Former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello Dies at 70
April, 08, 2013 10:15 am | Comments On #Annette Funicello, mickey mouse club, mouseketeer, Obits, TelevisionAnnette Funicello, the 1950s and ‘60s-era Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer who went on to star in a variety of beach movies with Frankie Avalon, has died from complications related to Multiple Sclerosis. She was 70.
Funicello was the biggest star to emerge from the original incarnation of the Mickey Mouse Club television series, which she joined at its inception in 1955. She continued to make movies for Disney into the 1960s, including "The Shaggy Dog," "Babes in Toyland" and "The Monkey's Uncle."
Her best-known film work came in a series of beach films with Frankie Avalon, including "Beach Party" and "Beach Blanket Bingo." In 1987, she and Avalon...
Les Blank, Noted Documentarian, Dies at 77
April, 07, 2013 3:18 pm | Comments On #documentaries, Les Blank, MoviesFilmmaker Les Blank, known for his documentary depictions of American music and food, died in his Berkeley, Calif., home Sunday of bladder cancer, his family said.
Blank was surrounded by his family when he died around 9 a.m., according to family spokeswoman. He was 77.
Also read: Roger Ebert Funeral Will Be Held Monday in Chicago
In his over four-decade career Blank created distinctive film portraits of jazz musician Dizzy Gilespie and bluesman Lightning' Hopkins -- and whimsically took on other topics, including garlic and gap-...
Read MoreRoger Ebert, Film Critic Extraordinaire, Dies at 70
April, 04, 2013 1:43 pm | Comments On #Critic, Movies, Roger Ebert, siskel and ebertRoger Ebert, the film critic who defined movie reviews in the age of television and then embraced Twitter with gusto, died after a long battle with cancer. He was 70.
His career spanned more than four decades in both print -- for 46 years at the Chicago Sun-Times -- and on television, making him one of the few movie critics to become a household name. He also had the distinction of being the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize, an honor he received in 1975.
The Sun-Times confirmed his death on Thursday.
Also read: Notable Celebrity Deaths of 2013
President Barack Obama, who built a career and started a family in Chicago, the city where Ebert held sway, praised the critic in a statement after his death was reported.
"Michelle and I are...
Read MoreMuppets Co-Creator Jane Henson Dies of Cancer at 78
April, 02, 2013 5:50 pm | Comments On #Cancer, jane henson, Jim Henson, kermit the frog, miss piggy, Movies, The Jim Henson Company, The Muppets, The Tonight ShowJane Henson, the co-creator of the Muppets and ex-wife of Jim Henson, died in her Connecticut home on Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. She was 78.
Henson, born Jane Ann Nebel in 1934, met her future husband and business partner in a puppetry class at the University of Maryland in 1954. While still studying as undergrads, the duo began producing "Sam and Friends," an early version of the beloved Muppets, for local NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C., WRC-TV.
Also read: Jim Henson Company Ends Relationship with Chick-Fil-A Over Anti-Gay Views
The five-minute puppet series aired before "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" and "The Tonight Show Starring Steve Allen." It...
Read MoreMTV 'Buckwild' Production Halted After Shain Gandee's Death (Updated)
April, 01, 2013 10:57 am | Comments On #buckwild, shain gandee, shain gandee dead, shain gandee rip, TelevisionUpdate, Monday 1:16 p.m.: MTV's reality series "Buckwild" has halted production on its second season, after one of the show's stars, Shain Gandee, was found dead on Monday, a spokeswoman for the network told TheWrap on Monday.
It is not clear how long the shutdown will last.
Previously...
Shain Gandee, star of the MTV reality series "Buckwild," has been found dead, MTV confirms to TheWrap.
“We are shocked and saddened by the terrible news about Shain Gandee, and those involved in this tragic incident," the network said in a statement on MTV.com. "We are waiting for more information but at this time, our main concern is for the Gandee family and their friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them....
Read MorePhil Ramone, Legendary Music Producer, Dies at 79 (Updated With Correct Age)
March, 30, 2013 10:32 am | Comments On #music, Phil Ramone, ray charles, Tony Bennett
Phil Ramone, a virtuoso producing talent who made music with the likes of Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Ray Charles and Tony Bennett, has died.
Update: Initial reports stated that the producer was 72, but public records and his family confirmed that he was born Jan. 5, 1934. He was 79.
The Associated Press spoke to Ramone’s son, Matt, who confirmed the death but did not release further details.
The Recording Academy, which awards the Grammys, issued a statement that said: "Our industry has lost an immense talent and a true visionary and genius, and The Academy has lost a very dear and close friend."
Update: Barbra Streisand said she was "saddened" to learn of...
Read MoreFay Kanin, Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter and Academy President, Dies at 95
March, 28, 2013 6:58 am | Comments On #Academy, Fay Kanin, Movies, screenwriterFay Kanin, an Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning screenwriter, died Wednesday of natural causes. She was 95.
In addition to her award-winning work, Kanin served as the second female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, the nonprofit organization behind the Academy Awards, from 1979 to 1983.
"She was committed to the Academy's preservation work and instrumental in expanding our public programming," the Academy said in a statement. "A tireless mentor and inspiration to countless filmmakers, Fay's passion for film continues to inspire us daily."
Kanin's credits bridged the small and big screen, and she often...
Read MoreDon Payne, 'Simpsons' Co-Executive Producer and 'Thor' Screenwriter, Dies of Cancer
March, 27, 2013 4:00 pm | Comments On #Al Jean, Cancer, death, don payne, fantastic 4, my super ex-girlfriend, screenwriter, Television, The Simpsons, ThorDon Payne, a co-executive producer of "The Simpsons" and "Thor" screenwriter, died in Los Angeles on Tuesday after battling cancer. He was 48.
The University of California, Los Angeles graduate won four primetime Emmys with "The Simpsons" since joining the Fox show's writing staff in 1998. Payne wrote 16 episodes, including "Fraudcast News," which earned him the 2005 Writers Guild Paul Selvin Award.
Also read: Henry Bromell, Writer-Producer on 'Homeland,' 'Homicide,' Dies at 65
“Don...
Read More'Deep Throat' Star Harry Reems Dead at 65 (updated)
March, 20, 2013 11:48 am | Comments On #Deep Throat, harry reems, Linda Lovelace, MoviesHarry Reems, star of legendary pornographic film “Deep Throat,” has died, according to an official at the VA hospital in Salt Lake City. Reems died Tuesday at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center. He was 65.
A self-described close friend, Don Shenck, had posted a personal obituary notice on a message board Tuesday. Shenck wrote that Reems was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Reems entered the hospital March 5 due to jaundice and fell into a coma last week.
Reems, born Herbert Streicher, is best known for his role in the cult porn hit “Deep Throat,” which starred Linda Lovelace and took the nation by storm in 1972. It remains the...
Read MoreHenry Bromell, Writer-Producer on 'Homeland,' 'Homicide,' Dies at 65
March, 19, 2013 10:53 am | Comments On #Emmy, Henry Bromell, Homeland, homicide, TelevisionEmmy-winning writer-producer Henry Bromell, who worked on "Homeland," "Homicide" and other shows, has died of a heart-related ailment. He was 65.
Bromell, who shared in the Emmy win last year when "Homeland" was named Outstanding Drama series, died in a hospital Monday in the Los Angeles area. He had previously worked on shows including the acclaimed "Homicide: Life on the Street," "That's Life," "Brotherhood" and "Rubicon."
He also served as showrunner for the latter two shows.
Among his recent work was an interrogation episode of "Homeland" last season that is likely to be an Emmy...
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