NOTABLE DEATHS

Benjamin Groff II – Groff Media ©2026 benandsteve.com Truth Endures

LIVES REMEMBERED

A SERVICE OF GROFF MEDIA TRUTH ENDURES ©2026 benandsteve.com

Honoring those whose lives left a lasting mark on their communities, their professions, and our world. 


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benandsteve.com – LIVES REMEMBERED

The stories behind the headlines—honoring remarkable lives, preserving enduring legacies.

History has always been shaped by two kinds of people: those who stood firm in their convictions, and those who traded their principles for comfort or out of fear. Those who yielded to tyranny are rarely counted among the truly notable. It is those who remained steadfast—when the cost was greatest—whom history remembers with honor.


Mexico: Jorge Kahwagi, Boxer-Turned-Congressman and Businessman, Dies at 58

Where the cause-of-death report came from. The cerebral haemorrhage version was first aired by journalist Gustavo Adolfo Infante during Wednesday’s live broadcast of Sale el Sol (Imagen Televisión): “Jorge Kahwagi has just passed away at 58 years of age from a cerebral haemorrhage here in Mexico City.” By evening, the family had still issued no official statement confirming the cause — Luz Noticias stresses the version remains unconfirmed.

Known medical history. In 2019 Kahwagi himself disclosed an emergency hospitalisation for a perforated gastric ulcer that led to a bacterial infection; he recovered. No link between that episode and his death has been established.

The ring record, specified. Infobae dates his professional career to eleven fights between 2001 and 2005 — all won by knockout — including the Mexican cruiserweight title in 2002. In 2015 he returned for one more bout in Cebu, Philippines, stopping Ramón Olivas in 40 seconds.

The politics, specified. Infobae and CRHoy date his first stint in the Chamber of Deputies from 2001. In 2004 he took leave from his seat to join Big Brother VIP while still drawing his congressional salary — a decision criticised at the time. He later led Nueva Alianza as secretary general and then national president between 2007 and 2011, during the party’s Elba Esther Gordillo era. His mother is Sonja Macari Chalhub. Sources: Infobae, Infobae (family), Luz Noticias, CRHoy.

Continue reading


Dame Esther Rantzen, broadcaster, campaigner and charity founder, dies aged 86.

Following the news of Dame Esther Rantzen’s death, singer, actor and fellow dame Elaine Paige has paid tribute, saying Rantzen “helped so many children in distress” through her charity Childline.

“A great broadcaster, journalist & campaigner… Esther fought to the end for assisted dying, but was unsuccessful. RIP Esther,” Paige wrote on X.

TV host Lorraine Kelly described Rantzen as “funny, forthright and fabulous”, writing: “Sad news – a pioneer and a force of nature. Helped so many people.”

Anna Williamson, a television presenter who was inspired to become both a Childline counsellor and ambassador after meeting Rantzen, has described her as “true fighter”, “true pioneer” and a “genuinely incredible person”. Continue reading at BBC.com


Ramón Luis Rivera Rivera, who served as mayor of Bayamón as mayor for 24 years, passed away this Wednesday at the age of 97, according to his son and the city’s current mayor, Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz.

The love between Ramón Luis Rivera and his son is more than evident, especially when they sit down to talk about political and family anecdotes. (vanessa.serra@gfrmedia.com)Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz, left, and his father, Ramón

Ramón Luis Rivera, 97, Puerto Rican politician, mayor of Bayamón (1977–2001) and MP(1973–1977)


CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Taylor “Tay” Baker, a former University of Cincinnati basketball player and head coach, and who also coached at Xavier, has died at the age of 99, Cincinnati Athletics announced Tuesday.

Baker, a 1996 inductee into the James P. Kelly Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame, played on Bearcats teams that won three Mid-American Conference titles from 1948 through 1950.

Continue reading here at local12.com


Chief of Police George Bacorn was killed in a head-on vehicle crash on Dover Road in Easton. 

Around 11:26 a.m., Chief Bacorn was traveling eastbound in his agency-owned vehicle when a westbound delivery truck sideswiped another eastbound truck and then struck Chief Bacorn’s vehicle head-on. 

The delivery driver was airlifted to a local hospital. 

Chief Bacorn served with the Denton Police Department for 36 years, including six years as chief of police. Survivors include his wife, five sons, a sister, thirteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Learn more about Bacorn at the Officer Down Memorial Page here…


John Grover, the British film editor who helped assemble a half-dozen James Bond movies and spent six long months breathing heavily at the behest of Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey, has died. He was 87.

Grover, a longtime vice chairman of the British Film Editors who received their Lifetime Achievement Award in April, died Monday at his home in Buckinghamshire, England, following a short illness, his son, Tim, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Grover served as the film editor on the 007 films For Your Eyes Only (1981), The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989) and also helped put together The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979) and Octopussy (1983). Continue to read more at The Hollywood Reporter


The filmmaker, writer, and screenwriter Gonzalo Suárez has passed away this Tuesday at the age of 92 in his home in Madrid, according to family sources reported to EFE. Suárez leaves a career marked by the transition between literature and cinema, with a body of work in which he explored different genres and forms of narration.

The Academy of Cinema awarded him the Goya de Honor 2026 in recognition of a career developed over more than six decades. The institution then highlighted his ability to “experiment with all genres and from all attitudes” and defined him as “a key man in Spanish culture of the last sixty years”. Read more here…


Former Carlisle, Stockport and Bury midfielder Courtney Meppen-Walter has died, aged 32.

Meppen-Walter came through the youth ranks at Manchester City and also represented England at under-17 and under-18 level.

Carlisle posted on X: “Everyone at Carlisle United are deeply saddened by the passing of former player Courtney Meppen-Walter.

Continue reading at ESPN.com


NATCHITOCHES – Services are pending for Northwestern State N-Club Hall of Famer Armando Vega, who passed away at age 90.
 
Vega, who died in Dallas, Texas, led Northwestern to its first NCAA team championship when his gymnastics team captured both the NAIA and NCAA Division II titles in 1970.

 
A six-time NCAA champion at Penn State and a member of the 1956 U.S. Olympic Team and an alternate in 1964, Vega’s career at Northwestern began in 1968 as he extended –  and built upon – the Demons’ successful gymnastics run.
 
After leading Northwestern to a successful defense of its Mid-South and NAIA championships in 1968, Vega guided John Elias to the NAIA and NCAA Division II individual national championships with Elias becoming the first athlete to accomplish the feat. Continue reading at nsudemons.com


Tragedy shaped his earliest days long before music defined his life’s work. Robert H. Davenport, the English singer who became one of the leading voices of the British folk revival, has died at 94.

Davenport was born on May 31, 1932, in Gateshead, County Durham. At just 10 months old, he survived a gas explosion that destroyed his family’s home and killed his father, Thomas, at age 23, along with his grandfather. Raised in a musical family and distantly related to George Ridley, the writer of the folk standard “Blaydon Races,” Davenport began performing as a child evacuee during the Second World War. After completing his National Service with the Royal Air Force, he moved to London in 1953 to work for the General Post Office, while also studying at Saint Martin’s School of Art and working for a publisher. Continue reading at That Eric Adler


The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Anne Claire Poirier, who died on September 27 at the age of 94. As the NFB’s first francophone woman director and producer, she was active from 1960 to 1997, during which time she made some of the most powerful films in Quebec cinema, including Mourir à tue-tête and Tu as crié LET ME GO. Continue reading news statement here….


CHP Officer Brian Liles
California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Liles, who served communities across California for more than 16 years with the agency, was killed Monday in an on-duty crash in Tulare County.

A California Highway Patrol officer from Visalia was killed Monday in a crash on Highway 99 in Tulare County.

Officer Brian Liles was involved in an on-duty crash on Highway 99, just north of Highway 190 in Tipton.

CHP said Liles sustained critical injuries and was given life-saving measures before he was pronounced dead at the scene.



CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga native and actor Dennis Haskins, best known as Principal Richard Belding on “Saved by the Bell,” has died at age 75, according to his friend and caretaker.

Dennis Haskins

A cause of death has not been confirmed.

Haskins became known to generations of viewers as the principal of Bayside High, earning the nickname “America’s Favorite Principal.”

Before his television career, Haskins was deeply involved at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Born in Chattanooga on Nov. 18, 1950, Haskins attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Notre Dame High School and UTC. Continue reading at WJLA.com


(Gray News) – A Kentucky trooper was shot and killed in the line of duty, and law enforcement has arrested the suspect after an hours-long search.

The shooting happened Monday afternoon, Sept. 28, on Interstate 65 in Warren County, according to state police.

The trooper was identified as Hayden Phillips of Kentucky State Police Unit 369.

Continue reading at 3NEWS AZFAMILY.COM.


Arizona Athletics is mourning the loss of legendary Wildcats swimming coach Frank Busch, who passed away Sunday at the age of 75.

Busch was Arizona’s head swimming coach from 1989-2011 and led both the Wildcat men’s and women’s teams to a national championship in 2008. His swimmers won 49 NCAA individual titles and 31 NCAA relay titles. He earned NCAA Coach of the Year honors six times and was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year 11 times. Busch also served on the Team USA coaching staff for the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

He is a member of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Pima County Sports Hall of Fame and American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame.

“Coach Busch is a coaching icon in swimming circles, and his impact stretches throughout our sport, from the club level to the college level to the Olympics,” Arizona swimming and diving head coach Ben Loorz said. “Our program wouldn’t be where it is today without the foundation he created. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.”


Benjamin Satterley, a wrestler who competed as Pac in All Elite Wrestling and Neville in WWE, died at the age of 40.

AEW announced his death on Sunday, Sept. 27. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office told USA TODAY Sports Pac died on Sunday at 4:08 p.m. local time in the city of Des Plaines, near O’Hare International Airport.

“All Elite Wrestling is saddened to announce the passing of Benjamin Satterley, aka Pac,” it stated on social media. “A native of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Satterley began his wrestling career in 2004 and went on to perform for wrestling organizations all over the world, captivating fans with innovative high-flying moves and incredible in-ring ability. Pac signed with All Elite Wrestling in 2019 and held multiple AEW Championships and competed in some of the most memorable matches in AEW history. Our condolences go out to Satterley’s family, friends and fans.”

Read more at USATODAY.com


Songwriter Manuel Seal discusses in a panel at the ASCAP "Hitmakers" Panel Discussion held at the Musicians' Institute as part of Grammy Weekend on February 7, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Songwriter Manuel Seal discusses in a panel at the ASCAP “Hitmakers” Panel Discussion held at the Musicians’ Institute as part of Grammy Weekend on February 7, 2009 in Hollywood, California. Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Manuel Seal, award-winning songwriter and producer of hits for Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Usher, and Aretha Franklin, has passed away at 66. The cause of death has not been publicly revealed.

On Sunday (Sept. 27), Seal’s longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri shared news of the So So Def hitmaker’s death on Instagram, crediting Seal as the co-creator of the label’s iconic sound.

“Today I lost the first person to really understand me musically,” Dupri, 54, wrote in his tribute to Seal. “He had an answer for every one of my ideas; he had a spirit and a presence that I never wanted to leave me.” Continue reading at Vibe.com


BBC Close-up portrait of a person with white hair and a short white beard, wearing a light-colored shirt.
Peter May sold about 15 million copies of his books around the world

Peter May, one of Scotland’s most prolific television writers and crime authors, has died at the age of 74.

The news of his death was announced by his wife and fellow author Janice Hally, who said she had “no words” to express the loss.

May died on Friday at his home in the south of France where he had lived for many years and had been nominated for several awards.

He sold about 15 million copies of his books around the world, and the novel he said would be his last – Island of the Dead – is to be published in January 2027. Continue reading at bbc.com


Legendary Canadian broadcaster David Marsden has died, at age 85.

This morning (Sept. 28) an official press release and obituary from NYthespirit.com, the online broadcaster founded by Marsden, states that ”it is with profound sadness that NYthespirit.com announces that on Friday, September 25th David Marsden, as he himself would say, ‘has put on his wings.’’ A cause of death has not been reported but Marsden had recently suffered a serious fall.

The obituary calls Marsden ”a brilliant, innovative broadcaster and steadfast champion of new and independent Canadian music.” His immense impact on the Canadian music industry is reflected in his membership of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the fact that he is one of only two Canadians in the ‘Dear Mr. DJ’ exhibit at the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

Continue reading at Billboard.com


Angela Stribling
Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Thurgood Marshall College FundAngela Stribling attends the Thurgood Marshall College Fund 25th Awards Gala on Nov. 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Thurgood Marshall College Fund)

Angela Stribling, the longtime WHUR radio personality whose smooth voice graced late-night Washington airwaves for decades, has died after a two-year battle with brain cancer. She was 58.

Stribling died peacefully at home Saturday with her husband, Ken Washington, and her sister, Darlene, by her side, according to a statement from Washington shared by WHUR and posted on Stribling’s Instagram account. 

Stribling had a decades-long career at WHUR and was a familiar voice to listeners. She became the first woman to host the station’s Original Quiet Storm, the groundbreaking late-night format launched by Melvin Lindsey at Howard University in 1976. She also hosted the relationship and music program “Pillow Talk.”

Her career extended well beyond the radio microphone. Stribling was a jazz singer and a pioneering television personality at BET, where she spent four years hosting the entertainment news program “Screen Scene.” She later helped launch BET Jazz, hosting “Jazz Central” with Ramsey Lewis and Lou Rawls, as well as “BET Jazz Discovery” and “BET Jazz Scene.”

Continue reading


Chinese musician Liu Huan, whose powerful voice and wide-ranging work made him one of China’s best-known singers, died in Shanghai on Sept 25. He was 63.

Liu died at 9.52am surrounded by family members, according to obituaries issued on Sept 26 by China’s University of International Business and Economics, where he taught for more than three decades, and the Mango V Foundation, with which he established a charity supporting young original musicians.

Born in Tianjin in August 1963, Liu studied French literature at the University of International Relations in Beijing. He first attracted attention in 1985, when he stood out in singing competitions in English and French among students from Beijing universities.

He went on to become a prominent singer, composer and music educator, with songs including Young Ambition Knows No Sorrow, The Curved Moon, Asking Myself A Thousand Times and Heroes’ Song becoming widely known in China.

Heroes’ Song was the theme song for Chinese television series, The Water Margin (1998), which was based on the classic Ming Dynasty novel of the same name.

His international profile grew further in 2008, when he and British soprano Sarah Brightman performed You And Me, the official theme song of the Beijing Olympic Games, at the opening ceremony.

Liu also became widely recognised as a mentor to younger musicians. In 2014, he initiated and served as a mentor on Sing My Song, an original-music competition programme that sought to promote Chinese-language songwriting.

Continue reading here…


Ronnie Golden dies at 78 | Tributes flood in for comedian and musician

Ronnie Golden dies at 78

Tributes flood in for comedian and musician

Tributes have been paid to Tony De Meur, the musician who performed on the comedy circuit as Ronnie Golden, following his death at 78.

The performer’s partner, GrChapter Two – The Old Pickupace Carley, broke the news on social media this afternoon, saying: ‘Without any fuss or bother, he simply slipped away yesterday afternoon while I was walking the dog.  Never even fell off his perch, so to speak.

‘I know it will be an enormous shock, as it was to me, but I am consoled by his complete lack of pain or suffering…’

Meur founded the quirky pre-new wave band The Fabulous Poodles in 1975. They appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test, released three albums and toured with the likes of  Meat Loaf, Tom Petty and Chuck Berry. Continue reading…


Legendary Edmonton general manager Norm Kimball, architect of five-in-a-row Grey Cup dynasty, dead at 96

Hall of Fame CFL executive Norm Kimball passed away this week at the age of 96, according to multiple media reports.

Photo courtesy: Canadian Football Hall of Fame

The native of Edmonton first joined his hometown CFL club in 1961 as their minor football coordinator and was promoted to general manager in 1964. He went on to lead the franchise for 21 seasons, becoming the architect of the Green and Gold’s five-in-a-row dynasty from 1978 to 1982. He won six total Grey Cups and posted a combined 199-141-12 record at the helm. Continue reading here…


The New York Knicks selected him in the 1952 NBA draft, and Seton Hall inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986. Lanoka Harbor, NJ

Belliveau was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, and daughter Laurie Brunot. He is survived by his daughters Elaine Falcon and Susan Schirmer and his brother Kennith. A memorial service is scheduled for October 2 in Forked River, New Jersey. 


Chuck Varga, a founding member and vocalist of the shock-rock heavy metal band GWAR, has died following a battle with cancer. A resident of Brooklyn, New York, Varga was 68.

His death was announced GWAR bass player Casey Orr, who said Varga, who during his time with the band sometimes played the character Sexicutioner, died peacefully with wife Bambi at his side.

“He was one of a kind,” Orr said in the statement. “As an artist, as a performer; as a scholar and a gentleman. I’m better for having known him and the world is lesser for his leaving. He is most likely being welcomed into Valhalla right now by Brockie and Smooty and all who went before. Raise your glass and tell his tales. Legends never die. Hail Varga! Hail Sexicutioner!” Continue reading at deadline.com


ROCKFORD, Ill. (Rockford News First) – Former Illinois State Rep. Richard ‘Dick’ Mulcahey died Thursday, Sept. 24. He was 91. 

Mulcahey was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1974. He served as a Democratic member of the legislature from 1975-1993, representing the northwest region of the state including Jo Daviess, Stephenson and parts of Winnebago counties. During his time in office, he chaired the House Education Committee. 

Mulcahey was born in Rockford and attended Saint Thomas Academy. After graduating high school, he enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps. From 1954-1956, he served in Korea with the 1st Marine Division and completed his military service with an honorable discharge. Following his time in the Marine Corps, Mulcahey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in history from Wisconsin State University-Platteville. He also completed graduate work at the University of Illinois and received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Education from Northwestern University. Continue reading here….


Bill Giles, architect of Phillies championship teams (and Phillie Phanatic), dies at 92

Bill Giles came to Philadelphia to entertain the masses. His legacy extends far beyond that.

Giles, once called the P.T. Barnum of baseball because he tried just about anything to get people to the ballpark, joined the Phillies to help them close Connie Mack Stadium and open Veterans Stadium in 1971. He quickly hired the legendary Harry Kalas from Houston to be one of the team’s broadcasters. He later helped create the Phillie Phanatic, convinced free agent Pete Rose to come to Philadelphia, and in 1981 led a group that bought the Phillies from the Carpenter family. As team president from 1981-97, he led the Phillies as they won National League pennants in 1983 and ’93.

Giles, who died on Friday at age 92, left a long-lasting mark on Philly.

“My only philosophy was to make people happy,” he told Main Line Today in 2008.

Read more here….


Jeoff Long, who spent two seasons in MLB as an infielder with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox, died Friday, Sept. 25 in Elsmere, Kentucky. He was 84.

Long signed with the Cardinals as a pitcher out of Lloyd Memorial High School in his home town of Erlanger, Kentucky, but converted to the infield as a minor leaguer.

MORE: Former Blue Jays pitcher dies unexpectedly at 45

In a 2025 interview, Long said “I did have a good arm. Basically that was what the Cardinals signed me on out of high school in 1959. The end of my senior year, in 1959, I pitched a 13-inning game in the district championship game. From that point on my arm was never the same. My first year was pretty much a failure.”

Long said he had offers from both the Cincinnati Reds and Cardinals to sign out of high school. He chose the Cardinals’ offer despite growing up a Reds fan in the Cincinnati area. When he struggled on the mound early in his minor league career, Long said he offered to give his signing bonus back.

“I said, ‘the Cardinals gave me a couple dollars here and if I can’t do anything better than what I’m doing, I ought to give it back.’ Chase (Riddle, his manager) gave me a chance to pinch hit, play a few games,” he said. “I’d always been able to hit pretty good and things seem to work out for me in that respect.”

Long pinch hit for Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson in his major-league debut in July 1963. He later faced Sandy Koufax and got a hit against the left-hander — his only at-bat against the future Hall of Famer. That was one of 16 hits in Long’s career, which saw him play only 17 games on defense and another 39 as a pinch-hitter. Continue reading at Sports.Yahoo.com


FAMILY MAN, FRIEND, JOURNALIST

JOHN BAER DIES –– AGE 79

John Baer

John M. Baer, 79, a widely known and respected journalist, passed away on

September 24, 2026, at his home in New Cumberland, surrounded by his family

where he was receiving hospice care after a long illness.

~

John entered journalism as a reporter for the Harrisburg Evening News in 1972

after a three-year post-college stint as a high school English teacher. “I started out doing

general assignment reporting and then started gravitating to politics,” he said in an oral

history interview for the Department of Journalism at Penn State.

~

In 1978, after four years with the paper and a one-year Congressional Fellowship

in Washington, D.C., he became a public television producer at WITF. There he was

responsible for several award-winning programs, including a highly lauded

documentary about the nuclear plant accident at Three Mile Island. He also became a

contributing editor for Philadelphia Magazine.

Continue reading at Legacy Memorial ~ Legacy.com


Mark Piznarski
Mark Piznarski NEILSON BARNARD/GETTY IMAGES

Mark Piznarski, the much sought-after pilot director who helmed the first episodes of series including Gossip Girl, Veronica Mars and Everwood, has died. He was 71.

Piznarski’s name was listed in an “In Memoriam” section in the latest DGA Monthly issue, and a spokesperson for the guild said that he died April 4. The Hollywood Reporter reached out to his daughter, Lauren, who said the family did not want to participate in an obituary.

A teen-drama specialist who started out on My So-Called Life, Piznarski helmed 14 episodes of The CW’s Gossip Girl across all six of its seasons, including the 2007 pilot; the shocking 100th episode, “G.G.,”which premiered during season five in January 2012; and the series finale, “New York, I Love You XOXO,” which bowed in December 2012. Continue Reading at The Hollywood Reporter


James Becket, the American filmmaker, journalist and human rights lawyer whose career took him from documenting torture under Greece’s military dictatorship to making films about refugees, health and the environment, has died. He was 89. Becket died on Sept. 22, 2026.

Born in New York City on Oct. 5, 1936, Becket studied at Williams College before graduating from Harvard Law School in 1962. He also studied at the University of Chile as a Fulbright Scholar and at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva.

His career rarely stayed in one lane. During the 1960s, Becket worked as a foreign correspondent across Europe, Latin America and Africa, contributing to publications including The New Republic, The Nation, The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor. He also wrote about land reform, economic development and international human rights law. Read more at That Eric Alper


Bill Cahill was a slender University of Washington free safety who measured all of 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, yet with the ferocity in which he hit people on the football field he might as well have been a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier.

This man played fearlessly and violently for the Huskies from 1970 to 1972 — also known as the Sixkiller Era — and this was never more evident than when he crashed into USC running back Lou Harris on a sweep and literally ended the other guy’s afternoon at Husky Stadium.

Play was momentary stopped to remove Harris from the field after he had rushed for 126 yards in a game the Trojans won 13-12 and would gain no more while Cahill simply tried to regain his bearings. Read more here from Sports.Yahoo.com


The comic book industry has confirmed the devastating loss of another iconic artist. Marvel Comics mainstay Joshua Cassara has passed away at the age of 48 due to heart complications.

In a social media post from his wife, Martha Cassara, she shared greater detail about her husband’s death. “I’m saddened to share the impossible news that Josh died on September 22nd of heart complications. You might know him for his celebrated work in comics, but he was also a good man, a wonderful father and husband, my best friend, and the love of my life.

Martha Cassara, Josh’s wife. I’m saddened to share the impossible news that Josh died on September 22nd of heart complications. You might know him for his celebrated work in comics, but he was also a good man, a wonderful father and husband, my best friend, and the love of my life.

I’ll share more in the future, but for now that’s about all I can manage. If you knew Josh, you know that he approached the world with humor, sweetness, and kindness. He would not have wanted your condolences. He would have wanted your laughter and toasts. I would love it if you shared something below.

Not your sadness, please, but any sort of happiness he brought you through his art, his friendship, or even a brief encounter. May he feel all the love he gave us all. He was one of a kind,” she wrote. The post can be found on Martha’s Instagram. Continue reading at CBR.com


Bob Pettit, imposing Hawks great and first NBA MVP, dies at 93

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bob Pettit, an imposing scorer and rebounder for the St. Louis Hawks and winner of the NBA’s first Most Valuable Player award in 1956, has died. He was 93.

Bob Pettit – Groff Media©

Pettit’s alma mater, LSU, announced Thursday that he died a day earlier. The university did not provide a cause of death.

Pettit was an All-American at LSU before going on to the NBA, where he was an All-Star for each of his 11 seasons, all with the Hawks. He led them to the 1958 championship over the mighty Boston Celtics, the Hawks’ lone title. Continue reading this report from the Associated Press here.


Richard S. Reisberg, a top television executive for Viacom, MGM/United Artists, Reeves Entertainment and Lionsgate, died Wednesday at his home in Woodland Hills after a battle with Alzheimer’s, his family announced. He was 85.

During his career, Reisberg oversaw a wide range of programming, and he served as an executive producer on the acclaimed 1980 NBC telefilm Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb and on the John Larroquette-starring 1999 CBS sitcom Payne, a remake of the British classic Fawlty Towers.

Starting in 2001, Reisberg served for years as a mediator at the arbitration-mediation service JAMS, where “he brought a clear and objective approach to resolving disputes and a gift for bringing people together,” his family noted. “He loved finding common ground, and he had a way of helping others find it, too.”

Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Dee Brock, known for her role as the founding director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, has died. She was 96.

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, Greg Whiteley, who directed the Netflix hit documentary series America’s Sweethearts, announced via social media that Brock died earlier that day.

“She was a model, a teacher, and held a PhD in Literature and founded El Centro College, the first community college in Dallas,” he captioned an Instagram post, adding, “Oh, and she also started the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.” Continue reading here…at People


Harriet Hancock, a woman known throughout Columbia as a pioneer and advocate for LGBTQ rights in South Carolina, has died. She would have turned 90 Friday.

Born in 1936, Hancock worked as an attorney and dedicated her legal practice to LGBTQ work. In 1990 she organized and led the first Pride March through downtown Columbia. Hancock also helped create a permanent community center in Columbia The center was later renamed in her honor.

According to the center, Hancock’s activism started soon after her son came out to her. She was moved to provide support and education to other parents and friends of those in the LGBTQ community. By 1982, she founded the Columbia chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

She is remembered by the community as a woman who changed South Carolina. Read more about Hancock at South Caroline Public Radio


The Lakers’ longtime public address announcer Lawrence Tanter died Wednesday, the team announced. He was 76.

Remembered for his smooth, baritone voice, Tanter served as the voice of the Lakers for more than four decades. Tanter narrated chapters of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and now Luka Doncic. After a stroke suffered in March forced him to retire from his game-day role, he transitioned to an advisory role in June


Chris Spatola, the son-in-law of legendary college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and a member of his staff from 2007 to 2012, died suddenly at the age of 47. 

The tragic passing was confirmed on Tuesday night by the Krzyzewski family and ESPN, where Spatola worked as a basketball analyst. 

No cause of death was revealed, but a statement by the family described Spatola as “a devoted husband and father.”  Continue read at The New York Post


Jackie Jackson, legendary Jamaican bass guitarist, dies at 79

Jackson, 79, was admitted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James recently. He was a fixture on the Montego Bay hotel scene for many years, mentoring artistes and musicians including his wife, Karen Smith, who died in 2021

From Central Kingston, Jackson got his start in the mid-1960s at the Treasure Isle recording studio of producer Duke Reid. He was a member of The Supersonics, the house band that played on numerous hit singles including Girl I’ve Got A Date by Alton Ellis, Little Nut Tree by The Melodians and Queen Majesty by The Techniques. Continue reading at JamaicaObserver.com


Pete Byrne of the Naked EyesGetty

Peter Byrne, the singer and songwriter for the band Naked Eyes who scored 1980s hits with “Always Something There to Remind Me” and “Promises, Promises,” died peacefully in Los Angeles, California, on Monday, September 14, after a brief illness. He was 74.

His death was announced on the band’s official website. 

One of the most popular, if fleeting, British New Wave bands of MTV’s golden era, Naked Eyes was founded in 1982 by Byrne and keyboardist Rob Fisher, who had been college friends in their native Bath, England, and had performed together in a band called Neon from 1979 to 1982. (That band also included Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal, who would go on to form Tears for Fears.) Read more at deadline.com


Dick Guttman Dies: Longtime Hollywood Publicist To Barbra Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, Gary Cooper & Many More Was 93

Dick Guttman
Dick GuttmanCourtesy

Dick Guttman, the longtime Hollywood publicist whose impressive client roster over the years included Barbra Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Tony Curtis, Milton Berle, Greer Garson, Simone Signoret, Carroll Baker, Candice Bergen, Peter Ustinov, Tony Randall, Dick Powell, Natalie Wood, William Holden, William Shatner, James Mason and Rex Harrison, died Saturday, September 19, in Los Altos, California. He was 93. 

His death was announced by Guttman Associates Public Relations, the firm he founded. A cause was not disclosed. Continue reading at deadline.com


Richard Harrison, the chiseled American actor who found fame and fortune overseas as the star of sword-and-sandal films, spaghetti Westerns and Z-grade ninja movies, has died. He was 90.

Richard Harrison

Harrison died Friday of natural causes in Los Angeles, producer and longtime friend Joan Borsten reported.

After showing up in small roles in such Hollywood films as 1958’s Too Much, Too Soon and South Pacific, Harrison headed to Italy and became an instant leading man in the mold of muscleman Steve Reeves with The Invincible Gladiator (1962).

Born in Salt Lake City on May 26, 1935, Harrison came to Hollywood at age 17, worked at gyms owned by bodybuilders Vic Tanny and Bert Goodrich and modeled for beefcake magazines before taking acting lessons at Fox under Sandy Meisner.

He landed bit parts in films including Kronos (1957); Jeanne Eagels(1957), starring Kim Novak; Too Much, Too Soon, starring Dorothy Malone; South Pacific, starring Mitzi Gaynor; and Tall Story (1960), starring Anthony Perkins. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter.


Terry Harryman and Ari Vatanen
Image caption, Terry Harryman (left) and Ari Vatanen were one of the most memorable partnerships from the WRC’s Group B era

Legendary former World Rally Championship co-driver Terry Harryman has passed away, aged 87.

The Northern Ireland navigator won six WRC events and took nine podiums alongside Ari Vatanen in one of the standout partnerships of the sport’s fast, exciting but dangerous Group B era in the 1980s.

Their first win together was Safari Rally Kenya in 1983 in an Opel, with victories in Italy, Finland and GB the following year after switching to the iconic Peugeot 205.

Finland’s Vatanen and Harryman were in title contention in 1985 after wins in Monte Carlo and Sweden but a heavy accident at Rally Argentina left both men injured and ended their charge. Continue to read at bbc.com


Zeke Moore, the hard-hitting cornerback who spent 11 seasons with the Houston Oilers and became one of the franchise’s most durable defensive backs, died Tuesday. He was 82.

Born Dec. 2, 1943, in Tuskegee, Alabama, Moore arrived at Lincoln University in Missouri in 1963. He quickly established himself as one of the Blue Tigers’ most versatile football players. Playing halfback, defensive back and returner, he combined speed with a willingness to deliver punishing hits.

In 1964, Moore led Lincoln in scoring with 10 touchdowns and averaged 7 yards per carry on 44 rushing attempts. He also averaged 30 yards per punt return and returned an interception 101 yards against Arkansas AM&N. Read more at Sports.Yahoo.com


MONTREAL (AP) — George Gillett Jr., who was a former majority owner of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and part owner of soccer’s Liverpool FC, has died. He was 87.

