2featherbear
>1 JulieLill: Thank you! Hope this becomes a short thread!
3featherbear
Glynis Johns, 1923-2024
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 01/04/2024: Glynis Johns, impish British actress of stage and screen, dies at 100. A supporting actress in Disney's Mary Poppins, she's probably best known for introducing "Send in the Clowns" in Sondheim's musical A Little Night Music. Sondheim later told his biographer Meryle Secrest "he had tailored the song to what Secrest called Ms. Johns’s “small, silvery voice” and that “nobody can sing it as well as she.” Its word choice — from the well-known first line, “Isn’t it rich?” — made the most of her limits by forcing a breath after the “ch” sound."
"Ms. Johns’s effervescence and crackling husky voice — which she attributed to “slightly twisted” vocal cords that permitted the air to hit “the soprano and the contralto at the same time” — made her a distinctive presence in nearly 60 films, dozens of TV appearances and scores of theatrical productions." She played a mermaid in her breakthrough 1948 film Miranda. Nominated for a supporting role Oscar in The Sundowners (1960)
Guardian, 01/04/2024: Glynis Johns – a life in pictures.
Tim Pulleine. Guardian, 01/05/2024: Glynis Johns obituary. "Glynis Margaret Payne Johns, actor, born 5 October 1923; died 4 January 2024."
Anita Gates. 01/04/2024, updated 01/05/2024: Glynis Johns, Tony Winner for ‘A Little Night Music,’ Dies at 100.
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 01/04/2024: Glynis Johns, impish British actress of stage and screen, dies at 100. A supporting actress in Disney's Mary Poppins, she's probably best known for introducing "Send in the Clowns" in Sondheim's musical A Little Night Music. Sondheim later told his biographer Meryle Secrest "he had tailored the song to what Secrest called Ms. Johns’s “small, silvery voice” and that “nobody can sing it as well as she.” Its word choice — from the well-known first line, “Isn’t it rich?” — made the most of her limits by forcing a breath after the “ch” sound."
"Ms. Johns’s effervescence and crackling husky voice — which she attributed to “slightly twisted” vocal cords that permitted the air to hit “the soprano and the contralto at the same time” — made her a distinctive presence in nearly 60 films, dozens of TV appearances and scores of theatrical productions." She played a mermaid in her breakthrough 1948 film Miranda. Nominated for a supporting role Oscar in The Sundowners (1960)
Guardian, 01/04/2024: Glynis Johns – a life in pictures.
Tim Pulleine. Guardian, 01/05/2024: Glynis Johns obituary. "Glynis Margaret Payne Johns, actor, born 5 October 1923; died 4 January 2024."
Anita Gates. 01/04/2024, updated 01/05/2024: Glynis Johns, Tony Winner for ‘A Little Night Music,’ Dies at 100.
4featherbear
David Soul, 1943-2024
Adrian Horton. Guardian, 01/05/2024: Starsky & Hutch actor David Soul dies aged 80.
Alex Williams. NYT, 01/05/2024: David Soul, a Star of the Hit Cop Show ‘Starsky & Hutch,’ Dies at 80. "he won his career-defining role of Detective Ken Hutchinson, known as Hutch, also on ABC. The part would make him a regular presence in American living rooms, as well as a recognized heartthrob, from 1975 to 1979.
"As Hutch, Mr. Soul played the coolheaded Midwestern sidekick to Detective Dave Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser), a savvy Brooklynite given to wearing chunky cardigan sweaters. The two tooled around the fictional Southern California burgh of Bay City in a red Ford Gran Torino emblazoned with a giant Nike-esque swoosh running down each side as they cracked open cases with the help of their streetwise informant, Huggy Bear (Antonio Fargas).
"Mr. Soul, who often said that music was his priority over acting, released five albums in his career and notched four Top 10 hits in Britain in the 1970s ...
"Although he missed out on a financial windfall by selling his stake in “Starsky & Hutch” years ago for $100,000, according to a 2019 interview with The Sunday Times of London, he expressed few regrets.
“I’ve had it all,” he said. “I’ve been a No 1 star in the world for a while — not now. I’ve had No 1 records around the world — not now. I have six wonderful children. I’m married to a wonderful woman. I’m happy. I’ve explored, I’ve seen, I’ve done.”
Apparently beloved in Great Britain, where he lived after the series, with a number of additional tributes in The Guardian:
Zoe Williams. Guardian, 01/05/2024: David Soul: the British-American star who made crime-fighting cool.
Guardian. 01/05/2024: David Soul – a life in pictures.
Anthony Hayward. Guardian, 01/05/2024: David Soul obituary.
Adrian Horton. Guardian, 01/05/2024: Starsky & Hutch actor David Soul dies aged 80.
Alex Williams. NYT, 01/05/2024: David Soul, a Star of the Hit Cop Show ‘Starsky & Hutch,’ Dies at 80. "he won his career-defining role of Detective Ken Hutchinson, known as Hutch, also on ABC. The part would make him a regular presence in American living rooms, as well as a recognized heartthrob, from 1975 to 1979.
"As Hutch, Mr. Soul played the coolheaded Midwestern sidekick to Detective Dave Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser), a savvy Brooklynite given to wearing chunky cardigan sweaters. The two tooled around the fictional Southern California burgh of Bay City in a red Ford Gran Torino emblazoned with a giant Nike-esque swoosh running down each side as they cracked open cases with the help of their streetwise informant, Huggy Bear (Antonio Fargas).
"Mr. Soul, who often said that music was his priority over acting, released five albums in his career and notched four Top 10 hits in Britain in the 1970s ...
"Although he missed out on a financial windfall by selling his stake in “Starsky & Hutch” years ago for $100,000, according to a 2019 interview with The Sunday Times of London, he expressed few regrets.
“I’ve had it all,” he said. “I’ve been a No 1 star in the world for a while — not now. I’ve had No 1 records around the world — not now. I have six wonderful children. I’m married to a wonderful woman. I’m happy. I’ve explored, I’ve seen, I’ve done.”
Apparently beloved in Great Britain, where he lived after the series, with a number of additional tributes in The Guardian:
Zoe Williams. Guardian, 01/05/2024: David Soul: the British-American star who made crime-fighting cool.
Guardian. 01/05/2024: David Soul – a life in pictures.
Anthony Hayward. Guardian, 01/05/2024: David Soul obituary.
5JulieLill
>4 featherbear: I had a crush on him - sorry to see him gone!
6featherbear
Norma Barzman, 1920-2024
Clay Risen. NYT, 01/10/2024: Norma Barzman, Blacklisted Screenwriter, Dies at 103.
One of those blacklisted Hollywood unknowns who doesn't appear to have contributed to any notable items in movie history, but an interesting bio nonetheless. Her first marriage was to Claude Shannon, one of the founders of information theory. "She met Ben Barzman, another aspiring screenwriter, at a party at the home of Robert Rossen, yet another screenwriter. Mr. Barzman insisted that modern movies were too complex for women to write. She pushed a lemon meringue pie in his face. They married in 1943." She published a memoir, The Red and the Blacklist: The Intimate Memoir of a Hollywood Expatriate in 2003. She never forgave director Elia Kazan for being a "rat" for the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Clay Risen. NYT, 01/10/2024: Norma Barzman, Blacklisted Screenwriter, Dies at 103.
One of those blacklisted Hollywood unknowns who doesn't appear to have contributed to any notable items in movie history, but an interesting bio nonetheless. Her first marriage was to Claude Shannon, one of the founders of information theory. "She met Ben Barzman, another aspiring screenwriter, at a party at the home of Robert Rossen, yet another screenwriter. Mr. Barzman insisted that modern movies were too complex for women to write. She pushed a lemon meringue pie in his face. They married in 1943." She published a memoir, The Red and the Blacklist: The Intimate Memoir of a Hollywood Expatriate in 2003. She never forgave director Elia Kazan for being a "rat" for the House Un-American Activities Committee.
7featherbear
fyi, I added Marissa Pavan to the previous thread since she died in 2023, though the NYT obit came out in 2024
8featherbear
Bill Hayes, 1923-2024
Noor Nanji. BBC Culture, 01/13/2024: Bill Hayes: Days of Our Lives star dies.
"The US actor Bill Hayes, who starred in the soap opera Days of Our Lives for more than five decades, has died at the age of 98.
"Last June, he celebrated his 98th birthday on the set of the American daytime soap surrounded by co-stars."
Interesting fun fact: "Hayes began his career as a musician and had a hit with The Ballad of Davy Crockett."
Noor Nanji. BBC Culture, 01/13/2024: Bill Hayes: Days of Our Lives star dies.
"The US actor Bill Hayes, who starred in the soap opera Days of Our Lives for more than five decades, has died at the age of 98.
