2009 Celebrity Deaths

[Klark]

Ok, so two more celebrities turned up deceased by this morning, Gale Storm (an actress of 1950s TV) and comedian Fred Travalena.

Their pics:

http://www.galestorm.tv/productgraphics/Heatwave.jpg

http://www.charlesrapp.com/Images/FredTBlueShirt.jpg

Since this seems like a bad year to be a celebrity, I figured we just might as well keep it all contained to one thread, unless they were bigger than big.

A good place to see who has already passed this year is at this web site. (http://wcbstv.com/slideshows/2009.celebrity.deaths.20.900108.html)

Who knew Ellen Degeneres' TV dad passed away? Or the guy who was in the Robot suit for Lost In Space? How about the old guy from Shawshank Redemption? Even Socks the Cat (Bill Clinton's White House pet) passed away this year at age 19. Paul Harvey, Sydney Chaplin (son of Charlie Chaplin), Altovise Davis (Sammy Davis, Jr. wife), Ron Silver (he was in Time Cop as the bad guy), Natasha Richardson, Andy Hallet, Marilyn Chambers and Bea Arthur are just a few of the celebrities to bid us farewell this year.

[UNODRAGONE]

not really a celebrity but that guy from the Oxiclean commercials, Billy Mays passed as well, though they are not sure the cause he got hit hard in the head with falling lugage when his place had a hard landing because one of it's front tires exploded. When asked about it Billy said,

"All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."




http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/28/mays.death/

[Tempest]

he got hit hard in the head with falling lugage when his place had a hard landing because one of it's front tires exploded.

This is why it's important to go to the hospital for any hard blows to the head. I'm guessing the cause of death is going to be hematoma (an internal mass of blood due to internal bleeding) somewhere in the head. The blood mass puts pressure on the brain and can result in death. So if you get hit hard in the head, even if you don't think anything's wrong or you have a "hard head", get medical attention!

/Public Service Announcement

I kinda liked Billy Mays, though. He was pretty crazy. Here's in memory of you, Billy!

VtYdDK1uTDI

[Klark]

Yeah, Billy got his own thread on here. He was eccentric to say the least. I had just been watching Pitchmen earlier in the day when I found out about his death.

The threads we have up include Billy Mays, (http://www.werewolf.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1653) Farrah Fawcett, (http://www.werewolf.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1557) David Carradine, (http://www.werewolf.com/vb/showthread.php?t=716) and Michael Jackson. (http://www.werewolf.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1572)

Unfortunately it seems that in recent weeks, we've seen an increase in celebrity deaths. The world is getting older.

[Klark]

Didn't another famous person die of similar causes after a skiing accident just a few weeks ago?

Liam Neeson's wife, Natasha Richardson, recently died from a hematoma after falling while skiing.

http://atthebox.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/natasha-richardson.jpg

[Klark]

Billy Mays passed away due to heart disease and high blood pressure. He had hypertensive heart disease.

Story is here. (http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE55S54J20090629)

It did not involve trauma to the head, the report states.

[Chriz]

Billy Mays passed away due to heart disease and high blood pressure. He had hypertensive heart disease.

Specifically, he had long-untreated hypertensive heart disease. They didn't even know he suffered from it until the autopsy, apparently.

All the more reason to go get a checkup.

[Wolf-Bone]

How could we forget Dom Deluise, aka Itchy in All Dogs go to Heaven, aka Jeremy the crow in Secret of NIMH, aka a Godfather impersonation in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and quite a few other roles as well in both voice acting and live action.

[Klark]

How could we forget Dom Deluise, aka Itchy in All Dogs go to Heaven, aka Jeremy the crow in Secret of NIMH, aka a Godfather impersonation in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and quite a few other roles as well in both voice acting and live action.

I think those of us who have seen Dom in Cannonball Run 2, and Smokey and the Bandit, and Blazing Saddles will never forget him. He was a really funny man. His son, David, is the father on Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place.

[Klark]

Pina Bausch died today. She was the choreographer and exponent of the Neo-Expressionist form of German dance known as Tanztheater. She was 68.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/06/30/arts/dance/pina190.jpg

Story is here. (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/pina-bausch-dies/?ref=arts) She had been diagnosed with cancer only days ago.

[Chriz]

Would it be too morbid to start up a pool on who else we think will go before the end of the year? :p

[Binkx]

Would it be too morbid to start up a pool on who else we think will go before the end of the year? :p

Maybe, but does it matter? I got money on Swayze if we do.

