RIP the last nine days of HDC!

Australian acting legend Bill Hunter has died at the age of 71.

The "Muriel's Wedding" star passed away on on Saturday surrounded by his family at a Melbourne hospice following a battle with cancer, according to his manager Mark Morrissey.

Hunter was admitted to the hospice on 16 May and his loved ones flocked to his bedside after doctors informed him they would not be able to operate.

His career began on Australian television in the 1960s and by the 1970s, he had become one of the country's most popular actors with roles in films including "Gallipoli", alongside Mel Gibson, and "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert".

In 1978, he was honoured with the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Newsfront" and he scooped the Best Supporting Actor AFI Award for "Gallipoli" in 1981.

Hunter, who became known for playing stereotypically gruff Australian men with big hearts, was also awarded the Centenary Medal for his service to acting in 2001. He has also voiced parts in "Finding Nemo" and last year's "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole".

News of his cancer emerged on 18 May, sending shock waves through the film industry Down Under, with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, who worked with Hunter in the 1992 hit "Strictly Ballroom" and the 2008 epic "Australia", offering his support to the ill star.

I was a bit bummed to hear about Randy Savage passing on. One of my childhood heroes :(

It crazy to think how many of those guys are dead now - even crazier to think Jake Roberts is not among them.

Yeh man it's unreal.

Is Hulk Hogan still alive-he shouldnt be.

Jeff Conoway - It's official now

http://www.people.com/people/article...495795,00.html

It's probably divine punishment for him appearing in "celebrity rehab"

RIP Jeff Conaway

he was good in Taxi

still can't figure out how these people, who have everything, let it all go for drugs.

sadder



Gil Scott-Heron died Friday afternoon in New York, his book publisher reported. He was 62. The influential poet and musician is often credited with being one of the progenitors of hip-hop, and is best known for the spoken-word piece "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised."

I agree. That's why I'm continually impressed with Robert Downey, Jr.'s ability to finally get clean and get his career back on track. Have you ever seen his movie about Charlie Chaplin? He was excellent in it!

Dr. Jack Kevorkian, nicknamed "Dr. Death" for his controversial advocacy of assisted suicide in the cases of the terminally ill, died early Friday morning, reports his local paper, the Detroit Free Press.

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He was 83, suffered kidney and heart ailments and was not placed on life support, his attorney, Mayer Morganroth, told the paper.

Last year, Al Pacino won an Emmy for his portrayal of Kevorkian in HBO's You Don't Know Jack.

In all, the trained pathologist assisted some 130 terminally or chronically ill patients in their deaths during the 1990s. In 1999, he was convicted of second-degree murder after sending a videotape of himself euthanizing a terminally ill man to CBS's 60 Minutes. His medical license was also revoked.

At Kevorkian's side in Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., at the time of his own death was his niece, Ava Janus, and Morganroth, who told the Free Press: "It was peaceful, he didn't feel a thing."

Gunsmoke' Legend James Arness Dies at 88

http://www.celebritiesfans.com/Pic/jamesarness.jpg

http://www.darkrecesses.com/wp-conte...-The-Thing.jpg


James Arness, the tall man who towered over TV screens for 20 seasons as the iconic Marshal Matt Dillon on CBS’ Gunsmoke, has died.

He was 88.

The 6-foot-7 actor, who also starred in the 1950s sci-fi classics Them! and The Thing From Another World, passed away of natural causes Friday in his home in Brentwood, according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer.

His death comes 14 months after his brother, Mission: Impossible actor Peter Graves, died of a heart attack at age 83.

Arness’ official website posted a letter from the actor on Friday that he wrote with the intention that it be posted posthumously.

“I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends,” he said. “I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.”

As the stoic Marshal Dillon, Arness kept the peace in rough and tumble Dodge City, Kan., on Gunsmoke, which aired on CBS from September 1955 to March 1975 for a total of 635 episodes. It set a record for the longest-running, live-action primetime series by seasons, since tied by NBC’s Law & Order.

Arness’ 20-year primetime stint on TV is another record, since tied by Kelsey Grammer’s two decades years as the character Frasier Crane on two shows, Cheers and then Frasier.

Said a statement from CBS on Friday, “Our network headquarters at CBS Studio Center in Studio City looks out at Stage 3, which was home to Gunsmoke’s “Dodge City.” All of us here today tip our hat in that direction for everything Mr. Arness contributed to Gunsmoke, to CBS and to the medium we all love.”

After starring in the title role as a thawed-out alien bent in eating humans in The Thing, he was spotted by John Wayne, who signed him to a contract with his production company, Batjac Prods. The actors worked together on such films as Big Jim McLain (1952), Island in the Sky (1953), Hondo (1953) and The Sea Chase (1955).

Wayne recommended Arness for the role of Marshal Dillon on Gunsmoke, which was coming to TV after beginning as a radio program in 1955. (The show ran on radio until 1961, with William Conrad voicing the lawman.)