"Last June, he celebrated his 98th birthday on the set of the American daytime soap surrounded by co-stars."
Interesting fun fact: "Hayes began his career as a musician and had a hit with The Ballad of Davy Crockett."
9KeithChaffee
>8 featherbear: And still getting major plotlines on the show, which is unusual for older soap opera actors, who mostly sit on the sidelines, occasionally popping up to dispense The Wisdom of the Elderly. Why, just a couple of years ago, his character was possessed by the devil!
10featherbear
Joyce Randolph, 1924-2024
Robert McFadden. NYT, 01/14/2024: Joyce Randolph, Last of the ‘Honeymooners,’ Is Dead at 99.
"Ms. Randolph, who played Trixie Norton in the classic sitcom, was the last survivor of a cast of four that dominated Saturday night TV.
"She was the last survivor of a cast of four that dominated the Saturday night viewing habits of millions in the golden age of live television, and for decades afterward on rerun broadcasts and home video. Jackie Gleason (Ralph Kramden) died in 1987; Audrey Meadows (Ralph’s wife, Alice) in 1996; and Art Carney (Ed Norton) in 2003."
"At the peak of the show’s popularity, Ms. Randolph was its lowest-salaried star at $500 a week. Mr. Gleason had contracts that paid millions, but he covered all the production costs and took $65,000 to $70,000 an episode. Mr. Carney was paid $3,500 and Ms. Meadows $2,000 weekly."
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 01/14/2024: Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie Norton on ‘Honeymooners,’ dies at 99.
Some fun notes from the WaPo obit:
"She came to Gleason’s attention as a replacement for Elaine Stritch, who had originated the role of Trixie. Ms. Randolph brought a more wholesome interpretation to a character initially played as a former burlesque dancer."
And Trixie's classic quote regarding husband Ed Norton:
"“You can take the man out of the sewer,” she says of her husband, “but you can’t take the sewer out of the man.”
Robert McFadden. NYT, 01/14/2024: Joyce Randolph, Last of the ‘Honeymooners,’ Is Dead at 99.
"Ms. Randolph, who played Trixie Norton in the classic sitcom, was the last survivor of a cast of four that dominated Saturday night TV.
"She was the last survivor of a cast of four that dominated the Saturday night viewing habits of millions in the golden age of live television, and for decades afterward on rerun broadcasts and home video. Jackie Gleason (Ralph Kramden) died in 1987; Audrey Meadows (Ralph’s wife, Alice) in 1996; and Art Carney (Ed Norton) in 2003."
"At the peak of the show’s popularity, Ms. Randolph was its lowest-salaried star at $500 a week. Mr. Gleason had contracts that paid millions, but he covered all the production costs and took $65,000 to $70,000 an episode. Mr. Carney was paid $3,500 and Ms. Meadows $2,000 weekly."
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 01/14/2024: Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie Norton on ‘Honeymooners,’ dies at 99.
Some fun notes from the WaPo obit:
"She came to Gleason’s attention as a replacement for Elaine Stritch, who had originated the role of Trixie. Ms. Randolph brought a more wholesome interpretation to a character initially played as a former burlesque dancer."
And Trixie's classic quote regarding husband Ed Norton:
"“You can take the man out of the sewer,” she says of her husband, “but you can’t take the sewer out of the man.”
11JulieLill
>10 featherbear: She lived a long life! Loved the show!
12featherbear
Tom Shales, 1944-2024
Adam Bernstein & Brian Murphy. WaPo, 01/13/2024: Tom Shales, Pulitzer-winning TV critic of fine-tuned wit, dies at 79. "He spent nearly 40 years writing for The Washington Post and was known for his incisive and barbed commentary. ... Mr. Shales provided exhaustive coverage of all forms of the medium, from nature documentaries to late-night talk shows, network sitcoms to cable dramas, “Saturday Night Live” to pomp-filled State of the Union speeches, perky morning programs to “reality” shows he called “Humiliation Television.”
Alex Williams, NYT, 01/16/2024, upd. 01/17: Tom Shales, TV Critic Both Respected and Feared, Dies at 79.
Adam Bernstein & Brian Murphy. WaPo, 01/13/2024: Tom Shales, Pulitzer-winning TV critic of fine-tuned wit, dies at 79. "He spent nearly 40 years writing for The Washington Post and was known for his incisive and barbed commentary. ... Mr. Shales provided exhaustive coverage of all forms of the medium, from nature documentaries to late-night talk shows, network sitcoms to cable dramas, “Saturday Night Live” to pomp-filled State of the Union speeches, perky morning programs to “reality” shows he called “Humiliation Television.”
Alex Williams, NYT, 01/16/2024, upd. 01/17: Tom Shales, TV Critic Both Respected and Feared, Dies at 79.
13featherbear
Norman Jewison, 1926-2024
Dennis Lim. NYT, 01/22/2024: Norman Jewison, Filmmaker Who Spanned Genres, Is Dead at 97.
Harrison Smith. WaPo, 01/22/2024: Norman Jewison, filmmaker with lens on social issues, dies at 97
Directed, among others: In the Heat of the Night -- Moonstruck -- Fiddler on the Roof -- he took over the Steve McQueen film The Cincinnati Kid after the original director, Sam Peckinpah, was fired -- The Thomas Crown Affair -- The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming -- Jesus Christ Superstar -- A Soldier's Story -- the Ruben Carter biopic The Hurricane -- In Country -- Agnes of God -- Rollerball.
WaPo: "Mr. Jewison never won a competitive Academy Award but received the honorary Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1999 and the Directors Guild of America’s lifetime achievement award in 2010.
"He had previously encountered prejudice as a boy in Toronto, where he was bullied by classmates who, on the basis of his surname, assumed that he was Jewish. In fact, his family was Methodist and Anglican, although United Artists executives were under the same mistaken impression, in his telling, when they offered him “Fiddler on the Roof.
"In 1978 Mr. Jewison settled on a farm near Toronto, where he harvested maple syrup and raised Hereford cattle when he wasn’t working on movies. He also founded what is now the Canadian Film Centre to promote the country’s film industry and, in 1992, was made a companion of the Order of Canada."
Peter Bradshaw. Guardian, 01/22/2024: Norman Jewison: a staggering array of work from Hollywood’s master craftsman.
Elena Goodinson, compiler. Guardian, 01/22/2024: Director Norman Jewison: a life in pictures.
Ira Wells. Atlantic, 01/25/2024: The Director Who Was Never as Famous as His Movies.
Dennis Lim. NYT, 01/22/2024: Norman Jewison, Filmmaker Who Spanned Genres, Is Dead at 97.
Harrison Smith. WaPo, 01/22/2024: Norman Jewison, filmmaker with lens on social issues, dies at 97
Directed, among others: In the Heat of the Night -- Moonstruck -- Fiddler on the Roof -- he took over the Steve McQueen film The Cincinnati Kid after the original director, Sam Peckinpah, was fired -- The Thomas Crown Affair -- The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming -- Jesus Christ Superstar -- A Soldier's Story -- the Ruben Carter biopic The Hurricane -- In Country -- Agnes of God -- Rollerball.
WaPo: "Mr. Jewison never won a competitive Academy Award but received the honorary Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1999 and the Directors Guild of America’s lifetime achievement award in 2010.
"He had previously encountered prejudice as a boy in Toronto, where he was bullied by classmates who, on the basis of his surname, assumed that he was Jewish. In fact, his family was Methodist and Anglican, although United Artists executives were under the same mistaken impression, in his telling, when they offered him “Fiddler on the Roof.
"In 1978 Mr. Jewison settled on a farm near Toronto, where he harvested maple syrup and raised Hereford cattle when he wasn’t working on movies. He also founded what is now the Canadian Film Centre to promote the country’s film industry and, in 1992, was made a companion of the Order of Canada."
Peter Bradshaw. Guardian, 01/22/2024: Norman Jewison: a staggering array of work from Hollywood’s master craftsman.
Elena Goodinson, compiler. Guardian, 01/22/2024: Director Norman Jewison: a life in pictures.
Ira Wells. Atlantic, 01/25/2024: The Director Who Was Never as Famous as His Movies.
14JulieLill
Mary Weiss
Lead Singer of The Shangri-Las, Dies at 75
1948-2024
The 1960s girl group out of Queens recorded No. 1 single "Leader of the Pack."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/mary-weiss-lead-singer-of-the-shangri-las-d...
Lead Singer of The Shangri-Las, Dies at 75
1948-2024
The 1960s girl group out of Queens recorded No. 1 single "Leader of the Pack."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/mary-weiss-lead-singer-of-the-shangri-las-d...
