Character actor -- via TMZ. Best remembered as Mr. Beauregarde in "Willa Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," he acted extensively in television, on film and on stage. "You're turning violet, Violet!"
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.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Richard Gordon
Film producer -- via the L.A. Times. Made some wonderfully cheesy horror and sc-fi B classics such as "Corridors of Blood," "Fiend Without a Face," "First Man into Space," and "The Haunted Strangler."
Matty Alou aka Mateo Rojas Alou
Great MLB batter -- via Dominican Today. With his brothers Felipe and Jesus, one of the great three-sibling combinations in major league history, alongside the DiMaggios and the Molinas. Below is some home-movie footage from 1960, showing Alou and some of his fellow Giants -- yes, the colors really looked like that back then.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Dagoberto "Dag" "Burt" Concepcion Cueto
Former MLB pitcher -- via the Charlotte, NC Observer, Bill Schenley and groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries.
Dave Cole
Former MLB pitcher -- via the Williamsport Herald-Mail. One of the wildest pitchers in MLB history -- once recorded three outs without throwing a stirke, somehow.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tom Keith
Radio actor and sound-effects man; one of the leading lights of "Prairie Home Companion" -- via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Proved that radio is alive and well and hilarious in the proper hands!
Jimmy Savile aka Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile
Legendary broadcaster -- via the BBC. "There's nothing wrong with a bit of fun."
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Be prepared: BBC practices for death of Queen Elizabeth II
Well, here's a bizarre story. Evidently, when the Queen Mother died on March 30, 2002, the BBC was roundly criticized for the fact that the newsman announcing her death was wearing a gray suit and a burgundy tie at the time. This was perceived as being intensely disrespectful. De rigeur for Elizabeth II's inevitable death announcement: dark suit, black tie, white shirt. (Also learned a new British-English folk expression meaning to die via a comment on this story -- "pop her clogs." Lovely.) Let us hope that all decorum is observed when it is time to deliver the obsequies. And such. Via the Daily Mail.
Antonio Cassese
Expert in international criminal law and supporter of human rights -- via the New York Times.
John McCarthy
Computer scientist -- via the New York Times. He coined the concept and phrase "artificial intelligence."
Friday, October 28, 2011
Walter Muller
Inventor of the MIDI wind controller (futuristic harmonica) the Millioniser -- via createdigitalmusic.com.
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