Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Corey Haim


The adjectives in obits for this actor will be "troubled," "teen heartthrob"  -- via the L.A. Times and KTLA

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Doris Haddock


"Granny D" was a remarkable political activist -- via Yahoo News

Karl Malkames


This amazing man first made his name as a cameraman and cinematographer (he shot the car chases for "Thunder Road"); then, he saved hundreds of films as a pioneer of restoration and preservation -- including "Tillie's Punctured Romance," "Tumbleweeds," "The Iron Horse" and "The Big Trail." -- from NitrateVille

Willie Davis


Former Dodgers center fielder -- via Daily Pitch

Sir Kenneth Dover -- a life measured three ways

Sir Kenneth Dover (left) awarding a honorary Doctor of Music degree to a Mr. Robert Zimmerman of Hibbing, Minnesota.
A renowned scholar of ancient Greece -- depending on which obituary you read, he was either a beloved academic, a bold analyst of the birth of homosexual culture . . . or a guy who wished an employee would just drop dead.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Andree Peel

World War II Resistance heroine -- via the Times of London.

Martin Benson

 
Benson in a signature role, Solo in "Goldfinger."
Wonderful character actor -- via the Times of London.

Dorothy Calvert


Pirate radio pioneer -- via the Times of London

Edgar Wayburn


Conservationist doubled the size of America's parks and wildernesses -- via the L.A. Times

Richard Wyler/Richard Stapley

 
Film actor -- via Yahoo News

Elsie Phelps

She gave birth to five children in a tent -- she riveted bombers together in WWII -- she hunted, cleaned and canned meat for her family -- and believed in the healing power of whiskey. Quite an extraordinary life -- thanks to Mike Long for pointing this out! Via the Durango Herald

Pierre Vinet


Masterful on-set still photographer -- via Ain't It Cool News

Dodie Masterman

Renowned book illustrator -- via the Guardian

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Putting the fun back in funeral

 
 A Pittsfield, Massachusetts funeral home wants to add chili cookoffs, murder-mystery shows and a visit from the Easter Bunny to its offerings -- via the Berkshire Eagle.

Mark Linkous


Composer and performer best known for his work with Sparklehorse -- via Rolling Stone magazine

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Patricia Travers


A prodigy who vanished -- perspectives from the New York Times and NewJersey.com

Sammy Drake


Infielder was one of first pair of African American siblings in Major League Baseball -- via the L.A. Times

Claude Dorsey

Jazz pianist was fixture of Milwaukee scene -- via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. And here's a nice profile from 2003 via Maximum Ink.

Alert: Charles B. Pierce

 
The man who made this drive-in classic and "The Legend of Boggy Creek" has died.

More details coming! This Arkansas filmmaker made a movie for $160,000. It earned $25 million. An outsider artist par exellence. Via the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle. 

Philip Langridge

Brilliant English tenor was best known for his performances in the works of Benjamin Britten -- via WhatsonStage.com. A nice tribute in the Guardian; another from the New York Times and still another from the Times of London. Here he is singing the Hymn from Britten's Serenade....

Friday, March 5, 2010

Johnny Alf


He invented the Bossa Nova -- via Yahoo News. Check him out at the keyboard here . . .

Allan Wicks


Brilliant English organist was also a divine choirmaster at Canterbury Cathedral-- via the Guardian and the Times of London.

Here he is at work in this 1986 documentary -- listen to the wonderful sound he evokes.

Big John Becker


Master of the four-string jazz banjo -- via stltoday.com. Check out his artistry in this video!

Robert T. McCall


This inspiring artist was best known for his imaginative canvases and murals that depicted the conquest of space -- via the New York Times.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Nathan Scott

Composer, arranger, conductor worked in films and television -- via the L.A. Times

Ron Banks

 
Ron Banks (second from left) in the 2001 configuration of The Dramatics.

Founder of soul group The Dramatics -- via Detroit Free Press

Barbara Bray


One of the most amazing editors and translators of the 20th century. She supported Pinter and Beckett, and championed Duras, and brought us Sartre, Genet and Anouilh. Via the Guardian and the Times of London

Nan Martin


Nan Martin (left, with Cloris Leachman in "Mrs. Harris") specialized in scandalized old ladies.

You remember her -- she was in everything. During the last part of her career, she was typecast as an old dragon, but her work was much broader and more varied. Via the L.A. Times

Sergey Kozlov

 
Kozlov's "Hedgehog in the Fog" delighted millions.
Beloved Russian author of children's stories and fairy tales --  lovely tribute from translator Ekaterina Godunova, with a link to some of his work; via Rossiskaya Gazeta

Keith Alexander

 

Vladislav Ardzinba -- hero or villain?


First leader of independent Abkhazia was either a war criminal who orchestrated an ethnic cleansing campaign that forced 250,000 -- half the population -- out of his breakaway republic; or a great guy who dedicated his life to Abkhazia's self-determination and freedom. Depends on who you read. Via CBS News and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.

Robert Crafton III, aka Chilly B

 
Chilly B, left, with Lady E and Cozmo D.
Newcleus bassist and rapper was old-school -- via the New York Times