Author Bill Landis dies at age 49 of heart attack. He is survied by his collaborator and loving wife, michelle Clifford and his adored daughter Victoria.
Bill Landis brought Times Square alive. He was a walking encyclopedia of film knowledge. He wrote with his wife of 22 years, the bible of Times Square film and it's grindhouses and denizens, SLEAZOID EXPRESS for Simon and Schuster.
Landis, (with wife Cliffford ghosting) penned the unauthorized bio of underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger for HarperCollins.
Together, the couple published the magazines Sleazoid Express and Metasex. Landis' work appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers.
Landis was the first to coin the word "Sleazoid". He was the master of the facts of exploitation film, writing up houses like Troma films for Film Comment , and writing about the adult film business in a myriad of publications from cover stories in The Village Voice to Screw. He was a huge fan of art films. He never met a film he didn't want to comment on. He was not a critic. He was a writer of the aesthetics of film. The underlying meanings, touching the soul of celluloid.
His was cremated upon his wishes, and his wife and daughter held a private service for him.
Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles from the early 60s and on. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives for modern jazz and bebop
Following a long setback of health problems and a serious lip injury in 1992 where he ruptured his upper lip and subsequently developed an infection, Hubbard was again playing and recording occasionally, even if not at the high level that he set for himself during his earlier career. His best records ranked with the finest in his field
Death of Frederick Hubbard On December 29, 2008, Hubbard's hometown newspaper, The Indianapolis Star reported that Hubbard died from complications from a heart attack suffered on November 26 of the same year. Billboard magazine reported that Hubbard died in Sherman Oaks, California
Robert Graham (August 19, 1938 - December 27, 2008) was a sculptor based in the state of California in the United States of America. His monumental bronzes commemorate the human figure and are featured in public places across America.
Graham's work included statues of past presidents, Los Angeles Olympic Gateway, and countless more all over The United States.
Robert Graham died 70 years old, surrounded by his family, including Oscar winning actress Angelica Huston (married since 1992)
Ann Savage (February 19, 1921 - December 25, 2008) was a motion picture actress for over sixty years. She is mainly remembered as the cigarette-puffing femme fatale in Detour (1945) and other Hollywood B-movies and film noirs of the 1940s. Savage and Detour co-star Tom Neal made four movies (Klondike Kate, Two Man Submarine, Unwritten Code, and Detour) and one television show (Gangbusters) together.
Death of Ann Savage Ann Savage died in her sleep on Christmas Day, December 25, 2008, from complications following a series of stroke. She is buried next to D'Armand at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, in Los Angeles, California
Merry Christmas Singer of "Santa Baby" Eartha Kitt dies on Christmas Day 2008
Eartha Mae Kitt (January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American actress, singer, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her role as Catwoman in the 1960s TV series Batman, and for her 1953 Christmas song "Santa Baby". Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world".
Death of Eartha Kitt Eartha Kitt died of colon cancer on Christmas Day, December 25, 2008. Ironically as she is mostly known for her Christmas hit Santa Baby.
Career Kitt started her career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company and made her film debut with them in Casbah (1948). A talented singer with a distinctive voice, her hits include "Let's Do It", "Champagne Tatse", "C'est si bon", "Just an Old Fashioned Girl", "Monotonous", "Je cherche un homme", "Love for Sale", "I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch", "Uska Dara", "Mink, Schmink", "Under the Bridges of Paris", and her most recognizable hit, "Santa Baby". Kitt's unique style was enhanced as she became fluent in the French language during her years performing in Europe. She had some skill in other languages too, which she demonstrates with finesse in many of the live recordings of her cabaret performances
Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby
Eartha Kitts Awards and Filmography continues next page
Robert Mulligan (August 23, 1925 in The Bronx, New York - Died December 20, 2008 Lyme, Conn) is an American film and television director.
