Celebrity Passings 2008

[Phoenix]

Earlier this month, I posted about Heath Ledger's death. He was  my age, which I think is what struck me so hard. Today, another wonderful actor passed, Roy Scheider.  Majority of my memories of him are from my favorite film, Jaws, where he played Chief Brody. He had many more roles, but to me, that one stands out the most.

So, I decided to start a post to list the celebrity deaths of 2008. Now these will include, not just actors, but also authors, voice actors, directors, musicians, artists, etc. I'll try to catch as many of these as possible, but if you see someone is not on the last that has passed away this year, please let me know.

Let us pay our respects to those we have lost this year...

1/10 - Maila Nurmi (1921-2008) - Actor
1/15 - Brad Renfro (1982-2008) - Actor
1/17 - Allan Melvin (1923-2008) - Actor
1/18 - Lois Nettleton (1927-2008) - Actor
1/19 - Suzanne Pleshette (1937-2008) - Actor
1/19 - John Stewart (1939-2008) - Songwriter
1/22 - Heath Ledger (1979-2008) - Actor
2/6 - John Alvin (1948-2008) - Artist
2/10 - Steve Gerber (1947-2008) - Comic Book Writer
2/11 - Roy Scheider (1932-2008) - Actor
3/4 - Gary Gygax (1938-2008) - D&D Creator
3/11 - Dave Stevens (1955 - 2008) - Illustrator/Comic Book
3/18 - Anthony Minghella (1954-2008) - Screenwriter/Opera Director
3/18 - Arthur C Clarke (1917 - 2008) - Writer
3/19 - Ivan Dixon (1931 - 2008) - Actor/Director
3/19 - Paul Scofield (1922 - 2008) - Actor
3/26 - Richard Widmark (1914 - 2008) - Actor
3/29 - Abby Mann (1927-2008) - Screenwriter
3/31 - Jules Dassin (1911-200) - Director
4/6 - Charlton Heston (1923 - 2008) - Actor
4/9 - Stanley Kamel (1943 - 2008) - Actor
4/15 - Ollie Johnston (1912 - 2008) - Disney Animator
4/16 - Hazel Court (1926 - 2008) - Actor
4/18 - Danny Federici (1950 - 2008) - Musician (E Street Band)
4/18 - Joseph Solman (1909 - 2008) - Artist/Painter
4/18 - Joy Page (1924 - 2008) - Actor
4/18 - Kay Linaker (1913 - 2008) - Actor/Screenwriter
4/22 - Paul Davis (1948 - 2008) - Singer
4/26 - Moisey Feigin (1904 - 2008) - Artist
5/01 - Bernard Archard (1916 - 2008) - Actor
5/04 - Fred Haines (1936 - 2008) - Writer/Director
5/05 - Jerry Wallace (1928 - 2008) - Musician
5/08 - Eddy Arnold (1918 - 2008) - Musician
5/13 - John Phillip Law (1937 - 2008) - Actor
5/15 - Will Elder (1921 - 2008) - Comic Book Artist
5/15 - Alexander Courage (1919 - 2008) - Composer
5/18 - Joseph Pevney (1911 - 2008) - Director
5/22 - Robert Aspirin (1946 - 2008) - Author
5/24 - Dick Martin (1922 - 2008) - Actor/Comedian/Director
5/26 - Sydney Pollack (1934 - 2008) - Actor/Director/Producer
5/26 - Earle Hagen (1919 - 2008) - Composer
5/29 - Harvey Korman (1927 - 2008) - Actor
6/02 - Bo Diddley - 1928 - 2008) - Guitarist
6/07 - Erick Wujcik - (1951 - 2008) - Game Designer
6/07 - Jim McCay - (1921 - 2008) - World Wide SportsCaster
6/13 - Tim Russert - (1950- 2008) - Journalist
6/15 - Stan Winston (1946 - 2008) - Special Effects Master
6/17 - Cyd Charisse (1922 - 2008) - Actor
6/17 - Miyuki Kanbe (1984 - 2008) - Japanese Actor
6/18 - Jean Delannoy (1908 - 2008) - French Actor, Film Editor, Screenwriter, and Director
6/21 - Kermit Love (1916 - 2008) - Costume Designer (Big Bird creator)
6/21 - William Vince (1963 - 2008) - Canadian Director
6/22 - George Carlin (1937 - 2008) - Comedian/Actor
6/22 - Dody Goodman (1914 - 2008) - Actor
6/27 - Michael Turner (1971 - 2008) - Comic Book Artist

[Phoenix]

I've updated with four passings, three of which have been this week.

[Raphael]

Ivan Dixon's passing was a bit of a surprise - shouldn't have been, really, but it was. There aren't too many left from Hogan's Heroes, now (Robert Clary, Richard Dawson & Kenneth Washington are the only ones that come to mind for the main cast).  Dixon was quite a prolific director, too.

[Phoenix]

Seems like all they really mentioned was mainly the Hogan's Heroes thing.

[Raphael]

Honestly, I'm surprised they even mentioned that. When Larry Hovis (Carter) died a few years back, it was hardly mentioned anywhere.

[Phoenix]

Added a few more recently, including one just now... Charlton Heston...

[Phoenix]

Sadly, I made a major update to this list. From April 18th to May 24th.

[Aignatius]

Yeah, recognized Dick Martin, best known as the co-host of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In

[Phoenix]

Had to add another today. And it's another actor I really enjoyed watching... Sydney Pollack. 

[cynlee]

Got one more for you... March 11, Dave Stevens (creator of "The Rocketeer" comic, among other things).

[Brinatello]

Had to add another today. And it's another actor I really enjoyed watching... Sydney Pollack. 

Mom told me in the car ride home from my work.  We usually do a first letter, last letter initial game to soften the blow on each other.  Or, when I couldn't guess the name, she said it's also a city in Australia.  Heh, I eventually got it and felt bad!  At 73, too, very sad to hear.    I remember he was that E.R. doctor in Death Becomes Her, you know the one that examines Meryl Streep's character and gets those weird results from her vital signs.  Short, but funny role for him.

[Raphael]

Been a bad week for celebs...

[Phoenix]

Yes it has, Raph....

[Mindy]

Maybe not a 'celebrity' but worth mentioning since he has been a part of TMNT history: Erick Wujcik, role playing game designer died June 7th.

[Phoenix]

I've made another update today, after receiving heart dropping news... Stan Winston... the man who brought the dinosaurs to life in Jurassic Park, who made you scream with Aliens... and so so many other wonderful special effects... has passed away. First time in a long time that my heart stopped for a second reading that news.