The RIP Famous Person Thread

[socal]

This nigger was alright..

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Stand-up comedian Patrice O'Neal died on Tuesday at the age of 41 following a stroke last month, his agent said.
"It is with terrible sadness we must report that Patrice O'Neal has passed away this morning...due to the complications of the stroke he suffered on October 19," O'Neal's agent Matt Frost said in a statement.
"Many of us have lost a close and loved friend; all of us have lost a true comic genius," Frost added.
O'Neal, who appeared on Comedy Central celebrity roasts and on Conan O'Brien's and David Letterman's late night TV shows, was also a frequent guest on the "Opie & Anthony" radio show on Sirius XM.
"Yes it's true that our pal Patrice O'Neal has passed away. The funniest and best thinker I've known. PERIOD," the Sirius XM hosts said in a Twitter message.
The "Opie & Anthony" show also broke news last month that the stand-up comic, who was diabetic, had suffered a stroke last month.
Frost said O'Neal's mother Georgia was at his side when he died. O'Neal is survived by his wife, Vondecarlo, his step daughter Aymilyon and sister Zinder.
"The family wishes to thank all of the fans and friends who have expressed an outpouring of love and support for Patrice these past weeks. We ask that you please respect the family's request for privacy at this difficult time," the statement added.
O'Neal took part along with other celebrities in Comedy Central's roast of actor Charlie Sheen in September.
He also appeared in the Comedy Central special "Elephant in the Room," and had guest roles in TV shows including "The Office" and "Arrested Development".
Film appearances included "In the Cut," "25th Hour" and "Head of State."
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Chris Michaud)

[withnallstoke]

Dave the cross-dressing scorpion.
Drowned in drinking water, or possibly murdered.

RIP Dave.

[Bogon]

Words cannot express what I am feeling now.
At least you are now at peace in insect heaven playing with the ants and spiders.

R.I.P Dave

[can123]

I rather like the idea of an "insect heaven" and wouldn't mind going there myself. The thought of going to a conventional Heaven and seeing some of the horrible bastards I have known, for a second and eternal existence, is too much to stomach. I'd rather be with the insects. Much nicer class of person.

[Latindancer]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Laugh-In" actor Alan Sues, who was known for playing outlandish and effeminate characters on television, has died at age 85, a statement on his website said.
Sues died on Thursday night while watching television at his home in West Hollywood, just outside of Los Angeles, his longtime friend, Michael Gregg Michaud, said on the site.
He had recently been in poor health, according to Michaud.
From 1968 to 1972, Sues was a recurring cast member on the NBC show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" playing an eccentric children's host named Uncle Al the Kiddies' Pal and an effeminate sportscaster called Big Al in "Big Al's Sports Scene".

The California native was also known for his role as a clumsy and outrageously flamboyant Peter Pan on peanut butter commercials during the same time he starred in "Laugh-In."
After "Laugh-In," Sues performed on Broadway in the 1970s, as Professor Moriarty in the play "Sherlock Holmes."
Sues is survived by two nieces and a nephew, according to his website.

[Mr Lick]

Brazil football legend Socrates dies at 57






Socrates scores stunners at World Cup 1982

Former Brazil captain Socrates has died at the age of 57.

He had been in a critical condition with an intestinal infection since being admitted to intensive care on Friday at a hospital in Sao Paulo.

Socrates, who was widely regarded as one of the greatest ever midfielders, was moved onto a life support machine on Saturday

Born on 19 February 1954 in Belem do Para, Brazil

• Rated as one of the greatest midfielders of all-time
• At 6ft 4in tall he was known for his physical strength, as well as two-footed vision and skill
• Played for Botafogo and Corinthians in Brazil before a one-season spell at Fiorentina
• Saw out his career with Flamengo and Santos before retiring in 1989 aged 35
• In 2004 aged 50, Socrates made an appearance as sub for Garforth Town in the Northern Counties League after a one-off deal to become player-coach

He played in two World Cups, won 60 caps for his country between 1979 and 1986 and scored 22 goals.

