Celebrity Deaths

[aldousburbank]

Yeah, there are some great stories in there!  My favorite is his little Hawaiian adventure.

Yes. One of the greatest tales of serendipity and the right business card at the right moment saving the day.

[Eddie Coyle]

     According to the long dead(via murder by drug associate, June 1982) Cactus singer Rusty Day, Bobby Keys was a snitch...the "Bobby" referenced at the 2:27 is Bobby Keys.

        http://youtu.be/UcXcdHZLk4o

[Bart Ell]

[Juan]

I was always sorry that I never got to see him play.  Hockey didn't come to my part of the world until 1972.

[albrecht]

RIP Ian McLagan
(updated)
http://music.blog.austin360.com/2014/12/03/report-ian-mclagan-in-critical-condition-at-local-hospital/

[Mind Flayer Monk]

I was always sorry that I never got to see him play.  Hockey didn't come to my part of the world until 1972.

His name has been engraved on the Stanley Cup 17 times.

[albrecht]

His name has been engraved on the Stanley Cup 17 times.

Really amazing. During those decades, more properly, the Canadiens, and him, had the Cup engraved on them!

[Bart Ell]

Jean Béliveau has his name on the Stanley Cup more times than any franchise... including the Canadiens (without him)

[albrecht]

Jean Béliveau has his name on the Stanley Cup more times than any franchise... including the Canadiens (without him)

I stand corrected. That is insanely good.

[albrecht]

RIP Pugsley
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2866244/Addams-Family-star-Ken-Weatherwax-dies-aged-59-heart-attack.html

[Morgus]

RIP Pugsley
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2866244/Addams-Family-star-Ken-Weatherwax-dies-aged-59-heart-attack.html

'Addams Family' actor Ken Weatherwax dies at 59
http://news-briefs.ew.com/2014/12/08/ken-weatherwax-addams-family-dies/

[paladin1991]

'Addams Family' actor Ken Weatherwax dies at 59
http://news-briefs.ew.com/2014/12/08/ken-weatherwax-addams-family-dies/

Damn Pugs.  We lost you too?

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

'Addams Family' actor Ken Weatherwax dies at 59
http://news-briefs.ew.com/2014/12/08/ken-weatherwax-addams-family-dies/

"Uuuhhhhhhrrrrr."

[attachimg=1]

[albrecht]

RIP Mildred "Millie" Kirkham back up singer for Elvis (and sang for Pasty Cline, Roy Orbison, George Jones, Bobby Vinton, Chet Adkins, Carl Perkins, Kris Kristofferson, Hank Snow, Brenda Lee, Porter Wagoner, etc etc, really amazing career.) Some youtubes imbedded in article about the hits she was on.
http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/archives/2014/12/15/elvis-presley-backup-singer-millie-kirkham-dead-at-91

[Juan]

Joe Cocker at age 70, from what else - lung cancer

[maureen]

Joe Cocker at age 70, from what else - lung cancer

Thank you, Joe Cocker!! always a joy and an inspiration!!

[Yorkshire pud]

Thank you, Joe Cocker!! always a joy and an inspiration!!

Yes, he lived a life! Sheffield lad too. RIP Joe, you were one of the greats.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Just saw that.  It's pretty amazing he lasted as long as he did considering.  If anyone's interested, there are a lot of videos of the legendary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour on YouTube.  I was checking them out a few months ago, and it's some fun stuff!  Joe wasn't always at his best, but he had loads of charisma,  and Leon Russell and the band were tremendous.

[albrecht]

Just saw that.  It's pretty amazing he lasted as long as he did considering.  If anyone's interested, there are a lot of videos of the legendary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour on YouTube.  I was checking them out a few months ago, and it's some fun stuff!  Joe wasn't always at his best, but he had loads of charisma,  and Leon Russell and the band were tremendous.

