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.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Beau Kazer
Actor -- via the New York Daily News. Best remembered as Brock Reynolds in the TV soap opera "The Young and the Restless."
Taylor Negron
Actor, comedian, writer, playwright, and painter -- via Yahoo News. He was in everything, one of the most dependable character actors in Hollywood. On film and TV, he had an incesant steams of appearances in small roles that the made memorable. And, he had a wry and wonderful attitude about it. Read this lovely, funny piece by him in xojane -- "Reflections on a Life Playing Everyman." "By letting go of what you thought was going to happen in your life, you can enjoy what is actually happening. That is what I do."
Robert Stone
Novelist -- via the New York Times. He managed to marry humor, political satire, and adventure in many of his works. Among his best books are "Dog Soldiers," "A Flag for Sunrise," and "Damascus Gate."
Francesco Rosi
Director -- via Deadline. Another incredibly talented filmmaker generally unknown in America. His best work: "Salvatore Giuliano," "The Mattei Affair," his adapatation of "Carmen" in 1984, and "Christ Stopped at Eboli."
Anita Ekberg
Sex symbol and film actress -- via the New York Times. Best known for her iconic role in Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" (pictured above).
Friday, January 9, 2015
Milton Hebald
Sculptor -- via the L.A. Times. His work is seen by thousands -- for instance, formerly at JFK and still outside the Delacorte in Central Park.
Ramon "Ray" Gipson
Lead singer of the G-Clefs -- via the Salem News. Their big hit: "I Understand." I love "Ka-Ding-Dong."
Gerry Fisher
Cinematographer -- via the Telegraph. I am surprised he is not better-known -- he DP'ed many excellent films, including "The Go-Between," "Man in the Wilderness," "Juggernaut," "Mr. Klein," "Wise Blood," Losey's "Don Giovanni," "Wolfen," and "Highlander." He started as a camera operator in 1947, working on films such as "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Sundowners," and "Cleopatra."
Terry Becker
Actor, producer, and director -- via legacy.com. AKA Solomon Becker. In front of the camera, his biggest impression was made as Chief Sharkey in the preposterous but beloved '60s TV series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea."
King Sporty
Songwriter, DJ, musician, and music producer -- via soulandjazzandfunk.com. AKA Noel G. Williams. He wrote "Buffalo Soldier."
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Rod Taylor
Actor -- via Variety. An important member of Australian dramatic radio, Taylor moved on to film and TV and stage in America, and is best known for his roles in "The Time Machine," "The Birds," and "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" (he was the voice of Pongo). His last screen role was a cameo as Churchill in Tarentino's "Inglorious Basterds."
Takao Saito
Cinematographer -- via Yahoo News. One of the "Kurosawa-gumi," the ensemble of actors, artists, and technicians that helped make Kurosawa's films come to life. Beginning as a camera operator on "One Wonderful Sunday" in 1947, he continued in this capacity through "Ikiru," "Seven Samurai," "I Live in Fear," "Throne of Blood," "The Lower Depths," "The Hidden Fortress," "The Bad Sleep Well," and "Yojimbo." He served as DP for "Sanjuro," "High and Low," and "Red Beard." He helped Kurosawa make the transition to color in "Dodes'ka-den," pushing through to even more amazing work in "Kagemusha," "Ran," "Dreams," and "Rhapsody in August." One of the greats.
Chitresh Das
Dancer -- via Mercury News.
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_27273521/pandit-chitresh-das-renowned-indian-dance-master-dies
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_27273521/pandit-chitresh-das-renowned-indian-dance-master-dies
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Rene Vautier
Filmmaker -- via Ouest France. He was sentenced to prison for making anti-colonialist films, one, "Afrique 50," was banned for 40 years. See it below.
The Charlie Hebdo killings
12 are killed at Paris satirical weekly -- via the Telegraph. The dead include several staffers from Charlie Hebdo and two police officers. This post will update periodically as more information comes in.
Here is a complete lit of victims:
Stephane "Charb" Charbonnier, artist and publishing director
Jean "Cabu" Cabut, lead cartoonist
Bernard "Tignous" Verlhac, cartoonist
Georges Wolinski, cartoonist
Bernard "Uncle Bernard" Maris, economist and columnist
Phillipe Honore, cartoonist
Michel Renaud -- former journalist
Mustapha Ourrad -- copy editor
Elsa Cayat -- columnist and analyst
Frederic Boisseau -- building maintenance worker
Franck Brinsolaro -- police officer
Ahmed Merabet -- police officer
They were humorists. They were telling jokes, provoking thought, for crying out loud. Proof positive that the people who can't take a joke are dangerous. Without humor, there's no freedom. It's ironic, but not funny, that one of the slain officers was a Muslim.
Here is a complete lit of victims:
Stephane "Charb" Charbonnier, artist and publishing director
Jean "Cabu" Cabut, lead cartoonist
Bernard "Tignous" Verlhac, cartoonist
Georges Wolinski, cartoonist
Bernard "Uncle Bernard" Maris, economist and columnist
Phillipe Honore, cartoonist
Michel Renaud -- former journalist
Mustapha Ourrad -- copy editor
Elsa Cayat -- columnist and analyst
Frederic Boisseau -- building maintenance worker
Franck Brinsolaro -- police officer
Ahmed Merabet -- police officer
They were humorists. They were telling jokes, provoking thought, for crying out loud. Proof positive that the people who can't take a joke are dangerous. Without humor, there's no freedom. It's ironic, but not funny, that one of the slain officers was a Muslim.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
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