In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths

[Cobalt Stargazer]

7 hours ago, BetterButter said:

Actor Sid Haig Dead At 80

I was really hoping he was on the mend, since I'd read he was in recovery from his fall. Rest in peace, Captain Spaulding.

Rob Zombie posted a nice tribute to Haig on Facebook:
 

[dalek]

Sigmund Jahn, the first German (East German) cosmonaut has died at age 82.

https://www.dw.com/en/a-life-for-space-sigmund-jähn-germanys-first-cosmonaut-dies-aged-82/a-37502900

[SunnyBeBe]

On 9/17/2019 at 7:27 PM, cynicat said:

Cokie Roberts always had the most amazing stories of growing up in DC, and had a keen insight into the real politics.  This one is very tough.

I've been wanting to come by and comment on Cokie's death.  I really did admire this woman.  What a loss for us all.  I'm sure her family is so very proud of her. She will certainly be missed by many. 

[BW Manilowe]

From WGN-TV, Chicago: ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Rick and Morty’ Emmy-Winning Producer, J. Michael Mendel, Dead at 54

[SunnyBeBe]

33 minutes ago, BW Manilowe said:

From WGN-TV, Chicago: ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Rick and Morty’ Emmy-Winning Producer, J. Michael Mendel, Dead at 54

Oh my.  Such a young man.  Sadly, this kind of thing seems more and more common.  

[BetterButter]

Robert Hunter, Grateful Dead Collaborator and Lyricist, Dead at 78

[MissAlmond]

IMO, the Creative Arts Emmy Awards In Memoriam segment was better than the Primetime  one but WTH is the story for omitting Ken Kercheval?  No shade to Gloria Vanderbilt, but how was she included and Ken Kercheval not?   Dallas was an iconic TV show, as was Kercheval's character of Cliff Barnes, yet no tribute for the man?  TCM remains the champ of honoring the deceased who contributed to their respective industries.  

ETA:  Also, poor Andre Previn whom the In Memoriam team apparently believed was actually the still living Leonard Slatkin. 

Edited September 25, 2019 by MissAlmond

[BW Manilowe]

8 hours ago, MissAlmond said:

IMO, the Creative Arts Emmy Awards In Memoriam segment was better than the Primetime  one but WTH is the story for omitting Ken Kercheval?  No shade to Gloria Vanderbilt, but how was she included and Ken Kercheval not?   Dallas was an iconic TV show, as was Kercheval's character of Cliff Barnes, yet no tribute for the man?  TCM remains the champ of honoring the deceased who contributed to their respective industries.  

ETA:  Also, poor Andre Previn whom the In Memoriam team apparently believed was actually the still living Leonard Slatkin. 

The Emmy people did apologize for using the picture of the very much alive Mr. Slatkin for the deceased Mr. Previn, however. Or so I’ve read.

[Annber03]

9 hours ago, MissAlmond said:

ETA:  Also, poor Andre Previn whom the In Memoriam team apparently believed was actually the still living Leonard Slatkin. 

I caught a bit of Kimmel the other night, and he actually did a Skype-type interview with Slatkin about that blunder. Luckily, he had a really good attitude about the whole thing. He talked about how he started getting a flood of calls and texts from people who were surprised to see him on the screen, and he was like, "My first thought was, why are they trying to reach me if they think I'm dead?" :p. 

He also had some very nice things to say about Previn. 

[MissAlmond]

4 hours ago, BW Manilowe said:

The Emmy people did apologize for using the picture of the very much alive Mr. Slatkin for the deceased Mr. Previn, however. Or so I’ve read.

Yes, they apologized. But unless the Emmy's correct the photo or add a disclaimer, that particular In Memoriam video will forever have Mr. Slatkin tagged as the late Mr. Previn.  

[praeceptrix]

Jacques Chirac, former president of France, has died. He was 86.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49838146

[praeceptrix]

Rob Garrison from the"Karate Kid" movies has died. He was 59.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/09/27/entertainment/robert-garrison-obit/index.html

[Pete Martell]

3 hours ago, praeceptrix said:

Rob Garrison from the"Karate Kid" movies has died. He was 59.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/09/27/entertainment/robert-garrison-obit/index.html

He had a pivotal role in two of the episodes of St. Elsewhere that signified them hurtling out of the terrible slump they were in around that time (early season 4). Dr. Westphall had a grand idea of sending residents out to various problem areas in an attempt for them to learn more about the people they treat and about the struggles of life. Phil Chandler (Denzel Washington) was sent to an abortion clinic that was being protested and dealing with threats. Soon after he arrived, a bomber (played by Garrison) blew the place up. He then went on to target St. Eligius, if memory serves, when they took in patients from the clinic. There were a number of scenes that were cliche, but very powerful and a punch to the gut, like a nurse at the clinic going into labor at St. Eligius as her injured friend was in a bed nearby. After she gave birth, she tried to share the good news with her friend, only to see the nurses putting a white sheet over her friend's body. 

