In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths

[MissAlmond]

1 hour ago, shoregirl said:

https://people.com/food/b-smith-dies-age-70/

Model and restaurateur dies at 70 from alzheimer. She announced her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer disease in 2014.

Sad to hear this.  R.I.P. Ms. Smith

[Was-MArsenault]

1 hour ago, shoregirl said:

https://people.com/food/b-smith-dies-age-70/

Model and restaurateur B. Smith dies at 70 from alzheimer. She announced her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer disease in 2014.

Wasn’t familiar with her, but may she RIP.

[BW Manilowe]

3 hours ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

Wasn’t familiar with her, but may she RIP.

Before the Alzheimer’s, she was kind of the African-American Martha Stewart. Plus she owned restaurants where Martha Stewart did not/has not.

[Was-MArsenault]

7 minutes ago, BW Manilowe said:

Before the Alzheimer’s, she was kind of the African-American Martha Stewart. Plus she owned restaurants where Martha Stewart did not/has not.

Thank you for that information.

[praeceptrix]

5 hours ago, shoregirl said:

https://people.com/food/b-smith-dies-age-70/

Model and restaurateur B. Smith dies at 70 from alzheimer. She announced her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer disease in 2014.

I don't always click on the links, but I am glad that I clicked on that one. She was strikingly beautiful, and I love the red and gold outfit she is wearing in the picture with her husband.

Dementia is not pleasant for anyone involved. I hope her loved ones can treasure the good memories.

[Was-MArsenault]

 

[Ohwell]

I ate at one of her restaurants in DC and the food was excellent.  

She had such a beautiful smile.  R.I.P., Ms. Smith.

[Was-MArsenault]

13 minutes ago, Ohwell said:

I ate at one of her restaurants in DC and the food was excellent.  

She had such a beautiful smile.  R.I.P., Ms. Smith.

I didn’t know that she was sick for years.

[Popples]

 

[Was-MArsenault]

1 hour ago, Popples said:

 

May she rest in peace.

Edited February 24, 2020 by MikaelaArsenault

[Spartan Girl]

A deserving Medal of Honor recipient if there ever was one.

[shoregirl]

 

[Blergh]

Great that Mrs. Johnson contributed SO much in her career and did so much to help others get recognized for their talents AND that she lived to see her legacy get widely acknowledged before her death (and still had the facilities to enjoy it) ! Oh, and it should be mentioned that she did  a good part of her work in trying conditions when she was widowed after her first husband's early death and having to provide for their  three children. Not many reach 101 much less achieve so much. RIP, Mrs. Johnson and enjoy the heavens you so diligently calculated about so many decades!

[Was-MArsenault]

 

[Was-MArsenault]

Since the Janet Jackson tweet was posted already, I thought that I should post the tweet from Norman Lear.

 

[CrazyInAlabama]

Katherine Johnson, the NASA Mathematician, and inspiration for "Hidden Figures" has died.   A legendary woman, who did so much for all of us.  

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/katherine-johnson-hidden-figure-at-nasa-during-1960s-space-race-dies-at-101/ar-BB10kABC

 

 

Edited February 24, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[shoregirl]

I'm happy her amazing story got told before she passed away. Mrs. Johnson and the other women who were "hidden figures" changed the world and deserved to be recognized for their contributions to get us to the moon.

The New York Times opening. "They asked Katherine Johnson for the moon and she gave it to them..." Is beautiful and true.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/science/katherine-johnson-dead.html

[Was-MArsenault]

From NASA:

https://www.nasa.gov/langley/katherine-johnson

[Was-MArsenault]

From Fox News:

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pilot-in-kobe-bryant-crash-once-violated-faa-rules-on-low-visibility-flying-report

[shoregirl]

22 minutes ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

From Fox News:

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pilot-in-kobe-bryant-crash-once-violated-faa-rules-on-low-visibility-flying-report

Just for clarification. This violation was from 2015. There is still no official cause for the crash last month as the investigation is ongoing.

From the above article:

"In 2015, he requested to continue flying using special visual flight rules (VFR), which would allow him to fly in suboptimal visibility conditions but was denied, unlike last month when he was granted the request."

