Recent Deaths

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Barry Humphries: Dame Edna Everage comedian dies at 89

9 minutes ago

Australian entertainer Barry Humphries, best known for his comic character Dame Edna Everage, has died aged 89.

The star had been in hospital in Sydney after suffering complications following hip surgery in March. He had a fall in February.

Humphries' most famous creation became a hit in the UK in the 1970s and landed her own TV chat show, the Dame Edna Everage Experience, in the late 1980s.

His other personas included the lecherous drunk Sir Les Patterson.

Tributes for Humphries poured in as the news of his death broke, including from the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65328507

[Time_Traveller]

Ex-Strictly head judge Len Goodman dies at 78

11 minutes ago

Former Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman has died at the age of 78, his manager has confirmed.

He died on Saturday at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, surrounded by his family. He had had bone cancer.

Goodman featured on Strictly from its launch in 2004 until 2016 and proved popular with viewers for his wry humour and avuncular critiques.

As well as Strictly, he also appeared on the US version of the show, Dancing With the Stars from 2005 until 2022.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65373373

[Time_Traveller]

Harry Belafonte: Singer and civil rights activist dies aged 96

16 minutes ago



Harry Belafonte, the singer and actor who smashed racial barriers in the US, has died at home in Manhattan, aged 96.

One of the most successful African-American pop stars in history, he scored hits with Island In The Sun, Mary's Boy Child and the UK number one Day-O (The Banana Boat Song).

But his greatest achievements were as a campaigner for black civil rights in the US.

He died of congestive heart failure, said his spokesman Ken Sunshine.

Actress Mia Farrow was among the first to pay tribute, remembering Belafonte as a "beautiful singer," and "a deeply moral and caring man".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65390525

[wjfox]

Jerry Springer: Era-defining TV host dies aged 79

4 minutes ago

Jerry Springer, best known for his raucous TV talk shows, has died aged 79.

The controversial presenter hosted The Jerry Springer Show for nearly three decades from 1991.

Springer died peacefully on Thursday at his home in Chicago, his publicists confirmed to BBC News.

In a statement, Jene Galvin, a friend of Springer's and spokesman for the family, described him as "irreplaceable".

"Jerry's ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word," he said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65415348

[Time_Traveller]

Demon Headmaster actor Terrence Hardiman dies aged 86

5 hours ago

Actor Terrence Hardiman, best known for playing the title role in The Demon Headmaster, has died aged 86.

His agent announced the news with "great sadness", describing him as "beloved client and much-loved stage and screen actor".

Hardiman petrified a generation of kids with his performance in the CBBC series, which first ran from 1996 to 1998.

He reprised the role for a cameo when the series was rebooted in 2019.

Based on the children's books of the same name by Gillian Cross, The Demon Headmaster saw Hardiman's lead character cut a frightening figure.

https://wWw.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65530652

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[wjfox]

Tina Turner: Music legend dies at 83

54 minutes ago

Singer Tina Turner, whose soul classics and pop hits like The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It made her a superstar, has died at the age of 83.

Turner had suffered a number of health issues in recent years including cancer, a stroke and kidney failure.

She rose to fame alongside husband Ike in the 1960s with songs including Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High.

She divorced the abusive Ike in 1978, and went on to find even greater success as a solo artist in the 1980s.

Dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Tina Turner was famed for her raunchy and energetic stage performances and husky, powerful vocals.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/65669653

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Ed Ames, '50s pop singer with Ames Brothers and '60s TV star in 'Daniel Boone,' dies at 95
Source: AP

By ANDREW SELSKY today

Ed Ames, the youngest member of the popular 1950s singing group the Ames Brothers, who later became a successful actor in television and musical theater, has died. He was 95.

The last survivor of the four singing brothers, Ames died May 21 from Alzheimer’s disease, his wife, Jeanne Ames, said Saturday.

“He had a wonderful life,” she said.

On television, Ames was likely best known for his role as Mingo, the Oxford-educated Native American in the 1960s adventure series “Daniel Boone” that starred Fess Parker as the famous frontiersman. He also was the center of a bit on “The Tonight Show” that — thanks to his painfully uncanny aim with a hatchet — became one of the show’s most memorable surprise moments.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ed-ames-brot ... 7d5834af88

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[wjfox]

Vile, despicable man – good riddance. I hope he is burning in Hell.

[wjfox]

Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, found dead in US prison cell

2 minutes ago

"Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski, who evaded capture for 20 years after a mass bombing campaign, found dead in US prison cell, officials say

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65867291

[wjfox]

Ex-Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi dies at 86

- Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's flamboyant media mogul and politician who led the country four times, has died aged 86

- His flamboyant personality struck a chord with the Italian electorate, which continued to back him despite allegations of corruption and double-dealing

- He was prime minister four times - each time it seemed his political career was over, he managed to bounce back

- Nine years after he was banned from public office for tax fraud, he was back in parliament, elected to Italy's Senate before he turned 86 in September 2022

- It was often his private life - his fondness for surrounding himself with young women, and the ensuing scandals - that made global headlines

- Italy's defence minister, Guido Crosetto, says: "An era is over, an era is closing. I love him so very much"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-65192917

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US author Cormac McCarthy dies aged 89

11 minutes ago

Cormac McCarthy - America's Pulitzer Prize-winning author - has died aged 89, his publisher has announced.

