Sunday, June 15, 2014

Ultra Violet aka Isabelle Collin Dufresne

Artist, author, and Warhol "superstar" -- via the New York Times.

Casey Kasem aka Kemal Amin Kasem

Radio host, voice actor, producer, and actor; long-time host of "American Top 40" -- via ABC News. An essential part of American pop culture, his distinctive voice was the template for the cheery, earnest, crisp "puke voice" used in AM radio for decades. His cheesy "American Top 40" was a show we loved to hate.





He shone in early Roger Corman biker films ("The Glory Stompers," "Wild Wheels") and "The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant"; was the voice of Robin in the animated "Batman/Superman Hour" and lead role in the Rankin/Bass stop-motion classic (?) "Here Comes Peter Cottontail."









Most of all, though, he was Shaggy Rogers, the perpetually scared, perpetually hungry hippie/beatnik/slacker of "Scooby Doo."



Thanks, Casey. "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!"






Rashid Rehman Khan

Human rights activist -- via dawn.com.

Judy Young

Astronomer -- via UMassAmherst.

Joseph "Jay" Lake Jr.

Writer -- via wilhelmportlandmemorial.com.


Vince Davis aka James Vincent Davis

Actor -- via the Dallas Morning News.

Dragoljub Velimirović

Chess grandmaster -- via chess.com.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Anjan Das

Film director -- via ibnlive.in.com.




Victor Agnello

Drummer -- via Loudwire.

Svyatoslav Belza

Scholar, critic, essayist and TV host -- via direct-beauty.ru. He did much to popularize the arts in his region!


Yuri Kochiyama

Human rights activist -- via the Independent. After being interned as a Japanese-American during World War II, she went on to aid other movements such as black nationalism, Puerto Rican independence, and the anti-Vietnam War protests. Most memorably, she held Malcom X's head in her hands as he died.







Harry H. Novak aka The Sultan of Sexploitation

Film producer and distributor -- via the Independent.


Friday, June 13, 2014

Monday, June 9, 2014

Rik Mayall

Comedian, writer, and actor -- via the BBC. Best remembered in America for his work on the pioneering, anarchic sitcom "The Young Ones."