Obituaries for 2021

[jmyrlefuller]

My favorite Thomas song, "Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love?"

And to think that song is even more relevant in 2021 than it was when he released it in the early 1980s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0iBfSlynpw

[GtHawk]

A pretty good character actor as well. First saw him in Sand Pebbles.

Just watched him in Kelley's Heroes, though his part in it wasn't what you might call dramatic or deep.

[christian]

B.J.Thomas
Rock n roll lullaby, amongst a great many other songs, some that made it into Big time movies.  He sang some really excellent Christian music as well.  It was a privilege to be alive to witness the greatness of his music.  Thanks, BJ, you will be missed.

[Gefn]

Gavin MacLeod, TV fixture best known as Murray Slaughter on Mary Tyler Moore and as the captain of The Love Boat, has died at 90.
https://apnews.com/article/gavin-macleod-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-6313dfd801244eeeea2be2ddeac1cdbb

Rest In Peace, Murray Slaughter.

[Mod2]

Merged with obit thread.

[AllThatJazzZ]

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bj-thomas-dead/

From his first "AD" album, the title cut:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3dzT1KtLPQ


The song seems rather appropriate.

Precisesly.

"One day I’ll be sleeping when death knocks on my door
And I’ll awake to find that I’m not homesick anymore
‘Cause I’ll be home, I’ll be home
Where I belong."

A good man, BJ Thomas. Some of my early 60s vinyl includes a more local BJT (BJ Thomas & the Triumphs, whose music was constantly played on the Garner State Park jukebox). Still got those 45s, but it's far easier to find them on YouTube than to sift through my boxes of 45s. Mine aren't at all pristine as these are. They look, instead, like they've been rode hard and put up wet, but they have brought much joy, entertainment and dancing.

Many of the graduating classes in the area were fortunate enough to have BJT and the Triumphs as the entertainment for their senior activities (early to mid 60s). My cousin (class of '62) is always lording it over me. A lot of good music came out of the Houston area. I'm thankful to have been able to cross paths with that era at just the right time.

Rest in unspeakable joy in the presence of the Lord, homeboy.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s138UawVdA
I Know it’s Wrong

(Flip side)
 \/
 \/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e93wUTWpps
Lazy Man
 

[verga]

Gavin MacLeod, TV fixture best known as Murray Slaughter on Mary Tyler Moore and as the captain of The Love Boat, has died at 90.
https://apnews.com/article/gavin-macleod-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-6313dfd801244eeeea2be2ddeac1cdbb

Loved him in "Kelly's Heroes"

[mystery-ak]

F. Lee Bailey, defense lawyer for OJ Simpson and Patty Hearst, dies at 87

His son Bendrix Bailey confirmed his death but didn’t disclose the cause.
By
Jenna Romaine | June 3, 2021


    F. Lee Bailey died on Thursday, June 3 in a Georgia hospice center at the age of 87.
    Bailey was a former private investigator and renowned criminal defense attorney.
    During his career, Bailey worked a multitude of high-profile trials, including those of Albert DeSalvo, Patty Hearst and OJ Simpson.

F. Lee Bailey, one of the most renowned criminal defense attorneys in the United States, died on Thursday, June 3 in a Georgia hospice center at the age of 87. His son Bendrix Bailey confirmed his death but didn’t disclose the cause.

Both a former private investigator and criminal defense attorney, Bailey was known for his extensive pretrial preparations and his frequent appearances on talk shows such as “The Tonight Show.”

During his time as a criminal defense lawyer, Bailey worked a multitude of high-profile cases. He represented sexual assault defendant Albert DeSalvo, who confessed to being the “Boston Strangler,” a serial killer who had been wanted for the killings of 13 women in the 1960s.

more
https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/arts-culture/556790-f-lee-bailey-defense-lawyer-for-oj-simpson-and-patty

[jmyrlefuller]

Wayne "Buddy" Van Horn, a longtime collaborator with Clint Eastwood, has died at 92.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/buddy-van-horn-dead-clint-eastwood-stuntman-1234961173/

[jmyrlefuller]

Songwriter Glenn Douglas Tubb dies at 85.

Tubb, though his recording career was never as prolific as his uncle Ernest (nor even his cousin Justin), established a solid niche as a songwriter, his biggest hit being the preachy "Skip a Rope," made a chart-topping hit by Henson Cargill in 1967. He helped Tammy Wynette write "Two Story House" as a duet for her ex-husband George Jones, and also helped Johnny Cash write "Home of the Blues." He later did ministry after his songwriting career faded and continued to appear sporadically on the Midnite Jamboree, the late-night concert series held at his uncle's record shop in Nashville.

