The RIP Famous Person Thread

[harrybarracuda]

Interesting that shares in his companies all jumped on his death. Presumably ripe for a sell off by the kids cashing in?

Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho dies at 98



HONG KONG: Macau casino king Stanley Ho, who built a business empire from scratch in the former Portuguese colony and became one of Asia's richest men, died on Tuesday (May 26) at the age of 98, his family has confirmed.

"My father has passed away peacefully just now at around 1 pm at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital," Ho's daughter Pansy told reporters.

Known as the "godfather" of Macau casinos, the billionaire was instrumental in turning Macau into a gambling boomtown, with gaming revenue surpassing Las Vegas.

The flamboyant tycoon, who loved to dance but advised his nearest and dearest to shun gambling, headed one of the world's most lucrative gaming businesses through his flagship firm, SJM Holdings Ltd, valued at about US$6 billion.

Shares of the companies in the family empire surged after the news of Ho's death. SJM rose as much as 8.5 per cent, passenger transport firm Shun Tak Holdings jumped 17.6 per cent and casino operator Melco climbed 4.9 per cent, outpacing a 2 per cent gain for the benchmark index .

Born in Hong Kong, Ho had four wives and 17 children, and was forced to restructure his business after a legal battle erupted within the family in 2012 over his fortune.

In 2017, Ho stepped down as chairman from his Hong Kong-based conglomerate Shun Tak Holdings with his daughter Pansy Ho succeeding him.

He stepped down from his flagship casino empire SJM Holdings in 2018, and handed over the reins to another daughter Daisy Ho.

His privately held company, Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, or STDM, has stakes in everything from luxury hotels to helicopters and horse racing.

Ho spearheaded what is known in Macau as the junket VIP system, whereby middlemen act on behalf of casinos by extending credit to gamblers and taking responsibility for collecting debts.

Some of Ho's children have become successful gaming operators in their own right. Daughter Pansy is the co-chairperson of MGM Resorts' Macau unit while son Lawrence runs Melco Resorts & Entertainment.

Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho dies at 98 - CNA

[Klondyke]

^Really very heart-breaking...

[harrybarracuda]

‘Unforgiven’ Actor Anthony James Dies at 77




Anthony James, an actor best-known for his work in the Oscar-winning films “In The Heat of the Night” and “Unforgiven,” died on May 26 of cancer in Massachusetts. He was 77.

Born Jimmy Anthony, he discovered there was already an actor with that name and created his stage persona of Anthony James, according to his obituary. James had a career in the arts that spanned five decades, focusing on acting in his early years and later shifting to writing and painting.

James was born in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on July 22, 1942 to two Greek immigrants, George and Marika. When James was 18, he and his mother moved to Los Angeles so that he could pursue acting. Marika cleaned houses and James cleaned bathrooms in order to make ends meet and pay for acting classes.

James broke into the industry as Ralph, a hateful diner employee in 1967’s “In The Heat of the Night,” which went on to win best picture at the 1968 Academy Awards. Due to his appearance, which his IMDb biography describes as “tall and lanky, with a rough, pockmarked face, a lean, stringy build, greasy dark hair and an extremely edgy, intense screen presence,” James was often cast in villainous roles.

He played the bad guy in films throughout the 1970s such as “Vanishing Point,” “The Culpepper Cattle Co.,” “High Plains Drifter,” “The Teacher,” “Burnt Offerings” and “Ravagers.” He also appeared on many television shows, including “Hawaii Five-0” in 1968, “S.W.A.T” in 1975, “Charlie’s Angels” in 1976, “The A-Team” in 1983, as well as “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Married… with Children” in 1987.

His last film, Clint Eastwood’s 1992 western “Unforgiven” in which he played brothel owner Skinny Dubois, won best picture just like his first. James then retired from acting and began to focus more on writing and art. In 1994, he published a book of poems and paintings, “Language of the Heart,” and exhibited his paintings in galleries across New York, Boston and Miami. His memoir, “Acting My Face,” was published in 2014.

https://variety.com/2020/film/news/a...or-1234619403/

[Latindancer]

They don't mention it, but I seem to remember he was a cook / kitchenhand in the TV series of MASH

[Davis Knowlton]

He was GREAT in "In The Heat Of The Night"!

[harrybarracuda]

I remember standing on the Quai de Grands Augustins looking at the Pont Neuf wrapped in canvas and thinking "What the fucking hell is the point of that?", but some called it art.

Artist Christo dies at age 84






Christo, known for massive, ephemeral public arts projects died Sunday at his home in New York at age 84.

The artist's death was announced on Twitter and on his web page. No cause of death was given.