15featherbear
Charles Osgood, 1933-2024
Bart Barnes. WaPo, 01/23/2024: Charles Osgood, wry stalwart of CBS’s ‘Sunday Morning,’ dies at 91. "As host for 22 years, Mr. Osgood said he wanted ‘Sunday Morning’ to be the television equivalent of the Sunday newspaper, part of a leisurely weekend routine, unhurried and free from the frenzied weekday news cycle."
"... Mr. Osgood faced a daunting challenge when he took over “Sunday Morning” in 1994 from the retiring Charles Kuralt, one of the network’s most beloved newsmen. Kuralt had started the 90-minute Sunday program in 1979 and molded the show in his own idiosyncratic style.
"On Mr. Osgood’s watch, “Sunday Morning” continued in the Kuraltian tradition of down-home folklore blended with culture, sports and nature. There were stories about elephants painting on canvas, tractor ballets, centenarian bricklayers — interesting yarns that would never lead the evening news. He also interviewed towering figures in the arts, such as painter Andrew Wyeth, playwright Edward Albee and opera singer Plácido Domingo."
James Barron. NYT, 01/23/2024: Charles Osgood, Lyrical Newscaster on Radio and TV, Dies at 91. "A familiar face on television as the host of “CBS Sunday Morning” from 1994 to 2016, he was also known for his “Osgood File” segments on CBS Radio, often delivered with humor and a rhyme."
Bart Barnes. WaPo, 01/23/2024: Charles Osgood, wry stalwart of CBS’s ‘Sunday Morning,’ dies at 91. "As host for 22 years, Mr. Osgood said he wanted ‘Sunday Morning’ to be the television equivalent of the Sunday newspaper, part of a leisurely weekend routine, unhurried and free from the frenzied weekday news cycle."
"... Mr. Osgood faced a daunting challenge when he took over “Sunday Morning” in 1994 from the retiring Charles Kuralt, one of the network’s most beloved newsmen. Kuralt had started the 90-minute Sunday program in 1979 and molded the show in his own idiosyncratic style.
"On Mr. Osgood’s watch, “Sunday Morning” continued in the Kuraltian tradition of down-home folklore blended with culture, sports and nature. There were stories about elephants painting on canvas, tractor ballets, centenarian bricklayers — interesting yarns that would never lead the evening news. He also interviewed towering figures in the arts, such as painter Andrew Wyeth, playwright Edward Albee and opera singer Plácido Domingo."
James Barron. NYT, 01/23/2024: Charles Osgood, Lyrical Newscaster on Radio and TV, Dies at 91. "A familiar face on television as the host of “CBS Sunday Morning” from 1994 to 2016, he was also known for his “Osgood File” segments on CBS Radio, often delivered with humor and a rhyme."
16featherbear
Melanie, 1947-2024
Peter Keepnews. NYT, 01/24/2024, upd 01/25: Melanie, Singer Who Made a Solo Splash at Woodstock, Dies at 76. "Just 22 when she charmed the festival crowd, she went on to enjoy success with songs like “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” and “Brand New Key.”"
"Melanie’s biggest hit, “Brand New Key,” charmed listeners with its simplicity but generated controversy — and was said to have been banned by some radio stations — because some people heard sexual innuendo in lyrics like “I’ve got a brand-new pair of roller skates/You’ve got a brand-new key.” She acknowledged that the words could be interpreted that way, but insisted that this was not her intention.
"Among her other compositions was “What Have They Done to My Song, Ma,” which, as “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Ma,” was a Top 20 hit for the New Seekers in 1970."
Peter Keepnews. NYT, 01/24/2024, upd 01/25: Melanie, Singer Who Made a Solo Splash at Woodstock, Dies at 76. "Just 22 when she charmed the festival crowd, she went on to enjoy success with songs like “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” and “Brand New Key.”"
"Melanie’s biggest hit, “Brand New Key,” charmed listeners with its simplicity but generated controversy — and was said to have been banned by some radio stations — because some people heard sexual innuendo in lyrics like “I’ve got a brand-new pair of roller skates/You’ve got a brand-new key.” She acknowledged that the words could be interpreted that way, but insisted that this was not her intention.
"Among her other compositions was “What Have They Done to My Song, Ma,” which, as “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Ma,” was a Top 20 hit for the New Seekers in 1970."
17featherbear
Chita Rivera, 1933-2024
Adam Bernstein. 01/30/2024: Chita Rivera, quintessential Broadway musical star, dies at 91.
Known mostly for her Broadway roles -- she originated the America number in "West Side Story," she did appear in the movies Chicago & Sweet Charity according to IMDB. She had other significant Broadway roles in "Bye Bye Birdie," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and "Chicago." She won 2 Tony awards.
Neil Armstrong. BBC Culture, 01/31/2024: West Side Story's Anita: The character that set Chita Rivera's career – and US theatre – alight.
Adam Bernstein. 01/30/2024: Chita Rivera, quintessential Broadway musical star, dies at 91.
Known mostly for her Broadway roles -- she originated the America number in "West Side Story," she did appear in the movies Chicago & Sweet Charity according to IMDB. She had other significant Broadway roles in "Bye Bye Birdie," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and "Chicago." She won 2 Tony awards.
Neil Armstrong. BBC Culture, 01/31/2024: West Side Story's Anita: The character that set Chita Rivera's career – and US theatre – alight.
18featherbear
Re-posting from my book thread since her biographies included a number of personalities in the movie biz; I regret not picking up a copy of her Vivien Leigh bio when browsing through a used bookstore. The NYT obit does a poor job bibliographically, I should add. I'm sure many of the books listed are still available in libraries.
Anne Edwards, 1927-2024
Sam Roberts. 01/31/2024: Anne Edwards, Best-Selling ‘Queen of Biography,’ Dies at 96.
Books include: Vivien Leigh: A Biography (1977, 19 weeks on the NYT bestseller list) -- Katharine Hepburn: A Remarkable Woman -- Judy Garland: A Biography -- Sonya: The Life of Countess Tolstoy -- Maria Callas: An Intimate Biography -- Streisand: A Biography -- Road to Tara: The Life of Margaret Mitchell -- Early Reagan: The Rise to Power -- The Reagans: Portrait of a Marriage -- Ever After: Diana and the Life She Led -- Shirley Temple: American Princess -- Royal Sisters: Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret -- Matriarch: Queen Mary and the House of Windsor -- Throne of Gold: The Lives of the Aga Khans.
Anne Edwards, 1927-2024
Sam Roberts. 01/31/2024: Anne Edwards, Best-Selling ‘Queen of Biography,’ Dies at 96.
Books include: Vivien Leigh: A Biography (1977, 19 weeks on the NYT bestseller list) -- Katharine Hepburn: A Remarkable Woman -- Judy Garland: A Biography -- Sonya: The Life of Countess Tolstoy -- Maria Callas: An Intimate Biography -- Streisand: A Biography -- Road to Tara: The Life of Margaret Mitchell -- Early Reagan: The Rise to Power -- The Reagans: Portrait of a Marriage -- Ever After: Diana and the Life She Led -- Shirley Temple: American Princess -- Royal Sisters: Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret -- Matriarch: Queen Mary and the House of Windsor -- Throne of Gold: The Lives of the Aga Khans.
19featherbear
Carl Weathers, 1948-2024
Alex Williams. NYT, 02/02/2024, updated 02/03/2024: Carl Weathers, Who Played Apollo Creed in the ‘Rocky’ Movies, Dies at 76. I haven't followed the Rocky films, where he played Apollo Creed, but I enjoyed his performances in Predator & Action Jackson.
Mark Kennedy. AP in WaPo, 02/02/2024: Carl Weathers, linebacker-turned-actor who starred in 'Rocky' movies and 'The Mandalorian,' dies. Also to be updated, I imagine.
Chris Klimek. WaPo, 02/04/2024: Carl Weathers was so much more than a sidekick.
Alex Williams. NYT, 02/02/2024, updated 02/03/2024: Carl Weathers, Who Played Apollo Creed in the ‘Rocky’ Movies, Dies at 76. I haven't followed the Rocky films, where he played Apollo Creed, but I enjoyed his performances in Predator & Action Jackson.
Mark Kennedy. AP in WaPo, 02/02/2024: Carl Weathers, linebacker-turned-actor who starred in 'Rocky' movies and 'The Mandalorian,' dies. Also to be updated, I imagine.
Chris Klimek. WaPo, 02/04/2024: Carl Weathers was so much more than a sidekick.
20featherbear
Don Murray, 1929-2024
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 02/02/2024: Don Murray, versatile Hollywood leading man, dies at 94.
"Don Murray, an actor who earned an Oscar nomination for his movie debut as a naive cowboy infatuated with Marilyn Monroe’s third-rate nightclub singer in “Bus Stop” and then rebelled against studio efforts to typecast him in similar roles, most emphatically by playing a U.S. senator being blackmailed for a same-sex affair in “Advise & Consent,” died Feb. 2 at 94. ...
