Major Causes of Death: Accidental | Cancer | Drug | Heart Attack | Heart Failure | Lung | Natural Causes | Suicide

Entertainment

Whitney Houston Dies 48

Breaking news.  Detail may not be accurate.
It may take time (days - weeks) to determine cause of death

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 — February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Often referred to as the "Queen of Pop" or simply "the Voice". Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 2 Emmy Awards, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards as of 2010. Houston is also one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums and singles worldwide.

Whitney Houston cause of death
Whitney Houston was 48 years old at the time of her death.

On March 22, 2012, the Los Angeles County coroner's office reported the cause of Houston's death was drowning and the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use" In addition, the office stated the amount of cocaine found in Houston's body indicates she used the substance shortly before her death. Toxicology results also revealed additional drugs in her system: Benadryl, Xanax, marijuana and Flexiril. The manner of death was listed as an "accident".

How the body was found
At Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, a female hairdresser went to check on Houston and found her lying in the bathtub. Houston's face was underwater.  Beverly Hills paramedics performed CPR for about 20 minutes before declaring her dead at 3:55pm. Authorities speculate that a combination of Xanax and alcohol could have fatally sedated Houston and she may have fallen asleep or lapsed into unconsciousness in the bathtub. But it is too early to tell the actual cause of death.  Police stated that there was no obvious sign of criminal intent, foul play, nor drugs.

National Anthem - Super Bowl XXV - Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You Official Music Video

Ben Gazzara, Emmy winning actor, Director, Broadway Actor Dies 81

Ben Gazzara (August 28, 1930 – February 3, 2012) was an American film, stage, and Emmy Award winning television actor and director.

Ben Gazzara had an extensive career but a lot of men remember him as Brad Wesley (the bad guy) from Roadhouse (Starring Patrick Swayze).

In the 1950s, Gazzara starred in various Broadway productions, most notably Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, directed by Elia Kazan.  He was nominated three times for the Tony Award. Gazzara had a long and varied acting career, with spells as an accomplished director, mostly in television. He  directed Columbo episodes "A Friend in Deed" and "Troubled Waters".

Gazzara appeared in thirty-eight films—many for TV—in the 1990s. He worked with a number of renowned directors, such as the Coen brothers (The Big Lebowski), Spike Lee (Summer of Sam), David Mamet (The Spanish Prisoner), Walter Hugo Khouri (Forever), Todd Solondz (Happiness), John Turturro (Illuminata), and John McTiernan (The Thomas Crown Affair).

Ben Gazzara cause of death
Ben Gazzara was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999. On February 3, 2012, he died of pancreatic cancer at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York.
Ben Gazzara 81 years old at the time of his death

Part 1 - Opening Night - Ben Gazzara & Gena Rowlands

David Peaston, R&B Singer, Apollo star, dies 54

David Peaston (1957 – February 1, 2012) was an American R&B/gospel singer who in 1990 won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist. He is mostly known for the singles, "Two Wrongs (Don't Make it Right)" and "Can I?", the latter of which was originally recorded by Eddie Kendricks.

In the late 1980s, Peaston, a former schoolteacher, won several competitions on the Showtime at the Apollo television show, winning over the audience with a powerful rendition of "God Bless the Child."

David Peaston cause of death
David Peaston died from complications of diabetes on February 1, 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri.
David Peaston  was 54 years old at the time of his death.

David Peaston - 2 Wrongs

Don Cornelius, “Soul Train,” commits Suicide 75

Donald Cortez "Don" Cornelius (September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012) was an American television show host and producer who is best known as the creator of the nationally syndicated dance/music franchise Soul Train, which he hosted from 1971-1993. Cornelius sold the show to MadVision Entertainment in 2008.

Don Cornelius Cause of Death
Don Cornelius died of a self-inflicted gunshot.  Cornelius suffered from dementia and his health had been on the decline.
Don Cornelius was 75 years old at the time of his death

Don Cornelius Grooving Down the Soul Train Line

Leslie Carter, Aaron and Nick Carter's sister, dies 25

Leslie Carter (June 6, 1986 – January 31, 2012) was an American pop singer best known as the sister of fellow singers Nick and Aaron Carter.