Christo and his late wife Jeanne-Claude defined their careers with ambitious art projects that quickly disappeared soon after they were erected.

Their art installations often involved wrapping large structures in fabric.

In 2005, Christo installed more than 7,500 saffron-colored vinyl gates in New York's Central Park. He and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin in fabric with an aluminum sheen in 1995.

Their $26 million US Umbrellas project erected 1,340 blue umbrellas installed in Japan and 1,760 blue umbrellas in Southern California in 1991.

They also wrapped the Pont Neuf in Paris, the Kunsthalle in Bern, Switzerland and a Roman wall in Italy.

Christo's next project, L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, is slated to appear in September in Paris as planned, according to a statement issued by his office.

An exhibition about Christo and Jeanne-Claude's work is also scheduled to run from July through October at the Centre Georges Pompidou.

"Christo lived his life to the fullest, not only dreaming up what seemed impossible but realizing it," the statement said.
"Christo and Jeanne-Claude's artwork brought people together in shared experiences across the globe, and their work lives on in our hearts and memories."

Born in Bulgaria in 1935, Christo Vladimirov Javacheff studied at the Fine Arts Academy in Sofia before moving to Prague in 1957, then Vienna, then Geneva.

It was in Paris in 1958 where he met Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon. They were born on the same day (June 13) in the same year (1935), and, according to him, "in the same moment" and would become partners in life and art.

Christo was already wrapping smaller found objects, like cars and furniture, but after he met Jeanne-Claude, their scale broadened. Within three years they were working together on an installation of oil drums and tarp on the docks in Cologne.

Although their large scale outdoor and indoor projects were collaborative, they were all credited solely to Christo until 1994, when they revealed Jeanne-Claude's contributions. The decision, they said, was theirs and deliberate since it was difficult enough for even one artist to make a name for himself.

The pair moved to New York in 1964, where they liked to say that they were illegal aliens in an illegal building in SoHo for a few years. They eventually bought that building and would call the city home for the rest of their lives.

The year 1968 would prove pivotal for the couple with three endeavours: Wrapped Fountain; Wrapped Medieval Tower; and Wrapped Kunsthalle. The next year brought Wrapped Coast, which involved one million square feet of fabric and 56 kilometres of rope across a two kilometre section of the Australian coastline, and the wrapping of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

Jeanne-Claude died in 2009 at age 74 from complications of a brain aneurysm.

After her death, Christo said she had been argumentative, very critical and always asking questions and he missed all of that very much.

Their works were grand in every respect, from manpower to impact.

Artist Christo dies at age 84 | CBC News

[harrybarracuda]

Golden opportunity to post gratuitous glam rock video.

Steve Priest, bassist and founding member of rock band Sweet, has died aged 72




Steve Priest, the British bassist, backing vocalist and founding member of of the rock band Sweet, has passed away at the age of 72.

“Then there was one! I am in pieces right now,” the band wrote in a statement on social media. “Steve Priest has passed away. His wife Maureen and I have kept in contact and though his health was failing I never envisaged this moment. Never. My thoughts are with his family.

“He was the best bass player I ever played with. The noise we made as a band was so powerful. From that moment in the summer of 1970 when set off on our Musical Odyssey the world opened up and the rollercoaster ride started! He eventually followed his heart and moved to the USA. First New York then LA.

“Rest in Peace brother. All my love.”

Sweet, a glam rock band who shot to international fame in the 1970s, released nine studio albums in total with the most recent being shared in 1982 with Identity Crisis. The group initially formed in London in 1968 and achieved, going after immediate success, they secured their first hit with the release of ‘Funny Funny’ and didn’t look back.

Alongside vocalist Brian Connolly, drummer Mick Tucker, and guitarist Frank Torpey, Priest played a crucial role in the success of Sweet after being heavily inspired by the likes of the Shadows, the Rolling Stones and The Who.

Steve Priest is survived by his wife, Maureen, three daughters, Lisa, Danielle and Maggie and the grandchildren, Jordan, Jade and Hazel.

[helge]

guitarist Frank Torpey

In my Sweet days the guitarist was Andy Scott

Never heard of Frank

[Neverna]

Torpey wasn't in the band for long but he was an early member of it (68-69).

[Latindancer]

And you were a groupie ?

[harrybarracuda]

Forces’ Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn dies aged 103




It has been confirmed by PA and long-time family friend Susan Fleet.

Dame Vera, who lived in Ditchling, East Sussex, boosted the nation’s morale during the darkest days of World War Two. She provided hope and reassurance for Allied troops and families.

She was also honoured countless times in her lifetime for her services to entertainment and charity.

