Cyndi Lauper’s Father: Captain Lou Albano dies 76

* Cyndy Lauper’s father from the video "Girls just wanna have fun"

Louis Vincent Albano (July 29, 1933 – October 14, 2009), better known by his ring name Captain Lou Albano, was an American professional wrestler, manager and actor. With an over-the-top personality and a penchant for boisterous declarations, Albano was the epitome of the antagonistic manager that raised the ire of wrestlers and incited the anger of spectators. Throughout his forty-two-year career, Albano guided 15 different tag teams and 4 singles competitors to championship gold. A unique showman, with an elongated beard, rubber band facial piercings, and loud outfits, he was the forefather of the 1980s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection. Collaborating with Cyndi Lauper, Albano helped usher in wrestling’s crossover success with a mainstream audience. Capitalizing on his success, he later ventured into Hollywood with various television, film, and music projects.

Death of Lou Albano
Lou Albano was 76 years old at the time of his death.

‘Godfather’ singer Al Martino dies 82

Al Martino (born Alfred Cini, October 7, 1927 – October 13, 2009) was an Italian American singer and actor. Allmusic journalist Steve Huey states, "Martino was one of the great Italian American pop crooners, boasting a string of hit singles and albums that stretched from the early 1950s all the way into the mid 1970s. However, he was perhaps even better known for his role in The Godfather as singer Johnny Fontane, a character supposedly based on Frank Sinatra, but with eerie similarities to Martino’s own career."

In the U.S., Martino had eleven Top 40 hits in the Billboard pop singles chart in the 1960s and 1970s, with 1963’s "I Love You Because" (#3) and 1964’s "I Love You More and More Every Day" (#9) both reaching the Top Ten. He also sang the title song for the film, Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), and is credited in the end titles of the film.

Apart from singing, Martino played the role of Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather, as well as singing the film’s theme, "I Have But One Heart (O Marenariello)". He played the same role in "The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III, as well as The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980.

Death of Al Martino
Al Martino died at his childhood home in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
Al Martino was 82 years old at the time of his death.

Al Martino – I have but one heart

Jim Carroll

I don’t believe I saw anything on this website about Jim Carroll. He recently passed away but everyone seems too concerned with Swayze to care about him…sad.

Mary Travers from Peter, Paul and Mary Dies of Leukemia 72

Mary Allin Travers (November 9, 1936 – September 16, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter who was a member of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, along with Peter Yarrow and Noel "Paul" Stookey. Together, they formed one of the most successful folk-singing groups of the 1960s

Mary Travers Biography
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Travers attended the Little Red School House but she was expelled in the 11th grade. She lived in Greenwich Village, New York, as a high school student. Travers married Barry Feinstein and two daughters were born to them. The marriage ended in divorce. In 2005 she was diagnosed as having leukemia but the treatment went well.

The group Peter, Paul and Mary launched in 1961 and broke up in 1970, after which Travers pursued a solo career, recording five albums on her own. The group reformed in 1978 and have since toured extensively and issued many new albums. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.

Death of Mary Travers
The Associated Press reported that Mary Travers died on September 16, 2009. The cause was cancer, said her spokeswoman, Heather Lylis. She had battled leukemia for several years.

Peter, Paul and Mary – Puff The Magic Dragon

Henry Gibson, original ‘Laugh-In’ cast member, dies 73

Henry Gibson (September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor and songwriter, best known as a cast member of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In and for his recurring role as Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal.

Personal life of Henry Gibson
On April 6, 1966, he married Lois Joan Geiger, with whom he had three sons: Jonathan David Gibson, Charles Alexander Gibson and James Gibson.She died on May 6, 2007

Gibson spent three years as part of the Laugh-In television show’s cast. He often played "The Poet," reciting poems with "sharp satirical or political themes".Gibson would emerge from behind a stage flat, wearing a Nehru jacket and "hippie" beads and holding an outlandishly large artificial flower. He would state the "[Title of poem] — by Henry Gibson", bow stiffly from the waist, recite his poem, and return behind the flat

Death Henry Gibson
On September 14, 2009, Gibson died of cancer at his home in Malibu, California, a week before his 74th birthday.