"A conscientious objector during the Korean War, he joined the Church of the Brethren and helped the pacifist Christian denomination resettle Soviet bloc refugees in the 1950s."
"Bus Stop, William Inge’s hit Broadway play, was purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox studios mainly to please Monroe, who had tired of playing voluptuous airheads. ...
"Mr. Murray, who had acted on Broadway with Helen Hayes, Mary Martin and Maureen Stapleton, was imported from New York because director Joshua Logan admired his intensity and felt he would not be intimidated by a glamorous movie star.
Mostly, Mr. Murray remembered trying to be gallant after Monroe, in pursuit of realism, wanted to do a bed scene in the nude, as he tried frantically to keep her from accidentally exposing herself. “She kept rolling around in bed,” he told columnist Earl Wilson years later. “I was holding the sheet over her bosom.”
Other noteworthy films: Bus Stop (1956) w/Marilyn Monroe -- A Hatful of Rain (1957) -- From Hell to Texas (1958) -- Shake Hands with the Devil (1959) -- The Hoodlum Priest (1961) -- Advise & Consent (1962)
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 02/02/2024: Don Murray, versatile Hollywood leading man, dies at 94.
"Don Murray, an actor who earned an Oscar nomination for his movie debut as a naive cowboy infatuated with Marilyn Monroe’s third-rate nightclub singer in “Bus Stop” and then rebelled against studio efforts to typecast him in similar roles, most emphatically by playing a U.S. senator being blackmailed for a same-sex affair in “Advise & Consent,” died Feb. 2 at 94. ...
"A conscientious objector during the Korean War, he joined the Church of the Brethren and helped the pacifist Christian denomination resettle Soviet bloc refugees in the 1950s."
"Bus Stop, William Inge’s hit Broadway play, was purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox studios mainly to please Monroe, who had tired of playing voluptuous airheads. ...
"Mr. Murray, who had acted on Broadway with Helen Hayes, Mary Martin and Maureen Stapleton, was imported from New York because director Joshua Logan admired his intensity and felt he would not be intimidated by a glamorous movie star.
Mostly, Mr. Murray remembered trying to be gallant after Monroe, in pursuit of realism, wanted to do a bed scene in the nude, as he tried frantically to keep her from accidentally exposing herself. “She kept rolling around in bed,” he told columnist Earl Wilson years later. “I was holding the sheet over her bosom.”
Other noteworthy films: Bus Stop (1956) w/Marilyn Monroe -- A Hatful of Rain (1957) -- From Hell to Texas (1958) -- Shake Hands with the Devil (1959) -- The Hoodlum Priest (1961) -- Advise & Consent (1962)
21featherbear
Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, 1949-2024
Alex Williams. NYT, 02/14/2024: Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, the Diva of ‘Diva,’ Dies at 75.
"A soprano who rose from South Philadelphia to the opera houses of Europe, she was memorably seen and heard in a 1981 film considered a paragon of cinematic style.
"It was in a 1980 performance as Musetta in “La Bohème” alongside Plácido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa that she caught the attention of the French director Jean-Jacques Beineix, who was looking for a figure radiant enough to serve as the diva at the heart of his forthcoming film.
“Diva” was considered a high-water mark in the movement known as the cinéma du look, a high-sheen school of French film often centered on stylish, disaffected youth in the France of the 1980s and ’90s. A film with all the saturated color and gloss of a 1980s music video, it was an art-house hit that became a cult favorite for the initiated."
Alex Williams. NYT, 02/14/2024: Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, the Diva of ‘Diva,’ Dies at 75.
"A soprano who rose from South Philadelphia to the opera houses of Europe, she was memorably seen and heard in a 1981 film considered a paragon of cinematic style.
"It was in a 1980 performance as Musetta in “La Bohème” alongside Plácido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa that she caught the attention of the French director Jean-Jacques Beineix, who was looking for a figure radiant enough to serve as the diva at the heart of his forthcoming film.
“Diva” was considered a high-water mark in the movement known as the cinéma du look, a high-sheen school of French film often centered on stylish, disaffected youth in the France of the 1980s and ’90s. A film with all the saturated color and gloss of a 1980s music video, it was an art-house hit that became a cult favorite for the initiated."
22featherbear
Richard Lewis, 1947-2024
Guardian, 02/28/2024: Richard Lewis, comedian and Curb Your Enthusiasm star, dies aged 76. "Comedian, who was known for exploring his neuroses, said last year he had Parkinson’s disease and was retiring from standup."
Guardian. 02/28/2024: Richard Lewis: a life in pictures.
Harrison Smith & Brian Murphy. WaPo, 02/28/2024: Richard Lewis, who mined life and neuroses for dark comedy, dies at 76.
Clay Risen. NYT, 02/28/2024: Richard Lewis, Acerbic Comedian and Character Actor, Dies at 76.
In addition to his stand-up career & work on the long running Curb Your Enthusiasm series (playing himself), he was the author of: Reflections From Hell: Richard Lewis’ Guide on How Not to Live & the memoir The Other Great Depression: How I’m Overcoming, on a Daily Basis, at Least a Million Addictions and Dysfunctions and Finding a Spiritual (Sometimes) Life.
Guardian, 02/28/2024: Richard Lewis, comedian and Curb Your Enthusiasm star, dies aged 76. "Comedian, who was known for exploring his neuroses, said last year he had Parkinson’s disease and was retiring from standup."
Guardian. 02/28/2024: Richard Lewis: a life in pictures.
Harrison Smith & Brian Murphy. WaPo, 02/28/2024: Richard Lewis, who mined life and neuroses for dark comedy, dies at 76.
Clay Risen. NYT, 02/28/2024: Richard Lewis, Acerbic Comedian and Character Actor, Dies at 76.
In addition to his stand-up career & work on the long running Curb Your Enthusiasm series (playing himself), he was the author of: Reflections From Hell: Richard Lewis’ Guide on How Not to Live & the memoir The Other Great Depression: How I’m Overcoming, on a Daily Basis, at Least a Million Addictions and Dysfunctions and Finding a Spiritual (Sometimes) Life.
23JulieLill
>22 featherbear: So sad - I liked his humor!
24featherbear
Steve Lawrence, 1935-2024
Robert D. McFadden. NYT, 03/07/2024: Steve Lawrence, Who Sang His Listeners Down Memory Lane, Dies at 88.
"Steve Lawrence, the mellow baritone nightclub, television and recording star who with his wife and partner, the soprano Eydie Gorme, kept pop standards in vogue long past their prime and took America on musical walks down memory lane for a half-century, died on Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88.
"Mr. Lawrence and Ms. Gorme were married in 1957. They had two sons, Michael and David. Michael died in 1986 of an undiagnosed heart condition. Ms. Gorme retired in 2009 and died in 2013. Mr. Lawrence is survived by his son David, a granddaughter and his brother, Bernie. He had lived in Los Angeles for many years.
"In their twilight years, the couple scaled back the tours that had dominated their schedules. But they continued to appear at the Stardust in Las Vegas, the Foxwoods in Connecticut and smaller venues.
"In 2004, at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island, where they had played many times, they performed at a theater in the round, dressed to the nines, he in a tuxedo and she in a sequined white caftan. Family photos were projected on big screens — Eydie as a baby, Steve in his Army uniform, their wedding pictures — and the crowd oohed and aahed like proud grandparents."
Robert D. McFadden. NYT, 03/07/2024: Steve Lawrence, Who Sang His Listeners Down Memory Lane, Dies at 88.
"Steve Lawrence, the mellow baritone nightclub, television and recording star who with his wife and partner, the soprano Eydie Gorme, kept pop standards in vogue long past their prime and took America on musical walks down memory lane for a half-century, died on Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88.
"Mr. Lawrence and Ms. Gorme were married in 1957. They had two sons, Michael and David. Michael died in 1986 of an undiagnosed heart condition. Ms. Gorme retired in 2009 and died in 2013. Mr. Lawrence is survived by his son David, a granddaughter and his brother, Bernie. He had lived in Los Angeles for many years.
"In their twilight years, the couple scaled back the tours that had dominated their schedules. But they continued to appear at the Stardust in Las Vegas, the Foxwoods in Connecticut and smaller venues.
"In 2004, at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island, where they had played many times, they performed at a theater in the round, dressed to the nines, he in a tuxedo and she in a sequined white caftan. Family photos were projected on big screens — Eydie as a baby, Steve in his Army uniform, their wedding pictures — and the crowd oohed and aahed like proud grandparents."
25cindydavid4
Oh I remember watching them with my parents, thought at that time how glamrous they looked.
26featherbear
Paolo Taviani, 1931-2024
Clay Risen. NYT, 03/10/2024: Paolo Taviani, Half of a Famed Italian Filmmaking Duo, Dies at 92.