Tubb died May 22.

https://musicrow.com/2021/05/veteran-songwriter-glenn-douglas-tubb-passes/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p2SRf9YEy0

[AllThatJazzZ]

Rest In Peace, Murray Slaughter.

A.K.A., Captain Stubing. I always thought he was one of those guys who, like Hector Elizondo and Dave Ramsey, was sexy despite being bald.

He and his wife had an interesting story about splitting up for several years and then coming back together as believers in Jesus.

[jmyrlefuller]

Nigerian faith healer T.B. Joshua dies at 57.

He seemed not to have as much of a reputation for corruption as other televangelists and faith healers of his era, perhaps because he did not use ministry time to solicit financial donations and lived up to his responsibility to be generous with the wealth that came with his worldwide Synagogue Church of All Nations. The SCOAN had a worldwide following, drawing numerous tourists to the Lagos, Nigeria-based church and serving as a boost to the Nigerian economy. His socially conservative stances against homosexuality eventually got him kicked off YouTube, and like most faith healers, he was frequently scrutinized for erroneous prophecies and failed healings.

Joshua died shortly after his June 5 evening service.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57374250

[rustynail]

Clarence Williams III, actor in 'The Mod Squad’ and 'Purple Rain,' dead at 81

[mountaineer]

Clarence Williams III, actor in "The Mod Squad" and countless TV shows, has died at 81
June 7, 2021 / 7:12 AM / AP

Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," has died. He was 81.

Williams died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with colon cancer, his manager Allan Mindel said Sunday. ...

A native of New York, Williams career spanned over five decades in theater, television and film. He was born into a creative family in 1939 and raised by his musical grandparents. His grandfather was a jazz composer and pianist, his father a musician and his mother, Eva Taylor, a singer and actress. He got his acting start on Broadway after a stint as a paratrooper and received a Tony nomination for his role in William Hanley's "Slow Dance on the Killing Ground" in 1964. ...

Williams could command a variety of genres, including comedy. He played a drug lord opposite Dave Chappelle in "Half Baked" and stole scenes in Keenen Ivory Wayans' blaxploitation parody film "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka." He also had a recurring role as the FBI agent in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" who tells Agent Cooper he's been suspended. ...  More at CBS

[Cyber Liberty]

Does this mean Clarence is now the Missing Linc?   

(I liked him on the Squad.)

[Wingnut]

(I liked him on the Squad.)

One white One black, and one blonde!. 

[Ghost Bear]

Clarence Williams III playing the "Black Power" "leader" in "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ytOXXqHVQk

[skeeter]

One white One black, and one blonde!.

Only the white one is still around.

My folks wouldn’t let me watch MS.

[Wingnut]

Only the white one is still around.

My folks wouldn’t let me watch MS.

A few years back one of the cable channels did a "Squadathon".   It did not hold up well at all.

[GtHawk]

A few years back one of the cable channels did a "Squadathon".   It did not hold up well at all.

Decades TV does weekend binges of old TV shows and ran Mod Squad a couple of months ago, I'm sure they will again now. Sometimes it's hit or miss, last weekend it was hit with the old Police Squad series

[jafo2010]

Loved Mod Squad.  All three actors were great in their roles.

B.J. Thomas also had great songs. 

And Charles Grodin was also a great comedic actor.  Enjoyed everything he did. 

All will be missed.

I wish they knew about shark cartilage.  No reason to succumb to cancer at the hands of the merciless American medical system of cut, burn and poison.  Idiocy our efforts on cancer!!!

[Smokin Joe]

Loved Mod Squad.  All three actors were great in their roles.

B.J. Thomas also had great songs. 

And Charles Grodin was also a great comedic actor.  Enjoyed everything he did. 

All will be missed.

I wish they knew about shark cartilage.  No reason to succumb to cancer at the hands of the merciless American medical system of cut, burn and poison.  Idiocy our efforts on cancer!!!

Like so many other diseases, it seems the objective is to manage (milk) it, not cure it. 

[libertybele]

Loved Mod Squad.  All three actors were great in their roles.

B.J. Thomas also had great songs. 

And Charles Grodin was also a great comedic actor.  Enjoyed everything he did. 

All will be missed.

I wish they knew about shark cartilage.  No reason to succumb to cancer at the hands of the merciless American medical system of cut, burn and poison.  Idiocy our efforts on cancer!!!

I've heard of it and will have to research it. 

[mountaineer]

Ned Beatty, titanic character actor of ‘Network,’ dies at 83
By JAKE COYLE

NEW YORK (AP) — Ned Beatty, the Oscar-nominated character actor who in half a century of American movies, including “Deliverance,” “Network” and “Superman,” was a booming, indelible presence in even the smallest parts, has died. He was 83.

