Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Jill Haworth

Actress -- via groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries. She originated the role of Sally Bowles in the first Broadway production of "Cabaret." Some more detail here from the New York Times.

Mick Karn aka Andonis Michaelides

 Multi-instrumentalist, best known as bassist for the art-rock group Japan -- via the L.A.Weekly.

Gerry Rafferty

Singer/songwriter -- via news.stv.tv. An essential part of '70s musical culture, he was behind three big hits -- "Stuck in the Middle with You," later made immortal (or ruined, per your taste) by its use in a violent scene from Tarentino's film "Reservoir Dogs"; "Baker Street," "Get It Right Next Time" and "Right Down the Line."



Paravoor Ramachandran

Actor - via deepwarriors.com.

Drew Hurley

Beloved v.p. of sales for family electrical supply company -- via Boston.com.

Julia "Judy" Bonds

Environmental activist -- via Lebanon Daily News.

Eva Strittmatter

Poet and writer -- via graceandreacchi.blogspot.com.

Albert Raisner

Musician and radio/TV host -- via premiere.fr.

Geraldo Flach

Musician and composer --via diversao.terra.com.br.

Fadil Hadzic

Screenwriter, director, playwright and journalist -- via seebiz.eu.

Suchitra Mitra

Singer, composer, educator and actor -- via The Daily Star. She specialized in Rabindra Sangeet, the musical genre launched by legendary poet Rabindranath Tagore. Her rendition of the Bangladesh national anthem, "Amar Sonar Bangla Ami Tomai Bhalobashi," is especially prized by many.

Stanley Tolliver

Criminal and civil rights lawyer, and Renaissance man -- via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. A nice tribute here as well --

Hanna Kraan

Children's author -- via boeken.refdag.nl.

Yosef Shiloach

Actor -- via Shalom Life.

Tom Crowe

Radio host -- via the Telegraph.

Jean Middleton

Civil rights activist -- via the Guardian.

Gil Garfield

The Cheers -- left to right, Bert Convy, Sue Allen and Gil Garfield.
Singer and artist -- via the L.A. Times. As a member of The Cheers, he had a hit in 1955 with the Leiber/Stoller novelty song "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots."

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!