The RIP Famous Person Thread

[Troy]

Give me a conscious death anytime

The best death is the heart attack where the punter drops dead on the spot.

[Mr Lick]

The real lottery winners are the ones who die in their sleep.

I call these the lucky bastards .

Many people think this. But what if the stroke or heart attack gives you a nightmare and that's how you die ?

Give me a conscious death anytime.....but preferably listening to my favourite music, and/or having good friends there. Which is what you can do (sometimes) when you die of cancer.

I'd also go for a period of notice on one's death.

A bucket list, of places to visit, write letters, a period of time to say goodbye to old friends/loved family members, to put ones affairs in order, poke fun and generally shake hands with the world before one drifts off into the silent darkness on a wave of morphine.

[harrybarracuda]

I don't much give a fuck how it happens as long as it's pain free.

[harrybarracuda]

Alice Coachman Davis, first black woman to win Olympic gold, dies at 90
Tuesday 15 July 2014




Alice Coachman Davis, the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal, has died in south Georgia at 90.

She won Olympic gold in the high jump at the 1948 games in London with an American and Olympic record of 1.68 metres (5.51ft), according to USA Track and Field, the American governing body of the sport. She was inducted to the USA Track and Field Hall of fame in 1975 and the US Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004.

[galaxytrash]

The Ramones finally disbanded in 1996 after a show at the Palace in Hollywood. Joey Ramone died of lymphoma in 2001; Dee Dee succumbed to a drug overdose in 2002; and Johnny expired from prostate cancer in 2004.



dee dee had the right idea.

just my humble opinion, no attacks please.

[galaxytrash]

what's the joke?

i'd sooner die peacefully in my sleep like my grandpa.....not screaming like the 4 people in the car he was driving at the time.

[harrybarracuda]

Tom Rolf, who shared a best editing Oscar for his work on 1983 astronaut epic “The Right Stuff” and also edited “Taxi Driver,” “New York, New York,” “Black Sunday,” “Heaven’s Gate,” “Nine ½ Weeks,” “Heat” and “The Horse Whisperer,” among many other films, has died. He was 82.

Rolf shared his 1984 Oscar for the monumental effort required to edit “The Right Stuff” with Glenn Farr, Lisa Fruchtman, Stephen A. Rotter and Douglas Stewart.

Also in 1984, Rolf won an Eddie from the American Cinema Editors for his work on “WarGames.”

He worked on a number of films for Martin Scorsese, even though that director is usually associated with the editor Thelma Schoonmaker.

Rolf had most recently worked on the critically lauded 2008 Russian film “Admiral,” directed by Andrey Kravchuk, and the TV series that subsequently grew out of the film.

He received a Career Achievement Award from the American Cinema Editors in 2003.

[Sumbitch]

^ You know it really is amazing. I have surfed the Web for 15 minutes and have not seen a single reference to his passing (btw, his name iswas Tom Wolfe).

I would just like to add that, whether he's dead or alive, you forgot or failed to mention his most momentous work, not to mention the one that brought him to national attention for the first time and was the seminal non-fictional book of the hippie generation: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. A truly, truly epic book that was a true story (in which he took part as well) of hippie buses, LSD (hence, the title), drugs, sex, rock 'n roll, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Haight-Ashbury, Ken Kesey (author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, who was the leader of the gang and called themselves the Merry Prangsters), Timothy Leary, the Hell's Angels and on and on.

[Sumocakewalk]

It appears there may be 2 persons with similar names that were involved in the film The Right Stuff. I checked IMDB and it shows Tom Rolf as being one of the editors of the film. IMDB also shows Tom Wolfe in the writing credits for the book. To make matters a little more confusing, they both were born in 1931.

[harrybarracuda]

I'm sorry, it says Tom Rolf. Why would you think it was Tom Wolfe?

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738196/

Ah right, because he wrote the book.

[harrybarracuda]

^ You know it really is amazing. I have surfed the Web for 15 minutes and have not seen a single reference to his passing (btw, his name iswas Tom Wolfe).