The Canadiens confirmed Gillett’s death in a release Thursday. No cause of death was given.

Former Canadiens owner George N. Gillett Jr. (Phil Carpenter/AFP via Getty Images/File)

Gillett bought the Bell Centre, then the Molson Centre, and a majority stake in the Canadiens for $275 million on Jan. 31, 2001, with the help of $140 million in loans from two banks and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, the province’s pension fund manager.

Continue reading at The Associated Press…


ST PETERSBURG, FL – AUGUST 4: Don Cooper #99 of the Chicago White Sox looks on in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 4, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesST PETERSBURG, FL – AUGUST 4: Don Cooper #99 of the Chicago White Sox looks on in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 4, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Don Cooper, who served as pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox when they won the 2005 World Series, has died at the age of 70. 

Cooper worked for the White Sox organization for more than 30 seasons, including 18 as their pitching coach. 

His best work was undoubtedly during the 2005 season, when the team posted a 3.61 ERA and ultimately won a World Series title, with the team’s starting staff combining for four complete games during that playoff run. Read more on NBCChicago.com


David Hollister, who served from 1994 to 2003, led the successful fight to keep GM and reshaped downtown, passed away at 84.

David Hollister, whose leadership as mayor of Lansing from 1994 to 2003 helped prevent General Motors from leaving mid-Michigan and also inspired what is now downtown’s Stadium District, died yesterday. He was 84.

Hollister rose from being a social studies teacher at Eastern High School to a state legislator before being elected to three terms as mayor. 

A Democrat, he resigned in 2003 to become head of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Lansing’s Save GM campaign under Hollister united civic leaders in a successful effort to convince GM from closing operations in Lansing. At the time, it had some 20,000 employees and three factories. Read more at WKAR.org


Arthur Asa Berger

Arthur Asa Berger, a professor emeritus at San Francisco State University whose almost 100 books helped shape how generations of students learned about media and popular culture, died on September 19, 2026, at the age of 93.

Born in Boston in 1933, he earned a bachelor’s degree in literature and philosophy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1954, a master’s in journalism from the University of Iowa in 1956, and a doctorate in American Studies from the University of Minnesota in 1965, writing his dissertation on the comic strip Li’l Abner as a satire on American life. Continue reading…


Tyler Abell – President Lyndon Johnson’s first presidential appointee as Assistant Postmaster General 1963-1967 and one of his last appointees when made Chief of Protocol in 1968 Dies

Mr. Abell graduated from St. Albans School, Amherst College, and George Washington University Law School. He was President Lyndon Johnson’s first presidential appointee as Assistant Postmaster General 1963-1967 and one of his last appointees when made Chief of Protocol in 1968.

In 1955, Mr. Abell married Bess Clements who later served as White House Social Secretary during the Johnson administration.

Mr. Abell was a member of the Bar in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia but retired from active practice in 1992 to become a real estate developer. His interests and his circle of friends were wide. Among his more passionate pursuits were sailing and horseback riding; both sports he did competitively as well as for fun. He was a member of The Metropolitan Club of Washington for over 50 years.

He developed Merry-Go-Round Farm in Montgomery County, Maryland, which changed the paradigm for developments in Potomac, an equestrian community dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of its surroundings while providing spaces for horseback riders to enjoy their sport.

Mr. Abell published or helped publish several books: The Columnist about his stepfather Drew Pearson, Washington’s Iron Butterflyan oral history about his wife Bess Abell, The Abell Book of Art and Verse featuring poetry by his father George Abell, A Romp Through Peace & War about his great uncle Alban Bernard Butler’s artwork, and helped edit the two volumes of the Drew Pearson Diaries. Another soon-to-be published book written by Al Cross is called Kentucky Giant: The Life and Times of Earle C. Clements, is about Bess Abell’s father, who served as Governor and U.S. Senator of Kentucky. Continue reading…


Rick Sollo, Trailblazing Sertanejo Star of Rick & Renner, Dies at 59

10 million CDs sold over 25 years, that was the reach of Rick & Renner, the duo that made Rick Sollo one of the rare Black performers to reach the top of Brazil’s sertanejo music scene. Sollo died on September 21, 2026, after a helicopter he was travelling in disappeared during a flight between Porto Belo and São Joaquim in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The wreckage was located the following day, and the Military Firefighters Corps of Santa Catarina confirmed the deaths of all 5 people aboard, including Sollo, the pilot and co-pilot, businessman Bruno Avelar, and videomaker Paulo Soares. He was 59.

Born Geraldo Antônio de Carvalho on December 5, 1966, in Monte do Carmo, Tocantins, Sollo grew up steeped in music through his father, Vitor Antônio, who sang and composed for the traditional Folia de Reis Christmas celebrations. He began performing at just 10 years old, first alongside his sister Dalva as Sereno & Serenata, a partnership cut short after their father forbade her from singing at night. He later performed as part of the duo Rick & Ray before partnering with Renner Reis in 1986, adopting the stage name Rick that would define the rest of his career. The pair spent 5 years playing nightclubs before releasing an independent CD in 1991, followed by their first officially recognized release on the Chantecler label in 1992. Their breakthrough came in 1998 with the single “Ela é Demais,” launching a partnership that would go on to sell more than 10 million CDs over 25 years. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


WILLIAMSBURG, Va. —  Leon Duray “Jigger” Sirois was part of Indianapolis 500 racing lore not because of a celebrated victory or a near-miss at grabbing winning honors at the famed speedway, but for simply not winning the pole position and, eventually, not making the race at all.

Battling a number of health issues in recent years, Sirois passed away Sept. 23 at the age of 91.

The year was 1969 and Sirois was a 34-year-old “rookie” at Indianapolis. Hailing from Hammond, Ind., at the time, Sirois was among over 80 entries for the annual May racing classic.

A native of Shelby, Ind., Sirois grew up in racing as his dad, Earl “Frenchy” Sirois, was a longtime crewman at Indy, serving on several race-winning teams when not tending to the family hardware store. Young Sirois was named after a somewhat famous racer of the 1920s – Leon Duray and the nickname “Jigger” came from a racing mechanic – “Jigger” Johnson. Continue reading at SpeedSport.com


DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Chris Spatola, a college basketball analyst and son-in-law of retired Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, has died. He was 47.

The Krzyzewski family announced Spatola’s death in a statement released by the school Tuesday night. No cause of death was announced.

“There are no words to adequately express our heartbreak over the loss of our beloved Chris Spatola,” the family said. “Chris served our country, was a devoted husband and father, and was such an important part of our family.  Read more from the Associated Press


Phil Spence, a member of NC State’s 1974 championship basketball team, passed away on Monday at the age of 72.

Phil Spence

Spence, who was born and raised in Raleigh, showcased his talent in basketball at Broughton High School before coaching at Cary High School and East Wake High School.

His coaching journey continued at North Carolina Central University, where he led the team for four seasons in the early 2000s.  

NC State Men’s Basketball posted on X: “We are saddened by the passing of former Wolfpack basketball player Phil Spence. Our thoughts and prayers are with Phil’s family, friends and all who knew and loved him.”

Years ago, Spence survived a stroke. He used his experience to raise awareness about stroke prevention.

“I think everything happens for a reason,” Spence said at the time. Read more here…


Ed Morris

Veteran Nashville entertainment journalist Ed Morris passed away on Thursday (Sept. 17) at age 90.

He is best known for his 14-year tenure at Billboard, but was published in dozens of other periodicals. He also authored eight books, published his poetry, and was the writer of a theatrical production.

Morris grew up in Elkview, West Virginia. His family was not well to do and did not own a car, so he hitchhiked daily from Elkview to Charleston to attend Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston). After his graduation with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1958, he earned a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio University.

While at OU, he met musical-theater performer Norma Chapman. They married in 1960 and remained wed for 61 years. She was a talented pianist as well as an editor, photographer, and author. She also taught him to drive. Read more at Music Row…


Jon Small, a video producer/director for dozens of Nashville stars, has died of cancer at age 79.

Small’s subjects in Music City included such Country Music Hall of Fame members as Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Marty Stuart, Vince Gill, Ray Charles, and the four members of The Highwaymen — Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. He created network television specials and concert films as well as music videos.

Jonathan Craig Small was a native of Long Island whose longtime friend and collaborator was fellow Long Islander Billy Joel. The two joined the rock band The Hassles in 1964, with Small as the group’s drummer. After the band broke up in 1969, he and Joel worked as a duo dubbed Attila. Joel became a solo star in 1973. Small continued to perform as a drummer before working his way into music videos in the 1980s.


Gayle Hill

SOURCE Hall Of Fame member Gayle Hill passed away on Aug. 18 at her home in Ashland City, Tennessee. She was 90 years old.

Just three years after Hill took her first job on Music Row with producer Glen Sutton, she produced Dottie West’s famous “Country Sunshine” jingle for Coca Cola. It was the beginning of a role for Hill that integrated country music with national advertisers at a level of prominence never achieved before. Along with West, Hill also hired other stars for the Coke account including Loretta Lynn, Sonny James and the Glaser Brothers.

In 1973, she formed G Hill & Company, which was initially a PR agency that produced jingles on the side. She became a go-to-jingle producer for GMC, Miller Beer, Kraft, Rubbermaid, Stouffer’s, Pizza Hut and Mellon Bank, among others. Hill’s ability to link national advertisers with country artists and music earned her executive positions on the boards of CMA and NARAS (now the Recording Academy). In 2019, SOURCE Nashville honored Hill’s legacy by inducting her into their Hall of Fame. Read more at MusicRow


Elliot Graham, the Oscar-nominated film editor for Milk whose credits also included Steve Jobs, No Time to Die, Superman Returns and Captain Marvel, died Saturday, September 19, in Los Angeles. He was 50.

Graham died by suicide, according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.

Born on June 8, 1976, in Claremont, California, Graham launched his show business career in the early 2000s with the feature film The Last Minute (2001) and the TV series House (2004). He moved into big-budget feature projects with 2006’s Superman Returns. Read more at deadline.com


BBC Mark Doyle's face, looking to the camera

British journalist Mark Doyle, best known for his reporting on conflicts in Africa in the 1990s and 2000s, has died aged 67 after a short illness.

After living in Africa, he joined the BBC in 1986. Doyle became East Africa correspondent in 1993 and made his mark covering the Rwandan genocide a year later.

As West Africa correspondent from 1997 to 2002, he reported on Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war and aftermath of Liberia’s conflict.

Following Doyle’s death, BBC foreign editor Paul Danahar said he was a “legendary figure”, as well as a” brilliant, brave, empathetic reporter”. Continue reading at BBC.com


Former Fox Business Staffer Who Sued Network Found Dead

Jennifer Eckhart, a former Fox Business staffer who sued the network and its then-anchor Ed Henry for sexual harassment and retaliation and later hosted a podcast, was found dead September 19 at her home in Hobe Sound, Florida. She was 36.

USA Today reported Monday that Eckhart’s body was found by her mother in the bathtub. The paper also quoted a police officer at the scene as saying Eckhart had “a large laceration to the front of her throat/neck and there was a folding pocketknife next to her right hand.” She was pronounced dead at 11:57 a.m. ET. An official cause of death had yet to be announced. Continue reading at deadline.com



The Reading-Born DJ and producer’s output spanned IDM, electro and ambient.


Vector Lovers, UK IDM artist and Soma Records affiliate, dies image

Veteran British DJ and producer Martin Wheeler, AKA Vector Lovers, has died. The Black Dog broke the news on Instagram today, September 21st, paying tribute to a “lovely bloke” who will “be missed by many.” No cause of death was disclosed. Reading-born Wheeler began producing under the Vector Lovers alias in the early ’00s, incorporating elements of IDM, electro, ambient and experimental electronic music. He initially released records through his own Iwari label, including his self-titled debut album in 2004 and follow-up album Capsule For One the next year. He subsequently joined the roster of Glasgow label Soma Records, where he put out more albums including Afterglow (2007), Vector Lovers (2008) and iPhonica (2013). Wheeler also released music under aliases including Rosenbaum and Badly Born Droid. Capsule For One was reissued by Lapsus Records in 2022 as a special edition featuring remixes by Wheeler and two previously unreleased tracks. Outside of his own project, Wheeler worked with Everything But The Girl’s Tracey Thorn on her 2007 album Out Of The Woods, contributing production and programming to the record.


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Corvin “Carvin” Keith Anthony Jones, the Phoenix-based guitarist known around the world as Carvin Jones and nicknamed the “King of Strings,” died early Sunday morning following a battle with prostate cancer. He was 60.

His family announced his passing on his website and Facebook page Monday morning.

Jones was born and raised in Lufkin, Texas, where he first fell in love with the blues listening to B.B. King records that his grandfather played at home. His grandmother bought him his first guitar when he was 7, and he never put it down.

He eventually moved out of the Lone Star State and settled in Phoenix, where he spent much of his life making music and built a devoted following of thousands on Facebook. Continue reading at AZFAMILY3


James Sloyan, Actor in ‘The Sting,‘ ‘Xanadu’ and ‘Oh Madeline,’ Dies at 85

He also appeared five times on television in the ‘Star Trek’ universe and was the voice of Lexus in commercials for almost two decades.

James Sloyan, the busy character actor who appeared in films including The Sting and Xanadu and played Madeline Kahn’s husband on her short-lived 1980s ABC sitcom, has died. He was 85.

James Sloyan
James Sloyan CARSEY-WERNER / COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION

Sloyan died July 22 at his home in Sherman Oaks, his family announced over the weekend.

Star Trek fans know him for his five appearances as a member of four species across The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager in the 1990s, and he served as the voice of Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus in commercials for 18 years starting in 1989. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Anjanette Comer, Actress in ‘The Loved One’ and ‘The Appaloosa,’ Dies at 86

She also starred in ‘Quick, Before It Melts,’ ‘Guns for San Sebastian’ and ‘The Baby’ but made a few career missteps along the way.

Anjanette Comer, the 1960s ingenue who had leading roles in The Loved One, The Appaloosa and The Baby but passed on two major starring opportunities that could have transformed her career, has died. She was 86. 

Comer died May 28 at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, according to a death certificate filed with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health that was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. She battled leukemia and had heart issues. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Normandy veteran Kenneth Hay, who survived being captured just weeks after D-Day and spent years educating children about World War Two, has died aged 101.

Hay, from Upminster in east London, served in the 4th Dorset Infantry Regiment. He was captured a month after the allied invasion of northern France and survived a 1,000-mile (1,609km) forced march in eastern Europe until he was liberated by US forces.

His death was announced on Sunday by the British Normandy Memorial, for which he was an ambassador.

The organisation said he was an “extraordinary gentleman whose remarkable life will never be forgotten”.

In its statement on social media, the British Normandy Memorial added: “His passion for education was unwavering. Continue reading at bbc.com


Rudy Cheeks, legend of Rhode Island’s creative scene, dies

Rudy Cheeks, an iconic figure in Providence’s creative underground and a Providence Phoenix columnist known for delightfully tweaking Rhode Island’s most powerful politicians, died over the weekend at age 76 after a long illness.

Cheeks, whose given name was Bruce McCrae, first became known for performing with The Fabulous Motels and The Young Adults in the mid-1970s – a time that coincided with the emergence of the Met Cafe and Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel as top destinations on the local rock circuit.

“The mid-‘70s also marked the beginning of the alternative newspaper boom downtown, which acted as a stimulus to the music club scene,” Cheeks recalled in a 2015 story. “The first to appear was The NewPaper, an arts and entertainment alternative weekly that, by the mid-‘80s, was bought out by the Phoenix group of papers based in Boston, eventually becoming the Providence Phoenix.” 

Cheeks achieved perhaps his greatest celebrity as half of Phillipe & Jorge’s Cool, Cool World, a weekly column that he penned with Chip Young for decades in various publications, mostly the Phoenix.

Writing in the fictitious persona of two fabulously gay “superior behaviorists” who resided at a mythical Casa Diablo while being attended to by Lars the houseboy and downing quantities of Pernod and grapefruit, Cheeks and Young satirized and poked fun at what they considered pompous political behavior. Continue reading at oceanstatesmedia.org


Wes MacAleer dedicated his life to giving back to Islanders, both in and out of political office, say those who knew him.

The former P.E.I. Progressive Conservative MLA and cabinet minister died recently at the age of 82. The cause of death has not been made public.

Two men standing and smiling at the camera.
Wes MacAleer, right, has died at the age of 82. He was a P.E.I. Progressive Conservative MLA and cabinet minister who served three terms in office starting in 1996. (Courtesy of Rob Lantz on Facebook)

Premier Rob Lantz confirmed the news and paid tribute to MacAleer on social media, describing him as someone who “dedicated much of his life to public service.”

“Wes never really stopped serving,” the statement reads in part. “After leaving elected office, he continued to give his time and energy to UPEI, innovation and entrepreneurship, Rotary and many other Island causes.”

MacAleer was first elected to the provincial legislature in 1996, representing Charlottetown‐Spring Park. 

Continiue reading this at CBC.CA


Chad Gilbert, New Found Glory Guitarist, Dies at 45

“He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. His biggest dreams came true,” his band and wife wrote in a joint statement.

Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and backing vocalist of the punk rock band New Found Glory, died on Sunday. He was 45.

The band and Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, confirmed his death on Instagram, writing in a joint statement that he “passed away peacefully in his sleep” with “his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished.” 

“We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went,” the statement read. “The amount of visitors that crowded the hospital lobby at a moment’s notice is a testament to how beloved and cherished Chad was, and always will be. He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. His biggest dreams came true.” Continue reading this report at The Hollywood Reporter.


CNN-NEWS-18 Journalist Payal Mehta Passes Away While Seeking Treatment On Assignment

Mehta (46) was on a visit to Mumbai when she developed uneasiness early in the morning. She was rushed to a hospital, where she later passed away.’: ayal-mehta-passes-away-pm-rahul-gandhi-speaker-cms-offer-condolences-4152632


Master Deputy Sheriff Michael Hendricks was killed in a crash on Ladson Road between Highway 78 and Lincolnville Road around 11:25 a.m. 

Master Deputy Hendricks was traveling west and collided with a tractor-trailer heading east. His patrol truck burst into flames. 

Master Deputy Hendricks had served with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office for over three years. Survivors include his wife, three sons, two stepchildren, mother, father, brother, and mother.

Master Deputy Sheriff Hendricks was posthumously promoted to Master Deputy Sheriff. Read more about Master Deputy Sheriff Hendricks at the Officer Down Memorial Page.


Ernie Accorsi, the former Giants general manager who snagged Eli Manning in a seismic draft trade and changed the course of the franchise, died Saturday night, the team announced Sunday. He was 84.

Accorsi had a brief battle with cancer.

The Hershey, Pa. native and former member of the U.S. Army was a sportswriter before he began his NFL executive career. He was a general manager for the Colts and Browns before joining the Giants front office in 1994 as an assistant GM to George Young. Accorsi became the GM in 1998 after Young’s retirement.

The Giants reached Super Bowl XXXV during Accorsi’s tenure, where they were defeated 34-7 by the Ravens. Continue reading at the New York Post



 Veteran Algerian actor Ahmed Meziane, better known by his stage name Sid Ahmed Agoumi, has died at the age of 85 after a decades-long career — (Select English Language Option.) 


MILAN (AP) — Sandro Mazzola, the former Inter Milan captain who was one of Italy’s most acclaimed players, has died. He was 83.

His death was announced on Saturday by Inter, the soccer club where he spent his entire 17-year playing career. No cause of death was given but Mazzola had been suffering from a long, unspecified illness.

“FC Internazionale Milano, its President Giuseppe Marotta, Vice President Javier Zanetti, head coach Cristian Chivu and his staff, the players, and everyone at Inter mourn with profound sorrow the passing of Sandro Mazzola, a Nerazzurri and world football legend,” Inter said in an emotional statement.

“Sandro Mazzola was one of the greatest footballers in history. Not only in the history of the Nerazzurri.”

Continue reading at the Associated Press.


Brendan Farrington, a veteran news reporter who covered Florida politics, hurricanes and quirkiness for The Associated Press for more than 25 years, has died. He was 60.

Farrington died Friday at his home in Tallahassee following a brief illness, said Steve Schale, a close friend of the family. 

Based in the state capital, he was regarded as well-sourced, fair and kind, with a good sense of humor. He also was a big sports fan who boasted of having visited every major league ballpark. 

Many reporters called him a mentor and friend. They said he was trusted by politicians on both side of the aisle. Continue reading at the Associated Press.



Rose Friedman Dies: NPR Arts Editor & ‘Books We Love’ Co-Creator Was 38

Rose Friedman obituary
Rose Friedman of NPRBeth Novey/NPR/Getty

Rose Friedman, an NPR editor and reporter who shaped the public radio network’s arts & culture coverage and co-created its popular reading guide Books We Love, died of cancer Thursday, September 17, at her home in New York City. She was 38.

Her death was announced on-air by NPR’s Elizabeth Blair, who called Friedman one of the outlet’s finest journalists.

In an obituary and tribute posted on NPR’s website, Blair said, “Rose Friedman was an editor to the end. She said she wanted the second line of her obituary to acknowledge her role as a shop steward for SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents NPR’s editorial workers. She wanted the line to say that her ‘proudest achievement’ was helping convince NPR to increase its paid parental leave.” Continue reading at deadline.com


Anthony Page obituary
Anthony Page (2003)Matthew Peyton/Getty Images

Anthony Page, the prolific British stage, film and TV director who won a Tony Award for his 1997 Broadway production of A Doll’s House and was twice Emmy-nominated for acclaimed TV movies in the 1970s, died September 11 at a London residential care home. He was 90.

Page’s death has been confirmed by press representative Jo Allan to British news outlets. Read more at deadline.com


Gerrit Graham Dies — Starred In Phantom of The Paradise and Star Trek

The actor died of lung disease and other health complications on Tuesday in Rhinebeck, NY, according to Variety.

Gerrit Graham in 'Phantom of the Paradise' (1974)
Gerrit Graham in ‘Phantom of the Paradise’ (1974)20th Century Fox Film Corp. Gerrit Graham, the actor known for roles in Phantom of the Paradise (1974) and Star Trek, has died. He was 76.

Born Nov. 27, 1949 in New York City, Graham trained at Columbia University, where he was head of the school’s Columbia Players theater company. He made his onscreen debut in Brian De Palma’s 1968 sophomore feature Greetings.

Graham was best known for his performance as glam rocker Beef in De Palma’s 1974 rock musical horror Phantom of the Paradise. He also played separate roles in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. Continue reading at deadline.com


PAUL “LIVEWIRE” LLOYD SADLY PASSES AWAY AT THE YOUNG AGE OF JUST 57

Former British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight champion Paul “Livewire” Lloyd (20-7, 14 KOs) has died at just 57.

The London Boxing History tweeted the following on X: “Gutted to read of the passing of former World Title challenger Paul “Livewire” Lloyd at the age of just 57.  Lloyd would win the lot domestically, claiming Area, British, Commonwealth and European Titles. It’s been a sad few weeks for boxing, gone far too soon. RIP champ.”

Andrew Fairly responded: “Oh no, far too young. His poor family. God bless you Paul and sleep tight.” Continue reading at globalboxingnews.co.uk


Deputy Sheriff Terrian Bailey was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call near a local convenience store off Highway 18, near Hermanville, shortly after midnight.

Deputy Bailey was working to disperse a crowd that had gathered after a festival when shots were fired. He and a civilian bystander were struck. Both Deputy Bailey and the civilian were taken to a nearby hospital. 

Deputy Bailey succumbed to his wounds later that morning. Read more about Deputy Baily at the Officer down Memorial Page.


KEVIN SPENCER FOUNDING MEMBER OF SOLAR RECORDS GROUP DIES

(September 2026) Detroit was undoubtedly the center of the soul music universe in the 1960s, with Philadelphia assuming that role in the ’70s. But in the early 1980s there was no place hotter in the soul music world than the City of Angels, where Dick Griffey’s SOLAR Records took over the charts with a roster of now legendary artists ranging from The Whispers to Shalamar to Midnight Star. Today, one of the unsung architects of that amazing run has died.

Singer, songwriter and musician Kevin Spencer, a founding member of the SOLAR Records group Dynasty and an important contributor to the label’s celebrated sound, has passed. Spencer had been reportedly battling cancer. The bad news was reported by Spencer’s longtime friend and former co-writer Ricky “Freeze” Smith of Morris Day and the Time. Continue reading at SoulTracks.com


Three-Time Olympic Champion Mike Burton Dies at 79; Packaged Legendary Career in Distance Freestyle

Legendary American distance star Mike Burton has died, according to a social-media post written by his son, Eric. Burton, 79, was a three-time Olympic champion between the 1968 Games in Mexico City and the 1972 Games in Munich. Burton was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1977 and was enshrined in the UCLA Hall of Fame, along with several others. Continue reading here...


Bryan Bishop, widely known as “Bald Bryan” from The Adam Carolla Show and various podcasts, was a popular radio personality and podcaster who passed away on September 18, 2026, at the age of 48 after a long battle with brain cancer. [1, 2]

Background and Career

Born: September 13, 1978, in San Carlos, California.

Work: Best known as the sidekick and producer on The Adam Carolla Show, co-host of The Film Vault, and host of The Bryan and Gina Show.

Author: Wrote the memoir Shrinkage: Manhood, Marriage and the Tumor That Tried t

Bishop’s wife has made a statement available here….


ARLINGTON, Texas – The United States Bowling Congress is saddened to learn of the death of USBC and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Randy Pedersen at the age of 64.

Pedersen, who grew up in Southern California but most recently resided in the Orlando, Florida, area, was an iconic figure in the sport both on and off the lanes.

On the lanes, Pedersen was simply one of the best. After a standout junior career in Southern California, the right-hander with the high backswing, smooth delivery and ultra-charismatic style went on to collect 13 PBA Tour titles, including a major championship at the 1987 PBA National Championship in Toledo, Ohio.

He earned his first PBA Tour title in 1986 at the AC-Delco Classic in Union City, California, and his last in 2002 at the PBA Pepsi Open in Springfield, Pennsylvania. For good measure, Pedersen added a PBA50 title in 2013, winning in his first appearance on that tour. Continue reading…


In Memoriam: California Supreme Court Justice Joyce L. Kennard (1941–2026)

Joyce L. Kennard, whose perseverance and professional excellence propelled her to become one of the longest-serving justices in the history of the California Supreme Court, has passed away. She was 85.

“Justice Kennard’s life was a testament to resilience, and she brought that same strength to 25 years of service to this court,” said Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. “She carefully analyzed the law, studied the facts, and strived to protect fundamental freedoms and promote the independence of the judiciary. Her rigor on the bench and her extraordinary personal journey continue to inspire attorneys and judges.”

Justice Kennard was born in Indonesia to parents of Dutch, Indonesian, Chinese, and German descent. As a young child during World War II, she and her family were held in a Japanese internment camp. As a teenager, she had her leg amputated after developing a tumor and wore a prosthetic for the rest of her life. She immigrated to the United States and settled in Los Angeles, where she worked as a secretary while pursuing her education. She earned an associate’s degree from Pasadena City College, then a bachelor’s degree, a master’s in public administration, and a law degree, all from the University of Southern California. Continue reading here…


Arthur B. Hancock III, the owner of Stone Farm in Paris, Ky., and one of the Thoroughbred world’s most respected and successful horsemen, died peacefully at his home on Friday, Sept. 18, surrounding by family. He was 83 years old and had battled pancreatic cancer over the last two years. More than an outstanding horseman, Hancock – born Feb. 22, 1943 –was a renaissance man, an accomplished musician, philosopher and poet who possessed a quick wit and a folksy expression at the ready.

He was an early advocate for Thoroughbred aftercare and fought tirelessly for years to rid the sport of what he called “drugs and thugs.” TOP VIDEOS A two-time Kentucky Derby-winning owner with Gato Del Sol in 1981 and Sunday Silence in 1989, Hancock had a hand in raising more than 200 stakes winners at Stone Farm, adjacent to the Claiborne Farm established by his grandfather in the early 1900s. When his father, Arthur B. “Bull” Hancock Jr., died in 1972, many expected 29-year-old Arthur to take over the Claiborne operation, but the executors and trustees of the Hancock estate instead selected Arthur’s younger brother, Seth, who was just 23 at the time. Under Seth Hancock’s leadership, Claiborne continued building on its tradition as one of the Thoroughbred industry’s leading nurseries and stallion operations which the next year would welcome Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Arthur, stung by the snub he felt he received from the three trustees – Ogden Phipps, William Haggin Perry and Charles Kinney – vowed to make Stone Farm bigger than Claiborne. He succeeded, but expansion had its price. Starting out with Stone Farm’s original 100 acres he purchased from Claiborne, Hancock added major parcels from adjacent farms over the next several years, eventually reaching 3,800 acres, 400 more than Claiborne’s 3,400.

The final piece was 1,200 acres previously owned by William du Pont, which he bought after Gato Del Sol’s Kentucky Derby victory. “My buying that farm was like a frog trying to eat a watermelon,” Hancock would later say. “I already had a ton of debt and then I had to borrow more. But, I was at last bigger than Claiborne. I had fulfilled my greedy vow.” Sam Ransom, a longtime farmhand who left Claiborne to work for Arthur at Claiborne, put it succinctly when Hancock started bragging about Stone finally being bigger than Claiborne. “We may be bigger in size,” Ransom told Hancock, “but Claiborne’s big otherwise.”

For the rest of the 1980s, Hancock struggled financially, especially after 1986 when bloodstock markets went into a freefall. “I had yearly interest payments of almost a million and a half dollars,” Hancock remembered. “When the market dropped, everything we owned was worth 30 cents on the dollar.”

Idahostatesman.com

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Margaret Chant-Papandreou, women’s rights advocate and former prime minister’s wife, dies at 102

Margaret Chant-Papandreou, women’s rights advocate and former prime minister’s wife, dies at 102

Margaret Chant-Papandreou, an American-born women’s rights advocate who played a prominent role in efforts to strengthen the legal and social rights of Greek women, has died at 102, local media reported Friday.

Chant-Papandreou was the wife of former prime minister Andreas Papandreou and the mother of former prime minister George Papandreou. She also had three other children, Nikos, Sofia and Andreas (Andrikos).

Born Margaret Esther Chant in Oak Park, Illinois, on 30 September 1923, she studied journalism and later earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota, where she met Andreas Papandreou. They married in 1951 and later moved to Greece. Continue reading at eKathimerini.com


Stephanie Cole Dies: British Star Of ‘Open All Hours’ & ‘Doc Martin’ Was 84

Stephanie Cole obituary
Stephanie ColeChristopher Furlong/Getty

Stephanie Cole, the popular British actress who was one of the stars of Open All Hours, has died aged 84. She had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for a number of years.Cole’s agent John Grant announced the news in a statement shared with press this afternoon.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stephanie Cole, OBE,” he said. “She passed away this morning at the age of 84. Stephanie had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for some years.”

Grant added: “Stephanie was an extraordinary talent whose long and distinguished career included many iconic performances in theatre and television. She brought joy to millions through her many much-loved roles in sitcom and drama. She will also be remembered for her tireless work supporting mental health charities. During this incredibly difficult time, the family kindly requests privacy.” Continue reading at deadline.com


Colin Powers, British and European Light Welterweight Champion, Dies at 70

3 knockdowns in 1 fight settled the British light welterweight title in October 1977, when Colin Powers sent Des Morrison to the canvas 3 times before stopping him in the 10th round at York Hall to claim the championship. Powers died in September 2026, at age 70.