That tour was epic. I have the laserdisc of the movie they made from the tour. Leon Russell was awesome, as always, and Rita and Joe Cocker were great. I like the horn section, backup singers, etc.
RIP Joe.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

That tour was epic. I have the laserdisc of the movie they made from the tour. Leon Russell was awesome, as always, and Rita and Joe Cocker were great. I like the horn section, backup singers, etc.
RIP Joe.

The backup singers were outstanding, and the horn section included Bobby Keys who died just a few days ago. 

[paladin1991]

The backup singers were outstanding, and the horn section included Bobby Keys who died just a few days ago.

what?  I wonder.  Do you think there is a connection btwn their using their musical abilities as a cover for their MI6 activities ?  Or is that a bit of a stretch?

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

what?  I wonder.  Do you think there is a connection btwn their using their musical abilities as a cover for their MI6 activities ?  Or is that a bit of a stretch?

Nah, they were just a diversion to distract attention from Chuck Barris while he carried out assassinations for the CIA.

[WildCard]

"I imagine that no one was more surprised then Joe Cocker himself, that he had lived to the age of 70."
-George Knapp

Once I was traveling across the sky
This lovely planet caught my eye
And being curious I flew close by
And now I'm caught here
Until I die
Until we die
Learning to live together
Learning to live together
Learning to live together
Till we die
I lost my memory of where I've been
We all forgot that we could fly
Someday we'll all change into peaceful men
And we'll return into the sky


JOE COCKER
"Space Captain"   
(Moore)           

[Eddie Coyle]

    Mario Cuomo dead at 82. I will miss his speeches free of peroration, that could enervate even the most wound up crowd. He wanted to be Pontiff more than President.

[Bart Ell]

[Morgus]

Donna Douglas, TV’s Elly May Clampett, has died
http://www.examiner.com/article/donna-douglas-tv-s-elly-may-clampett-has-died

