Ben Gazzara Dies at 81

Brent Lang — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:20:31 +0000

Ben Gazzara died Friday of pancreatic cancer, the New York Times reported.

The star of award films and plays such as "Anatomy of a Murder" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was 81 years old.

Zalman King, Erotic Film Producer-Director, Dies at 70

Tim Kenneally — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:31:32 +0000

Producer, director and screenwriter Zalman King, whose credits include erotically-charged films such as "9 1/2 Weeks," "Red Shoe Diaries" and "Wild Orchid," died Friday morning at his Santa Monica home following a six-year battle with cancer. King, whose wife Patricia Louisianna Knop, was at his side at the time of his death, was 70.

Don Cornelius, 'Soul Train' Host, Dead of Gunshot Wound

Tim Molloy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:25:57 +0000

Don Cornelius, the creator and longtime host of "Soul Train," was found dead this morning of a gunshot wound. He was 75.

Cornelius was found at his Sherman Oaks home at 4 a.m. by officers responding to a reported shooting. The Los Angeles Times, citing sources, said the gunshot wound appeared to be self-inflicted.

'Welcome Back, Kotter' Star Robert Hegyes Dies at 60

Tim Kenneally — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:29:56 +0000

Robert Hegyes, who played Juan Epstein on '70s sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter, died Thursday, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. Hegyes, who died of an apparent heart attack after suffering chest pains at his Metuchen, New Jersey home, was 60.

'Excalibur' Star Nicol Williamson Dies at 75

Brent Lang — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:17:51 +0000

Stage and film star Nicol Williamson has died after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer. He was 75.

The unpredictable English actor earned raves for the intensity he brought to his roles, but his erratic behavior scared off many film and theater producers.

Greek Director Theo Angelopoulos Killed Near Film Set

Brent Lang — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:50:52 +0000

Greek director Theo Angelopoulos died Tuesday after being hit by a motorcycle, police told the Assoicated Press. He was 76.

He had been shooting his latest film in Athens just blocks away from where the accident happened.

James Farentino, Actor in 'Police Story,' 'Dynasty,' Dies at 73 (Report)

Tim Molloy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:52:25 +0000

James Farentino, whose acting career was briefly derailed by allegations he stalked Frank Sinatra's youngest daughter, has died at 73, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Bingham Ray, Indie Film Veteran, Dies at Sundance

Brent Lang — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:32:50 +0000

The respected independent film veteran Bingham Ray has died, the Sundance Film Festival announced on Monday. He was 57.

Ray suffered a stroke while at the festival on Friday. He had been in serious but stable condition in a Provo hospital since then and was surrounded by family when he died.

Joe Paterno, Former Penn State Football Coach, Dies

Joshua L. Weinstein — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:03:22 +0000

Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has died, his family confirmed Sunday morning. Paterno, who won more games than any other Division I football coach, was 85.

Etta James, 'At Last' Singer, Dies at 73

Tim Kenneally — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:16:58 +0000

Etta James, the singer who found her greatest success with the 1961 hit "At Last," died Friday morning due to complications from leukemia. She was 73.

Judge Who Ruled 'Deep Throat' Obscene, Dies at 90

Wrap Staff — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:16:57 +0000

Joel Tyler, the judge who ruled that "Deep Throat" was obscene and unintentionally catapulted the film and its star Linda Lovelance to the status of cultural icons, has died at 90, The New York Times reports.

Comic-Con Co-Founder Richard Alf Dies at 59

Brent Lang — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:27:10 +0000

Richard Alf, one of the founders of Comic-Con, died Wednesday from pancreatic cancer. He was 59.

'Star Wars' Light Saber Master Bob Anderson Dies at 89

Kurt Orzeck — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:47:30 +0000

Bob Anderson, a former Olympic fencer who staged Darth Vader's light saber battles in two "Star Wars" movies, has died in West Sussex, England. He was 89.

Doug Sellars, Fox Sports Media Group EVP, Dies at 50

Tim Kenneally — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:51:19 +0000

Doug Sellars, executive vice president, production and executive producer of Fox Sports Media Group, died on Friday after recently suffering a heart attack, Fox announced Sunday. He was 50.

Cheetah, Chimpanzee Star of Early 'Tarzan' Films, Dead at 80

Kurt Orzeck — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:48:06 +0000

Cheetah, who played the chimpanzee sidekick in the early "Tarzan" films, died Saturday. It is estimated that he was 80 years old.

Cheetah died of liver failure at Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida. The chimp is regarded as one of the best-known animal actors in Hollywood history.

'SNL' Writer Joe Bodolai Dead of Apparent Suicide

Kurt Orzeck — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:16:59 +0000

Joe Bodolai -- who wrote for "Saturday Night Live" for the 1981-1982 season and co-wrote the first draft of the "Wayne's World" movie with Mike Myers -- has died in an apparent suicide, according to various reports. He was 63.