Born in London on February 2, 1956, Powers turned professional in June 1975 with a win over Kevin Quinn. His first setback came the following year, when Des Morrison stopped him in the 5th round of a fight for the vacant BBBofC Southern Area super lightweight title, handing him the only loss of his early career. Powers responded with an unbeaten run through 1977, defeating Joey Singleton, Clinton McKenzie and Efisio Pinna, a streak that earned him his title shot against Morrison and his first British championship.

Continue reading informaton about obituary at That Eric Alper


Jimmy Revie, British Featherweight Champion of the Early 1970s, Dies at 79

Half a point, that was the margin by which Jimmy Revie won 3 separate fights during his British featherweight championship reign, a run so narrow it once earned him boos from an unimpressed Royal Albert Hall crowd despite the victory. Revie died in September 2026, at age 79, following complications from dementia.

Born in Stockwell, London, on July 8, 1947, Revie turned professional in September 1966 with a 5th round stoppage of Brian Gullefer. He won his first 13 fights inside the distance before suffering his first defeat in February 1968, stopped in the 9th round by Jimmy Anderson in a challenge for the British junior lightweight title. Revie dropped to featherweight, won his next 6 fights, and earned a shot at the British title vacated by Howard Winstone, defeating former British Empire champion John O’Brien in March 1969 after the referee stopped the contest in the 5th round due to eye injuries. Read more at That Eric Alper


Barry Parker, former Assembly Speaker and Senate Minority Leader, dies at 93

Burlington County Republican ran for governor in 1981

Barry T. Parker, an affable and admired former Assembly Speaker and Senate Minority Leader who sought the Republican nomination for governor of New Jersey in 1981, died on September 16.  He was 93.

During his fourteen years in Trenton, Parker became known as a staunch supporter of tax incentives to attract business investment to New Jersey, lower taxes for residents and corporations, private sector job creation, clean water, farmland preservation, expanded vocational education, and state assistance for New Jersey’s urban centers.  He was somewhere between moderate and conservative, supporting bans on abortion, but also the Equal Rights Amendment.

“He was a leader and very effective legislator at a time when personal relationships and goodwill governed the political process,” said Steven Perskie, a former Atlantic County legislator who is one of four living New Jerseyans to serve with Parker in the Senate.  “He was universally liked and respected.” Read more here…


Duncan Sheik

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: Duncan Sheik attends the Museum of Broadway’s one-year anniversary celebration at the Museum of Broadway on November 15, 2023 in New York City.ROB KIM/GETTY IMAGES

Duncan Sheik, the singer-songwriter best known for his shimmering Grammy-nominated 1996 debut single, “Barely Breathing,” has died at age 56. The news came a day after the singer’s family announced that he was in “critical but stable” condition in a hospital due to an undisclosed illness. Continue reading here…


NEW YORK (AP) — Peter Max, whose colorful, psychedelic pop art expressed the optimism of the “flower power” movement of the 1960s and graced everything from postage stamps to a cruise ship, has died at 88, his son said in a written statement Wednesday.

Max died on Monday, the statement said. No cause was given, but he had been suffering from advanced dementia. Read more about Max’s career and at times very complicated life at the Associated Press.


Ben Saunders, the London-born Dutch singer who won the first-ever incarnation of The Voice, was found dead Tuesday, September 15, in a popular Netherlands recreational lake. He was 43.

His death was announced on Instagram by his brother Dean, who wrote, “My dear little brother died today. I have never felt such pain as I feel now. What a dreadful day for us all.” (Read more at deadline.com)


Los Angeles News Chopper Crash Victims Include TV Journalist And Pilot; Video Indicates Possible Rotor Problem

UPDATED, with arrest information and identity of third victim: A local Los Angeles TV news journalist and the pilot of an NBC4 news chopper are among the three people confirmed dead in Tuesday night’s Los Angeles-area helicopter crash. Journalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were…


Patricio Guzmán Dies: Documentarian Who Chronicled Chile’s Turbulent Modern History Was 85

Patricio Guzmán, the Chilean filmmaker whose landmark documentaries included The Battle of Chile and Cannes prize winner The Cordillera of Dreams and has been hailed as one of Latin America’s most important nonfiction directors, died September 15 in Paris. He was 85. Guzmán’s landmark works…

Jon Kyl, long-serving lawmaker from Arizona who shaped water policy, dies at 84

PHOENIX (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Arizona who shaped landmark water policies in the U.S. West and guided the confirmation of extreme right Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, has died. He was 84.

U.S. Senators McCain and Kyl leave the Senate Chamber for the caucus at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

Kyl died Wednesday night from a neurological disorder, said Gordon James, a communications professional who is a longtime friend of the Kyl family. Kyl had withdrawn from public life in December 2025 after announcing he had been diagnosed with dementia. Read more from pbsnews


Yuri Nakamura, the Japanese-Korean star of Netflix original series Romantics Anonymous, died September 1 of rectal cancer. She was 44.

Nakamura’s representatives at Alpha Agency announced her death.

“We express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to her during her lifetime and respectfully announce her passing,” the statement said, per a Google translation. Read more at Deadline….


Michael Sweetney, former Georgetown great and NBA first-round pick, dies at 43

Michael Sweetney, who played for the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls after being a standout player at Georgetown, has died. He was 43 years old.

Sweetney’s wife India announced the news on Thursday in a Facebook post.

“To know Mike Sweetney was love to him. No one loved him more and he loved no one more than his family,” India Sweetney wrote. “His children were the light of his life, and he lived every day to give them the best life possible. He’s been my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20. I’m not sure what we or I will do without him.”

No cause of death has been reported.

Sweetney played three years at Georgetown and helped the Hoyas reach the Sweet 16 of the 2001 NCAA tournament. Over his final two seasons in college, he was a finalist for both the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John Wooden Award. During the 2002-03 season, he averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 , 3.2 blocks, 1.9 assists, 1.5 steals per game. Continue reading on Yahoo!Sports


Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ron Hurst
Photo : Toronto Maple Leafs

Oldest living Maple Leaf Ron Hurst has passed away

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost their oldest living former player as it was revealed Ron Hurst had tragically passed away at the age of 95.

On Thursday afternoon, The Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby revealed the sad news that former Maple Leafs forward Ron Hurst had passed away at the age of 95: Read more…


Getty Images Bonnie Greer speaks on stage as she introduces "The Lost Man" as part of BFI Screen Epiphanies at the BFI Southbank in London in 2016
Greer’s work often tackled topics around culture, race and public institutions

British-American author and cultural commentator Bonnie Greer has died at the age of 77 after a brief illness, her husband has said.

In a statement delivered with “profound sadness”, Greer’s widower David Hutchins noted how the acclaimed playwright and critic had made “an enduring contribution to British cultural and public life” with her “intelligence, courage and distinctive voice”.

He added: “To me, she was my partner, confidante and inspiration, and I feel profoundly privileged to have shared my life with her.”

Hutchins continued: “Those closest to Bonnie will remember her warmth, humour, generosity and extraordinary ability to bring people together.” Continue reading at BBC.Com


Rodney Charters Dies: ‘24,’ ‘Shameless’ Cinematographer Was 80

Rodney Charters, the cinematographer who shot 184 episodes of 24 and helped craft the show’s distinct look, died suddenly in Amsterdam on September 13. The news was announced by the ASC, of which he was a longtime member. He was 80. Charters’ work on the Kiefer Sutherland-starring thriller was…read more at deadline.com


Andy Donato Editorial Cartoonist Dies Of Heart Attack

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Editorial cartoonist Andy Donato poses in 2014 with the first editorial cartoon he created for the Toronto Telegram. (Credit: Jack Boland)

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Andy Donato was, in every way, the face of the Toronto Sun. Not only were his cartoons the first thing many readers turned to in the newspaper, the iconic Sunlogo was his design. The Sun became “the little paper that grew,” and Donato was the person who planted the design seeds that helped it flourish.

His provocative cartoons were intrinsic to the Sun‘s phenomenal success. Everyone was fair game, from Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to American President Donald Trump and every politician in between. Read more at the Toronto Sun Yahoo.com


Ronnie Dove, 1960s Pop and Country Hitmaker, Dies at 91

Sep 16, 2026

5 charting singles in a single year, that was the streak Ronnie Dove put together in 1965 alone, a run that made him one of the most consistent hitmakers on the pop charts during the mid-1960s. Dove died on September 15, 2026, at his home in Pasadena, Maryland, under hospice care. He was 91.

Born Ronald Eugene Dove on September 7, 1935, in Herndon, Virginia, the only son of Fairfax County police sergeant Paul S. Dove and his first wife, Catherine, Dove got his start singing in Baltimore clubs while stationed there with the Coast Guard. He formed the group The Belltones, playing venues across Baltimore and the East Coast for 4 years. In 1959, the group recorded its debut single, “Lover Boy,” on its own label, followed in 1961 by a cover of Buddy Knox’s “Party Doll” for Decca Records, which failed to chart. After one more single on Jalo Records, the group broke up and Dove struck out on his own.

Dove signed with Diamond Records in 1964. His debut solo single, “Sweeter Than Sugar,” generated little national attention that April, though it appeared on some local hit parades. Later that year, Diamond released “Say You,” which climbed to #40 on the Billboard chart, becoming Dove’s first genuine national hit. His follow-up, a cover of Wanda Jackson’s “Right or Wrong,” pushed him into the Top 20, and by 1965 he had notched 5 charting singles, prompting Diamond to release a “best of” collection after just 3 albums. That year, his name appeared repeatedly in both Billboard and Cashbox award listings.

More hits followed through 1966 and 1967, including “My Babe,” “Happy Summer Days,” and his cover of Johnnie Ray’s “Cry,” a single that led to an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Dove continued recording for Diamond until the label was sold in 1970 to Aubrey Mayhew’s Certron Records, where he cut a live album and several singles that went unreleased; Certron did, however, issue a “Greatest Hits” compilation of his Diamond-era material before the label collapsed into bankruptcy in 1971. He briefly moved to the independent Wrayco Records, releasing a cover of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” that received no promotional support and failed to chart.

Dove signed with Decca Records in 1971 and steered his career toward country music, scoring 2 minor country chart hits and an album. He later moved to the Motown-affiliated Melodyland label, where his cover of Bobby Darin’s “Things” became his highest-charting country hit, reaching #25; 2 additional country albums recorded during this period went unreleased. Through the rest of the 1970s and 1980s, Dove continued recording for a series of smaller independent labels while opening his own club in Baltimore, giving fans a chance to see him perform regularly throughout the decade. He briefly revived the Diamond label in 1987 for a couple of singles and an album, both of which reached the lower rungs of Billboard’s Country charts. He would step away for an ailing parent before returning…read more…at ThatEricAlper.com


Author Annie Dillard Dies

Below: Receives the 2014 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama at the White House in September 2015.

Author Annie Dillard receives the 2014 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama at the White House in September 2015.
Andrew Harnik/AP

Writer Annie Dillard has died at 81. She wrote books characterized by spare prose and a deep connection to nature, including 1974’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. She died Tuesday at her home in South Wellfleet, Mass.

Annie Dillard’s work was shaped by a central duality: the tension between fertility and destruction in the natural world. She saw that tension everywhere, even in the act of writing itself. Speaking to NPR’s Weekend Edition in 2016, she said, “Once you write about something, you’ve destroyed it. You no longer have the memory. You only have the memory of what you’ve written.” Continue reading…


Rosalind Ashford, Original Martha and the Vandellas Singer, Dies at 83

The soprano from Detroit performed on hits including “Dancing in the Street,” “Heat Wave,” “Jimmy Mack” and “Quicksand.”

Rosalind Ashford
Rosalind Ashford WALTER MCBRIDE/CORBIS/GETTY IMAGES

Rosalind Ashford, one of the three original members of Martha and the Vandellas who sang on such Motown classics as “Dancing in the Street,” “Heat Wave” and “Jimmy Mack,” has died. She was 83.

A native of Detroit, Ashford died Tuesday of natural causes in the suburb of Redford Township, the Detroit Free Press reported.

“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Rosalind Ashford,” Reeves told the newspaper. “Rosalind played an important part in the early days of Martha and the Vandellas. Her voice will forever be with us through our great recordings together, and she will be missed but never forgotten. Our Motown family has just gotten a little smaller. My heart is heavy.” Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Steelers Jim Bradshaw Passes Away

Jim Bradshaw Wikipedia

According to a social media post shared by his niece, former Steelers draft pick and defensive back Jim Bradshawdied peacefully. The family shared the update via a Facebook post. 

Bradshaw was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, which is located roughly 60 miles west of the city of Pittsburgh. After a successful collegiate career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he became an early local success story for the franchise. He played in 62 NFL games, all with the Steelers, between 1963 and 1967. Continue reading


Legendary bowler and broadcaster Randy Pedersen dead at 64

Hall of Fame bowler and broadcaster Randy Pedersen died Wednesday at the age of 64, according to the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA).

Pedersen won 13 PBA titles in his career and served as the league’s lead color analyst for a record 25 years.

“Randy was supremely talented in everything he did. Bowling, golf, comedy, broadcasting, anything. He was a force, a giant in sports and on TV,” PBA Commissioner Tom Clark said in a release. “He was our friend, our partner. Randy was our voice. He was my brother. I spoke with so many people today who loved him. There will never be another Randy Pedersen. Please hug the people you love.”

Pedersen, who grew up in Southern California before moving to Florida, won his 13 PBA titles from 1986-2002 and claimed his only major in 1987 when he triumphed at the PBA National Championship.

Continue reading at the New York Post nypost.com


Sway, Mobo-winning British rapper, dies aged 44

Rapper Sway gestures with both hands, fingers crossed, close to the camera
Sway in 2005. Photograph: Tony Buckingham/Redferns

Rapper won prestigious award as an unsigned artist before breaking UK Top 10 and nurturing artists including KSI

Ben Beaumont-ThomasThu 17 Sep 2026 12.35 EDTShare

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The British rapper Sway, who proved inspirational to a generation of Black British musicians thanks to his independence and frank, dextrous storytelling, has died aged 44.

The news was announced by the Mobo awards, with whom Sway won best hip-hop act in 2005, the first unsigned act to do so. “Proud to have him as part of our history. Our love goes out to his family, loved ones and fans,” the statement read.

It was confirmed to the Guardian via a close friend, who said he died at his home in Ghana. No cause of death has been announced. Read more at theguardian.com


ROME (AP) — Victor L. Simpson, the longtime Rome bureau chief for The Associated Press whose four decades as a foreign correspondent spanned five popes, wars and violence that touched him personally, has died. He was 84.

Simpson died of cancer Sunday at his home in Rome, his children said Monday.

During a 46-year AP career, Simpson covered many of the defining stories of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, from the 1967 Newark, New Jersey, race riots and war in the Middle East to the papacy of Pope John Paul II, whom he accompanied on dozens of trips. Learn more at the Associated Press…


Fredd Young, a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker and special teams standout with the Seattle Seahawks in the 1980s, has died, his alma mater New Mexico State University announced Wednesday morning. He was 64.

Former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Fredd Young during a 1987 game. (Getty Images)

Young was named one of the Seahawks’ top 50 players in franchise historylast summer as part of the team’s 50th season celebration.

Drafted by Seattle as a third-round pick in 1984, Young was a Pro Bowler in each of his four seasons with the Seahawks. He also was the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Year as a rookie in 1984 and a first-team All-Pro in 1987.

Young totaled 19.0 sacks, seven forced fumbles, a pick-six and two blocked punts in 60 games with Seattle from 1984-87. He finished third in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting in 1987, when he recorded a career-high 9.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and a pick-six in 13 games.

After a contract dispute, Seattle traded Young to the Indianapolis Colts in September 1988. The Seahawks received a 1989 first-round draft pick and a 1990 first-round pick in the deal.

Young spent three seasons with the Colts. He retired following the 1990 season after suffering a dislocated hip.


Norway’s royal family has been struck by a second devastating loss in little more than two weeks.

Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, died peacefully on Friday, September 11, at the age of 94-just 15 days after the death of her younger brother, King Harald V. In an especially poignant final act of devotion, the princess attended Harald’s state funeral only two days before her own death.

Yet Princess Astrid was far more than the late king’s older sister. Her most remarkable achievement came when she was only 22: following the death of her mother, Crown Princess Märtha, in 1954, Astrid suddenly became Norway’s First Lady. Continue reading here…


A young Black man in a white shirt and tie wears headphones as he focuses on a turntable and mixer

Producer Tone Capone, seen here DJing in the 1980s, produced tracks for the Luniz, E-40, Mac Dre, Scarface and many, many others.  (Tone Capone / Instagram)

Tone Capone, a prolific producer who brought the mobb music style of Bay Area hip-hop to the world with the smash hit “I Got 5 On It,” died on Saturday. He was 59.

Capone’s death was reported online Sunday by close family. A cause of death was not immediately revealed. Capone had been living in the Las Vegas area since 2021.

Along with the Luniz’ “I Got 5 on It,” Capone produced many regional hip-hop classics that remain in regular rotation. Those include 3xKrazy’s “Keep It on the Real,” Mac Dre’s “Fire” and “Not My Job,” Celly Cel’s “It’s Goin’ Down,” Devin the Dude’s “Sticky Green” and E-40’s “Ring It.”

Across his career, Capone produced or worked with a who’s-who of Bay Area rap, including the Jacka, Dru Down, The Click, Conscious Daughters, Mac Mall, Messy Marv, Andre Nickatina, Spice 1, San Quinn and dozens of others. Continue reading here…


CAL NICHOLS, who spearheaded the Edmonton Investors Group that bought the Oilers in 1998 and helped keep the team in Edmonton, died Saturday at 84, according to Dave Breakenridge of the EDMONTON JOURNAL.

In the late 1990s, there were fears the club would relocate. Nichols was involved in the Friends of the Oilers campaign, as co-chair, which “pushed to increase season ticket sales.” When the team was for sale in 1997, Nichols “spearheaded the EIG,” which saw 38 investors raise $110M to buy the team.

Nichols served as chair and governor until the team was sold to current owner DARYL KATZ in 2008. A team statement noted Nichols helped found Northridge, “which later formed a part of TransCanada Pipelines, Canada’s first private crude oil and natural gas marketing company.”

His achievements also include membership in the Order of Canada, a place in the Alberta Business HOF and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal from the Governor General (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 9/13).

Read more here.


Bob Mackie, a prolific costume and fashion designer whose dazzling, over-the-top creations helped define some of the most memorable moments in 20th century entertainment, died Monday at 87.

Mackie’s official Instagram channel shared news about the designer’s death. 

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today,” the statement on Instagram said. “He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do. His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.” Continue reading at NPR.ORG


CHEETAH CHROME, DEAD BOYS GUITARIST AND CO-FOUNDER DIES AT 71

Chrome, born Eugene O’Connor, began his career in another Cleveland punk band, Rocket From the Tombs.

Dead Boys guitarist and co-founder Cheetah Chrome has died at 71. The Cleveland-bred punk group announced the news in an Instagram message on Sunday night (Sept. 13) in which they wrote, “We are incredibly sad to announce the news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Cheetah Chrome. Cheetah was a true original, an architect of the punk rock movement. a one man hurricane tearing up the musical landscape with his feral guitar riffs and manic energy.” Continue reading here at Billboard.com


Japanese judo has lost former world champion Hidetoshi Nakanishi, who passed away on 12 September 2026 at the age of 68.

The former U71kg world champion and Olympian had recently been suffering from stomach cancer, according to Japanese media. Nakanishi was one of Japan’s leading lightweights of the early 1980s before becoming a respected coach and educator who passed his knowledge to generations of judoka.

Born on 3 June 1958 in Fukuoka, Nakanishi competed during an era in which Japanese judo possessed extraordinary depth. One of his major international successes came at the Tournoi de Paris in 1982, where he captured the U71kg title at a tournament that was already regarded as one of the most prestigious events outside the World Championships and Olympic Games. Paris proved to be an important step towards the biggest success of his competitive career.

One year later, Nakanishi became world champion at the 1983 World Championships in Moscow. He defeated Italian Olympic champion Ezio Gamba in the final to secure the U71kg world crown for Japan. Gamba had won Olympic gold in Moscow in 1980 and would reach another Olympic final the following year, making Nakanishi’s victory one of the defining results of his career.

Continue reading here…


George Chuvalo, the Canadian heavyweight whose durability became part of boxing folklore, died at 89 on September 12, 2026, his birthday. His family and friends confirmed the news through social media on Saturday.

He finished 73-18-2 with 64 knockouts during a career that ran from 1956 through 1978. Chuvalo held the Canadian heavyweight championship five times and climbed as high as No. 2 in the world while competing during one of the division’s deepest periods. The Canadian Press reported his death Saturday evening. His list of opponents reads like a tour through heavyweight history: Muhammad Ali twice, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena and Buster Mathis.

Source: George Chuvalo, Heavyweight Iron Man, Dies At 89)


Bain Boehlke, Minneapolis Theater Pioneer, Dies at 87

Bain Boehlke, the visionary behind transforming a neighborhood playhouse into a major theatrical destination, has died at age 87.

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune’s Stage & Arts section, Boehlke’s exacting artistry and dedication to the arts reshaped the cultural landscape of Minneapolis. His work turned a modest local venue into a sought‑after theater, elevating community access to professional‑level productions and fostering a vibrant local arts scene.

Boehlke’s legacy is tied to his belief in the power of theater to connect people, inspire creativity, and strengthen neighborhoods. Under his leadership, the venue became a hub for both regional and national productions, attracting audiences from across Minnesota and beyond. His approach combined artistic rigor with community engagement, ensuring that theater remained a shared cultural experience rather than an elite enclave.

The Star Tribune’s obituary notes that Boehlke’s influence extended beyond the stage — his vision helped establish the area as a cultural landmark, influencing future theater development in the Twin Cities.

For those wishing to read the full tribute and details of his life’s work, the Minnesota Star Tribune’s Stage & Arts section provides the complete obituary and additional context on his contributions to Minneapolis’s arts community. Read more here…


Sergeant Chris Fisher was shot and killed outside the Meriwether County Inn at 5675 Spring Street in Warm Springs around 11:57 p.m. 

Sergeant Fisher was sitting in his patrol vehicle after completing a traffic stop when a man pulled up next to him and fired into the patrol vehicle, killing Sergeant Fisher at the scene. 

The man drove away, and a Blue Alert was issued. The suspect was transported to a South Carolina hospital, where he passed away after he was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a traffic stop. The suspect is believed to be a man whom Sergeant Fisher arrested the week prior. Read more at the Officer Down Memorial Page.


Jeremy Thomas obituary
Jeremy Thomas Anoush Abrar

Jeremy Thomas, one of the UK’s most prominent independent film producers of the last 50 years, died on September 11. He was 77 years old.

His family announced his death in a statement on Saturday.

“Jeremy Thomas, the celebrated British producer of The Last Emperor and of over 40 other films, has died, at the age of 77,” it reads. “Thomas passed away peacefully at his country home in Oxfordshire late on Friday 11th, surrounded by his family and loved ones.”

Thomas racked up more than 80 credits over his career including Nagisa Oshima’s Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar-winning The Last Emperor, Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast and David Cronenberg’s Crash. Continue reading at deadline.com


Brian Duckworth obituary
Brian DuckworthBartlett Funeral Home

Brian Duckworth, the country musician who performed with his brother and sister as the band Taylor Made, died Monday, September 7, at his home in Clarksburg, W. Va. He was 56.

His death was announced by family. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Taylor Made, which featured Duckworth, his brother Greg Duckworth and sister Wendy Williams, released its single “Things You Don’t Grow Out Of” in 2012 and, the following year, was named by Nashville’s MusicRow Magazine as Independent Artist of the Year. The siblings would opens for such major acts as Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert. Read more at deadline.com


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

A Bowman Gray racing legend has died. The racing community is mourning the passing of Gary Myers who died at the age of 76.

Gary Myers’ son, Burt Myers, posted on Facebook the following:

“Last night I lost my hero. He fought so hard but was so tired. My daddy is in Heaven and can finally do the things he wanted to do the last several years. Thank God for the times we had. He taught me everything I know. Selfishly I want him here but I know he is much better off now. I miss him so much. I love you Daddy!”

Gary Myers won 38 races at Bowman Gray Stadium. He also competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series races from 1974-1978. Read more and see video at wxii12.com


Brent Peterson, former assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and longtime hockey ambassador in Nashville, has died. He was 68.

The Predators announced Peterson’s death in a social media post on Friday, Sept. 11.

Peterson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002 and founded the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s in 2009 as part of his battle.

He is survived by his wife Tami, his son Brad, and his daughter Kristin. Brad Peterson has served as an assistant equipment manager for the Predators since 2019. Read more here…


Pat Senatore the bass player in the original Tijuana Brass has passed away. Pat was an extraordinary musician and a really warm out-going person who traveled the world with Herb and the Brass back in the 1960s. Pat was also the original music director at the Vibrato Grill Jazz restaurant/concert venue in Los Angeles.

A Jazz Bassist. He attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York for two years but left because it did not offer jazz at that time. He then toured the country with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and recorded Adventures in Blues, and Adventures In Jazz at Capitol Records. He was the bassist for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass from 1964 to 1968. Senatore produced CD’s for Hi-Brite and Moo Records including: two volumes of the VIP Trio with Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins and himself; Pasquale, with himself, Billy Childs, Billy Higgins, Paul Hanson (bassoon), Pedro Eustache (flute), Mike Barone (trombone), featuring several of his original compositions.Currently, Pat Senatore served as the artistic director for Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz in Bel Air, CA, where he performed regularly.

Emma Bonino, leader of the abortion battle that changed Italy, dies at 78

Emma Bonino, who rose to political prominence as a leader of campaigns by the Radical Party that legalized abortion and divorce in the 1970s in heavily Roman Catholic Italy, against the objections of the Vatican, has died. She was 78. (Produced by Elaine Carroll)

ROME (AP) — Emma Bonino, who rose to political prominence in the 1970s as a leader of the Radical Party campaign to legalize abortion in heavily Roman Catholic Italy over the objections of the Vatican, has died. She was 78.

Her party of recent years, +Europa, announced her death.

“Her life was a long struggle against everything that denies freedom: against clandestine abortion, world hunger, the stranglehold of party politics, female genital mutilation, punitive justice, genocide, and every form of authoritarianism,” the party said.

Read more…


Felcity Green Fashion Editor And Journalist – Buckingham Palace

Felicity Green Fashion Editor and Journalist

Felicity Green receiving her OBE for services to journalism at Buckingham Palace in 2012 Credit: Sean Dempsey/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Felicity Green, who has died Sept. 10, at the age of 100, was the most influential fashion editor of the 1960s and the first woman to be appointed to the board of a national newspaper. Green was born on 26 June 1926 and raised in Dagenham, Essex in rooms above a bike shop.From an impoverished Jewish background, Green’s father ran a local shoe shop while her mother, though deaf, was the more formidable parent. Her father was cruel to her mother, although Green, their only child, attempted to control his behaviour. She did share a love of the cinema with him, and they saw two double features together each Thursday. From the movies, Green acquired her interest in glamour and fashion.

Initially a short hand typist and secretary at Woman & Beauty in the 1940s, she was promoted to fashion editor within two years. After this she joined Housewife, where she assumed the same post, and then W.S. Crawford, the advertising agency, for a time.


Bill Kerby, the maverick screenwriter who wrote the first draft of the Bette Midler-starring rock drama The Rose and worked on The Last American Hero, The Gravy Train and Hooper as well, has died. He was 88.

Kerby died Aug. 13 on Whidbey Island in Washington state, producer John Ptak, his longtime agent, told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been in hospice care at home but had fallen and suffered a fracture, he added.

A full-time writer in Hollywood for 30 years, Kerby received an Emmy nomination and a WGA award for penning the three-part 2012 miniseries Hatfields & McCoys, which starred Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton and was a huge ratings success for the History channel.

Read more about Bill Kerby at The Hollywood Reporter


CHARLOTTE — Longtime Charlotte Athletics administrator Tom Whitestone passed away Tuesday after a battle with cancer, the university announced Wednesday.

Whitestone served as the sports information director and associate athletic director for media relations. Joining the 49ers in 1987, he spent 37 years telling the stories of the athletic department before retiring in 2024.

In 2020, Charlotte’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee honored Whitestone with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was also the man behind Charlotte’s Hall of Fame, where the school’s all-time greats could be recognized in one place. The university said nearly every inductee acknowledged his contributions in their acceptance speeches. Read more here


News reached Sherlockians today that June Wyndham Davies, the Granada Television producer who was a key part of the acclaimed Sherlock Holmes series, passed away on September 9 in Spain.

Fittingly, word came from our friends at The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast, whose producers have become close to many of the cast and crew of the series. They wrote:

 “We are deeply saddened to share news of the passing of our friend, June Wyndham Davies. Her transition was peaceful and she was with loved ones.”

An Eye for Holmes

“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.” [VALL]

Born on June 27th in Cardiff, Wales to Mervyn and Despina Wyndham Davies, June trained at RADA and began her career as an actress before moving behind the camera. She joined the BBC as a director in 1965, working across single-play strands including 30 Minute Theater and Sunday Afternoon Theatre, then went freelance in 1969, directing for the BBC, Anglia, and Yorkshire television as well as Granada — work that included the Emmy-nominated Heidi (1974) and long stretches on Coronation Street and Crown Court. Continue reading at ihearsherlock.com


William Henry Draper III helped establish the venture capital industry on the West Coast and co-founded Sutter Hill Ventures in Palo Alto.

William Henry Draper IIIWilliam Henry Draper III

Draper helped build the West Coast venture capital industry, co-founded Sutter Hill Ventures, served in the Reagan administration and left a legacy that continues through multiple generations of Silicon Valley investors. Continue reading at bizjoiurnals.com


Remembering Roger Simon, a political journalist with toughness and wit – He Passed Away Thursday Sept. 10th, 2026

r/Journalism - Column | Remembering Roger Simon, a political journalist with toughness and wit

washingtonpost.com

Dan Balz pays tribute to “a craftsman of the first order,” who wrote for Chicago newspapers before joining Politico as a columnist. He died Thursday at 78.

washingtonpost

Column by Dan Balz:

There was no one like Roger Simon. That’s said about a lot of people, but in Roger’s case, it happened to be true. He was an original, a rare talent and a journalist who has left behind a rich legacy of reporting and writing. He died Thursday at 78 of pneumonia, leaving a void in the world that can’t be filled.

He and I met as college journalists working for the Daily Illini at the University of Illinois. That was 60 years ago. We didn’t know much about reporting, but we were enthusiastic and learned together. Over the subsequent decades, he and I traveled thousands of miles reporting on political events big and small. The other day, I found a notebook from one of our early trips together — to the March on the Pentagon in 1967. Our stories weren’t very memorable; the experience of working together always will be.

His talents were amazing. He was a tough and fearless reporter, a gifted writer, a columnist with a sharp pen and sharper insights, the author of many books, mostly on presidential campaigns. He was witty and insightful as a sometime TV commentator. He was well-decorated for his work, and deservedly so. He scooped up dozens of awards and twice won the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ Distinguished Writing Award for commentary.