Night of the Shooting Stars (aka La Notte di San Lorenzo) is in my DVD library (I should check) -- I've seen it several times in theaters or VHS rentals, but I've never seen Padre Padrone. His brother Vittorio died in 2018.
Clay Risen. NYT, 03/10/2024: Paolo Taviani, Half of a Famed Italian Filmmaking Duo, Dies at 92.
Night of the Shooting Stars (aka La Notte di San Lorenzo) is in my DVD library (I should check) -- I've seen it several times in theaters or VHS rentals, but I've never seen Padre Padrone. His brother Vittorio died in 2018.
27featherbear
M. Emmet Walsh, 1935-2024
Travis M. Andrews. WaPo, 03/20/2024: M. Emmet Walsh, actor who shined in seedy, menacing roles, dies at 88. I remember him from Blood Simple, but he had supporting roles in a number of significant films.
Matt Twomey. NYT, 03/20/2024: M. Emmet Walsh, Character Actor Who Always Stood Out, Dies at 88. "His roles in films like “Knives Out” and “Blade Runner” were sometimes big, sometimes small. But he invariably made a strong impression."
Travis M. Andrews. WaPo, 03/20/2024: M. Emmet Walsh, actor who shined in seedy, menacing roles, dies at 88. I remember him from Blood Simple, but he had supporting roles in a number of significant films.
Matt Twomey. NYT, 03/20/2024: M. Emmet Walsh, Character Actor Who Always Stood Out, Dies at 88. "His roles in films like “Knives Out” and “Blade Runner” were sometimes big, sometimes small. But he invariably made a strong impression."
28featherbear
Maurizio Pollini, 1942-2024
“We are in disbelief and mourning as we learn the terribly sad news about Maurizio Pollini’s passing. One of the truly great and groundbreaking musicians of our time has left us. His achievements in the field of modernist and contemporary music as well as in the classical and romantic repertoire are towering. Maestro Pollini’s collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon has spanned half a century from his first studio album, while his debut release on the Yellow Label goes back even further to 1960, when he won the Chopin Competition. Those who were so fortunate to work with Maurizio Pollini cherish his uncompromising, relentless work in studio sessions which led to countless iconic albums, as well as the inspiration and sensitivity of a warm and vulnerable soul that was palpable in personal conversations. It is very touching that in recent years Maurizio Pollini went back to the last five Beethoven Sonatas that once laid the groundwork for an incredible recording oeuvre and revisited Schubert together with his son Daniele. We feel committed to carry on Maurizio Pollini’s legacy well into the future, as we deeply miss his musical voice and true humanity.” - Dr. Clemens Trautmann, President Deutsche Grammophon"
David Allen NYT, 03/23/2024: Maurizio Pollini, Celebrated Pianist Who Defined Modernism, Dies at 82. "Mr. Pollini, who performed for more than half a century, was that rare pianist who compelled listeners to think deeply. He was an artist of rigor and reserve whose staunch assurance, uncompromising directness and steadfast dedication to his ideals were evidence of what his colleague Daniel Barenboim called “a very high ethical regard of music.”"
Tim Page. WaPo, 03/23/2024: Maurizio Pollini, pianist who reveled in demanding music, dies at 82. "During a flourishing international career spanning more than six decades, Mr. Pollini was steadily ranked among those rare musicians to whom other musicians paid close attention. Pianists regularly brought along printed scores of music by Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin to Mr. Pollini’s concerts and then listened to what he had found in works they had hitherto thought familiar."
“We are in disbelief and mourning as we learn the terribly sad news about Maurizio Pollini’s passing. One of the truly great and groundbreaking musicians of our time has left us. His achievements in the field of modernist and contemporary music as well as in the classical and romantic repertoire are towering. Maestro Pollini’s collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon has spanned half a century from his first studio album, while his debut release on the Yellow Label goes back even further to 1960, when he won the Chopin Competition. Those who were so fortunate to work with Maurizio Pollini cherish his uncompromising, relentless work in studio sessions which led to countless iconic albums, as well as the inspiration and sensitivity of a warm and vulnerable soul that was palpable in personal conversations. It is very touching that in recent years Maurizio Pollini went back to the last five Beethoven Sonatas that once laid the groundwork for an incredible recording oeuvre and revisited Schubert together with his son Daniele. We feel committed to carry on Maurizio Pollini’s legacy well into the future, as we deeply miss his musical voice and true humanity.” - Dr. Clemens Trautmann, President Deutsche Grammophon"
David Allen NYT, 03/23/2024: Maurizio Pollini, Celebrated Pianist Who Defined Modernism, Dies at 82. "Mr. Pollini, who performed for more than half a century, was that rare pianist who compelled listeners to think deeply. He was an artist of rigor and reserve whose staunch assurance, uncompromising directness and steadfast dedication to his ideals were evidence of what his colleague Daniel Barenboim called “a very high ethical regard of music.”"
Tim Page. WaPo, 03/23/2024: Maurizio Pollini, pianist who reveled in demanding music, dies at 82. "During a flourishing international career spanning more than six decades, Mr. Pollini was steadily ranked among those rare musicians to whom other musicians paid close attention. Pianists regularly brought along printed scores of music by Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin to Mr. Pollini’s concerts and then listened to what he had found in works they had hitherto thought familiar."
29featherbear
Richard Serra, 1938-2024
Roberta Smith. NYT, 03/26/2024: Richard Serra, Who Recast Sculpture on a Massive Scale, Dies at 85.
Tim Jonze. Guardian, 03/26/2024: Richard Serra, uncompromising American abstract sculptor, dies aged 85.
Guardian. 03/26/2024: Richard Serra – a life in pictures.
Sebastian Smee. 03/26/2024: Richard Serra made us giddy and afraid.
Roberta Smith. NYT, 03/26/2024: Richard Serra, Who Recast Sculpture on a Massive Scale, Dies at 85.
Tim Jonze. Guardian, 03/26/2024: Richard Serra, uncompromising American abstract sculptor, dies aged 85.
Guardian. 03/26/2024: Richard Serra – a life in pictures.
Sebastian Smee. 03/26/2024: Richard Serra made us giddy and afraid.
30featherbear
Louis Gossett Jr., 1936-2024
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr., commanding actor of TV and film, dies at 87. "He won an Oscar playing a Marine drill instructor in “An Officer and a Gentleman” and an Emmy as a wise old enslaved person in the groundbreaking miniseries “Roots.”
Jason Bailey. NYT, 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr.’s Greatest Roles: A Streaming Guide.
Anita Gates. NYT, 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr., 87, Dies; ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and ‘Roots’ Actor. "His portrayal of a drill instructor earned him the Oscar for best supporting actor. He was the first Black performer to win in that category."
Andrew Lawrence. Guardian, 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr: king of Hollywood’s strong, silent types, from Roots to The Color Purple.
Guardian. 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr – a life in pictures.
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr., commanding actor of TV and film, dies at 87. "He won an Oscar playing a Marine drill instructor in “An Officer and a Gentleman” and an Emmy as a wise old enslaved person in the groundbreaking miniseries “Roots.”
Jason Bailey. NYT, 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr.’s Greatest Roles: A Streaming Guide.
Anita Gates. NYT, 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr., 87, Dies; ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and ‘Roots’ Actor. "His portrayal of a drill instructor earned him the Oscar for best supporting actor. He was the first Black performer to win in that category."
Andrew Lawrence. Guardian, 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr: king of Hollywood’s strong, silent types, from Roots to The Color Purple.
Guardian. 03/29/2024: Louis Gossett Jr – a life in pictures.
31featherbear
Barbara Rush, 1927-2024
Anita Gates. NYT, 04/01/2024: Barbara Rush, Award-Winning TV and Film Actress, Dies at 97. "If Ms. Rush’s portrayals had one thing in common, it was a gentle, ladylike quality, which she put to use in films of many genres. She was Jane Wyman’s concerned stepdaughter in the 1954 romantic drama “Magnificent Obsession” and Dean Martin’s loyal wartime girlfriend in “The Young Lions” (1958), set during World War II. In 1950s science fiction pictures like “It Came From Outer Space” and “When Worlds Collide,” she was the small-town heroine, the scientist’s daughter, the Earthling most likely to succeed."
Harrison Smith. WaPo, 04/01/2024: Barbara Rush, prolific actress known for ’50s melodramas, dies at 97.
Anita Gates. NYT, 04/01/2024: Barbara Rush, Award-Winning TV and Film Actress, Dies at 97. "If Ms. Rush’s portrayals had one thing in common, it was a gentle, ladylike quality, which she put to use in films of many genres. She was Jane Wyman’s concerned stepdaughter in the 1954 romantic drama “Magnificent Obsession” and Dean Martin’s loyal wartime girlfriend in “The Young Lions” (1958), set during World War II. In 1950s science fiction pictures like “It Came From Outer Space” and “When Worlds Collide,” she was the small-town heroine, the scientist’s daughter, the Earthling most likely to succeed."
