Category: RIP

RIP: Reggie White

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It’s just been posted that Reggie White died today of a massive heart attack.
Man, one of the best loved and greatest NFL defensive players ever… dead at 43.

“Today our beloved husband, father and friend passed away,” White‘s wife, Sara, said in a statement through a family pastor. “His family appreciates your thoughts and prayers as we mourn the loss of Reggie White. We want to thank you in advance for honoring our privacy.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Reggie‘s family and friends.

RIP: Christopher Reeve

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Early this morning, while on my way to work I heard that Christopher Reeve had died.

It was like a gutshot.

Christopher Reeve’s death was so unexpected … despite the fact that he had been a quadriplegic for the last nine years of his life. Yet, it was in these last nine years, when Chris’ health was at his worst that he was at his best.

Christopher Reeve is most famous for his role as Superman. And rightly so. Although a virtual unknown actor when chosen for the part, Reeve vaulted to the ranks of one of the most identified stars in the world once the movie was released.

Reeve was the perfect choice. And not just because he looked like Superman when in the suit. Christopher Reeve not only understood the difference between Clark Kent and Superman but had the chops to make the difference come alive with just a pair of eyeglasses and his acting ability.

Christopher Reeve went on to other starring roles, but none had the impact of him playing Superman. But how could they, Reeve and Superman were such a perfect fit.

Then nine years ago when Christopher was injured he took on another role, that of role model. Christopher Reeve dealt with his paralysis with grace, dignity and determination. He became the focal point of hope, not for just those who sufffered from spinal cord injuries, but for anyone who thought about feeling sorry for him/herself. How could you, if Christopher Reeve could face his troubles with such a positive outlook.

Christopher Reeve will always be remembered for his role as Superman, but I believe that the true super man was Christopher Reeve.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

RIP: Rodney Dangerfield

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Rodney Dangerfield passed away this afternoon.

Man, I really enjoyed Rodney‘s comedy. Most people really became aware of Rodney Dangerfield after he appeared [and got the best laughs] in Caddyshack.

But I remember him first from his standup comedy on variety shows in the 60’s that I used to watch with my grandparents. Rodney’s trademark line, “I don’t get no respect” was always followed by several great one-liners.

“I don’t get no respect. When I was born I was so ugly the doctor slapped my mother.”

“I don’t get no respect. I was in a bar and a guy asked me if I had any naked pictures of my wife. I said, ‘No.’ He asked me if I wanted to buy some.”

After Caddyshack, Rodney graduated from co-star to star status and headlined several movies. But it was always his standup that appealed most to me.

Now Rodney’s gone. I’m going to miss seeing him pop up from time to time with another spin on his “I don’t get no respect” lines. But I’ll always have great memories of watching Rodney perform and all of the laughs he gave us.

And you have to respect that.

Our prayers go out to Rodney‘s family and friends.

Remembering 9-11

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Today is the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks which took down the twin towers, destroyed part of the Pentagon and took the lives of thousands of citizens from around the world.

It was the most shocking day of my life.

The History Channel is running a very interesting documentary called “The Twin Towers: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon.” It’s extremely well done and worth a look.

The picture above is of family members of victims who have returned to the site to pay their respects. And because the day had such an impact me, I felt it appropriate to pay my respects as well.

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who lost someone on that terrible day.

RIP – Marlon Brando

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Dim the the lights. A legend has died. Marlon Brando passed on today.

Arguably the greatest actor who ever lived, none can argue that he influenced a generation. And I’m not just talking about actors such as James Dean, Robert DeNiro, or Johnny Depp. Brando literally influenced a generation of kids who wanted to rebel… and Brando continued to rebel throughout his life.

If all you know about Marlon Brando was that he played Superman‘s father or was pretty strange when interviewed by Larry King. If you only know Brando from impressionists doing their take on Brando as Vito Corleone from The Godfather then you owe it to yourself to check him out.

Yeah, he was cool in Apocalypse Now… and you may have heard how strange he was in The Island of Dr. Moreau [both on and off the set]…

…but if you want to see Brando at his best then check out On the Waterfront… A Streetcar Named Desire… Guys and Dolls [he could do it all!]…One Eyed Jacks [which he also directed]… Mutiny on the Bounty… and of course… The Godfather.

Marlon Brando was indeed the man. Our prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

Now I think I’ll dim the lights and put on a classic Brando movie…

RIP Bob Keeshan

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Bob Keeshan died today. And piece of my childhood went with him. You see, Bob Keeshan was Captain Kangaroo.

