RIP Tony Curtis

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — His widow says the only thing Tony Curtis ever wanted to be was a movie star.

Curtis died last night at his home near Las Vegas. He was 85.

He began his movie career in frivolous roles that exploited his looks and personality, but then moved to more substantial roles -- winning an Oscar nomination in "The Defiant Ones" for portraying a white racist who escapes from prison handcuffed to a black man.

Curtis, also starred in "Sweet Smell of Success" and in "Some Like It Hot" -- considered one of the top Hollywood comedies of all time. In that film, Curtis — famously imitating Cary Grant's accent — and Jack Lemmon play jazz musicians who dress up as women to escape retribution after witnessing a gangland massacre. Marilyn Monroe was their co-star.

After his acting career waned, Curtis reinvented himself as a writer and painter whose canvasses sold for as much as $20,000. His daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, says he left behind a "legacy of great performances in movies," and in his artwork.

Goodbye Earl

Thursdays for the past few years have been my favorite night for television. I always turn to NBC for the comedy line up. 30 Rock gets better each season. The Office cracks me up. And my favorite show in the line-up, My Name is Earl. A show with a balding protagonist (played by Jason Lee) and his side-kick, his more balding brother, Randy (played by Ethan Suplee). A show that left us with a big cliffhanger at the end of last season, and then was subsequently canceled. So here's to you Earl - small hairline, but big mustache and even bigger heart!

RIP Patrick Swayze

Sad news today :(



From the Washington Post:




Patrick Swayze, 57, an actor who enjoyed success in Hollywood as the snake-hipped charmer of "Dirty Dancing" and a romantic lead from beyond the grave in "Ghost," died Sept. 14, his publicist reported from Los Angeles. He had pancreatic cancer.

RIP Les Paul

From Yahoo.com:

Les Paul, the guitar virtuoso and inventor who revolutionized music and created rock 'n' roll as surely as Elvis Presley and the Beatles by developing the solid-body electric guitar and multitrack recording, died Thursday at age 94.

Known for his lightning-fast riffs, Paul performed with some of early pop's biggest names and produced a slew of hits, many with wife Mary Ford. But it was his inventive streak that made him universally revered by guitar gods as their original ancestor and earned his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the most important forces in popular music.

Paul, who died in White Plains, N.Y., of complications from pneumonia, was a tireless tinkerer, whose quest for a particular sound led him to create the first solid-body electric guitar, a departure from the hollow-body guitars of the time. His invention paved the way for modern rock 'n' roll and became the standard instrument for legends like Pete Townshend and Jimmy Page.

He also developed technology that would become hallmarks of rock and pop recordings, from multitrack recording that allowed for layers and layers of "overdubs" to guitar reverb and other sound effects.

"He was truly the cornerstone of popular music," said Henry Juskiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar, which mass produced Paul's original invention. "He was a futurist, and unlike some futurists who write about it and predict things, he was a guy who actually did things."




In this Feb. 19, 1977 file photo, Les Paul, right, and Chet Atkins, left, are presented Grammies by Dolly Parton and Freddie Fender, second from right, at 19th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

R.I.P. Walter Cronkite

From msn.com:

Walter Cronkite, the premier TV anchorman of the U.S. networks’ golden age who reported a tumultuous time with reassuring authority and came to be called “the most trusted man in America,” died Friday. He was 92.

Cronkite’s longtime chief of staff, Marlene Adler, said Cronkite died at 7:42 p.m. at his Manhattan home surrounded by family. She said the cause of death was cerebral vascular disease.

Adler said, “I have to go now” before breaking down into what sounded like a sob. She said she had no further comment.

R.I.P. Karl Malden

It's been a few sad few weeks. We have lost so many greats. And now Karl Malden is added to that list. Actor Karl Malden, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1951 for ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ (amazing amazing performance) appeared in over 50 films, including ‘Patton’ ‘Pollyanna’ and ‘How the West Was Won.’ He is remembered by younger audiences as the longtime, trenchcoated spokesman for American Express.






R.I.P Karl Malden.

R.I.P. Harve Presnell

R.I.P. to out and proud baldie Harve Presnell. Best known for his roles in Fargo and The Unsinkable Molly Brown. He's also been on Dawson's Creek, The Pretender, and Andy Barker, P.I. Harve succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 75.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson (continued)

Everyone is just so speechless. No one expected this news. I just wanted to add some comments from celebs on Michael Jackson's premature death.

Justin Timberlake on his idol: I can't find the words right now to express how deeply sadden [sic] I am by Michael's passing. We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only Pop music, but of all music. He has been an inspiration to multiple generations and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him on stage and all of the things I learned about music from him and the time we spent together. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.


Eddie Van Halen: "I am really shocked; as I'm sure the world is, to hear the news. I had the pleasure of working with Michael on 'Beat It' back in '83 -- one of my fondest memories in my career. Michael will be missed and may he rest in peace."


Madonna: "I can't stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless."


Quincy Jones (produced Thriller): "For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words, he was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."


See TMZ.com for more details.

R.I.P. Ed McMahon

R.I.P. Ed McMahon: March 6, 1923 - June 23, 2009.




From imdb.com:

'Marine fighter pilot during World War II, McMahon sold vegetable slicers on Atlantic City's boardwalk to put himself through Catholic University in Washington, DC. His next assignment was as a fighter pilot during the Korean War. After that he resumed his career in television. In 1959 he was hired as Johnny Carson's straight man on the daytime quiz show "Do You Trust Your Wife" (1956). When Carson succeeded Jack Paar on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962), he took McMahon with him. This job would last for 30 years and make McMahon wealthy and famous. He would also appear in made-for-TV movies and host daytime game shows in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s McMahon would team with Dick Clark on "TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes" (1984) and host his own long-running talent show, "Star Search" (1983). He would also make commercial appearances for a multitude of products.'

R.I.P. David Carradine

From mtv.com "David Carradine, the star of "Kill Bill" and the man behind the legendary 1970s TV series "Kung Fu," has died at age 72.

Carradine was reportedly found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand, either late Wednesday or early Thursday morning. A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, Michael Turner, confirmed the death to The Associated Press but would provide no further details out of respect for Carradine's family."


David seems have been a busy guy in the last few years. He currently has 7 projects in post-production. My heart goes out to his friends, family and fans in this difficult time...