He also was one of the funniest people I’ve ever known — something that everyone who ever encountered him will remember. His wit could be goofy or sarcastic. He made us all laugh even when the times were serious.

Read more about Roger Simon at the Washington Post…


TOKYO (AP) — Isao Harimoto, the baseball great who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb and still holds Japan’s hits record, has died. He was 86.

The Golden Players Club, an organization for elite baseball players, said Harimoto died on Wednesday without specifying the cause of death.

Harimoto started his professional baseball career in 1959 when he joined the then-Toei Flyers, who became the Nippon Ham Fighters. He was the first player in Japan to reach the milestone of 3,000 hits in 1980 and finished his career with 3,085. He was nicknamed “Hit Machine.”

Born to Korean parents in Hiroshima in 1940, Harimoto as a child overcame a series of difficulties.

At age four, severe burns in his right hand cost him most of its mobility.

Harimoto was five when he survived the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city on Aug. 6, 1945. His father died shortly after World War II and Harimoto’s hard-working mother ran an eatery to support the family. Read more at the Associated Press.


Tributes have poured in for one of Ireland’s most influential traditional musicians and master of the uilleann pipes, Paddy Keenan.

Paddy Keenan was the third generation in his family to take up the uilleann pipes; both his father and grandfather were uilleann pipers.
Paddy Keenan was the third generation in his family to take up the uilleann pipes; both his father and grandfather were uilleann pipers.

Born into a renowned musical family, Keenan carried forward a rich tradition of Irish music while forging his own style. A founding member of The Bothy Band, Keenan’s style continued to mature in the intervening years since the break-up of the band as he pursued a solo career.

Keenan’s death at 76 was announced on Wednesday, with tributes pouring in for the Meath-born musician. 

Read more in the IrishExaminer.com


Mike McFarland, the beloved voice behind Master Roshi and Buggy the Clown in One Piece, died after a battle with brain cancer. The veteran anime performer built a career across several major English dubs and became a familiar name to generations of fans.

Mike McFarland, known for voicing Master Roshi and Buggy the Clown, dies after battling brain cancer
Photo credit: Valerie Macon/Getty Images

McFarland died Wednesday at a Dallas care facility, surrounded by friends and family. He had spent the past year battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that reshaped his final months.

Mike McFarland, who voiced Master Roshi in Dragon Ball Z and Buggy the Clown in One Piece, died after battling brain cancer. Read more at aol.com news


Bob McKay, a 2017 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee and an All-America offensive tackle for the Longhorns from 1968-69, passed away Sept. 10 in Austin, Texas. He was 78.


 “Bob McKay was accomplished in everything he did, from his remarkable football career to his professional life, but nothing meant more to him than his family,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “He was a gentle giant and simply one of those people you loved being around. More than a great football player, Bob was a great person and a good friend. We will miss him dearly, and our thoughts and prayers are with Donna and the entire McKay family.”
 
A stalwart on the offensive line, paving the way for the Longhorns’ fabled “Wishbone” attack, McKay’s efforts helped guide Texas to the national championship in 1969. Continue reading here…at the footballfoundation.org


Melrose, NHL coach, Emmy-winning broadcaster for ESPN, dies at 70

Barry Melrose known for mullet, fancy suits, left network in 2023 after Parkinson’s diagnosis has died

Barry Melrose obit

© Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

Barry Melrose, who made the successful transition from NHL coach to Emmy Award-winning hockey analyst with ESPN, died Wednesday at the age of 70.

Melrose retired from ESPN in 2023 after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. 

Upon his retirement, he said, “I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey. It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next.”

Before he first joined ESPN in 1996, Melrose coached Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1993 in his first of three seasons with the team. 

He left ESPN in 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning but was fired after 16 games and went back to the network. 

“From the flowing locks of his distinctive mullet to the flared lapels of his trademark long suit coats, Barry Melrose cut an unmistakable figure whenever you were fortunate enough to run into him at a rink or catch him on your television screen,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “You were even more fortunate if you engaged him in conversation or listened to his analysis, because he never failed to boost your love of the game of hockey.

Continue reading at NHL.Com


American director and cinematographer David Worth died on September 7, 2026, at the age of 86, according to B92.

The news was also reported by the specialized film outlet Film Combat Syndicate, which described him as one of the people who shaped the look of action cinema in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Worth left behind a career spanning more than three decades, working on more than twenty films both as director and as cinematographer. His deepest mark was left on martial arts cinema. As cinematographer, he shot 1988’s Bloodsport, the film that launched Jean-Claude Van Damme into the top ranks of action stardom. A year later, Worth moved into the director’s chair for Kickboxer, again starring Van Damme in the lead role. Shot on location in Thailand, the film is now considered a genre classic. According to Film Combat Syndicate, Worth did more than direct on that shoot: he personally operated the camera during the fight scenes, which Van Damme choreographed himself.

Before turning to directing, Worth spent years working as a cinematographer. He shot Bronco Billy and Any Which Way You Can, both released in 1980 and both starring Clint Eastwood. That collaboration, together with his later work on Bloodsport, was part of the experience that eventually led him to his first director’s chair.

Continue reading at https://srpske.rs/en


Jeff Lowell dead
Jeff LowellCourtesy

Veteran film and TV comedy writer Jeff Lowell died on August 24 in Virginia after a brief illness. He was 52. 

Lowell started his career as a sitcom writer in the mid 1990s, working on such series as The George Carlin Show, Bless This House and The Drew Carey Show.He went on to serve as writer-producer on Cybil, Spin City, Sports Night, Just Shoot Me!, Inside Schwartz and hourlong comedy-drama Common Law.

Read more at Deadline.com


Nina Shipman Dies -–– She played county nurse Irene Fairchild in The Andy Griffith Show episode titled “The County Clerk” (Season 6, Episode 26). 

3 generations of Shipmans found their way into American entertainment before Nina Shipman ever stepped in front of a camera, from her grandfather Ernest, a member of one of the country’s first touring Shakespearean companies, to her grandmother Nell, a celebrated silent film actress, to her own father, screenwriter Barry Shipman. Nina Shipman died on September 6, 2026, at age 88.

Born on August 15, 1938, in Los Angeles, to screenwriter Barry Shipman and dancer-actress Gwynne Shipman, Nina attended Maddox Academy in Mexico City and Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles before earning a music degree from California State University, Los Angeles. She sharpened her acting craft at the Pasadena Playhouse and studied under legendary acting coach Sanford Meisner.

Shipman built a steady career across film and television beginning in the late 1950s, appearing in a small but memorable role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo in 1958 and going on to feature in Say One for Me, Blue Denim, and High Time. Her television work spanned some of the era’s most iconic series, including guest appearances on 77 Sunset Strip, Bonanza, Rawhide, The Munsters, Daniel Boone, Perry Mason, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Beverly Hillbillies, building a résumé that placed her at the center of American television’s golden years. Continue reading at That Eric Alper…


On September 7, David Keith Cobb died at the age of 63. He was the Green Party presidential nominee in 2004, and lived in Eureka, California. While he was out for a walk along the Ocean beach, he suffered a fatal heart attack.


André Pronovost passes away at the age of 90

The former forward won four Stanley Cups with the Canadiens

MONTREAL – It is with great sadness that the Montreal Canadiens learned of the passing of André Pronovost on September 8. At 90 years old, the former Habs left winger was the sixth-oldest among Canadiens Alumni. 

Born on July 9, 1936, in Shawinigan Falls, Pronovost enjoyed a 10-year career in the NHL, including five with the Canadiens, where he won the Stanley Cup four times between 1956-57 and 1959-60. 

Pronovost collected 109 points in 290 games with the Canadiens and served 223 penalty minutes. He also suited up for 70 playoff games, scoring 11 goals and adding 11 assists. Solid at both ends of the ice, he was effective in all game situations.  Continue reading at NHL.com


“It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Craig peacefully passed away this afternoon,” 

“He will be greatly missed by myself, and his close friends. Rest in peace, Craig.”

Douglas was known as because he was employed as a milkman before becoming a singer. he was employed as a milkman before he became a singer. After he got his start in the business, he rose up the British charts and became one of the most popular pop singers of the 1960s.

Douglas was best known for his hit “Only Sixteen.”

That song rose all the way to No. 1 on the United Kingdom’s charts.

Douglas released six studio albums with his self-titled debut album releasing in 1960. His last album, “The Craig Douglas Project,” was released in 2011. Continue reading…


Yearly Listing Of Deaths In 2026 Maintained By The Associated Press Click Here…

Jim Geoghan
Photo courtesy – Genevieve Geoghan

Jim Geoghan, the creator of “Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” died on Sept. 6 at 79 in Los Angeles, his daughter Genevieve Geoghan confirmed to Variety. He was 79.

He co-created and executive produced “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” the Disney Channel sitcom that brought Cole and Dylan Sprouse, Ashley Tisdale, Brenda Song and more to the spotlight. Following the Sprouse brothers as rebellious and playful tweens raised in a hotel, the series ran from 2005 to 2008 for three seasons before switching to the seas in “The Suite Life on Deck.” The sequel series followed the cast into high school and remained afloat for three seasons from 2008 to 2011.  Read more at Variety.com


Richard Alston, trailblazer and guiding light of British dance, dies aged 77

Akram Khan among those paying tribute to ‘pioneering’ choreographer of intense musicality and grace who inspired generations of dancers

Sir Richard Alston, the British choreographer and teacher who took contemporary dance into new directions with his elegant and intelligent creations, has died at the age of 77. A former artistic director of Rambert and the Place, where he made more than 50 pieces for the Richard Alston Dance Company, he was celebrated for lucid, emotionally attuned work that was often as graceful as it was rigorous.

His death was announced on Monday by the Richard Alston Foundation, which was established in 2021 to promote contemporary dance and preserve his work. “It is with deep sadness that we have to report the death of Sir Richard Alston,” said the statement. “After a period of ill-health, and despite exceptional treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead and the support of his closest friends, he passed away peacefully at his home on 7 September. While Richard is best known for his extraordinary career and contribution to contemporary dance, we will also remember him for his wit, warmth and generosity of spirit.” Continue reading by visiting the Guardian and providing support to them here theguardian.com


Artist Lucien Smith, Fixture of NYC’s Downtown Scene, Dies at 37
Artist Lucien Smith (1989–2021) (photo Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Artist Lucien Smith, an abstract painter whose work as a nonprofit founder and restaurateur channeled the community ethos of 1970s New York, has died at the age of 37. The news of his passing was confirmed by Erin Goldberger, director of Half Gallery, which showed the artist’s work early on. The cause of death has not been made public. 

Smith was best known for his Rain Paintings series (2011–12), which he began making the year he graduated from Cooper Union by spraying canvases with acrylic paint loaded into fire extinguishers. Later subject to the rapid cycle of market growth and decline that defined the early-2010s movement reviving mid-20th-century abstraction and formalism, Smith quit commercial galleries in 2015 and began advocating for himself and others. Continue reading here…at hyperallergic.com


HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong ’s first post-handover leader, Tung Chee-hwa, who struggled to cope with an Asian financial crisis and growing protests for democracy in the early years under Chinese rule, has died at age 89.

His office said in a statement that Tung passed away peacefully in the presence of his family members on Tuesday.

Tung, a shipping tycoon, had little political experience before a panel of pro-Beijing elites picked him in 1997 to be the first leader of the southern Chinese territory after the end of British colonial rule. 

CONTINUE TO READ AT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.


LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Former University of Louisville player Marty Lowe has died. 

Lowe played at UofL from 1991 to 1995, recording over 4,000 career passing yards and 27 touchdowns. 

Former Univ. of Louisville QB Marty Lowe Dies

He was the starting quarterback in the first-ever Governor’s Cup.

He also spent time in the community helping develop young quarterbacks.

Read more here…


Billy Joel mourned the death of his friend and former bandmate, drummer Jon Small, on Monday. He was in his late 70s.

Jon Small in 2010, left, and in 1970.

“RIP Jon Small,” Joel posted on social media alongside a photo of the pair together.

Small and Joel, 77, grew up together on Long Island and played together in the rock bands The Hassles and Attila before personal issues drove them apart in 1970.

Small later found success as a music video producer and director. He reunited with Joel to film videos for songs including “Tell Her About It,” “Piano Man,” and “Baby Grand.”

Read More About The Passing of Jon Small On NYDAILYNEWS.COM


Erni Mangold, Austrian Screen and Stage Legend, Dies at 99

90 years old, and Erni Mangold was still taking the stage nightly as Maude in a production of Harold and Maude, a role she didn’t retire from performing until December 2017. She died on September 5, 2026, at age 99.

Born Erna Goldmann on January 26, 1927, in Groß-Weikersdorf, Austria, into a family of artists, her father a painter, her mother a pianist who set aside her own promising career for the family, Mangold began piano lessons at age 4. She trained at Helmut Kraus’s Drama School before launching a stage career that would span decades and countries: a decade at Vienna’s Theater in der Josefstadt starting in 1946, an engagement under the legendary Gustaf Gründgens at Hamburg’s Deutsches Schauspielhaus from 1955 to 1963, and further work at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus under Karl Heinz Stroux. From 1972 she taught at the Salzburg Mozarteum and the Max Reinhardt Seminar, later serving as a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, from 1984 to 1995.

Mangold’s film and television career ran parallel to her stage work and proved equally enduring, spanning more than 70 years and encompassing more than 140 productions. She first appeared on screen in 1948 and remained active as a film actress as recently as 2020. Among her best-known roles was Priscilla Pletzak, mistress to the title character in the 1955 film Hanussen, while international audiences may best recognize her for a brief but memorable turn as a palm reader in Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise in 1995. Her later career included steady work in German-language television, including recurring appearances on the popular series Kommissar Rex.

Continue reading this information at That Eric Alper…


Photo: University of Kentucky

Bruce Lunsford, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who rose to prominence in Kentucky politics and in U.S. horse racing, died Saturday, a close friend confirmed Sunday. Lunsford was 78.

Photo: University of Kentucky.

Most noteworthy among his stakes successes, Lunsford owned five-time graded-stakes winner Art Collector, whose up-and-down, multimillion-dollar career peaked with victories in the 2021 Woodward (G1) and as a 6-year-old in the 2023 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).

Read more at horseracenation.com


Bruce Davis
Bruce Davis CHARLEY GALLAY/GETTY IMAGES

Bruce Davis, who served as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences‘ chief executive for 22 of the 30 years that he spent with the organization, during which he made a profound impact on Hollywood and global cinema, has died. He was 83.

Davis died Saturday evening following a battle with leukemia, his wife, Joann, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Davis, born in Washington, D.C., on March 10, 1943, received an undergraduate degree in English from Juniata College in Pennsylvania and a masters degree in Medieval Literature from the University of Maryland. He initially entered academia and rose to become chair of the theater department at Juniata. But a longstanding desire to write screenplays motivated him to relocate to Los Angeles in 1980, where, shortly after his arrival, he attended a party where he met someone whose wife worked at the Academy. That encounter led to Davis being hired, just weeks later, to arrange seminars and lectures for the organization.

Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Edward Field, one of the most accomplished American poets of the postwar era, whose award-winning work — characterized by everyday language and an openly gay landscape — was forged by nearly a century of living in bohemian New York, died on Sunday at his home in the West Village section of Manhattan. He was 102.

The death was confirmed by Roger Netzer, his close friend for several decades.

Mr. Field found his calling by happenstance. As a newly enlisted soldier boarding a troop train during World War II, he was handed a bag by a Red Cross worker. It contained a toothbrush, a comb, a candy bar and an anthology of poetry. Read more at the New York Times


Former Bears fullback Matt Suhey, who played on their 1985 championship team, died Sunday at 68, the team confirmed. He scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl XX on an 11-yard run as they rolled to a 46-10 win to capture the only Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.

Suhey played a decade with the Bears in the 1980s, including eight years as the lead blocker for Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. He was a key piece during their best run in modern history with five consecutive playoff appearances from 1984 through ’88.

There is a famous photo of Payton and Suhey at a practice in the spring of 1985 in which Suhey is lined up for a play and Payton is pulling his shorts down from behind with a big smile on his face. Former Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander wrote that they were “best buds” and, “Their affection for each other would become clearest when Payton was dying of liver cancer and Suhey was there to soothe his friend and run interference for him against the swarming media horde. Read more at Chicago.suntimes.com


Above: Don Wilhelms (at left) with a group of Apollo astronauts in the control room of the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope (MMP) at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) in 1964. Left to right: Donn Eiseie, Wilhems, Spencer Titley (University of Arizona), Ray Zedekar (NASA), Theodore Freeman, Frank Borman, Gene Cernan and Harold Masursky (USGS). (United States Geological Survey)

In 1962, the space program was really getting started. A friend told him that someone – Gene Shoemaker – was over at Caltech interviewing people for jobs in lunar geology with the USGS. Don got an interview with Gene.  

During the interview, Gene and Don discovered mutual interests in astronomy, Quaternary geology, geologic processes, and non-uniformitarianism, but Don did not receive a follow-up letter. This job, combining his old love of astronomy with his new immersion in geology was the only thing in life that Don really knew for certain that he wanted. He wrote Gene, restating his interest. Gene started the paperwork to hire Don in 1962. 

When Don was hired by the USGS, he was still writing his dissertation. Friday, Nov. 30, he turned in his dissertation, and drove to Menlo Park to begin work on Monday, Dec. 3, 1962. He was awarded his Ph.D. degree from UCLA in 1963.

Continue Reading at CollectSpace.com


The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has confirmed that, Ken Lancaster, the pilot killed in the crash of a privately owned small plane Monday afternoon was an off-duty air tanker pilot.

It occurred near Columbia Airport in Tuolumne County, California in the 23000 block of Seminole Drive, about a half mile north of the runway. Mr. Lancaster was flying the personal aircraft off-duty and was the only occupant.

The personnel who fly and maintain CAL FIRE’s S-2T air tankers and OV-10s work for Amentum. The Modesto Bee reported that the company said Mr. Lancaster began flying for the CAL FIRE program in 2016. He flew OV-10 air attack aircraft and later S-2T air tankers out of Columbia. Read complete report here….


Indigenous filmmaker and actor Georgina Lightning has died at the age of 63.

Her daughter, Crystle Lightning, announced the news online late Saturday night, just before 11 p.m., though no details about the cause of death were shared.

Social media posts link her death to the Enoch Indian Relay World Championship at the Enoch Park Race Track, an event Lightning posted about on her Facebook page just one day before her death was made public.

Enoch Cree Nation announced in a statement on Saturday that it “is mourning the loss of a community member following an incident that occurred during [Saturday’s] Indian relay event.” The nation did not confirm the identity of the person who died. Read More Here…


MEMPHIS, Tenn. — “Superstar” Bill Dundee, a Memphis wrestling legend has died at the age of 82, Memphis Wrestling has confirmed.

His son, Jamie Dundee, made the announcement on social media and said his father died at approximately 3:30 AM. No cause of death has been disclosed.

According to Wrestling Inc., the 9-time AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion was diagnosed with dementia in 2023.

Dundee was born in Angus, Scotland, and raised in Melbourne. At 16, he joined the circus as a trapeze artist. Read more here…


Shirley Strum Kenny with two of her predecessors as president of Stony Brook University, John H. Marburger (left) and John S. Toll (right) in 2007. Photo by Jeanne Neville.

A distinguished literary scholar and Stony Brook’s first humanist president, Kenny presided over a period in the university’s history that witnessed it undergo a significant metamorphosis.

“Dr. Kenny’s extraordinary leadership transformed this institution, and her legacy continues to define who we are today,” said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith in a message to the campus community. “She was a scholar of literature who understood the power of human connection and narrative. She was a leader who genuinely cared about people. She was a visionary who dared to imagine what Stony Brook could become, and then she built it.

“Shirley Strum Kenny will be remembered as a visionary leader who helped Stony Brook become the exceptional institution it is today. Her legacy will endure for generations to come.”

Continue to learn more…


Former Boston Red Sox manager Joe Morgan waves to fans as he is honored prior to a baseball game between the Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park in Boston on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. The Red Sox are celebrating the 25th anniversary of a streak in 1988 that began after Morgan became manager of the team. After general manager Lou Gorman appointed Morgan on July 14, 1988, to replace John McNamara, the Red Sox won 12 in a row, 19 of 20, and 19 straight at Fenway Park. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Former Boston Red Sox manager Joe Morgan waves to fans as he is honored prior to a baseball game between the Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park in Boston on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. The Red Sox are celebrating the 25th anniversary of a streak in 1988 that began after Morgan became manager of the team. After general manager Lou Gorman appointed Morgan on July 14, 1988, to replace John McNamara, the Red Sox won 12 in a row, 19 of 20, and 19 straight at Fenway Park. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

BOSTON —

Former Boston Red Sox manager Joe Morgan, a Walpole native whose name became synonymous with the 1988 team, has died at the age of 95. 

He spent 18 years with the club and was a 2006 Red Sox Hall of Fame inductee. 

“‘Morgan Magic’ is forever part of Red Sox lore,” Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner said in a statement. “Joe took over in 1988 and gave New England a summer it would never forget. How fitting that, in his final season watching the Red Sox, he saw another team respond to adversity with a remarkable run of its own. Joe gave us one of the great chapters in this club’s history, and we will always remember him for it. Our hearts are with his family.”

He made his place in Boston history after the team fired John McNamara and named Morgan interim manager.

Read more….


The pro wrestler “collapsed at the end of his match” with tag team partner Jesse Guilmette on Saturday, Sept. 5

The Butcher Vs Konosuke Takeshita during The AEW Wrestling Dynamite at The FLA Live Arena, Su

Andy “The Butcher” Williams died after collapsing during a wrestling match at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Pennsylvania on Sept. 5

  • “A trailblazing musician with ETID and Atomic Rule, Williams made a successful transition into the world of professional wrestling and was incredibly respected by his peers both in and out of the ring,” All Elite Wrestling wrote in a tribute post
  • The pro wrestler allegedly “hit his head on a ring post” before event staff administered CPR and rushed him to the hospital

Andy “The Butcher” Williams has died after collapsing during a wrestling match. He was 48. 

All Elite Wrestling announced his death on social media on Sunday, Sept. 6.

“A trailblazing musician with ETID and Atomic Rule, Williams made a successful transition into the world of professional wrestling and was incredibly respected by his peers both in and out of the ring,” the promoter wrote in a tribute post. “Our condolences go out to Williams’ family, friends and fans.”

Continue reading


Robin Morgan, a former editor-in-chief of Ms. Magazine who co-founded the Women’s Media Center with Ms. co-founder Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda, died today, September 5, just several days after the passing of her friend and colleague Steinem. Morgan was 85.

Her death was announced by her son Blake Morgan and Julie Burton, president and CEO of the Women’s Media Center. A cause of death was not disclosed, but her son noted that she died peacefully in her sleep. Robin Morgan was in her second decade of living with Parkinson’s Disease. Continue reading at deadline.com


This undated photo taken with a smartphone, provided by Stacy Cherwoo on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, shows Vin Cherwoo, an Associated Press sports editor and writer, and the president of the News Media Guild. (Stacy Cherwoo via AP)
This undated photo taken with a smartphone, provided by Stacy Cherwoo on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, shows Vin Cherwoo, an Associated Press sports editor and writer, and the president of the News Media Guild. (Stacy Cherwoo via AP)

Vin Cherwoo, a trusted editor and writer for The Associated Press sports desk for more than three decades and the president of the News Media Guild, has died. He was 56.

Cherwoo died early Friday in Tampa, Florida, following a long illness, said his wife, Stacy. He had been hospitalized since May.

Known affectionately as “Woo” by many colleagues and friends, Cherwoo was a reliable mainstay of the sports department’s night editing crew.

Cherwoo was elected president of the News Media Guild, Local 31222, in 2020 and was reelected in 2024. It was a role for which he often expressed pride, and even while he was ill, he repeatedly mentioned to friends how much he looked forward to returning to his work with the union.

Read complete report from the Associated Press.


Cornelius Cash Jr., a former Bowling Green State University standout who played in the NBA and professionally overseas, died Aug. 31 in Dayton, Ohio. He was 74.

Cash was born March 3, 1952, and grew up in Dayton, where he became one of the leading basketball players of his generation at Dunbar High School. A 6-foot-8 forward, he averaged 18.2 points and 15.1 rebounds as a senior and helped Dunbar reach the Ohio Class AAA state championship game. 

Cash was twice named first-team All-City and earned two Journal Herald Area All-Star selections, two All-Greater Dayton selections and second-team All-Ohio honors


Amber Eggers dead; Love After Lockup
Amber Eggers on ‘Love After Lockup’We TV/YouTube screen capture

Amber Eggers, who appeared in the 2019 season of the WEtv’s reality series Love After Lockup, died Thursday, September 3, of acute liver failure at a hospital in Georgia. She was 41.

Her death was announced by friends on social media and confirmed to TMZ by her mother Monica Eggers.

Continue reading on deadline.com


Richard O’Sullivan, the British actor whose Man About the House character, Robin Tripp, provided the inspiration for John Ritter’s signature Three’s Company role, has died. He was 82.

O’Sullivan died Friday surrounded by close family at Brinsworth House, a care home in west London, according to BBC News. He had lived there for 23 years after suffering a stroke in 2003. A cause of death wasn’t given.

“My dad was as funny and charming in real life as he appeared on our TV screens over the years,” said his son, James, in a statement. “Although much of his career happened before I was born, I was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy and witness his incredible talents on the countless reruns of his shows that made him the respected and loved actor that he was.”

Continue reading about O’Sullivan at the Hollywood Reporter


Raffaele Annecchino, the Italian-born former president and CEO of Paramount International, died suddenly over the weekend while on vacation in the Balearic Islands from meningitis, his friend and colleague Claudia Loda announced. He was 55.

Over more than 25 years at Paramount and Viacom/CBS starting in the late 1990s, Annecchino rose from an early commercial role in Madrid to oversee the company’s operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

As head of Paramount International, Annecchino helped the company transition from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms. He led the overseas rollout of Paramount+, supported the global expansion of Pluto TV and championed innovation, digitization and strategic partnerships.

Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Former Hephzibah High School football player Arthur Marshall, 57, passed away Wednesday after a battle with stomach cancer.

Marshall is regarded as a legend at Hephzibah High School, recently being inducted into their hall of fame in 2023. The class of ’87 alum played wide receiver for the University of Georgia and would also find success at the NFL level, playing for the Giants and Broncos.

“When he touched the field, you knew he was on the field,” current Hephzibah head coach Daniel Dorsey said. “He made a difference, whether it was offense, defense or special teams. He was just a special player all around.”

After his pro career, Marshall would return to the CSRA, giving back to the community that raised him.

“I think he touched a lot of people through his play on the field, but also through giving back to the community,” Dorsey said. I think for a while, he came back; he actually helped coach here at his alma mater, and then he’s also giving back in different ways, whether it’s financially or through gifts or whatnot. I just think his name alone brings smiles to people around, the people he’s touched.”

Current Dorsey speaks to what he wants his players today to take away from Marshall’s story.

Continue reading at wfxg.com


TOKYO (AP) — Japanese scientist Hideki Shirakawa, co-winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry for discovering and developing conductive polymers, has died. He was 90.

The discovery by Shirakawa and two fellow American scientists, Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid, demonstrated that plastic could conduct electricity like metal and be used in applications such as electronics.

Shirakawa died on Aug. 24, according to the University of Tsukuba, where he taught and researched after joining in 1979. The university did not specify a cause of death. Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, said Shirakawa died at a hospital in Yokohama, west of Tokyo.

Continue reading at the Associated Press…


NORFOLK, Va. — Edythe Harrison, who once represented Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates and whose name adorns the city’s opera house, has died at the age of 91.

Edythe Harrison WTAR archive

An obituary reveals Harrison died on Monday, September 1.

According to the obituary, Harrison and her husband, Stanley, moved to Norfolk from Detroit in 1956. In the 1960s, she gained notoriety as a champion of the civil rights movement.

Then, in 1974, she organized the creation of the Virginia Opera Association and became its first board chair. In the 1990s, Harrison raised millions of dollars to help convert Norfolk’s Center Theater into a home for the Virginia Opera. The Harrison Opera House — named for Edythe and Stanley — still serves as a principal venue for the opera and countless other performances.

“Edie’s legacy is deeply intertwined with Virginia Opera,” opera General Director John-Paul Schaefer said in a statement. “Her leadership, vision, and belief in the importance of the arts helped shape not only our organization, but the cultural life of our Commonwealth. That extraordinary legacy is permanently reflected in the Edythe C. and Stanley L. Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, which has been Virginia Opera’s headquarters and a gathering place for generations of artists and audiences.”

Continue reading at wtkr.com


JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Enos Mafokate, South Africa’s first Black show jumping champion and veteran equestrian, has died at the age of 80, his family announced on Thursday.

Mafokate broke racial barriers in a sport that was dominated by white riders during South Africa’s decades of apartheid. He was widely known as “Kgosi ya Dipere,” a Sesotho language phrase which translates to ”King of Horses.”

“His journey was shaped by several leading figures in South African equestrian sport who recognised his extraordinary ability and, at critical moments, supported him as he challenged the racial barriers of the time,” his family said in statement. Read more at the Associated Press.


Gloria Steinem speaks onstage at the Ms. Foundation for Women 2017 Gloria Awards Gala & After Party at Capitale on May 3, 2017, in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Gloria Steinem speaks onstage at the Ms. Foundation for Women 2017 Gloria Awards Gala & After Party at Capitale on May 3, 2017, in New York City.

Gloria Steinem, a trailblazing journalist and activist who devoted her life to fighting for women’s rights, died on Wednesday. She was 92.

Her passing was announced in a statement posted on her Instagram. It did not give a cause of death.

“Gloria Steinem passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her,” the post read.

At 81, Feminist Gloria Steinem Finds Herself Free Of The 'Demands Of Gender'

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS 

At 81, Feminist Gloria Steinem Finds Herself Free Of The ‘Demands Of Gender’

Starting in the 1960s, at a time when women were largely limited to domestic roles, Steinem challenged gender stereotypes and championed feminist ideals like equality, sisterhood and reproductive freedom. In doing so, she inspired generations of women to do the same. Today, she’s a household name that is synonymous with the women’s rights movement. Continue reading at NPR.ORG


Carla Jeffery Dies: Actor In Disney’s ‘Zombies’ Franchise & ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Was 33

Carla Jeffery, who played Bree in Disney’s Zombies movies and 2024 animated series and earlier recurred on Curb Your Enthusiasm, died September 1. She was 33.

Her longtime reps at Alexanders Talent Management announced the news on social media but did not provide a cause or place of death. Read more at deadline.com



BRONCOS

Former Broncos DB Alphonso Smith dead at 40 after heartbreaking Facebook post

Former Denver Broncos cornerback Alphonso Smith has died at age 40, according to a report from TMZ Sports.

The NFL world is in morning on Wednesday evening, following a tragic report from TMZ Sports. Former NFL defensive back Alphonso Smith Jr. has died at age 40.

Smith, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second-round of the 2009 NFL Draft before being traded to the Denver Broncos, was found dead on Wednesday at a housing community in Florida.

Prior to his death, Smith made an alarming post on social media showing his fragile emotional state.

His official cause of death has been confirmed.

Continue reading at Yahoo!Sports


Ted Cramer also known as Cary Maurice Forester Tricarico

Ted Cramer, also known as Cary Maurice Forester Tricarico, passed away on Tuesday (Aug. 25) at the Center for Hospice Care- Esther’s House in Elkhart, Indiana. He was 65.

