Writer, actor, and performer; as early Warhol associate, became "the first underground film star" -- via The Gothamist.
Interesting, overlooked, and significant obituaries from around the world, as they happen, emphasizing the positive achievements of those who have died. Member, Society of Professional Obituary Writers.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Jeanne Cooper
Actress -- via the New York Times. A fixture as protagonist Katherine Chancellor on the long-running American TV soap opera series "The Young and the Restless."
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Bryan Forbes aka John Theobald Clarke
Film director, screenwriter, actor, and author -- via the New York Times. He may be forever typed as the director of the first "Stepford Wives," but his achievements in all the categories he essayed reveal a very talented and innovative person.
As an actor, he was memorable in "The Guns of Navarone," "Qatermass 2," "The Colditz Story," and "The Small Back Room." He wrote the screenplays such as "Seance on a Wet Afternoon," "Hopscotch," and "Chaplin"; he directed innovative films like "Stepford" -- the hilarious "The Wrong Box" and the intriguing "Seance" among them.
As an actor, he was memorable in "The Guns of Navarone," "Qatermass 2," "The Colditz Story," and "The Small Back Room." He wrote the screenplays such as "Seance on a Wet Afternoon," "Hopscotch," and "Chaplin"; he directed innovative films like "Stepford" -- the hilarious "The Wrong Box" and the intriguing "Seance" among them.
Braxton Schuffert
Musician; one of the original members of the Drifting Cowboys, Hank Williams' band -- via the Montgomery Advertiser.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Ray Harryhausen
Special effects artist; visual effects pioneer; master of stop-motion animation -- via comingsoon.net. Another great shaper of my imagination, along with Ray Bradbury, who was Harryhausen's boyhood pal!
Passed the torch by his mentor and inspiration, Willis O'Brien ("King Kong"), Harryhausen pushed the art form to its limit over the course of 30-plus years in the movie business. It may seem quaint now, but his monsters, gods, and mythical creatures enthralled us when we were kids. Whether the film itself was good or no was usually about a 50/50 proposition, but we would go specifically to see Harryhausen's creations.
He was our master of a fantasy and sci-fi bestiary -- from "Mighty Joe Young" in 1949 to "Clash of the Titans" in 1981, and between -- "It Came from Beneath the Sea," "20 Million Miles to Earth," three Sinbad films, "Jason and the Argonauts," "One Million Years B.C.," "The Valley of Gwangi" . . . and more. Thanks Ray!
Passed the torch by his mentor and inspiration, Willis O'Brien ("King Kong"), Harryhausen pushed the art form to its limit over the course of 30-plus years in the movie business. It may seem quaint now, but his monsters, gods, and mythical creatures enthralled us when we were kids. Whether the film itself was good or no was usually about a 50/50 proposition, but we would go specifically to see Harryhausen's creations.
He was our master of a fantasy and sci-fi bestiary -- from "Mighty Joe Young" in 1949 to "Clash of the Titans" in 1981, and between -- "It Came from Beneath the Sea," "20 Million Miles to Earth," three Sinbad films, "Jason and the Argonauts," "One Million Years B.C.," "The Valley of Gwangi" . . . and more. Thanks Ray!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Barbara Delahunty
One who loved obituaries; hers is enchanting! -- via the Red Wing Republican Eagle.
Jacqueline Brookes
Actress and teacher -- via Broadway World. Worked a lot in Shakespeare, and New York soaps. She was the first New York Halie in Shepard's "Buried Child," and I saw her in it at the Theatre de Lys. More importantly, she was our acting teacher. She was tough and funny and earnest; she called us all guttersnipes and taught us to be proud of it. She told me, "When you know what it is you want to do, you will be great." She was right! It all worked out. Thanks so much, Jackie!
Virginia Gibson
Singer, dancer, and actress -- via the Hollywood Reporter. She appeared in "seven Brides for Seven Brothers"; she was best known to me as one of the hosts of ABC's "discovery" documentary series for kids.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Lillian Leach Boyd
Singer; final surviving member of the proto-doo wop group The Mellows -- via the New York Daily News.
Ben Pleasants
Poet and playwright; spearheaded the resurgence of interest in Colorado writer John Fante -- via the L.A. Times.
Friday, May 3, 2013
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