OBITS IN ORBIT .COM




= Most Popular Recent Afterlife Entrants =



Sunday, December 31, 2017

2017


NAT HENTOFF - January 7

Political philosopher, columnist and music critic
(The Village Voice, Down Beat, Playboy).
(Age: 91.)
________________________________________

BUDDY GRECO - January 10

Singer, actor (The Girl Who Knew Too Much) and pianist.
(Age: 90.)
________________________________________

WILLIAM PETER BLATTY - January 12

Novelist and screenwriter (The Exorcist, Legion, A Shot In The Dark).
Oscar winner (1974).
(Age: 89. C.O.D.: Multiple myeloma.)
________________________________________

DICK GAUTIER - January 13


(Same day as Magic Alex, and the next day after William Peter Blatty.)
Actor (Get Smart, Transformers, Bye Bye Birdie).
(Age: 85.)
________________________________________

MAGIC ALEX - January 13

(Same day as Dick Gautier, and the next day after William Peter Blatty.)
Greek electronics engineer (The Beatles, Apple Electronics).
(Age: 74. C.O.D.: Pneumonia complications.)
________________________________________

ROBERTA PETERS - January 18

American coloratura soprano.
(Age: 86. C.O.D.: Parkinson's disease.)
________________________________________

MIGUEL FERRER - January 19

(Day after Roberta Peters.)
Actor (Star Trek III: The Search For Spock, Robo Cop,
Blank Check, Mulan, NCIS: Los Angeles).
(Age: 61. C.O.D.: Cancer.)
________________________________________

JOHN HURT - January 25

Dead? We all thought he was only hurt!
(Same day as Mary Tyler Moore.)
Actor (Alien, The Elephant Man, Hellboy).
(Age: 77. C.O.D.: Cancer.)
________________________________________

MARY TYLER MOORE - January 25

(Same day as John Hurt.)
Actress (The Dick Van Dyke Show,
The Mary Tyler Moore Show,
Thoroughly Modern Millie).
(Age: 80. C.O.D.: Pneumonia complications.)
________________________________________

MIKE CONNORS - January 26

Mannix will have no more drunken panics.
(Day after John Hurt and Mary Tyler Moore, same day as Barbara Hale.)
Actor (Mannix, The Ten Commandments, War And Remembrance).
(Age: 91. C.O.D.: Leukemia.)
________________________________________

BARBARA HALE - January 26

(Day after John Hurt and Mary Tyler Moore, same day as Mike Connors.)
Hale, Hale - the Babs ain't here.
Oh, Hale no!

TV (Perry Mason) and film (Airport) star.
(Age: 94. C.O.D.: COPD complications.)
________________________________________

BOB HOLIDAY - January 27

Now he's on a permanent holiday.
(Day after Mike Connors and Barbara Hale.)
Stage actor whose work included the 1966 Broadway
musical It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman.
(Age: 84.)
________________________________________

"PROFESSOR" IRWIN COREY - February 6

Comedian (The Steve Allen Show) and actor (Car Wash, Doc, Thieves). Known has the World's Foremost Authority on just about everything. (Yes, we mean even more knowledgeable than the great Cliff Claven.)
Professor Corey was so brilliant that he foresaw his own passing, and thus invented Wikipedia, which contains online "facts" that any complete dummy can change by editing at any given time of day or night. So once again, we say thank you, Professor!
(Age: 102. C.O.D.: The sun finally grew too jealous of his sheer brilliance.)
________________________________________

RICHARD HATCH - February 7

(Day after Irwin Corey.)
Best known for his role as Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, he also performed on The Streets Of San Francisco, and All My Children.
And so, Richard - down the Hatch!
(Age: 71. C.O.D.: Stomach cancer.)
________________________________________

AL JARREAU - February 12

American jazz and R&B singer (notably "Moonlighting," "Since I Fell For You,"and "We Are The World").
Not surprisingly, he became a seven-time Grammy winner.
He's easily in the Top 5 of the greatest soul singers of all time.
(Age: 76. C.O.D.: Respiratory complications.)
________________________________________

RICHARD SCHICKEL - February 18

Film critic (Time), complications from a series of strokes. Sure, most folks dislike critics, but this one proved himself to be one of the best, and not just in print. His many audio commentaries on DVD and Blu-rays also boosted him to the top ranks of the most knowledgeable contributors to educating the public about the art of film.
(Age: 84.)
His many biographical books include:
Harold Lloyd: The Shape Of Laughter
Douglas Fairbanks: The First Celebrity
Cary Grant: A Celebration
D.W. Griffith: An American Life
James Cagney: A Celebration
Brando: A Life In Our Times
Clint Eastwood: A Biography
Woody Allen: A Life In Film
Elia Kazan: A Biography
Bogie: A Celebration
The Essential Chaplin
Conversations With Scorsese
________________________________________