Cramer served as Program Director of WIFE and WLPK in Indiana. He was a part of the MusicRowCountryBreakout Radio Chart panel, and was selected as MusicRow‘s Reporter of the Year in 2021 for his passion.

Beginning his radio career at 17, Cramer spent time at various stations in the country before his time in Indiana.

Cramer is survived by his children, Jensine Tricarico and her partner Marc Wertenberger of Elkhart, IN., Janyce (Zachary) Logan of Elkhart, IN and Jaison Spink of Las Vegas, NV; his grandchildren, Kyle (Mallory) Cannon, Evangeline Hesselgrave, Matthew Cannon, Brendon Hesselgrave, Ozzie Wertenberger, Graysen Hesselgrave and Adilyne Logan, one great-grandchild, Khylen Cannon and one on the way, and his brother Scott (Lisa) Tricarico. Cary was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth Forest and Rhoda and John Tricarico and his baby boy, John Tricarico. Continue reading on MusicRow.com


(September 2, 2026) She was a singer’s singer, one of those artists who seemed to be as admired by peers as by fans. Today we are sad to pass on the news of the passing of singer Cassandra Wilson at age 70.

With her unmistakably deep, smoky voice and adventurous approach to song interpretation, Wilson became one of the most acclaimed jazz vocalists of the 1990s and beyond. Her death was reported by Jackson, Mississippi television station WLBT following a statement from Mayor John Horhn.

Born in Jackson, Wilson began playing piano and guitar as a child before developing as a vocalist. After spending time performing in New Orleans, she moved to New York in the early 1980s, where she became associated with saxophonist Steve Coleman and the influential M-Base Collective, an experimental group of young musicians that also included Greg Osby and Geri Allen.

Wilson recorded several albums during the 1980s, but her career took a major leap with her 1993 Blue Note debut, Blue Light ’Til Dawn. Working with producer Craig Street, she created a spare, roots-oriented sound that brought blues, folk and R&B into contemporary jazz, while transforming songs by artists ranging from Robert Johnson to Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell. The album was both a critically and commercial success, became one of the defining works of her career. Continue reading here…


French director and screenwriter Jean-Paul Rappeneau, who was best known internationally for the 1990 Oscar-nominated drama Cyrano de Bergerac, died on September 2 his family has announced. He was 94.

Born on April 8, 1932 in the town of Auxerre in central France, Rappeneau’s career spanned more than 50 years of French cinema history.

His early screenwriting credits include Louis Malle’s Zazie in the Metro((1960)and A Very Private Affair (1962) as well as Philippe de Broca’s classic thriller That Man From Rio starring Jean-Paul Belmondo. Continue reading at deadline.com



Former British boxer Jimmy Batten has passed away at the age of 70.

The ex-British light-middleweight champion had been battling brain damage from his boxing career, as well as Parkinson’s disease.

He made a name for himself in the 1970s and 1980s, and had his most famous fight in 1982 when he lost against Roberto Duran via unanimous decision. Many had expected him to lose early, having been stopped by Mario Maldonado in the first round just six months earlier, but a gutsy performance saw him take it all the way. Continue reading at the DailyMail.com


Noted UNC history professor drowns in Chapel Hill lake

Konrad Jarausch died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, while swimming in Chapel Hill’s Eastwood Lake.

Contributed UNC-Chapel Hill Chapel Hill police have identified an 85-year-old man who drowned while swimming in a neighborhood lake Tuesday as a prominent, longtime UNC history professor. A 911 caller reported that the man, Konrad Jarausch, went missing in Eastwood Lake, off South Lakeshore Drive, around 11 a.m., Chapel Hill police said in a news release.

Read more at newsobserver.com


Calls for ‘fitting tribute’ to goalkeeping legend

Getty Images Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight, circa 1980. He has medium length blonde hair.
Alan Knight made 801 appearances for Pompey – the record for a keeper at a single English club

Football fans have called for a permanent tribute to honour their former goalkeeper, known as The Legend. 

Alan Knight played 801 games for Portsmouth Football Club in a career which stretched from 1978 to 2000 – a record for a keeper at a single English club.

The 65-year-old died on Tuesday after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024. Fans and former players have been remembering Knight who they have described as “a proper Pompey man”. 

“I don’t know why there wouldn’t be a statue of Alan Knight, I don’t know why there wouldn’t be a stand named after him,” said Joe Hepworth, a lifelong Portsmouth fan.

He said the news of Knight’s death was “devastating to the whole Pompey family and the wider city as well” and he is one of a number of fans calling for “a fitting tribute” to the keeper.

The club is yet to announce any plans for a permanent tribute to Knight but Hepworth acknowledged that perhaps the most important legacy was that the former player “had the opportunity during life to feel the love from the supporters”. Continue reading at BBC.com


Hinson Mosley, 93, of Jesup, Ga. passed away, Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The Jeff Davis native was the youngest of 5 children born to Nan Lou Mosley and Robert Mosley. 

After finishing school in Screven, Hinson worked 3 years with Atlantic Coast Railroad, then served 4 years with the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Upon home from the military, he went to work with Rayonier, where he worked for 37 years and retired in 1994. During this time, he took night courses from Waycross College, graduated from Foxboro Instrumentation School, and ran the family farm.

Hinson was an active member of Odum Baptist Church. He was a charter member of the Young Farmers, served on the Supervisory Committee of the Altamaha Federal Credit Union, and active in the Local 787, and the Screven Masonic Lodge 368, where he recently was awarded his 50 year apron.

In 1992, Hinson was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives and served for 14 years on several committees, but primarily the Appropriations Committee, where he chaired the Game, Fish, and Parks Committee, and the Transportation Committee, where he was Vice-Chairman. Much of the area’s four lane highways on Highway 84 and 301 in Wayne County bears the mark of his hard work and dedication.

In 2007, after he retired from the Legislature, Hinson was elected to the Board of Directors of the Satilla REMC, where he served as a Vice-Chairman until he retired. His goal was always to serve people with honesty and integrity, and a friend called him truly, “the people’s representative”. Read more about Hinson here…


Victor Miller
Victor Miller Courtesy

Victor Miller, the screenwriter behind Friday the 13th, has died. He was 86.

Miller’s son Ian confirmed his father had died on Monday, August 30, but didn’t reveal the cause of death.

“Yesterday my father, Victor Miller, went to his final reward,” read the Instagram post in honor of the screenwriter. “He was almost always the smartest, funniest person in whatever room he was in. He inspired in me, and many others, a love of photography, music, and storytelling.” Continue reading at deadline.com


Pat Enright

Grammy winning musician Pat Enright died last week at age 81.

Pat Enright was an Indiana native who took up acoustic guitar in high school. The folk-revival movement of the 1960s led him to bluegrass music. He moved to the Bay Area in 1969 and formed Phantoms of the Opry with future West Coast bluegrass star Laurie Lewis.

He was best known as the co-founder of The Nashville Bluegrass Band. The group is the most awarded ensemble in bluegrass-music history. Enright was also a member of The Soggy Bottom Boys in the O Brother Where Art Thou film and its Grammy-winning Album of the Year soundtrack.

In Boston, he joined Tasty Licks alongside Béla Fleck, Mark Schatz, and Jack Tottle. The group recorded two Rounder albums in 1978-79. He formed the Dreadful Snakes in Nashville in 1983. Other luminaries in that band included Jerry Douglas, Blaine Sprouse and Mark Hembree, along with veteran Roland White. The band was primarily a part-time endeavor, although its shows at The Station Inn and its album, Snakes Alive, were delightfully influential.

Read more at MusicRow.com


Find More Notable Death Announcements as You Scroll Down This Page…Those Who Lived So Well They Deserved To Be Recollected For The Collections Of Memories They Collected In Life…


Vernell Hackett, a beloved journalist and author, passed away on Aug. 14 after going into cardiac arrest atChicago airport en route to Mexico for vacation. She was 77.

Hackett’s legacy as a country music writer included time as editor of Country News, Country Rhythms and American Songwriter magazines. She was a founder of American Songwriter, and helmed the publication as editor-in-chief for more than a decade. Hackett also freelanced for many other publications and syndicators throughout her career, and mentored many young reporters.

A native of Riesel, Texas, Hackett has originally planned to be a crime reporter, inspired by her brother Bubba, a Houston police office. After college, she and her husband Ken moved to Buffalo, New York before relocating to Nashville, where her career as a music journalist began. Hackett took a job at Top Billing International, working for legendary booking agent Tandy Rice, who represented Dolly Parton, Jim Ed Brown, Jerry Clower, Porter Wagoner, Jeannie C. Riley, Tom T. Hall and more. She later worked in the communications department at the Country Music Association.

Read more at MusicRow.com


A heart attack on the evening of August 30, 2026, took one of Catalonia’s most versatile screen actors at the height of a decades-long career. Francesc Garrido, known for his commanding presence across Spanish film and television, died at age 56.

Born in Barcelona on September 7, 1969, Garrido trained at the city’s Institut del Teatre before furthering his craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He made his feature film debut in The City of Marvels in 1999, going on to build a substantial filmography that included Smoking Room, The Sea Inside, and a role as Martín Saldaña in the sweeping historical drama Alatriste. His film credits also spanned Theresa: The Body of Christ, 25 Carat, Falling Star, and Barcelona 1714, work that earned him recognition among Catalonia’s leading character actors. Learn more at That Eric Alper

 Times Square Knife Standoff, Fla. Flock Camera Order, Tesla Driver Hits Officer’s Bike TwiceOfficer Newsday eNL | View online https://www.officer.com header logofacebook icontwitter iconinstagram iconlinkedin iconyoutube iconSeptember 1, 2026U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Officer David TaylorFederal Wildlife Officer Dies Helping Residents Escape Okla. WildfireU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Officer David Taylor died while helping residents evacuate from a wildfire in southwestern Oklahoma, making his last radio contact as he assisted a family leaving a threatened home.Read More


Sheri Herman
Sheri HermanCourtesy

Sheri Herman, the cable executive involved in the launches of E! Entertainment television, the Fashion Channel and American Cybercast, has died. Herman suffered heart failure in her sleep in Florida on August 6th, her family announced. She was 71.

Born on May 21, 1955, Herman graduated magna cum laude from Temple University. Soon after college, she got a job as a TV commercials producer at AC&R in New York. Continue reading at deadline.com


President Barack Obama presents the 2010 National Humanities Medal to Wendell E. Berry during a White House ceremony in 2011.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

President Barack Obama presents the 2010 National Humanities Medal to Wendell E. Berry during a White House ceremony in 2011.

Novelist and poet Wendell Berry spent his life farming his land for food and for prose. It was land his family farmed and lived on for seven generations before him, in Henry County Kentucky.

He died at his home in Port Royal, Kentucky at age 92. 

Berry started his career as a writer as an academic. He studied at the University of Kentucky, then Stanford, and had taken a prestigious position as an English professor at New York University by the time he was 28. But city life was never for him. Continue reading at npr.org


Kippy Brown, who was the Houston Texans‘ first wide receivers coach and later interviewed for the team’s head coaching job, died this week at 71 years old.

Brown spent 22 seasons as an NFL assistant, including four years with the Texans, beginning when Dom Capers hired him in February 2002, seven months before the franchise’s first game.

Brown served three stints as wide receivers coach for the Vols from 1983-89, 1993-94 and 2009. A Sweetwater, Tennessee native, he helped establish Wide Receiver U at Tennessee.

Brown served as Tennessee’s interim head coach after the Vols parted ways with Phillip Fulmer in 2008. Read more


Phillies Legend Larry Christenson Passes Away at 72

The Philadelphia Phillies have announced the passing of former pitcher Larry Christenson.

Philadelphia Phillies

Terry Francona on Reds’ Loss to Phillies

Aug 7, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Larry Christenson acknowledges the crowd during Alumni Day ceremony before game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies family has suffered a great loss, with the team announcing that former pitcher Larry Christenson has died at the age of 72.

He passed away unexpectedly on Friday during a fishing trip with his family and friends while in Washington, according to the team. No other details were provided at the time, but a statement was released via ESPN.

“The club and its fans are forever grateful for his contributions and the legacy he leaves behind in Philadelphia. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Larry’s beloved daughters, Claire and Libby, his extended family and friends, and former teammates at this difficult time.”

Christenson spent 11 seasons in the Major Leagues, all of them with the Phillies, after being selected in the first round, No. 3 overall, out of Marysville High School in Marysville, Washington. He was a part of the 1980 World Series-winning squad and the team that won the National League pennant in 1983. Continue reading at Sports Illustrated ( si.com )


Country music singer Frankie Miller dies at 95

Frankie Miller

BRADY, Texas (WTVF) — Country music singer and songwriter Frankie Miller has died at the age of 95.

Miller passed away from natural causes at his home on Saturday, according to Heart of Texas Records President Tracy Pitcox.

“Frankie had just completed work and released his biography, ‘The Blackland Farmer: Life Among Country Music Legends,’ written by Greg Wilson,” Pitcox said. “He remained active in the industry and continued to enjoy making music into his 90s.”

Pitcox added that Miller performed with longtime friend Willie Nelson at the Luck Reunion festival just a few years ago. Continue reading at NewsChannel5.com


Jazz Guitar Today pays tribute to a truly great guitarist, Gene Bertoncini. RIP

Guitar great Gene Bertoncini died in New York City on August 29, 2026.  He was born in New York City in 1937.  Gene started on the guitar at age seven and, by age sixteen, was occasionally appearing on television.  His first guitar teacher was the great Johnny Smith.  He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Architectural Engineering.  Later, while studying with another guitar great, Chuck Wayne, Chuck had Gene listen to classical guitarist Julian Bream; Gene fell in love with the sound of fingerstyle nylon-string guitar and devoted his life and musical approach to performing jazz on the nylon string.

Gene was an early member of the Tonight Show Band when it was broadcast from New York, and he has performed with literally a Who’s Who of great jazz artists. When one hears Gene perform, the logic of his “Architectural Mind” is tastefully reflected in his playing. Continue reading at JazzGuitarToday.Com


 Anna Louizos, Scenic Designer for Broadway’s ‘In the Heights,’ ‘School of Rock’ and ‘Avenue Q,’ Dies at 69


 Andrea Eastman, Casting Director on ‘The Godfather’ and Former ICM Agent, Dies at 86



Marty Nadler, Writer, Producer and Longtime Garry Marshall Contributor, Dies at 80

The stand-up comedian worked with his fellow Bronx native on ‘Happy Days,’ ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ ‘Pretty Woman,’ ‘The Princess Diaries 2’ and more.


Continue to scroll down this page for full length obituaries. Where those memories are collected and shared with you. The memories of those who mattered!

Marty Nadler

Marty Nadler, the writer, producer and stand-up comedian who collaborated with Garry Marshall on projects including Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride for more than four decades, has died. He was 80.

Nadler died Wednesday in Margate, Florida, of complications from the autoimmune disorder myasthenia gravis, his son, Charlie Nadler, announced.

Starting in the 1970s, Nadler served as lead writer on several sitcoms produced by fellow Bronx native Marshall, including Who’s Watching the Kids and Blansky’s Beauties, and warmed up the audience on many of those shows as well.

Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter…


Professor Ada Yonath, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 and the Israel Prize in Chemistry in 2002, died on Monday at age 87.

Israeli Nobel laureate Ada Yonath pictured in 2016.
Israeli Nobel laureate Ada Yonath pictured in 2016.(photo credit: NOAH SEELAM/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)ByJAMES GENNAUGUST 31, 2026 19:09Updated: AUGUST 31, 2026 20:44

Born in Jerusalem, Yonath worked at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot’s Structural Biology and Chemistry Department, where she led the Ribosome Group, according to the institute’s website.

A ribosome is a “tiny particle made up of RNA and proteins that specialize in protein synthesis and are found free or bound to the endoplasmic reticulum within cells,” according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Read more here…


For the second time this month, LSU has lost a legend.

Jerry Stovall has died. His No. 21 hangs above Tiger Stadium’s south endzone. He was 85 years old.

Stovall was a unanimous All-American for the Tigers in 1962. He was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and won the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy the same season. 

John David Mercer-USA TODAY

He went on to be the second overall pick in the 1963 NFL Draft and was a three-time Pro Bowler with the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL. 

After his eight-year playing career, Stovall returned to LSU as an assistant coach under Charles McClendon. When Bo Rein tragically died in a plane crash, Stovall was named the head coach of his alma mater in 1980. He coached four seasons with a record of 22-21-2.

In 1990, he was named Director of Athletics for Louisiana Tech. Continue reading here…


Police Officer Christopher DeLong Jr. was shot and killed responding to a domestic disturbance near the 900 block of Hazelwood Road, in the Southeast Park area, at approximately 10:41 a.m.

Officer DeLong had initially responded to a report of property damage from a domestic dispute. After leaving the original call, he identified a subject and vehicle matching the reported description at a nearby location and called it in. When backup officers arrived a few minutes later, Officer DeLong and another officer had been shot. Officer DeLong succumbed to his wounds at the scene. Continue reading at the Officer Down Memorial Page…

The suspect died at the scene.


Granville Leonard Straker, the Vincentian-born music producer and entrepreneur whose influential Straker’s Records helped bring generations of calypso and soca artists to international audiences, has died. He was 86.

Straker died on Aug. 27, according to his family, which announced his passing in a statement.

Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 12, 1939, Straker became one of the most influential figures in the production, preservation and distribution of Caribbean music, building an operation that connected artists from the region with audiences throughout the diaspora.Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 12, 1939, Straker became one of the most influential figures in the production, preservation and distribution of Caribbean music, building an operation that connected artists from the region with audiences throughout the diaspora. Read more here…


Goodbye Dolly

Read the Complete Associated Press Report on Dolly Parton — The Day the Bell of Country Music Stopped Ringing, Not Just in the South, but Around the World

CLICK HERE!


W8media The "HELCH" graffiti in Windsor being removed at a cost of ??10,000
Rest in Paint: Helch has passed away (Picture: W8media)

An elusive graffiti artist who covered London in his enormous tags has passed away.

Helch, who has tagged incredible spots across east London, and Windsor, had just began selling prints at a gallery.

His death was annnounced shocking the graffiti and artist community who shared ‘Rest in Paint’ in heartfelt tributes.

One particularly large Helch even had to be removed from a railway viaduct near Windsor Castle recently – with the Queen reportedly ‘upset’ that it was spoiling the view of the royal residence. Continue reading…


David Fair, one half of the legendary indie rock outfit Half Japanese has died.

Along with his brother Jad, the two formed Half Japanese in the mid-seventies. Considered to be one of the greatest underground bands of all time, the Half Japanese journey began with the 1977 EP Calling All Girls and from there they went on to release classic albums like 1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts, Sing No Evil and Music To Strip By. 

Along with Godley & Creme’s 1977 effort Consequences and Carla Bley’s Escalator Over The Hill (1971) Half Japanese are only one of a handful of artists to release a triple album as their debut. Low-fi, experimental and idiosyncratic, the music of Half Japanese eludes the cultural timeline and due to its DIY approach, remains fresh, vital and dynamic. Continue reading here…


Indigenous Australian boxing great Tony Mundine has died, aged 75.

The father of former boxer and NRL star Anthony Mundine succumbed to a heart attack on Sunday.

Born in Baryulgil, near Grafton in northern NSW, Tony Mundine was the first Australian to fight in four different weight divisions, challenging for the world middleweight title against Argentina’s Carlos Monzon in 1974, in a bout stopped in the seventh round.

Mundine leaves a significant boxing legacy. Anthony was an IBO middleweight and WBA super-middleweight world champion, whose son Rahim won his fourth career fight from as many professional bouts on the Gold Coast only last week. Read more at Startsat60.com


By Unknown author – Wrestling Monthly, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121635525

A cornerstone of Canadian professional wrestling has died. Paul LeDuc, one half of the legendary LeDuc Brothers tag team, passed away on the morning of August 30, 2026, at age 89.

Born on November 10, 1936, in Mont-Louis, Quebec, LeDuc began wrestling professionally in 1957 at just 18 years old, training first in Montreal before continuing his education in Mexico. He went on to convince his close friend Michel Pigeon to join him in the ring, and the pair, though not actually related, presented themselves as brothers under the ring names Paul and Jos LeDuc. Trained in part by the legendary Stu Hart, the duo debuted together in Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, adopting a lumberjack gimmick as a tribute to the late wrestler “Yukon” Eric Holmback, and captured the promotion’s International Tag Team Championship.

Continue reading at That Eric Alper


New Orleans Rapper Wacko of UTP Has Passed Away

Wacko (of UTP / UTP Playas), a New Orleans rapper closely tied to the early-2000s Uptown/Magnolia scene and best known for his role on the classic “Nolia Clap,” has been the subject of circulating reports of his death as of August 28, 2026. Details remain unconfirmed by major outlets or official family statements at the time of those reports.

UTP (short for Uptown Project or Uptown Project Playas) was a Southern hip-hop/gangsta rap collective from New Orleans formed around 2002 by Juvenile (Terius Gray) after he left Cash Money Records. The initial lineup included Juvenile, Wacko, Skip, Corey Cee, Soulja Slim, and Young Buck. It was rooted in the Magnolia Projects (and broader Uptown) culture, reflecting street life, local pride, bounce influences, and the hard realities of New Orleans in that era. Continue reading…


James Walsh, whose many Broadway producing credits in the 1980s and ’90s included the Tony Award-winning productions of 1986’s I’m Not Rappaportstarring Judd Hirsch and 1989’s Pulitzer-winning The Heidi Chronicles, died of sepsis Thursday, August 27, in New York City. He was 89.

His death was announced by his wife, the Emmy- and Oscar-winning casting director Juliet Taylor.

Born May 6, 1937, in Antonito, CO, Walsh attended UCLA before beginning his career as a Ford Foundation intern for administration in the arts at the Metropolitan Opera from 1961-1963. He then worked at the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center under Robert Whitehead and Elia Kazan, helping to manage their repertory company based in Greenwich Village at the ANTA Theatre while the Vivian Beaumont was still under construction. ANTA productions included such future stars as Faye Dunaway, Jason Robards and Roy Scheider. Continue reading at deadline.com


Judge Jackie Glass, the former Clark County judge who hosted the syndicated court show Swift Justice, has died. She was 70.

Glass died on Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, TMZ reported after Glass’ daughter Rachel Wolfson posted a tribute to her late mother on social media.

“RIP my rock,” wrote Wolfson on Facebook. “I don’t know how I’ll do this life without you, I love you so much mommy Jackie Glass, I’ll see you again someday.” Continue reading at deadline.com


Bill Doba was a good man.

• That’s the bottom line, isn’t it? The other stuff, the football successes, the end-of-career losses, the flotsam and jetsam that swirls around a college football program and seems so important at the time, all immaterial.

Bill Doba was a good man. That’s how I’ll remember him. And how an overwhelming majority of those he interacted with in his long Washington State career will as well.

Doba died Friday. He was 85. His obituary is filled with facts about his Cougar defenses, his tenure as head coach, the Holiday Bowl win, the Apple Cup upsets. But really matters was his character. How he treated others. How he lived his life.

In all those things, he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Continue reading at spokesman.com


Larry Christenson #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1975 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Christenson played for the Phillies from 1973-83.
Larry Christenson #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the New York Mets.Credit : Focus on Sport/Getty

Larry Christenson, a World Series champion with the Philadelphia Phillies, has died. He was 72. 

The Philadelphia Phillies announced in an X post that the former pitcher died unexpectedly during a fishing trip with family and friends in Washington state on Friday, Aug. 28. No additional details about the circumstances of his death were immediately shared.

After being selected by the Philadelphia team in the third round of the 1972 MLB Draft, the Washington native made his big league debut on April 13, 1973, against the New York Mets at the age of 19. During his debut, Christenson earned the win in a complete game effort.  Continue reading at People.com


Norway’s King Harald V dies at 89 and his son becomes King Haakon VIII

King Harald V of Norway, who went into exile in the United States as a child during the Nazi occupation of his homeland and refused a string of European noblewomen to marry his school sweetheart, died Friday. He was 89. (Produced by Elaine Carroll)

Norway's King Harald arrives at a central London hotel for a pre-royal wedding dinner hosted by Lady Elizabeth Anson and attended by members of the British royal family and foreign royal families, in London, on April, 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Norway’s King Harald arrives at a central London hotel for a pre-royal wedding dinner hosted by Lady Elizabeth Anson and attended by members of the British royal family and foreign royal families, in London, on April, 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

King Harald V of Norway and his wife Sonja leave the Notre Dame cathedral after attending at the funeral of the Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, in Luxembourg, on May 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Flowers and Norway’s flags are laid at the Palace Square in Oslo, Friday, Aug. 26, 2026 (Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB Scanpix via AP)

Norway's Crown Prince Harald, with his wife Crown Princess Sonja, present their new daughter Princess Martha Louise, in the Central Hospital, Oslo, Sept. 25, 1971, Princess Martha was born on Sept. 22. (AP Photo, file)

Norway’s Crown Prince Harald, with his wife Crown Princess Sonja, present their new daughter Princess Martha Louise, in the Central Hospital, Oslo, Sept. 25, 1971, Princess Martha was born on Sept. 22. (AP Photo, file)

Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja arrive at a gala dinner to celebrate their 80th birthdays, at the Royal Palace in Oslo, May 9, 2017. (Haakon Mosvold Larsen/NTB Scanpix via AP, File)

STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — King Harald V of Norway, who went into exile in the United States as a child during the Nazi occupation of his homeland and refused a string of potential brides from the European nobility so he could marry his longtime sweetheart, died Friday. He was 89.

The palace said he died at the National Hospital in Oslo at 6:35 a.m.

Harald was Europe’s oldest monarch. The popular king modernized the royal house but refused to follow in the footsteps of other aging monarchs who have abdicated in recent times. His son automatically became King Haakon VIII.

Like other royal houses in Europe, the Norwegian monarchs serve a largely symbolic role, enjoying celebrity status while real power in the democracy of 5.5 million rests with an elected parliament. Harald was crowned after his British-born father, King Olav V, died in January 1991, and reigned during an oil-and-gas-driven economic boom in his country.

Read more at the Associated Press…


Pierce Thiot
Pierce Thiot KATHLEEN SWANSON

Pierce Thiot, who as the head of creative for brand and entertainment at the film, television and marketing company Maximum Effort helped launch some of the most culturally relevant brand campaigns in recent memory, has died.

He was 40.

Thiot died Tuesday at his home in Orem, Utah, from a pulmonary embolism, the company told The Hollywood Reporter.

“Pierce Thiot was a shining light of creativity, kindness and hard work. It is impossible to imagine the world, let alone our company, without him,” Maximum Effort co-founders Ryan Reynolds and George Dewey said in a statement. “Pierce was incredibly accomplished before he came to Maximum Effort, having worked on Apple, Nike, Gatorade, Coca-Cola and created the viral sensation ‘Will It Beard?’ In his almost five years at Maximum Effort, he created countless creative moments for brands like Doordash, L’Oreal, Mint, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and most recently Coyote vs. Acme. Continue reading at the Hollywood Reporter….


Former Ohio Senator and Representative Ray Miller (D-Columbus)

A longtime Democratic state lawmaker who served two dozen years in the Ohio Legislature has passed away. Ray Miller passed away early Friday morning.

Miller served sixteen years in the Ohio House plus another eight in the Ohio Senate, where he was minority leader. But before he served there, he interned for Democratic former Gov. Dick Celeste before he became governor, when he was in the legislature.

“I was a freshman legislator, and he was a recent OSU graduate, and he came to the General Assembly, and he wanted to work for a member of the legislature,” Celeste said in an interview. “Fortunately, Vern Riffe and A.G. Lancione pointed him in my direction. And I found myself with an intern who became a lot more than an intern.”

Later, when Miller was in the legislature, he worked on key legislation which Celeste signed into law. Continue reading at statenews.org


Jacques Doucet, the 'Voice of the Expos' for 33 seasons, dies at 86
The 2020 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jacques Doucet, left, shares a moment with 2023 inductee Joe Wiwchar in St. Marys, Ont., on Saturday, June 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne.Nicole Osborne

MONTREAL – On Oct. 3, 2004, Marc Griffin, an analyst on Montreal Expos radio broadcasts, ended the final report in the baseball club’s history with the words: “Let me remind you of the final score: 1969-2004.”

Today, he could end his report by saying “1940-2026.”

Griffin’s longtime broadcast partner and mentor Jacques Doucet, known as the “Voice of the Expos” after calling the team’s games for 33 seasons, died Thursday evening at the age of 86.

His daughter Martine confirmed his death on social media Friday. The cause was not disclosed, but Doucet revealed in 2024 that he had Alzheimer’s disease. Read more here…thestar.com


Terry (back left) is pictured with his 1983/84 squad: Standing - Terry Matthews, John Smith, Kim Russell, Tony Rogers, Mark Armstrong, Lee Murcott, Graham Dockrill, Ian North, Chris Bushell, Brian Reed. Kneeling: Nicky Smith, Colin Sowerby, Steve Hibbert, Gerry Sullivan, Adrian Woodstock, Tommy Campbell.

Terry (back left) is pictured with his 1983/84 squad: Standing – Terry Matthews, John Smith, Kim Russell, Tony Rogers, Mark Armstrong, Lee Murcott, Graham Dockrill, Ian North, Chris Bushell, Brian Reed. Kneeling: Nicky Smith, Colin Sowerby, Steve Hibbert, Gerry Sullivan, Adrian Woodstock, Tommy Campbell.

TILBURY Football Club has announced the death of former manager, Terry Matthews, whose drive, passion and skill took the club to as yet unsurpassed heights.

George Terry Mathews, to give him his full name, is also fondly remembered at Aveley where he managed the Millers to two promotions and won several clubs. Continue reading here…


Former Red Sox, Tigers catcher dies at 62

Rich Rowland, a catcher who played six seasons in MLB with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, has died according to an Instagram post by his son, Robby.

“RIP Pops,” read the text overlay on Robby Rowland’s post. “Pops, my hero man. My best friend & my role model.. Thank you. Words simply cannot express.. and if they could I wouldn’t know which ones to use..I just feel so dang blessed to have had the best frickin dad a kid could ask for! I love you, pops.”

Rowland played 98 games at the major-league level for Detroit (1990-93) and Boston (1994-95). He retired with a career batting average of .213 and nine home runs — all of which he hit in 1994, when he appeared in 46 games for the Red Sox.

Continue reading at Yahoo!Sports.com


Andrea Eastman, Casting Director on ‘The Godfather’ and Former ICM Agent, Dies at 86

As a Paramount exec, she pushed to hire Ali MacGraw for ‘Goodbye, Columbus’ and discovered Jaclyn Smith; later, she managed Sylvester Stallone and repped Barbra Streisand.

Andrea Eastman
Andrea Eastman PATRICK MCMULLAN/GETTY IMAGES

Andrea Eastman, who as the head of casting at Paramount Pictures brought Ali MacGraw to Goodbye, Columbus and James Caan to The Godfather before serving as a manager and longtime ICM agent, has died. She was 86.

Eastman died Wednesday in her sleep at her home in Santa Barbara, a family spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.

A real straight-shooter, Eastman discovered Jaclyn Smith, got Steven Spielberg and Roy Scheider together for Jaws (1975), managed Sylvester Stallone in his Rocky heyday and talked Rob Reiner into hiring her client — and his best friend — Billy Crystal for When Harry Met Sally … (1989). Continue reading at the Hollywood Reporter


Bill Edwards, St. Petersburg Business Leader and Philanthropist, Dies at 81

William “Bill” Edwards, a prominent St. Petersburg, Florida, businessman whose influence stretched across real estate, professional sports, entertainment and the arts, died Thursday, August 27, 2026. He was 81.

