Interesting, overlooked, and significant obituaries from around the world, as they happen, emphasizing the positive achievements of those who have died. Member, Society of Professional Obituary Writers.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Rhys Isaac
Australian historian, the only to ever win a Pulitzer Prize. He won for his 1983 tome, "The Transformation of Virginia, 1740-1790."
Friday, October 8, 2010
Cheeky new website examines 'Life Before Death'
Lifebeforedeath.com tries to take the sting out of the end of things -- incudes bucket lists, "happy coffins," death on Facebook, last playlists and more . . . interesting.
Interview with Jim Sheeler, obituarist
Pulitzer Prize-winner interviewed by the Case Western Reserve University student newspaper -- Sheeler teaches there now.
Patti Cramer
Artist whose whimsical drawings of Denver life decorated many Westword magazines -- via Westword.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Roy Ward Baker
Film and television director -- via blog.saint.org. Here's the New York Times obit. A major architect of the imaginations of my generation, he made some of Hammer Film Production's best -- and campiest -- horror films. On TV, he worked on some of the best British series -- "The Avengers," "The Champions," "The Saint," "Danger UXB," "Fairly Secret Army" and "The Irish R.M." See my full salute to him at Preview Reviewer.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
William Shakespeare aka John Stanley Cave aka Billy Shake
Australian glam rock singer -- via www.undercover.fm. It's hard to run this one -- the name, alone. He did some bad things, came down in the world, suffered addiction. When it comes down to it, he was a person. May he rest in peace.
Colette Renard
Chanteuse and actress -- via Telerama.fr. A saucy singer who originated the title role in "Irma la Douce."
Gregorio Ros
Award-winning makeup artist and designer for TV, stage and film -- via Spain Broadway World. He worked on several films with Pedro Almodovar, including "Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and "High Heels."
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Ray Picconatto aka "Tomato Man"
Gardener gave his time and expertise to others -- via the Duluth News Tribune.
Marjorie Henshaw aka Anabel Shaw
Actress worked during film noir period in postwar cinema -- via blogspot site dedicated to her, and the San Francisco Chronicle
Monday, October 4, 2010
Dolores Wilson
A Met soprano for many years -- via the New York Times. She originated the role of Baby Doe in Moore's opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe," at the Central City Opera House in Central City, Colorado on July 7, 1956.
Norman Wisdom
Comedian, singer and comic actor -- via the BBC. Now a cult figure, he was the most profitable comic of his day, a favorite of Chaplin's as well. He played coy, clumsy characters who fell in love and sang. Oddly, he is an object of worship in Albania, where good old dictator Enver Hoxha, for some reason (perhaps his wholesome tunefulness) named him as the only Western actor whose films were shown in that country.
Philippa Foot
Philosopher specializing in questions of morals and ethics -- via The Edge of the American West. She conceived the noted "trolley problem."
Andy Albeck
Producer and studio head -- via ABC News. He greenlighted "Raging Bull," and unfrotunately "Heaven's Gate" as well. He has a bit part as a movie producer in Woody Allen's "Stardust Memories."
Harry Flavel
Eccentric and recluse -- via the Daily Astorian. He and his family's brushes with the law were documented in a New Yoker article by Calvin Trillin -- "First Family of Astoria."
Maury Allen
Sportswriter -- via the New York Times. He wrote 38 books, most on the subject of baseball.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Junko Ikeuchi
Actress -- via Tokyograph. Lovers of camp will remember her as a leading player in Japan's "Super Giant/Starman" series, which were cut up, dubbed and run on American TV in the mid-'60s as the film series "Attack from Space," "Atomic Rulers of the World," "Invaders from Space" and "Evil Brain from Outer Space." Surrealistic bliss!
Martin Ljung
Swedish comedian and actor -- via Radio Sweden's Facebook page. Here's him doing a "Viking" routine: don't know what he's saying, but he's killin' the crowd!
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