 

 

[ElleryAnne]

3 hours ago, shoregirl said:

The New York Times opening. "They asked Katherine Johnson for the moon and she gave it to them..." Is beautiful and true.

I don't generally cry at obits/comments, but damn.  That's a beautiful tribute to an extraordinary lady.

[andromeda331]

Sorry to hear about Katherine Johnson's passing. She was so cool and so amazing. RIP

[Calvada]

Posted this in the TCM thread too - Diana Serra Cary, child star in the silent movie era known as Baby Peggy, died today at 101.  Her career ended at the age of 6.  There was a great documentary done about her several years ago that I'm hoping TCM will air as a tribute to her.  

[Was-MArsenault]

19 minutes ago, Calvada said:

Posted this in the TCM thread too - Diana Serra Cary, child star in the silent movie era known as Baby Peggy, died today at 101.  Her career ended at the age of 6.  There was a great documentary done about her several years ago that I'm hoping TCM will air as a tribute to her.  

I'll post about this on TCM's website as well.

[Was-MArsenault]

25 minutes ago, Calvada said:

Posted this in the TCM thread too - Diana Serra Cary, child star in the silent movie era known as Baby Peggy, died today at 101.  Her career ended at the age of 6.  There was a great documentary done about her several years ago that I'm hoping TCM will air as a tribute to her.  

Article from The Hollywood Reporter:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/baby-peggy-dead-silent-film-star-was-101-831926

[LilWharveyGal]

1 hour ago, Calvada said:

There was a great documentary done about her several years ago that I'm hoping TCM will air as a tribute to her.  

The documentary was fantastic! RIP, ma'am.

[roseha]

I will go to the TCM page as well,  but it's great to see  remembrances of the late Diana Cary/Baby Peggy, I only saw her death notice via the nitrateville.com website today, I have yet to see it mentioned in the New York Times, Washington Post or NPR...Variety had a good tribute at least.

She has to be the last living American silent star.  She had a tough childhood but lived to see her work re-appreciated and had a long and happy life with her own family.  Rest in peace Ms. Cary.

[Hiyo]

Quote

She had a tough childhood

Amazing how greedy parents and family can squander a million dollar fortune (her $1.5 million a year contract in 1923 would be the equivalent of $22.6 million today)...still, good on her for turning her life around and living a long and happy life.

Edited February 25, 2020 by Hiyo

[Was-MArsenault]

7 hours ago, roseha said:

I will go to the TCM page as well,  but it's great to see  remembrances of the late Diana Cary/Baby Peggy, I only saw her death notice via the nitrateville.com website today, I have yet to see it mentioned in the New York Times, Washington Post or NPR...Variety had a good tribute at least.

She has to be the last living American silent star.  She had a tough childhood but lived to see her work re-appreciated and had a long and happy life with her own family.  Rest in peace Ms. Cary.

I actually meant to say TCM forums, sorry.

[MissAlmond]

Sad to hear of Katherine Johnson's death but agree with previous posts and happy she was alive to see her contributions to the space program recognized world wide.  So many hidden figures weren't able to, and some still remain hidden today.  R.I.P. and thank you Katherine Johnson.  Rest easy.

PS- I believe Katherine Johnson's (second) husband is still alive or is that incorrect? 

 

Edited February 25, 2020 by MissAlmond

[Was-MArsenault]

25 minutes ago, MissAlmond said:

Sad to hear of Katherine Johnson's death but agree with previous posts that I'm happy she was alive to see her contributions to the space program recognized world wide.  So many hidden figures weren't able to, and some still remain hidden today.  R.I.P. and thank you Katherine Johnson.  Rest easy.

PS- I believe Katherine Johnson's (second) husband is still alive or is that incorrect? 

 

Her second husband died in 2019.

[MissAlmond]

12 hours ago, Calvada said:

Posted this in the TCM thread too - Diana Serra Cary, child star in the silent movie era known as Baby Peggy, died today at 101.  Her career ended at the age of 6.  There was a great documentary done about her several years ago that I'm hoping TCM will air as a tribute to her.  

R.I.P. to Ms. Cary a/k/a Baby Peggy.  I saw that documentary years ago and also hope TCM repeats it.  Ms. Cary earned all the money, supported the household, but her parents spend it all leaving Peggy nothing.  Her sister, IIRC, was resentful for years.  I'm glad Diana Serra Cary made her peace with "Baby Peggy" and enjoyed a life realized.  