A Vietnam War veteran, Edwards served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was awarded the Purple Heart. After returning home, he built a successful career in the mortgage and real estate industries, eventually becoming one of the most recognizable business figures in the Tampa Bay region. He served as president of Mortgage Investors Corp., once described as the nation’s largest VA mortgage lender.

Edwards became deeply involved in the redevelopment and cultural life of St. Petersburg. His business interests included numerous properties throughout the city, while his ventures extended into entertainment and professional sports. He was closely associated with the Mahaffey Theater and became owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, helping oversee the soccer club during an important period in its history.

Beyond business, Edwards was known for his philanthropy and investment in the St. Petersburg community. His decades of work helped shape the city’s business, entertainment and cultural landscape, leaving a lasting imprint on the community he called home.


TOKYO (AP) — Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who splashed her signature polka dots on paintings, sculptures and museum installations around the world, has died, her studio said Thursday. She was 97.

Kusama died Aug. 14 at a hospital in Tokyo, Yayoi Kusama Studio said, without specifying the cause of death. 

“She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul,” the studio’s statement said. “We will carry forward Kusama’s wishes and, through art, continue to bring hope and strength for the future to people around the world.” Continue reading at the Associated Press.


Peter Cullen Dies: Voice Of Optimus Prime In ‘Transformers’ Was 85.

Peter Cullen, the Canadian voice actor who voiced Optimus Prime in the original 1980s Transformers animated series, later reprised the role in the film and TV franchises, voiced Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise and was the announcer for the Smothers Brothers TV show, among scores of others…Continue reading at deadline.com


Samuel Monroe Jr., who made his acting debut in 1993’s Menace II Society and went on to appear in Tales from the Hood, The Players Club and various TV roles, died Wednesday, August 26, months after first battling a severe case of meningitis and MRSA pneumonia. He was 52. 

His mother Joyce Patton, announced his death in a Facebook post today. “I want to thank all of my Facebook family and friends new and old for praying for Samuel Monroe, Jr., my son,” she wrote. “But today God called him home. Please honor my final request to pray for the family, especially his 3 children.” Continue reading at Deadline.com


SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Slava ‘Sal’ Veder, best known for his picture of a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel joyfully reuniting with his family after five years in a prisoner of war camp in Vietnam, died Aug. 22. He was 99.

Veder’s family on Wednesday confirmed that the retired Associated Press photojournalist died in his sleep, just eight days shy of his 100th birthday, at his home in El Dorado County, California, outside of Sacramento.

The San Francisco Bay Area native was 46 years old in March 1973 when he was sent to Travis Air Force Base for the arrival of Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm and other war prisoners returning from Vietnam. Veder was in a crowded bullpen jockeying for pictures with dozens of other photographers when, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Stirm’s four children begin to gallop toward their father.

Continue reading this article on The Associated Press.


LOS ANGELES, CA — George Joseph, who founded Los Angeles-based Mercury General Corporation and led the insurance company for more than four decades, has died at age 104, the company announced Wednesday.

Joseph founded Mercury, which sold its first insurance policy in 1962. He served as chairman from the company’s founding and as chief executive officer for 45 years, stepping down as CEO in 2006 and remaining executive chairman.

Under Joseph’s leadership, Mercury grew from a California insurer with six employees and 90 agents into what the company described as the state’s largest independent agency writer of private passenger automobile insurance. Continue reading at Patch.com


Dolly Parton, The Effervescent Queen of Country Music and Just About Everything Else, Dies at 80

A shrewd dealmaker who launched Dollywood, the “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” singer-songwriter also starred in the films ‘9 to 5,’ ‘Steel Magnolias’ and ‘Rhinestone’ and captivated the world with her grace and wit.

Dolly Parton, the irrepressible singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur who penned chart-toppers such as “9 to 5” and turned her namesake Tennessee theme park Dollywood into one of the world’s top amusement destinations, died Tuesday. She was 80.

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, a rep announced.

She revealed in September that she was postponing a set of Las Vegas concerts to deal with “some health challenges.” THR reported days later that she would miss the Governors Awards, where she was to receive the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in November, and she canceled scheduled Las Vegas residency dates for September in May. In the past few months, she put on a brave front, telling her fans that she was OK.

Continue reading about Dolly’s Seven Decade Career.


TIM CURRY, STAR OF ‘THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW,’ DIES AT 80

The acclaimed British actor, author, comedian and singer was best known for playing cross-dressing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the iconic late night movie classic.

Tim Curry, the classically trained British actor and singer best known for playing the flamboyant Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the legendary midnight movie classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show has died at 80. According to TMZ, the Emmy-winning star of stage and screen (who suffered a major stroke in 2012) died on Tuesday night (Aug. 25) at his Los Angeles home, with no known cause of death at press time. Curry’s passing was confirmed to Billboard by Grand Central Publishing, which published his memoir, Vagabond: A Memoir, in 2025. Read more at billboard.com


Jaye P. Morgan obituary
Jaye P. Morgan, Pat McCormick, Chuck Barris, Pearl Bailey on ‘The Gong Show’ (1976-1980)NBC/Everett Collection

Jaye P. Morgan, the singer, actor, nightclub star and, perhaps most famously to fans of ’70s game shows, the outrageously risqué panelist on Chuck Barris’ The Gong Show, died Monday, August 24, her family announced. She was 94.

The announcement did not include a cause or place of death. Morgan was a resident of Castle Rock, Washington.

Read more about Jaye P. Morgan at Deadline.com


Jesikah Suggs, a writer-producer of Netflix’s My Life With The Walter Boys, died at her home in Studio City, California, on August 18 after an eight-year battle with breast cancer. She was 32.

Her death was announced by her family.

Born March 2, 1994, in Dallas, Suggs, the sister and frequent writing partner of writer/producer/lyricist Liz Suggs (Disenchantment, Parenthood), received her degree in film from Baylor University in Texas before heading to Los Angeles, where she found work as an intern for TV’s Big Brother. Later, she joined sister Liz working as an assistant for writer and producer Jason Katims, later contributing as a writer for Katims’ Parenthood. Continue reading at deadline.com


Tony-Nominated Scenic Designer Anna Louizos Has Died at 69

Ms. Louizos initially trained as an actor before shifting to design in graduate school, honing her talents as a visual artist with a keen eye for depth.

Anna Louizos

Tony-nominated scenic designer Anna Louizos died suddenly August 25, at the age of 69. News of her passing was released by her family and team with the following statement.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Anna Louizos. Anna was a beloved designer, artist, mentor, collaborator, and friend to so many throughout the theatre community and beyond. Her extraordinary talent and generosity touched countless people, and her impact on the creative community will be felt for years to come. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss and ask for patience and privacy as her family, friends, and colleagues grieve.”

Born and raised in California, Ms. Louizos initially trained as an actor before shifting to design in graduate school, honing her talents as a visual artist with a keen eye for depth. She assisted John Falabella, Heidi Landesman, Andrew Jackness, and Tony Walton on the Broadway runs of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial; Happy Birthday, Mr. Abbott!; The Red Shoes; The Scarlet Pimpernel; Taller Than a Dwarf; and the 2000 revival of Uncle Vanya before striking out on her own. Continue to read at Playbill


Organist Harry Bramma has died

Former RSCM Director and director of music at Southwark Cathedral and All Saints Margaret Street has died aged 89.

Organist and composer Harry Bramma has died at the age of 89.

Bramma was educated at Bradford Grammar School, where he studied organ with Melville Cook, organist of Leeds Parish Church, before studying theology and music at Oxford as organ scholar of Pembroke College. He graduated in 1958 and subsequently embarked on a teaching career before moving into cathedral music.

He was assistant organist at Worcester Cathedral from 1963, also becoming director of music at the King’s School, Worcester in 1965. Bramma’s students at the King’s School included Nicholas Cleobury, Stephen Cleobury, Jonathan Darlington, Jonathan Nott, Adrian Partington and Geoffrey Webber. Continue reading at choirandorgan.com


Billy Boston, Welsh Rugby Great Dies

Billy Boston, the Welsh rugby league great who blazed a trail for Black sportspeople in Britain during the 1950s and ’60s, has died. He was 92.

Wigan Warriors, the team where Boston played for most of his illustrious career, announced his death on Tuesday, saying he passed away peacefully and was surrounded by his closest family.

In June last year, Boston became the first rugby league player to receive a knighthood, in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The investiture was brought forward amid concerns for his health, with Boston suffering from dementia. Continue reading at the Associated Press.


Leonard Morpurgo
Leonard Morpurgo COURTESY MORPURGO FAMILY

Morpurgo died Aug. 12 in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer, Weissman/Markovitz Communications president Rick Markovitz announced. (Morpurgo was a vice president at the firm.)

“Leonard brought uncommon experience, intelligence and perspective to every campaign and every conversation,” Markovitz said. “He was a skilled raconteur, and I will miss his passion for storytelling and hearing about the old days of Hollywood.”

Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Mexican Wrestling Legend Solar II Dies at 66: Health Struggles and Career Highlights

Mexican wrestling veteran Solar II has died at the age of 66. The longtime CMLL performer, whose real name was Pedro Buenrostro Gomez, had been dealing with health problems before his death, which was confirmed by his brother, Solar I.

Solar II’s career covered more than 50 years. He first stepped into the ring in 1975 and went on to spend much of his career with CMLL, becoming a respected name in lucha libre. His biggest championship achievement came in 1988, when he won the NWA World Welterweight Championship.

His family announced his death in a statement shared by Solar I.

“With deep regret and immense pain, we communicate the death of Pedro Buenrostro, ‘Solar Segundo,’ dear brother, family member and friend.”

Continue reading here….


Garvin Alfred Isaacs passed away on Sunday, August 9th, 2026, at the age of 81, surrounded by family. Garvin was born April 3, 1945, in Carnegie, Oklahoma, to Ellen Mae Isaacs, a beloved school teacher, and Garvin A. Isaacs, Sr., the Superintendent of Schools.

Read the complete obituary below or click here and read at the NEWSOK.COM SITE…

He grew up in Caddo County, Oklahoma, alongside his brother and best friend, Phil Isaacs. He attended Apache High School, where as a basketball player he led the Warriors in scoring all four years. Garvin went on to attend Texas Christian University on an athletic scholarship, where he continued to play basketball and met his dearest friend for life, James Cash.

Garvin graduated from TCU with a degree in government and then went on to play professional basketball in the New England Basketball League for three years. While playing professional basketball, he attended graduate school classes at the University of Bridgeport.

Although basketball remained a lifelong passion, his early life experiences with his maternal grandfather, C. W. Holman, a Justice of the Peace in Gotebo, and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. sealed his desire to become a lawyer.

Following his new calling, he attended law school at Oklahoma City University, graduating in 1974. He spent one year as an Assistant District Attorney for Oklahoma County before joining the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office. After three years, he entered private practice.

Shortly after entering private practice, Garvin was hired to represent Gene Leroy Hart, a Cherokee person charged in Mayes County, Oklahoma, with the murder of three Girl Scouts. Garvin worked on the case for nearly a year, and Hart was acquitted. The trial left a profound and lasting mark on him, cementing his lifelong commitment to defending the rights of the accused.

Garvin went on to build a successful legal career, handling a wide variety of criminal and civil cases. Always prepared and unintimidated, he was a zealous and persistent advocate for his clients. He was deeply involved in numerous organizations and became a beloved member of the legal community, taking every opportunity to teach and mentor young lawyers.

In 1993, Garvin joined Wyoming Supreme Court Justices Robert R. Rose and G. Joseph Cardine, John Tierney, district attorney in Minneapolis, and Stephen Rench, trial lawyer and law professor at the University of Denver, in helping Gerry Spence establish the Trial Lawyers College. Garvin served as a board member and instructor for TLC until 2003. He later served as President of the Oklahoma Bar Association in 2016. He presented continuing legal education programs and demonstrations in 17 states, as well as for the Canadian Criminal Trial Lawyers and at the Inns of Court in London. He cherished these opportunities to teach and connect with others, touching many lives along the way.

Throughout his career, he stood firmly for the right to trial by jury and for fair and impartial trials for every person accused, regardless of race, sex, politics, or any other circumstance. In his writings and teachings, he often reflected on Abraham Lincoln’s closing words in the Gettysburg Address, describing our government as a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Garvin believed passionately that lawyers must stand up to protect the constitutional rights of their fellow citizens and live up to Lincoln’s vision of government.

Garvin truly was one of a kind—a renaissance man whose talents extended far beyond the basketball court and courtroom. He was an immensely gifted painter, photographer, and writer. Above all, he was a champion of the underdog who taught those around him the importance of treating every person with dignity and respect.

Garvin was a dedicated, loving father. Despite his demanding professional life, he remarkably never missed a sports game or school performance, and was always their number one cheerleader. He frequently reminded Eleanor and Jennifer of the words his father used to say: “The only limits you have in life are those you place on yourself.”

More than just a brilliant legal mind, Garvin was a loyal friend, a dedicated father, and a kind neighbor. His wisdom, generosity, humor, and unwavering commitment to others will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know and love him.

Garvin is preceded in death by his parents, Garvin and Ellen Isaacs; his brother, Phil Isaacs; and his daughter, Ann Isaacs. He is survived by his daughters, Eleanor Lunenburg (Charleston, SC) and Jennifer Isaacs (Oklahoma City, OK), grandson, Charlie Lunenburg (Charleston, SC) and nephews, Philip David Isaacs (Oklahoma City) and Eric Isaacs (Oklahoma City).

Garvin’s family is deeply appreciative of the wonderful care he received in his final years and would like to personally thank Iris Memory Care, Trinity Hospice, Gloria, Linda, Cynthia, Chantel, Tricia, Ti’yana, and his dear friend, Karen.

A celebration of life event will be held Friday, September 18th, 2026, at 4:00 PM at The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oklahoma Bar Foundation in support of academic scholarships. Visit OKLAHOMAN.COM for Notable Deaths in Oklahoma


R.J. Kizer, Sound Editor and ADR Expert, Dies at 73

His credits included ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,’ ‘Inception,’ ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ and ‘Deadpool.’

R.J. Kizer
R.J. Kizer COURTESY OF KIZER FAMILY

R.J. Kizer, the sound editor and ADR specialist who worked on Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, three features from Christopher Nolan and three Planet of the Apes movies, died Aug. 12 in Los Angeles after a battle with glioblastoma, his family announced. He was 73.

Kizer received 10 Golden Reel Award nominations from the Motion Picture Sound Editors during his career, winning for the ADR-heavy War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), his third film in the franchise after Planet of the Apes (2001) and Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011). Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter…


Jo and Sam Gardiner
Jo and Sam GardinerBBC/Studio Lambert

Jo Gardiner, star of the second season of Race Across the World, has died. She was 61.

Gardiner’s family said she died after a “long and courageous battle with cancer.” Her passing comes a year after her son, Sam, lost his life in a car crash in 2025.

“She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves,” Jo’s family said in a statement, shared with BBC News.

“She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best. To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.”

In a statement, Studio Lambert and the BBC said: “We offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie, and her wider family and friends. Continue reading at deadline.com


Legendary Hollywood stuntman and martial arts actor, James Lew, passes away at 73

The martial arts world and the stunt world lost one of its brightest stars and one-of-a-kind talents today. The award-winning martial arts legend, James Lew, has passed away at the age of 73. Lew is one of those faces that you know you’ve seen in action movies, as he was one of Hollywood’s best stunt coordinators and fight choreographers. Lew had previously won an Emmy for his stunt work on the Marvel Studios series Luke Cage. Luke Cage star Mike Colter posted a picture of himself and Lew on his Instagram, where he broke the news of Lew’s passing.

Colter’s post read, “Just got the call that James Lew,…

See full article at JoBlo.com


Iowa poet Dave Morice dies at 79, remembered for his ‘creative genius’

WEST BRANCH, Iowa (KCRG) – Dave Morice, a writer, artist and educator, died Friday morning at the age of 79.

His death was announced in a press release Saturday. It did not specify his exact cause of death but did state he had dementia.

David Jennings Patrick Morice was also known as “Dr. Alphabet.”

He attended the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop as a graduate student and founded the Actualist Poetry Movement alongside other poets. 

According to the release, Morice is remembered for the poetry performance art period of his life through a story wall on the Pedestrian Mall titled “A Mark was Made.” Continue reading here…


René Malo
Rene’ Malo

Veteran Québécois filmmaker René Malo died on August 23 following a brief period of hospitalization at the Montreal University Hospital Center. He was 84. 

Malo is best known as the producer of Denys Arcand’s The Decline of the American Empire, which was nominated for the Best International Film Oscar. But he began his career as a music producer, working with artists such as Claude Dubois and Robert Charlebois.

In 1968, he joined the inaugural management team at Radio-Québec. Three years later, he founded Corporation Image M & M, a production company specializing in films and educational programs. In 1973, he founded Malofilm Distribution, a Canadian film distribution company. Continue reading…


Celebrated Photographer Jay Maisel Dies at 95

Jay Maisel, the influential American photographer who was the subject of the 2018 documentary Jay Myself, has passed away. 

Maisel, an acclaimed photographer known for his commercial and editorial photography — particularly his masterful use of colour and light — died at the age of 95. News of his death was shared on social media by photographer Stephen Wilkes, who was Maisel’s mentee.

Continue reading about Maisel, here.


When barbara findlay was a young woman, she told a psychiatrist she was attracted to women. She was then involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility because she was queer. 

barbara findlay is a Vancouver lawyer and a long-time LGBTQ activist and a member of Lawyers Against Transphobia.

Vancouver lawyer and longtime 2SLGBTQ+ activist barbara findlay died Saturday at the age of 77. She is being remembered for being a passionate advocate for the community and working on a number of pivotal cases. (CBC / Rafferty Baker)

In the early 1970s, being gay in Canada was considered a mental illness.

Before she was called to the bar, findlay was then required to produce a “sanity certificate” showing she was fit for the profession, according to her honorary degree citation from Simon Fraser University in 2023.

She went on to advocate for human rights the rest of her life.

Continue reading at CBC.ca


Roy Drinkard, a World War II veteran, longtime businessman and community leader who spent decades helping shape economic development and educational opportunities across North Alabama, has died at the age of 106.

Drinkard, of Cullman, was a United States Marine who served during World War II, including in the Pacific. He remained closely associated with the Marine Corps and the World War II generation throughout his life. At the time of his death, he was recognized as the oldest living United States Marine.

(Congressman Aderholt)Alabama Leader Dies At Age 106

His military service was one part of a life defined by public service and involvement in his community. Drinkard was recently inducted into the Cullman Veterans Hall of Fame, an honor recognizing his contributions and his connection to a generation of veterans whose service extended well beyond their years in uniform.

After the war, Drinkard built a career in business and economic development. He was involved with Cullman’s “Flying 50” and served for nearly three decades as leader of the Cullman Industrial Development Board. During that time, he played a role in efforts to attract industry and create jobs in Cullman and communities throughout North Alabama. Continue reading at abc3340.com


Tributes paid to footballer after death in Portugal

Getty Images Quevin Castro is smiling as he looks over his shoulder. He has short dreadlocks and is wearing a tracksuit top and green bib.
Quevin Castro is remembered with affection and as an “immense talent” by former clubs

Non-league football teams that midfielder Quevin Castro played for as he progressed through the ranks have paid tribute to him, after he collapsed and died during a match in Portugal.

The 25-year-old was born in Portugal but grew up in Thetford, Norfolk, and he played for his local team as well as others in Suffolk and in Cambridge, before signing for West Bromwich Albion in 2021.

Castro was playing for Real Sport Clube in a friendly against Estrela de Amadora in Lisbon when the incident happened on Saturday. Continue reading at the BBC.com


Leslie Parrish, who starred as the hopelessly in love Daisy Mae in the Paramount Pictures musical Li’l Abner and sported a Queen of Diamonds costume for The Manchurian Candidate, has died. She was 90.

Parrish lived in Washington state and died late last year, Erica Berdan, a daughter of the actress’ second husband, Jonathan Livingston Seagullauthor Richard Bach, told The Hollywood Reporter. THR only recently learned of her death.

Parrish also starred opposite Vic Morrow (as Dutch Schultz) in Portrait of a Mobster (1961); was one of Thelma Ritter’s daughters (Mitzi Gaynor and Julie Newmar were the others) in For Love or Money (1963), starring Kirk Douglas; and played a Janet Leigh patient who dated Jerry Lewis in Three on a Couch (1966).

Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Nick Glennie-Smith
Nick Glennie-Smith COURTESY JAN GLENNIE-SMITH

Nick Glennie-Smith, the British composer, conductor and keyboardist known for his collaborations with Hans Zimmer and for his work on films including The Rock, The Man in the Iron Mask and Secretariat, has died. He was 74.

Glennie-Smith died peacefully Aug. 16 surrounded by family at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia, his wife of 52 years, Jan Glennie-Smith, told The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was revealed.

As an orchestral conductor, Glennie-Smith teamed with two-time Oscar-winning composer Zimmer on such notable films as The Lion King (1994), Crimson Tide (1995), The Simpsons Movie (2007), Transformers (2007), X-Men: First Class (2011) and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) as a member of his Remote Control Productions team. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Bunny Levine
Bunny Levine attends the L.A. Premiere of ‘Thelma’ in 2024Getty

Bunny Levine, a librarian who took early retirement and then began acting on such shows as Gilmore Girls and Shameless as well as two Adam Sandler films, has died, according to multiple reports. She was 97.

Levine graduated from college in 1951 and became a school librarian in New Jersey, where she worked before deciding to try acting full time. Levine had wanted to perform since childhood. Continue reading at deadline.com


Shelley Fabares, an actor who was a fixture on television for decades from her days as a young teenager on “The Donna Reed Show,” through “One Day at a Time” and “Coach,” has died. She was 82.

She died Saturday in Los Angeles, her family said in a statement to The Associated Press. No cause was given.

“To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort,” her family wrote. “She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.”

Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1944, and started acting as a young child. Her first television credit came at age 10 when she appeared on “The Loretta Young Show.” Many movies and television shows followed: She acted with Paul Newman, Frank Sinatra and Eva Marie Saint in a Producers Showcase production of “Our Town”; was in the Rosalind Russell movie “The Girl Rush” and the Rock Hudson drama “Never Say Goodbye.” Other early credits include “Annette,” “Captain Midnight” and the “Black Leather Jackets” episode of “The Twilight Zone.”

Image no longer available

Actress Shelley Fabares arrives at the Actors Fund’s 2016 Looking Ahead Awards at the Taglyan Complex on December 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jennifer Lourie/Getty Images)

Her biggest break came when she was cast as Mary Stone on “The Donna Reed Show,” where she was a regular from 1958 through 1963. During that time she also got a recording contract and had two Top 40 hits including “Johnny Angel.” In the early 1960s, she also co-starred in three movies with Elvis Presley: “Girl Happy,” “Spinout” and “Clambake.”

Continue reading at kcra.com


Per his official Facebook page, writer Roger McKenzie passed away on the morning of Friday, August 21. He had been dealing with end-stage heart failure and kidney disease for several months, and died peacefully while in hospice care. McKenzie was best known for his run on Marvel’s Daredevil (issues #151-66) from 1978 to 1980, which saw the introduction of Ben Urich in issue #153, and Frank Miller join the series as artist on #158.

A photo of Roger McKenzie and one of his dogs, courtesy of his family


McKenzie also wrote Captain America (issues #226-237, #243-45), Ghost Rider(issues #28-34), and Battlestar Galactica (#1–7, 11–16) during the same period, and contributed to the anthology Marvel Fanfare sporadically from 1982 to 1987. He originally pitched the idea of Captain America running for President with Don Perlin, and received a story credit when Roger Stern and John Byrne used it in issue #250. Other publishers he worked for included DC, Comico (where he co-created Next Man), and Gold Key.

Continue reading at comicsbeat.com


Bronx hip-hop trailblazer Keith Caesar, aka “Keith Keith” of the Funky 4 + 1, passed away due to medical complications on Friday, his family says. He was 64.

Caesar made history with the Funky 4 + 1 as the first hip-hop crew to perform on Saturday Night Live. They took the stage on Valentine’s Day 1981 and were introduced by Debbie Harry.

The hip-hop pioneer was born on Feb. 15, 1962, and grew up with four siblings. Read more here…


Jay Maisel, the celebrated American photographer known for his distinctive work with light, color and gesture, is being remembered following reports of his death at the age of 95. Recent reports published on August 23, 2026, state that Maisel has died, although an official announcement from his family or representatives has not yet been widely identified.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1931, Maisel began his professional photography career in 1954 after studying painting, graphic design and fine arts. Over more than six decades, he developed a reputation for his distinctive approach to photography and became an influential figure in American visual culture.

Jay Maisel Remembered

Maisel photographed some of the most recognizable figures and subjects of his generation, including Miles Davis and Marilyn Monroe. One of his most famous photographs became the cover image for Miles Davis’ landmark 1959 album Kind of Blue, cementing his place in both photography and music history.

Continue reading here…


SAVANNAH, Ga. (VINnews) — Nick Bougas, an American cartoonist and filmmaker who produced racist and antisemitic illustrations under the pen name A. Wyatt Mann, has died. He was 71.

Bougas, born in Savannah, Georgia, gained notoriety in the late 1980s and early 1990s for cartoons published in white supremacist outlets. His most widely circulated work was the “Happy Merchant,” a caricature depicting a Jewish man with exaggerated facial features, a beard and a rubbing-hands pose associated with greed. The image later became one of the most frequently used antisemitic memes on the internet.

Associates confirmed Bougas’ authorship of the cartoons, though he never publicly acknowledged creating them. The Anti-Defamation League and other groups have described the Happy Merchant as a staple hate symbol that spread across imageboards and social media platforms.

Continue to read at vinnnews.com


Photo credit: By Lioneldecoster – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13819836

(August 22, 2026) He was blues royalty, but he had a #1 R&B smash in 1974 that is still in heavy rotation today. We mourn the passing of Benjamin William Lattimore, better known as singer Latimore, at age 86. bad news came tonight from our friends at The Boogie Report.

Born in Charleston, Tennessee, Latimore began performing and recording in the 1960s before finding greater success in the early 1970s on Henry Stone’s Glades label. His versions of “Stormy Monday” and “If You Were My Woman” earned attention, but his breakthrough came in 1974 with the self-written “Let’s Straighten It Out,” which went all the way to #1 on the R&B charts and became his only crossover pop hit.

Built around Latimore’s electric piano and a nearly spoken vocal, the song was a plea for two lovers to stop arguing and communicate. Latimore followed “Straighten It Out” with twelve additional R&B chart hits, including the Top 5 “Keep the Home Fire Burnin’” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout ‘Cha.” Read more here.


Canadian professional wrestler “Handsome” John Anson, who also competed as Karl von Schotz, has died at the age of 77.

The Wrestling Observer first reported on Saturday that it had been informed of Anson’s death in Sosúa, Dominican Republic, where he had lived for approximately 25 years. Slam Wrestling subsequently confirmed his death.

At the time of writing, a cause of death has not been reported.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on April 7, 1949, Anson began wrestling as a teenager. In a 1998 interview with Slam Wrestling’s Greg Oliver, he recalled making his Stampede Wrestling debut at 17 against Ivan Koloff and losing in approximately 30 seconds. Read more at postwrestling.com


Nancy Kassebaum Baker, former US senator from Kansas, dies at 94

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a Kansas governor’s daughter who became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without following a spouse into office, has died. She was 94.

Kassebaum Baker died Friday of natural causes, according to her son, Bill Kassebaum.

“She loved Kansas. She loved people from Kansas and representing Kansas for 18 years in the U.S. Senate,” he told The Associated Press. “She was an independent-minded Republican who was willing to stand up for what she thought was right, even if that meant going against the party.”

She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978 and served three terms. Her modest demeanor endeared her to voters of all political stripes, though she shared the moderate, progressive Republican politics of her father, Gov. Alf Landon, the unsuccessful 1936 GOP nominee for president. Even after leaving the Senate early in 1997, she continued taking on public service roles.

She married former Sen. Howard Baker, a Tennessee Republican, in 1996. He died in 2014.

Kassebaum Baker remained an icon for Kansans generally. She could work with Senate colleagues of all political philosophies, and a 1996 health insurance law bore her name, along with that of liberal Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy. Continue reading at the Associated Press…


Janie Bradford, “Money (That’s What I Want)” Songwriter, Dies at 87

After starting out as a receptionist for Berry Gordy, she also co-wrote Motown tunes recorded by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Mary Wells.

Janie Bradford
Janie Bradford LEON BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES

Janie Bradford, the onetime receptionist for Berry Gordy who co-wrote the R&B classic “Money (That’s What I Want),” the first big hit for the founder of Motown Records, has died. She was 87.

Bradford died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after an extended illness, her family announced.

Bradford also co-wrote “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” which Marvin Gaye took to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969, and songs for other artists including Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, the Four Tops and Martha & the Vandellas.

Continue reading about Bradford at The Hollywood Reporter


Actor Michael Wright, known for his roles in The Five Heartbeats, Sugar Hill, Vand Oz, died Aug. 19 in Los Angeles. He was 70.

“It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” his wife Susan Wright wrote on Instagram.

Citing a statement from the family, TMZ reported that Wright died from heart failure coupled with complications from Marchiafava-Bignam disease.

Continue reading at deadline.com


Brent Carter

Carter collected more than $3 million in live winnings in a tournament career spanning the 1980s to 2015. The biggest score of his career came in 1995, when Carter finished third in the WSOPmain event for $302,750.

His first bracelet came in 1991, when Carter took down a $1,500 no-limit hold’em event for $166,800. He added a second in 1994 after winning a $1,500 limit Omaha event for $83,400. Continue reading at Cardplayer.com


NEW YORK (AP) — Philanthropist Nancy Kissinger, onetime foreign policy researcher and wife of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, has died. She was 92.

She died Thursday at her home in Kent, Connecticut, Robert Johnson, manager of the property, told The Associated Press. The cause of her death was not disclosed. Johnson said she will be buried next to her late husband at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

The daughter of a New York City lawyer, she met Henry Kissinger while working for New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. The couple wed in 1974.

She was described by one profiler as a brainy, Blass-bedecked blonde. She was often seen at high  fashion openings and was a strong presence on the New York philanthropy scene. Continue reading at the Associated Press


AP reporter Christopher Bodeen, a tenacious chronicler of China’s rise, dies at 55

TOKYO (AP) — Christopher Bodeen, a tenacious, old-school wire service reporter who brought a keen analytical eye and a wry sense of humor to decades of work in China,Taiwan and in war zones and natural disasters across the globe for The Associated Press, has died. He was 55.

Bodeen died Monday after a struggle with cancer and complications from a stroke, his daughter, Ingrid, said Thursday by telephone from Taiwan.

Continue reading at the Associated Press.


Dragons
St George Dragons legend Billy Smith dies at age 84

Billy Smith, one of the legendary players who helped power St George to unmatched rugby league dominance in the 1960s, has died at 84.