I would just like to add that, whether he's dead or alive, you forgot or failed to mention his most momentous work, not to mention the one that brought him to national attention for the first time and was the seminal non-fictional book of the hippie generation: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. A truly, truly epic book that was a true story (in which he took part as well) of hippie buses, LSD (hence, the title), drugs, sex, rock 'n roll, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Haight-Ashbury, Ken Kesey (author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, who was the leader of the gang and called themselves the Merry Prangsters), Timothy Leary, the Hell's Angels and on and on.

Tom Rolf, who shared a best editing Oscar

Bit of a giveaway really.

[Sumbitch]

^ and ^^ and ^^^

[palexxxx]

^


Tom Rolf, who shared a best editing Oscar for his work on 1983 astronaut epic “The Right Stuff” and also edited “Taxi Driver,” “New York, New York,” “Black Sunday,” “Heaven’s Gate,” “Nine ½ Weeks,” “Heat” and “The Horse Whisperer,” among many other films, has died. He was 82.


Tom Rolf, Oscar-Winning Editor of ‘The Right Stuff,’ Dies at 82 | Variety

[Sumbitch]

Finally, it makes sense.

[harrybarracuda]

Dyslexia can warn without striking.

[Sumbitch]

If that's the worst symptom, bring it on.

[harrybarracuda]

GENEVA (AP) -- Texas blues icon Johnny Winter, who rose to fame in the late 1960s and `70s for his energetic performances and musical collaborations including with childhood hero Muddy Waters, has died. He was 70.

His representative, Carla Parisi, confirmed Thursday that Winter died in a hotel room in Zurich a day earlier. The statement said his wife, family and bandmates were all saddened by the loss of one of the world's finest guitarists.

He had been on an extensive tour this year that brought him to Europe. His last performance came Saturday at the Lovely Days Festival in Wiesen, Austria.

Winter was one of the most popular live acts of the early 1970s, when his signature fast blues guitar solos attracted a wide following.

His career received a big boost early on when Rolling Stone magazine singled him out as one of the best blues guitarists on the Texas scene. This helped secure a substantial recording contract from Columbia Records and gave him a wide following among college students and young blues fans.

The magazine later named him one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Winter, who was instantly recognizable for his long white hair, worked with some of the greatest bluesmen, producing several albums for Waters and recording with John Lee Hooker. He paid homage to Waters on "Tribute to Muddy," a song from his 1969 release "The Progressive Blues Experiment."

Among the blues classics that Winter played from that era were "Rollin' and Tumblin'," "Bad Luck and Trouble" and "Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl." He also teamed up with his brother Edgar for their 1976 live album "Together."

[Sumocakewalk]

R.I.P. Johnny. Saw Johnny a couple of times in concert back in his heyday and have several of his albums.

[harrybarracuda]

wjblaney will probably tell us how good he was playing Tarzan.

[BaitongBoy]

^Heh...He played the guitar, harry...

[harrybarracuda]

Prolific stage actress Elaine Stritch passed away at her home in Birmingham, Michigan Thursday morning. She was 89.

For nearly seven decades, Stritch gave commanding performances both on stage and on screen. Last year, she moved to from New York to Michigan to be closer with her family out of concern for her health.

Before she got her start in showbiz, she trained at the Dramatic Workshop at The New School in New York City–some of her classmates included Marlon Brando and Bea Arthur.

Stritch got her start in the 1940s and over the course of her career, she worked in more than 75 films and television shows, as well as performing in several Broadway shows. The talented actress received her first Tony nomination in 1956 for her role in Bus Stop, and would go on to receive give more nominations until finally wining one in 2002 for Best Special Theatrical Event for her one-woman show Elaine Stritch at Liberty. The television broadcast of her Tony-winning show also received an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.

Despite finding success on stage in the 1940s and 1950s, Stritch struggled with alcoholism and for a period of time in the 1960s, she supported herself by working as a bartender at famed celebrity hotspot Elaine’s on New York City’s Upper East Side. “It’s therapeutic,” she said in a 1964 interview. “I’m safer on this side of the bar than the other.”

Off stage, the late 89-year-old appeared on The Ellen Burstyn Show, The Cosby Show, Law & Order, and most recently 30 Rock. During her television career she won three awards–including one for her guest appearances on Law & Order. In 2007, the actress won an Emmy as a guest star for playing Colleen Donaghy (mother to Alec Baldwin‘s Jack Donaghy) on 30 Rock, and from 2008 to 2013, she received four more nominations in the same category for her work on the show.