In its statement, Penguin Random House said the writer died of natural causes at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

McCarthy's books included The Road and No Country for Old Men, both of which were turned into successful films.

Many of his novels were violent tales describing the American frontier and post-apocalyptic worlds. In real life, he was said to be a very private man.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65898867

[wjfox]

Any one of us could just drop dead at any moment.

This guy was only a year older than me.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65948497

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Daniel Ellsberg: A Friend and Peacemaker Who Did So Much More Than Leak the Pentagon Papers
by Rev John Dear
June 19, 2023

Introduction:

(Common Dreams) A few months before he died on Friday, June 16th, famed whistleblower and peace activist Daniel Ellsberg sent an email letter to hundreds of friends announcing that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given three months or so to live. After reflecting on his life’s work for peace, he announced that he was full of “joy and gratitude” and wished the same for all of us who work to end war.

It was one of the most moving and hopeful letters I’ve ever received. For weeks now, I’ve been hearing regularly from his son, my friend Robert Ellsberg, about the profound peace, joy, and sheer happiness Dan was experiencing as he faced his last days. It was befitting that this great icon of peace and truth should know such profound consolation in his last months.

“When I copied the Pentagon Papers in 1969,” Dan wrote on March 1st, “I had every reason to think I would be spending the rest of my life behind bars. It was a fate I would gladly have accepted if it meant hastening the end of the Vietnam War. Yet in the end, that action—in ways I could not have foreseen, due to Nixon’s illegal responses—did have an impact on shortening the war. In addition, thanks to Nixon's crimes, I was spared the imprisonment I expected, and I was able to spend the last fifty years with Patricia and my family, and with you, my friends.”

“What's more,” he continued, “I was able to devote those years to doing everything I could think of to alert the world to the perils of nuclear war and wrongful interventions: lobbying, lecturing, writing and joining with others in acts of protest and nonviolent resistance.”

Read more here: https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/d ... armament

[wjfox]

Human remains are found in California wilderness near search area for actor Julian Sands, authorities say

By Andy Rose, CNN
Published 10:53 PM EDT, Sat June 24, 2023

Human remains were found Saturday in Southern California near the area where investigators have been searching for missing British actor Julian Sands, according to authorities.

“Civilian hikers contacted the Fontana Sheriff’s Station after they discovered human remains in the Mt. Baldy wilderness,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. Investigators say positive identification of the remains should be completed next week.

The search for Sands, who has not been seen since going hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles in January, was focused on the Mount Baldy area after investigators traced pings from his cell phone to that location.

Poor weather and harsh conditions meant the active search had been mostly dormant until resuming last Saturday.

More than 80 search and rescue volunteers, deputies and staff participated in the search efforts, which were supported by two helicopters and drone crews as volunteers searched in “remote areas across Mount Baldy and conducted aerial search and assessment efforts,” according to officials.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/24/ente ... index.html

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[wjfox]

Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor dies aged 56

3 minutes ago

Irish singer and activist Sinéad O'Connor has died at the aged of 56.

In a statement, the singer's family said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad.

"Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."

She was best known for her single Nothing Compares 2 U, released in 1990, which went on to hit number one around the world.

The singer, who was outspoken in her social and political views, brought out 10 studio albums in all.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66318626

[Time_Traveller]

Paul Reubens, Actor Who Played Pee-Wee Herman, Dies at 70

JUL 31, 2023 6:10 PM

Paul Reubens, who's best known as the actor behind Pee-Wee Herman, has died at the age of 70 after privately fighting a battle with cancer, his estate announced in an Instagram post today.

"Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness," the post reads. "Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit."

Reubens first started building the Pee-Wee Herman character in the ‘70s after joining famous Los Angeles-based improvisational comedy team The Groundlings. There, he met actor, comedian, and screenwriter Phil Hartman, with whom he developed Pee-Wee.

https://www.ign.com/articles/paul-reube ... e=facebook

[MythOfProgress]

Angus Cloud, breakout star of ‘Euphoria,’ is dead at 25

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Angus Cloud, the actor who starred as the sweet-natured drug dealer Fezco “Fez” O’Neill on the HBO series “Euphoria,” has died. He was 25.

Cloud’s publicist, Cait Bailey, said Cloud died Monday at his family home in Oakland, California. No cause of death was given.

In a statement, Cloud’s family said goodbye to “an artist, a friend, a brother and a son.

“Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss,” the family said. “The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend. Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence.”

https://apnews.com/article/angus-cloud- ... 351255427c