Mikhail Kalashnikov, developer of AK-47, dies 94

Lieutenant-general Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov (November 10, 1919 – December 23, 2013) was a Russian general and small arms designer, most famous for developing the AK-47 assault rifle and its improvements, AKM and AK-74, as well as the PK machine gun.

Even though Kalashnikov felt sorrow at the weapons’ uncontrolled distribution, he took pride in his inventions and in their reputation for reliability, emphasizing that his rifle is “a weapon of defense” and “not a weapon for offense”.

Death of Mikhail Kalashnikov

Mikhail Kalashnikov died on December 23, 2013 at a hospital after a prolonged illness.

Ray Price, Texas country music legend, dies 87

Noble Ray Price (January 12, 1926 – December 16, 2013) was an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music. Some of his well-known recordings include “Release Me”, “Crazy Arms”, “Heartaches by the Number”, “For the Good Times”, “Night Life”, and “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996 and—even into his late 80s—continued to record and tour.

Ray Price cause of death

Ray Price died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Mt. Pleasant, Texas on December 16, 2013.  Ray Price was 87 years old at the time of his death.

Cancer

On November 6, 2012, Ray Price confirmed that he was fighting pancreatic cancer. Price told the San Antonio Express-News that he had been receiving chemotherapy for the past six months. An alternative to the chemo would have been surgery that involved removing the pancreas along with portions of the stomach and liver, which would have meant a long recovery and stay in a nursing home. Said Price, “That’s not very much an option for me. God knows I want to live as long as I can but I don’t want to live like that.” The 87-year-old Country Music Hall of Famer also told the newspaper, “The doctor said that every man will get cancer if he lives to be old enough. I don’t know why I got it – I ain’t old!”Price retained a positive outlook and hoped to play as many as a hundred concert dates in 2013.

As of early February 2013, the cancer appeared to be in remission. Sometime in May 2013, Price was hospitalized with severe dehydration. On December 2, 2013, Price entered a Tyler, Texas, hospital in the final stages of pancreatic cancer, according to his son, then left on December 12 for home hospice care. Price died at his home in Mt. Pleasant, Texas on December 16, 2013.

Joan Fontaine, Oscar-winning actress, dies 96

Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland (October 22, 1917 – December 15, 2013), known professionally as Joan Fontaine, was a British American actress. Born in Japan to British parents, de Havilland and her older sister Olivia de Havilland moved to California in 1919. Fontaine began her career on the stage in 1935 and signed a contract with RKO Pictures that same year.

In 1941, she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Rebecca, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The following year, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Hitchcock’s Suspicion (1941) making Fontaine the only actor to ever win an Academy Award in a film directed by Hitchcock. Fontaine and sister de Havilland are the only siblings to have won lead acting Academy Awards. During the 1940s to the 1990s, Fontaine continued her career in roles on the stage and in radio, television and film. She released her autobiography, No Bed of Roses, in 1978. After a career spanning over 50 years, Fontaine made her last on-screen appearance in 1994.

Joan Fontaine cause of death

Fontaine lived in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California where she owned a home, Villa Fontana. It was there that she died of natural causes at the age of 96 in 2013.

Peter O’Toole, actor, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, dies 81

Peter James O’Toole (August 2, 1932 – December 14, 2013) was an Irish-born, British reared and educated actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and began working in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic and with the English Stage Company, before making his film debut in 1959

peter

He achieved stardom playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) for which he received his first Academy Award nomination. He received seven further Oscar nominations – for Becket (1964), The Lion in Winter (1968), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), The Ruling Class (1972), The Stunt Man (1980), My Favorite Year (1982) and Venus (2006) – and holds the record for the most Academy Award acting nominations without a win. He won four Golden Globes, a BAFTA and an Emmy, and was the recipient of an Honorary Academy Award in 2003.

Peter O’Toole Cause of Death.

O’Toole died on 14 December 2013 at the Wellington Hospital in London, following a long illness.  Peter O’Toole was 81 years old at the time of his death.

Eleanor Parker, Actress, ‘The Sound Of Music”, dies 91

Eleanor Jean Parker (June 26, 1922 – December 9, 2013) was an American actor who starred in some 80 movies and television series An actor of notable versatility, she was called Woman of a Thousand Faces, the title of her biography by Doug McClelland.

Parker’s best-known screen role came when she co-starred with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer as Baroness Elsa Schraeder in the 1965 Oscar-winning musical The Sound Of Music.

Parker was nomination three times as Best Actress for the Academy Award.

Eleanor Parker has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6340 Hollywood Blvd.