Beatty’s manager, Deborah Miller, said Beatty died Sunday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by friends and loved ones.

After years in regional theater, Beatty was cast in 1972′s “Deliverance” as Bobby Trippe, the happy-go-lucky member of a male river-boating party terrorized by backwoods thugs in “Deliverance.” The scene in which Trippe is brutalized and forced to “squeal like a pig” became the most memorable in the movie and established Beatty as an actor whose name moviegoers may not have known but whose face they always recognized.  ... Associated Press

[verga]

Ned Beatty, titanic character actor of ‘Network,’ dies at 83
By JAKE COYLE

NEW YORK (AP) — Ned Beatty, the Oscar-nominated character actor who in half a century of American movies, including “Deliverance,” “Network” and “Superman,” was a booming, indelible presence in even the smallest parts, has died. He was 83.

Beatty’s manager, Deborah Miller, said Beatty died Sunday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by friends and loved ones.

After years in regional theater, Beatty was cast in 1972′s “Deliverance” as Bobby Trippe, the happy-go-lucky member of a male river-boating party terrorized by backwoods thugs in “Deliverance.” The scene in which Trippe is brutalized and forced to “squeal like a pig” became the most memorable in the movie and established Beatty as an actor whose name moviegoers may not have known but whose face they always recognized.  ... Associated Press

RIP Mr. Beatty. I thin I liked every part he played. He had tremendous range as an actor from hero to nasty villain, from comedy to Drama. He will be missed.

[PeteS in CA]

Sad to hear of Beatty's death. I mostly remember him as "Myerson" in the movie "Hopskotch". A line from him some here might agree with is his definition of "FBI" - F#$%ing Ball-busting Imbeciles. Also in the movie were Walter Mathau, Herbert Lom, and several other notables who have eluded my half-caffeinated memory.

[catfish1957]

.

Beatty’s manager, Deborah Miller, said Beatty died Sunday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Ongoing joke in the early 70's is that Beatty's agent and manager should have been taken out back and shot after snookering him into being in Deliverance.  Any scene that includes dialogue like "Make you Squeal Like a Pig" should have been a hint right there that it wasn't a good career move.

[txradioguy]

RIP to fashion icon and radio advertising salesman extraordinaire Herb Tarlek...he was 79.

[Wingnut]

RIP to fashion icon and radio advertising salesman extraordinaire Herb Tarlek...he was 79.

@txradioguy   Back when I was in radio there was at least one "Herb" on every sales staff!  Over a client lunch one day I asked one guy if he'd ever thought about selling used cars?  He picked up his glass, finished the last swig of his martini and said; "There are some things even I wouldn't do!"

[txradioguy]

@txradioguy   Back when I was in radio there was at least one "Herb" on every sales staff!  Over a client lunch one day I asked one guy if he'd ever thought about selling used cars?  He picked up his glass, finished the last swig of his martini and said; "There are some things even I wouldn't do!"

"Honor among thieves" is definitely a phrase that can be applied to salesmen.

[mountaineer]

Wait, his name was Frank? He really looks like a Herb.

R.I.P. Frank Bonner, WKRP in Cincinnati Actor Dead at 79
Bonner played the plaid suit-wearing radio station sales manager Herb Tarlek

Alex Young
June 17, 2021 | 1:01pm ET

    Frank Bonner, the television actor best known for his role on WKRP in Cincinnati, has died at the age of 79.

    TMZ reports that Bonner had been battling Lewy body dementia, and passed away on Wednesday (June 16th) due to complications from the illness.

    On WKRP in Cincinnati, Bonner played the plaid suit-wearing radio station sales manager Herb Tarlek. Bonner appeared in all four seasons of the sitcom, which aired on CBS from 1978 to 1982. Bonner briefly reprised the role for the 1991 spinoff The New WKRP in Cincinnati. ...

Consequence TV

[sneakypete]

RIP to fashion icon and radio advertising salesman extraordinaire Herb Tarlek...he was 79.

@txradioguy

I wasn't a regular watcher,but back then there weren't many options,and I saw a show there one night I will never forget. The radio station DJ (Howard) and Herb got together and  decided to kick live turkey's out of a helicopter over a holiday crowd to promote the station.

I can still hear him saying "But I thought turkey's could fly!"

[mountaineer]

I was not a big WKRP viewer, but Herb may have been my favorite character.

[mystery-ak]

I loved WKRP..what a great cast...

[catfish1957]

I loved WKRP..what a great cast...

The last half of the Turkey Drop episode often makes many top 10 list of the greatest sitcom spots of all time.

