Okay, the word on the street is...
There are 71 posts tagged: obituaries
- Willow-the-wisp
- 19 April 2024
On the passing of his
(more…)favourite human
, Warwick Davis paid tribute to his wife of 33 years, Samantha. Among other things, he noted:Without Sammy, there would have been…no Willow series
.- Sci-Cli
- 10 April 2024
Two days' ago, Georgina Rannard was the BBC's climate reporter, and only a little while later she's their science reporter. Both come under the general umbrella of Science & Environment though, so I guess it's all pretty much the same thing at Beeb Towers. (shrug)
(more…)- A Miss Moneypenny, 'er gone
- 24 February 2024
BBC News' home page piqued my interest this morning as it teased (right):
(more…)Miss Moneypenny actress Pamela Salem dies aged 80
. Wowzers! There are a lot of Bond films that I have only passing familiarity with—all of Pierce Brosnan's for a start—so I was curious to know which among the pantheon the late Ms Salem had graced with her secretarial thesping.- Long straight hair
- 20 January 2024
The death of Mary Weiss, lead singer and one quarter of The Shangri-Las, was recognised from beyond the grave by Ronnie Spector, who predeceased her by two years. The BBC's Oliver Slow took the opportunity to demonstrate that, while he might be Slow by name, he's quick on the
(more…)drawcorrective edit.- Annie Nightingale: done whistlin'
- 12 January 2024
Annie Nightingale, the first woman DJ on BBC Radio 1, has passed at the age of 83. With a career spanning fifty years, she was the station's longest-serving broadcaster. Remarkably, she was working until the end, with her final show broadcast just before Christmas.
(more…)- Glynis Johns: herzapoppin' (off this mortal coil)
- 5 January 2024
Giving plenty of time to plan the Oscars' in memoriam tribute, Glynis Johns—best known as the suffragette mother of Mary Poppins' two charges—has gone to tread the celestial boards at the ripe old age of 100. Although she'd collected a few trinkets and baubles related to her profession, she never received recognition from His Majesty's Government.
(more…)- Andre Braugher: 'im gone...too soon
- 13 December 2023
Andre Braugher has died too young, at the age of only 61. In my opinion, his deadpan portrayal of grammatically-punctilious Captain Raymond Holt was the standout character performance in Brooklyn Nine-Nine; in itself no mean feat.
(more…)- Ben-Z
- 7 December 2023
The passing of self-proclaimed
(more…)poet, writer, lyricist, musician and naughty boy
Benjamin Zephaniah at the age of 65, brought to my attention an interview that he gave in 2005. Specifically, his childhood perspective of family life growing up in a broken home.- Shane MacGowan: dun drinkin'
- 30 November 2023
It appears that a life of drugs and booze may not be a long one. The Pogues' frontman, Shane MacGowan, has died at the age of 65.
(more…)- Chandler: 'im bada-Bing bada-boomed
- 29 October 2023
Any chances of future Friends reunions have been scuppered by the death of Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing, at the age of 54. He was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his house.
(more…)- Gambon gone
- 28 September 2023
On the passing of Sir Michael Gambon, many of the tributes to him remark on his mischievous sense of humour. Such as his behaviour on the set of The Singing Detective (1986), playing a character suffering from psoriatic arthopathy, which required him to wear heavy makeup to mimic flaking and raw skin:
(more…)- The voice, the hair, the legs
- 25 May 2023
Tina Turner has passed away. She was only 83, which is no age really.
(more…)- Lost magic
- 2 April 2023
I was saddened to read of the passing of Japanese musician and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto. With YMO, he pioneered electronic music that sounded warmer, more human, and less industrial than Kraftwerk.
(more…)- Bye-bye Ben
- 31 December 2022
Pope Benedict XVI—otherwise known as Benny the Rat—has only just squeezed on to the
(more…)those taken in 2022
list. In doing so, he snatched the year's Last Celebrity Death award from the clutches of Dame Vivienne Westwood.- The carnival is over
- 25 October 2022
It appears that, after forty-five years, Ford Motor Company may be planning to sunset the redoubtable Ford Fiesta.
(more…)- Five, six, or one?
- 11 October 2022
BBC Three helpfully informs us of five things we may not have known about US fashion designer Virgil Abloh, who died 28th November last year. Clearly, the BBC Three droid jumped the gun on the one-year anniversary tribute by six weeks.