[Bogon]

^ Remember everyone trying his trademark "walk-in" penalties as a kid in the playground.

Pure class.

[venturalaw]

Really a great personality for many years. He'll be missed.

TV - ENTERTAINMENT
'M*A*S*H' Star Harry Morgan Dies at Age 96
Published December 07, 2011

Emmy-winning character actor Harry Morgan, whose portrayal of the fatherly Col. Potter on television's "M*A*S*H" highlighted a show business career that included nine other TV series, 50 films and the Broadway stage, died Wednesday. He was 96.
His daughter-in-law, Beth Morgan, told The Associated Press the actor died at his home in Brentwood, California, after having pneumonia.
Morgan appeared in mostly supporting roles on the big screen, playing opposite such stars as Henry Fonda, John Wayne, James Garner, Elvis Presley and Dan Aykroyd.

On television, he was more the comedic co-star, including roles on "December Bride," its spin-off "Pete and Gladys," as Sgt. Joe Friday's loyal partner in later "Dragnet" episodes and on CBS-TV's long-running "M*A*S*H" series, for which he earned an Emmy award in 1980.
Yet acting wasn't Morgan's first career choice.
Born in Detroit in 1915, Morgan was studying pre-law at the University of Chicago when public speaking classes sparked his interest in the stage. Before long, he was working with a little theater group in Washington, followed by a two-year stint on Broadway in the original production of "Golden Boy," with Karl Malden and Lee J. Cobb.
Morgan made his way to Hollywood in 1942 "without any assurance that I would find work," he said in a 1976 interview with The Associated Press.
"I didn't have enough money to go back East, so I stayed around finding jobs mainly out of friendships."
He signed a contract with 20th Century Fox after a talent scout spotted him in the one-act play, "Hello, Out There."
One of his earliest films was "The Ox Bow Incident" in 1943 with Fonda. Other films included: "High Noon," "What Price Glory," "Support Your Local Sheriff," "The Apple Dumpling Gang" and "The Shootist."
Morgan began his television career in 1954 when the medium was in its infancy.
"Television allowed me to kick the Hollywood habit of typing an actor in certain roles," Morgan said, referring to his typical sidekick or sheriff portrayals on the big screen
In "December Bride," his first TV series, Morgan played Pete Porter. The CBS series lasted from 1954-1959, when he went on to star in his own series, "Pete and Gladys," a spinoff of "December Bride."
Demonstrating his diversity as a character actor and comedian, Morgan also starred in "The Richard Boone Show," "Kentucky Jones" and "Dragnet."
But it was his role as Col. Sherman Porter on "M*A*S*H" for which Morgan became best known.
"M*A*S*H was so damned good," Morgan told the AP. "I didn't think they could keep the level so high."
His acting career didn't stop after the popular series left the air in 1983 after 11 years -- one of television's most successful prime-time runs. Morgan went on to appear in several made-for-TV movies and other television series, such as "AfterM*A*S*H" and "Blacke's Magic."
When he was not on the set, Morgan enjoyed reading books about the legal profession and poetry. He also liked horses, which he once raised on his Northern California ranch.
Morgan is survived by his second wife, Barbara, and four sons from both marriages: Chris, Charlie, Paul and Danny.


Read more: 'M*A*S*H' Star Harry Morgan Dies At Age 96 | Fox News

[nedwalk]

^sad news..but what a bloody good innings!!

[teddy]

George Michael RIP

[Mr Lick]

Country singer Billie Jo Spears dies aged 74


Spears had a 1978 hit with '57 Chevrolet, the car featured in this Daily Mail photo by Neville Marriner

Country singer Billie Jo Spears, best known for her 1975 hit Blanket on the Ground, has died at the age of 74.

The sultry-voiced singer, who had 25 Top 40 country hits between 1969 and 1984, died at her home in Vidor, Texas on Wednesday, according to reports.