Leslie Carter cause of death
Leslie Carter died in Westfield, New York.  Cause of death was not released, but people suspect drug overdose.  Leslie Carter was 25 years old at the time of her death.

Leslie Carter - Like wow

John Rich, Legendary TV Director, 'All in the Family', Dies 86

John Rich (July 6, 1925 – January 29, 2012) was a film and television director. He directed such television shows as Where's Raymond?, Mister Ed, The Dick Van Dyke Show, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude, Good Times, Barney Miller, Newhart, Benson, The Brady Bunch, Bonanza, The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, Murphy Brown, and Gilligan's Island.

His feature film credits include Wives and Lovers, Boeing Boeing, Roustabout and Easy Come, Easy Go (the latter two starring Elvis Presley). He also participated in the live telecast of the opening day ceremonies of Disneyland in 1955. He won an Emmy for The Dick Van Dyke Show, two Emmys for All in the Family, and two Golden Globes for All in the Family.

In the 1980s Rich and Henry Winkler formed a production company called Henry Winkler/John Rich Productions and together they produced MacGyver for Paramount Television.

John Rich cause of death
John Rich died of heart failure.
John Rich was 86 years old at the time of his death

John Rich directed this famous episode of All in the family
Sammy Davis Jr. Kissing Archie Bunker

Dimitra Arliss, 'The Sting' actress, dies 79

Dimitra Arliss (October 23, 1932 - January 26, 2012), sometimes credited as Dimitra Arlys, was an American actress.  She played a hired killer alongside Robert Redford and Paul Newman in The Sting.

Partial filmography
The Sting (1973)
Rich Man, Poor Man Book II (1976)
The Other Side of Midnight (1977)
A Perfect Couple (1979)
Xanadu (1980)
Firefox (1982)
Eleni (1985)
It's My Party (1996)
Bless the Child (2000)

Dimitra Arliss cause of death
Dimitra Arliss died of complications from a stroke.
Dimitra Arliss was 79 years old at the time of her death

The Sting (7/10) Movie CLIP - Johnny Gets the Girl (1973)

Clare Fischer, Grammy-winning composer, arranger, pianist died 83

Clare Fischer (October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012) was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. After graduating from Michigan State University, he became the pianist and arranger for the vocal group The Hi-Lo’s in the late 1950s. Fischer went on to work with Dizzy Gillespie and Donald Byrd, and became known for his Latin and bossa nova recordings in the 1960s. He composed the jazz standard, "Pensativa". Fischer was nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, winning two for his albums, Clare Fischer and Salsa Picante Present 2+2 (1981) and Free Fall (1986), where he merged Latin and vocal music. Fischer also became an in-demand arranger for pop albums, working with Prince, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Robert Palmer, and many others.

Fischer wrote for Prince and many other renowned artists including Michael Jackson, Amy Grant, João Gilberto, Paula Abdul, Natalie Cole and more recently Chaka Khan and Branford Marsalis.

Clare Fischer cause of death
On January 8, 2012, Fischer suffered a cardiac arrest in Los Angeles, following a minor surgery a few days before. His wife of 18 years, Donna, was at his side and performed CPR, which saved his life. He remained in ICU on life support, and died on January 26, 2012.  Clare Fischer was 83 years old at the time of his death.

Bud Shank & Clare Fischer 'Wistful Samba' on Franly Jazz

Ian Abercrombie, Mr. Pitt on 'Seinfeld,' Dies 77

Ian Abercrombie (September 11, 1934 - January 26, 2012) was an English actor, best known for playing Alfred Pennyworth in Birds of Prey. He appeared as Elaine Benes' fastidious boss, Justin Pitt during the sixth season of Seinfeld, and later as an even more fastidious butler on Desperate Housewives.

Ian Abercrombie Cause of Death
Ian Abercrombie died in Hollywood on 26 January 2012, from undisclosed causes. Ian Abercrombie was 77 years old at the time of his death.

Mr. Pitt

Robert Hegyes, Epstein from 'Welcome Back, Kotter' dies 60

Robert Hegyes (May 7, 1951 – January 26, 2012) was an American actor best known for his portrayal of high school student Juan Epstein on the 1970s American sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter.