Donna Douglas, a Louisiana-born actress who became famous as Elly May on television’s “The Beverly Hillbillies” died on New Year's Day, 2015.  She was 81 years old.  Her death was first reported by Shelly Brown of the Christian gospel group The Browns with the statement:
"We lost a dear family friend today...The world knew her as Ellie Mae Clampet... A Beverly Hillbilly...But we knew her as our precious Donna who never met a stranger, had style and grace, had a kind heart, always wore pretty pink, and loved people! I'm thankful for the time we got to spend with her and all the wisdom and lessons that the kids learned from her! I will forever hear her whistle and "y'all come back now, hear"!!! See you on the other side, my friend!!!"
Donna was born Doris Smith, married at 16, had a son at 21, and was divorced at that same age. She was Miss New Orleans in 1957.  Beginning as a modeling career, Donna found work on television’s “Perry Como Show” and “Steve Allen Show,” but it was an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” that caused movie producer Hal Wallis to take notice.  She was cast in the role of Marjorie Burke in the feature film “Career” (1959), which starred Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine.  After a bit part in the movie “Li’l Abner” (1959), Donna returned to modeling before landing a role in the movie “Lover Come Back” (1961) which featured Rock Hudson and Doris Day.
During 1961 Donna continued to make appearances on many TV shows, including “Bachelor Father” and “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” as well as four episodes of the series “Checkmate.”  She was also featured on Boris Karloff’s anthology series “Thriller” in an episode also starring William Shatner and Russell Johnson.  Perhaps even more famously, Donna appeared in the 1960 “Twilight Zone” episode “Eye of the Beholder.”
“The Beverly Hillbillies” premiered in 1962 with Donna in the role of the critter-loving tomboy Elly May Clampett.  The show’s bucolic cornball comedy became an immediate smash hit, and the number one show in the nation during its first two seasons, despite being dismissed as lowbrow by most critics.  One episode during the second season, “The Giant Jackrabbit,” was the most watched TV episode up to its airing, and remains the most watched half-hour episode of a sitcom.  “The Beverly Hillbillies” continued to be successful, always in the top dozen shows for its year, until its ninth season, after which it was cancelled.
During the series run, Donna co-starred with Elvis Presley in the movie “Frankie and Johnny” (1966).  Some have said she fell completely in love with Presley while making the movie and had trouble getting over it once returning to the set of her show after filming of the movie ended.  However, all accounts also indicate there was no romance between Elvis and Donna during filming, but they did develop a closeness as friends due to their southern backgrounds and interest in religion. Donna took the movie role to avoid being typecast as Elly May, but it didn’t work.  Further offers were not forthcoming and she never made another movie.
Donna Douglas’s portrayal of Elly May was so popular; she is the only one of its cast who appeared on all four TV Guide covers featuring the series.  She guest starred on similar programs in the same role, and the character was featured in coloring books, as a doll, and in other toys and games during the series run.
After the series ended, Donna enjoyed some work as a gospel singer and continued a close friendship with “Beverly Hillbillies” star Buddy Ebsen.  She reprised her Elly May role in a 1981 TV movie, “Return of the Beverly Hillbillies” and in 1993 reunited with Ebsen and Max Baer, who played Jethro, for “The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies,” a CBS TV special.  Donna Douglas always embraced the Elly May character and in an interview with the Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict website, stated:  "Elly May was like a slice out of my life. She is a wonderful little door opener for me because people love her, and they love the Hillbillies. Even to this day it's shown every day somewhere. But, as with any abilities, she may open a door for you, but you have to have substance or integrity to advance you through that door."  Douglas also appeared at nostalgia conventions to sign autographs for fans.  “The two things I am most asked is if I still love critters and can I still whistle like Elly May.  The answer is yes to both.”
In 1993, Douglas filed a $200 million lawsuit against Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, their production companies, and Creative Artists Agency claiming that the movie “Sister Act” was plagiarized from a book, “A Nun in the Closet,” that she owned the rights to film, and that she’d developed a screenplay which had been submitted to Disney, Goldberg, and Midler three times during 1987 and 1988.  Douglas turned down a $1 million offer to settle the case, and the judge found in favor of Walt Disney Pictures and the other defendants.  In 2001 Donna sued Mattel for making a Barbie Doll in her image, but settled for an undisclosed amount.
Donna Douglas remained busy singing gospel, making appearances, and writing children’s books. Her latest, “Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm,” was published in 2011.  Donna also did charity work supporting Christian children's homes in the southern states.
With Donna Douglas’s passing, this leaves only Max Baer among the living principle cast of “The Beverly Hillbillies.”  The two actors often appeared together at conventions or salutes to the series at the TV Land Awards.

[albrecht]

Donna Douglas, TV’s Elly May Clampett, has died
http://www.examiner.com/article/donna-douglas-tv-s-elly-may-clampett-has-died

