The Rest In Peace & Remembrance Thread #2

Emmy winning-TV producer Roger Gimbel dies at 86
Apr 28, 3:57 PM (ET)

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Emmy Award-winning TV producer Roger Gimbel, who worked with stars including Bing Crosby and Sophia Loren, has died. He was 86.

Spokesman Dale Olson said Thursday that Gimbel died of pneumonia at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Gimbel's wife, actress Jennifer Warren, was at his side.

Gimbel's 500-plus productions received 18 Emmys, including one for 1973's "A War of Children," about Irish and Protestant friends engulfed by strife in Belfast.

He worked on TV movies including "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" and "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom" and produced specials with Crosby, Loren, Dean Martin and others.

Gimbel, a Philadelphia native, was a member of the Gimbels department store family. Besides his wife, Roger Gimbel's survivors include four children.
 
Superman actor Jackie Cooper has died at age 88. He played the Daily Planet news editor in the 1978 Superman film. Here is the article at: imdb.
 
Musician John Walker, 67, dies of liver cancer
May 9, 6:37 AM (ET)

LOS ANGELES (AP) - John Walker, the American-born musician who was the frontman for the Walker Brothers, one of the most successful bands of Britain's Golden Age of rock 'n' roll, has died at age 67.

Walker died Saturday of liver cancer, his personal assistant, Polly Klemmer, told The Associated Press. He had continued to work until just a few weeks ago, making his last concert appearance in Los Angeles in March, Klemmer said Sunday.

He had his greatest success as the guitarist and vocalist for the Walker Brothers, which produced such 1960s hits as "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore,""Love Her,""Make it Easy on Yourself" and "My Ship Is Comin' In."

While the Beatles and other British groups were remaking the face of rock 'n' roll during the so-called British invasion of America in the mid-1960s, Walker moved from the United States to England instead.

There, he and two other Americans, bassist Scott Engel and drummer Gary Leeds, called themselves the Walker Brothers and each adopted Walker as his surname, although they were not related. They had instant success with their first British recording, 1964's "Love Her," and a string of hits quickly followed.

Walker, who was born John Maus, had begun using the name Walker professionally when he was 17, adopting it, according to some accounts, so he could obtain a fake I.D. that allowed him to play at nightclubs he was too young to legally enter.

He, Engel and drummer Al "Tiny" Schneider, first used the name Walker Brothers when they worked as the house band at the Hollywood nightclub Gazzari's, shortly before he and Engel moved to Britain and joined Leeds.

As part of the Walker Brothers, he toured the world and sold more than 23 million records, according to his website.

The group also appeared on numerous British television shows in the 1960s, including the popular music programs "Ready, Steady, Go,""Top of the Pops" and the "Billy Cotton Band Show." He also appeared in the film "Beach Ball," the German music series "Beat Club" and other shows.

Walker, who took up the guitar at age 14, began performing professionally in the late 1950s. By the early 1960s he was a regular at such popular Hollywood clubs as Pandora's Box on the Sunset Strip and on the college circuit.

During those years, he worked with such musicians as Ritchie Valens and Glen Campbell, with producer Phil Spector and songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, who wrote for the Monkees and other groups.

Although he returned to the United States in the 1980s, Klemmer said Sunday that Walker continued to tour England every year as part of a "Silver 60s" show until his health declined last year. He was diagnosed with cancer in December.

"He had put together an LA-based band and had planned to do more performing here," she said.

Walker is survived by his wife, Cynthia; a sister, Judy Hoyt; children Jamie Maus Anderson, Nickoletta Drew Maus, Adam Sarrazin and Heather Stewart, as well as several grandchildren.
 
Cornell Dupree, prolific session guitarist, dead at 69
Lead guitarist on Aretha Franklin's "Respect," Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia" sessions

Billboard.com - Cornell Dupree, a prolific session guitarist in jazz, R&B and funk, died at 69 in Fort Worth, Tex. on Sunday (May 8th). According to Variety, Dupree had recently been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Texas-born musician was originally discovered by King Curtis, who brought him to New York to serve as guitarist in the King Curtis Band in 1962. Dupree began backing greats like Sam Cooke, Roberta Flack and Fats Domino, and can be heard playing guitar on Aretha Franklin's "Respect" and on Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia."