Publicist Scotty Dugan Dies En Route to Hollywood Shooting Victim's Funeral

Tim Kenneally — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:19:44 +0000

Publicist Scotty Dugan died while en route to the funeral of slain music executive and film producer John Atterberry on Wednesday of as-yet-undetermined causes, TheWrap has confirmed. He was 52.

Vanity Fair Columnist Christopher Hitchens Dead at 62

Lucas Shaw & Sharon Waxman — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:33:15 +0000

Christopher Hitchens, esteemed essayist, author and journalist, died on Thursday of complications from esophageal cancer. He was 62.

Funeral Arrangements Set for Movie Marketing Innovator Joseph Farrell

Kurt Orzeck — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:57:24 +0000

Funeral arrangements have been set for movie marketing pioneer Joseph Farrell and will be private, his publicist said Thursday.

Farrell died Dec. 7. He was 76.

Music Executive Shot in Hollywood Dies

Tim Kenneally — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:31:10 +0000

John Atterberry, the music executive caught up in a random shooting in Hollywood on Friday, died Monday, according to the Associated Press.

Atterberry, 40, was shot three times in the head and neck by gunman Tyler Brehm as he was driving his Mercedes-Benz.

Movie Marketing Innovator Joseph Farrell Dead at 76

Daniel Frankel — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:18:45 +0000

Movie marketing pioneer Joseph Farrell has died of natural causes at the age of 76, according to his publicist.

Farrell is the former chairman and CEO of National Research Group, Inc., which became a leading motion-picture research company under his watch.

'MAS*H' Star Harry Morgan Dies at 96

Brent Lang — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:44:22 +0000

"M*A*S*H" star Harry Morgan died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. The character actor was 96.

He was best known for playing Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the long-running army comedy.

'Laugh-In' Regular Alan Sues Dies at 85

Joshua L. Weinstein — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:47:01 +0000

Alan Sues, a regular on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In" known for playing the flamboyant sportscaster Big Al, died Thursday night while watching television. He was 85 and apparently suffered a heart attack at his home in West Hollywood.

Sues appeared on "Laugh-In" from 1968 to 1972. In addition to playing Big Al, he frequently portrayed the character Uncle Al the Kiddies' Pal, the always hung-over children's show host.

Judy Lewis, Hollywood Love Child, Dies: The End of an Era?

Fred Schruers — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:49:45 +0000

The death of Judy Lewis at 76 tolls a very distinctive bell in Hollywood history: She is probably the last surviving love child of the now faintly illuminated figures who made up the Hollywood star system.

Love Child of Clark Gable, Loretta Young Dies At 76

The New York Times — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:08:14 +0000

Her mother was Loretta Young. Her father was Clark Gable.

Yet Judy Lewis, who died on Friday at 76, spent her first 19 months in hideaways and orphanages, and the rest of her early life untangling a web of lies spun by a young mother hungry for stardom but unwilling to end her unwed pregnancy.

Comedian Patrice O'Neal Dead at 41

Kurt Orzeck — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:10:50 +0000

Comedian Patrice O'Neal has died at 41 after suffering a serious stroke in October, according to widely published reports.

O'Neal died Monday, according to the hosts of the "Opie and Anthony" radio show, on which the comic was a regular.

Ken Russell, Director of 'Tommy' and 'Women in Love,' Dies at 84

Tim Molloy — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:30:55 +0000

Ken Russell, the provocative and uncompromising British director known for violent, sexually charged films who had his greatest commercial success with a film adaptation of The Who's rock opera "Tommy," has died at 84.

Russell first became known for a series of television films, many of them about great composers, and went on to make films with a strong emphasis on music.

N.Y. Times Reporter/Columnist Tom Wicker Dies at 85

Tim Kenneally — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:25:42 +0000

Tom Wicker, the New York Times reporter who covered the assassination of President John F. Kennedy for the paper before moving on to become the Times' Washington bureau chief and a columnist for 25 years, died at his Rochester, Vermont, home on Friday, the Times reports.

Jack Elinson, Veteran TV Comedy Writer, Dies at 89

Tim Kenneally — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:51:16 +0000

Jack Elinson, a veteran TV comedy writer and producer, died Thursday of natural causes at his Santa Monica home, the Writers Guild of America, West announced Monday. He was 89.

Ted Forstmann, CEO of IMG Worldwide, Dead at 71

Daniel Frankel — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:23:55 +0000

Ted Forstmann, former investment banker and CEO of IMG Worldwide, has died following a battle with brain cancer.

He was 71.

The company announced the death on Sunday, writing on its website:

Rapper Heavy D Dies at 44

Tim Kenneally — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:44:24 +0000

Heavy D -- who became an influential rapper the 1990s with Heavy D & the Boyz -- died of unknown causes Tuesday, TMZ reports.

Born Dwight Arrington Myers in Mount Vernon, N.Y., he was pronounced at approximately 1 p.m.

Emmy-Winning TV and Film Writer Hal Kanter Dies at 92

Brent Lang — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:36:15 +0000

Prolific screenwriter and producer Hal Kanter has died. He was 92 years old.

The cause was complications from pneumonia, his daughter Donna Kanter told the Los Angeles Times.