Anyway, Jan Merlin, Emmy-winning writer and actor possibly best known for Tom Corbett, Space Ranger, has also passed.

https://deadline.com/2019/09/emmy-winning-writer-and-tv-star-jan-merlin-dies-aged-94-1202743187/

Linda Porter also passed away.

https://deadline.com/2019/09/linda-porter-dead-superstore-twin-peaks-actress-1202747068/

Superstore may be her better known role, but I loved her in Twin Peaks. She only had a few scenes, but they were heartwarming moments of a kind that rarely affect me these days as much as they did. Twin Peaks was often a bleak show, but one of the reasons the bleakness was so effective was the contrast given by the more touching and kind sequences peppered in every once in a while.

[magicdog]

5 hours ago, praeceptrix said:

Rob Garrison from the"Karate Kid" movies has died. He was 59.

So sorry to hear.  I posited in the Cobra Kai forum if TPTB had an inkling that Garrison wasn't in the best of health and wanted to get the old CK gang back together before it was too late.  Even so, I hadn't heard that Garrison had health issues so I was taken aback when I heard the news.

[Robert Lynch]

2 hours ago, magicdog said:

So sorry to hear.  I posited in the Cobra Kai forum if TPTB had an inkling that Garrison wasn't in the best of health and wanted to get the old CK gang back together before it was too late.  Even so, I hadn't heard that Garrison had health issues so I was taken aback when I heard the news.

There would definitely be a tribute to him on the 3rd season. 59 is too young!

[BW Manilowe]

From the New York Times: Joseph Wilson, Who Challenged Iraq War Narrative, Dead at 69

Until earlier this year, he was married to Valerie Plame. She was exposed as an undercover CIA operative during the Bush 43 Iraq War, which Mr. Wilson opposed.

Edited September 29, 2019 by BW Manilowe
To reword some things.

[BW Manilowe]

From USA Today: Legendary Mexican Crooner José José Dies From Cancer at Age 71

Edited September 29, 2019 by BW Manilowe
To fix punctuation issues.

[Was-MArsenault]

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/busbee-producer-dead-obit-maren-morris-890062/

[AimingforYoko]

On 9/27/2019 at 11:33 PM, praeceptrix said:

Rob Garrison from the"Karate Kid" movies has died. He was 59.

There's an apt quote here, which I will refrain from, since it's in poor taste.

[biakbiak]

Jessye Norman, outstanding Soprano, died.

[MissAlmond]

2 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

Jessye Norman, outstanding Soprano, died.

Damn!  Another magnificent voice has left us.  R.I.P. Ms. Norman.  

[Was-MArsenault]

She died from septic shock and multi-organ failure secondary to complications of a spinal cord injury she suffered in 2015.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/Jessye-Norman-International-Opera-Star-Dead-74-561807891.html

Edited October 1, 2019 by MikaelaArsenault
Forgot to add source

[SimoneS]

2 hours ago, biakbiak said:

Jessye Norman, outstanding Soprano, died.

What a voice! I loved watching her performances on PBS. The emotion and passion, beautiful. I am sorry I never got to see her perform live. 

Rest in peace, Jessye.

[MissAlmond]

Wow, I missed this one.  Wayne Fitzgerald designed the iconic title sequences for many movies/TV shows.  R.I.P. Mr. Fitzgerald.

https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2019-09-30/wayne-fitzgerald-hollywood-movie-titles-dead

https://deadline.com/2019/09/wayne-fitzgerald-dead-main-title-designer-pillow-talk-apocalypse-now-1202748433/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wayne-fitzgerald-dead-main-title-designer-pillow-talk-godfather-part-ii-total-recall-was-89-1214053

Edited October 3, 2019 by MissAlmond

[Popples]

Animation director and producer Alan Zaslove dies at 92.

He worked on projects such as Mr. Magoo, Popeye the Sailor, Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and quite a few of the shows in the original Disney Afternoon line-up.

[MissAlmond]

1 hour ago, Popples said:

Animation director and producer Alan Zaslove dies at 92.

He worked on projects such as Mr. Magoo, Popeye the Sailor, Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and quite a few of the shows in the original Disney Afternoon line-up.