Harrison Smith. WaPo, 04/01/2024: Barbara Rush, prolific actress known for ’50s melodramas, dies at 97.
32JulieLill
>31 featherbear: I just saw that in the newspaper today. I am going to have to watch some of her movies. I know I have seen her in other films but can't remember which ones they were!
33featherbear
Since two of her books inspired notable films, I've copied this from my April bibliographic thread:
Lynne Reid Banks, 1929-2024
Helen Bushby and Victoria Lindrea. BBC Culture, 04/05/2024: Lynne Reid Banks: The Indian in the Cupboard author dies aged 94.
Author of, among others, The L-Shaped Room (1961) and The Indian in the Cupboard. The former "was Reid Banks' first novel - a contemporary page-turner and a forerunner of today's popular YA (Young Adult) genre. ... Such was its popularity that within two years of publication it had been turned into a big-budget film starring Leslie Caron and directed by Whistle Down the Wind's Bryan Forbes - a film Reid Banks said it took her 20 years to forgive for its cavalier treatment of her characters."
She was one of the UK's first female television journalists on ITN, "But it was in children's literature that she made her mark, most notably with the 1980 bestseller The Indian in the Cupboard - inspired by her son Omri and a shabby bathroom cabinet."
"She went on to write more than 40 published works in all genres, including a biography of the Bronte family - The Dark Quartet - but children's works dominated and led to her travelling all over the world visiting schools."
Lynne Reid Banks LT page: https://www.librarything.com/author/bankslynnereid
Lynne Reid Banks, 1929-2024
Helen Bushby and Victoria Lindrea. BBC Culture, 04/05/2024: Lynne Reid Banks: The Indian in the Cupboard author dies aged 94.
Author of, among others, The L-Shaped Room (1961) and The Indian in the Cupboard. The former "was Reid Banks' first novel - a contemporary page-turner and a forerunner of today's popular YA (Young Adult) genre. ... Such was its popularity that within two years of publication it had been turned into a big-budget film starring Leslie Caron and directed by Whistle Down the Wind's Bryan Forbes - a film Reid Banks said it took her 20 years to forgive for its cavalier treatment of her characters."
She was one of the UK's first female television journalists on ITN, "But it was in children's literature that she made her mark, most notably with the 1980 bestseller The Indian in the Cupboard - inspired by her son Omri and a shabby bathroom cabinet."
"She went on to write more than 40 published works in all genres, including a biography of the Bronte family - The Dark Quartet - but children's works dominated and led to her travelling all over the world visiting schools."
Lynne Reid Banks LT page: https://www.librarything.com/author/bankslynnereid
34featherbear
O.J. (Orenthal James) Simpson, 1947-2024
Was wondering why Twitter crashed.
Robert D. McFadden. NYT, 04/11/2024: O.J. Simpson, Athlete Whose Trial Riveted the Nation, Dies at 76.
Richard Luscombe. Guardian, 04/11/2024: OJ Simpson, ex-NFL star who was acquitted of murder, dies aged 76. "Former American football player who was acquitted of murder in 1995 died of cancer, according to a statement by his family."
Rick Maese, Glenn Frankel, & Matt Schudel. WaPo, 04/11/2024: O.J. Simpson, football great whose trial for murder became a phenomenon, dies at 76.
Julius Constantine Motal, compiler. Guardian, 04/11/2024: OJ Simpson’s life from NFL stardom to legal jeopardy – in pictures.
Julia Jacobs. NYT, 04/11/2024: Before He Was Infamous, O.J. Simpson’s Acting Helped Make Him Famous. "Simpson began acting while still a football star, appearing in titles as varied as “Roots,” “The Towering Inferno” and the “Naked Gun” films."
Was wondering why Twitter crashed.
Robert D. McFadden. NYT, 04/11/2024: O.J. Simpson, Athlete Whose Trial Riveted the Nation, Dies at 76.
Richard Luscombe. Guardian, 04/11/2024: OJ Simpson, ex-NFL star who was acquitted of murder, dies aged 76. "Former American football player who was acquitted of murder in 1995 died of cancer, according to a statement by his family."
Rick Maese, Glenn Frankel, & Matt Schudel. WaPo, 04/11/2024: O.J. Simpson, football great whose trial for murder became a phenomenon, dies at 76.
Julius Constantine Motal, compiler. Guardian, 04/11/2024: OJ Simpson’s life from NFL stardom to legal jeopardy – in pictures.
Julia Jacobs. NYT, 04/11/2024: Before He Was Infamous, O.J. Simpson’s Acting Helped Make Him Famous. "Simpson began acting while still a football star, appearing in titles as varied as “Roots,” “The Towering Inferno” and the “Naked Gun” films."
35featherbear
Robert MacNeil, 1931-2024
Elizabeth Jensen. NYT, 04/12/2024: Robert MacNeil, Earnest News Anchor for PBS, Dies at 93. "With his longtime co-host Jim Lehrer, he delivered thoughtful reports that stood in stark contrast to the commercial networks’ ever more sensational newscasts."
"A pairing with Jim Lehrer in 1973 to cover the Senate Watergate hearings for PBS was unpopular with the operators of many local public stations, who thought the prime-time broadcasts weren’t appropriate evening fare. But the two men’s serious demeanor was a hit with viewers, and the broadcasts won an Emmy Award and eventually launched an enduring collaboration.
"In October 1975, some major public stations began carrying the “The Robert MacNeil Report,” a half-hour of Mr. MacNeil’s design that examined a single issue each night and shunned showy production values. Within a year the program was renamed “The MacNeil/Lehrer Report.” It was expanded again in 1983 to become “The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour,” a multitopic program that was the nation’s first full hour of evening news.
"With Mr. Lehrer, his close friend, he remained a partner in MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, which produced their newscast until 2014, when WETA, the Washington, D.C., public media station where the “NewsHour” is based, assumed ownership. Mr. Lehrer died in 2020 at 85."
MacNeil was Canadian, by the way, b. in Montreal & raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
A final quote from him:
"“Television has changed journalism, utterly, not just for television, but for print and everybody else,” he said. “It’s changed the whole culture and ethos of journalism. And to have been able hold the line — perhaps Canute-like — against a tide that’s going to engulf us all in the end, for a few years, has been a source of gratification to me.”
Harrison Smith.WaPo, 04/12/2024: Robert MacNeil, urbane anchor who founded ‘PBS NewsHour,’ dies at 93.
Elizabeth Jensen. NYT, 04/12/2024: Robert MacNeil, Earnest News Anchor for PBS, Dies at 93. "With his longtime co-host Jim Lehrer, he delivered thoughtful reports that stood in stark contrast to the commercial networks’ ever more sensational newscasts."
"A pairing with Jim Lehrer in 1973 to cover the Senate Watergate hearings for PBS was unpopular with the operators of many local public stations, who thought the prime-time broadcasts weren’t appropriate evening fare. But the two men’s serious demeanor was a hit with viewers, and the broadcasts won an Emmy Award and eventually launched an enduring collaboration.
"In October 1975, some major public stations began carrying the “The Robert MacNeil Report,” a half-hour of Mr. MacNeil’s design that examined a single issue each night and shunned showy production values. Within a year the program was renamed “The MacNeil/Lehrer Report.” It was expanded again in 1983 to become “The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour,” a multitopic program that was the nation’s first full hour of evening news.
"With Mr. Lehrer, his close friend, he remained a partner in MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, which produced their newscast until 2014, when WETA, the Washington, D.C., public media station where the “NewsHour” is based, assumed ownership. Mr. Lehrer died in 2020 at 85."
MacNeil was Canadian, by the way, b. in Montreal & raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
A final quote from him:
"“Television has changed journalism, utterly, not just for television, but for print and everybody else,” he said. “It’s changed the whole culture and ethos of journalism. And to have been able hold the line — perhaps Canute-like — against a tide that’s going to engulf us all in the end, for a few years, has been a source of gratification to me.”
Harrison Smith.WaPo, 04/12/2024: Robert MacNeil, urbane anchor who founded ‘PBS NewsHour,’ dies at 93.
36cindydavid4
I watched the newshour for years, what a great pairing of journalism. May his name be for a blessing
37JulieLill
Mandisa
American Idol Singer dead at 47
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/mandisa-american-idol-star-and-grammy-...
I used to be a follower of the show but not recently but I was so shocked to hear of her death. So sad!
American Idol Singer dead at 47
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/mandisa-american-idol-star-and-grammy-...
I used to be a follower of the show but not recently but I was so shocked to hear of her death. So sad!