Even if you’re too young to have ever watched Captain Kangaroo, I’ll bet you know what a huge part he played in the lives of kids growing up in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and even the 80’s! Each morning as a child, I can remember sitting in front of the television waiting for the Captain to get his big key ring full of keys to open the Treasure House. Then we’d wait to see who would pop in… Mister Green Jeans, Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose [watch out for falling ping pong balls], Grandfather Clock… there were cartoons and all kinds of cool stuff [for kids].

I outgrew the Captain Kangaroo show well before the 60’s ended, but I never outgrew the good feeling that it left me as a child.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Keeshan‘s family and friends.

John Ritter, Johnny Cash and The Falling Man

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Remembering three who died:

John Ritter died suddenly last night from a heart attack. He was only 54 years old. Although best known for his role as Jack Tripper on “Three’s Company” and the star of “8 Rules for Dating My Daughter,” I believe his best work was not in either of these sitcoms. It wasn’t even a comedy. I thought his best performance was as Vaughn in Sling Blade. Perhaps I’m in the minority with this opinion, but I know that we all agree that he was loved by his fans and will be missed.

Johnny Cash was known as the Man in Black. I remember as a child singing many of his songs… “A Boy Named Sue”…“Burning Ring of Fire”… “Folsom Prison Blues”… A new generation had discovered the Man in Black and he recently won an award on MTV. MTV! I’m so happy that he lived to see it and that we’ll always have his music.

The Falling Man. I just read a piece from Esquire magazine about the search to discover who was photographed jumping from one of the twin towers on 9-11-01. Tom Junod wrote such a compelling piece. Here are the first few opening lines:

In the picture, he departs from this earth like an arrow. Although he has not chosen his fate, he appears to have, in his last instants of life, embraced it. If he were not falling, he might very well be flying. He appears relaxed, hurtling through the air. He appears comfortable in the grip of unimaginable motion. He does not appear intimidated by gravity’s divine suction or by what awaits him.

I read the article and it stayed with me throughout day. The combination of my memories of that horrific day, combined with the beauty and horror of the photo and the eloquent text by Junod just kept coming back to mind time and time again as the day moved on.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of John Ritter, Johnny Cash, the Falling Man and all of the victims of 9-11.

Charles Bronson – RIP

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Charles Bronson has passed on. I don’t remember the first time that I saw Charles Bronson in a movie. It may have been in “The Dirty Dozen,” or “The Magnificant Seven,” but more likely than not it was in the horror film, “The House of Wax.” When I was a little kid, it seems as if Bronson was always popping up in a co-starring role and making a bigger impact that the stars of the films. And for a period of time in the 70’s, Charles Bronson was my favorite actor.

Charles Bronson starred in some great movies. “Hard Times,” “The Mechanic,” and of course “Death Wish” are my personal favorite Bronson staring roles. You knew any movie he was in, was worth the price of admission. What more can you ask from a star? Charles Bronson has left us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

Shutter Island & More

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  • Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane is one of the best novels I’ve read this year. Publisher’s Weekly said it best: Shutter Island “carries an ending so shocking yet so faithful to what has come before, that it will go down as one of the most aesthetically right resolutions ever written.”
  • Gregory Hines, the award-winning tap-dancing actor who starred on Broadway and film died yesterday at the age of 57. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans.
  • German producers who backed Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” said there could be another sequel even if he succeeds in becoming Governor of California. Does this sound like a good idea to anyone?
  • After a six year absence, James Cameron has signed on to helm a film about the extreme sport of free diving. Does this sound like a good idea to anyone?
  • Britney Spears is in talks to executive produce [but not host] her very own syndicated talk show. Does this sound like a good idea to anyone?
  • Quote of the Day: “Anybody can win unless there happens to be a second entry.” – George Adel