In the movies, Stritch showed equally as much range, and was considered by many to be a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination thanks to her role in Woody Allen‘s 1987 film September.

[Sumbitch]

wjblaney will probably tell us how good he was playing Tarzan.

No, RIP, Johnny. I'm sorry I missed him live, bc he's ranked in the top 100 of the best guitarists of all time, according to Rolling Stone. He and his brother Edgar were sure freaky looking, due to their albinism, but that made their acts mesmerizing. (Edgar prolly was a little more famous, due to his top 20 hit "Free Ride". Keep on truckin' Edgar!)

[Mr Lick]

Bob Torrance, father of golf star Sam, passes away aged 82


Renowned golf coach Bob Torrance, the father of Ryder Cup-winning captain Sam, has died aged 82.

Torrance helped Irishman Padraig Harrington win back-to-back Open titles in 2007 and 2008.

His son Sam, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup success in 2002, tweeted: "Sad day - my dad just passed away peacefully in his sleep."

Bob Torrance, described by Harrington as "the best swing coach in the world", had been battling cancer.

Iain Carter, BBC Sport's golf correspondent, tweeted: "Saddened to hear of the death of one of golf's great gentlemen and a wonderful teacher, Bob Torrance.

Thoughts with June & Sam."



Ian Poulter, playing in the Open, added: "Really sad news Bob Torrance just passed away. An amazing man who coached so many great players. He will be missed."

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan - a keen golfer - tweeted: "RIP Bob Torrance... a great golfing man."

BBC Sport's Gary Lineker added: "Saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Torrance. One of golf's truly wonderful characters. Condolences to Sam and all the family."

Marc Warren, a former pupil Torrance claimed was more concerned with "big flats and Aston Martins" than developing his game, also paid tribute.

The 33-year-old said: "It is a sad day for golf, a legend has passed away. It is a sad day for everyone involved.

"He gave you absolutely everything he had to make you the best player you could possibly be. I will forever be in his debt for that."

[harrybarracuda]

‘The Patriot’ Actress Skye McCole Bartusiak Dies at 21
JULY 19, 2014 | 07:29PM PT
Skye McCole Bartusiak, who played the daughter of Mel Gibson in the 2000 film “The Patriot, died on Saturday. She was 21.



The cause of death is unknown but she reportedly died in her sleep at her Texas home.

Bartusiak appeared in several films as a child actor including “The Cider House Rules” in 1999 and “Don’t Say a Word” opposite Michael Douglas.

She was also featured in popular TV shows such as “24,” “Lost” and “House M.D.”

Born in Texas, the actress most recently produced and starred in several short films.

[harrybarracuda]

Hardly famous for a twilight role in some Gosling poof fest, more famous for The Rockford Files and Maverick than anything else I would have thought.

And two Purple Hearts in Korea.

RIP.

And I thought his performance in Space Cowboys was great was well.



Oscar-nominated actor James Garner, who played the older Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, dies at 86
By CASSIE CARPENTER

PUBLISHED: 08:53, 20 July 2014 | UPDATED: 09:14, 20 July 2014
Oscar-nominated actor James Garner, who played the older Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, died at age 86 in his Los Angeles home Saturday.

According to TMZ, The Rockford Files star was already dead - of an unknown cause - when the ambulance arrived around 8PM.

The three-time Golden Globe winner had reportedly underwent a quintuple bypass heart surgery in 1988 and suffered a minor stroke in 2008.

James was famous for playing gun-slinger Bret Maverick in the 1957 western TV series as well as the 1994 film version.

Garner also starred in The Great Escape in 1963, Victor Victoria in 1982, Murphy's Romance in 1985, and Space Cowboys in 2000.

Born in Oklahoma as the youngest of three, the legendary actor was also a serviceman for the Merchant Marines, the National Guard, and the Army where he was awarded two purple hearts in Korea.

The acting veteran's final screen role was opposite Abigail Breslin in the 2007 family drama The Ultimate Gift.

James is survived by his longtime wife Lois - whom he wed in 1956 - and their 56-year-old daughter Greta 'Gigi' Garner.