Dame Vera was in the public eye last month when she issued a special message to the people of Sussex ahead of VE Day celebrations.

She also spoke out in March, urging people to ‘keep calm’ as we faced uncertain times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking about turning 103 on March 20, this year, she commented: “Thank you all for the kind gifts, cards and gestures I received to celebrate my birthday this year.

“Once again, I am overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness and generosity, and am so grateful to you all for helping me to mark this milestone.

“I feel very fortunate to have reached 103, and my day will be made all the more special by hearing from people all around the world.

“Thank you also for your generosity towards my Charitable Trust as I care very much about the work it does and the donations received around my birthday are the best gift imaginable.”

Forces’ Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn dies aged 103 | Shoreham Herald

[peaches]

^

England’s ......... “Forces Sweetheart “, Where are all you Pom’s ?

[raycarey]

Ian Holm, the versatile actor who played everything from androids to hobbits via Harold Pinter and King Lear, has died in London aged 88, his agent confirmed to the Guardian.


“It is with great sadness that the actor Sir Ian Holm CBE passed away this morning at the age of 88,” they said. “He died peacefully in hospital, with his family and carer,” adding that his illness was Parkinson’s related. “Charming, kind and ferociously talented, we will miss him hugely.”

he was fantastic in chariots of fire, brazil, and the sweet hereafter.

[harrybarracuda]

^

England’s ......... “Forces Sweetheart “, Where are all you Pom’s ?

Probably dead. It was a fucking war from 1939-1945 you silly sod.

[harrybarracuda]

Ian Holm, ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Alien’ actor, Dies at 88




Ian Holm, an acclaimed British actor whose long career included roles in Chariots of Fire and The Lord of the Rings has died. He was 88.

Holm died peacefully Friday morning in a hospital, surrounded by his family and carer, his agent, Alex Irwin, said in a statement. His illness was Parkinson’s related.

A star of stage and screen, Holm won a Tony Award for best featured actor as Lenny in Harold Pinter’s play The Homecoming in 1967.

An established figure in the Royal Shakespeare Company, he won a Laurence Olivier Award for best actor for his performance in the title role of King Lear in 1998.

He won a British Academy Film Award and gained a supporting-actor Oscar nomination for portraying pioneering athletics coach Sam Mussabini in the hit 1982 film Chariots of Fire.

He also appeared in The Fifth Element, Alien, The Sweet Hereafter, Time Bandits, The Emperor’s New Clothes and The Madness of King George. More recently, he portrayed Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies.

Holm was knighted in 1998 for his services to drama.

“His sparkling wit always accompanied a mischievous twinkle in his eye,” Irwin said. “Charming, kind and ferociously talented, we will miss him hugely.’’

Holm was married four times and had five children.

Ian Holm, ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Alien’ actor, Dies at 88 | Entertainment Tonight

[misskit]

Each time I see him, I think of Sigourney Weaver slapping his head off the table after he says this.

[raycarey]

Each time I see him, I think of Sigourney Weaver slapping his head off the table after he says this.

for me, it's "the sweet hereafter". if you haven't seen it, i can't recommend it enough.

the full movie is on youtube:

[Iceman123]

Willie Thorne: snooker legend dead at 66 - CNN

Willie Thorne dead - nice guy I met him late 90’s

[harrybarracuda]

Willie Thorne: snooker legend dead at 66 - CNN

Willie Thorne dead - nice guy I met him late 90’s

https://teakdoor.com/the-sports-room...ml#post4120487 (The RIP Sporting Heroes Thread)

[harrybarracuda]

for me, it's "the sweet hereafter". if you haven't seen it, i can't recommend it enough.

One of those rare actors who melted into any role he played.

No wonder he was able to carve out a career pushing 60 years.

[peaches]

Probably dead. It was a fucking war from 1939-1945 you silly sod.

Is that code for saying, who gives a fuck about someone who was 103 when she died, get on
with your life you silly sod, no one wants to remember a great motivator for fighting soldiers all
those years ago ? ......... call me old fashion

[Takeovers]

The russian-american spaceflight engineer and political scientist Sergei Nikitisch Chruschtschow died June 18, 2020, aged 84 years.

He was the son of KPdSU party chief Nikita Chruschtschow. He participated in a number of rocket related programs, developing cruise missiles and the famous Proton rocket. He received the Lenin Award and other Soviet awards.

He moved to the US in 1991 with his wife Walentina, teaching at the american Brown University. He became US citizen in 1999. He was author of several books including some about his father.




His father with Fidel Castro during the Cuba missile crisis

[Klondyke]

^

[lom]

[Klondyke]

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