The Poetry Of Henry Gibson: A Tribute

Henry Gibson’s filmography continues next page

Filmography
The Nutty Professor (1963)
Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)
The Outlaws Is Coming (1965)
Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (1968-1971)
Evil Roy Slade (1972)
Every Man Needs One (1972)
Charlotte’s Web (1973) – Wilbur (voice)
The Long Goodbye (1973)
The Mini-Munsters (1973) – Mr. Grundy (voice)
Nashville (1975)
The New Original Wonder Woman (1975) – Nickolas
The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1976)
The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)
Escape from Bogen County (1977)
Halloween is Grinch Night (1977)
The Night They Took Miss Beautiful (1978)
Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill (1979)
A Perfect Couple (1979)
The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t (1979) – Igor, Count Dracula’s butler
The Blues Brothers (1980) – Head Nazi
For the Love of It (1980)
HealtH (1980)
The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
The Smurfs (1981)
Tulips (1981)
Nashville Grab (1981)
The Biskitts (1982)
Quincy M.E. (ep. "Murder on Ice") (1983)
The Wuzzles (1985)
Slow Burn (1986)
The Blinkins (1986)
Galaxy High School (1986)
Monster in the Closet (1987)
Long Gone (1987)
Innerspace (1987)
Switching Channels (1988)
The ‘Burbs (1989)
 Around the World in 80 Days (1989)
Night Visitor (1989)
Brenda Starr (1989)
The Magic Balloon (1990)
Return to Green Acres (1990)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Tune in Tomorrow… (1990)
Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1993)
Vault of Horror I (1994)
AAAHH!!! Real Monsters (1994)
The Bears Who Saved Christmas (1994)
Cyber Bandits (1995)
Daisy-Head Mayzie (1995) – The Cat in the Hat (voice)
Escape to Witch Mountain (1995) – Ravetch
Santo Bugito (1995)
Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day (1996)
Bio-Dome (1996)
Mother Night (1996)
Asylum (1997)
Stranger in the Kingdom (1998)
Rocket Power (1999)
Magnolia (1999)
Sunset Beach (1999)
Mullitt (2000)
The Luck of the Irish (2001) (TV)
Rocket Power: Race Across New Zealand (2002)
The Year That Trembled (2002)
Teddy Bears’ Picnic (2002)
No Prom for Cindy (2002)
The Commission (2003)
The Goldfish (2003)
Never Die Alone (2004)
Boston Legal (2004-2008)
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Trapped Ashes (2006)
Big Stan (2008) 

‘Dirty Dancing’ and ‘Ghost’ Star Patrick Swayze Dies 57

 

Patrick SwayzePatrick Wayne Swayze (August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best-known for his roles as romantic leading men in the films Dirty Dancing and Ghost and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was listed by People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991.

Health and death of Patrick Swayze
Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late January 2008, and underwent chemotherapy and other treatments at the Stanford University Medical Center. On March 5, 2008, a Reuters article reported that Swayze "has a very limited amount of disease, and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far". Swayze’s doctor confirmed that the actor was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but insisted he was not as close to death as reports suggest. Specifically, Swayze was diagnosed with a type of pancreatic tumor called Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN).

Swayze acknowledged that his chain smoking probably "had something to do with" the development of his disease. Research has shown a link between cigarette smoking and the development of cancer of the pancreas. Swayze died on September 14, 2009, at age 57.

Patrick Swayze – She’s Like the Wind

Paul Burke, actor starred in ‘Naked City’, dies 83

Paul Burke (July 21, 1926 – September 13, 2009) was an American actor best known for his lead roles in two 1960s ABC television series, Naked City and Twelve O’Clock High. He was twice nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of New York Police Department detective Adam Flint in Naked City.

Career
Burke was cast in the lead role of the police show Naked City, in which he appeared as Adam Flint from 1960 to 1963. Burke then appeared in the starring role of Captain (later Major, then Colonel) Joe Gallagher on 12 O’Clock High between 1964 and 1967, during which time he met his wife, Lyn. The 12 O’Clock High role was Burke’s last lead television role. In 1967, Burke starred in the film Valley of the Dolls as Lyon Burke, the young lawyer who befriended all three female stars and had a tempestuous relationship with Anne Welles. He also played a police officer who pursued an art thief played by Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair

During the 1970s, he appeared in three episodes each of ABC’s The Love Boat and CBS’s Medical Center. In 1984, he appeared as C.C. Capwell in twenty-one episodes of the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara. He appeared in supporting roles in a number of television series, including recurring roles in Dynasty from 1982-1988 and in Tom Selleck’s Magnum, P.I. from 1981-1985 as Rear Admiral Hawkes.

