The RIP Famous Person Thread

[misskit]

William Christopher, the actor best known as Father Mulcahy on the classic sitcom M.A.S.H., died today following a battle with lung cancer. He was 84, and died in his Pasadena home according to his son, John, who made the news public.

Born in Evanston, Illinois in 1932, Christopher got his start as a stage actor in the 1950s before moving into television and film. Christopher held a variety of guest roles on many 1960s shows including The Andy Griffith Show, The Patty Duke Show, and The Men from Shiloh; he would also land recurring roles on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. – as Private Lester Hummel-, That Girl and Hogan’s Heroes.

Christopher landed his most famous role in 1972, replacing the actor who portrayed Father Mulcahy in the M.A.S.H. pilot. He would remain a series mainstay throughout the show’s 11 season run, and would reprise the character on the short-lived M.A.S.H. spinoff AfterMASH.

Christopher also held guest roles on shows such as The Love Boat, Good Times, Murder, She Wrote, and Mad About You among many others.

Christopher, whose son, Ned, is autistic, was an advocate for people with autism, devoting time to the National Autistic Society and recording public service announcements.

[NZdick1983]

^ I remember that lovable guy from MASH. RIP.

[misskit]

Bambi artist Tyrus Wong dies aged 106



Tyrus Wong, the artist whose works inspired the Disney film Bambi, has died aged 106.

A Chinese immigrant, Mr Wong's vibrant paintings captured Walt Disney's eye and became the basis of the film's distinct style.

In a statement, the Walt Disney Family Museum said "his influence on the artistic composition of the animated feature Bambi cannot be overstated."

He died at home surrounded by his family.

Mr Wong emigrated to the United States from China as a child, with his father - leaving behind his mother and a sister he would never see again.

After studying as an artist, he began working with Disney in 1938 as an "inbetweener", drawing hundreds of pictures between poses to create the illusion of motion.

Looked and felt like a forest

When the film studio began pre-production on Bambi, "he went home and painted several pictures of a deer in a forest", the Disney museum said.

"Walt Disney saw that Tyrus was able to produce exquisite artwork that did not necessarily look like the forest - but rather, felt like the forest. Walt's vision for Bambi and use of Tyrus' work still influences films today," it said.



Tyrus Wong only worked at Disney for three years, moving to Warner Brothers as a concept artist, designing greeting cards for Hallmark on the side.

After retiring, he turned to creating hundreds of elaborate bamboo kites, received many awards in recognition of his work, and became the subject of a documentary about his life.

Writing about his death, the documentary's director said "with his passing, we have lost a brilliant artist, motion picture and animation legend, Chinese American pioneer, and hero.

"Tyrus always faced adversity with dignity, courage, and art... he awed us with his talent, charmed us with his boyish humour, and moved us with his humility, generosity, resilience, and big heart."


Bambi artist Tyrus Wong dies aged 106 - BBC News

[BaitongBoy]

Bambi is dead!...Interesting story, that one...He had a long life, as well...Might be a record on this thread, eh Harry?...

[Davis Knowlton]

^Oldest I recall......

[Neverna]

An interesting story, and a sad one that he never got to see his mother and a sister again after emigrating to the US.

[BaitongBoy]

Immigrating to USA?...

[forreachingme]

Amazing, charming, adventurous, bamboo ambassador and pioneer, Linda sadly passed away on January 3 of 2017.

She promoted bamboo in Bali Indonesia for decades, running one ahead of it's time foundation for this ressource.
Famous and unfamous people from all over the World visited her Bamboo Bali house...

A good read about this outstanding Lady here:

Vale Linda Garland, Legend - Ubud Now & Then

[snakeeyes]

Where Do You Go to My Lovely?' Singer Peter Sarstedt dead

Singer-songwriter Peter Sarstedt has died, aged 75.
Sarstedt, best known for the song "Where Do You Go to My Lovely?," has lost a six-year battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, according to a statement released by his family on Sunday.
His beloved 1969 ballad, which earned him an Ivor Novello award, hit number one on the U.K. singles chart in February 1969, and spent four weeks at the top. It was replaced by Marvin Gaye's "I Heard it Through the Grapevine."
Sarstedt also scored hits with "Frozen Orange Juice" and "Take Off Your Clothes."
Born in Delhi, India in 1941, his parents were both classically trained musicians. The family returned to Britain in 1954.
His brothers, Richard and Clive, formed a popular skiffle group, and Richard went on to enjoy pop success as Eden Kane in the 1960s.
After his own flash of fame, Peter spent many years living in Denmark, and continued to record and release albums until the early 2000s.
His final album was 2013's "Restless Heart." Later that year he was admitted to a retirement home in Sussex, England, as his brain disorder became more severe.

