Celebrity Deaths

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:36 pm

Farrah Fawcett died about an hour ago, 9:30AM California time. Poor girl. She sure suffered.

-1bigsteve )o;

DJ · Post by DJ » Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:36 pm

The news just appeared on the Internet that Farrah Fawcett died. I remember what a huge sensation she was when I was in high school, how you could not pick up a magazine without her on the cover, how every other young woman (and some older ones) were copying her hairstyle.
I remember the brouhaha when she broke her contract with "Charlie's Angels" after the first year, and the reports that Aaron Spelling was offering her a bump to $75,000/episode, which was beyond-humongous at the time, and still ain't no chump change.
I wished she had stayed and fulfilled her contract-- her career probably would have progressed more smoothly, though I doubt Cheryl Ladd would agree.
Although Farrah did not have the personality and talent of Jean Harlow, Rita Hayworth, and Marilyn Monroe, she was definitely on a par with them as a celebrity "sex goddess," and there hasn't been anyone who has matched her since.
(Sorry, Angelina: You lost me when you started wearing that vial of blood around your neck!)

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:09 pm

I've just received word that Michael Jackson died.

SteveS. · Post by **SteveS.** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:45 pm

Yes...Michael Jackson was found not breathing today at his home.

LOS ANGELES – A person with knowledge of the situation says Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles. The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, says the King of Pop died at age 50 in a Los Angeles hospital.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:48 pm

I heard about Farrah's death while at work today. 62 is such a young age. She was a beautiful woman and talented actress. My favorite movie is where she played an abused wife in the television movie, "The Burning Bed". This movie earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of Francine Hughes.

Rest in peace Farrah.

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:55 pm

Geez, what a day! Two "icons" dead within a few hours. That's two, I wonder who the third one will be?

I wish them both sweet dreams.

-1bigsteve )o;

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:57 pm

Wow, two celebrities in one day. Michael Jackson was only 50 years old - so young!

NBC confirms Michael Jackson pronounced dead

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31552029?gt1=43001

Rest in peace Michael.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:22 am

These latest deaths are all shockers. Well, Ed McMahon's wasn't so much because he was so old. Poor guy. I feel sorry for him in his last years - especially having to stoop to make those rapper commercials. Yes, "the end of an era". That's for sure.

David Carradine's death was horrible to hear about - especially the way that he supposedly died. I agree, that "death scene" photo does not look at all like it could be him. And the autopsy photo you speak about I think you're right on, too - there wouldn't be a ring on his finger and he wouldn't be holding a leather strap.

I was surprised to hear he was 72.

Didn't Jean Harlow's husband die of the same thing (Paul Bern)? I remember reading one of her bios and I remember he was found nude in the bathroom. Seems like that's where I first ever heard of that auto-asphyxiation (sp?) thing.

It's sad to learn about Farrah Fawcett's death. I think one reason people are interested in celebrity deaths is because they seem to be immortal, and when one - especially a big star - dies, it reminds us that no one is.

I was stunned to hear of Michael Jackson! Just 50! And so suddenly.

(I love your picture, twinsre!)

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:15 am

augusta @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:22 am wrote:... David Carradine's death was horrible to hear about - especially the way that he supposedly died. I agree, that "death scene" photo does not look at all like it could be him. And the autopsy photo you speak about I think you're right on, too - there wouldn't be a ring on his finger and he wouldn't be holding a leather strap. I was surprised to hear he was 72.

Didn't Jean Harlow's husband die of the same thing (Paul Bern)? I remember reading one of her bios and I remember he was found nude in the bathroom. Seems like that's where I first ever heard of that auto-asphyxiation (sp?) thing. ...

Unfortunately, David's death has become old news. Guess we are going to have to wait for his autopsy results before knowing anything more. I read that David's agent Chuck Binder, said that Carradine's hands had been tied behind his back and a footprint on the bed did not match his shoes; he believes David was murdered.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... death.html

This sure doesn't sound like his death was due to a dangerous sex act to me. I also read that his family is seeking an FBI investigation; if true, it will be interesting to find out their results.