Robert Hegyes Cause of Death
On January 26, 2012, after suffering from chest pains at his Metuchen, New Jersey home, Hegyes died from an apparent heart attack at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. Robert Hegyes was 60 years old at the time of his death.

Welcome Back, Kotter Wedding Scene (this video is likely to get deleted)

Dick Kniss, a Bassist for Peter, Paul and Mary, Dies at 74

Dick Kniss played stand-up bass behind Peter, Paul and Mary for more than 40 years.

Dick Kniss cause of death
Kick Kniss died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Dick Kniss was 74 years old at the time of his death.

Peter Paul & Mary - Puff the Magic Dragon
You can see Kick Kniss (I assume) standing on the side in dark.

James Farentino, Stage and Film Actor, Dies 73

James Farentino (February 24, 1938 – January 24, 2012) was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 100 television, film and stage roles, among them The Final Countdown, Jesus of Nazareth, and Dynasty.

Farentino was charged with stalking his former girlfriend, Tina Sinatra (youngest child of Frank Sinatra), in 1993. A restraining order was issued against him after he entered a plea of nolo contendere.

James Farentino cause of death
On January 24, 2012, Farentino died of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California following a long illness.  James Farentino was 73 years old at the time of his death.

Dead & Buried (1981) International Trailer

Etta James, American Singing Legend, Dies 73

Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins; January 25, 1938 - January 20, 2011) was an American singer whose style spanned a variety of music genres including blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and jazz. Starting her career in the mid 1950s, she gained fame with hits such as "Dance With Me, Henry", "At Last", "Tell Mama", and "I'd Rather Go Blind" for which she claimed she wrote the lyrics. She faced a number of personal problems including drug addiction before making a musical resurgence in the late 1980s with the album, The Seven Year Itch.

She is regarded as having bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and is the winner of six Grammys and seventeen Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008. Rolling Stone ranked James number twenty-two on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and number sixty-two on the list of the 100 Greatest Artists.

Etta James cause of death
Etta James died of Cancer (Leukemia). Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow,
Etta James was 73 years old at the time of her death

Related Blog:
Singer Etta James terminally ill with Cancer (Leukemia) (December 18, 2011)

Related Death:
Etta James was discovered by Johnny Otis. He died a day before Etta James' death

Recent quote from Etta James on Beyonce (when Beyonce sang 'At Last' for president Obama on February 2009)
"I can't stand Beyonce. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day ... singing my song that I've been singing forever."

At Last - Etta James

At Last - Studio Version

Johnny Otis, Singer, 'Willie and the Hand Jive', dies 90

Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes (December 28, 1921 – January 17, 2012), better known as Johnny Otis, was an American singer, musician, talent scout, disc jockey, composer, arranger, recording artist, record producer, vibraphonist, drummer, percussionist, bandleader, and impresario. Born in Vallejo, California, he is commonly referred to as the "Godfather of Rhythm and Blues".

Johnny Otis cause of death
Cause of death is not released yet.
Johnny Otis was 90 years old at the time of his death

Hand Jive - The Johnny Otis Show

Bob Anderson, who played Darth Vader, dies 89

Bob Anderson (September 15, 1922 – January 1, 2012) was an English actor and fencer. Anderson also owns a claim to fame for being a swordfighting trainer for several films, as well as a stunt double for Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He is one of seven people to have played that character. He was born in Hampshire.

Anderson did not receive much recognition for his role in the Star Wars films for years after their initial release, in part because David Prowse was so lauded for his portrayal that director George Lucas did not want to detract from the boost it gave the actor's career. In a 1983 interview, however, Mark Hamill paid homage to Anderson's contribution, saying: "Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader's fighting. It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told George I didn't think it was fair any more. Bob worked so bloody hard that he deserves some recognition. It's ridiculous to preserve the myth that it's all done by one man."

As a competitive fencer, he represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in 1952 and the World Championships in 1950 and 1953 in the sabre event. He finished tied for fifth in the team sabre event at Helsinki in 1952.

After his retirement from fencing competition, Anderson emigrated to Canada, where he went on to become technical director of the Canadian Fencing Association. Anderson died on New Year's Day 2012 in a West Sussex hospital. He was 89.

Syndicate content