AGATHA CHRISTIE - January 12


Mystery writer of many detective novels, notably
Ten Little Indians, and Murder On The Orient Express.
(Age: 85.)
________________________________________

LEE J. COBB - February 11


Actor who did many films (The Exorcist)
and some TV series work (The Virginian).
(Age: 64.)
________________________________________    

SAL MINEO - February 12


Actor who did many films (The Exorcist)
and some TV series work (The Virginian).
(Age: 37. C.O.D.: Murdered by knife.)
________________________________________

PHIL OCHS - April 9


Gifted singer/songwriter who did many social
protest tunes, including The Draft Dodger Rag.
(Age: 35. C.O.D.: Suicide.)
________________________________________  

JOHNNY MERCER - June 25


Songwriter particularly known for classics like
Accentuate The Positive, and Hooray For Hollywood.
Also co-wrote hits with other composers like Henry Mancini.
(Age: 66.)
________________________________________ 

ALASTAIR SIM - August 19


Played role of Scrooge in the 1951
film incarnation of A Christmas Carol,
which is widely considered to be the
best version of that classic tale.  
(Age: 75.)
________________________________________

ANISSA JONES - August 28


Actress most famous as the bouncy Buffy
on the hit TV series Family Affair. 
(Age: 18. C.O.D.: Suicide by drug overdose.)
________________________________________

ROSALIND RUSSELL - November 28


Featured in Gypsy, and Auntie Mame. Also did many "snappy banter" comedies,
most notably His Girl Friday. 
(Age: 69. C.O.D.: Cancer.)
________________________________________  

GODFREY CAMBRIDGE - November 29


(Day after Rosalind Russell.)
Great stand-up comic who made a few films,
including the racial parody Watermelon Man.
(Age: 43. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
________________________________________

JACK CASSIDY - December 12


This gin-slinger was no relation
to gun-slinger Butch Cassidy.
Brilliantly played John Barrymoore in the film W.C. Fields And Me.
A snappy dresser and even snappier actor, he was
also a regular in the underrated TV series He And She.
Married to Shirley Jones for nearly 20 years,
he fathered many performing sons, notably David Cassidy,
who co-starred with mom Shirley in The Partridge Family.
(Age: 49. C.O.D.: Smoking in bed while drunk.)
________________________________________

= WELL, THAT'S ALL FOR THIS YEAR, FOLKS! BUT STAY TUNED - YOU KNOW THE GRIM REAPER AIN'T DONE WITH THOSE CELEBS YET! MEANWHILE, ON THE UPPER RIGHT YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK OUT THE LIST OF LATE LAMENTED LAYABOUTS FROM OTHER YEARS! ENJOY! =