38featherbear
Michael Cuscuna, 1948-2024
Brian Murphy. 04/23/2024: Michael Cuscuna, jazz producer who sought forgotten gems, dies at 75.
"Since the 1970s, Mr. Cuscuna helped reissue recordings or find never-released music for hundreds of albums at Blue Note and Mosaic Records, a label he created in 1982 with a former Blue Note marketing executive, Charlie Lourie. Mr. Cuscuna’s work was often cited for significantly deepening the knowledge of jazz and how the genre influenced American culture."
Bit off topic for the movie RIP thread; in college in New York I often caught his knowledgeable NJ college radio program; he went on to make a genuine contribution to the history of American music.
Brian Murphy. 04/23/2024: Michael Cuscuna, jazz producer who sought forgotten gems, dies at 75.
"Since the 1970s, Mr. Cuscuna helped reissue recordings or find never-released music for hundreds of albums at Blue Note and Mosaic Records, a label he created in 1982 with a former Blue Note marketing executive, Charlie Lourie. Mr. Cuscuna’s work was often cited for significantly deepening the knowledge of jazz and how the genre influenced American culture."
Bit off topic for the movie RIP thread; in college in New York I often caught his knowledgeable NJ college radio program; he went on to make a genuine contribution to the history of American music.
39featherbear
Bernard Hill, 1944-2024
Alex Traub. NYT, 05/05/2024: Bernard Hill, Actor in ‘Titanic’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ Dies at 79.
"In “Titanic,” he was Capt. Edward J. Smith. Early in the movie, he grasps the ship’s railing, looks out to sea and instructs one of his crew to increase the ship’s speed: “Let’s stretch her legs,” he declares. The movie ultimately suggests that the undue speed of the ship is a factor in its fatal collision with an iceberg.
"After hearing the bad news, Mr. Hill walks in a daze on the ship’s deck, eyes lost in the middle distance, the official regalia of his captain’s outfit rendered absurd. He walks alone to the helm and stands there erect as water bursts through the windows, ensuring that he will go down with his ship."
Alex Traub. NYT, 05/05/2024: Bernard Hill, Actor in ‘Titanic’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ Dies at 79.
"In “Titanic,” he was Capt. Edward J. Smith. Early in the movie, he grasps the ship’s railing, looks out to sea and instructs one of his crew to increase the ship’s speed: “Let’s stretch her legs,” he declares. The movie ultimately suggests that the undue speed of the ship is a factor in its fatal collision with an iceberg.
"After hearing the bad news, Mr. Hill walks in a daze on the ship’s deck, eyes lost in the middle distance, the official regalia of his captain’s outfit rendered absurd. He walks alone to the helm and stands there erect as water bursts through the windows, ensuring that he will go down with his ship."
40featherbear
Roger Corman, 1926-2024
Richard Natale & Tim Gray. Variety, 05/11/2024: Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98.
"Over almost half a century, he took over the B-movie market, which had largely disappeared in the wake of television, and kept it alive almost single-handedly (along with Sam Arkoff of American Intl. Pictures, who financed most of Corman’s early directing/producing efforts). Well into his nineties, he was producing Bs for $5 million and under and rolling them out for video and television release."
This is rather late breaking, so I'll try to add other obits as they get posted tomorrow or later.
Bob Thomas & Amy Maxin. AP via WaPo, 05/11/2024: Roger Corman, Hollywood mentor and 'King of the Bs,' dies at 98.
Aljean Harmetz. NYT, 05/12/2024: Roger Corman, 98, Dies; Prolific Master of Low-Budget Cinema. "He had hundreds of horror, science fiction and crime films to his credit. He also helped start the careers of Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and many others."
"Mr. Corman produced more than 300 films and directed roughly 50 of them, including cult classics like “A Bucket of Blood” (1959), “The Masque of the Red Death” (1964), “The Wild Angels” (1966) and the original “The Little Shop of Horrors” (1960), which he shot for $35,000 in two days on a set left over from somebody else’s movie.
"When he got tired of directing, he opened the door to Hollywood for talented young protégés like Francis Ford Coppola (“Dementia 13”), Martin Scorsese (“Boxcar Bertha”), Jonathan Demme (“Caged Heat”), Peter Bogdanovich (“Targets”) and Ron Howard (“Grand Theft Auto”)."
"He earned his first taste of respectability and the favor of European critics with a series of horror films based on Edgar Allan Poe stories, most of them starring Vincent Price. The series began with “House of Usher” in 1960, with a script by the science-fiction writer Richard Matheson, and culminated in 1964 with “The Masque of the Red Death,” photographed by Nicolas Roeg, and “The Tomb of Ligeia.”
Actors who got their start via Corman include: Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, Peter Fonda, & Robert DeNiro. Robert Towne wrote his first screenplay for Corman. His production/distribution company, New World Pictures, est 1970, distributed Bergman, Kurosawa, Fellini, & Truffaut.
He was the author, with Jim Jerome, of How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime (1990).
Gwilym Mumford. Guardian, 05/12/2024: Roger Corman, Hollywood mentor and king of the B-movie, dies aged 98.
Peter Bradshaw. Guardian, 05/12/2024: Roger Corman: cinema's pulp genius whose talent to shock was rocket fuel.
Greg Whitmore. Guardian, 05/12/2024: Roger Corman: a career in pictures. Many great movie posters in this one!
James Hohmann. WaPo, 05/11/2024: Roger Corman, low-budget filmmaker who launched many careers, dies at 98. (With many comments from fans attached, if you have a subscription)
Richard Natale & Tim Gray. Variety, 05/11/2024: Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98.
"Over almost half a century, he took over the B-movie market, which had largely disappeared in the wake of television, and kept it alive almost single-handedly (along with Sam Arkoff of American Intl. Pictures, who financed most of Corman’s early directing/producing efforts). Well into his nineties, he was producing Bs for $5 million and under and rolling them out for video and television release."
This is rather late breaking, so I'll try to add other obits as they get posted tomorrow or later.
Bob Thomas & Amy Maxin. AP via WaPo, 05/11/2024: Roger Corman, Hollywood mentor and 'King of the Bs,' dies at 98.
Aljean Harmetz. NYT, 05/12/2024: Roger Corman, 98, Dies; Prolific Master of Low-Budget Cinema. "He had hundreds of horror, science fiction and crime films to his credit. He also helped start the careers of Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and many others."
"Mr. Corman produced more than 300 films and directed roughly 50 of them, including cult classics like “A Bucket of Blood” (1959), “The Masque of the Red Death” (1964), “The Wild Angels” (1966) and the original “The Little Shop of Horrors” (1960), which he shot for $35,000 in two days on a set left over from somebody else’s movie.
"When he got tired of directing, he opened the door to Hollywood for talented young protégés like Francis Ford Coppola (“Dementia 13”), Martin Scorsese (“Boxcar Bertha”), Jonathan Demme (“Caged Heat”), Peter Bogdanovich (“Targets”) and Ron Howard (“Grand Theft Auto”)."
"He earned his first taste of respectability and the favor of European critics with a series of horror films based on Edgar Allan Poe stories, most of them starring Vincent Price. The series began with “House of Usher” in 1960, with a script by the science-fiction writer Richard Matheson, and culminated in 1964 with “The Masque of the Red Death,” photographed by Nicolas Roeg, and “The Tomb of Ligeia.”
Actors who got their start via Corman include: Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, Peter Fonda, & Robert DeNiro. Robert Towne wrote his first screenplay for Corman. His production/distribution company, New World Pictures, est 1970, distributed Bergman, Kurosawa, Fellini, & Truffaut.
He was the author, with Jim Jerome, of How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime (1990).
Gwilym Mumford. Guardian, 05/12/2024: Roger Corman, Hollywood mentor and king of the B-movie, dies aged 98.
Peter Bradshaw. Guardian, 05/12/2024: Roger Corman: cinema's pulp genius whose talent to shock was rocket fuel.
Greg Whitmore. Guardian, 05/12/2024: Roger Corman: a career in pictures. Many great movie posters in this one!
James Hohmann. WaPo, 05/11/2024: Roger Corman, low-budget filmmaker who launched many careers, dies at 98. (With many comments from fans attached, if you have a subscription)
41featherbear
Jeannie Epper, 1941-2024
Penelope Green. NYT, 05/11/2024: Jeannie Epper, Stunt Double to the Stars, Is Dead at 83.
"Jeannie Epper had at least 100 screen roles, maybe even 150 — no one is quite sure. But because she was a stunt double, galloping on horseback, crashing cars and kicking down doors for the stars of films and television shows, hers was not a household name.