Famed for her bluesy vocals, Spears had her first chart hit with Mr. Walker, It's All Over.

Her other Top 10 hits included What I've Got in Mind, Misty Blue and If You Want Me.

Though her popularity waned in the 1980s Spears continued to tour, despite having triple bypass heart surgery in 1993.

The Texan star had been scheduled to make a number of UK appearances next May as part of a touring show entitled Ladies of Country.

[slaphead]

Chris Hitchens dead at 62.

A sad loss of a fierce intellect.

http://abc.com.au/news/2011-12-16/ch...-at-62/3735580

[Humbert]

^I will miss his writing. His views were somewhat irreconcilable for me because he was both an athiest and an admirer of George W. Bush - an odd cocktail.

[slaphead]

The interviews are very good.

[The Ghost Of The Moog]

I don't expect many here have heard of Christopher Hitchens, and I haven't given him his own thread, as he didn't do anything really important for a living (by TD standards) - like play football or drive a fast car, nor was he gay.

Christopher Hitchens: obituary


Author, literary critic and journalist Christopher Hitchens Photo: REX FEATURES






Over the course of his career the self-confessed contrarian gleefully picked fights with political opponents, Nobel Peace Prize winners and religious believers of all faiths.

He fired his trademark put-downs and scathing critiques at figures such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Mother Teresa.

Family ties were no barrier either. He famously fell out with his brother, Mail On Sunday journalist Peter, though the pair were reconciled.

Hitchens published scores of books, thousands of articles and made countless television appearances where he could always be relied upon to provide a stream of serious but witty put-downs.

The publication of his 2007 book God Is Not Great made him a major celebrity in his adopted homeland of the United States, and he happily took on the role of the country's best-known atheist.


He maintained his devout atheism after being diagnosed with cancer in 2010, telling one interviewer: "No evidence or argument has yet been presented which would change my mind. But I like surprises."
The Anglo-American iconoclast – he became a United States citizen in 2007 – had very traditional English beginnings. The son of a naval officer, he was born in Portsmouth and educated at private school and Oxford University.
His student days set the pattern for the rest of his life and he freely admitted living a split existence, spending his days as a campaigning left-wing socialist and his nights wining and dining with the great and the good of Oxford.
Strong drink and political argument would remain among his chief pleasures for the rest of his life.
His early career in journalism saw him write for left-wing weekly The New Statesman where he became associated with a group of young writers including Martin Amis, Ian McEwan and Salman Rushdie.
Those friendships endured but many old comrades turned their back on him when he supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
He famously traded insults with George Galloway who described him as "a drink-soaked former Trotskyist popinjay".
Hitchens was promoting his memoirs, Hitch-22, when he was diagnosed with cancer.
He did not stop working, telling one interviewer: "I was very afraid that it would stop me writing. I was really petrified with fear about that because I thought that would, among other things, diminish my will to live.
"Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do."
Hitchens is survived by his wife and three children.

[The Muffinman]

Chris Hitchens dead at 62.

A sad loss of a fierce intellect.

http://abc.com.au/news/2011-12-16/ch...-at-62/3735580

Sean Hannity will be dancing with joy today.

[slaphead]

[slaphead]

[slaphead]

This is quite brilliant.

[Mr Lick]

On The Buses writer Ronnie Wolfe dies

Comments (28)
The comedy ran for four series in the 1970s

Ronnie Wolfe, the writer of television sitcom On The Buses, has died after hitting his head in a fall, his son-in-law said.

Mr Wolfe, 89, died on Sunday, three days after he fell down the stairs at a respite home in London.

The comedy show was first broadcast from 1969 to 1973 on LWT and ran for four series.

Arif Hussein, the husband of Mr Wolfe's daughter Kathryn, said his father-in-law was "absolutely wonderful".

"He was the kind of father-in-law most people dream about, absolutely.

"Most people talk about their in-laws as people who are interfering, but to me my in-laws were a dream.

"Ronnie was from day one, he was absolutely wonderful."