Known as "Mr. 2500" (for the number of recording sessions on which he reputedly played) and "Uncle Funky," Dupree established himself as a studio star at Atlantic Records in the '60s. Over the years he cut freelance dates with Miles Davis, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Herbie Mann, James Brown and Jimmy Smith, to name just a handful of his most notable employers.

Dupree eventually served as the guitarist in Franklin's touring band from 1967 to 1976, and formed the instrumental funk band Stuff in the mid-70s. Starting with 1974's "Teasin'," Dupree released 10 solo albums, including the Grammy-nominated "Coast to Coast" in 1988.

Dupree, whose nicknames included "Uncle Funky" and "Mr. 2500," is survived by his wife, Erma.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Norma Zimmer, TV's 'Champagne Lady,' dies at 87

LOS ANGELES — The "Champagne Lady" of television's "The Lawrence Welk Show" has died. Norma Zimmer was 87.

Welk's son, Larry, said that Zimmer died peacefully Tuesday at her Brea, Calif., home. Larry Welk didn't know the cause of death.

Zimmer performed on Lawrence Welk's music show from 1960 to 1982 as the "Champagne Lady," the title Welk traditionally had given his lead female singer. Zimmer sang with Welk's orchestra and waltzed with him to the strains of his effervescent dance tunes tagged as "champagne music."

She also appeared on the orchestra's public TV specials that have aired since 1987. Lawrence Welk died in 1992.

Funeral arrangements for Zimmer were pending.
 
NY Ranger Forward Derek Boogaard Found Dead

NEW YORK (AP)
It may be weeks before authorities know exactly how and why New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died, although foul play was not immediately suspected.

The 28-year-old player was found dead Friday in his Minneapolis apartment. Few details were available, but the news rippled across the NHL, where the 6-foot-7 Boogaard was a fan favorite and one of the game's most feared fighters. He missed most of last season because of a concussion and shoulder injury from a fight.

''I don't think we have any answers as to what happened or why it happened,'' Ron Salcer, Boogaard's agent, said Saturday.

Authorities received a report of a man not breathing shortly before 6:15 p.m. Friday, Minneapolis police Sgt. William Palmer said. Minneapolis fire officials were the first to arrive and determined he was dead.

Palmer said authorities do not suspect foul play at this point, but the police department's homicide unit and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating. Palmer said the medical examiner will decide the cause of death.

An autopsy was being conducted Saturday, but county spokeswoman Carol Allis said results probably will not be released for at least two weeks.

She said in cases with no obvious signs of physical trauma or an obvious immediate cause of death, it takes time to receive results of laboratory tests. Allis said the medical examiner's office doesn't anticipate releasing preliminary autopsy findings until all results are in.

''The news that we have lost someone so young and so strong leaves everyone in the National Hockey League stunned and saddened,'' NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. ''The NHL family sends its deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Derek Boogaard, to those who played and worked with him and to everyone who enjoyed watching him compete.''

Glen Sather, the Rangers' president and general manager, called Boogaard an ''extremely kind and caring individual'' and a ''very thoughtful person.''

Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that Boogaard was an ''amazing teammate.''

''Anytime anything happened or if you needed anything, Boogy was always there. He was always a pleasure to be around. Always joking and having fun.''

Rangers forward Brandon Prust said on Twitter: ''At a loss for words. I'll miss my roomy Derek Boogaard. You will be missed by everyone. Great friend and teammate.''

Fans, meanwhile, flocked online to express their sadness. For years, fans have been going to YouTube to watch ''The Boogeyman'' do battle.

His final game was Dec. 9 at Ottawa when he fought Matt Carkner and sustained a concussion and shoulder injury. That was the 70th fight of his NHL career, and by midday Saturday more than 80,000 people had watched replays of that fight on YouTube.

