Jim Kelly, Actor In ‘Enter The Dragon,’ Dies 67

James Milton “Jim” “the Dragon” Kelly (May 5, 1946 – June 29, 2013) was an American athlete, actor, and martial artist who rose to fame in the early 1970s. He was best known from his performance as Williams in the 1973 film Enter the Dragon.

Kelly became the first Black martial arts film star.

In 2004, he appeared with NBA star LeBron James in the Nike commercial “Chamber of Fear”, a similarity of the Bruce Lee film Game of Death.

Kelly resided in southern California and worked as a professional tennis coach. He was still a popular draw at conventions such as the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International.

Jim Kelly cause of death

Jim Kelly died of cancer on June 29, 2013 at his home in San Diego, California.  Jim Kelly was 67 years old at the time of his death

Most Unrecognized BADASS Jim Kelly

Matt Osborne, WWE star, Doink the Clown, dies 55

Matthew “Matt” Wade Osborne (July 27, 1957 – June 28, 2013) was an American professional wrestler. Osborne was a second generation wrestler, being son of “Tough” Tony Borne, and is best known as being the first and longest-running wrestler to portray the character of Doink the Clown. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1957.

Doink the Clown is the name and persona originated by professional wrestler Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and used there from 1992 to 1996, and sporadically thereafter. After Osborne left the WWF in late 1993, the character was played by several wrestlers, both in the WWF (later WWE) and elsewhere. Osborne continued to sporadically perform as Doink until six months before his death in June 2013.

Matt Osborne Cause of Death

Matt Osborne was found dead in a Texas residence. No cause of death has yet been determined. Though no weapons were found near his body, and police have said the death appears accidental, they launched a precautionary homicide investigation.  Matt Osborne was 55 years old at the time of his death

Randy Savage vs. Doink The Clown

Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, Blues Legend, Dies 83

grammy winner

Robert Calvin “Bobby” Bland (January 27, 1930 – June 23, 2013), also known as Bobby “Blue” Bland, was an American singer of blues and soul. He was an original member of the Beale Streeters, and was sometimes referred to as the “Lion of the Blues”. Along with such artists as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Junior Parker, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with the blues and R&B. An imitator of Frank Sinatra, he was also known as the “Sinatra of the blues”, his music being influenced by Nat King Cole.

Bobby Bland was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland cause of death

Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland died on June 23, 2013 at his home in Memphis after an illness.  Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland was 83 years old at the time of his death.

Bobby Blue Bland-Members Only

James Gandolfini,’Sopranos’ Star, Tony Soprano, Dies 51

James Joseph Gandolfini, Jr. (September 18, 1961- June 19, 2013) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and career in the Mafia. For this role, Gandolfini garnered enormous praise, winning both the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series three times. Gandolfini’s other roles include the woman-beating mob henchman Virgil in True Romance, enforcer/stuntman Bear in Get Shorty, and the impulsive Wild Thing Carol in Where the Wild Things Are.

Gandolfini’s most acclaimed role to date is that of Tony Soprano, a New Jersey Mafia boss and family man who is the lead character in The Sopranos, which debuted in 1999. He won three Emmys for “Best Actor in a Drama” for his depiction of Tony Soprano, who constantly questions his identity and purpose. Gandolfini eventually earned $1,000,000 per episode in the series, and Entertainment Weekly listed him as the 42nd Greatest TV Icon of All Time.

James Gandolfini cause of death.

James Gandolfini died on June 19th, 2013 of a heart attack while vacationing in Italy. James Gandolfini was 51 years old when he was pronounced dead.

Richard Ramirez, serial killer, ‘Night Stalker’, dies 53

Richard Ramirez, serial killer, ‘Night Stalker’, dies 53

Ricardo “Richard” Muñoz Ramirez (February 29, 1960 – June 7, 2013) was an American convicted serial killer, who died while awaiting execution on California’s death row. Prior to his capture, Ramirez was dubbed the “Night Stalker” by the news media. Ramirez died of natural causes while on death row on the morning of June 7th, 2013.

Richard Ramirez cause of death.