10 minutes ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

Her second husband died in 2019.

Thank you!

[Was-MArsenault]

18 minutes ago, MissAlmond said:

R.I.P. to Ms. Cary a/k/a Baby Peggy.  I saw that documentary years ago and also hope TCM repeats it.  Ms. Cary earned all the money, supported the household, but her parents spend it all leaving Peggy nothing.  Her sister, IIRC, was resentful for years.  I'm glad Diana Serra Cary made her peace with "Baby Peggy" and enjoyed a life realized.  

Thank you!

You’re welcome!

[Blergh]

2 hours ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

Her second husband died in 2019.

They had been married for 60 years and this was, by all accounts, a happy supportive union. Hence, being widowed for the 2nd time  the age of 100 may very well have been a contributing factor to Mrs. Johnson's own demise. 

Regardless, it seems she would have been a wonderful person to have known not just for her inspirational drive and determination!

[phoenics]

10 minutes ago, Blergh said:

 

Regardless, it seems she would have been a wonderful person to have known not just for her inspirational drive and determination!

My dad - also a mathematician - knew her.  He always wanted me to meet her but we just couldn't get ourselves together to make it happen.  I feel badly about that now.

[Was-MArsenault]

10 minutes ago, Blergh said:

They had been married for 60 years and this was, by all accounts, a happy supportive union. Hence, being widowed for the 2nd time  the age of 100 may very well have been a contributing factor to Mrs. Johnson's own demise. 

Regardless, it seems she would have been a wonderful person to have known not just for her inspirational drive and determination!

And this was her in 2012.

\

 

[Blergh]

9 minutes ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

And this was her in 2012.

\

 

Mikaelaarzenalt,

 

 This is a picture of the former  silent movie child star 'Baby' Peggy Montgomery who was legally named Diana Serra Cary from 1954 after her 2nd marriage onward NOT Mrs. Katherine Johnson. 

Yes, both these ladies lived to 101  before dying yesterday and lived to see their legacies honored despite decades of obscurity (and it should be noted that Mrs. Cary was a very diligent historian in her last decades re early Hollywood). 

I wonder if they ever met. Even though they had very different claims to fame, I can't help but think they might have hit it off trading stories! 

Edited February 25, 2020 by Blergh

[Was-MArsenault]

Just now, Blergh said:

Mikaelaarzenalt,

 

 This is a picture of the former  silent movie child star 'Baby' Peggy Montgomery who was legally named Diana Serra Cary from 1954 after her 2nd marriage onward NOT Mrs. Katherine Johnson. 

Yes, both these ladies lived to 101  before dying yesterday and lived to see their legacies honored despite decades of obscurity (and it should be noted the Mrs. Cary was a very diligent historian in her last decades re early Hollywood). 

I wonder if they ever met. Even though they had very different claims to fame, I can't help but think they might have hit it off trading stories! 

Oops. I was getting it mixed up!

[Blergh]

8 minutes ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

Oops. I was getting it mixed up!

Two 101-year-old women who achieved fame in their twilight years for their long-unheralded youthful accomplishments dying on the very same day is a rather unusual coincidence.

Look at it this way, at least you didn't mix them up as badly as Barry Manilow mixed things up at an Indiana concert in 1993 when he told his audience that he was sure they were proud of their local singer Lyle Lovett's recent marriage to 'Julia Child!' they quickly corrected him that it was to Julia Roberts!  Yes, these were two tall women named Julia but I have to wonder if Mrs. Child was flattered to have been  mistaken for Miss Roberts since they were 5 decades apart in age. 

And I'd like to think Mrs. Cary might have gotten a good laugh at being mistaken for Mrs. Johnson (which likely rarely happened in their lifetimes). 

[Was-MArsenault]

5 minutes ago, Blergh said:

Two 101-year-old women who achieved fame in their twilight years for their long-unheralded youthful accomplishments dying on the very same day is a rather unusual coincidence.