Boogaard signed a four-year, $6.5 million deal with the Rangers in July and appeared in 22 games last season. He had a goal and an assist to go with 45 penalty minutes.

Boogaard was out for the last 52 games of the regular season because of his injuries and did not play in the playoffs. He didn't skate again until about three months after the concussion. He was sent home to Minnesota late in the season to work on conditioning.

In several player polls, Boogaard was voted as the league's most intimidating player. When the Rangers signed him last summer, Sather said the decision was made because Boogaard was ''the biggest and toughest.''

He had seven fights with the Rangers. His lone goal of the season was scored at home against Washington on Nov. 9. That ended a drought of 234 games he played without a goal, dating to Jan. 7, 2006. It was the longest streak without a goal in the league.

Boogaard began his NHL career with Minnesota and appeared in 255 games with the Wild from 2005-10. He missed four games with the Wild because of a concussion. In 277 regular-season games with Minnesota and the Rangers over six seasons, he had three goals and 13 assists and 589 penalty minutes.

Minnesota center Pierre-Marc Bouchard played with Boogaard for five years.

''Every player on our team felt a little bit more safe with him on the ice with us,'' Bouchard said in a phone interview. ''He was really tough on the ice, but outside the ice he was a great guy.''

San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan coached Boogaard for two years in the minors in Houston.

''He was a lovable guy that everybody liked,'' McLellan said. ''Obviously mean and nasty on the ice. He'll be sorely missed.''

Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Boogaard was Minnesota's seventh-round choice, 202nd overall, in the 2001 draft. He gained notice in the summer of 2007 when he and brother Aaron ran a hockey-fighting class in Saskatchewan. Some voiced concern about such a camp. Boogaard insisted he wasn't teaching kids how to hurt each other, but rather how to protect themselves so they don't get hurt on the ice.

This is the second death of a player in the Rangers organization in the past three years. Alexei Cherepanov, drafted by New York in 2007, died in Chekhov, Russia, in 2008, after collapsing on the bench during a game. The 19-year-old Cherepanov didn't sign with the Rangers and never played in the NHL.

Roman Lyashenko, who briefly played with the Rangers several years ago, was found dead in a hotel in Turkey while on vacation in 2003. His death was believed to be a suicide.
 
'Macho Man' Randy Savage Killed in Car Crash
By DavidOnda
Fri, 20 May 2011 17:34:29 GMT


Legendary professional wrestler “Macho Man” Randy Savage died today due to injuries sustained in a car accident in Tampa, Florida.

Often regarded as one of the greatest pro-wrestlers ever, the 58-year-old Savage (real name: Randall Poffo) was reportedly driving his 2009 Jeep Wrangler at around 10 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed a concrete median, careened through oncoming traffic and hit a tree head-on. Randy was transported to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries. His wife, Lynn – who Savage married just one year ago – was a passenger in the car, but sustained only minor injuries. Both were wearing seatbelts.

Randy’s brother, former pro-wrestler Lanny Poffo, told TMZ that his brother suffered a heart attack behind the wheel, causing the deadly crash. No official cause has been given and an investigation is under way.

“Macho Man” rose to fame in the mid ’80s as a part of Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation. Savage claimed many of the organization’s top honors, including the WWF World Championship, Intercontinental Championship and “King of the Ring” title. Randy’s televised marriage to wrestling manager Miss Elizabeth, as well as his feuds with Hulk Hogan and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat are legendary among wrestling fans.

Savage’s success carried over to Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling (WCW) organization, where he was instrumental in the company’s ratings dominance through the mid-’90s.

As of late, the former Slim Jim spokesman has been somewhat of a recluse, retiring from wrestling and enjoying a short stint as a rap artist. Though the WWF (now WWE) has often – and inexplicably – ignored Savage’s contributions to pro-wrestling, he was just recently featured in a DVD collection and included in the “WWE All-Stars” video game. Many assumed he would soon be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.