Donna Douglas, a Louisiana-born actress who became famous as Elly May on television’s “The Beverly Hillbillies” died on New Year's Day, 2015.  She was 81 years old.  Her death was first reported by Shelly Brown of the Christian gospel group The Browns with the statement:
"We lost a dear family friend today...The world knew her as Ellie Mae Clampet... A Beverly Hillbilly...But we knew her as our precious Donna who never met a stranger, had style and grace, had a kind heart, always wore pretty pink, and loved people! I'm thankful for the time we got to spend with her and all the wisdom and lessons that the kids learned from her! I will forever hear her whistle and "y'all come back now, hear"!!! See you on the other side, my friend!!!"
Donna was born Doris Smith, married at 16, had a son at 21, and was divorced at that same age. She was Miss New Orleans in 1957.  Beginning as a modeling career, Donna found work on television’s “Perry Como Show” and “Steve Allen Show,” but it was an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” that caused movie producer Hal Wallis to take notice.  She was cast in the role of Marjorie Burke in the feature film “Career” (1959), which starred Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine.  After a bit part in the movie “Li’l Abner” (1959), Donna returned to modeling before landing a role in the movie “Lover Come Back” (1961) which featured Rock Hudson and Doris Day.
During 1961 Donna continued to make appearances on many TV shows, including “Bachelor Father” and “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” as well as four episodes of the series “Checkmate.”  She was also featured on Boris Karloff’s anthology series “Thriller” in an episode also starring William Shatner and Russell Johnson.  Perhaps even more famously, Donna appeared in the 1960 “Twilight Zone” episode “Eye of the Beholder.”
“The Beverly Hillbillies” premiered in 1962 with Donna in the role of the critter-loving tomboy Elly May Clampett.  The show’s bucolic cornball comedy became an immediate smash hit, and the number one show in the nation during its first two seasons, despite being dismissed as lowbrow by most critics.  One episode during the second season, “The Giant Jackrabbit,” was the most watched TV episode up to its airing, and remains the most watched half-hour episode of a sitcom.  “The Beverly Hillbillies” continued to be successful, always in the top dozen shows for its year, until its ninth season, after which it was cancelled.
During the series run, Donna co-starred with Elvis Presley in the movie “Frankie and Johnny” (1966).  Some have said she fell completely in love with Presley while making the movie and had trouble getting over it once returning to the set of her show after filming of the movie ended.  However, all accounts also indicate there was no romance between Elvis and Donna during filming, but they did develop a closeness as friends due to their southern backgrounds and interest in religion. Donna took the movie role to avoid being typecast as Elly May, but it didn’t work.  Further offers were not forthcoming and she never made another movie.
Donna Douglas’s portrayal of Elly May was so popular; she is the only one of its cast who appeared on all four TV Guide covers featuring the series.  She guest starred on similar programs in the same role, and the character was featured in coloring books, as a doll, and in other toys and games during the series run.
After the series ended, Donna enjoyed some work as a gospel singer and continued a close friendship with “Beverly Hillbillies” star Buddy Ebsen.  She reprised her Elly May role in a 1981 TV movie, “Return of the Beverly Hillbillies” and in 1993 reunited with Ebsen and Max Baer, who played Jethro, for “The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies,” a CBS TV special.  Donna Douglas always embraced the Elly May character and in an interview with the Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict website, stated:  "Elly May was like a slice out of my life. She is a wonderful little door opener for me because people love her, and they love the Hillbillies. Even to this day it's shown every day somewhere. But, as with any abilities, she may open a door for you, but you have to have substance or integrity to advance you through that door."  Douglas also appeared at nostalgia conventions to sign autographs for fans.  “The two things I am most asked is if I still love critters and can I still whistle like Elly May.  The answer is yes to both.”
In 1993, Douglas filed a $200 million lawsuit against Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, their production companies, and Creative Artists Agency claiming that the movie “Sister Act” was plagiarized from a book, “A Nun in the Closet,” that she owned the rights to film, and that she’d developed a screenplay which had been submitted to Disney, Goldberg, and Midler three times during 1987 and 1988.  Douglas turned down a $1 million offer to settle the case, and the judge found in favor of Walt Disney Pictures and the other defendants.  In 2001 Donna sued Mattel for making a Barbie Doll in her image, but settled for an undisclosed amount.
Donna Douglas remained busy singing gospel, making appearances, and writing children’s books. Her latest, “Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm,” was published in 2011.  Donna also did charity work supporting Christian children's homes in the southern states.
With Donna Douglas’s passing, this leaves only Max Baer among the living principle cast of “The Beverly Hillbillies.”  The two actors often appeared together at conventions or salutes to the series at the TV Land Awards.

RIP. I love that show and she was great and a great person.

In the spirit of C2C a caller mentioned her at one point last night with Norry and a caller related meeting her and how nice she was and he said, against Norry's opinion, that she really had a southern accent and then proceeded to say what sounded like "well she's my wife and mother" during his story. "she's my wife and mother". Now THAT is real hill-billy!

[FightTheFuture]

Stuart Scott, long time ESPN anchor, has succumbed to cancer.

I thought Stuart Scott was the coolest guy at ESPN. This is a really sad day. God bless him and his family and friends.

[Juan]

Little Jimmy Dickens - 94.  May he no longer have to take an ol' cold tater and wait.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OE5YNrm6wA

[pyewacket]

Rod Taylor RIP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/08/rod-taylor-dead-dies_n_6440040.html