In 1957 Robert Mulligan directed his first motion picture (Fear Strikes Out) and five years later received wide acclaim and Academy award and Directors Guild of America nominations for To Kill a Mockingbird. In the same year, he also directed a film with stars Rock Hudson and Burl Ives, called The Spiral Road, based on the book by Jan de Hartog.
Death of Robert Mulligan Robert Mulligan died of had heart disease. Robert Mulligan was 83 years old at the time of his death
In 1972 he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director and another Directors Guild Award for the highly successful Summer of '42.
He is the brother of actor Richard Mulligan who is best remembered for his television roles of Burt Campbell in the sitcom Soap and of Dr. Harry Weston in Empty Nest.
Robert Mulligan's biography & filmography continues next page
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (February 23, 1932 – December 18, 2008) (born Majel Leigh Hudec in Columbus, Ohio) was an American actress, and producer. She was also the widow of television director/producer/writer and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.
As a result of her marriage to Gene Roddenberry and the fact that she has been in every Star Trek series, she is sometimes referred to as "the First Lady of Star Trek". She and Gene Roddenberry were married in Japan on August 6, 1969, after the cancellation of the original Star Trek series.
Death of Majel Roddenberry Barrett died December 18, 2008 as a result of complications from leukemia. Majel Roddenberry was 76 years old at the time of her death
She appeared in the original Star Trek series as Nurse Christine Chapel, and also had a role in "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
She was also the voice of the USS Enterprise computer in almost every spin-off of the 1960s cult series
William Mark Felt, Sr. (August 17, 1913 – December 18, 2008) was a former agent of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, who retired in 1973 as the Bureau's Associate Director. After thirty years of denying his involvement with reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Felt revealed himself on May 31, 2005 to be the Watergate scandal whistleblower called "Deep Throat."
Death OF William Mark Felt At 12:45pm on December 18, 2008, Felt died of congestive heart failure in his sleep at a hospice care facility in Santa Rosa, California. He was 95 years old. His death was reported in the Washington Post by Bob Woodward.
Samuel John "Sam" Bottoms (October 17, 1955 – December 16, 2008) was an American actor and producer.
He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Lance Johnson, a Navy Gunner's Mate stationed on a river boat in Francis Ford Coppola's 20th century opus, Apocalypse Now.
Bottoms earlier appeared with Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales.
At the age of 16 while watching the shooting of the film The Last Picture Show, which his older brother Timothy was starring in, Peter Bogdanovich decided to give him a screen test. Sam ended up getting the part of Billy in the movie.
Death of Sam Bottoms Sam Bottoms died of glioblastoma multiforme, a brain tumor. Sam Bottoms was 53 years old at the time of his death.
Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara, California, the third son of James "Bud" Bottoms (a sculptor and art teacher) and Betty (Chapman). He is the brother of actors Timothy Bottoms, Joseph Bottoms and Ben Bottoms.
The Last Picture Show - Sam Bottoms as Billy
Sam Bottom's Television & Filmography continues on next page
Bettie Page (April 22, 1923 - December 11, 2008) was a former American model who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. She was also one of the earliest Playmates of the Month for Playboy magazine.
Death of Bettie Page Bettie Page died on December 11, 2008, having been on continuous life support since her heart attack in December 2008
While she faded into obscurity in the 1960s after converting to Christianity and serving as a Baptist missionary in Angola, she experienced a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s and had a significant cult following. Her look, including her jet black hair and trademark bangs, has influenced many artists. Bettie is a great aunt of comedian/writer Benjy Bronk and Bettie is a cousin of actress Mena Suvari.
Robert Prosky (December 13, 1930 - December 8, 2008) was an American actor with hundreds of credits on stage and screen including "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Hill Street Blues"
Death of Robert Prosky Robert Prosky died on December 8, 2008, five days short of his 78th birthday, of complications following a heart procedure. At the time of his death, he lived on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Biography Robert Prosky appeared in such films as Thief, Christine, The Natural, Broadcast News, Green Card, Hoffa, Rudy, and Dead Man Walking. In addition to appearing in numerous films, Prosky appeared as a regular on the television shows Hill Street Blues and Veronica's Closet. Prior to his film and television career, Prosky appeared in numerous productions at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC, most notably as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. He was considered for the role of Martin Crane in Frasier and later made a guest appearance in the show as a reclusive writer. He also played Rebecca Howe's father on Cheers.