(more…)- Neutron-Bomb
- 8 August 2022
Dame Olivia Newton-John, one of the mose beautiful women to have graced this planet in my lifetime, has died at the age of 73. She came to wide attention for her role in 1978's Grease, which propelled her career into the '80s and beyond. Later, over three decades, she battled, beat, and re-battled the cancer that finally took her life.
(more…)- Darwin dedication
- 26 July 2022
Jack Fenton, 22, was killed when he was hit by a helicopter's tail rotor in Greece. The aircraft's two pilots and a ground crew member face charges of negligent homicide.
(more…)- Leave it out, guv'
- 8 May 2022
Dennis Waterman, star of The Sweeney; Minder; and New Tricks, as well as terrible British sitcoms, has died at the age of 74. He was always strong a screen presence, and I enjoyed watching his performances.
(more…)- Batwahmxn: done fookin' scissorin'
- 30 April 2022
Batwoman, one of the series set within The CW's Arrowverse, has been cancelled after three seasons. I only ever caught clips of it, usually when it was being roasted for its sheer bloody awfulness.
(more…)- No Newzz is good news
- 24 March 2022
BuzzFeed News—or should that be Newzz?—is being shuttered, at the urging of shareholders. The news landscape will never be the same again. Hopefully.
(more…)- William Hurt: last Oscars
- 14 March 2022
Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985); Children of a Lesser God (1986); Broadcast News (1987); A History of Violence (2005).
(more…)- Da-do-Ron-Ron
- 13 January 2022
Reading of the death of Ronnie Spector, I was expecting her ex-husband's criminal conviction to be dragged up. Not that it needed to be included in her obituary; after all, it had nothing to do with her. The couple had divorced three decades prior to Lana Clarkson's murder.
(more…)- Janice Long: done suckin'
- 28 December 2021
Trail-blazing radio and televisual DJ, Janice Long, has just squeezed on to the those-we-lost-in-2021 list. She was the first woman in the UK to have her own daily show on Radio 1, and the first to host Top of the Pops, paving the way for all those who followed in her footsteps.
(more…)- Sally Ann Howes: no longer banging
- 22 December 2021
On the death of Sally Ann Howes, star of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, her son, an artist named Andrew Hart Adler, announced her loss on his Instagram account.
(more…)- Really record breaking
- 14 October 2021
I have no interest in athletics, so I'd never heard of Kenyan distance runner Agnes Tirop, until her murder was reported today. She was only 25.
(more…)- Sean Lock: no laughing matter
- 18 August 2021
On the tragically early death of Sean Lock, I'm reminded of one of my favourite jokes ever.
(more…)- Beginning of the end
- 25 July 2021
The end credits to one of the greatest films of all time, 1994's The Shawshank Redemption, start with
(more…)IN MEMORY OF ALLEN GREENE
. Strangely enough, this inspired a question on Quora as to whether Allen Greene was a real person. WTF? Why would the film be dedicated to anyone otherwise? (confused)- Edged out
- 21 May 2021
M$ is finally retiring its venerable browser, Internet Explorer. It's the end of an era. (sad)
(more…)- Nick Kamen, 'im done laundering
- 5 May 2021
Nick Kamen, model and singer, has died aged 59. He rose to fame in a 1985 commercial for Levi's 501s, in which he stripped to his underwear in a launderette to Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine. Although the advert was for Levi's jeans, I think it did as much for sales of boxer shorts as anything.
(more…)- Toodle-pip!
- 9 April 2021
HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, best known for his bon mots and unenviable driving skills, has died at the tragically young age of 99. His death occurred just two months shy of his 100th birthday so, unfortunately, he never became eligible to receive the telegram from his wife.
(more…)- Marion Ramsey: finally graduated
- 9 January 2021
Actress Marion Ramsey has died, aged 73. In its summary of her career, the BBC not only notes that she appeared in six of the Police Academy films, as if that was something to extol, but actually headlines the article with it.
(more…)- God's right hand
- 26 November 2020
On the death of Diego Maradona, huge crowds in Argentina are in mourning.
(more…)- "Bond, James Bond"
- 31 October 2020
RIP Sir Sean Connery, the quintessential James Bond. And legend of the silver screen.