[Lore]

$10 says Christian Bale dies in a mysterious lighting fixture accident. :P

[MorganaFang]

Karl Malden Passed away today...

At 97 years old.
http://popwatch.ew.com/.a/6a00d8341bf6c153ef011570a5ad42970c-800wi

Linkage (http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/07/karl-malden-dies.html)

TCM is going to be a hopping place.

[MorganaFang]

Oh Bummer and Are you being Served? Actress Mollie Sugden. (http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6620105.ece)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8a/Mollie_Sugden_as_Mrs_Slocombe.jpg

Loved this woman and her wild hair colors at a very mature age.

RIP Mrs. Slocombe

[Chiron Jackal]

Not a celebrity, but according to his forums, Werewolf Tobias is dead too (http://pub20.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=1689231990&frmid=202&msgid=0)

:D

[Klark]

Not a celebrity, but according to his forums, Werewolf Tobias is dead too (http://pub20.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=1689231990&frmid=202&msgid=0)

:D

The second post in that forum says there are no deaths registered by that name in his state.

I'm so glad we avoid that kind of BS at this forum.

[Chiron Jackal]

The second post in that forum says there are no deaths registered by that name in his state.

I know, but I can't remember where he said he's in Cali. I feel bad for not knowing this since I'm a Werewolf Tobias fan.

[Vendetta]

Didn't Tobias "die" once already? Oh man just reading that thread had me in stitches!

[LV426]

Ah Mollie, so sad. I loved Are You Being Served and her character Mrs. Slocombe.

[Severen]

Not many people may know him outside of the hardcore horror fanatics but Lou Perryman was murdered April 1 2009.

http://www.bloodygoodhorror.com/bgh/files/lou-perryman.jpg

His most famous role was of frie house building radio tech L.G. from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

[Chriz]

Oh no, now Jeff Goldblum! (http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/220019/june-29-2009/jeff-goldblum-will-be-missed)

[Klark]

Oh no, now Jeff Goldblum! (http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/220019/june-29-2009/jeff-goldblum-will-be-missed)

I had respect for Jeff Goldblum, right up until the rude bastard interrupted the broadcast of his death!

Some people, geez.

[Binkx]

Oh no, now Jeff Goldblum! (http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/220019/june-29-2009/jeff-goldblum-will-be-missed)

This one isn't true. I just did some googling and there is nothing on him being dead just a lot on him NOT being dead.

[MorganaFang]

This one isn't true. I just did some googling and there is nothing on him being dead just a lot on him NOT being dead.

That's the joke, hun. :P

[SheetCountRising]

With the spate of celebrity death news, its going to be easy for the rumor mills to churn out deaths that are unfounded, but given second thought as just possibly being true.

Are there too many Baldwins? Let the people decide!

[J.L.R.]

Not many people may know him outside of the hardcore horror fanatics but Lou Perryman was murdered April 1 2009.

http://www.bloodygoodhorror.com/bgh/files/lou-perryman.jpg

His most famous role was of frie house building radio tech L.G. from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

You know the dramatic irony of it all... A guy who played in gory horror flicks... getting murdered... who would have thought...

[J.L.R.]

With the spate of celebrity death news, its going to be easy for the rumor mills to churn out deaths that are unfounded, but given second thought as just possibly being true.

Are there too many Baldwins? Let the people decide!

Not for long...

Evolution will eventually see that the Baldwin population has peaked, and then it will start knocking them off. :D

[SheetCountRising]

Is there such a thing as a peak in the Baldwin population? Will the government intervene with Baldwin population control in order to protect the ecosystem? I believe several species are affected by Baldwin overruns.

I can picture it now, hunters on the prowl for Baldwins in Yellowstone.

[J.L.R.]

Is there such a thing as a peak in the Baldwin population? Will the government intervene with Baldwin population control in order to protect the ecosystem? I believe several species are affected by Baldwin overruns.

I can picture it now, hunters on the prowl for Baldwins in Yellowstone.

Or worse, PETB... People for the Ethical Treatment of Baldwins... Yes there are people, that scary...

However, the concept of our older population of actors and actresses dying, makes me wonder who really will be next...

Sean Connery
Andy Griffith
Betty White
Sir. Rirchard Attenborough

Any of these folks could go at any time... They are at that age...

With all of this Hollywood death going on... if a few young actors suddenly died...

Who would you think would be next?