Hmmm, as far as I know, Paul Bern was found shot to death; it is believed that his death was suicide. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0075960/bio

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:16 am

augusta @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:22 am wrote:... It's sad to learn about Farrah Fawcett's death. ...

I find it sad, that Farrah's death has been greatly overshadowed by Michael Jackson's death.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:19 am

augusta @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:22 am wrote:... I was stunned to hear of Michael Jackson! Just 50! And so suddenly. ...

I feel sorry for Michael's children who were present when he went into cardiac arrest; what a horrible thing for them to have witnessed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp ... 0#31566097

It will be interesting to find out if Micheal's cardiac arrest had anything to do drugs. If it is determined that drugs were the cause of his cardiac arrest, then the statement posted by Lisa Marie Presley on her MySpace blog the day after Michael's death, is quite chilling:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuse ... d=42291868

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:20 am

augusta @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:22 am wrote:... (I love your picture, twinsre!)

Thanks, Augusta!

xyjw · Post by **xyjw** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:19 pm

That is a cool avatar twinsrwe. I was sorry to hear about Farrah Fawcett. She was great in the Burning Bed, but I loved her in The Apostle with Robert Duvall. Also gone in the past week or so is Dr. Geri Nielsen Fitzgerald. She discovered she had breast cancer while in the Arctic and had to conduct her own biopsy and chemo with the help of other coleagues stationed in the Arctic with her, until it was safe enough to fly into the Arctic and bring her home. Michael Jackson marks the end of an era, but especially after reading Lisa Marie's post it doesn't seem like such an unexpected shock. Ed McMahon was not my generation, but Johnny Carson was often the only thing good to watch out of all three channels! Also now gone is Sky Sunlight Saxon who died June 25th I believe. He was pretty cool, I loved his band The Seeds.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:40 pm

I hadn't heard that Dr. Jeri Nielsen Fitzgerald had passed away. When doing some research I found out that she died on June 23 at the age of 57. I also didn't know that Sky Sunlight Saxon died. Thanks for posting information on these two people, Lisbeth.

There is old tabloid that says celebrities always die in threes and according to the internet, the three celebrities grouped for last week are Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. However, this old tabloid proves its eerie power even more so when you consider this: On June 25, 2009, Sky Sunlight Saxon died at 9:10 am, Farrah Fawcett died at 9:28 am, and Michael Jackson died at 2:26 pm. Now this is what I call a true trilogy of tragedy. Sky Sunlight Saxon may not have been as well known as Ed McMahon, but come on, he was a celebrity.

Sky Sunlight Saxon died at 9:10 am, on June 25, 2009.
http://skysaxon.com/

Farrah Fawcett died at 9:28 am, on June 25, 2009.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... 88,00.html

Michael Jackson died at 2:26 pm, on June 25, 2009.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/0 ... l.jackson/

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:44 pm

xyjw @ Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:19 am wrote:That is a cool avatar twinsrwe. ...

Thanks, Lisbeth

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 5:27 pm

Billy Mays, the television pitchman whose boisterous hawking of the products Orange Glo and OxiClean made him a pop-culture icon, has died. He was 50.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529328,00.html

Another one that is so young!

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 5:33 pm

Gale Storm, whose wholesome appearance and perky personality made her one of early television's biggest stars on "My Little Margie" and "The Gale Storm Show," has died at age 87.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01451.html

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:47 pm

I loved The Gale Storm Show when I was a little kid. Sadly, I didn't realized she was still living. She had been out of the public eye for so long.

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:40 am

I'm glad I'm not the only one who remembers Gale Storm.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:14 pm

Actor Karl Malden died 07/01/09, at the age of 97.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02889.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31687045/ns ... nt-movies/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_ ... bit_malden

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.as ... &GT1=28101

The 1984 TV movie, Fatal Vision, was one of my favorites; Karl Malden was awarded an Emmy, for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, for his performance as Jeffrey MacDonald's father in-law, Freddy Kassab.

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:32 pm

Harve Presnell died yesterday of pancreatic cancer. He was 75.

doug65oh · Post by **doug65oh** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:34 pm

Harve Presnell? Where do I...? Oh yes - he was in the films The Unsinkable Molly Brown & Paint Your Wagon. (Both were great but I especially liked him in The Unsinkable Molly Brown.)

