Tuesday, April 7, 2015

James Best

Actor -- via CBS. Unfortunately, he may be best remembered for his work playing an idiot in a best-forgotten TV show; however, he was an excellent actor who appeared in film and TV for 65 years. I will remember his work in "Shock Corridor" and "Ride Lonesome."

Jenny Wallenda

Circus performer and stunt aerialist -- via the New York Times.

Fritz Wegner

Illustrator -- via the Guardian.

Sandy Mason Theoret

Songwriter -- via the Tennessean. Write hits such as "When I Dream" and "Two Pina Coladas."




Robert Burns Jr.

Barbara Sass-Zdort

Screenwriter and director -- via Radio Poland.

Doug Sax

Mastering engineer -- via Analog Planet.

Albino Bernardini

Writer -- via La Nuova Sardegna.

Bek Nelson

Actress -- via IMDb message board. AKA Doris Stiner, Bek Gordon.

George Burt

Monday, April 6, 2015

Jeremy Brown

Guitarist -- via the New York Daily News.

Riccardo Ingram

Kayahan

Singer and songwriter -- via sabah.com.tr. AKA Kayahan Acar.

Algirdas Vaclovas Patackas

Dissident, poet, and writer -- via delfi.it.

Fillie Lyckow

Actress --via the Aftonbladet.

Deathcetera: the week in death and mourning

DEATH


The Terry Schiavo right-to-die decision, 10 years after – from Arthur Caplan via NBC News





Deathbed tweeting or no? – from Steven Petrow in USA Today

Witnessing capital punishment – from Maggie Allder in the Guardian


MOURNING





FUNERALS

Local funeral directors object to funeral corporation’s tactics – by Patti Mengers at the Delaware County Daily Times


Oh, dear – making a funeral into a multimedia show – via Roddie Burris at The State

Childrens’ deaths make funeral plans a volatile experience – from Marney Rich Keenan at the Detroit News

A mortician’s life in China – via New China TV and YouTube

Seniors nix funeral home across street – via Shannon Mullen at the Asbury Park Press


OBITS

Self-penned obit goes viral – from Ed Mazza in the Huffington Post


Andrew Porter

Rudolph R. Perz

Ad man who created the Pillsbury Doughboy -- via the Chicago Tribune.

Anne Woods

Champion of gurning (funny-face-making) -- via the Independent.


Tom Towles

Actor -- via the New York Daily News.

Julie Wilson

Singer and actress -- via Playbill.





Friday, April 3, 2015

Aniceto Molina

Legendary cumbia accordionist -- via soundsandcolours.com.

Billy Butler

Singer and songwriter -- via soulandjazzandfunk.com. Co-wrte "I Stand Accused."



Roger Slifer

Comics writer and editor -- via newsarama.com.

Edward Hice

Delia Salvi

Actor and acting teacher -- via legacy.com.

Ralph Sharon

Jazz pianist; long-time Tony Bennett accompanist who suggested he sing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" -- via the Denver Post. Ralph lived in Boulder, Colorado for many years after his "retirement," and was a pleasure as a talent and as a person.




Thursday, April 2, 2015

Manoel de Oliveira

Film director and screenwriter -- via EFE. He began working in film in 1927, and completed his first in 1931. Focused originally on short films and documentaries, with time he began producing narrative features as well, creating an amazing body of work (62 films) that spanned many styles. He is best known in America for his 2001 "I'm Going Home." An amazingly versatile storyteller who illuminated the human.







Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Anne James

Actress -- via legacy.com. AKA Delores Sidener, Delores Anne "Dorrie" Sheehan.



Robert Z'Dar

Actor -- via the Pensacola News Journal. AKA Robert Zdarsky.

Ronald Stevenson

Composer and pianist -- via the Independent.

Preston Ritter

Drummer for the Electric Prunes -- via Ultimate Classic Rock.



J. Karen Thomas

Helmut Dietl

Film director, and writer -- via Deutsche Welle. Best known for his hit comedy "Schtonk!"



George Spitz

Fred Robsahm

Actor -- via westernboothill.blogspot.com.

Pedro Reyes

Actor and comedian -- via Hola.

Olga Syahputra

Comedian, actor, singer, and TV host -- via the Jakarta Post. AKA Yoga Syahputra.