Comedian and actor; one of the last of the old-school yuckmeisters -- via Variety. AKA Jack Chakrin.
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.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Hal Gould
Photographer and photography curator; long-time owner of Camera Obscura Gallery -- via Westword. Legitimized photography as an art form in the region.
Friday, June 26, 2015
John M. Stephens
Cinematographer and cameraman -- via legacy.com. Started off doing a lot of second-unit and specialty shooting, starting with John Sturges's would-be epic Western comedy, "The Hallelujah Trail" in 1965. He worked with the greats on films such as "Seconds," "Temple of Doom," "Midnight Run," and "Titanic." Served as DP on the great 'B' trilogy, "Billy Jack," "Boxcar Bertha," and "Blacula," as well as Friedkin's underrated "Sorcerer."
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Patrick Macnee
Actor -- via the BBC. Macnee played John Steed, the perfect gentleman and secret agent in the British TV series "The Avengers." This show was my absolute favorite as a child, and Steed was pleasant, well-spoken, intelligent, witty, and tough -- and Macnee was a great foil for the succession of great female partners he would play against in the original series and its remake. For better or worse, he was typed as such for the rest of his career. He had some fun with his image in films such as "Spinal Tap" and "The Howling," and he is one of the few actors to have played both Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. A lot of fun as a performer, his bonhomie always cheered me up. We still have to fact-check the assertion that he was tossed from Eton for selling porn and running a bookie joint.
Anthony Sydes
Child actor -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Best remembered as Peter, the child who Santa (Edmund Gwenn) promises a fire engine in "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947).
Larry Johnson
Tenor with the Artistics -- via Vintage Vinyl News. They sang background for Major Lance ("Monkey Time") among others. Their big hit: "I'm Gonna Miss You" in 1966.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Nicola Badalucco
Screenwriter and journalist -- via Trapani Oggi. Best known for writing scripts such as "Death in Venice" and "The Damned."
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Don Featherstone
Artist best known for creating the iconic plastic pink flamingo lawn ornament -- via the Sentinel and Enterprise.
Colette Marchand
Ballerina -- via the New York Times. Received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Marie in "Moulin Rouge" (1952).
Magali Noel
Actress and singer -- via ANSA. A favorite of Fellini, she is best known for playing Gradisca in "Amarcord." As a singer, her big hit was the controversial "Hurt Me Johnny" in 1959 -- an extrememly masochistic rock 'n' roll song that was banned from French radio. She also appeared in classics such as "Rififi" and "Satyricon."
Dick Van Patten
Actor -- via Entertainment Weekly. A stalwart character actor who started on Broadway at age 7 in 1935, Van Patten is best known for playing Tom Bradford, the father on American TV dramedy "Eight is Enough." A Mel Brooks regular as well, he specialized in comedy and playing nebbishes.
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