Category: Deaths

Natasha Richardson dies at 45 (1963-2009)

natasharichardson

Natasha Richardson has been taken off of life support at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital Wednesday afternoon as her family stood at her bedside. Richardson, 45, had been declared brain dead after she condition became increasingly more apparent after a skiing accident on a beginner’s slope in Montreal.

Natasha Richardson was a British-born actress, having made her feature-film debut as Mary Shelley in Ken Russell’s ‘Gothic’. Richardson appeared in more than twenty films including ‘The Parent Trap’ and ‘Nell’ and numerous television shows and movies. She won a Tony award for her performance in ‘Cabaret’ as well as Best Actress awards in ‘The Comfort of Strangers’, ‘Widows Peak’ and Asylum’. Richardson is survived by her husband, actor Liam Neeson, and her two children.

[source: FoxNews.com]

Author John Updike dies at 76

Author John Updike has died today from lung cancer at the age of seventy-six. Updike is a well-known and much-loved novelist, poet, writer of short stories and critic of art and literature. He is perhaps best known and loved for his “Rabbit” series of novels (Rabbit, Run; Rabbit Redux; Rabbit Is Rich; Rabbit At Rest; Rabbit Remembered). Updike received the Pulitzer Prize for Rabbit is Rich and Rabbit at Best.

Among his many popular books, including the Rabbit series, Updike wrote The Witches of Eastwick which was adapted into the successful movie of the same name starring Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer and Cher. Updike’s final work was a sequel to this novel called The Widows of Eastwick which was published in 2008.

[source: New Yorker]

Bettie Page dies at 85

“I want to be remembered as the woman who changed people’s perspectives concerning nudity in its natural form.” Bettie Page, Los Angeles Times 2006

The great American pin-up, Bettie Page, died Thursday night, Dec 11th, 2008 at a Los Angeles hospital. She was 85.

Bettie Page was hospitalized for pneumonia when she suffered a heart attack just nine days ago. She will forever be known as the most famous pin-up of her time. With her black bangs and curvy figure, she changed the face of the erotic world. She was tried but not prosecuted for her bondage photos… although clothed, it was taboo for the time.

She later walked away from it all and returned to a life of Christianity, only later to discover that she had become a cult icon.

On a personal note, Bettie Page has been a role model and an idol for me throughout my life. Heck, even my dog is named after her. I lost a part of myself when she departed. The world will sadly miss this great American Beauty.

John Michael Hayes dies at 89

Screenwriter John Michael Hayes died of natural causes this past Wednesday, November 19. Best known for his extensive collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock, Hayes worked with Hitch on To Catch a Thief, The Trouble With Harry and The Man Who Knew Too Much. Hayes was nominated for two Academy Awards including Rear Window and Peyton’s Place.

Hayes was born in Worcester, Mass., in 1919. He got his start writing for newspapers and radio. After paying his way through school at Massachusetts State College, Hayes moved to Hollywood. There he landed a job writing for Lucille Ball’s radio program “My Favorite Husband” and the serial drama “The Adventures of Sam Spade.” His radio work caught the attention of Universal Studios, which hired him as a screenwriter during the early 1950s. Hayes donated his collection of scripts, photographs, letters and clippings from his Hollywood career to Dartmouth in 1990. — [source: AP, via HollywoodReporter.com]

Author Michael Crichton Dies at 66

The Man that took us on such wonderful adventures as Timeline, The Andromeda Strain, Rising Sun and most of all Jurassic Park has died from Cancer at the age of 66.   Crichton was a best selling author, but was also an accomplished screenwriter and director. Some of the films Crichton brought us were Coma, WestWorld, Congo  and Physical Evidence. He also had other stories brought to life on the big screen like Twister and Sphere. Crichton was also the man behind one of the best dramas on network TV… ER.   Crichton succumbed of Cancer on Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 66. He will be missed for his imagination, his wit and his wonderful way he could tell a story.

Don LaFontaine dies at 68

Legendary voice-actor and narrator Don LaFontaine died Monday, September 1, 2008 at the age of 68 from complications resulting from a collapsed lung. LaFontaine has been the icon of movie trailer omniscient voices for over 25 years. His distinctive voice has appeared in countless movie trailers, as well as recent Geico commercials, awards ceremonies and various broadcasting venues.

R.I.P. Isaac Hayes

More sad news WAMG readers…..

Isaac Hayes has passed away. The legendary musician died early Sunday morning at his home in Memphis, Tennessee.

His wife found him on the floor near a treadmill inside his home. He was was taken to Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, where he was pronounced dead at 2:08 a.m.

Many might known  Hayes from his music, especially as the composer of the theme music for  “Shaft” for which he won an Academy Award for best original theme song. Younger readers might know him best as the voice of “Chef” on South Park, a role he left because it conflicted with his Scientology beliefs.

Hayes was 65.

Alongside Bernie Mac, who passed away yesterday, Hayes also has a part in the upcoming  ‘Soul Men’ later this year. According to IMDB, Hayes plays himself in the film.

A video here of Isaac Hayes performing “Shaft” Live…

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