Prosky often performed at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, with over 100 stage credits to his name at that theatre alone. He also originated the role of Shelly Levene in David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross.
Dennis Yost passed away of respiratory failure, on December 7, 2008, at the age of 65
Dennis Yost was a singer & a drummer of Classics IV, a pop rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965. Their signature songs include "Spooky" and "Stormy".
Dennis Yost became seriously ill. On July 11, 2006, while recovering at home in a suburb of Cincinnati, Yost fell down a flight of stairs and suffered serious brain trauma. Although Yost subsequently underwent a significant amount of rehabilitation, he was never again able to perform. Since Yost's unique voice was integral to the Classics IV sound, his injury effectively placed the group on hiatus.
To assist Yost and his wife with their medical bills, a benefit concert was held on March 25, 2007, at Rhino's Live in Cincinnati, Ohio, the benefit was originally thought up by Yost's close friend Jon "Bowser" Bauman. Many musical entertainers and some surprise guests from the 1950’s through the 70’s performed some of their biggest chart-topping hits in tribute to Dennis Yost, backed by local favorites, BlueStone Ivory and Classics IV guitarist Brian Correll. An interesting note to the benefit concert is that it didn't benefit Dennis or his wife financially. Without question the benefit was a huge boost for Dennis allowing him to see and visit with so many old friends, but the expenses far exceeded the money raised leaving the whole event in the red.
Dennis Yost passed away of respiratory failure, on December 7, 2008, at the age of 65
Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 - December 1, 2008) was an American character actor who made numerous appearances in television and movies beginning in the 1960s. He is probably best recognized for his roles as The Number Painter on the PBS children's show Sesame Street, and as the quirky English neighbor "Harry Bentley" on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons.
Death of Paul Benedict On December 1, 2008, Benedict was found dead at his home in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Paul Benedict was 70 years old at the time of his death.
Biography Benedict was born in Silver City, New Mexico, the son of Alma Marie (née Loring), a journalist, and Mitchell M. Benedict, a doctor.[1] He grew up in Massachusetts. As a young man, he suffered from acromegaly, a pituitary disorder that affects the extremities and face, which accounted for his slightly oversized jaw and nose.
As could be heard in his other film and TV roles, he had a slight English accent even when not in character as Bentley. Benedict played the director of the Richard III production in the 1977 movie The Goodbye Girl starring Richard Dreyfuss, in which Richard was to be portrayed in the play as a stereotypical gay man. He was in a short scene in the 1984 mockumentary film This is Spinal Tap, playing the awkward desk clerk who checks in the band. In the 1990 film The Freshman, he played the condescending NYU film school professor of Matthew Broderick's main character. He also made a memorable appearance as the incorrectly assumed title character in the 1996 film Waiting for Guffman, another mockumentary involving many of the same writers and actors.
Benedict also played the role of a slave trader in Dino De Laurentiis' Mandingo opposite James Mason and Perry King in 1975. Perhaps his best known movie role was of the reverend Lundquist in the 1972 Sydney Pollack film Jeremiah Johnson.
William R. Finnegan (June 29, 1928 Kansas City Missouri - November 28, 2008 Sag Harbor, Suffolk County New York) was a five times Emmy nominated TV & film producer.
William Finnegan's credits include "Hawaii Five-0," "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd" and "The Fabulous Baker Boys,"
He co-produced movies such as; "Support Your Local Gunfighter" (1971), "North Shore" (1987), "The Fabulous Baker Boys" (1989), "White Palace" (1990), "The Babe" (1992), "CrissCross" (1992), "Reality Bites" (1994) and "Ed" (1996).
