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, May 7, 2015
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Errol Brown
Singer and songwriter, best known as the front man of Hot Chocolate -- via the Guardian. Biggest hits: "You Sexy Thing" and the original version of "Brother Louie."
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Ellen Albertini Dow
Actress -- via Deadline. Best known for her more recent comedic roles, she spent decades on stage, performing comedy, mime, and Yiddish theater.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Nigel Terry
Actor -- via the Guardian. Best known for his roles in films such as "Excalibur," "The Lion in Winter," and "Caravaggio."
Grace Lee Whitney
Actress -- via the New York Daily News. AKA Mary Ann Chase. Best known for her role as Yeoman Rand on the original "Star Trek" series, she would prefer to be remembered as someone who overcame some serious addictions. (And in the Star Trek universe, she eventually role to the rank of Commander!)
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Stuart Archer
World War II bomb disposal officer -- via the Telegraph. He dismantled more than 200 bombs successfully; awarded the George Cross. Either the luckiest man in the world or the one with the biggest balls, I'm not sure which. The truth I believe lies somewhere between and is termed bravery. Some of his experiences were related in James Owen's "Danger UXB."
Maria Elena Velasco
Actress, comedian, singer, songwriter, dance, film producer and director -- via the Huffington Post. Best known for her comedic person, La India Maria.
Patachou
Singer and actress -- via Le Figaro. AKA Henriette Ragon. Played Yvette Guilbert in Renoir's "Can Can."
Alex Stevens
Actor, stunt coordinator, and stuntman -- via Facebook. Best known for his work as the Werewolf in the TV horror/soap series "Dark Shadows," and as the comic, pratfalling baker in a taped bit that appeared often in early episodes of "Sesame Street."
Friday, May 1, 2015
Bill Valentine
Umpire and later long-time GM of the Arkansas Travelers baseball team -- via talkbusiness.net.
Colin Sauer
Violinist -- via the Telegraph. His recording of the Douglas Coates violin concerto, long thought lost, resurfaced to acclaim in 2006.
Richard LaSalle
Film and television composer -- via legacy.com. Born in Louisville, Colorado on January 18, 1918, he attended the University of Colorado. LaSalle began writing for local radio, then performed around the region as a pianist and an orchestra leader from 1940 to 1955. His film credits include "Tank Battalion" (1958), "Deadly Duo" (1962), "40 Guns to Apache Pass" (1967), "Piranha" (1972), TV movies such as "The Amazing Captain Nemo," "Fire!", and "Back to the Planet of the Apes"; and TV shows such as "F Troop," "Land of the Giants," "Room 222," and "Wonder Woman."
Too soon: on not listing some of the young deceased
I've recently passed on posting obituaries on 22-year-old Peter Cronkite and 19-year-old Sawyer Sweeten. In general, I try to focus on obituaries overlooked by the mainstream media. This is not to say that these young men, and others who die tragically, such as recent progeria victim Hayley Okines, did not make significant and lasting contributions to humanity in their short lives. However, their stories are told far more eloquently on sites and via journalism that can adequately foreground and emphasize the issues involved with their deaths. They deserve better and more thorough attention than I can give them. Thanks for listening.
Ben E. King
Legendary soul and R& B singer and songwriter -- via the BBC. AKA Benjamin Earl Nelson. As the lead singer of the Drifters, he had hits with "There Goes My Baby," "This Magic Moment," and "Save the Last Dance for Me"; as a soloist, he recorded more classics, including "Stand by Me," "Spanish Harlem," and "Don't Play That Song."
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