Actor -- via the Guardian. A great actor, completely unsung -- fresh, clear, and powerful, a particular treat in Shakespeare!
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 20, 2014
Carl Schlesinger
Typesetter, filmmaker, and tap dancer -- via the New York Times. AND he was kissed by Marilyn Monroe.
Mike Nichols
Director for film, stage, and TV; writer, producer, comedian, and improvisational performer -- via the New York Times. AKA Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky. One of the significant American talents of the 20th Century, he won a Grammy, Tonys (8), Emmys (4), and an Oscar.
His work as a performer was a hallmark of the wave of Second City-trained comic talent (he was half of the great Nichols and May team with Elaine May).
As a stage director, he gave us "Barefoot in the Park," "Luv," "The Odd Couple," "Streamers," "Comedians," "The Gin Game," "The Real Thing," "Hurlyburly," and many more.
Films: "The Graduate," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "Carnal Knowledge," "Silkwood," "Working Girl," The Birdcage," and many more.
TV: "Wit" and "Angels in America," for example.
All in all, he shaped our senses of humor and then helped create the American New Wave of film in the 1960s and '70s. Even better, he could bridge the gap between popular success and deep artistic expression. In a time when it seemed like the craft of acting and connecting with an audience from the stage was going to dry up and blow away, he reinvigorated the theater with great direction and leadership, giving us entertainment and inspiration.
His work as a performer was a hallmark of the wave of Second City-trained comic talent (he was half of the great Nichols and May team with Elaine May).
As a stage director, he gave us "Barefoot in the Park," "Luv," "The Odd Couple," "Streamers," "Comedians," "The Gin Game," "The Real Thing," "Hurlyburly," and many more.
Films: "The Graduate," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "Carnal Knowledge," "Silkwood," "Working Girl," The Birdcage," and many more.
TV: "Wit" and "Angels in America," for example.
All in all, he shaped our senses of humor and then helped create the American New Wave of film in the 1960s and '70s. Even better, he could bridge the gap between popular success and deep artistic expression. In a time when it seemed like the craft of acting and connecting with an audience from the stage was going to dry up and blow away, he reinvigorated the theater with great direction and leadership, giving us entertainment and inspiration.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Dave Appell
Musician, composer, arranger, and music producer -- via oldiesmusic.com. He had quite a career:
As leader of the Applejacks, had hits with "Mexican Hat Rock" and "Rocka-Conga."
He was featured in the early rock film "Don't Knock the Rock."
As jack-of-all-trades and house band leader at Cameo-Parkway Records, he backed such artists as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, and the Orlons.
With Kal Mann he wrote such hits as "South Street," "Mashed Potato Time," "Bristol Stomp," and "Let's Twist Again."
He wrapped it all up by producing hits for Tony Orlando and Dawn, including "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" and "Knock Three Times."
He started off as an arranger for the likes of Jimmie Lunceford, Earl Hines, and Benny Carter.
He led the studio band and served as music director for Ernie Kovacs' TV and radio during his time in Philadelphia.
He led the studio band and served as music director for Ernie Kovacs' TV and radio during his time in Philadelphia.
As leader of the Applejacks, had hits with "Mexican Hat Rock" and "Rocka-Conga."
He was featured in the early rock film "Don't Knock the Rock."
As jack-of-all-trades and house band leader at Cameo-Parkway Records, he backed such artists as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, and the Orlons.
With Kal Mann he wrote such hits as "South Street," "Mashed Potato Time," "Bristol Stomp," and "Let's Twist Again."
He wrapped it all up by producing hits for Tony Orlando and Dawn, including "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" and "Knock Three Times."
Marion Downs
Audiologist; the "mother of pediatric audiology" established the first infant hearing screening program in the United States -- via Hearing Aid News.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Ken Takakura
Iconic actor -- via Variety. AKA Goichi Oda. A hugely popular performer in Japan, he is known in America only for roles in such films as "The Yakuza" and "Black Rain." He typified the strong, silent an of action in films such as "The Yellow Handkerchief," "The Railroad Man," and "Abashiri Prison."
Monday, November 17, 2014
Hannes Hegen
Cartoonist and illustrator -- via mdr.de. AKA Johannes Eduard Hegenbarth. Best known for his cretion of the comic book Mosaik and its lead characters, the Digedags.
DEATHCETERA: A weekly reader of stories from around the world on death and dying
TOP
STORIES
Wayne Coyne of
the Flaming Lips on living with the awareness of death – interview
with Jennifer van Evra, animated by Blank on Blank – via Boingboing
Ask a Mortician:
Can we compost the dead? – via Caitlin Doughty at the Order of the Good
Death
“Don’t Lose the
Body: 8 Tips to Plot a Funeral” from Elaine Ambrose in the Huffington
Post
DEATH
Another
excellent feature story on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “Death Becomes Her”
exhibit
by Allison Meier at Hyperallergic
10 Things Bodies
Can Do After Death
– from Confessions of a Funeral Director
FUNERALS
Ebola
concerns reshape funeral practices in U.S. – via Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay
Times
Ice Age funeral
site discovered by archaeologists – via Laura Geggel at Fox News
Another
“drive-thru” funeral home – from Lauren Fluker at WHLT
OBITUARIES
Finding
the right words for an obituary for a beloved aunt – from John
Walsh in the Providence Journal
Hey, are you
dead? Best celebrity responses to death hoaxes – via Luchina
Fisher at ABC
Redskins fan
makes final request in his self-penned obit – via Micah Peters at USA Today
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Glen A. Larson
TV writer and producer -- via the Hollywood Reporter. He was the creator of a remarkable string of hits, including "Knight Rider," the original "Battlestar Galactica," "Quincy," "B.J. and the Bear," "Magnum, P.I.," "The Fall Guy" . . . and "Manimal." Larson was expert at retooling winning concepts, usually from feature films, for TV.
Fun fact: he started off in show biz as a singer and songwriter with the Four Preps -- their big hit "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)."
Fun fact: he started off in show biz as a singer and songwriter with the Four Preps -- their big hit "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)."
Friday, November 14, 2014
Ernest Kinoy
Writer for radio, TV, film, and stage -- via Variety. He joined NBC as a staff writer in 1948; he worked on shows such as "Dimension X," "Rocky Fortune," and "NBC Prsents: Short Story." In TV, he wrote for "Studio One," "Playhouse 90," "The Defenders," "Naked City," "Route 66," and much more. Films: "Buck and the Preacher," "Leadbelly," "Raid at Entebbe." Awards won for "The Defenders," "Roots," and "Skokie."
Ravi Chopra
Film director and producer -- via NDTV Movies. Best known for his direction of the rpic Indian TV series, "The Mahabhrata."
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