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:38 pm

He was also in Fargo, where he played the father of the kidnapped woman (Kristin Rudrüd). A very different sort of role from the musicals he was known for in his youth.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:27 pm

My favorite Karl Malden role was with Bette Davis where she played her twin sister and he was a cop.
I don't remember the title..

Was that 2 Faces of Eve?

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:32 pm

That was Bette's second twin-sister act, Dead Ringer. It's kind of a grotesque parody of her first, A Stolen Life (which was a remake of an earlier film with Elisabeth Bergner).

They'd make an interesting double feature. (Dead Ringer is the better film, though neither is exactly a masterpiece.)

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 2:02 am

Yea you're right- and I guess the title I reached for (wrongly) was 3 Faces of Eve, anyway?

Dead Ringer- I like that movie- was that set in San Francisco? I kind of got the impression Malden got the "Streets of San Francisco" TV part because of that role...

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:18 pm

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair found shot to death... He was only 36 years old!

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9765822

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:12 pm

Besides us is there anyone left?

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 11:31 pm

I know what you mean, Harry; they are dropping off like flies! I've lost count on the 'Rule of Three'.

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:13 am

MJ's ghost haunts CNN?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Am67-Sew7k

Couldn't let that one go by!

SteveS. · Post by **SteveS.** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:44 pm

That's just darn freaky!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:35 am

Well, they did not waste a moment getting all paranormal! Poor man is not even buried yet- and I wonder where he will be buried? Nobody seems to know.
I saw that video- it is merely a person walking past a window -it is a shadow of a LIVING person. I predict a seance with Jackson revealing all will be forthcoming soon.

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:04 pm

And, inevitably, the conspiratory theories will come next- he's been murdered, he's not really dead, he's living in Fiji in a cave, etc. etc. etc.

People will start seeing him at gas stations in Waterloo and tattoo parlors in Bankok next. Just watch.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:14 pm

That wasn't Jackson. It was Elvis who was secretly living with Jackson.

When will Jackson appear on Mt. Rushmore? Jeesh!

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:21 pm

Don't forget about Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, Harry. All four are living together now. I have a picture of all four peering out from behind a screen door. No, honest.

Michael Jackson is on Mt. Rushmore, Harry. But, in order to see him you have to buy a special pair of glasses which only I sell. Send $19.99 in check or money order to...

You just watch all the scams, unfounded theories, "insider" information, and every kind of crap you can think of come out of the wood work now. I'm already getting "The King of Pop Ring Tones!" and "Who Killed Michael Jackson!" e-mails. What next? The media sure is adding to the mix.

-1bigsteve (o:

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:28 pm

twinsrwe @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:31 pm wrote:I know what you mean, Harry; they are dropping off like flies! I've lost count on the 'Rule of Three'.

I don't think I have ever seen such a weird two week period in my life. It's strange that so many have died so close to each other.

-1bigsteve (o:

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:17 pm

So far I have seen the haunting ghost video, a web page claiming that he's not really dead, a web page claiming conspiracy, and his family claiming he was murdered. So, I am sure we are going to see a lot more to come. I'm afraid the poor guy isn't going to be allowed to rest in peace for quite awhile yet.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:21 pm

This article is a bit confusing...

The first sentence states: Michael Jackson was buried on Tuesday in Los Angeles without his brain, or at least part of it.

However, the last paragraph states: The final resting place for the pop icon has still not been decided with family members seeking permission to have him buried at Neverland, Michael Jackson’s home for the last 21 years.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009- ... 677958.htm

I found these articles quite interesting:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen ... rland.html

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish ... 7774.shtml

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/2009070 ... _eo/133031

So, has he been buried or not?

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:22 pm

Michael Jackson's death 'second biggest story of century'

Only the election of President Barack Obama to the White House eclipsed the the death of the 'King of Pop' at the age of 50, research by Global Language Monitor (GLM) found.