(more…)- Olivia de Havilland: 'er gone (with the wind)
- 26 July 2020
Dame Olivia de Havilland,
(more…)one of the last survivors of Hollywood's Golden Age
, has died, aged 104.*- Peter Green: oh well
- 25 July 2020
Peter Green, legendary blues guitarist and co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, has gone to the Great Jam Session. He had the good fortune to leave the band before they became an AOR travesty; although the circumstances were, sadly, anything but fortunate.
(more…)- Hedging their bets
- 31 May 2020
Michael Angelis, beloved Liverpudlian actor, died yesterday. According to Wikipaedia and The Guardian newspaper, he was 68 years old.
(more…)- Pointing the finger
- 18 October 2017
According to the Wikipedia entry for Gil Scott-Heron—I have no idea how I got there!—he has been credited by music writers as
(more…)the godfather of rap
, while according to Eminem:He influenced all of hip-hop
.- How long is "long"?
- 30 September 2017
If you're Hugh Hefner, and you're referring to your future with your new bride, it would be less than five years.
(more…)- Alvin Stardust: done rockin'
- 23 October 2014
Those of a
(more…)certain age
may remember Bernard Jewry's alter ego, Alvin Stardust—the one that he took on after abandoning Shane Fenton, that is. I'm unsure if this is a good thing or not. He never really appealed to me, being part of the early '70s UK glam rock scene that is such a shit stain on my memory. But, otherwise, he wasn't particularly offensive as such.- Rev. Ian Paisley: dun frothin'
- 12 September 2014
Ian Paisley, Democratic Unionist Party party leader and man of the cloth, if only touching it, is no more.
(more…)- Doner card
- 27 October 2013
Kadir Nurman, a Turkish migrant to Germany who was credited with
(more…)inventing
the doner kebab, has died at the age of 80. Although grilled meat carved from a skewer was already popular in Turkey, Nurman added salad and served it in a flat bread; and thus was born a staple of fast-paced life in West Berlin, and drunken pub chuck-out time the length-and-breadth of England.- Reg Presley, done rockin'
- 5 February 2013
Reg Presley, who stepped out of his older brother Elvis' shadow—even going as far as to change his first name from Priscilla—to establish that other great superstar group, The Troggs, has passed on to a better place. Preferably one where everything about crop circles and UFO will become clear.
(more…)- Dave Brubeck: 'im took five
- 6 December 2012
Dave Brubeck, jazz pianist extraordinaire, has turned in his last composition. Cut down in the flower of his youth at only 91.
(more…)- Max Bygraves: 'im gonegrave
- 1 September 2012
Max Bygraves, alleged entertainer beloved by my grandparents' generation, has checked in his Equity card.
(more…)- Scott McKenzie: 'im done lovin'
- 20 August 2012
Scott McKenzie, singer of San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) and nothing else of note,* is now pushing up the daisies. Grab a dandelion and celebrate the first Summer of Love.
(more…)- Tony Scott: that's a wrap
- 20 August 2012
Tony Scott, director and brother of Ridley, jumped off a bridge and was later found dead.
(more…)- Marvin Hamlisch: no longer the way he was
- 7 August 2012
So, farewell, Marvin Hamlisch Famous for The Sting And A Chorus Line Once you were composing But now you're decomposing
- Kidney damage
- 27 June 2012
Nora Ephron, writer of such smash hit drama-documentries as When Harry Met Sally…, Sleepless In Seattle, and You've Got Mail—did anyone actually watch that all the way through?—has turned in her quill and last parchment.
(more…)- Earl Scruggs: gon dun pikkin'
- 29 March 2012
(more…)Who?
I hear you cry. Only the Earl Scruggs; the man who pretty much invented modern country music single-handedly is no more. I'm not sure whether to feel relieved that he finally got his come-uppence, or robbed of knowing who to direct my ire towards until it was too late.- Andrea True: less, less, less
- 28 December 2011
Andrea True, disco diva and one-time porn actress, has gone to the great boogie in the sky.
(more…)- Kim Jong-il: 'im gone-il
- 19 December 2011
Merry Christmas everyone, the funniest part of Team America: World Police has finally done the decent thing!
