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.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Gil Spencer
Pulitzer-winning reporter, and editor -- via the Denver Post. He was good to his people, he didn't take any shit, he knew how to have fun and he knew what he was doing. That's pretty rare.
Randall Dale Adams
Friday, June 24, 2011
Fred Steiner
Composer, conductor, orchestrator and arranger for film, radio and television -- via Film Music Reporter. An Academy Award nominee for his score for "The Color Purple," he most famously wrote "Park Avenue Beat," the theme for the "Perry Mason" TV show.
CORRECTION: I received a nice note from Chuck Schwartz, cousin of Steiner, whose corrections are now incorporated into the obituary. "Fred Steiner did NOT write the theme for (saturday morning) Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. I think his father George may have done that one. Fred DID write the theme for primetime's The Bullwinkle Show, which was the prime time version of Rocky."
CORRECTION: I received a nice note from Chuck Schwartz, cousin of Steiner, whose corrections are now incorporated into the obituary. "Fred Steiner did NOT write the theme for (saturday morning) Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. I think his father George may have done that one. Fred DID write the theme for primetime's The Bullwinkle Show, which was the prime time version of Rocky."
Peter Falk
Actor -- via KTLA. A great performer -- although he will be best remembered for playing TV detective Columbo,
he could do much, much more. He started in live TV in New York. He made it into movies playing rats and criminals in movies such as "Pretty Boy Floyd" and "Murder, Inc." He finally displayed his dramatic chops in several collaborations with John Cassavetes in "Husbands," "A Woman Under the Influence," and "Opening Night."
He could do comedy -- just watch the original "The In-Laws," "Murder by Death" and "The Princess Bride."
My favorite role of his was a relatively small one, but a key one, as "Der Filmstar" in Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire."
"To smoke, and have coffee - and if you do it together, it's fantastic." What a guy.
he could do much, much more. He started in live TV in New York. He made it into movies playing rats and criminals in movies such as "Pretty Boy Floyd" and "Murder, Inc." He finally displayed his dramatic chops in several collaborations with John Cassavetes in "Husbands," "A Woman Under the Influence," and "Opening Night."
He could do comedy -- just watch the original "The In-Laws," "Murder by Death" and "The Princess Bride."
My favorite role of his was a relatively small one, but a key one, as "Der Filmstar" in Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire."
"To smoke, and have coffee - and if you do it together, it's fantastic." What a guy.
Gene Colan
One of the great Silver Age comic book artists -- via the Sacramento Bee. Best known for his work on "Daredevil" and "The Tomb of Dracula," he also drew Captain America (inventing the Falcon), Doctor Strange, the Sub-Mariner, Batman and many others.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
David Rayfiel
Screenwriter -- via the New York Times. A frequent collaborator with Sydney Pollack and Robert Redford, he worked on such excellent scripts as those for "Castle Keep," "Three Days of the Condor," "Abscence of Malice" and "'Round Midnight."
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Bill Haast
Director of the Miami Serpentarium Laboratories -- via the New York Times. He "milked" poisonous snakes of their venom for fun and profit.
Kevin W. Kavanaugh
Original keyboardist for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes -- via the Asbury Park Press.
Shafiullah Khan, Abid Naveed and Asfandyar
Journalists killed in suicide bombing -- via www.sialtv.com.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Charlotte Joko Beck
Zen teacher and writer -- via Tricycle. Her last words were the beautiful and haunting, "This too is wonder."
Asad Ali Khan
Rudra veena player, and the last living master of the Khandar dhrupad school -- via the Deccan Herald.
Don Diamond
Character actor in film, radio and TV -- via the L.A. Times and Legacy.com. His best-known roles were El Toro in "The Adventures of Kit Carson," Corporal Reyes in "Zorro," and Crazy Cat in "F Troop."
Maksud Sadikov
Theology professor -- via the New York Times. An advocate of peace, he was gunned down by extremists.
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