[Wingnut]

The last half of the Turkey Drop episode often makes many top 10 list of the greatest sitcom spots of all time.

"Oh the Humanity!"   

[jmyrlefuller]

If you live in upstate New York or in parts of Florida... you know who this guy is.

Billy Fuccillo, the "huuuge" automobile dealer whose TV commercials saturated the airwaves, has died at age 64.
https://cnycentral.com/news/local/huge-car-dealer-and-philanthropist-billy-fuccillo-has-died

If you don't know him, here's a sample:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQO0v_HEGU0

[dfwgator]

RIP to fashion icon and radio advertising salesman extraordinaire Herb Tarlek...he was 79.

Funeral to be held at Ferryman Funeral Home.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXRxYLfq78g

[sneakypete]

If you live in upstate New York or in parts of Florida... you know who this guy is.

Billy Fuccillo, the "huuuge" automobile dealer whose TV commercials saturated the airwaves, has died at age 64.
https://cnycentral.com/news/local/huge-car-dealer-and-philanthropist-billy-fuccillo-has-died

If you don't know him, here's a sample:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQO0v_HEGU0

@jmyrlefuller

I am guessing he sold clown cars?

[jmyrlefuller]

John Paragon, comedian best known as Jambi the Genie, dies at 66.
https://deadline.com/2021/06/john-paragon-dead-obituary-jambi-the-genie-pee-wees-playhouse-was-66-1234777798/

[Gefn]

John Paragon, comedian best known as Jambi the Genie, dies at 66.
https://deadline.com/2021/06/john-paragon-dead-obituary-jambi-the-genie-pee-wees-playhouse-was-66-1234777798/

I remember him from Pee Wee’s Playhouse!

[jmyrlefuller]

Software developer turned eccentric political gadfly John McAfee dies at 75 of presumed suicide.


Photo credit: Gage Skidmore
 
McAfee had been in Spanish prison and was awaiting extradition to the United States for tax evasion charges, as he believed taxes were unconstitutional. Increasingly paranoid in his last decade of life, he was also a suspect in the murder of his neighbor Gregory Faull, and claimed that if he were to turn up dead, it would be because someone murdered him.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/john-mcafee-antivirus-software-creator-found-dead-in-spanish-jail-11624482910?page=1

[corbe]

[jmyrlefuller]

Former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-AK) dies at 91.



Gravel, whose notable political stances included his staunch anti-war/noninterventionist stance and his belief in national popular vote, is better known for his longshot runs in the 2008 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mike-gravel-alaska-government-and-politics-49428bf81c2081f064d1fa8fd05a26a1

[mountaineer]

'Cops' creator John Langley dies at 78
AP Updated: 11:11 AM EDT Jun 28, 2021
By ANDREW DALTON, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES — John Langley, who was the creator of the long-running TV series "Cops," has died during a road race in Mexico, a family spokeswoman said.

Langley died in Baja, Mexico, of an apparent heart attack Saturday during the Coast to Coast Ensenada-San Felipe 250 off-road race, family spokeswoman Pam Golum said. He was 78.

"Cops" was among the first reality series on the air when it debuted in 1989, and it would become an institution through 32 seasons. ...

It came under criticism for what was considered a slanted, pro-police perspective, and was permanently pulled from the air by Paramount last year during worldwide protests over the killing of George Floyd. ...

More

[Smokin Joe]

More

RIP, Mr. Langley. Thanks for showing people what it is like on the other side of the badge. I did not always agree with some of the methods used, but then, I'm neither a crook nor a cop. (Pity the show was pulled on the false pretense that police killed George Floyd and not the fentanyl he had on board.)

[mystery-ak]

Just Breaking

https://twitter.com/RumsfeldOffice/status/1410315512966434818

[Gefn]

Former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld dies aged 88

Former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who served during the Iraq War under George W Bush, has died aged 88.

His family said: "History may remember him for his extraordinary accomplishments over six decades of public service, but for those who knew him best and whose lives were forever changed as a result, we will remember his unwavering love for his wife Joyce, his family and friends, and the integrity he brought to a life dedicated to country."

Mr Rumsfeld was Mr Bush's defence secretary from 2001 until 2006. He also served in the same role under former president Gerald Ford between 1975 and 1977.

https://news.sky.com/story/former-us-defence-secretary-donald-rumsfeld-dies-aged-88-12345919

[txradioguy]

Former Secretary of Defense and Retired Naval Aviator Donald Rumsfeld has died.  He was 88.

[rustynail]

Former Secretary of Defense and Retired Naval Aviator Donald Rumsfeld has died.  He was 88.

He may now learn the "unknown unknowns" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_are_known_knowns