Smith is remembered as the defining halfback of his era and played in the last four of the Dragons’ 11 consecutive premiership wins that spanned 1956 to 1966. Read more at au.news.Yahoo.com


Colombo, Aug. 20 (Daily Mirror) – Veteran Sri Lankan vocalist and one of the country’s most celebrated singers, Nanda Malini, has passed away at the age of 82.

President of the Sri Lanka Singers Association (SLSA) Keerthi Pasquel confirmed her death and said arrangements for her final rites would be announced later.

Nanda Malini was widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest vocalists, with a career spanning several decades. Her powerful voice and distinctive style earned her a lasting place in Sinhala music, particularly through her contributions to Sinhala cinema and classical music.

She became a household name through songs such as Ammawaruni from Yasa Isuru, Yowun Wasanthaye from Duhulu Malak, Galana Gangaki Jeewithe from Ranmuthu Duwa and Ma Hada Wawnu Be from Nivena Ginna. Her song Ayanna Kiyanna was also particularly popular among children.

Alongside her artistic achievements, Nanda Malini was also a prominent and sometimes controversial voice during periods of political and social upheaval in Sri Lanka. continue reading at dailymirror.lk


Wilem Frischmann has died aged 95

Dr Frischmann (1)

Wilem Frischmann, former chairman of engineering firm Pell Frischmann, has died at the age of 95.

Frischmann was widely considered among the most influential engineers of his generation, best known for his work with architect Richard Seifert on schemes including Centre Point, Tower 42 and Drapers Gardens.

He was also known for his seminal report on the 1968 collapse of the Ronan Point tower, which led to fundamental changes to how tall buildings in the UK were designed, constructed and regulated. continue reading at bdonline.co.uk


Spurs have paid tribute Dyson, who made 209 appearances and scored 55 goals for the club across a 10-year spell.

The forward was a key figure in Bill Nicholson’s 1960-61 side who were the first English team in the 20th Century to achieve a First Division and FA Cup double.

One of his defining moments occurred two years later when he scored twice in a 5-1 victory over Atletico Madrid to secure European Cup Winners’ Cup success. Continue reading at bbc.com


John Irvin dead
Director John Irvin on the set of 1987’s ‘Hamburger Hill’ Paramount/Everett Collection

According to Irvin’s producers, the filmmaker died peacefully at the UK home of his sister-in-law on August 11, surrounded by his family. Continue reading on deadline.com

British filmmaker John Irvin, known for action movies including Hamburger Hilland Raw Deal and the BAFTA-winning TV series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, has died. He was 86.


José Suárez
José SuárezTelemundo

José Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo 31, Telemundo 49, and Telemundo Ft. Myers–Naples, died. He was 55.

The Telemundo executive died on Wednesday, August 19, following a helicopter crash in Kenya, NBC6 reports. Read more at deadline.com


Dr. Albert Schwartz, a respected pediatrician who spent more than four decades caring for children and families throughout Arizona’s East Valley, has died at the age of 85.

Dr. Schwartz

Dr. Schwartz served the Phoenix-area medical community for 42 years, building a career remembered for his dedication to generations of young patients and their families. Before beginning his long civilian practice, he served his country as a Captain in the United States Air Force at Williams Air Force Base.

His influence extended well beyond his private practice. Dr. Schwartz served as chief of pediatrics at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa and helped establish the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), contributing to the development of critical care services for some of the Valley’s most vulnerable newborns.

Dr. Schwartz was also the father of Ian Schwartz, the Mesa-born meteorologist and reporter familiar to Valley viewers from Good Morning Arizona on Arizona’s Family (3TV and CBS 5). Ian’s career has made the Schwartz name familiar to another generation of Arizona families.

Dr. Albert Schwartz leaves behind a legacy measured not simply in years of medical service, but in the thousands of children and families whose lives were touched by his care. His contributions to pediatric medicine helped shape health care in the East Valley, leaving an enduring mark on the community he served for more than four decades. Notice provided by Groff Media.


Frank Beard dead; ZZ Top drummer
Frank BeardGetty Images

Frank Beard, who drummed with ZZ Top for nearly six decades, playing on such classics as “La Grange,” “Tush,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs,” died Monday. He was 77.

The band’s longtime rep Bob Merlis confirmed to our sister publication Rolling Stone that Beard died at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while in hospice care. He did not provide a cause of death, but the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was forced to leave ZZ Top’s current tour in March due to an unspecified “health issue.” He had returned to play some shows, but the trio canceled its planned Hollywood Bowl concert this month as Beard’s health worsened. Continue reading at deadline.com


Georgia's first black senate majority leader, Charles W. Walker sr., dies at 78

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) – Charles W. Walker, Sr., who made history as Georgia’s first Black senate majority leader, died Tuesday at the age of 78.

He represented the Augusta area in the senate starting in 1990. Walker was a prominent leader in the Georgia legislature, and became senate majority leader in 1996.

Yet, in 2005, Walker was also convicted on federal charges of tax evasion, mail fraud, theft, misusing campaign funds, and conspiracy. He was sentenced to ten years in federal prison.

Walker’s family released this statement: Continue reading at WFXG.com


Phyllida Law
Phyllida Law IAN GAVAN/GETTY IMAGES

Phyllida Law, the Scottish actress of stage and screen and the mother of actresses Emma and Sophie Thompson, has died. She was 94.

Her death was announced by her manager, Jacky Leggo, who said in a statement that she “died supremely peacefully at home, surrounded by all her family.”

Law appeared with Emma in films including Peter’s Friends (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993) — both directed by then-son-in-law Kenneth Branagh — and Junior (1994), and they portrayed mother and daughter in The Winter Guest (1997), directed by Alan Rickman. Read more at The Hollywood Reporter…


Nicolas Altmayer and Mathilde Favier
Nicolas Altmayer and Mathilde FavierAurore Marechal/Getty Images.

French film producer Nicolas Altmayer and Dior PR executive Mathilde Favierhave died in a car accident in France, local authorities announced this afternoon. 

French media reports state the couple was killed around 4 pm on Monday on a road in the northern part of the Deux-Sèvres department in western France. The couple’s car “collided with a heavy goods vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, while they were overtaking another vehicle,” the local police chief told AFP. Local authorities have opened an investigation into involuntary manslaughter by a driver to determine the circumstances of the crash. Continue reading at deadline.com


ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen tosses a ball before a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees in Boston, Sept. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen tosses a ball before a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees in Boston, Sept. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. (AP) — Bill Rasmussen, who co-founded ESPN in 1979 after being fired from a public relations job in the World Hockey Association, died Tuesday. He was 93.

ESPN historian Mike Soltys said Rasmussen died at his Florida home from the effects of Parkinson’s disease. Rasmussen announced in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with the degenerative disease in 2014.

“Bill was a remarkable man — a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s — key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.”

Rasmussen and his son Scott came up with the idea of a network carrying sports around the clock, and it would revolutionize Americans’ TV-watching habits. But the pair didn’t stick around long. They were forced out after only a year by ESPN majority owner Getty Oil. Continue reading at the Associated Press…


Peggy Webber, Prolific Radio Actress Who Worked for Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock on Film, Dies at 100

She shared mics with Basil Rathbone, Lionel Barrymore, Harold Lloyd and Herbert Marshall, created a TV show that turned out to be ‘Our Miss Brooks’ and starred in ‘The Screaming Skull.’

Peggy Webber, the prolific radio actress who portrayed the mother of Jack Webb’s Joe Friday on the original version of Dragnet before appearing for Orson Welles in Macbeth and Alfred Hitchcock in The Wrong Man, has died. She was 100.

Webber died Saturday of natural causes at an independent living facility in Napa, California, her son, Rob Sinskey, told The Hollywood Reporter. She had moved north from Los Angeles after she had to be evacuated from her home amid the fires in January 2025.

Webber worked on thousands of episodes of radio shows, among them The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce; The Story of Dr. Kildare, starring Lionel Barrymore and Lew Ayres; The Man Called X, starring Herbert Marshall; and Escape, starring William Conrad.

She played Ingrid Bergman’s role of Ilsa in a 1944 serialized version of Casablanca for the NBC Radio anthology program Star Playhouse and frequently had “four soap operas going at the same time,” she toldhistorian Kliph Nesteroff in 2023. “I’d be running from one studio to the other, never eating. It was a very wearing thing.”

She had worked with Webb on radio shows including Escape and This Is Your FBI when he asked her to voice a role on his 1949 pilot for Dragnet, his new procedural crime show for NBC Radio. She then portrayed Ma Friday, the mother of Webb’s Sgt. Joe Friday, over the years.

The versatile Webber also had done radio with Welles when he approached her about playing Lady Macduff in his 1948 film adaptation of Macbeth. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


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The Ravens are mourning the loss of the legendary O.J. Brigance, who heroically battled ALS for 19 years.

Brigance, 56, was in many ways the heartbeat of the organization, a courageous and inspiring leader who kept coming to work despite his physical limitations.

Brigance had a profound impact throughout the Ravens organization, providing guidance and perspective to players, coaches, and personnel.

A Houston native, Brigance originally landed in Baltimore with the Canadian Football League’s Stallions and helped the team win the 1995 Grey Cup championship. Years later, he was a linebacker and special teams standout on the Ravens’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2000. Brigance set the tone with the first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV. Continue to read at baltimoreravens.com


Paul Leonard Cranis, the American tennis professional known as “Tall Paul” who built a decades-long career on the amateur and professional circuit, died in August 2026 at the age of 91.

Born in New York City on April 12, 1935, Cranis attended high school in Brooklyn and did not pick up tennis until the relatively late age of 17. He attended George Washington University on a basketball scholarship but left after one year, later serving two years in the army before dedicating himself fully to tennis.

A left-handed player, Cranis twice reached the second round of the singles draw at the U.S. national championships, in 1955 and again in 1967. Over the course of his career, he claimed a series of notable titles, including the 1956 Brooklyn Indoor Championships, where he defeated George Mandel, who had won the New York Indoor title that same season, and the 1960 Seventh Regiment Armory Invitational in New York City, where he beat Sidney Schwartz in the quarterfinal and J. Allen Morris in the final. In 1967, Cranis recorded a notable upset win over Frank Froehling at the Southampton Invitational, and in 1971 he won the Eastern Hardcourt Championships in Woodbury, Long Island, defeating Don Brosseau in the final. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


Actor Hayden Panettiere, who was known for roles in television’s “Heroes” and “Nashville” and had recently published a memoir, has died, her father said in a statement Sunday night. She was 36.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement provided by her representative.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office on Monday said that Panettiere’s cause of death remains pending further investigation. An autospy was completed Monday, the statement added, and “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.”

At around 1:50 p.m. Sunday, authorities received a 911 call regarding a “reported cardiac arrest” at an apartment complex, according to the coroner’s office. Police say an acquaintance of Panettiere made the 911 call. Continue reading


PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian artist Bou Meng, one of only seven people known to have survived a notorious Khmer Rouge torture center in the Southeast Asian country in the late 1970s, has died. He was 85.

His ability to paint portraits of the then-leader Pol Pot was why he was kept alive.

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, a U.N.-backed tribunal that sought to try Khmer Rouge leaders for genocide and other crimes against humanity, said he died late Friday due to age-related illness. Continued reading at the Associated Press.


Tommy John, a reliable stalwart of big league rotations who won 288 games over three decades while seeing his name become synonymous with a medical procedure that has saved the careers of countless other pitchers, has died. He was 83.

A four-time All-Star left-hander with the second-most wins of any pitcher in the Modern Era not elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, John endured for 26 seasons on Major League mounds. He made his debut with Cleveland in 1963 and threw his final pitch for the Yankees in 1989, when he was 46.

Pitching for the Dodgers on July 17, 1974, John threw a fastball to the Expos’ Hal Breeden and felt what he described as a “crash” in his left elbow. It was later revealed to be a career-threatening complete tear of the hurler’s left ulnar collateral ligament. Continue reading at MLB.Com


Parade Magazine reported.R&B legend Ruby Andrews has died.

She was 79 R & B Legend Ruby Andrew has died. She was 79. Andrews, who was born Ruby Mae Stackhouse, died at home in Chicago.

A post on her Facebook page on Aug. 13 shared the news.

“Today my heart is broken as I share the heartbreaking news that my beloved Auntie Ruby Andrews, the great blues and soul singer, has passed away. Auntie Ruby was truly one of a kind. Her powerful voice, soulful spirit, and incredible talent touched generations of music lovers.”

Andrews was best known for her 1967 hit “Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over).” Parade Magazine noted that song “crossed over from R&B onto the pop charts, sending her on tour and onto the Apollo Theater Stage.” “Casanova” made it to No. 9 on the R&B charts and to No. 51 on the pop charts. Continue reading…


The Journal of Gospel Music learned today of the passing of gospel music singer Nikki Ross Bellamy. She died on August 14, 2026, at age 54, having recently attended the Gospel Music Workshop of America despite struggling with illness.

Read more here about Ross Bellamy and her many achievements at MyHoustonGospel.com:
https://myhoustongospel.com/houston-gospel-music-legend-nikki-ross-bellamy-dies-at-54/

JGM joins the family, friends, and many fans of Nikki Ross Bellamy in grieving this loss not only to the Houston gospel community, but to the national gospel music scene. Continue reading at the journalofgospelmusic.com


Phil Lyne, legendary rodeo champion and versatile cowboy, dies at 79

Luke Whitney

Phil Lyne, a former professional rodeo cowboy who won five world championships and earned a reputation as one of the sport’s most versatile competitors, died Friday at 79.

Lyne’s family announced his death in an Instagram post on Saturday. He was born Jan. 18, 1947, in San Antonio, Texas.

Lyne won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Rookie of the Year award in 1969, then captured his first world championships in calf roping and all-around competition in 1971. He repeated as world champion in both events in 1972 and later returned from retirement to win the 1990 world steer roping championship.

Continue reading at Yahoo!Sports


Mary Anne Heilmann, the American painter whose vibrant, unconventional abstractions influenced generations of younger artists, died on August 14, 2026, at a hospital in Riverhead, New York, from complications following a fall the previous week. She was 86.

Born in San Francisco in 1940, Heilmann grew up in Los Angeles before her family returned to San Francisco after her father’s death in 1953. She studied literature and art at the University of California, Santa Barbara, drawn by the surf culture of the coastal town, before attending San Francisco State College and later entering the master’s program in ceramics and sculpture at UC Berkeley, where she studied under modernist ceramicist Peter Voulkos and sculptor Jim Melchert. At Berkeley, she formed a lasting friendship with artist Bruce Nauman, who introduced her to his teacher, William T. Wiley. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


Dave Marsh, the influential and widely read rock critic for Creem, The Village Voice and Rolling Stone and the author of the foundational Bruce Springsteen 1979 biography Born to Run, died Friday, August 14, at his home in Connecticut. He was 76. 

His death, reported by Deadline sister publication Billboard and confirmed on Facebook by Marsh’s friend Jim Rotolo, followed an extended period of declining health, although a cause has not been disclosed. Continue reading at deadline.com


Ian Crafford, Film Editor on ‘Hope and Glory’ and ‘Field of Dreams,’ Dies at 82

The Englishman worked on Cheech & Chong and Monty Python movies and with directors including Carol Reed, John Boorman and Irvin Kershner. 

Crafford died July 22 at his home in Brazil after a long battle with cancer, his son Scott Crafford told The Hollywood Reporter.

Crafford cut Tommy Chong’s Still Smokin (1983), Frank Oz’s The Indian in the Cupboard (1995), David Anspaugh’s The Game of Their Lives(2005) and two features for fellow countryman Michael Apted, Class Action (1991) and Thunderheart (1992). Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Ryan De Nino, who appeared on Season 2 of Married at First Sight, has died. He was 40.

On Tuesday, Ryan’s sister Melissa remembered his “huge heart” as she announced that he had died with a heartfelt tribute. A cause of death was not immediately known.

“Ryan was so damn funny and witty. He was fiercely loyal to those he loved. He had a huge heart, always,” wrote Melissa on Facebook. “I can’t explain what it’s like to lose a sibling. Someone who’s been there from the beginning and shares the same memories. No matter what we were going through, I loved him immensely. Life as I know it will never be the same.” Continue reading on deadline.com


In a statement, NSN said the team was heartbroken to announce Tarling’s passing.”Fin was a much-loved member of our team but most importantly, he was a son, a brother, and a friend to so many. He will be deeply missed “Our deepest condolences go out to Fin’s parents Michael and Dawn, his brother Josh, and everyone who was lucky enough to call Fin a friend.”A 19-year-old British cyclist has been killed in an accident during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal.

Welsh rider Finlay Tarling died after “a collision between the cyclist and a light goods vehicle”, Major Tiago Machado of the National Republican Guard said in a statement.

An investigation is underway, according to local authorities. 

Tarling, the younger brother of Netcompany-Ineos rider Josh, had raced for Great Britain on the road and track.

He was competing for the NSN Development Team when the incident occurred on the 166.8-kilometre route from Melgaco to Fafe. Continue reading at abc.net.au


European Cup winner and former Aston Villa and Manchester United goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died at the age of 78.

The Southport-born goalkeeper was on the bench when United beat Benfica to win the 1968 European Cup.

Rimmer started Villa’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final, though he was replaced by Nigel Spink after nine minutes because of a neck injury.

He started every game of Villa’s run to the final, as he did in their league title-winning campaign of 1980-81.

Rimmer made 229 league appearances for the Midlands club, and also spent time with Swansea City and Arsenal. He won the latter’s player of the season award in 1974-75. CONTINUE READING AT THE BBC.COM


Jason Arday, youngest Black professor at Cambridge, found dead at 41 after resignation

LONDON (AP) — A British sociologist who resigned last week from the University of Cambridge following weeks of public accusations of plagiarism and media scrutiny was found dead Friday.

Jason Arday, who was 37 when he became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023, resigned after he came under intense media pressure, with weeks of allegations about plagiarism in his academic work and questions surrounding claims about his athletic and fundraising accomplishments.

The Times and Telegraph newspapers, along with the BBC and Sky News, reported that Arday, 41, was found “unresponsive” inside a home in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon. Continue reading at PBS.com


Fifty years after Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball, the sport held a ceremony honoring him before the New York Mets hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers at Shea Stadium. With President Clinton and Robinson’s widow, Rachel, behind him on the field, commissioner Bud Selig told the crowd that MLB would retire Robinson’s No. 42 in perpetuity.

26 Jun 1996: Third baseman Butch Huskey of the New York Mets stands on the field during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. The Mets won the game 9-5.

The seven-year veteran spent most of his major-league tenure with the Mets. Al Bello / Getty Images

“Those players,” Selig continued, then paused as the fans roared at the surprise. “Those players who currently wear 42, including those like Butch Huskey of the Mets … who wear the number in tribute to Jackie, may continue to wear the number for the remainder of their careers.”

Huskey died on Friday, the Mets announced on X. Jay Horwitz, the team’s vice president for alumni relations, said the cause was a blood clot in his lung, and that Huskey died in his hometown of Lawton, Okla., after having trouble breathing this morning. He was 54 years old and is survived by his wife, Kristy, a son, Bryce, and daughters Kennedy and Kyrbi. Continue reading at nytimes.com


Sheila Mathews with her husband Charles Reading in 1957
Sheila Mathews with her husband Charles Reading in 1957 Credit: PA

Sheila Mathews, the West End star, who had one of the longest careers in British entertainment, has died aged 99.

The actress made her stage debut at the age of 3 and had a career that spanned more than 90 years.

She died on Tuesday after suffering a series of strokes, her long-term friend Michael Thornton said in a statement written on behalf of her family.

The statement said: “Sheila Mathews achieved almost all of her career ambitions, but the last one eluded her. She wanted desperately to live to be 100 and to receive a royal telegram from the King. She made it to 99, but then, sadly, her time ran out. Read more about her life at telegraph.co.uk


Mark Rydell, the director of Cinderella Liberty and The Rose who received an Oscar nomination for guiding Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond, the final film from the iconic actor, has died. He was 97.

Rydell died Thursday of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, his daughter, Amy Rydell, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Rydell also was an actor who played one-half of a young couple that drove the CBS daytime soap As the World Turns to No. 1 in the ratings in the 1950s. He later portrayed a brutal mobster in Robert Altman‘s The Long Goodbye (1973), the real-life mob accountant Meyer Lansky in Sydney Pollack’s Havana (1990) and an agent, Al Hack, in Woody Allen’s Hollywood Ending (2002). Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter.


Seattle Totems Great “JUMBO’ JIM POWERS” DIES

jim powers

Longtime Seattle Totems great and Mill Creek resident “Jumbo’ Jim Powers was best remembered for the company he kept on and off the ice during the star-studded heyday of minor professional hockey in this city. 

And one of those who spent years alongside Powers, who died Thursday morning of natural causes at age 89, was his opposite winger and future NHL player Bob Barlow. With Barlow on left wing, legendary Totems captain Guyle Fielder at center and left wing Powers shifting to the right side when needed, the forward trio sent shivers through opposing defenders in the minor pro Western Hockey League for three seasons in the early 1960s.  

“It was just as exciting off the ice during those years with the Space Needle being built and the Monorail – it was a very exciting time for the city of Seattle,” said Barlow, 91, from his home in British Columbia. “We had capacity crowds in the rink and they treated us well. And as a team, we played very well for those crowds.  


Jack Crabtree, who has died aged 87, was a figurative painter whose work gave dignity to people whose lives were often overlooked. He developed a distinctive form of social realism, rooted in his working-class upbringing and driven by a belief that every person had a story worth telling. He painted miners, steelworkers, industrial communities and ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances.Jack Crabtree spent a year working underground in 1974, in the south Wales coalfields, producing 119 sketches and paintings

Born in Rochdale, the son of Lilian, a cotton mill worker, and Roland Crabtree, a labourer at the gasworks, Jack discovered art almost by accident. A schoolteacher at Rochdale grammar school for boys encouraged him to try the subject, and a scholarship eventually took him from Rochdale College of Art in 1955 to St Martin’s School of Art in 1957, then the Royal Academy Schools from 1959 to 1961. Continue reading at The Guardian


English dance-pop group EMF announced the death of their co-founder and keyboardist Derry Brownson on Friday morning (Aug. 14).

“Late last night we started to hear the news that we have lost our Brother In Arms Derran Brownson,” the group said in an Instagram post of their 55-year-old bandmate, who formed the group with singer James Atkin, DJ Milf, drummer Marc Decloedt and guitarist Zac Foley in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England in 1989.

“We are devastated, the only solace we can find is that we are eternally grateful Derry was able to join us on stage a couple times just a few short months back,” the group continued; at press time Billboard had not independently confirmed Brownson’s death or the keyboardist’s cause of death. “Nothing will ever be the same again without our band mate and friend, fly high brother Derry. 💔”

Continue reading at Billboard.com


Legendary LSU Baseball coach, athletics director Skip Bertman passes away at 88

BATON ROUGE — Legendary LSU baseball coach and athletics director Skip Bertman passed away Friday morning at the age of 88. While he was not originally from Louisiana, Bertman came to be known and recognized as synonymous with LSU Baseball and championing athletic greatness.

Born in Detroit, Bertman was raised in Miami Beach, where he later met his wife Sandy, who preceded him in death in March 2025. They were married for 63 years and had four children.

Bertman arrived at LSU in the summer of 1983. He coached LSU Baseball for 18 seasons (1984-2001) before working as the athletics director for seven years. Continue reading…



Ruby Mae Stackhouse, the Chicago soul singer known professionally as Ruby Andrews, died at her home in Chicago on August 13, 2026, at the age of 79.

Born in Hollandale, Mississippi, Andrews moved with her family to Chicago around 1953 and attended Hyde Park Academy High School, graduating in 1966. She began singing with the vocal group the Vondells around her senior year of high school, launching a career that would establish her as one of Chicago soul’s distinctive voices.

Andrews made her recording debut on the Kelmac label before scoring her breakthrough hit in 1967 with “Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over),” co-written and produced by Joshie Jo Armstead and recorded with arrangements by Detroit producer Mike Terry. The song crossed over into the pop charts, reaching number nine on the R&B chart and number 51 on the pop chart, and remains her best-known recording. She followed it with a string of chart singles through the late 1960s and early 1970s, including “You Made a Believer (Out of Me),” which reached number 18 on the R&B chart in 1969, and “Everybody Saw You,” which peaked at number 34 in 1970. Many of her Zodiac label releases were written and produced by Fred Bridges, Robert Eaton, and Richard Knight, who also performed together as the vocal group Brothers of Soul. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


Director of Public Safety Joseph Scheid passed away while exercising at the Coldwater Public Safety Building at 57 Division Street in Coldwater around 6:30 p.m.

When Director Scheid was found unresponsive, life-saving measures were performed, but he was unable to be resuscitated. 

Director Scheid had served with the Coldwater Police Department for 29 years. Survivors include his wife, two daughters, his parents, a sister, nieces, and nephews. Continue reading here…


British soprano Jill Gomez dies aged 83

The Guyana-born, Trinidad-raised soprano had a wide-ranging career spanning Glyndebourne and Covent Garden to the creation of the Duchess in Thomas Adès’s Powder Her Face.

British soprano Jill Gomez, whose career encompassed opera, concert performances and broadcasting and who created the central role in Thomas Adès’s Powder Her Face, has died aged 83.

Gomez was born in New Amsterdam, Guyana, in 1942, and grew up in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago before moving to England as a teenager. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

From Glyndebourne to Covent Garden

Gomez began her professional career at Glyndebourne, initially singing in the chorus from 1966 to 1968. In 1967, she received the John Christie Award, established to support outstanding young singers in the Glyndebourne company. Continue reading here…


Australian music and television icon Johnny Young has passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

His family released a statement today. “Johnny was the creator, host and producer of the much loved television show Young Talent Time. He wrote and produced many iconic hit songs including The Real Thing and Smily,” it reads.

“Johnny leaves behind his wife Marisha, sister Cornelia, daughters Anna and Fleur, son Craig (dec.), seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The family respectfully asks for privacy during this difficult time. Details of a memorial service will be announced soon.” au.variety.com


Reality TV star Tyler Duckworth, who first appeared on MTV’s The Real World: Key West and went on to compete on six seasons of The Challenge, winning twice, has died. He was 44.

His mother, Joni, announced her son’s death Thursday on Facebook. “My son, Tyler, passed away earlier this week,” she wrote. “Cause of death has yet to be determined. I will post on Facebook about services as soon as his dad and I figure it out.”  Read more at deadline.com



ATLANTA (Aug. 13, 2026) — The Carter Center mourns the passing of Ambassador James T. “Jim” Laney, a distinguished diplomat, educator, faith leader, and longtime friend of the Center whose leadership and service advanced peace and understanding around the world.

From the Center’s earliest days, Ambassador Laney helped shape its vision and strengthen its mission to promote peace, preserve democracy, protect human rights, and improve health. He also played a vital role in fostering the enduring partnership between The Carter Center and Emory University.

James “Jim” Laney

“Jim Laney embodied the values that define The Carter Center — a commitment to service, a belief in the power of dialogue, and a deep respect for human dignity,” said Jason Carter, chair of the Carter Center Board of Trustees. “His wisdom, integrity, and friendship influenced generations of leaders, and his legacy will continue to inspire our work for years to come.”

We extend our deepest condolences to Ambassador Laney’s family, friends, and colleagues. We are grateful for his extraordinary contributions and will honor his legacy through the continued work of The Carter Center. Continue reading at the Carter Center…


The Calgary Flames announced the passing of longtime radio voice Peter Maher on Thursday.

He was 79.

A native of Campbellton, NB, Maher spent 33 years calling every Flames games ahead of his retirement at the end of the 2013-2014 season, including the team’s lone Stanley Cup triumph in 1989 and run to the finals in 2004. Maher called 2,954 Flames games by the time he ended his career.

Maher’s memorable phrases included “Yeah, baby!” and “You can put it in the win column!”

Maher was the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, honouring the best in hockey broadcasters, in 2006. Upon his retirement, the Flames renamed its gondola as the Peter Maher Radio Broadcast Booth in the Scotiabank Saddledome. Flames media also began handing out the Peter Maher Award, given to the Flames player who best reflected Maher’s virtues: “Sincerity, Integrity, Dedication and Respect.” Continue reading at tsn.ca


Deputy Sheriff Betty Uriegas succumbed to injuries she received in a single-vehicle crash on August 17, 1994, around 2:15 a.m.

While on patrol on Georgia Highway 13 during a rainstorm from Tropical Storm Beryl, Deputy Uriegas observed a group of people on private property. After turning her patrol vehicle around to investigate, she heard gunfire and hydroplaned on the wet road, crashing into a tree. She was stranded in her vehicle until another officer came to her aid. The group had dissipated by the time responding officers arrived. 

Deputy Uriegas was transported to the hospital with a broken neck and remained a C4 quadriplegic. On August 8, 2026, she suffered pulmonary failure related to her injuries. Continue reading at the Officer Down Memorial Page.


Christy Knowings dead; 'All That' star
Christy KnowingsInstagram

Christy Knowings, a cast member of Nickelodeon‘s ’90s hit All That, died Tuesday, August 11, after being removed from life support at a Los Angeles-area hospital, TMZ reports. She was 46.

Knowing’s aunt, Tyleah Joseph, announced the death Wednesday on Facebook, but a cause was not disclosed.

According to TMZ, citing family sources, Knowings was placed on life support after suffering an asthma attack on August 7 that left her with brain damage. The family made the decision to take her off life support on Tuesday. Continue reading at deadline.com


Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colon dies aged 33 after suffering brain injury that left him unable to walk

Prichard Colon (right) has died at the age of 33 (Getty)
Prichard Colon (right) has died at the age of 33 (Getty)

Former boxer Prichard Colon has died at the age of 33, 11 years after he famously fell into a coma following a controversial loss.

Colon’s father took to social media to share the news on Thursday.

“Good morning, my people,” Colon’s father Richard wrote on Facebook. “I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world. Now he is in a better world.

“I did everything possible to fulfil his wish, his dream of bringing him on vacation to Puerto Rico as much as he desired, but couldn’t. “Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers.”

[Sports Chosun Cho Ji-young Reporter] Legendary director Ahn Pan-seok, who left a mark on Korean dramas, has passed away after a long battle with illness. He was aged 65.

According to the drama industry, Director Ahn closed his eyes on the afternoon of the 12th as his health deteriorated while battling a cerebral hemorrhage. He had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and continued treatment, but his condition worsened when a cerebral hemorrhage compounded his struggles. He ultimately did not return to his fans. Continue reading…



Actress Cheryl Hall, known for roles in EastEnders, The Bill, and Citizen Smith, has died aged 76.

Her former partner, actor and singer Robin Askwith, confirmed the news on social media.

Taking to X, Askwith, who dated Hall for three years in the 1970s, wrote: ‘What a force of nature she was. A really innovative working class, charismatic actress coming out of the late 60s. Brave in every way. 

‘And now I have the sad news she has passed away. I am devastated…continue reading at metro.co.uk


WARD CHURCHILL, CONTROVERSIAL FORMER UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO PROFESSOR, DIES AT 78.

Churchill was a longtime professor of ethnic studies at CU Boulder. He became a nationally controversial figure in higher education after an essay he wrote that referred to some of the victims of the 9/11 attacks as “little Eichmanns,” a characterization that prompted widespread condemnation and made Churchill a national figure.

The controversy soon expanded beyond his writings about the 9/11 attacks.

