plan her own funeral complete with wardrobe changes,yet and she couldn't find an hour to see an attorney and plan her estate (i.e. make a will)??  That's f'ed up!

All about appearances!  

[Blergh]

8 hours ago, MsTree said:

If it indeed was pre-planned by Aretha, then I find her to be very selfish.  IOW, she has enough time to plan her own funeral complete with wardrobe changes, and yet she couldn't find an hour to see an attorney and plan her estate (i.e. make a will)??  That's f'ed up!

 Especially considering the existence of her eldest son who will always need a caregiver! It seems he already has a guardian but right now how much he gets will depend on how fair and honest the other brothers and the caregiver want to be!

 

1 hour ago, WarnerCL45 said:

All about appearances!  

I'm afraid so! And I feel a bit sorry for the funeral home employees who had to keep changing her remains despite said remains' becoming less and less pliable.

[AgentRXS]

9 hours ago, MsTree said:

If it indeed was pre-planned by Aretha, then I find her to be very selfish.  IOW, she has enough time to plan her own funeral complete with wardrobe changes, and yet she couldn't find an hour to see an attorney and plan her estate (i.e. make a will)??  That's f'ed up!

Probably has a lot to do with Michigan's rule that the estate of anyone who dies without a will must be divided equally among the children. Instead of having to sit and decide who gets this or that, she trusted her sons to be ok with each getting a 1/4 of her estate and called it good. Hopefully her other sons do right by Clarence.

[WarnerCL45]

On 2018-09-01 at 10:34 AM, AgentRXS said:

Gotta love that old-school diva attitude.

Uh, no I don’t.  Hate the over the top pretension.   ?