Monday, January 3, 2011

Rhondda Gillespie

Pianist -- via classicalsource.com.

Arnold Richardson

Fly fishing expert -- via flyfishingfrenzy.com. He appears briefly as Norman Maclean in the film A" River Runs through It."

John Burgess

Actor -- via the Guardian.

Melissa Lynch

Actress -- via philly.com.

Kevin Boyle

Civil rights lawyer and activist -- via the Guardian,

Anna Anni

Costume designer for film and opera -- via .abc.net.au

Marin Constantin

Conductor, composer, musician -- via the Bucharest Herald.

Gerd-Michael Henneberg

Actor and filmmaker -- via voy.com.

John Olguin

Director of the Cabrillo Marine Museum and founder of recreational whale-watching -- via the L.A. Times

Faizal Yusof

Actor -- via The Star Online.

Charles Fambrough

Jazz bassist and composer -- via Jazz News.

Frankie Campagna Jr.

Frontman for band Spector 45 -- via the Dallas Observer

Flemming Duun Jorgensen aka Bamse

Pop singer and actor -- via politiken.dk.

Shi Tiesheng

Writer -- via china.org.cn.

Paul Calle

Postage stamp designer -- via the New York Times.

Gina Wilkinson

Actor and director -- via the Vancouver Sun.

Maureen Lehane Wishart

Mezzo-soprano and music festival organizer -- via the Telegraph.

Phillip Burton Jr.

Documentary filmmaker -- via the New York Times.

Szeto Wah

Activist who fought for Hong Kong's independence from both Britain and China -- via the New York Times.

Lee B. Winkler

Talent business manager and film producer -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Pioneer Press: "The lesser-known deaths of 2010"

In the spirit of Obit Patrol, Richard Chin gives us a round-up of the deaths of people (and a few animals) in 2010 who, though not celebrities in the strict sense of the word, made contributions or stirred attention during their lifespans.

Richard Curtis Wooters

Medical examiner -- via the Des Moines Register. He is lauded in his obituary for his compassion, tact and professional dedication; he also overcame a debilitating addiction during the course of his life.

Pat Harrison

Hamburger King owners Pat Harrison, left, and Gay Harrison, right, put together orders on Friday February 20, 2004 at their restaurant on Decatur Street in Montgomery. [From the Montgomery Advisor]

Restaurateur -- via the Montgomery Advisor. It was "only" a hamburger joint, but he seems to have inspired much loyalty and affection.

From the Wall Street Journal: "Dead Soul Is a Debt Collector"

A blackly amusing story about a woman who, though dead, kept signing affidavits for debt collection.

Anne Francis

Actress of stage, film, radio and television -- via the L.A. Times. An extremely good performer whose beauty sometimes overshadowed her dramatic talents. She started off in radio ("Let's Pretend"), and played the young Gertrude Lawrence's character in "Lady in the Dark" on Broadway. She moved into movies, and will probably be remembered best as Altaria in "Forbidden Planet."
 
However, she was memorable in supporting roles in films such as "Bad Day at Black Rock," "Battle Cry" and "Blackboard Jungle." She went on to do lots and lots of television; my dearest memory of her will be as the sexy, ironic, tough private eye in the short-lived TV series "Honey West."
Her character was an early feminist icon -- plus, she had a pet ocelot named Bruce, tear-gas earrings, a lipstick transmitter, and much, much more.

Pete Postlethwaite

Stage and film actor -- via the New York Times. Here's an amazing and detailed tribute, full of clips, from the Guardian, on his achievements. A thinking, feeling actor who brought complete professionalism to every role.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Mondine Garcia

Jazz and Gitane guitarist -- via Django Station.

Hideko Takamine

Film actress and essayist -- via Japan Times. She began her career at the age of 5 in 1929, and was referred to as "Japan's Shirley Temple." Her career spanned seven decades; her greatest work was with directors Kinoshita and Naruse, most notably in "Floating Clouds" and "When a Woman Ascends the Stairs."

Alvin H. Marill

Film historian -- via Legacy.com. This indefatigable researcher and compiler authored the mighty "Movies Made for Television 1964-2004" in five volumes, in addition to many other projects!

David Gurland

Cabaret singer -- via Theatermania.

Jose Rojo

Civil rights attorney and activist -- via the Houston Chronicle.

Per Oscarron

Actor -- via Yahoo News.

Brenda Starr

Fictional reporter -- via the Washington Post. Although she could be postulated as an early feminist icon, Starr served alternately as a damsel in distress and romantic heroine. Her comic-strip adventures referred to her during much of her life as a "girl reporter," as though that was a remarkable anomaly.
 
Although she rose (or sank, depending on your point of view) to the post of editor, got married to the dashing Basil St. John, had a child, got divorced, and paged through several romances, she was always glamorous, globe-trotting Brenda -- even though serious issues occasionally crept into the strip. Goodbye, Brenda, we'll miss you.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Friday, December 31, 2010

Nick Santo aka Nick Santamaria

Lead singer of the doo-wop group The Capris -- via rock-the-jukebox.com. Their biggest hit: 1961's
There a Moon Out Tonight."

Grant McCune

Oscar-winning visual effects designer -- via deadline.com.

Jacqueline Courtney

Actress -- via welovesoaps.net.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Steve Boros

MLB player, manager and executive -- via the Miami Herald.

Kodachrome

Color photographic film -- via the New York Times. The 75-year-old product was deemed the most superior for slides and film; its richness of color, long-lasting quality in dark storage and unique quality of light captured makes it an irreplaceable medium for amateurs and artists alike.

Bobby Farrell

Singer and dancer with Boney M -- via the BBC.