[MorganaFang]

Despite being the ghoul I am who often hangs out at Findadeath I still find it incredibly cringe worthy to try and guess or figure out who is going to die next.

It's one thing to come to terms with the possibility of a favorite celeb passing on totally another to start placing bets.

Maybe I'm still a little superstitious and just don't want that kind of bad karma accumulating for me even if celebrities are just plastic people.

[DarkHunter]

I guess I'm the only person who finds all this grotesque. Family was watching some special (weird way to put it isn't it?) programming about Michael Jackson's life and death. People were sitting there crying in the street and saying this was the worst day of their life.

Grotesque and disgusting. You know what was a bad day in my life? The day my favorite aunt died. She doesn't get tv shows talking about her or funerals that they sell tickets to. That's something I was sad.

I'm not saying deaths aren't tragic. But all this crap about celebrity deaths and how tragic it all is is making me sick.

[Klark]

Allen Klein, controversial manager of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, died July 4 after battling Alzheimer's.

http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20090705/293.klein.allen.070509.jpg

Story is here. (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b132704_controversial_biz_manager_of_beatles.html)

[Klark]

Oscar Mayer died Monday at the age of 95. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-food-iconsjul09,0,6830755.story)

Hold the hot dogs high in tribute during weekend barbecues!

[Ghost Wolf]

I'm sorry but Michael Jackson's death is getting REALLY old already. People criticized him when he was alive and now they're all acting like it's the end of the world!

Billy Mays is dead, which was extremely random.
Fara Fosset is dead again she wasn't so random, she had cancer and was 64.

But I'm sorry, if someone dies...then let them die, completely. none of this "in memory of michael jackson" for like a year. I've had thriller and man in the mirror stuck in my head on and off since he died. UGH.

--Ghost Wolf--

[Lord Anubis]

Don't forget that Steve McNair got murdered the other day. Much more tragic than some druggie over dosing.

For those who do not follow football he was a Quarterback for the Titans and Ravens...

[Ghost Wolf]

Yeah, I forgot about that one. And earlier this week some boxer was found murdered in...miami, i think. I'm not sure, I saw it on ESPN on the scrolling at the bottom of the screen.

It's odd, how many stars have died recently.

--Ghost Wolf--

[Klark]

Don't forget that Steve McNair got murdered the other day. Much more tragic than some druggie over dosing.

For those who do not follow football he was a Quarterback for the Titans and Ravens...

Good catch, Anubis. I think we had forgotten to mention him.

According to police reports, McNair was murdered by his mistress on July 4 in an apparent murder/suicide. He was the father of two children, I believe, and he is survived by his wife.

[MorganaFang]

It's odd, how many stars have died recently.

To be honest, I don't see it as that unusual. I think this is just a sign of the times, we know more people are passing away because more people are being watched constantly these days. I mean sure that may not be completely it. Stars are getting old, young celebs making bad decisions etc.

There's actually a handful of celebs this thread has missed.

I'm actually getting pretty close to closing this thread since it really isn't that necessary to have celebrity mortuary on the site.

A lot of people all over the world have been dying, some pretty violent deaths and very few of them are celebs. :/

[Ghost Wolf]

To me it's just like...alot all at once, so close together. And rather big stars, too.

I know, it seems like every day on the news I hear about someone else getting murdured. Just today I heard about the parents of like 16 kids that got killed. I didn't get to see any of it, though.

--Ghost Wolf--

[MorganaFang]

To me it's just like...alot all at once, so close together. And rather big stars, too.

I know, it seems like every day on the news I hear about someone else getting murdured. Just today I heard about the parents of like 16 kids that got killed. I didn't get to see any of it, though.

--Ghost Wolf--

Yeah I agree, I think though this is just sort of a bubble. You look at it and you see a lot of aging celebrities. Living that lifestyle does not really bring the healthiest ways of maintaining a body and a brain. It seems feasible that many of them would expire in a similar time span.

The amount younger unnatural deaths or ones related to drugs or murder is actually not as different as other years. They're just hitting a time when there is a bit of a boom of the older folks.

[Ghost Wolf]

Yeah I agree with that. That's all there seems to be with celebraties, drugs, alcohol, blah blah, that kind of thing. It seems kinda pointless to go your entire life building up to what you dream of then blowing it like a moron and getting yourself killed.