Death of William Finnegan William Finnegan died of parkinson's disease at his home in Sag Harbor, N.Y. William Finnegan was 80 years old at the time of his death.
Irving Brecher (January 17, 1914, New York City - November 17, 2008, Los Angeles) enjoyed early success as a screenwriter for the Marx Brothers; he was the only writer to get sole credit on a Marx Brothers film including At the Circus in 1939 and Go West in 1940. He was also one of the numerous uncredited writers on the screenplay of 1939's The Wizard of Oz. Some of his other screenplays were Shadow of the Thin Man (1941), Ziegfeld Follies (1946) and Bye Bye Birdie (1963).
He wrote and directed Sail A Crooked Ship starring Ernie Kovacs and a young Robert Wagner. He received an Academy Award nomination in 1944 for his screenplay of Meet Me in St Louis. His memoir is scheduled for 2008 publication by Ben Yehuda Press
Death of Irving Brecher Irving Brecher died of age-related causes at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Irving Brecher was 94 years old at the time of his death.
Jimmy Carl Black (born James Inkanish, Jr., February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008) was a drummer and vocalist for The Mothers of Invention.
Born in El Paso, Texas, he was of Cheyenne heritage. His trademark line was "Hi Boys and Girls, I'm Jimmy Carl Black, and I'm the Indian of the group." He has been credited on some Mothers albums as playing "drums, vocals, and poverty".
He appeared in the movie 200 Motels and sings the song Lonesome Cowboy Burt.
He worked as a guest vocalist with Muffin Men, a Frank Zappa tribute band based in Liverpool, England, and with Jon Larsen, on the surrealistic Strange News From Mars project, featuring several other Zappa alumni, such as Tommy Mars, Bruce Fowler, Arthur Barrow.
Black was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2008, and died on November 1st. A benefit will be held on 9 November 2008 at the Bridgehouse II in London.
Ray Ellis (July 28, 1923 Philadelphia - October 27, 2008 Encino, California) was an American record producer, arranger and conductor. The orchestration for Billie Holiday's Lady in Satin is perhaps his best known work in the jazz vein.
Ellis arranged many hit records in the 1950s and 1960s. Included are classics such as "A Certain Smile" by Johnny Mathis; Broken Hearted Melody by Sarah Vaughan; and "Standing On The Corner" by the Four Lads. In 1970 he produced Emmylou Harris' debut LP Gliding Bird.
Ellis work encompassed all areas of music, from records to film, commercials, and television. His television theme music credits include NBC News At Sunrise with Connie Chung and the original cartoon series Spider-Man. In the early 1960s, Ellis had a contract to produce his own easy listening record albums with RCA Victor, MGM, and Columbia, the most popular probably being Ellis in Wonderland.
Death of Ray Ellis Ray Ellis died of complications from melanoma Ray Ellis was 85 years old at the age of his death.
Muslim Mahammad oglu Magomayev (Azeri: Müslüm Maqomayev; born August 17, 1942 in Baku - October 25, 2008 in Moscow) was an Azerbaijani baritone operatic and pop singer of the 1960s and 1970s.
Death of Muslim Magomaev Muslim Magomaev died after a long illness. Muslim Magomaev was 66 years old at the time of his death.
Early life Muslim Magomaev represented one of the most respected artistic dynasties in Azerbaijan. His grandfather Muslim Magomayev (1885-1937), a friend and contemporary of the prominent Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov, was one of the founders of Azerbaijani-composed music. Magomaev's father, Mahammad Magomaev, who died during World War II, was a gifted Scenic designer, and his mother was an actress.
Muslim Magomaev's biography continues on next page
Estelle Reiner (June 5, 1914 - October 25, 2008), described by The New York Times as "matriarch of one of the leading families in American comedy", was an actress who was the wife of Carl Reiner and the mother of Rob Reiner. Reiner, herself, has been credited with delivering one of the most memorable lines in movie history.
Death of Estelle Reiner Estelle Reiner died of natural causes on October 25, 2008 at age 94 in her home in Beverly Hills, California.