(more…)- Billie Jo: 'er speared
- 15 December 2011
So, country singer Billie Jo Spears has gone to that great caterwaul in the sky—me not a fan of country music. So far, so boring. But then there's this comment on the BBC's news article:
(more…)- Death of an artfag
- 16 August 2011
The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, has confirmed the death of Robert Breer. The American
(more…)artist and pioneering film-maker
was only 85. He had so much more to give.- Bobby Robby: combed over
- 15 August 2011
Robert Robinson, the king of the comb-over, has found the ultumate cure for baldness.
(more…)- Bubba Smith: 'im gorn
- 4 August 2011
You know, the tall black one from the Police Academy travesty? He was found dead, aged 66, in doesn't-appear-to-be-suspicious circumstances.
(more…)- Clarence Clemons: done tootlin'
- 20 June 2011
Bruce Springsteen's tootler is no more. Although I personally found Springsteen's music to be often unremarkable, or remarkably mawkish, Clemons' tootling redeemed at least some of it.
- Michael Gough, 'im gorn (sad)
- 18 March 2011
Michael Gough, best known as Alfred to Michael Keaton's Batman, has handed in his Equity card.
(more…)- There are better things to be remembered for
- 9 February 2011
Death comes to all of us, supposedly, with the possible exception of
(more…)travellers
.- The wisdom of IMDb reviews
- 28 December 2010
Idly reading of those that passed on in 2010, I learned of Simon MacCorkindale's death in October. For some bizarre reason, they included Manimal in his career triumphs. Christ only knows why, I bet the poor sod would've preferred to forget it.
(more…)- Teena Marie: done groovin'
- 27 December 2010
Who? Teena Marie, that's who! White R&B singer on the Motown label, who was noted for not having many hits in the UK, just squeezed onto the
those we lost in 2010
compilations.- Danno: 'im booked!
- 29 October 2010
James MacArthur, best known as the recipient of Steve's final instructions to
(more…)book 'em
at the end of Hawaii Five-O, has gone to the great booking office himself.- Psychic Paul: 'im paella
- 26 October 2010
Paul, the octopus who gained fame as a world cup football pundit, has turned up all eight of his toes. I bet he didn't see that one coming.
(more…)- Tom Bosley, 'im gone to The Angels
- 20 October 2010
Tom Bosley, apparently better remembered by the BBC for Happy Days and The Father Dowling Mysteries, but jealously remembered by some of us, from our adolescence, for his proximity to Farrah Fawcett-Majors' breasts in Charlie's Angels, has gone to ogle that chest again.
(more…)- Tony Curtis: wigged out
- 30 September 2010
The star of Spartacus, Houdini, Some Like It Hot, and Monte Carlo or Bust! has hung up his toupée. He was the people's father of Jamie Lee Curtis. Or something.
(more…)- Stuart Cable, 'im gorn
- 7 June 2010
Stuart who? Drummer with Stereophonics and doin' lots of other stuff, that's who, is dead at 40 of
no suspicious circumstances
. Is that a euphemism for drugs?- LOTSW: it goin', finally
- 2 June 2010
Last of the Summer Wine is being put out to pasture after 37 years, most of that in a spiral of decline. Perhaps it got better over recent years but, from what I remember of the last episodes that I watched, it really was begging to be put out of its misery.
(more…)- RJD: 'im rock 'n' rolled over
- 19 May 2010
My two favourite Black Sabbath albums are Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules, so I was saddened to read of the death of Ronnie James Dio from stomach cancer. He was only 67, which is no age really.
(more…)- Charlie, 'im gorn to the angels
- 2 April 2010
John Forsythe, the disembodied voice that told some bints-with-attitude what to do with their spare time away from the coiffure, has gone to a better place. Or Alexis Carrington's boudoir, the old dog.
- Fred Morrison, pretender to Xena's crown
- 13 February 2010
Fred Morrison, self-styled inventor of the Frisbee, has died aged 90. He claimed to have invented the flying toy disc while playing with a tin lid with his girlfriend.
(more…)- The 'deathstar' strikes again
- 28 September 2004
Wahey! My third
(more…)deathstar
—IBM Deskstar 75GXP—died a couple of days ago. It was also the system disk to my main computer, so all of my email went down the toilet. Luckily I'd backed up a few weeks earlier, so most is okay.