Jackson's death received more coverage than the Iraq War, 9/11 and the global financial meltdown, last year's Beijing Olympics, Hurricane Katrina, the death of Pope John Paul II and the Tsunami.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/musi ... ntury.html

Is this outrageous or what?

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:36 pm

1bigsteve @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:28 pm wrote:I don't think I have ever seen such a weird two week period in my life. It's strange that so many have died so close to each other. ...

I agree, Steve. I find it appalling that one person's death has put everyone else's death so far on the back burner. Overwhelmingly so, I might add! It's a shame because each of the people who have recently died has contributed a great deal of their individual talents toward the entertainment of our viewing pleasure.

doug65oh · Post by **doug65oh** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:35 pm

Walter Cronkite passed away at 7:42 pm tonight at the age of 92. While it wasn’t altogether unexpected – he’d been in frail health for some time – this is a loss which rips at the gut, makes the heart grieve in ways we might not expect. Years ago when I studied news writing (as opposed to journalism) we focused on three who represented the “gold standard” of modern media: Ed Murrow, the team of Huntley-Brinkley, & Walter Cronkite. Tonight we lost the last of the best. It will never again be “the way it was” but Goodnight, God bless & Godspeed, sir.

DJ · Post by DJ » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:17 pm

Yesterday, I came across a brief obituary, from earlier this month, for the British actress Mollie Sugden, who played Mrs. Slocum, she of the "peacock" hair on the Britcom "Are You Being Served?" The show and its characters are a delight, and Mollie Sugden played off double entendres about what her cat was doing, except she didn't refer to her pet as a cat, per se.... Another favorite, keeper line, "I burnt m' Yorkshire [pudding]."
A memorable personage, she.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:30 am

Although he is not a celebrity, Henry Allingham, the world’s oldest man, dies at the age of 113.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31979722/?GT1=43001

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:59 pm

Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes, died yesterday.

There was an amusing typo in Mollie Sugden's obituary in the New York Times, in which she was described as "elaborately quaffed."

That has got to be a unique cause of death.

DJ · Post by DJ » Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:45 pm

C,
Where is Alden Whitman, when you need him? That NEVAH would've happened during his tenure with The Times obituaries.
Reminds me of a similar typo, after the O.J. verdict, in an editorial, wherein Spell Check took over, and then some. The writer meant to say "pariah" (I assume) and evidently misspelled it along some Byzantine fashion, so that O.J. might become "a social pharaoh."

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:49 pm

Taco Bell Ad Star 'Gidget' The Chihuahua, Dies at the age of 15.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32085116/ ... oday_pets/

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:32 pm

Hopefully, she's now gallavanting in puppy heaven with Mickey Rourke's Loki.

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:55 am

I hate saying this but I have a sinking feeling that either Clint Eastwood, Jerry Lewis, Micky Rooney or Elizabeth Taylor will be going soon.

-1bigsteve (o:

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 4:35 pm

This will probably not mean much to most of you (and I'm not suggesting that it should), but opera singer Anne Collins died of cancer on July 15 at only 65. She was a delight in Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles, some of which are preserved in the Brent Walker video series. This is uneven, but she is definitely one of the good things in it. As Lady Jane in Patience (altogether one of the best of the series), she even accompanies herself on the cello. I am told she also excelled as Erda in Wagner's Ring cycle, though I never saw or heard her performances of this role.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:30 am

Eunice Kennedy Shriver died at the age of 88. She had had multiple strokes. She was the Kennedy sister who did the Special Olympics. Now there are just Ted and Jean left of the original 9 siblings.

There has been too many celebrities dying seemingly all at once. I hadn't heard of the woman with the colored hair from 'Are You Being Served' passing away.

Michael Jackson's death shocked me. I literally couldn't believe it for a while. I thought maybe he's faking his own death, or maybe it was a mistake. I think the press has been deplorable in doing the same thing to him as they did Princess Diana - they talked really nasty about them, and then when they died practically proclaimed their sainthood.

Karl Malden has been a life-long favorite. I knew he was in his 90's and had to go fairly soon, and if he was in poor health it's good he is at rest.

Somebody recently told me that the bad thing about getting old is you have to see so many pass away before you. It's so true.