Richard Ramirez died in Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California on the morning of June 7, 2013. The cause of death is pending an investigation. Richard Ramirez was 53 years old at the time of his death.

Esther Williams, Swimmer and Movie Star, dies 91

walk of fame

Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and MGM movie actress.

Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of the outbreak of World War II, she joined Billy Rose’s Aquacade, where she took on the role vacated by Eleanor Holm after the show’s move from New York City to San Francisco. While in the city, she spent five months swimming alongside Olympic gold medal winner and Tarzan star, Johnny Weissmuller. It was at the Aquacade that Williams caught the attention of MGM scouts. After appearing in several small roles, alongside Mickey Rooney in an Andy Hardy film, and future five time co-star Van Johnson in A Guy Named Joe, Williams made a series of films in the 1940s and early 1950s known as “aquamusicals,” which featured elaborate performances with synchronized swimming and diving.

From 1945 to 1949, Williams had at least one film listed among the 20 highest grossing films of the year

Esther Williams cause of death.

Esther Williams died on June 6, 2013 in her sleep in her Los Angeles home.  She was 91 years old at the time of her death.

Jean Stapleton, Actress, “All in the Family”, Edith Bunker, dies 90

Emmy WinnerEmmy WinnerEmmy WinnerGolden Globe WinnerGolden Globe Winner

jeanJean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013) was an American character actress of stage, television and film.

Stapleton is best known for having portrayed Edith Bunker, the long-suffering, yet devoted wife of Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O’Connor) and mother of Gloria Stivic (played by Sally Struthers), on the 1970s situation comedy All in the Family. Stapleton also made occasional appearances on the All in the Family follow-up series, Archie Bunker’s Place, but, tired of the role, asked to be written out as a regular character after the first season.

Stapleton’s awards for All in the Family include three Emmys and two Golden Globes. She was offered a role in the feature film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory as Mrs. Teevee, but she declined because it coincided with the production of the All in the Family pilot (the role went to Nora Denney).

She declined the opportunity to lead in the television mystery programme Murder, She Wrote, which from 1984 to 1996 instead starred Angela Lansbury.

In 1996, Stapleton played opposite John Travolta, portraying the eccentric rooming house owner, Pansy Milbank in Nora Ephron’s hit Michael. Stapleton also appeared in the 1998 feature You’ve Got Mail as a close co-worker in whom Meg Ryan’s character confides.

Jean Stapleton Cause of Death

Jean Stapleton died of natural causes, in New York City, surrounded by family and friends. Jean Stapleton was 90 years old at the time of her death. She is survived by her two children, John, a TV director, and Pamela, a TV producer.

Jean Stapleton – Simple Melody

All In The Family Intro

Chris Kelly of rap duo Kris Kross dies 34

On May 1, 2013 Chris Kelly, AKA “Mac Daddy”, was found unresponsive in his Atlanta home. Kelly was pronounced dead around 5 pm on the south campus of the Atlanta Medical Center. He was 34 years old. A drug overdose is suspected.

Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s comprising Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith. The duo was best known for their hit 1992 song “Jump”, which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and was certified double platinum as a single. Kris Kross was also noted for their fashion style, which consisted of wearing their clothing backwards.

Kris Kross- Jump

Deanna Durbin, Singer, Former child star, dies 91

Deanna Durbin (born Edna Mae Durbin, December 4, 1921 – April 2013) was a Canadian singer and actress, who appeared in a number of musical films in the 1930s and 1940s singing standards as well as operatic arias.

On April 30, 2013, a newsletter published by the Deanna Durbin Society reported that Durbin died “a few days ago”, quoting her son, Peter H. David, who thanked her admirers for respecting her privacy. No other details were given.

Deanna Durbin – Begin The Beguine

George Jones, Country Music legend, dies 81

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George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette.

George Jones cause of death

Cause of death was not released.  George Jones died April 26, 2013 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He was hospitalized April 18 with fever and irregular blood pressure.  George Jones was 81 years old at the time of his death.

George Jones – I Don’t Need Your Rocking Chair