CAROL WAYNE - January 13
Sexy, bosomy blonde who played the
Tea Time Matinee Movie lady on TV in
the Mighty Carson Art Players comedy
skits during the Johnny Carson era of The Tonight Show.
(Age: 42. C.O.D.: Murdered by drowning.)
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BARBARA COWSILL - January 31
Singing mother of the Cowsills, a '60s family rock group that inspired
The Partridge Family TV show, starring Shirley Jones as the mom.
(Age: 56. C.O.D.: Emphysema.)
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NICHOLAS COLASANTO - February 12
Actor who played Coach on the TV sitcom Cheers.
(Age: 41. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
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MICHAEL REDGRAVE - March 21
Actor in many British films,
including The Secret Beyond The Door.
Also the father of Corin, Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave.
(Age: 77.)
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JEANINE DECKERS - March 31
She was the nun known as "Dominique" whose early life became
the basis for the movie The Singing Nun starring Debbie Reynolds.
(Age: 60. C.O.D.: Suicide.)
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SELMA DIAMOND - May 13
Sarcastic actress in various TV shows, including Night Court,
and the film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
(Age: 64. C.O.D.: Cancer.)
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MARGARET HAMILTON - May 16
Best-known as the Wicked Witch of the West
in The Wizard Of Oz, and later pitched coffee on TV.
(Age: 82.)
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GRANT WILLIAMS - July 28
Actor who starred in sci-fi cheeser The Incredible Shrinking Man.
(Age: 54. C.O.D.: Peritonitis)
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LOUISE BROOKS - August 8
Strikingly sensuous 1920s silent movie actress,
who to this day has a cult following.
(Age: 78.)
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RUTH GORDON - August 28
Writer/actress who won a supporting Oscar
for Rosemary's Baby, she also was the co-writer
of Pat And Mike with husband Garson Kanin.
(Age: 98. C.O.D.: Stroke.)
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LLOYD NOLAN - September 27
Acted in many films of the 1940s and '50s.
His last movie was Hannah And Her Sisters.
(Age: 83.)
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SIMONE SIGNORET - September 30
Actress who won an Oscar for Room At The Top.
(Age: 64. C.O.D.: Cancer)
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ROCK HUDSON - October 2
Versatile actor who co-starred in many
action/adventure flicks, as well as romantic
comedies, notably with Doris Day.
He was later featured on TV shows including
McMillan And Wife, and Dynasty.
(Age: 59. C.O.D.: AIDS.)
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GEORGE SAVALAS - October 2
(Same day as Rock Hudson.)
Actor who played Stavros on the
popular TV detective show Kojack.
He was also the brother of Kojak star Telly Savalas.
No nepotism there, huh?
(Age: 60. C.O.D.: Leukemia.)
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YUL BRYNNER - October 10
Won an Oscar for The King And I, and co-starred
in The Magnificent Seven, and Westworld.
(Age: 70. C.O.D.: Cancer.)
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ORSON WELLES - October 10
Created and starred in many great movies,
but is mainly known for his classic Citizen Kane.
He also wrote an autobiography called This Is Orson Welles.
(Age: 70. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
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KIRBY GRANT - October 30
Sky, you should've stuck to planes instead of cars.
Star of the 1950s TV adventure series Sky King.
(Age: 73. C.O.D.: Car crash.)
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PHIL SILVERS - November 1
Top banana comedian known mainly for starring
in the classic 1950s TV comedy Sgt. Bilko.
(Age: 73.)
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BILL SCOTT - November 29
TV producer and voice-over artist who did
Bullwinkle the moose, Mr. Peabody the dog
and Dudley Do-Right the mountie for
Jay Ward Productions on the popular 1960s
TV cartoon show Rocky And Bullwinkle.
(Age: 65. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
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BURR TILLSTROM - December 6
Speaking of voice artists, this guy was also
a multi-talented puppeteer, and the one beneath
Kukla and Ollie, the characters on the 1950s
hit TV kiddie show Kukla, Fran And Ollie.
(Age: 68.)
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ANNE BAXTER - December 12
Actress who co-starred in many
films including All About Eve.
(Age: 62. C.O.D.: Stroke.)
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DIAN FOSSEY - December 26
Died December 26, 1985. Born January 16, 1932.
Zoologist who wrote Gorillas in the Mist, which
later became a movie starring Sigourney Weaver.
(Age: 53. C.O.D.: Murdered.)
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RICKY NELSON - December 31
The "irrepressible Ricky Nelson" just
got pressed like yesterday's laundry.
Father of Tracy Nelson (Square Pegs TV sitcom)
and the twin blonde singers known very originally as The Nelsons.
During a holiday music tour, his private plane crashed into a mountain.
Said plane was later described as being "full of pot."
Well, as least he was high when he went up high.
Happy New Years Eve - you're dead!
(Age: 45. C.O.D.: Plane crash related to drug usage.)
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= 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! =