[Klark]

People have a tendency to forget that we, the current generation, remain in the forefront of history for mediums such as radio, TV and motion picture films. A lot of celebrities dying over the past several years were those that many of us grew up with, and as the mediums continued to gain popularity, more people began to pay attention to the celebrities and more people became celebrities.

While this thread can easily be tunnel-visioned into being nothing more than a celebrity mortuary, it was originally started so there was a place to post celebrity deaths and perhaps honor their memory with the sharing of one of our own memories generated in unity with their works, and to keep it all in one place instead of having a thread per celebrity. It is also a place for discussion on celebrity deaths, how it happened, how their image will be used now and even for what's to become of their worldly possessions, if it's worth a discussion.

Many celebrities touch our lives, serve as role models, and in some cases where parents had no want or desire to care properly for their child, have served as babysitters. It's no wonder their deaths make national and global headlines compared to the deaths of thousands per day who might make the local headlines if their death was anything other than old age or natural causes. It's also okay to mourn their death, if only for a fleeting moment.

If there have been recent celebrity deaths that haven't been mentioned in this thread, it's because the members of this site have not been contributing to it or have not cared to mention the death. It could also be because of a lack of news coverage on that particular celebrity.

If there is discontent over the purpose of this thread, then I will pose a question to give it a more palatable purpose. If it's current purpose is alright, then when the celebrities stop dying, this thread will start dying.

We can begin with this question: How long should the "Mighty" people wait before airing previously unaired Billy Mays ads? Is it wrong to have Billy sell from the grave? I've already begun to see his old ads on TV again, which was weird for me at first, but ultimately, I say that if it's alright by his family, then who am I to disagree with their decision.

Apparently Billy created some ads for Mighty Tape, and the Mighty folk have decided to wait 30 days following Billy's death to air the ads. Would you buy from a dead celebrity?

Story is here. (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/billy-mays-mighty-tape.html)

[Klark]

Frank McCourt, author of Pulitzer-prize winning "Angela's Ashes," died of cancer July 19. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/07/19/ST2009071901887.html)

I was in high school when this book came out. Our history teacher immediately recommended we read it after he had read it. I wouldn't read it until a year or two later, but it was really good.

[Vendetta]

So we're just doing ANYONE who's famous now, not just stars of TV and movies?

[Klark]

I know he wasn't in films or radio, but the book was one hell of a memoir. Perhaps in a few years, it will become a movie and make this entry not so bad.

[Klark]

Alright, a TV star it is.

Gidget, the Taco Bell chihuahua, dies at age 15. (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534415,00.html?test=faces)

And you all know the dog! Yo Quiero Taco Bell!

She also appeared in Legally Blonde 2, as Bruiser's mom, as well as some other commercials like a Trivia Pursuit commercial.

She suffered a fatal stroke.

[MorganaFang]

Alright, a TV star it is.

Gidget, the Taco Bell chihuahua, dies at age 15. (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534415,00.html?test=faces)


uhhh... not to devalue an animal's life to people but... C'mon on now. too much.

[Klark]

Sorry...sense of humor cancelled...

[Klark]

Pina Bausch will not dance alone...

Merce Cunningham, another revolutionary choreographer, passed away at age 90 in his home. (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-me-merce-cunningham28-2009jul28,0,75973.story)

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-07/48305318.jpg

Also passing was Alexis Cohen, an American Idol hopeful.

She was killed when a car hit her in an apparent hit and run. (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Television/story?id=8182558&page=1)

http://www.alogicalillation.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/alexis-cohen.jpg

[Ves]

I should have posted this back when we had about Molly Sugden's death, but Wendy Richard (aka Miss Brahms from "Are You Being Served" and also Pauline Fowler from "Eastenders") also died back in February.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7912764.stm

[Severen]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/08/06/arts/07hughes2.190.jpg

John Hughes, director of 80's classics like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, died yesterday of a heart attack. He was 59.

[Klark]

Billy Mays was killed by cocaine, the autopsy says.

Here's the story! (http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/08/07/2009-08-07_tv_pitchman_billy_mays_.html)

Just in case that news venue is questioned, try the AP story here! (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgD7fmgR6M4BDoANnCi4eq6xwo9QD99U9ND02)

[Vendetta]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/08/06/arts/07hughes2.190.jpg

John Hughes, director of 80's classics like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, died yesterday of a heart attack. He was 59.
Wow, he was fairly young.

And since Severen couldn't be arsed to post a link, here's one (http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/06/obit.john.hughes/).

And yeah, Ringwald is right, she wouldn't have had a career if not for him.