Tag: passing

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Star Trek Legend Leonard Nimoy Dead At 83

Leonard Nimoy, most famous for his portrayal of the stoic “Mr. Spock” of the Star Trek sagas, has passed away at the age of 83 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Before Star Trek, Nimoy appeared in dozens of TV episodics including “Dragnet,” “Sea Hunt,” “Bonanza,” “Wagon Train,” “Rawhide,” “The Twilight Zone,” “The Untouchables,” “The Outer Limits,” “The Virginian,” “Get Smart” and “Gunsmoke.”

From Variety:

But despite his varied talents, Nimoy will forever be linked with the logical Mr. Spock. Spotted by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry when he appeared on Roddenberry’s NBC Marine Corps. skein “The Lieutenant,” Nimoy was offered the role of Spock and co-starred in the 1965 “Star Trek” pilot “The Cage.” NBC execs liked the concept but thought the pilot too cerebral, so they ordered a second pilot of the Desilu production with some script and cast changes (only Nimoy made it through both pilots). The series finally bowed on the Peacock in the fall of 1966. After three seasons, it was canceled in 1969 but would go on to be a hit in syndication, spawning films and other TV incarnations and gaining a huge following of fans known as Trekkers or Trekkies.

In 1979, he returned to the role in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” followed throughout the 1980s and 1990s with “The Wrath of Khan” (1982), “The Search for Spock” (1984), “The Voyage Home” (1986), “The Final Frontier” (1989) and “The Undiscovered Country” (1991).

Nimoy was also an accomplished author, poet and photographer.

“Live long and prosper” indeed.

Less than a week ago, Nimoy shared his last tweet with followers:

His famous friends shared their loss online:

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King Of Saudi Arabia Dies At 90

The King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has died at the age of 90.

His half-brother, Crown Prince Salman, becomes the new King.

According to reports, Vice-President Biden will lead a Presidential delegation to Saudi Arabia to pay respect and offer condolences to King Abdullah’s family & nation.

Under Abdullah, Saudi Arabia become the lead-Arab nation in the coalition to dismantle ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

More here on what will be sure to shake up the Middle East.

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Donna Douglas Of “Beverly Hillbillies” Fame Passes At 81

Douglas in more recent years; and publicity photo from The Beverly Hillbillies

Donna Douglas, who played the sweet, simple “Elly Mae Clampett” on the 1960s hit TV comedy, has passed away at the age of 81.

From Deadline:

Douglas began her entertainment industry career as an illustration model for toothpaste ads in the late ’50s. After a few TV appearances, as the “Letters Girl” on The Perry Como Show and the “Billboard Girl” on The Steve Allen Show, she was dubbed “Miss By-line” by the New York media. That led to an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show where she was spotted by film producer Hal Wallis who cast her in her first feature, playing Marjorie Burke in Career. She went to play a series of bit parts in films including Li’l Abner (1959) and Lover Come Back in 1961. Douglas made her only starring turn in a feature film, as Frankie in Frederick de Cordova’s Frankie And Johnny (1966), opposite Elvis Presley.

She appeared on numerous TV shows in the 50s and 60s, including The Twilight Zone (“The Eye of the Beholder”), CBS detective series Checkmate, along with U.S. Marshal, The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet, Bachelor, Adam 12 and Route 65. But her career took a major turn with the role of tomboy Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971. She starred on the show for all nine seasons, along with Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Nancy Kulp, Raymond Bailey, and Max Baer, Jr.

In its first two years, The Beverly Hillbillies was the No. 1 show in the U.S. In 1981, she returned for a made-for-TV reunion movie, The Return Of The Beverly Hillbillies.

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Singer Joe Cocker Passes At Age 70

Singer Joe Cocker of "You Lift Me Up Where We Belong" and "You Are So Beautiful" fame dies at 70

Iconic singer Joe Cocker has died aged 70.