Hello Parker, Bye Buddy & More

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  • Jeff Parker, creator of Interman [which you really ought to consider picking up], has written up his Heroes Con Report. StalloneZone is mentioned… Even if you don’t like comics. I’ll bet you’d get a kick out of his Con Reports.
  • LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Matthew McConaughey is in talks to star in “Tishomingo Blues,” an adaptation of the Elmore Leonard best seller that will mark Don Cheadle directorial debute. Although I haven’t read the book, I do like the work of McConaughey, Leonard, and Cheadle.
  • LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Cable news channel MSNBC on Monday fired Michael Savage after the controversial talk show host wished AIDS on a caller whom he dismissed as “one of the sodomites.” And I’ll bet Savage was surprised.
  • LOS ANGELES – Buddy Ebsen best known for his roles in “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Barnaby Jones,” has died. He was 95. Harry Knowles has written a nice tribute over at Ain’t It Cool News. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans.
  • LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Police and prosecutors met in Colorado on Monday to discuss filing sexual assault charges against Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant as his lawyers said he was innocent and accused the local sheriff of “bias.” It’s pretty strange that the DA and sherrif are not on the same page with this one.
  • LONDON (Reuters) – British police investigating how a young sky diver plunged 13,000 feet to his death revealed on Monday his parachute cords had been deliberately severed. That sounds sounds like something out of a tv mystery… but what a scary thought when you really consider it.
  • SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean man angry with his daughter’s Web surfing faced possible charges on Monday after he threw a computer monitor out of his 12th-floor apartment, hitting a four-year-old girl below on the head, police said. I would think that he would face more than “POSSIBLE” charges.
  • MONTPELLIER, France (AFP) – A shopper in southern France literally named his own price when he visited several supermarkets near here. According to police, the 22-year-old suspect fabricated barcode labels on his home computer, and by using them to replace the originals was able to acquire goods for a fraction of their real prices. I wonder how that system works out in jail?
  • HELLAM, Pa. – House hunters and footwear fanatics, take note: A three-bedroom, two bath house that happens to be shaped like a giant shoe is up for sale. I’ll be some old lady buys it — she’ll have some many children she won’t know what to do.
  • EAST DUBLIN, Ga. – There was bobbin’ for pigs feet and hubcap hurling. Grown men competed against each other by belly-flopping into a mud pit. This year’s Redneck Games at Buckeye Park in East Dublin drew thousands of spectators. As stupid as it sounds, I’ll bet everyone had a lot of fun!
  • ROSWELL, N.M. – The sports editor of the Roswell Daily Record has been fired for fabricating part of a news story about a golf tournament in which he quoted a fictional character from the movie “Caddyshack.” And I’ll bet the editor was surprised.

Kathern Hepburn; Suge Knight and More

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Four-time Oscar winner Katharine Hepburn died at 2:50 pm yesterday, at her Connecticut home, surrounded by family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

BERLIN (Reuters) – A German man lay dead in his bed for almost three years before being found, police said Friday. I’d like to think that someone would start missing me after oh, a YEAR or SO!

VIENNA (Reuters) – A woman lay awake during surgery for 45 minutes, unable to move or call for help, after staff forgot to hook up the machine pumping out anaesthetic. I’d like to think that someone would have noticed my tears after oh, a minute or SO!

BEIJING (AFP) – An investigation has begun after sightings of a legendary “ape-like” beast in the forests of central China, it was reported. Anyone checked to make sure Big Beatty hasn’t left the country?

Death Row Records founder Marion ‘Suge’ Knight has been arrested for allegedly punching a parking attendant outside a Los Angeles nightclub. This could effect his participation in “Rampart Scandal.”

Halle Berry & Robert Stack

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  • Halle Berry broke her arm while filming a scene for the supernatural thriller “Gothika” which is set for release in October. Now the director really has cast problems.
  • Robert Stack, best known as for TV’s “Untouchables,” has died at the age of 84. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.

Fred Rogers – RIP

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“Won’t you be my neighbor?”

FRED ROGERS, aka Mr. Rogers, died today at the age of 74 from stomach cancer. ROGERS was best known for his children’s show, “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” He first went on the air in 1954 and entertained and educated millions of children over the years. From all I’ve read, FRED ROGERS was truly a kind and gentle soul.

Our prayers go out to his friends and family.

I’d have been proud to have been his neighbor.

Discovery Crew – RIP

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Much of the time you’ll find me talking about heroes here. Movie heroes… tv heroes… comic book heroes.. Today I want to remember some real life heroes. The pictures are of the Discovery‘s crew Top row from left are Navy Capt. David Brown, Pilot William McCool, Laurel Clark, Rick Husband, and bottomfrom left: Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, Israeli Air Force Col. Ilan Ramon.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of these real life heroes.

RIP Al Hirschfeld

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AL HIRSCHFELD passed away today at the age of 99.  Mr. HIRSCHFELD, the best known caricaturist in the world, had captured the likeness of everyone who was anyone in show business from the 1920s until his passing.

AL HIRSCHFELD was known for hiding his daughter’s name, NINA, in each of his pieces [sometimes more than once]. This tradition began in 1945. After about a month, Mr. HIRSCHFELD briefly stopped putting in the NINAs, but fans quickly complained and the NINAs were back to stay [along with a number indicating how many NINAs were hidden in each piece!].

Our thoughts and prayers go out to AL HIRSCHFELD‘s family and friends. [Thanks to John Beatty for the heads-up.]