"In her heyday, however, Ms. Epper was ubiquitous. She hurtled through the air most weeks as Lynda Carter’s stunt double on the hit television series “Wonder Woman” and mimed Ms. Carter’s leggy lope. She tumbled through a scrum of mud and rocks as Kathleen Turner’s double in the 1984 comedy-adventure film “Romancing the Stone,” which also starred Michael Douglas. She threw punches for Linda Evans in one of her many ballyhooed cat fights with Joan Collins on the frothy long-running 1980s nighttime soap opera “Dynasty.” ... she was a regular on the western series “The Big Valley,” which ran on ABC from 1965 to 1969, often doubling for Barbara Stanwyck."
I'm a fan of Zoe Bell, who has a great role in Tarantino's 2007 Death Proof, & loved her memories of how Epper mentored her when she tried out for Uma Thurman's stunt double in Kill Bill Volume 1.
Brian Murphy. WaPo, 05/11/2024: Jeannie Epper, veteran stuntwoman from Westerns to ‘Wonder Woman,’ dies at 83.
"Jeannie’s first time on camera came when she was 9, galloping a horse bareback down a steep slope for a television Western. She had entered what amounted to a near family monopoly on professional stunt work.
"The hand with the knife slashing Janet Leigh in the shower in 1960’s “Psycho” was Ms. Epper’s sister Margo. The people clinging for their lives or falling to their doom in “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972) and “The Towering Inferno” (1974) included Ms. Epper and most of her family."
On a related note, Susan Backlinie, the skinny dipper killed (devoured?) by the shark in the opening of Jaws, died age 77.
Penelope Green. NYT, 05/11/2024: Jeannie Epper, Stunt Double to the Stars, Is Dead at 83.
"Jeannie Epper had at least 100 screen roles, maybe even 150 — no one is quite sure. But because she was a stunt double, galloping on horseback, crashing cars and kicking down doors for the stars of films and television shows, hers was not a household name.
"In her heyday, however, Ms. Epper was ubiquitous. She hurtled through the air most weeks as Lynda Carter’s stunt double on the hit television series “Wonder Woman” and mimed Ms. Carter’s leggy lope. She tumbled through a scrum of mud and rocks as Kathleen Turner’s double in the 1984 comedy-adventure film “Romancing the Stone,” which also starred Michael Douglas. She threw punches for Linda Evans in one of her many ballyhooed cat fights with Joan Collins on the frothy long-running 1980s nighttime soap opera “Dynasty.” ... she was a regular on the western series “The Big Valley,” which ran on ABC from 1965 to 1969, often doubling for Barbara Stanwyck."
I'm a fan of Zoe Bell, who has a great role in Tarantino's 2007 Death Proof, & loved her memories of how Epper mentored her when she tried out for Uma Thurman's stunt double in Kill Bill Volume 1.
Brian Murphy. WaPo, 05/11/2024: Jeannie Epper, veteran stuntwoman from Westerns to ‘Wonder Woman,’ dies at 83.
"Jeannie’s first time on camera came when she was 9, galloping a horse bareback down a steep slope for a television Western. She had entered what amounted to a near family monopoly on professional stunt work.
"The hand with the knife slashing Janet Leigh in the shower in 1960’s “Psycho” was Ms. Epper’s sister Margo. The people clinging for their lives or falling to their doom in “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972) and “The Towering Inferno” (1974) included Ms. Epper and most of her family."
On a related note, Susan Backlinie, the skinny dipper killed (devoured?) by the shark in the opening of Jaws, died age 77.
42featherbear
Samm-Art Williams, 1946-2024
Alex Williams. NYT, 05/16/2024: Samm-Art Williams, Playwright, Producer and Actor, Dies at 78. "He challenged racial barriers in Hollywood, was a producer of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and earned a Tony nomination for “Home,” a paean to his Southern roots."
"An imposing 6-foot-8 (a lefty, he once served as a sparring partner to Muhammad Ali), Mr. Williams appeared in films including Brian De Palma’s Hitchcock homage, “Dressed to Kill” (1980), and the Coen brothers’ neo-noir, “Blood Simple” (1984). He had a memorable turn as Jim in the 1986 adaptation of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” part of PBS’s “American Playhouse” series.
"Committed to expanding the Black presence in Hollywood, he was both a writer and an executive producer on “Fresh Prince,” the hit 1990s NBC comedy starring Will Smith as a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who moves in with his aunt and uncle in the moneyed hills of Los Angeles."
Alex Williams. NYT, 05/16/2024: Samm-Art Williams, Playwright, Producer and Actor, Dies at 78. "He challenged racial barriers in Hollywood, was a producer of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and earned a Tony nomination for “Home,” a paean to his Southern roots."
"An imposing 6-foot-8 (a lefty, he once served as a sparring partner to Muhammad Ali), Mr. Williams appeared in films including Brian De Palma’s Hitchcock homage, “Dressed to Kill” (1980), and the Coen brothers’ neo-noir, “Blood Simple” (1984). He had a memorable turn as Jim in the 1986 adaptation of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” part of PBS’s “American Playhouse” series.
"Committed to expanding the Black presence in Hollywood, he was both a writer and an executive producer on “Fresh Prince,” the hit 1990s NBC comedy starring Will Smith as a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who moves in with his aunt and uncle in the moneyed hills of Los Angeles."
43featherbear
Dabney Coleman, 1932-2024
Mike Flaherty. NYT, 05/17/2024: Dabney Coleman, Actor Audiences Loved to Hate, Is Dead at 92. "In movies like “9 to 5” and “Tootsie” and on TV shows like “Buffalo Bill,” he turned the portrayal of egomaniacal louts into a fine art."
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 05/17/2024: Dabney Coleman, actor who portrayed comic scoundrels, dies at 92.
Mike Flaherty. NYT, 05/17/2024: Dabney Coleman, Actor Audiences Loved to Hate, Is Dead at 92. "In movies like “9 to 5” and “Tootsie” and on TV shows like “Buffalo Bill,” he turned the portrayal of egomaniacal louts into a fine art."
Adam Bernstein. WaPo, 05/17/2024: Dabney Coleman, actor who portrayed comic scoundrels, dies at 92.
44JulieLill
>43 featherbear: I enjoyed Coleman's work!
45featherbear
Morgan Spurlock, 1970-2024
Clay Risen and Remy Tumin. NYT, 05/24/2024: Morgan Spurlock, Documentarian Known for ‘Super Size Me,’ Dies at 53.
"The film’s approach was straightforward: Mr. Spurlock would eat nothing but McDonald’s food for a month, and if a server at the restaurant offered to “supersize” the meal — that is, to give him the largest portion available for each item — he would accept.
"The movie then follows Mr. Spurlock and his ever-patient girlfriend through his 30-day odyssey, splicing in interviews with health experts and visits to his increasingly disturbed physician. At the end of the month, he was 25 pounds heavier, depressed, puffy-faced and experiencing liver dysfunction.
"By making himself a part of the story, Mr. Spurlock could be considered a forerunner of TikTok influencers and citizen-journalist YouTubers.
"And in 2017, he admitted that he had not been sober for more than a week at a time in 30 years — meaning that, in addition to his “McDonald’s only” diet, he was drinking, a fact that he concealed from his doctors and the audience, and that most likely skewed his results.
"The admission came in a statement in which he also revealed multiple incidents of sexual misconduct, including an encounter in college that he described as rape, as well as repeated infidelity and the sexual harassment of an assistant at his production company, Warrior Poets."
"today, McDonald’s has 42,000 locations worldwide, its stock is near an all-time high, and 36 percent of Americans eat fast food on any given day."
Clay Risen and Remy Tumin. NYT, 05/24/2024: Morgan Spurlock, Documentarian Known for ‘Super Size Me,’ Dies at 53.
"The film’s approach was straightforward: Mr. Spurlock would eat nothing but McDonald’s food for a month, and if a server at the restaurant offered to “supersize” the meal — that is, to give him the largest portion available for each item — he would accept.
"The movie then follows Mr. Spurlock and his ever-patient girlfriend through his 30-day odyssey, splicing in interviews with health experts and visits to his increasingly disturbed physician. At the end of the month, he was 25 pounds heavier, depressed, puffy-faced and experiencing liver dysfunction.
"By making himself a part of the story, Mr. Spurlock could be considered a forerunner of TikTok influencers and citizen-journalist YouTubers.
"And in 2017, he admitted that he had not been sober for more than a week at a time in 30 years — meaning that, in addition to his “McDonald’s only” diet, he was drinking, a fact that he concealed from his doctors and the audience, and that most likely skewed his results.
"The admission came in a statement in which he also revealed multiple incidents of sexual misconduct, including an encounter in college that he described as rape, as well as repeated infidelity and the sexual harassment of an assistant at his production company, Warrior Poets."
"today, McDonald’s has 42,000 locations worldwide, its stock is near an all-time high, and 36 percent of Americans eat fast food on any given day."
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