BILL PAXTON - February 25

Great guy who did tons of good work:
2015 Texas Rising (TV Mini-Series)
2012 Hatfields & McCoys (TV Mini-Series)
2011 Haywire
2004 Thunderbirds
1997 Titanic
1996 Twister
1995 Apollo 13
1994 True Lies
1993 Tombstone
1992 Trespass
1990 Predator 2
1990 Navy Seals
1989 Next of Kin

(Age: 61. C.O.D.: Stroke following heart surgery.)
________________________________________

JUDGE JOSEPH WAPNER - February 26

(Day after Bill Paxton.)
Judge (Los Angeles County Superior Court) who later became
a popular television personality (The People's Court,
Judge Wapner's Animal Court).
(Age: 97. )
________________________________________

JAY LYNCH - March 5

Pioneer underground comics artist,
writer and editor (Nard And Pat, Bijou Funnies).
(Age: 74. C.O.D.: Lung cancer.)
________________________________________

ROBERT OSBORNE - March 6

(Day after Jay Lynch.)
Film historian and television host (Turner Classic Movies).
No relation to rocker Ozzie Osborne.
(Age: 84.)
________________________________________

MURRAY BALL - March 12

Ball with some of his characters.
(Photo: Sunday StarTimes/John Cowpland.)
New Zealand cartoonist (Footrot Flats).
(Age: 78.)
________________________________________

JAMES COTTON - March 16

Best blues harmonica player ("Hard Again") since Little Walter.
Also ran his own group The James Cotton Band.
(Age: 81. C.O.D.: Pneumonia.)
________________________________________

SKIP WILLIAMSON - March 16

(Same day as James Cotton.)
Underground comics cartoonist (Snappy Sammy Smoot).
(Age: 72. C.O.D.: Complications of organ failure.)
________________________________________

CHUCK BERRY - March 18

Hall of Fame rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter
("Johnny B. Goode", "Maybellene", "Roll Over Beethoven").
(Age: 90. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
________________________________________

JIMMY BRESLIN - March 19

(Day after Chuck Berry.)
Journalist, author (New York Daily News, Newsday) and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize (1986).
(Age: 88. C.O.D.: Complications from pneumonia.)
________________________________________

DAVID ROCKEFELLER - March 20

(Day after Jimmy Breslin.)
American banker (Chase Manhattan), globalist (Trilateral
Commission) and philanthropist (Rockefeller Brothers Fund).
(Age: 101. C.O.D.: Heart failure.)
________________________________________

CHUCK BARRIS - March 21

(Day after David Rockefeller.
And no relation to Chuck Berry.)
Television producer, game show creator, host
(The Gong Show, The Dating Game), and
songwriter ("Palisades Park").
(Age: 87.)
________________________________________

LOLA ALBRIGHT - March 23

Actress (Champion, Peter Gunn, Lord Love a Duck).
(Age: 92.)
________________________________________

CHELSEA BROWN - March 27

Australian actress (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Number 96).
(Age: 74. C.O.D.: Pneumonia.)
________________________________________

DAVID PEEL - April 6

Peeled out.
Hippie singer (friend of John Lennon), anti-war protester and political activist.
(Age: 73. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
________________________________________

DON RICKLES - April 6

(Same day as David Peel.)
TV comedian (Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, CPO Sharkey),
film star (Kelly's Heroes, The Man With The X-ray Eyes),
voice actor (Toy Story), Las Vegas performer (Don Rickles
Live) and recording artist (Hello, Dummy!).
(Age: 90. C.O.D.: Kidney failure.)
________________________________________

CHARLIE MURPHY - April 12

Comedian, actor and screenwriter (Chappelle's Show, Norbit).
(Age: 57. C.O.D.: Leukemia.)
________________________________________

ERIN MORAN - April 22

TV actress (Happy Days, Joanie Loves Chachi).
(Age: 56. C.O.D.: Complications due to substance abuse.)
________________________________________

JONATHAN DEMME - April 26

Super cool film director whose work includes:
2004 The Manchurian Candidate
1993 Philadelphia
1991 The Silence of the Lambs
1988 Married to the Mob
1986 Something Wild
1984 Swing Shift
1980 Melvin and Howard
1975 Crazy Mama
1974 Caged Heat
(Age: 73. C.O.D.: Throat cancer.)
________________________________________

DALIAH LAVI - May 3

Actress.
(Age: 74.)
________________________________________
MICHAEL PARKS - May 9

Actor (Then Came Bronson).
No relation to Charles Bronson.
(Age: 77.)
________________________________________
POWERS BOOTHE - May 14