Via the BBC:

The singer song-writer from Sheffield had a career lasting more than 40 years with hits including “You Are So Beautiful” and “Up Where We Belong.”

His duet with Jennifer Warnes – “Up Where We Belong” – went to number one on the charts and garnered both Oscar and Grammy Awards.

The singer’s agent, Barrie Marshall, said in a statement that Cocker had died of an undisclosed illness.

Here’s Cocker singing his iconic cover of the Beatles’ “With A Little Help With My Friends:”

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Joan Rivers Names AIDS Charity God’s Love We Deliver In Will

The late Joan Rivers’ will was read in open court this past week where it was disclosed that her only daughter, Melissa, will oversee the estimated $150 million fortune left behind by the comedy legend.

The will named several beneficiaries of the will including daughter Melissa, grandson Edgar Cooper Endicott and her sister Barbara’s children Caroline and Andrew Waxler.

From the Daily Mail:

The late comedian’s will was filed in New York State Surrogate’s Court on Tuesday and reveals she named her daughter as executor of the trust with ‘the broadest and most absolute permissible direction to delegate the fortune to family, friends and charities. Rivers’ business manager Michael D Karlin and interior designer Robert Higdon were named co-executors of the living trust.

Money will also be given to Rivers’ assistants Jocelyn Pickett and Sabrina Lott Miller, and her former publicist Scott Currie.

In addition to leaving funds for her family and business associates, Rivers also left donations for several charities including the AIDS service provider God’s Love We Deliver, which provides meals for those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Rivers sadly passed away on September 4th of this year due to a lack of oxygen to her brain during an outpatient procedure.  During the reading of the will this week, there was apparently a passing mention of a potential lawsuit against the clinic that performed the procedure.

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Tim Hauser of the Manhattan Transfer passes away at 72

Sigh. Heavy heart here…

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Post by Manhattan Transfer.

And so, we must now segue from the sad to the sublime:

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Polly Bergen passes away at 84

Emmy Award winning actress/singer Polly Bergen

Polly Bergen, star of stage and screen, has passed away at the age of 84 in her Connecticut home.

The Emmy Award-winning, Tony Award-nominated actress, singer and business woman became a household name by the time she was in her 20s. In 1953, she made her Broadway debut, by 1957 she had her own TV series, and in the 1960s she moved into the world of film roles.

From the LA Times:

Bergen won an Emmy in 1958 portraying the tragic singer Helen Morgan on the famed anthology series “Playhouse 90.” She was nominated for another Emmy in 1989 for best supporting actress in a miniseries or special for “War and Remembrance.”

In recent years, she played Felicity Huffman’s mother on “Desperate Housewives” and the past mistress of Tony Soprano’s late father on “The Sopranos.”

When she was refused an audition for the 2001 Broadway revival of “Follies,” she contacted composer Stephen Sondheim. He auditioned her and gave her the role of a faded star who sings of her ups and downs in show business. The show-stopping song, “I’m Still Here,” was reminiscent of Bergen’s own saga. She was nominated for a Tony award for her role.

In 2002 she played a secondary role in the revival of “Cabaret” and the following year she was back on Broadway with the comedy “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.”

I have a very personal connection to Polly. Halfway through the run of the 2001 revival of FOLLIES, I was cast as a replacement. My experience with that cast and crew – who became family – was remarkable, especially in terms of depth of talent, commitment and warmth.

It’s not always easy to jump into the middle of a Broadway run. You haven’t made the connections and relationships that get forged in weeks of grueling rehearsals. But I was welcomed with open arms by everyone. Everyone. And in particular, Polly.

Backstage at the Belasco Theatre, closing night of 2001 revival of FOLLIES
At intermission, the cast and crew celebrated our shared birthday with us.