Eleanor Parker Cause of Death

Eleanor Parker died from complications from pneumonia. Eleanor Parker was 91 years old at the time of her death.

Nelson Mandela, South African Icon of Peaceful Resistance, Dies 95

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (July 18, 1918 ? December 5, 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.

Nelson Mandela cause of death

Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013, after a long illness after being in vegatative state for five month.  Nelson Mandela was 95 years old at the time of his death. He died at home, surrounded by his family. His death was announced by President Jacob Zuma.

Paul Walker, Actor, ‘Fast and Furious’, dies 40

paulPaul William Walker IV (September 12, 1973 – November 30, 2013) was an American actor. He became famous in 1999 after his role in the hit film Varsity Blues, but later garnered fame as Brian O’Conner in The Fast and the Furious film series. His other films include Eight Below, Into the Blue, She’s All That, and Takers. He appeared on the National Geographic Channel series Expedition Great White.

Paul Walker cause of death

Paul Walker died of auto accident. Paul walker was 40 years old at the time of his death.

On November 30, 2013, at approximately 3:30 p.m. PST, Walker and Roger Rodas , left an event for Walker’s charity Reach Out Worldwide for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Shortly after leaving in Rodas’ red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, the Roger Rodas lost control and crashed into a light pole and tree in Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, and the vehicle burst into flames.

Paul Walker on Fatherhood

Lou Reed, Rock ‘n’ Roll Legend, Dies 71

Lewis Allan “Lou” Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American rock musician and songwriter. After being guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of the Velvet Underground, his solo career spanned several decades. The Velvet Underground were a commercial failure in the late 1960s, but the group has gained a considerable cult following in the years since its demise and has gone on to become one of the most widely cited and influential bands of the era.

After his departure from the group, Reed began a solo career in 1972. He had a hit the following year with “Walk on the Wild Side”, but subsequently lacked the mainstream commercial success its chart status seemed to indicate.[3

Lou Reed cause of death

In April 2013, Reed underwent a liver transplant in Cleveland. Afterwards he claimed on his website to be ‘bigger and stronger’ than ever. On October 27, 2013, Reed died at the age of 71 in Long Island.

Lou Reed – Velvet Underground – Walk on the wild side

Marcia Wallace, ‘Simpsons’ star, dies 70

1992 Outstanding Voice-Over Performance

marciaMarcia Karen Wallace (November 1, 1942 – October 25, 2013) was an American character actress, comedienne and game show panelist, primarily known for her roles in television situation comedies. She is perhaps best known for her roles as receptionist Carol Kester on the 1970s sitcom The Bob Newhart Show, and as the voice of elementary school teacher Edna Krabappel on the animated series The Simpsons, for which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1992.

Marcia Wallace cause of death

On October 25, 2013 Wallace died due to complications from breast cancer. Staff on The Simpsons had reportedly been aware of her illness.

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Edna Krabappel is a fictional character from the animated TV series The Simpsons, who was voiced by Marcia Wallace until her death on October 25, 2013. She is the teacher of Bart Simpson’s 4th grade class at Springfield Elementary School, and Ned Flanders’s wife in later seasons. Krabappel was the only character Wallace voiced on a regular basis. The show’s producers intend to retire the character following Wallace’s death.

Edna

Tommy Morrison, Ex-heavyweight champion, Rocky V, dies 44

Tommy David Morrison (January 2, 1969 – September 1, 2013) was an American heavyweight boxer and a former World Boxing Organization champion. He lost only three out of a total of 52 professional fights. Morrison’s nickname, “The Duke,” is based on being a grandnephew of Hollywood star John Wayne. Morrison was a co-star with Sylvester Stallone in the 1990 boxing movie Rocky V.

Morrison’s professional boxing career ended in 2008, 12 years after he tested positive for HIV in 1996. Beginning in 2006, Morrison attempted a comeback after a 10-year hiatus, stating that his HIV diagnosis was negative.

Morrison had multiple convictions for driving under the influence, assault, and drugs and weapons charges.

Rocky V

In 1989, actor Sylvester Stallone observed one of Morrison’s bouts. Stallone arranged a script reading and cast Morrison in the movie Rocky V as Tommy “The Machine” Gunn, a young and talented protege of the retired Rocky Balboa. Originally an admirer of Rocky, Gunn’s successes led him to goad Rocky into a street fight.

Tommy Morrison cause of death

In August 2013, ESPN reported that Morrison was critically ill and had been bedridden for over a year.

On September 1, 2013, Morrison died at a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. His family did not disclose the cause of death.  Tommy Morrison was 44 years old at the time of his death.

Tommy Morrison KO’s