“Go ahead and take it, Jim,” Wayne urged him. “You’re too big for pictures. Guys like Gregory Peck and I don’t want a big lug like you towering over us. Make your mark in television.”

Gunsmoke, created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston, was TV’s No. 1 ranked show from 1957-61.

Arness made five Gunsmoke telefilms from 1987 to 1994. The actor also starred as Zeb Macahan, who leads his family across the American West, in the popular miniseries ’70s How the West Was Won, based on the 1962 MGM film (Arness played the James Stewart character).

Arness’ final TV series, the police drama McClain’s Law, aired from 1981-82.

Survivors include his wife Janet, two sons and six grandchildren. Services will be private.

RIP 'Dr. Death'.

RIP 'The Thing'.

RIP James Arness.

Is his clinic still open my dead pool list won't euthanasia themselves!

I don't know how to link news stories, so I'll just write about it.

Just found out that one of my favorite authors, Lilian Jackson Braun, died at the age of 97. Ms. Braun wrote "The Cat Who....." books, featuring feline sleuth Koko, with his human companion Jim Qwilleran.

Rest in peace, Ms. Braun.

You just copy & paste the url of the story into your message.

OK, thanks, NE. I'll keep that in mind for next time.

Yeh this was a shame. Dude put out some epic shit.

R.I.p.......I actually thought he died years ago.

The Bottle....say no more

Leonard Stern, Mad Libs creator and TV writer, dies at 88

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2011/06/09...tern-mad-libs/

My family used to play Mad Libs on long automobile trips. It kept us from fighting with each other, and my 10 year old brain delighted in coming up with outrageous adjectives like spaghetti-fingered or blubber-faced.

RIP to a really creative, funny guy.

Mad Libs were great!

'Spider-Man' Producer Laura Ziskin Dies at 61


Spider-Man" producer Laura Ziskin died Sunday evening. She was 61 and had been battling breast cancer for seven years.

Ziskin was perhaps best known for her work on the "Spider-Man" franchise, which brought in over $1.5 billion worldwide, making her one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood.

Ziskin produced the Academy Awards telecast two times, becoming the first woman to produce the awards show solo in 2002 and earning multiple Emmy awards in the process.

Though she struggled with cancer since receiving a Stage 3 diagnosis in 2004, Ziskin remained indefatigable, overseeing one of Sony's highest-grossing franchises and the broadcast of the industry's top awards shows.

She also became active in the movement to combat the disease, drawing on her contacts in the entertainment industry to help found Stand Up To Cancer in 2008.

After graduating from the University of Southern California's School for Cinematic Arts, Ziskin worked as a game show writer and personal assistant to producer Jon Peters. From there, she moved on to become a development executive, eventually forming Fogwood Films with partner Sally Field.

At Fogwood, Ziskin produced the Oscar nominated "Murphy's Romance" as a vehicle for Field and the Cold War thriller "No Way Out," which provided a crucial early role to a young Kevin Costner.

Ziskin would go on to work as a producer at Touchstone Pictures and as president of Fox 2000, where she oversaw hits such as "Pretty Woman" and "Courage Under Fire," as well as occasional misses such as the William Hurt medical drama "The Doctor."

During the 1990s, Ziskin would also executive produce "As Good As it Gets," which received seven Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. She also produced such critically acclaimed films as "Fight Club" and "To Die For."

After leaving Fox 2000 in 1999, Ziskin landed an independent production deal at Columbia Pictures, where she would go on to shepherd "Spider-Man" to the big screen. A new installment in the comic book series, "The Amazing Spider-Man," hits theaters next summer.

RIP Seth Putnam of Anal Cunt :(

A heart attack at 43?

Damn....

Haven't seen anything online yet, but just heard on the morning news that Clarence Clemons passed away last night.

RIP Big Man!

How dreadful. RIP Clarence.

It is confirmed. The Big Man is no more.


E Street Band sax player Clarence Clemons dies
Posted: Jun 19, 2011 7:40 AM IST Updated: Jun 19, 2011 5:13 PM IST
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
AP Music Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Clarence Clemons, the larger-than-life saxophone player for the E Street Band who was one of the key influences in Bruce Springsteen's life and music through four decades, has died. He was 69.

Clemons died Saturday night after being hospitalized about a week ago following a stroke at his home in Singer Island, Fla.

Springsteen acknowledged the dire situation earlier this week, but said then he was hopeful. He called the loss "immeasurable."

"We are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 years," Springsteen said on his website. "He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

Known as the Big Man for his imposing 6-foot-5-inch, 270-plus pound frame, Clemons and his ever-present saxophone spent much of his life with The Boss, and his booming saxophone solos became a signature sound for the E Street Band on many key songs, including "Jungleland," a triumphant solo he spent 16 hours perfecting, and "Born To Run."

In recent years, Clemons had been slowed by health woes. He endured major spinal surgery in January 2010 and, at the 2009 Super Bowl, Clemons rose from a wheelchair to perform with Springsteen after double knee replacement surgery.