A Charlie Brown Christmas.  The Phantom Tollbooth.  Fractured Fairy Tales!!!  Thank you and R.I.P. Mr. Zaslove

[bmasters9]

19 hours ago, MissAlmond said:

Wow, I missed this one.  Wayne Fitzgerald designed the iconic title sequences for many movies/TV shows.  R.I.P. Mr. Fitzgerald.

https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2019-09-30/wayne-fitzgerald-hollywood-movie-titles-dead

https://deadline.com/2019/09/wayne-fitzgerald-dead-main-title-designer-pillow-talk-apocalypse-now-1202748433/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wayne-fitzgerald-dead-main-title-designer-pillow-talk-godfather-part-ii-total-recall-was-89-1214053

Here's a remarkable example of his craft for television: the 1981-87 titles of CBS' Thursday serial Knots Landing, where the KL title zooms out against the beach shot, then the screen fades to black, and then that title moves off to the left, and the titles scrolled from right to left, with the names of the players (in alphabetical order), and 3-4 images of each one in assorted scenes; this version of it was the seventh-season one (1985-86):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b8jgiYrzLo

Edited October 4, 2019 by bmasters9

[biakbiak]

Diahann Carroll died after a long battle with cancer at 84.

[Blergh]

2 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

Diahann Carroll died after a long battle with cancer at 84.

Oh no! She was always such a marvelous singer and an underrated actress (not just starring in Julia as a sympathetic widowed mother making strides as a nurse but also as the determined Dominique in Dynasty). And on a shallow note, she was a stunner! RIP, Miss Carroll (born Miss Johnson).

[bmasters9]

21 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

Diahann Carroll died after a long battle with cancer at 84.

Just heard about it from WSB Action News in Atlanta.

[Spartan Girl]

Ah dammit, she was Whitley's mom on A Different World!  "Die, just die!"

RIP.

Edited October 4, 2019 by Spartan Girl

[Was-MArsenault]

28 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

Diahann Carroll died after a long battle with cancer at 84.

No!

[BW Manilowe]

She was also a widow on White Collar. As well as a singer/recording artist/nightclub & casino showroom performer & film star.

[tessaray]

13 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

Diahann Carroll died after a long battle with cancer at 84.

I'm glad they mentioned her role in White Collar, because June was perfect.

[Vixenstud]

OMG....

This woman was a motherfucking trailblazer!  From Julia to Claudine to Marion Gilbert to Norma Desmond, etc., she was the epitome of class and beauty.

This one hurts.  RIP, lovely lady!

[Was-MArsenault]

Had she done anything recently? I looked on her Wikipedia and her last credits were in 2014.

[SimoneS]

Diahann Carroll was a trailblazer. She was beautiful and also  a talented actress and singer. 

Rest in peace, Diahann.

[andromeda331]

1 hour ago, biakbiak said:

Diahann Carroll died after a long battle with cancer at 84.

No! Not Diahann Carroll! She was so cool. So talented. I loved her music. I loved her on White Collar. 

[Enigma X]

32 minutes ago, Vixenstud said:

OMG....

This woman was a motherfucking trailblazer!  From Julia to Claudine to Marion Gilbert to Norma Desmond, etc., she was the epitome of class and beauty.

This one hurts.  RIP, lovely lady!

I just watched Claudine on YouTube. 

RIP Diahann!

[DearEvette]

Ah, Claudine!

Rest in Power, Ms. Carroll

[ABay]

My mother was a nurse and single mother so Julia was more or less mandatory viewing at my house.

[Vixenstud]

1 hour ago, Spartan Girl said:

Ah dammit, she was Whitley's mom on A Different World!  "Die, just die!"

RIP.

[doodlebug]

24 minutes ago, ABay said:

My mother was a nurse and single mother so Julia was more or less mandatory viewing at my house.

Ms. Carroll was also the first woman of color to star in a network sitcom.  Her portrayal of a middle class, educated, professional woman who just happened to be black was also groundbreaking at a time when most black tv characters were seen living in ghettos, committing crimes and/or working as servants in white households.  She represented a part of the black experience in the US that hadn't really been portrayed on TV which paved the way for The Cosby Show, Different World, and many, many more.

[Snow Apple]

I loved when she whispered "I do" at Whitley's wedding.

She played such dignified women but with a sense of humor.

[Spartan Girl]

Marion's cat fights with Dwayne's mom were hilarious. But I also liked when they finally called truce on the Thanksgiving episode.

[Jan Spears]

Diahann Carroll will always be Dominique Deveraux to me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7hTFqBmHH0

[Ohwell]

25 minutes ago, Jan Spears said:

Diahann Carroll will always be Dominique Deveraux to me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7hTFqBmHH0

The first black bitch on tv!  (That's what she called herself, heh).

[SuprSuprElevated]

I sort of secretly wanted Julia to be my mom.  Loved that character and many others.  Glad she is no longer suffering from that horrible, awful disease.

[Hiyo]

Quote

The first black bitch on tv!

[bmasters9]

Update on that KL opening I put up before: apparently, Wayne did not make that one; someone by the name of Gene Kraft did (Wayne made the earlier one, from 1979-81; found out from Wikipedia):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knots_Landing#Opening_credits