RIP Macho Man :(
 
John Cigna, Pittsburgh radio veteran, dead at 75
Signa was a signature voice for three decades at KDKA

Signa spent more than 30 years at KDKA (1020), 18 of them in morning drive. As the station says, "His loyal listeners will remember the charity [motorcycle] rides, the spaghetti breakfasts in Market Square and the goofball TV spots." Brooklyn native Signa worked in West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana before landing at Group W's KDKA around 1970. He did a nighttime talkshow for a decade, then took over mornings in 1983. In 2001, he retired, and now a decade later, passed away. KDKA says Signa died Friday afternoon.
 
I knew this was coming. At least his demons have been laid to rest, as well.

RIP, Jeff!

'Grease' Star Jeff Conaway Dead


Hours after being taken off life support, TMZ and Radar, report that Jeff Conaway has passed away.

The "Grease" star, who had battled drug addiction in the past, was found unconscious in his California home on May 11.

The actor's spokesman, Phil Brock, recently revealed that Conaway was found with a cocktail of "painkillers and cold medicine in his system," and doctors went on to diagnose him with pneumonia and sepsis, a potentially fatal blood poisoning caused by a bacterial infection.


The 60-year-old had remained in critical condition since, and his family decided to switch off his life support machine on Thursday, May 26, 2011, after medics said he was unlikely to ever regain consciousness, reports Eonline.com.

Conaway had been taking the prescription pain medication since badly injuring himself following a fall in his home last year, when he broke his hip and arm, fractured his neck and suffered a brain hemorrhage.
 
Clarice Taylor of 'The Cosby Show' dies at 93

NEW YORK — Clarice Taylor, the actress and comedian best known for playing grandmothers on "The Cosby Show" and "Sesame Street," has died at the age of 93.

Taylor died of congestive heart failure in her home in Englewood, N.J., on Monday, said her son, William Taylor.

During a career that spanned five decades, Taylor performed on radio and TV, in film and on stage, including in the original Broadway cast of the musical "The Wiz."

Her films included the 1971 Clint Eastwood thriller "Play Misty for Me" and, besides "The Cosby Show," she had another recurring TV role on "Sesame Street," where she was grandmother to the character David.

Both Taylor and Earle Hyman, who played her husband on "The Cosby Show," received Emmy nominations in 1986 for their roles as Anna and Russell Huxtable, parents of Bill Cosby's character and grandparents of the Huxtable youngsters.

While touring with "The Wiz," she roomed with Phylicia Rashad, who played Cosby's wife on the "The Cosby Show." She told The Associated Press in a 1987 interview that she decided to audition to play Rashad's mother.

"I spent three hours making up my face and putting on my tight clothes," Taylor said. "I didn't want to look too old to be her mother."

She didn't get the part.

Later, however, she was asked to audition for the part of Cosby's mother. "I put on a gray wig, a bandana over that, flat-heeled shoes and a long dress with no shape to it," she told the AP. "Bill saw through my act. I read five lines and he said, 'If you're going to go through all of this - you've got the part.'"

In 1987, she played the pioneering black female comedian Jackie "Moms" Mabley in an original off-Broadway play, "Moms," with future "Law & Order" regular S. Epatha Merkerson also in the cast. Taylor later toured as Mabley in a one-woman show.
 
Doctor Death has died

Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan pathologist convicted and jailed for participating in assisted suicides of terminally ill people, died early Friday, his lawyer told local media.

Kevorkian, 83, died at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., where he had been hospitalized for about two weeks with kidney and heart problems.

The lawyer, Mayer Morganroth, said it appears Kevorkian suffered a pulmonary thrombosis when a blood clot from his leg broke free and lodged in his heart, according to the Detroit Free Press.

"It was peaceful. He didn't feel a thing," Morganroth told the newspaper.

Morganroth told the Free Press that the hospital staff, doctors and nurses said Kevorkian's passing was "a tremendous loss and I agree with them. He did so much."

Morganroth told the paper that he doubts anyone will assume Kevorkian's role in assisted suicide: "Who else would take those kind of risks?"

Morganroth said there are no plans for any memorial.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top