In Remembrance...Celebrities In 2006.

[Truth Seeker]

Alan Kotok, 64, a pioneer in computer video games, is dead

Alan Kotok, a computer designer who helped create the first video game program as a member of a small group of MIT students in the early 1960s, died at his home in Cambridge, Mass., on May 26. He was 64.

The cause was a heart attack, his daughter, Leah Kotok, said.

In Remembrance.

 

[Truth Seeker]

'American Bandstand' Director Dies

Edward J. Yates, who directed "American Bandstand" for 17 years, from a fledgling local TV show to a national institution that made Dick Clark a star, has died at age 87.

He died Friday at Fair Oaks nursing home in Media, where he had been for two months, Donohue Funeral Home said in a statement.

In Remembrance.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Singer-songwriter Billy Preston dead at 59

Billy Preston, the exuberant keyboardist who landed dream gigs with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and enjoyed his own series of hit singles, including "Outta Space" and "Nothing From Nothing," died Tuesday at 59.

In Remembrance.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Photographer Arnold Newman Dies at Age 88

Photographer Arnold Newman, whose "environmental portraits" of artists and politicians revealed their souls through evocative settings and lighting, died Tuesday. He was 88.

Newman, who was in rehabilitation from a recent stroke, died of a heart attack at Mount Sinai Medical Center, according to associates at a gallery that represented him.

"Arnold had an ability to see things that transcended what everybody else looked at," said Ron Kurtz, owner of Commerce Graphics, a New York gallery that deals in his fine art prints.

In Remembrance.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Hilton Ruiz, jazz pianist

Latin jazz pianist Hilton Ruiz died 2 days ago, two weeks after he suffered a severe head injury in an apparent fall in New Orleans' French Quarter. He was 54.

Ruiz, an ebullient stalwart of New York's Latin jazz scene, had gone to the Big Easy to work on a Hurricane Katrina relief recording.

"This is a very sad day for Latin and jazz music," said promoter Eddie Rodriguez.

In Remembrance.

 

[Jamdin]

Tim Hildebrandt Passes Away:

From the Hildebrandt Family - June 11th, 2006

Tim Hildebrandt has passed away. And, with him, so has an era.

Tim, 67, died today from complications due to diabetes. He is survived by his mother Germaine, twin brother Greg, sister Janie, wife Rita, son Charles, nieces Mary and Laura, and nephew Gregory.

Tim was an otherworldly artist. For 47 years, his captivating work fostered the dreams and fantasies of millions of fans, young and old.

Best known as part of the Brothers Hildebrandt team, Tim’s career transported him to—and through—many worlds. Technically speaking, Tim and Greg worked side by side. But their work together on such masterpieces as the original Star Wars poster and 70’s J.R.R. Tolkien
calendars proved that their individual talents could coalesce seamlessly into one.

Tim was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor. While he loved and appreciated all forms of art, he had a particular passion for animation and illustration.

While he will be greatly missed by all of us who love him, we take comfort knowing that he will live on in the art that he created.

Anyone wishing to express condolences to Greg Hildebrandt can send them to:

The Spiderwebart Gallery,
5 Waterloo Rd.
Hopatcong, NJ 07843

 

[Villano]

Pro wrestler (and former sumo wrestler) John Tenta passed away on June 7th after a 2 year battle with bladder cancer. Tenta wrestled under the names "Earthquake", "Avalanche", "The Shark", and, most recently, under a mask as "Golga" as part of The Oddities.

 

[Klaus]

One of Brazil's foremost comedians, who was in Germany shooting sketches for his TV show, died of a heart attack 10 hours after an informal soccer match. His name was Claudio Besserman Vianna, better known to us as Bussunda. He was famous for his mocking imitation of Ronaldo and of our president, Lula. He died two weeks from turning 44 and leaves a wife and child.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussunda

His comedian group: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casseta_&_Planeta

 

[Truth Seeker]

Veteran director Sherman dies aged 99

Vincent Sherman, who directed and wooed Bette Davis and Rita Hayworth during his heyday as a Hollywood director in the 40s in 50s, has died. He was 99.

In Remembrance.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Ingo Preminger

To be younger brother to Otto Preminger, director of a dozen famous films, ensured a relatively obscure career for Ingo Preminger, who has died aged 95. Yet his one successful film, 1970's MASH, outshone anything by Otto.

As a comedy it had an unpromising setting, a blood-spattered Korean war Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Yet the antics of the surgeons and nurses provided the rich but caustic humour for a film that remains a Hollywood legend. Adapted for a television series, it lasted from 1972 to 1983, made Alan Alda a star, and turned Loretta Swit as "Hot Lips" Houlihan into a household name.

In Remembrance.