No relation to John Wilkes Boothe.
(So relax, Tom Hanks, related to Abe Lincoln's mom.)
(Age: 68. C.O.D.: Tummy cancer.)
________________________________________
DINA MERRILL - May 22

Actress.
(Age: 93.)
________________________________________
ROGER MOORE - May 23

(Day after Dina Merril.)
Actor. On TV did The Saint. Also, in films, one of the fake Bonds.
(Age: 89 . C.O.D.: Lung and liver cancer.)
________________________________________
ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI - May 26

U.S. National Security Advisor.
(Age: 89.)
________________________________________
JIM BUNNING - May 26

(Same day as Zbigniew Brzezinski.)
Baseball player.
(Age: 85. C.O.D.: Stroke.)
________________________________________
GREGG ALLMAN - May 27

(Day after Jim Bunning.)
Leader of the Allman Brothers band.
(Age: 69. C.O.D.: Liver cancer.)
________________________________________
MANUEL NORIEGA - May 29

Panamanian dictator - turned drug lord.
(Age: 83. C.O.D.: Brain tumor.)
________________________________________
ADAM WEST - June 9

Actor (Batman 1960s TV series).
(Age: 88. C.O.D.: Leukemia.)
________________________________________
ANITA PALLENBERG - June 13

European actress. Hung with the Rolling Stones band.
(Age: 75. C.O.D.: Hepatitis C.)
________________________________________
JOHN G. AVILDSEN - June 16

Movie director.
(Age: 81. C.O.D.: Tummy cancer.)
________________________________________
ELSA MARTINELLI - July 8

Actress.
(Age: 82. C.O.D.: Cancer.)
________________________________________
MARTIN LANDAU - July 15

Actor (TV - Mission: Impossible,
Space 1999. Film - Ed Wood).
(Age: 89. C.O.D.: Heart disease.)
________________________________________
GEORGE A. ROMERO - July 16

(Day after Martin Landau.)
Film director (Night Of The Living Dead zombie series).
(Age: 77. C.O.D.: Lung cancer.)
________________________________________
JOHN HEARD - July 21

Actor.
Was that John Hurt we just heard about?
No, Hurt was already recently hurt (dead). So...
it must be John Heard we just heard about? Got it.
(Age: 71. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
________________________________________
JUNE FORAY - July 26

June's foray into animated cartoon
voice acting proved to be very successful.
(Age: 99.)
________________________________________
SAM SHEPARD - July 27

(Day after June Foray.)
Actor. (Also wrote plays.)
(Age: 73. C.O.D.: Lateral sclerosis.)
________________________________________
JEANNE MOREAU - July 31

Actress. No relation to Dr. Moreau or his island.
(Age: 89.)
________________________________________
JIM MARRS - August 2

Great conspiracy theory writer and radio guest.
Wrote the classic JFK book Crossfire.
(Often confused him with Tex Marrs.)
(Age: 73. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
________________________________________
TY HARDIN - August 3

(Day after Jim Marrs.)
Related to old west gunslinger John Wesley Hardin?
This actor's films included:
I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958)
The Chapman Report (1962)
Palm Springs Weekend (1963)
Wall of Noise (1963)
Battle of the Bulge (1965)
Custer of the West (1967)
Berserk! (1967)
(Age: 87.)
________________________________________
GLEN CAMPBELL - August 8

Singer (Gentle On My Mind).
(Age: 81. C.O.D.: Alzheimer's.)
________________________________________
DICK GREGORY - August 19

Pioneer black standup comic. Also a great social activist.
(Age: 84. C.O.D.: Heart failure.)
________________________________________
JERRY LEWIS - August 20

(Day after Dick Gregory.)
Actor, comedian, singer, scriptwriter, songwriter,
dancer, talk show star, charity telethon host,
inventor of video playback for films... you name it, baby!
(Also for 10 years with singer Dean Martin was half
of the famed movie and TV duo Martin and Lewis.)
(Age: 91. C.O.D.: Heart failure.)
________________________________________
JAY THOMAS - August 24

Actor who did radio, TV and movies.
(Age: 69. C.O.D.: Throat cancer.)
________________________________________
TOBE HOOPER - August 26

Film director mostly known for scary stuff:
2005 Mortuary
2004 Toolbox Murders
1995 The Mangler
1993 Night Terrors
1990 Spontaneous Combustion
1986 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (Sequel)
1986 Invaders from Mars (Remake)
1982 Poltergeist
1981 The Funhouse
1979 Salem's Lot (TV Movie)
1976 Eaten Alive
1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

(Age: 74. C.O.D.: Natural causes.)
________________________________________
RICHARD ANDERSON - August 31