But his health seemed to be improving. In May, he performed with Lady Gaga on the season finale of "American Idol," and performed on two songs on her "Born This Way" album. Just this week, Lady Gaga's video with Clemons, "The Edge of Glory," debuted.

Clemons said in a 2010 interview with The Associated Press then that he was winning his battles - including severe, chronic pain and post-surgical depression. His sense of humor helped.

"Of all the surgeries I've had, there's not much left to operate on. I am totally bionic," he said.

"God will give you no more than you can handle," he said in the interview. "This is all a test to see if you are really ready for the good things that are going to come in your life. All this pain is going to come back and make me stronger."

Outside The Stone Pony, the legendary Asbury Park, N.J., rock club where Springsteen, Clemons and other E Street Band members cut their teeth in the 1970s, Phil Kuntz stopped to place a small yellow flower on a decorative white fence. Nearby, someone taped a handwritten sign that read simply "RIP Big Man."

Reaction came from across the entertainment industry.

"Clarence Clemons was an electric, generous, sweet spirit. Taught me how to look cool with a sax. Goodbye Big Man," tweeted actor Rob Lowe.

Added Questlove, drummer for the Roots: "RIP Clarence Clemons. A True Legend. Will be absolutely missed."

An original member - and the oldest member - of the E Street Band, Clemons also performed with the Grateful Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band, and Ringo Starr's All Star Band. He recorded with a wide range of artists including Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison and Jackson Browne. He also had his own band called the Temple of Soul.

Born in Norfolk, Va., Clemons was the grandson of a Baptist minister and began playing the saxophone when he was 9.

"Nobody played instruments in my family. My father got that bug and said he wants his son to play saxophone. I wanted an electric train for Christmas, but he got me a saxophone. I flipped out," he said in a 1989 interview with the AP.

He was influenced by R&B artists such as King Curtis and Junior Walker. But his dreams originally focused on football. He played for Maryland State College, and was to try out for the Cleveland Browns when he got in a bad car accident that made him retire from the sport for good.

His energies then focused on music.

In 1971, Clemons was playing with Norman Seldin & the Joyful Noise when he heard about rising singer-songwriter named Springsteen, who was from New Jersey. The two hit it off immediately and Clemons officially joined the E Street Band in 1973 with the release of the debut album "Greetings from Asbury Park."

Clemons emerged as one of the most critical members of the E Street Band for different reasons. His burly frame would have been intimidating if not for his bright smile and endearing personality that charmed fans.

"Since 1973 the Springsteen/Clemons partnership has reaped great rewards and created insightful, high energy rock & roll," declared Don Palmer in Down Beat in 1984. "Their music, functioning like the blues from which it originated, chronicled the fears, aspirations, and limitations of suburban youth. Unlike many musicians today, Springsteen and Clemons were more interested in the heart and substance rather than the glamour of music."

In a 2009 interview, Clemons described his deep bond with Springsteen, saying: "It's the most passion that you have without sex."

"It's love. It's two men - two strong, very virile men - finding that space in life where they can let go enough of their masculinity to feel the passion of love and respect and trust," he added.

Clemons continued to perform with the band for the next 12 years, contributing his big, distinctive big sound to the albums, "The Wild, The Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle," ''Born to Run," ''Darkness on the Edge of Town, "The River" and "Born in the USA." But four years after Springsteen experienced the blockbuster success of "Born in the USA" and toured with his group, he decided to disband the E Street Band.

Clemons also made several television and movie appearances over the years, including Martin Scorsese's 1977 musical, "New York, New York", in which he played a trumpet player.

The break with Springsteen and the E Street Band didn't end his relationship with either Springsteen or the rest of the band members, nor would it turn out to be permanent. By 1999 they were back together for a reunion tour and the release of "The Rising."

But the years took a toll on Clemons' body, and he had to play through the pain of surgeries and other health woes.

"It takes a village to run the Big Man - a village of doctors," Clemons told The Associated Press in a phone interview in 2010. "I'm starting to feel better; I'm moving around a lot better."

He published a memoir, "Big Man: Real Life and Tall Tales," in 2009 and continued to perform.

He is the second member of the E Street Band to pass away: In 2008, Danny Federici, the keyboardist for the band, died at age 58 of melanoma.



R.I.P.

bummer

This is really gonna help The Edge of Glory video...

Clemons: One of the Three Most Important People In The World.

"Party On...Dudes."

Peace out Wild Man Fischer

http://themusicsover.com/wp-content/...an-fischer.jpg

:(

Oh no.... what an original he was... I'm going to play his early band's album in the entirety tomorrow, in tribute.

Yeh it's a shame dude was a maverick that never really got his due like Roky Erickson or Hasil Adkins did he stayed an outsider. Think I'll watch Derailroaded in the next few days.

Ryan Dunn

3 or 4 people mentioned it on Facebook...I had to google his name to see who he was...34 years-old is pretty young to die...Even though I had no idea who he was, it's sad.

I just heard about this.Very sad.I was a big fan of Jackass back in the day.

r.i.p. ryan dunn

the coolest member of jackass