Estelle Reiner's most enduring film role was in 1989's When Harry Met Sally..., in which director Rob Reiner cast his mother as a customer in a scene with stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan at Katz's Delicatessen, in which Ryan fakes what was described as "a very public (and very persuasive) orgasm". Approached by a waitress after Ryan finishes, Reiner deadpans "I’ll have what she’s having". The line was ranked 33rd on the American Film Institute's list of the Top 100 movie quotations, just behind Casablanca's "Round up the usual suspects".
Merl Saunders (February 14, 1934 – October 24, 2008) was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ.
Born in San Mateo, California, Saunders gained notice in the 1970s when he began collaborating with Jerry Garcia, with the Grateful Dead and with Garcia's bands The Legion of Mary and Reconstruction.
Death of Merl Saunders Merl Saunders died in San Francisco, California on the morning of October 24, 2008, after fighting infections as a result of complications related to the stroke which he suffered in 2002. Merl Saunders was 74 years old at the time of his death.
Biography He led his own bands, as Merl Saunders and Friends, playing live dates with Garcia, as well as Mike Bloomfield, David Grisman, Tom Fogerty, Vassar Clements, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn and Sheila E.
He has worked with musicians Paul Pena, Bonnie Raitt, Phish, Miles Davis, and B. B. King. Merl also recorded with The Dinosaurs, a "supergroup" of first-generation Bay Area rock musicians.
Richard Blackwell (born Richard Sylvan Selzer) (August 29, 1922 - October 19, 2008) was a fashion critic, journalist, television and radio personality, artist, former child actor and former fashion designer, sometimes known just as Mr. Blackwell. He was the creator of the Ten Worst Dressed Women list, an annual awards presentation he unveiled in January of each year. He published the "Fabulous Fashion Independents" list and an annual Academy Awards fashion review, both of which receive somewhat less media attention. His longtime companion, former Beverly Hills hairdresser, Robert Spencer, managed him. He wrote two books, Mr. Blackwell: 30 Years of Fashion Fiascos and an autobiography, From Rags to Bitches.
Death of Richard Blackwell Blackwell died in Los Angeles on October 19, 2008, aged 86, of complications from an intestinal infection
Dee Dee Warwick (September 25, 1945 - October 18, 2008), was an African-American soul singer. She was born Newark, New Jersey as Delia Mae Warrick. Following the example of her elder sister, Dionne Warwick, she changed her surname from Warrick to Warwick in the early 1960s.
She is best-known for her hits during the 1960s, including the #13 R&B hit I'm Gonna Make You Love Me, co-written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and later covered by Diana Ross & the Supremes, The Temptations, and Play. She is also a two time Grammy nominee for "Foolish Fool" and "She Didn't Know".
Recordings of both her Mercury Records years and her Atco years are available on CD and hopefully her RCA, Kama Sutra, Heritage and Private Stock Records will follow. In late 2006 Dee Dee returned to much success singing background for Dionne in concert and also was part of the "Family First" song in the Tyler Perry movie and soundtrack for "Daddy's Little Girls"
In January 2008 Dee Dee is featured in the title song from Dionne's gospel album "Why We Sing" and was continuing background work with her sister
In February 2008, Dee Dee continued her background vocals for Dionne's one woman show "My Music and Me" in Europe.
Warwick was the niece of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of Whitney Houston
Share your memory on famous dead actors celebrities, Recently deceased celebrities. Singers, actors died recently. Hollywood Death and Cause of death. Share your memory, talk about your favorite dead Hollywood celebrities.
Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – 
Robert Graham (August 19, 1938 - 
Ann Savage (February 19, 1921 - 
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (February 23, 1932 – 
William Mark Felt, Sr. (August 17, 1913 – 
Bettie Page (April 22, 1923 - 
Robert Prosky (December 13, 1930 - 
Muslim Mahammad oglu Magomayev (Azeri: Müslüm Maqomayev; born August 17, 1942 in Baku - 
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