In Memoriam
Total 1729 Posts
Jan Berry was 62. He was a member of the duo Jan & Dean that had the 1960s surf-music hits "Deadman's Curve", "Surf City" and "Little Old Lady from Pasadena".
The former Dutch queen, Juliana, was 94. She oversaw a period of dramatic social change, taking in the end of empire and the evolution of her country into a leading voice for global liberalism.
Mercedes McCambridge was 85. She won an Oscar for the 1949 film "All the King's Men" and later provided the raspy voice of the demon-possessed girl in "The Exorcist".
Robert Pastorelli was 49. He was the boxer-turned-actor best known to television audiences as the house painter Eldin on long-running CBS comedy "Murphy Brown".
Paul Winfield was 62. He was an Academy Award-nominated actor who was known for his versatility in stage, film and television roles, including a highly praised 1978 depiction of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Spalding Gray was 62. He laid bare his life and mingled performance art with comedy in acclaimed monologues like "Swimming to Cambodia" and "It's a Slippery Slope". Gray actually disappeared from his Manhattan apartment two months ago, but his body was only discovered in the East River over the weekend.
Marge Schott was 75. She was the tough-talking, chain-smoking owner of the Cincinnati Reds who won a World Series but was repeatedly suspended for offensive remarks.
John Randolph was 88. He was a Tony Award-winning character actor who appeared in numerous films, television series and plays.
Boris Trajkovski was 47. He was Macedonia's president, a moderate leader credited for helping to unite his ethnically divided country.
Bart Howard was 88. He was a songwriter and pianist best known for his composition "Fly Me to the Moon". On a personal note, "Fly Me to the Moon" was the tune I bummed my high school graduation quote from.
Jan Miner was 86. She was a New York stage actress who gained fame as Madge, the manicurist in Palmolive television ads. Just the other day Taryn and I were watching a program when a commercial for Palmolive came on the screen. I wondered aloud what had happend to Madge
Claude Ryan was 79. He was best known across Canada as the cerebral leader of the provincial federalist forces that defeated Rene Levesque in the 1980 referendum.
Jack Paar was 85. He pioneered late-night talk as host of "The Tonight Show".
Jack Tunney was 68. He teamed with Vince McMahon Jr. in 1984 to bring the World Wrestling Federation to Toronto. As a child, I loved watching WWF wrestling. I remember clearly Billy Red Lyons on CHCH announcing the card coming to Maple Leaf Gardens and it was always brought to
Fanny Blankers-Koen was 85. She claimed four gold medals at the 1948 Olympic Games in London and was widely considered the greatest female athlete of the 20th century.
Helmut Newton was 83. He was a fashion photographer whose work appeared in magazines such as Playboy, Elle and Vogue. He was best known for his stark, black-and-white nude photos.
Bob "Captain Kangaroo" Keeshan was 76. As Captain Kangaroo he entertained and educated generations of children.
Ann Miller was 81. She was a tap dancer and actress who starred in such Hollywood musical classics as "Easter Parade," "On the Town" and "Kiss Me Kate".
Noble Willingham was 72. He worked steadily as a supporting actor over the last 30 years and left his role as a saloon owner on the series "Walker, Texas Ranger" to run for Congress.
Olivia Goldsmith was 54. She was an author who penned "The First Wives Club" which sold millions of copies and became a number one film in 1996 starring Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler. Much like Uta Hagen, I read of Olivia Goldmith's passing and didn't immediately post it
Uta Hagen was 84. She dazzled Broadway for more than 50 years and wrote what many consider the actor's bible on performing. I first read about Uta Hagen's death a couple of days ago but didn't initially add here to the Dead Pool list because I had never heard of
Ron O'Neal was 66. He played a cocaine dealer named Youngblood Priest in "Superfly" and the sequel, "Superfly TNT," which he also directed.
Yinka Dare was 32. He led the George Washington Colonials to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances before being drafted in the first-round of the NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets.
J. Douglas Creighton was 75. He founded The Toronto Sun in 1971. Under Creighton's leadership, the "little paper that grew" became a national chain, including Suns in Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa.
Tug McGraw was 59. He's the zany relief pitcher who coined the phrase "You Gotta Believe" with the New York Mets and later closed out Philadelphia's only World Series championship.