'Where Do You Go to My Lovely?' Singer Peter Sarstedt dead | KLEW

[BaitongBoy]

"Mystic music"...A classic...

RIP, mate...

[Mathos]

RIP Peter, some god music in your prime.

Sympathies to family and loved ones.

[Latindancer]

Frozen Orange Juice was a fave of mine in 1971, and I still like it....thanks Pete.

[snakeeyes]

Frozen Orange Juice was a fave of mine in 1971, and I still like it....thanks Pete.

1969

[misskit]

Clare Hollingworth, Reporter Who Broke News of WWII, Dies at 105



Veteran British journalist Clare Hollingworth, who broke the news that World War II had begun, died Tuesday in Hong Kong at the age of 105.

"We are sad to announce that after an illustrious career spanning a century of news, celebrated war correspondent Clare Hollingworth died this evening in Hong Kong," read a statement released by her family on the Facebook page "Celebrate Clare Hollingworth."

Best remembered for a report early in her career for the Daily Telegraph that Germany had invaded Poland in 1939, Hollingworth also covered wars in Vietnam, Algeria, the Middle East, India and Pakistan, as well as the Cultural Revolution in China.



Hollingworth had celebrated her 105th birthday in October at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong, which she frequented.

Five years earlier, she spoke with VOA's Steve Herman on her 100th birthday in the same location.

Clare Hollingworth, Reporter Who Broke News of WWII, Dies at 105

[BaitongBoy]

A long life, indeed...Look at the "flapper" look from her youth...

Came very close to Tyrus Wong at 106...

RIP, Clare...

[NZdick1983]

RIP awesome people, mad respect...



..BB, tis not white to cum close to wong.. it's wong, velly velly wong!

[BaitongBoy]

Wot's wong wif clare coming close?...

[harrybarracuda]

Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra pal Buddy Greco dies in Las Vegas
Bruce Fessier , The Desert Sun Published 9:00 p.m. MT Jan. 10, 2017 | Updated 3 hours ago



Singer-pianist Buddy Greco, who hung out with Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, gave a command performance with the Beatles and owned a chic jazz supper club in Cathedral City, died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was 90.

His son, Buddy Greco Jr., of Desert Hot Springs, said in an email, "My beloved dad has passed away. The world is a lesser place. There will never be another... I was lucky to be his drummer for three years... and his son forever."

Greco, born Armando Greco in Philadelphia, was known as one of the leading singer-pianists-arrangers in jazz. He was hired by the legendary big band leader Benny Goodman when he was 16. He sang, played piano and wrote arrangements for the band for four years before starting a solo career that included hit recordings of “The Lady Is A Tramp” and perhaps the first recording of “Up, Up and Away.”

Greco and his fifth wife, singer Lezlie Anders, headlined The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies in 2004 and made Palm Desert their full-time home. They bought property in Cathedral City and in 2006 opened Buddy Greco’s Dinner Club, featuring touring jazz and traditional pop acts, plus performances by Anders with Greco on a grand piano.

He also performed and recorded with the Cathedral City High School jazz band and performed and arranged music for the Coachella Valley Symphony while living in the Coachella Valley. Buddy Jr. plays drums in his own rock band.

Buddy Greco’s Dinner Club closed in 2009 and Anders and Greco moved to England, where they performed their theatrical production of "Fever," based on Greco's relationship with the late singer, Peggy Lee. Greco celebrated his 80th year in show biz in Essex in 2013 performing with a Rat Pack tribute act. His website said he first appeared on radio when he was 4 years old.

The Review-Journal said Greco celebrated his 90th birthday last August at the Italian American Club in Las Vegas. Friends said he was working on an autobiography in Vegas when he died.