Later years and death
Burke retired from acting in the early 1990s. He was the grandfather of actress Alia Shawkat. He died at his home in Palm Springs, California. He had leukemia and non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Paul Burke in 12 O’Clock High

Paul Burke’s filmography continues next page

Selected filmography

Film
Year Film Role
1951 Fixed Bayonets! Doggie
1952 Francis Goes to West Point Sergeant Swazey
1953 South Sea Woman Ensign at court-martial
1955 Francis in the Navy Tate
1956 Screaming Eagles Cpl. Dreef
1957 The Disembodied Tom Maxwell
1964 Della Barney Stafford
1967 Valley of the Dolls Lyon Burke
1968 The Thomas Crown Affair Lt. Eddy Malone
1969 Once You Kiss a Stranger… Jerry
1970 Guerilla Strike Force Bob Reynolds
1990 The Fool Paul Brooke
Television
Year Title Role
1955 Big Town Gardiner
Navy Log Sparks
Stage 7 Tommy
1957 Men of Annapolis Wesley Edmont
1958 Tales of Wells Fargo Bud Crawford
1959 The Millionaire Nellis
1960 Hawaiian Eye Brad Finley
Hotel de Paree Tad Frisbee
Wanted: Dead or Alive Daniel Trenner
1960-1963 Naked City Detective Adam Flint
1963 The Lieutenant Captain Thomson
1964 The Great Adventure Captain Richard Pratt
Combat! Sgt. O’Neill
Slattery’s People Dr. Robert Harrison
1964-1967 12 O’Clock High Colonel Joseph Anson Gallagher
1970 Crowhaven Farm Ben Porter
1972 The Rookies Neil Montgomery
1973 The New Adventures of Perry Mason Herbert Newton
Shaft Elliot Williamson
1974 Police Woman Joe Fenner
Harry O Philip Ballinger
Mannix Anderson
1975 McMillan and Wife Les Walker
1976 Petrocelli John Fleming
Starsky and Hutch Lt. Ted Cameron
1977 Little Ladies of the Night Frank Atkins
1978 What Really Happened to the Class of ’65? McDonald
1979 The Littlest Hobo Andy McClelland
1980 Charlie’s Angels Clifford Burke
Trapper John, M.D. Dr. Malcolm
1981 Vega$ Raymond Green
1983 T. J. Hooker Capt. Frank Medavoy
1984 The Red-Light Sting Brockelhurst
1985 Finder of Lost Loves Richard Foster
Murder, She Wrote Herbert Upton
1986 Hot Shots Nicholas Broderick
1988 Cagney & Lacey Winston Prentiss
1990 Columbo Horace Sherwin

Poet Jim Carroll Dies 60

James Dennis "Jim" Carroll (August 1, 1949 – September 11, 2009) was an author, poet, autobiographer, and punk musician.

Literary career
Carroll was best known for his 1978 autobiographical work The Basketball Diaries, which was made into the 1995 film of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Carroll.

Music career
Jim Carroll has collaborated with musicians Lou Reed, Blue Öyster Cult, Boz Scaggs, Ray Manzarek of The Doors, Pearl Jam, ELO and Rancid.

Death of Jim Carroll
Carroll, 60, died of a heart attack at his Manhattan home on September 11, 2009. On September 13 (the day his death was announced), it was stated that he was at his desk working when he died.

Variety columnist Army Archerd has dies 87

Armand "Army" Archerd (January 13, 1922 – September 8, 2009) was a columnist for Variety for over fifty years before retiring his "Just for Variety" column in September 2005. In November 2005, Archerd began blogging for Variety and was working on a memoir when he died.

Life and career
Archerd was born in The Bronx, New York and graduated from UCLA in 1941. He was hired by Variety to replace columnist Sheilah Graham (former girlfriend of F. Scott Fitzgerald) in 1953. His "Just for Variety" column appeared on page two of Daily Variety and swiftly became popular in Hollywood. Archerd broke countless exclusive stories, reporting from film sets, announcing pending deals, giving news of star-related hospitalizations, marriages, and births. In 1984, he was given a star on the Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, in front of Mann’s Chinese Theater, where he had emceed dozens of movie premieres.

One of his most significant scoops was in his July 23, 1985, column, when he printed that Rock Hudson, despite denials from the actor’s publicists and managers, was undergoing treatment for AIDS.

Archerd was Jewish and a strong proponent of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Holocaust awareness. He was married to Selma Archerd, a former actress; they lived in Westwood, California.

Death of Army Archerd
Archerd died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center from of a rare form of mesothelioma, "thought to be the result of his exposure to asbestos in the Navy during WWII."

Celebrity Deejay DJ AM Dies in New York 36

Adam Michael Goldstein (March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009) was an American club disc jockey better known as DJ AM.

Death of DJ AM
DJ AM was found dead at his New York City apartment at around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009. He was 36 years old.

TMZ reported that friends called the police, who broke down the door and then found DJ AM’s body. Sources say this may have been caused by the drug use. Statements by a New York law enforcement official to the Associated Press indicate that drug paraphernalia was found in the apartment, but no signs of foul play

Plane crash
On September 19, 2008, after having performed at a college event with frequent collaborator Travis Barker, Goldstein was seriously injured when a Learjet he was traveling in crashed on takeoff in Columbia, South Carolina. The crash killed both crew members and two other passengers, and critically injured Goldstein and Barker