In Remembrance---2009

[Villano]

Dark Shadows actor dies...

Broadway veteran and former Secretary/Treasurer of Actors' Equity Association Conard Fowkes died on December 14. He was 76 years old.

Fowkes made his Broadway debut in the 1958 comedy Howie and his subsequent Broadway appearances include Minor Miracle (1965) and All the Girls Came Out to Play (1972). His television credits include many episodes of the series Dark Shadows as attorney Frank Garner, as well as appearances on various soap operas including As the World Turns.

He was elected to Equity's Council in 1973, and served as the organization's Secretary/Treasurer beginning in 1988 and until May of this year. In June, he received Equity's 2009 Patrick Quinn Award, which recognizes and rewards those who give of themselves to improve the lives of actors.

 

[Mark]

Dan O'Bannon died yesterday after a short illness. He was 63.

O'Bannon did special effects for Star Wars, wrote the screenplay for what would become Alien, and wrote and directed Return of the Living Dead.

The best of the Living Dead movies, IMO. It's a shame he passed relatively young.

 

[GrayLinnorm]

Alaina Reed Hall, who played Olivia on Sesame Street and costarred in 227, died December 17 of breast cancer. She was 63.

 

[GrayLinnorm]

Brittany Murphy died today of cardiac arrest. She was 32.

Murphy got her start on the series Drexel's Class. She was in Clueless, Girl, Interrupted, and 8 Mile, and did voices for King of the Hill and Happy Feet.

 

[megamania]

I can not remember a year where so many music and movie people have passed away. Its a shame.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Kim Peek, the RW inspiration for "Rain Man" has passed.

Father: Utah man who inspired 'Rain Man' dies (AP) - Yahoo! Movies

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

James Gurley has died.

He was the one of the guitarists for Big Brother and the Holding Company, was key to the foundation of Janice Joplin's trademark sound, and was a pioneer in "psychedelic rock."

James Gurley RIP - Music downloads from eMusic.com

 

[Villano]

Legendary comic actor Arnold Stang passed away today. While best known for films and tv, Stang also did a lot of cartoon work, most notably as the voice of Top Cat. He was 91 years old.

 

[GrayLinnorm]

Connie Hines, who played Wilbur's wife Carol on Mr. Ed, died last Friday of heart problems. She was 79.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Sportscaster George Michael, a mainstay on the Washington, D.C., sports television scene for decades who reached a national audience with “The George Michael Sports Machine” highlights show, has died. He was 70 years old.