Polly’s performance of “I’m Still Here” brought the house down every night. Near the end of the first act, I was done with my duties onstage until Act Two. I would make my way under the stage and the audience, through the basement, to stand in the back of the house at the Belasco Theatre at least 6 or 7 out of 8 performances a week to marvel at her power, art and passion. I have never seen such a reaction from a Broadway audience. Polly would finish and the applause would come. After several seconds, she would make her way upstage right to exit. Most nights, just as she would reach the edge of the stage, the applause would surge again. It was thrilling.

We closed that production on Broadway on July 14, 2001. It was my birthday. A birthday I shared with Polly.

With Polly Bergen at the 10th Anniversary Reunion of 2001 Broadway revival of FOLLIES

A few years ago, upon the passing of our cast mate Betty Garrett, a 10th anniversary reunion was held for us all. The night was filled with smiles and comfortable friendships. Among many others, it was a treat to see and catch up with Polly that night. We laughed, we reminisced, and we remembered how lucky we all had been to come together as a family, if even for such a short time. You can find my post about that magnificent night here.

On this occasion, I require you all to watch Polly’s performance of her show-stopping “I’m Still Here” from FOLLIES at the 2001 Tony Awards (she was nominated for her powerhouse performance, of course). I would be remiss to not include this here.

There is a bootleg version on YouTube of Polly’s full performance of the song here. I know some theatre folks frown on the bootleg thing, but on days like this, I love that I can watch and revel in Polly Bergen’s magnificent talent again.

Although she may have left us for now, she is forever and always “still here.”

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Don Pardo, the voice of SNL, passes away at 96

Don Pardo, the unmistakable voice of Saturday Night Live, has passed away at 96

Pardo’s voiceover work with Saturday Night Live made him one of the most recognizable voices in broadcasting. He notched the longest tenure of anyone associated with SNL (missing only one season), including creator Lorne Michaels.

A Television Hall of Fame inductee, Pardo voiced several long running game shows including “The Price Is Right” and the original “Jeopardy.”

A longtime newsman, according to Variety Pardo was a war reporter for NBC News during World War II, and the first to tell NBC viewers of the shooting of President Kennedy.

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Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall dead at 89

Via TMZ: Lauren Bacall — one of the leading ladies of the Golden Age of Hollywood — is dead … TMZ has learned.

A family member tells us Bacall had a massive stroke Tuesday morning at her home.

Bacall — who famously starred with and married Humphrey Bogart — starred in a slew of movies, including “The Mirror Has Two Faces,” “How to Marry a Millionaire” and “Designing Woman.”

One of Bacall’s biggest movies was with Bogart — “Key Largo” in 1948.

She married Bogart in 1945 and were together until his death.

Bacall found her successful “second act” on Broadway where she scored in the comedy “Cactus Flower” and then won two Tonys in musicals “Applause” and, later, “Woman of the Year.”

She was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2009 at the age of 84.

She is survived by her two children by Bogart, Stephen and Leslie and her son by Jason Robards, actor Sam Robards.

I grew up on the Original Broadway cast recording of Becall’s big hit APPLAUSE. It sounded so cool and modern in the 1970s. And my dear friend, Lee Roy Reams, was featured in the show in one of Broadway’s first openly gay roles. Check out the scene (from a TV adaptation of the musical) when Bacall’s character “Margo” ditches an opening night party for a night at a “gay disco.”

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Soap star of ANOTHER WORLD Charles Keating passes away at 72

Soap Opera Digest confirms that Daytime Emmy winner Charles Keating, best known to daytime fans as Carl Hutchins on ANOTHER WORLD, has passed away at the age of 72.

The beloved star also appeared as the evil psychiatrist “Dr. Damon Lazarre” on ALL MY CHILDREN; and as Niles Mason on AS THE WORLD TURNS as “Niles Mason.”

It was in 1996 that he was awarded the Lead Actor Emmy for his ANOTHER WORLD work. He is survived by wife Mary and two sons.

“Charles Keating has passed,” tweeted AW alum Alicia Coppola (ex-Lorna).

“I am so very sad. Along w/ @LindaDano, he was my very first acting teacher. The actress I am is because of them.”