On the Buses was set in a bus depot, and was initially rejected by the BBC before finding a home at LWT and becoming hugely popular.

Its stars included Reg Varney, who played driver Stan Butler, and Stephen Lewis as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake.

Mr Wolfe created dozens of comedies with writing partner Ronald Chesney - the pair were known as The Other Two Ronnies. Their work included the BBC hit The Rag Trade, which also starred Varney.

Mr Chesney said: "We were together 50 years - it's like losing my brother."

Mr Wolfe also worked with many of the best-known actors of the era, including Kenneth Williams, Barbara Windsor, Sheila Hancock, Beryl Reid, Thora Hird and Benny Hill.

His wife Rose said it had been a sad end.

"It has been a really, really sad last few days and a quite horrendous and totally unexpectedly sad end for a guy who was so funny in life," she said.

"He was the most incredible husband and we had 58 years of superb marriage harmony."

The couple have two daughters. The eldest, Kathryn, said she could not have wished for a better father: "He was funny in public with the huge legacy left behind and funny in private."

[finished]

Cheeta ,, Tarzans mate of the Tarzan movies made as early as 1930 died on 24 Dec 11 He was aged 80

[Mr Lick]

^



Cheetah in his youth, he's the one in the centre btw.

[Mr Lick]

Gary Ablett, former Liverpool & Everton defender, dies at 46GMT, Monday, 2 January 2012





Ablett started his career at Liverpool but was sold to Everton for £750,0000

Gary Ablett, the only player to win the FA Cup with Liverpool and Everton, has died at the age of 46 following a battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The defender played more than 100 games for both Merseyside clubs and Birmingham. He also managed Stockport.

"Respected throughout the game by players, coaches and managers alike Gary will be sadly missed," the League Managers' Association said.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with Gary's wife Jacqueline and children."
Having joined Liverpool as an apprentice in 1982, Ablett made his debut for the Reds in December 1986.

Under manager Kenny Dalglish, he helped a dominant side win the League title in 1988 and 1990 and the FA Cup in 1989.

He was sold to arch-rivals Everton for £750,000 in January 1992 and went on to lift the FA Cup with them in 1995.

[Mr Lick]

St Trinian's cartoonist Ronald Searle dies






British cartoonist Ronald Searle, best known for creating the fictional girls' school St Trinian's, has died aged 91.

His daughter Kate Searle said in a statement that he "passed away peacefully in his sleep" in a hospital in France.

Searle's spindly cartoons of the naughty schoolgirls first appeared in 1941, before the idea was adapted for film.

The first movie version, The Belles of St Trinian's, was released in 1954.

Joyce Grenfell and George Cole starred in the film, along with Alastair Sim, who appeared in drag as headmistress Millicent Fritton.

Searle also provided illustrations the Molesworth series, written by Geoffrey Willans.

The gothic, line-drawn cartoons breathed life into the gruesome pupils of St Custard's school, in particular the outspoken, but functionally-illiterate Nigel Molesworth "the goriller of 3B".

Searle's work regularly appeared in magazines and newspapers, including Punch and The New Yorker.

[Mr Lick]

Bob Holness, former Blockbusters host, dies aged 83

Holness was the second actor to portray James Bond

Former Blockbusters host Bob Holness has died at the age of 83.

In a statement, his family said he had "died peacefully in his sleep" early on Friday morning.

Holness, who had suffered a series of strokes, had been in a nursing home. He is survived by his wife Mary, three children and seven grandchildren.

South African-born Holness joined the BBC in the 1960s and hosted Late Night Extra on Radio 1 and Radio 2, alongside presenters including Terry Wogan.

The show continued to air on Radio 2's AM frequency only until 1975, before Holness moved to commercial station LBC, co-hosting the morning show with Douglas Cameron.

Early in his broadcasting career, he also became the second actor to portray James Bond, starring in a radio adaptation of Moonraker in 1956.



Holness hosted Call My Bluff from 1996 until 2002