Look at it this way, at least you didn't mix them up as badly as Barry Manilow mixed things up at an Indiana concert in 1993 when he told his audience that he was sure they were proud of their local singer Lyle Lovett's recent marriage to 'Julia Child!' they quickly corrected him that it was to Julia Roberts!  Yes, these were two tall women named Julia but I have to wonder if Mrs. Child was flattered to have been  mistaken for Miss Roberts since they were 5 decades apart in age. 

And I'd like to think Mrs. Cary might have gotten a good laugh at being mistaken for Mrs. Johnson (which likely rarely happened in their lifetimes). 

I can go back and change my post.

[MaryMitch]

Ben Cooper, who was in a ton of (mostly) westerns during the 50s and 60s, died at age 86. I don't see it anywhere in the news yet, but his nephew announced it on his (Ben's) Facebook page :

https://www.facebook.com/BenCooper.OfficialFanPage/

 

[Was-MArsenault]

10 minutes ago, MaryMitch said:

Ben Cooper, who was in a ton of (mostly) westerns during the 50s and 60s, died at age 86. I don't see it anywhere in the news yet, but his nephew announced it on his (Ben's) Facebook page :

https://www.facebook.com/BenCooper.OfficialFanPage/

 

Here is the post.

 

[Was-MArsenault]

Here's is TCM's tribute to Baby Peggy:

http://www.tcm.com/this-month/movie-news.html?id=1561643&name=Baby-Peggy-Diana-Serra-Cary-1918-2020-

[Yogisbooboo64]

1 hour ago, MikaelaArsenault said:

Here is the post.

 

He played Turkey in my fave western with of all people, Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar.

[OtterMommy]

We've had to remove several posts that were stepping over the civility line here at Primetimer.  One way to prevent this is to put our Ignore Feature to use when you feel that there are posters who repeatedly push buttons.

Please remember to keep the discussion on the recently deceased celebrities, and not your fellow posters.

Thanks!

[Hiyo]

Quote

He played Turkey in my fave western with of all people, Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar.

Now that was a camp classic.

 

[Was-MArsenault]

According to TMZ, there is going to be no autopsy for Ja'net.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/02/20/janet-dubois-good-times-reunion-healthy-before-death/

[BW Manilowe]

4 hours ago, Blergh said:

Two 101-year-old women who achieved fame in their twilight years for their long-unheralded youthful accomplishments dying on the very same day is a rather unusual coincidence.

Look at it this way, at least you didn't mix them up as badly as Barry Manilow mixed things up at an Indiana concert in 1993 when he told his audience that he was sure they were proud of their local singer Lyle Lovett's recent marriage to 'Julia Child!' they quickly corrected him that it was to Julia Roberts!  Yes, these were two tall women named Julia but I have to wonder if Mrs. Child was flattered to have been  mistaken for Miss Roberts since they were 5 decades apart in age.

And I'd like to think Mrs. Cary might have gotten a good laugh at being mistaken for Mrs. Johnson (which likely rarely happened in their lifetimes). 

Regarding the bolded: Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I had forgotten that happened & I was actually probably there when it did!

[Was-MArsenault]

From The Daily Gazette:

https://dailygazette.com/article/2020/02/18/tcm-plans-25-hour-tribute-to-kirk-douglas-on-march-5-6

Edited February 25, 2020 by MikaelaArsenault

[Was-MArsenault]

David Roback, musician:

https://pitchfork.com/news/mazzy-stars-david-roback-dead-at-61/

Clive Cussler, author:

https://www.inquisitr.com/5912291/clive-cussler-dead/

Kazuhisa Hashimoto, Creator Of Famous 'Konami Code'

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/26/809622331/kazuhisa-hashimoto-creator-of-famous-konami-code-gaming-cheat-dies

Creator of New York City subway map Michael Hertz:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51648746

Camila Maria Concepcion, writer:

https://ew.com/tv/2020/02/26/camila-maria-concepcion-dead-gentefied-writer-activist-dies-28/

Trader Joe's founder Joe Coulombe:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/02/29/joe-coulombe-obituary-trader-joes-founder-dies-89/4884608002/

Freeman Dyson, physicist:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/freeman-dyson-physicist-with-a-sci-fi-bent-has-died-at-96/?amp=1

Edited February 29, 2020 by MikaelaArsenault