Actor who usually played it straight and tight-lipped.
He was that serious guy opposite Lee Majors on
the TV action series Six Million Dollar Man.
(Age: 91. C.O.D.: Natural causes.)
________________________________________
WALTER BECKER - September 1

(Day after Richard Anderson.)
Guitarist who partnered with pianist Donald Fagan to form
the popular rock/jazz/pop group known as Steely Dan.
(Age: 67. C.O.D.: Throat cancer.)
________________________________________
DON WILLIAMS - September 8

Country western musician and singer.
(Age: 78. C.O.D.: Emphysema.)
________________________________________
LEN WEIN - September 9

(Day after Don Williams.)
Comic book writer. Also co-created Wolverine of X-Men fame.
(Age: 69. C.O.D.: Heart failure.)
________________________________________
J.P. DONLEAVY - September 11

Did we say "bun heavy"? No, we said Donleavy.
Best known for writing The Ginger Man.
(Age: 91.)
________________________________________
FRANK VINCENT - September 13

Actor (The Sopranos).
(Age: 80. C.O.D.: Heart attack.)
________________________________________
HARRY DEAN STANTON - September 15

Film character actor supreme.
(Age: 91.)
________________________________________
JAKE LAMOTTA - September 19

A heavyweight champion boxer,
his story was featured in Raging Bull.
(Age: 95. C.O.D.: Pneumonia.)
________________________________________
HUGH HEFNER - September 27

Publisher of Playboy magazine.
(Age: 91. C.O.D.: Heart failure.)
________________________________________
ANNE JEFFREYS - September 27

(Same day as Hugh Hefner.)
Hottie actress.
Co-starred with her husband Robert Sterling in the very
well done crime-solving TV series Mr. And Mrs. North.
(Age: 94.)
________________________________________
MONTY HALL - September 30

TV game show host (Let's Make A Deal).
(Age: 96. C.O.D.: Heart failure.)
________________________________________
TOM PETTY - October 2

Musician (Break Down recorded live.)
(Age: 66. C.O.D.: Accidental prescription overdose.)
________________________________________
RICHARD WILBUR - October 14

Poet.
(Age: 96.)
________________________________________
ROY DOTRICE - October 16

Actor in Charles Dickens series on Masterpiece Theater (PBS).
(Age: 94.)
________________________________________
FATS DOMINO - October 24

Piano-playing hitmaker extraordinaire.
(Age: 89.)
________________________________________
ROBERT GUILLAUME - October 24

(Same day as Fats Domino.)
Actor (Soap, Benson).
(Age: 89. C.O.D.: Prostate cancer.)
________________________________________
JOHN HILLERMAN - November 9

Actor (Magnum P.I.).
(Age: 84. C.O.D.: Heart disease.)
________________________________________
MALCOLM YOUNG - November 18

Guitarist with his brother Angus
in the hit rock band AC/DC.
(Age: 64. C.O.D.: Lung cancer.)
________________________________________
CHARLES MANSON - November 19

(Day after Malcolm Young, same day as Della Reese and Mel Tillis.)
Cult leader behind the Manson Family slayings of 1969.
(Age: 83. C.O.D.: Colon cancer.)
________________________________________
DELLA REESE - November 19

Reese is in pieces.
(Same day as Charles Manson and Mel Tillis.)
Singer and actress (TV's Touched By An Angel.)
(Age: 86.)
________________________________________
MEL TILLIS - November 19

(Also the same day as Charles Manson and Della Reese.
Wow, that's three in a row. We're talking trifecta!)
Country western singer.
(Age: 85.)
________________________________________
DAVID CASSIDY - November 21

Actor/singer (The Partridge Family).
Son of actor Jack Cassidy (He And She)
and actress/singer Shirley Jones (Oklahoma).
(Age: 67. C.O.D.: Liver failure.)
________________________________________
RANCE HOWARD - November 25

Actor and father of actor/director Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard.
(Age: 89. C.O.D.: Heart failure.)
________________________________________
JIM NABORS - November 30

Actor (The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle).
(Age: 87.)
________________________________________
KEELY SMITH - December 16

Hit singer who teamed in the 1950s with Luis Prima.
(Age: 89. C.O.D.: Heart failure.)
________________________________________
HEATHER MENZIES - December 24

Actress in movies, mainly of the B-grade variety.
Happy Christmas Eve - you're dead!
(Age: 68. C.O.D.: Brain cancer.)
________________________________________
SUE GRAFTON - December 28

Mystery author.
(Age: 77. C.O.D.: It's a mystery, of course.)
________________________________________
ROSE MARIE - December 28

(Same day as Sue Grafton.)
Comedy actress (The Dick Van Dyke Show).
(Age: 94.)
________________________________________

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


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