Before moving to Palm Desert, Greco performed at a benefit to raise funds for the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at the McCallum Theatre with Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Mel Torme and Dinah Shore. He also performed with Sinatra at the first Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational Gala in 1989 and was a regular at the Jazz Celebrity Golf & JAMS Session in Palm Desert.

Greco, who recorded more than 40 albums in his career, was signed in 1965 to Sinatra’s Reprise Records, where he recorded three albums, including “Big Band & Ballads.” He was visiting Sinatra at his Cal Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe July 28-29, 1962, and had his photo taken with Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. He said Monroe acted like she “didn’t have a care in the world,” but she was found dead a week later in her Brentwood home.

Greco loved telling stories about Sinatra and the Rat Pack.

“We were in Atlantic City," he said in one Desert Sun interview. “Dean and everybody was there. Dean was looking at Frank's set of golf clubs and he said, ‘Do you mind if I try this driver?’ Frank said, ‘Sure,’ and Dean went down the elevator. And Frank calls security! He says, ‘This is Mr. Sinatra. A guy who looks just like Dean Martin stole my golf clubs.’ And they arrested him when he got down there! But just for a moment.”

Anders recalled when her husband angered Sinatra by blowing out some windows at his Rancho Mirage compound with cherry bombs.

“Oh, God," Greco sighed. “We were at the house and he had these big orange ash trays. Yul Brynner and I were drinking by the pool and Yul got a couple of cherry bombs."

"More than a couple," corrected Anders.

"There were quite a few cigarettes burning in the ash tray,” Greco said, “so we threw them. About 20 seconds later you hear (explosion sounds). Well, needless to say, it destroyed everything."

Greco had his first solo hit in 1947, after the Big Band Era, with “Oh Look-A-There Ain’t She Pretty,” which sold over a million copies. His fame as a singer eclipsed his arranging renown in the 1950s when he had hits such as “Oh Look At Her, Ain’t She Pretty” and “Around the World.” In the 1960s, he hung with Sinatra and the Rat Pack in Vegas and had his own network TV show with George Carlin. He played a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II in November 1963 with the Beatles. He also wrote for and conducted orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra.

A list of survivors and funeral arrangements were not yet available.

Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra pal Buddy Greco dies in Las Vegas

[crackerjack101]

[crackerjack101]

[BaitongBoy]

Nice tributes...Cheers...

[crackerjack101]

Nice tributes...Cheers...

You're welcome. Even though his stuff was a bit before my time I like it a lot and there's no denying the talent.

[harrybarracuda]

Will probably forever be immortalised for his legendary: "Do I not like that".

Former Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor dies aged 72: Family release statement after his death
Graham Taylor's family have spoken after his passing at the age of 72
BY STEVE WOLLASTON
13:52, 12 JAN 2017 UPDATED14:12, 12 JAN 2017



Tributes have been flooding in today after the shock news of the death of former Aston Villa and England manager Graham Taylor.

His family have released a statement this afternoon confirming the news of his death.

The family stated: "With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed away at his home early this morning of a suspected heart attack.

"The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss."

Born in Worksop, his playing career was spent in Lincolnshire - he made over 300 appearances for Lincoln City and Grimsby Town.

Taylor had two spells as boss at Villa, the first one considerably successful when he led them back to the First Division.

That achievement earned him the England job in 1990, and he led England to the European Championships in 1992.

A spell at Molineux followed, as did a second stint at Villa Park.

Taylor enjoyed a successful period at Watford too, so much so that a stand at Vicarage Road carries his name.

He since had been a pundit with BBC Radio Five Live.

We will be providing updates, reaction and tributes below from supporters and fellow professionals after this extremely sad news today.

Former Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor dies aged 72: Family release statement after his death - Birmingham Mail

[Sumbitch]

"Do I not like that".

I think that's a good example of the English penchant for asking a question that forces the listener to ask a question himself ("Do you like it or not?"). That way the Englishman keeps the conversation under control bc he knows what will be asked of himself.

[harrybarracuda]

"Do I not like that".

I think that's a good example of the English penchant for asking a question that forces the listener to ask a question himself ("Do you like it or not?"). That way the Englishman keeps the conversation under control bc he knows what will be asked of himself.

It wasn't a question. Just bad English.