In 2005, the University of Colorado launched a formal investigation into allegations that Churchill had plagiarized portions of other people’s work, misused sources and fabricated material. University officials also investigated allegations that he had misrepresented his American Indian ancestry. Read more here…


TOKYO (AP) — Hiroshi Okuda, the former chief executive of Toyota, who led the Japanese automaker’s stellar rise in global markets, has died, the company said Wednesday. He was 93. 

The date and cause of his death were not immediately available. 

Okuda served as president then chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. from 1995 through 2006. In his 45-year career at Toyota, Okuda is especially remembered for having led the development of the gas-electric hybrid Prius in 1997, a model with the fuel-efficient technology that was ground-breaking at that time.

Continue reading at the Associated Press…


Bill Jersey, the Bay Area documentarian who wrote, directed, shot, edited and produced films for more than a half-century, collecting two Oscar nominations and three Emmy noms along the way, has died. He was 99.

Jersey died July 24 of congestive heart failure at his home in Lambertville, New Jersey, his wife, Shirley Kessler, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Jersey earned his feature documentary Oscar noms for A Time for Burning (1967), about a white Lutheran minister’s unsuccessful attempt to connect to Black folks in Omaha, Nebraska, and Super Chief: The Life and Legacy of Earl Warren (1990), a profile of the Supreme Court justice that was narrated by Gregory Peck. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter.


Jon Cypher, who played Chief Daniels in scores of Hill Street Blues episodes, was He-Man’s chief ally in 1987’s Masters of the Universe, starred on Major Dad and appeared in dozens of other TV series and films over nearly a half-century, died August 3 at his home in Central Point, Oregon. He was 94.

His family told local news outlet Ashland News that he died with his wife by his side but did not reveal a cause of death. Continue reading at deadline.com


Reggie Bannister, actor best known for starring in the Phantasm film series, has died. He was 80.The actor died on Sunday, August 9, in his home in Crestline, his wife, Gigi Bannister told TMZ.

According to Bannister’s wife, the actor had been exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange is a powerful chemical that kills weeds and acts as a defoliant, which the military used during the war in Vietnam to clear dense jungle and destroy food crops. Continue reading at deadline.com


A 1994 mayoral campaign poster by Robert "Prince Mongo" Hodges. (Credit: Erik Schelzig)

Robert “Prince Mongo” Hodges of Memphis, a perennial candidate who styled himself as being an ambassador from the planet Zambodia, has died. He was 89.

Hodges reportedly fell off a ladder while attempting to trim a tree limb at his East Memphis home on Monday. He was rushed to a hospital but later died, Memphis police confirmed. 

Hodges was an entrepreneur who regularly ran for Memphis and Shelby County mayor since the 1970s. Hodges was known for his… Continue reading here...


Jerry Katzman, Former William Morris President, Dies at 89

The son of a producer of Elvis movies, he spent 30 years at the company and packaged talent for ‘The Cosby Show,’ ‘Roseanne,’ ‘Murphy Brown’ and ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’

Katzman joined WMA in 1972 and rose from business affairs to become head of worldwide television, where he assembled creative talent and key elements of TV series including The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Murphy Brown, Murder, She Wrote and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Jerry Katzman, the television-packaging pioneer who served as president of William Morris in the 1990s, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles from Parkinson’s disease, a family spokesperson announced. He was 89.

His clients included Burt Reynolds, Angela Lansbury and Shelley Long.

Read more at The Hollywood Reporter


John Crowley, Acclaimed Fantasy Novelist Behind “Little, Big,” Dies at 83

John Crowley, the American author whose novels earned him recognition as one of the most acclaimed fantasy writers of his generation, died on August 9, 2026, at the age of 83.

Born in Presque Isle, Maine, in 1942, Crowley grew up across Vermont, Kentucky, and Indiana before studying at Indiana University. After college, he moved to New York City to pursue filmmaking, a career in documentary work he continued alongside his fiction writing for the rest of his life.

Crowley’s early novels, including ‘The Deep’ and ‘Beasts,’ established him within science fiction before ‘Engine Summer’ earned a nomination for the American Book Award in 1980. His reputation was cemented in 1981 with ‘Little, Big,’ which won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and the Mythopoeic Award, and was later praised by critic Harold Bloom as a neglected masterpiece. Bloom went on to name Crowley his favourite contemporary writer and included multiple of his works in his influential canon of literature. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


Lynn Council, a man who told WRAL News he survived being hanged by two Wake County deputies in the 1950s, died in his home on Sunday.

He was 93 years old.

Council and 7 others were accused of robbing a store outside Apex and were arrested by then-Apex Chief of Police Sam Bagwell. Newspapers from that era document Bagwell’s reputation for brutality.

Because it happened outside his jurisdiction, Bagwell drove Council and the others to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, where Council was singled out. Council says two deputies hanged him from an oak tree, which stood along Kildaire Farm Road, hoping Council would confess to the crime. He says they let him down when he didn’t talk.

WRAL anchor Gerald Owens spoke with Council about the ordeal in 2019. 

“They took me out of the cell, brung me out in the country, (and) they hung me,” Council said.

The deputies eventually let him down from the tree, but he wore the scar on his neck for the rest of his life. Read more about Council’s life and this story at WRAL.COM


Paul Snyder, a longtime Buffalo businessman who owned the Braves, Darien Lake, and the Hyatt Regency Hotel, has died.

Credit: Photo Courtesy: Janet Snyder

Longtime Buffalo businessman Paul Snyder has died.

His daughter, Janet Snyder, announced his death on social media Monday.

Snyder was a prominent figure in Buffalo business and sports. He was known for owning the Buffalo Braves basketball team, as well as Darien Lake, and the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Snyder also co-founded Freezer Queen in the 1950s, a frozen food packaging company based in Buffalo. Continue reading at WGRZ.com NBC2 On Your Side


Tedde Moore, who played Ralphie’s teacher Miss Shields in the holiday classic A Christmas Story as part of a long screen and stage career, has died. She was 79.

Her family wrote on social media that she died August 5 in Huntsville, Ontario, but did not reveal a cause of death.

“On Wednesday August 5th under sunny skies overlooking Fairy Lake, Tedde passed away surrounded by family physically and spiritually in her beloved Huntsville Muskoka,” the statement read. Her bravery in this choice was almost overwhelming, beyond beautiful and also difficult. Forever the teacher, she had a quote for every occasion and a special way of touching the lives and hearts of everyone she met. Her magic and love will be remembered by all she took under her generous and welcoming wings. Continue reading at deadline.com


Scars of Tomorrow Vocalist Mike Milford Dies Following Cancer Battle

Milford was also co-founder of management agency The Artery Foundation, manager to bands like Attila and Chelsea Grin and more. 

Mike Milford RIP

Mike Milford, founding vocalist of Orange County metalcore act Scars of Tomorrow and a longtime fixture of the heavy music industry, has died following a battle with cancer. His bandmates announced his passing on social media August 8th.

“We’re thinking about our friend and singer, Mike Milford, today as we mourn the news of his passing. Thank you to everyone who supported Mike and Scars over the past two plus decades. If you ever had the privilege of meeting Mike, you know what an amazing person he was. He was an incredible frontman, artist manager, label exec, father, friend and so much more. Our thoughts are with Mike and his family today. We hope his legacy lives on through the memories he gave us and all the incredible heavy music he made,” the band wrote.

Milford co-founded Scars of Tomorrow in October 2000, helping build a West Coast take on East Coast-style hardcore alongside fellow Orange County acts like Throwdown and Bleeding Through. They signed to Victory Records in 2003 and toured extensively with bands including Atreyu, Norma Jean, Unearth, and Bury Your Dead before initially disbanding in 2007. The band reformed in 2010, continuing to play shows and release music intermittently since.

Beyond Scars of Tomorrow, Milford spent over two decades shaping the business side of heavy music. He was a key figure at both The Artery Foundation and Artery Recordings, where he signed acts including Chelsea Grin and Vanna. He later founded Modern Empire Music, where he managed acts like Attila, Sworn In and more. Continue to read at metalinjection.net


Ben Jones, Cooter Davenport on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’ Dies at 84

After he overcame a drinking problem, he spent seven seasons on the hit CBS show and represented Georgia during two terms in Congress.

Ben Jones, who portrayed the scruffy mechanic Cooter Davenport on all seven seasons of the CBS action series The Dukes of Hazzard before serving two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, died Sunday.

He was 84. 

Jones died from a “massive heart attack” at home while preparing to watch a baseball game on TV, his wife, Alma Viator, announced on Facebook.

Jones had played a federal agent in Moonrunners (1975), a rollicking film from United Artists about bootleggers that was written and directed by Gy Waldron, starred Jim Mitchum and featured narration from country singer Waylon Jennings. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter…


Photo courtesy: Calgary Stampeders

Former Calgary Stampeders running back Rick Galbos dead at 75

Galbos was originally selected by the Washington Football Team in the ninth round of the 1973 NFL Draft, but instead opted to sign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was traded to the Calgary Stampeders prior to his rookie season and went on to play five seasons for the organization. He served as a blocking back in front of Canadian Football Hall of Famer Willie Burden, who set Calgary’s single-season rushing record in 1975.

Former CFL running back Rick Galbos has passed at the age of 75.

During that season, Galbos was involved in one of the most unfortunate plays in CFL history, as he delivered a clean block against Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Tom Pate, which caused him to strike his head on the turf. The 23-year-old never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead three days later due to an aneurysm, becoming the only player in CFL history to die as a result of an on-field injury. Galbos later described the experience as one of the worst moments of his life. Continue reading here…


Arthur Price was a legend at the old Boston Barracudas team, winning the Second Division Riders Championship while with them in 1973.

The same year Boston were the Division Two League champions and also the Division Two KO Cup winners.

He had started with Nelson Admirals in 1968 and finished riding in 1981 with Oxford Cheetahs.

A popular former speedway rider, who was with Workington Comets for a season, has died at the age of 80.

Price rode for the Comets in 1978 and ended the season at the head of the team averages on 8.63. Continue reading here….


SAN FRANCISCO — Don Nelson, the second winningest coach in NBA history, a five-time NBA champion as a player and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, has died, it was announced Sunday. He was 86.

“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” Nelson’s family said in a statement, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein. “Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”

In 31 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors (twice), New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, Nelson finished with a regular season record of 1,335-1,063. He retired with the most coaching wins ever, a mark that was broken by the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich in March 2022.

Continue reading at abc7news.com


Terry “Buffalo” Ware, a longtime Oklahoma guitarist known for his work with Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jimmy LaFave and John Fullbright, died Wednesday after a battle with lung cancer, according to several friends. He was 76.

Born in Shattuck in 1950, Ware was raised in the Northwest Oklahoma towns of Gage and Woodward. His “lightning bolt moment” that led to him learning how to play the guitar came from watching The Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in February 1964, a performance he called “earthshaking.”

In high school, his rock and roll band The Debtors (later called The Debtor Group) played teen sock hops, school dances and VFW halls across Western Oklahoma and parts of Texas and Kansas. Ware later played bars and clubs around Norman and Oklahoma City with the band Sailor, while attending the University of Oklahoma in the early 1970s.

After graduation in 1972, he moved to Red River, New Mexico, where he met Soper, Oklahoma native Ray Wylie Hubbard. Along with fellow Okies Dennis Meehan (aka Clovis Roblaine) and Jim Herbst, they formed Ray Wylie Hubbard & The Cowboy Twinkies. That band released a self-titled record on Reprise Records in 1975 and toured throughout the 1970s, including an opening stint for Willie Nelson at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. Continue reading at KOSU.ORG


FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Fijian rugby player Saimoni Vunilagi has died of suspected heatstroke after a training session in Japan. He was 26.

His death was announced on Saturday by his team, Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex — known as Kyushu KV.

The Japanese second-division club said Vunilagi died Friday after falling ill Monday and being hospitalized. 

“After team practice on Monday … Saimoni displayed symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke. He was transported to a medical facility for treatment, but despite the best efforts of the medical team, he sadly passed away.” –––

the team said in a statement Saturday.

“The players, staff, and all team associates are devastated by this sudden news,” the team said. Read the complete death notification from the Assoicated Press here.


ROSARIO, Argentina (AP) Jorge Messi, the father of soccer star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi, died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.

The Rosario-based Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys announced his death in a social media post that said he had undergone treatment in recent months for an unspecified illness. The post described him as “the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigor and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.”

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) reacts after the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) reacts after the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

The president of Argentina’s soccer federation, Claudio Tapia, on Saturday issued a lengthy statement in which he recognized Jorge Messi “for having raised a person of values: humble, respectful, and deeply committed to others.”

The organization ordered a moment of silence to be observed at all matches across all categories of Argentine soccer and mandated that players, referees and coaching staff wear black armbands. You can read the complete story at the Associated Press.


Phil Parkes in goal for Wolves in a game against Chelsea in 1974
Image caption, Phil Parkes made 382 appearances for Wolves between 1966 and 1978

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Phil Parkes has died at the age of 79.

Parkes spent 18 years with Wolves between 1960 and 1978 and made 382 appearances after joining the club as a schoolboy.

After retiring from playing in 1983, he went on to serve on the committee of Wolves’ former players association and was inducted into the club’s hall of fame in 2023. Continue reading obituary at the BBC.com


John Damore, the offensive lineman who held the distinction of being the oldest living Chicago Bear before his death, died on August 4, 2026, in Westmont, Illinois, at the age of 92.

Born in Riverside, Illinois, in 1933, Damore played college football at Northwestern under head coach Bob Voigts, serving as a senior co-captain in 1954 and earning second-team All-Big Ten honours that same year. He was selected by the New York Giants in the 13th round of the 1955 NFL draft, though he would go on to spend his professional career with the Chicago Bears instead.

Damore played two seasons with the Bears, in 1957 and 1959, appearing in 12 career games and recording one fumble recovery. He missed the entire 1958 season after dislocating his right ankle in a preseason win over the Detroit Lions at the Cotton Bowl. He earned an annual salary of $9,000 during his playing days. Following the 1959 season, Damore stepped away from professional football to take over management of a Riverside, Illinois cement construction firm owned by his father, who had recently retired from its daily operations. Continue reading at That Eric Apler


Tony Scott dead: Beloved music icon dies aged 54 after devastating health battle

The Dutch hip-hop legend passed away after a battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).Dutch rapper and musician Tony Scott has died at the age of 54, following a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). His family confirmed the news in a statement, noting that the producer had “passed away peacefully” on Thursday, 6 August, “surrounded by love.” Continue reading here at express.co.uk


Violet Hensley, the ‘Whittlin’ Fiddler’ and Silver Dollar City legend, dies at 109 –

“Today, we celebrate the beautiful life of our dear friend, Violet Hensley, who passed away at the remarkable age of 109.

For decades, Violet touched hearts of Silver Dollar City guests and citizens through the sounds of her fiddle, the warmth of her smile and her stories.   She wasn’t simply one of America’s most respected fiddle makers and musicians, she was the heart of an Ozarks tradition that connected generations to this special place.    

To know Violet was to experience genuine kindness, quiet humility and an unwavering love for others and her deep, deep love for her family. Not only was she an Arkansas treasure, through her wit and talent, she won hearts on  her national television appearances like the Grand Ole Opry. Most importantly to Silver Dollar City citizens and guests, she will always be a part of our family.” BRANSON, Mo. (KY3) -Violet Hensley, a Silver Dollar City legend known as the ‘Whittlin’ Fiddler,’ has died. She was 109.“

Hensley was known for crafting fiddles at Silver Dollar City for more than 50 years. Learn more here at kY3.com

KY3 sat down with Hensley in 2018, when she was 101, to reflect on her life, career, and the impact she left on the Ozarks for decades. Find the final words here...


Kingston golf pro Matt McQuillan passes away at the age of 45

Matt McQuillan was a Canadian professional golfer who earned his PGA Tour card, and as as a rookie, had three top-ten finishes. His biggest highlight came at the PGA’s John Deere Classic where he put up a third-place finish.

According to his obituary, McQuillan was known as much for the warmth he shared with others as he was for his love of golf.

“Whether on the course or in everyday life, he had a remarkable ability to bring people together, offering encouragement, laughter, and genuine friendship to everyone he met. His welcoming personality and unwavering kindness made him a beloved figure within Kingston’s golfing community and beyond,”

read the obituary. Continue reading at thewhig.com


Joan Blackman
Joan Blackman 
LEE JOHNSON/TV GUIDE
COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION

Joan Blackman, who played women that Elvis Presley ultimately could not resist in Blue Hawaii and Kid Galahad, has died. She was 87.

Blackman died March 16 at a hospital in Santa Rosa, California, her son, Ngai Tarkington, told The Hollywood Reporter. She was a longtime resident of nearby Calistoga.

The San Francisco native also portrayed the first wife of a struggling actor (Anthony Franciosa) in the Hall Wallis-produced, Dean Martin-starring Career (1959) and recurred on the ABC primetime soap Peyton Place during its second season (1965-66) as Marion Fowler, wife of district attorney John Fowler (John Kerr).

Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


William Orbit, the Grammy-winning producer who collaborated with Madonnaon her hit Ray of Light album and worked with other such artists as Blur, No Doubt, U2 and Britney Spears, died July 23. He was 69.

His death was announced by family in a statement posted on Instagram. No cause of death was given. Continue reading at deadline.com



Wine writer Matthew Jukes dies aged 58

Matthew Jukes, one of Britain’s best-known wine writers, critics and drinks entrepreneurs, has died suddenly while on holiday with his family in Portugal. He was 58.

Jukes died on 6 August. He is survived by his wife, Amelia, their sons, Rollo and Victor, and his daughters, Isadora and Elspeth.

Few figures have enjoyed such a varied and influential career in wine. A gifted communicator with an infectious enthusiasm for the subject, Jukes spent almost four decades introducing consumers and professionals alike to the pleasures of wine through restaurants, newspapers, books, and broadcasting. Continue reading at the drinksbusiness.com


Peter Katsis, longtime music manager for some of the biggest rock bands and a co-founder of the Prospect Park and The Firm management and production companies, died on Aug. 6 at the age of 69 from congestive heart failure.

The list of acts that Katsis has worked with and aided in their careers reads like a who’s who of the last 30-plus years of rock and alternative music. Katsis got his start in Chicago, initially working as a promoter in the late ’80s before getting involved with the city’s industrial scene and becoming an A&R executive at Trax Precision Records. One of his first discoveries was Ministry.

Read More: Peter Katsis, Manager for Smashing Pumpkins + Korn, Dead at 69 |


Police Officer Zade Abdelnabi was shot and killed responding to a call regarding an armed subject at the 4500 block of East Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas.

Before 4:00 p.m., Officer Abdelnabi and other officers went to investigate reports of an armed intoxicated man at a local business. When they arrived at the location, they were met with gunfire, and shots were exchanged. 

Officer Abdelnabi was transported to University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds. Honor his sacrifice by visiting the Officer Down Memorial Page here.


Once married to bandleader Xavier Cugat, she starred on Broadway with Tony Randall and in films with Glenn Ford, Van Heflin and Vittorio De Sica.

Abbe Lane, Glamorous Singer and Actress, Dies at 93

Abbe Lane, the glamorous entertainer who starred in movies with Glenn Ford and Cornel Wilde and built a thriving singing career alongside her onetime husband, famed bandleader Xavier Cugat, has died. She was 93. 

Lane died April 25 of natural causes in Los Angeles, her son Steven Leff told The Hollywood Reporter.

Lane starred in nearly two dozen Italian movies, working with the likes of Vittorio De Sica and Totó, and with Tony Randall toplined the 1958 Broadway musical comedy Oh Captain! (1958), directed by José Ferrer.

Months before the end of her life, Sydney Towle reflected on what it means to love in a final essay posted to her Substack.

The influencer died at age 26 nearly three years after she was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer. The news was announced on Thursday, Aug. 6, with posts to her social media pages, where she documented her life and treatment for over 1 million followers across platforms. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter…


Towle also regularly published personal essays to her Substack page in a series she titled “Stoop Thoughts.” On May 11, she shared her last full-length post, which was titled “In sickness and in health: why accepting help is a symbol of love.”

She discussed her reluctance to ask for help as her strength waned amid chemotherapy and her reaction to friends asking to visit her in the hospital, where she noted that she’d recently been readmitted. Towle confessed that she felt a certain amount of inexplicable guilt upon realizing that her loved ones were interested in coming to see and support her. Read more about her passing at People.


Jean Lodge, a British actress who appeared with Alan Ladd in the 1954 medieval adventure film The Black Knight, has died. She was 99.

Lodge died Wednesday, one day after her birthday, her granddaughter Amy Shaughnessy announced.

Survivors include her sons, Charles Shaughnessy, known for his turns as Maxwell Sheffield on The Nanny and Shane Donovan on Days of Our Lives, and David Shaughnessy, a producer on The Young and the Restlessand a director on The Bold and The Beautiful. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter…


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Martha Rivers Ingram, the prominent businesswoman and philanthropist whose support helped shape Nashville’s arts and cultural community, died Thursday. She was 90.

Martha Ingram.jpg.png
Photo by: The Ingram family
Martha Rivers Ingram

Ingram died peacefully surrounded by her family.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1935, Ingram attended Ashley Hall before earning a history degree from Vassar College in 1957. She later worked with her father at WCSC’s radio and television stations in Charleston and served as a disc jockey for a classical music program. Learn more from Nashville’s NewsChannel5.com


Florence “Flo” Anthony, longtime AmNews columnist, trailblazing celebrity journalist dies at 74


Jack Hirsch, biographer for her husband, boxing legend Michael Spinks, confirmed that she died early Thursday, Aug. 6. The two had worked together on Michael “Jinx” Spinks: An Authorized Biography, which was released in March. He said that she recently disclosed to him that she was battling cancer.

Her weekly “Go With The Flo” column became a fixture in The New York Amsterdam News dating back to 2001, as well as in publications including the Philadelphia Sunday Sun and the Columbus Times. She also contributed entertainment news to the New York Daily News, served as publisher and editor-in-chief of Black Noir magazine, and acted as editor-in-chief of Black Elegance magazine.


CNN entertainment journalist Lisa Respers France posted her reaction on social media upon learning of Anthony’s passing, saying in part:

“As a Black woman who covers pop culture, I am deeply indebted to Florence ‘Flo’ Anthony, a syndicated columnist and author who did more than just cover gossip. She was so important to the culture.”

A woman of firsts

Anthony was known to walk into newsrooms and departments whose doors had once been barricaded against people of color—and particularly against African American women. She entered spaces where few people looked like her, where her presence alone challenged entrenched ideas about who could report the news, break a story, command a television screen, or become a trusted voice on celebrity culture. Continue reading at AmsterdamNews.Com


(CAROLINA SPORTS LIVE) — Cozell McQueen, a member of N.C. State’s 1983 basketball national championship team, has died. 

The team announced his death Wednesday night. He was 64. 

“We are saddened by the passing of Cozell McQueen, who proudly wore the Red and White from 1981-85 and was a member of our unforgettable 1983 National Championship team,” the tam posted on social media. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates and all who knew him.” Charlotte 49ers golfer qualifies for USGA Women’s Amateur Championship

Standing at 6-foot-11, McQueen was a reserve center on the Jim Valvano-coached title-winning team. He averaged 5.3 points and six rebounds during his four-year career with the Wolfpack. Continue reading at qcnews.com


This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is download-66.jpg Pepe Habichuela, the Spanish flamenco guitarist

Born José Antonio Carmona Carmona in Granada, Habichuela belonged to one of flamenco’s most storied gypsy dynasties, founded by his grandfather, known as Habichuela el Viejo, and carried forward by his father, José Carmona, and his brothers Juan, Carlos, and Luis. In 1964, Habichuela moved to Madrid, where he began performing regularly in flamenco shows, sharing the stage with artists including Juanito Valderrama, Camarón de la Isla, and Enrique Morente.

Habichuela’s recording career produced a string of celebrated albums, beginning with his 1976 tribute to singer Antonio Chacón, made alongside Morente, which won Spain’s National Prize of discography in 1975. He went on to release albums including ‘A Mandeli’ and ‘Habichuela en rama,’ establishing himself as one of flamenco’s most respected guitarists over the following decades. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


TORONTO (AP) — Lloyd Robertson, who served as chief anchor of CTV National News for 27 years and became one of Canada’s most trusted journalists on the country’s top-rated nightly television newscast, has died. He was 92.

CTV News said Robertson’s family confirmed his death Tuesday.

For generations of Canadians, Robertson chronicled many of the defining events of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, from elections and wars to the Sept. 11 attacks. Continue reading at the Associated Press…


Jim Toman, the veteran college baseball coach who led Liberty University to its most successful era and later served as head coach at Middle Tennessee, died on August 4, 2026, from brain cancer he had been battling since his diagnosis in 2025. He was 64.

Born James Michael Andrew Toman in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Toman played baseball at NC State from 1981 to 1984, serving as team captain in his final two seasons and earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the 1984 ACC tournament. After graduating in 1985, he spent several years coaching at the high school level before beginning his college coaching career in 1989 with a one-year stint at FIU.

Toman returned to his alma mater in 1990, joining Ray Tanner’s staff at NC State as an assistant, a partnership that carried through to South Carolina when Tanner took over the Gamecocks program in 1997. Toman spent eleven seasons as an assistant in Columbia, earning ABCA and Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year honours in 2002. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


Former jockey Robby Albarado, who won the Preakness twice during his lengthy riding career in the top tier of the sport, has died. He was 52.

A spokesperson for Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, said the track was informed of Albarado’s death by multiple friends and family members. Albarado was hospitalized in recent days for a procedure to insert a stent to alleviate a blockage near his heart, according to trainer Kenny McPeek, who employed Albarado as an exercise rider.

“Saying goodbye to someone who left us too soon is extremely difficult,” Churchill Downs president Mike Anderson said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family and numerous friends.”

Albarado is best known for riding Curlin to Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic victories in 2007, and he also won the second leg of the Triple Crown aboard filly Swiss Skydiver in 2020. Albarado has two other Breeders’ Cup wins among the 5,222 in his career. Continue reading at the Associated Press.


OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) — Dory Funk Jr., a pro wrestling Hall of Famer and longtime Marion County resident, has died. He was 85.

Funk began his pro wrestling career in the 1960s and continued making appearances until last year.

Since the 1990s, Funk and his wife, Marti, operated the Funking Conservatory, a wrestling school and ring in Ocala. The venue hosted charitable events and pro wrestling broadcasts over the years. Continue reading at newschannel10.com


Alfonso “Alfy” Fanjul Jr., 89

Alfonso “Alfy” Fanjul Jr., Cuban-born sugar billionaire, businessman, and philanthropist, has died at the age of 89. A prominent figure in the American sugar industry, Fanjul helped build one of the nation’s largest agricultural enterprises after his family reestablished its business in the United States following the Cuban Revolution.

Alfonso "Alfy" Fanjul Jr.,
Alfonso “Alfy” Fanjul Jr.,

As a leader of Florida Crystals, Fanjul played a key role in expanding the family’s sugar operations while becoming an influential voice in agriculture, business, and public policy. Beyond his business accomplishments, he was widely recognized for his philanthropic support of education, healthcare, cultural organizations, and community initiatives throughout Florida and beyond.

Fanjul’s success reflected both his entrepreneurial vision and his family’s resilience in rebuilding after losing their holdings in Cuba. His contributions to American agriculture and his charitable efforts left a lasting mark on the industries and communities he served.

Groff Media extends its sincere condolences to Alfonso Fanjul Jr.’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who mourn his passing. His legacy as a businessman, philanthropist, and leader in the sugar industry will be remembered for generations.


Mary Egida Rivera Dies: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Actress Was 82

Rivera, who played the grandmother of Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) in the 2021 film, died after suffering a stroke.

Reportedly the actress was placed on life support after suffering a stroke. The doctors did not have a positive prognosis for Rivera if she ever returned from the coma, and with that information, “the family made the difficult decision to remove her from life support.”

Learn more about Mary Egida Rivera’s passing from deadline.com


Bill Goichberg (1942-2026)

By Released in Sadness by US Chess |  August 3, 2026  |   Bios ,  News ,  Obituary ,  Tournaments 

FM William “Bill” Goichberg passed away Sunday Aug. 2, 2026, at age 83. 

Between the 1960s and the 2000s, Bill held every one of the highest roles in US Chess. He was rating statistician; he was co-editor of Chess Life; he was a member of what we now call the Executive Board three separate times; he was executive director; he was president.

Image

Bill Goichberg (L) and Harry Sabine (R) in an undated photo from the U.S. Open. From the US Chess Archives.

Bill Goichberg (L) and Harry Sabine (R)

BG

Goichberg in 1985 holding a beautiful inlaid chessboard gifted to him by Steve Doyle with an inscribed brass plate stating “to William Goichberg for Distinguished Service to Chess.”

Of course, most of us know Bill’s work through his Continental Chess Association. Founded in the 1960s, it runs some of the biggest tournaments in the country — the World Open in Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Open, and massive tournaments and prize funds everywhere in between. Continue to read here uschess.org


Dusty LaValley, Four-Time Canadian Bareback Riding Champion, Dies

The rodeo community is mourning the loss of Dusty LaValley, one of Canada’s most accomplished bareback riders and a four-time Canadian Professional Rodeo Association champion. A native of Bezanson, Alberta, LaValley built a reputation as one of the toughest and most consistent competitors in North American rodeo, earning widespread respect for his determination, athleticism, and sportsmanship. 

The rodeo world mourns the loss of Dusty LaValley. We are keeping his family and friends close in prayer.

LaValley’s professional career included four Canadian bareback riding championships (2006, 2007, 2010, and 2011), two appearances at the National Finals Rodeo, and 13 qualifications for the Canadian Finals Rodeo. He was also the 2004 PRCA Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year, a milestone that launched a career filled with victories at many of rodeo’s premier events. 

Known for his relentless travel schedule and unwavering commitment to the sport, LaValley inspired fellow competitors and rodeo fans alike. Whether competing in Canada or across the United States, he was admired for his grit, professionalism, and love of the western lifestyle. His accomplishments earned him induction into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2022, recognizing a career that helped shape modern Canadian rodeo. 

Dusty LaValley leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of Canada’s finest bareback riders. His contributions to rodeo, his competitive spirit, and the example he set for future generations will be remembered throughout the rodeo community. Groff Media extends its sincere condolences to his family, friends, and fellow competitors during this time of loss.

ALS took four-time Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Bareback Riding Champ Dusty LaValley at 45 today. But not before a brave and courageous years-long battle against the brutal, debilitating disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s.

Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Dusty competed in 13 Canadian Finals Rodeos, and won his four titles in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011. He qualified for twos NFRs in 2008 and 2010.


Allan Nascimento speaks during an interview after a UFC win in November 2025

Mixed martial arts fighter Allan Nascimento has died at the age of 34, says the UFC.

According to MMA’s leading promotion, the Brazilian flyweight was found unresponsive on Monday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep.

“Despite the efforts of the responding medical team, he was pronounced deceased at the scene,” added a UFC statement., external

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan’s family, friends, team-mates and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

Nascimento had been with the UFC since 2021 and his last fight was a split-decision loss to Mitch Raposo in June. Continue reading at BBC.com


NEW YORK (AP) — Benjamin Alire Sáenz, an award-winning fiction writer and poet who drew upon his sexuality and his life on the Southern border, has died at age 71. He was the first Latino to win the PEN/Faulkner prize.

“Hamilton” playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, who narrated the audio edition and helped produce a 2023 film adaptation, wrote in an Instagram post that he was “heartbroken” over Sáenz’s death.

Sáenz, who produced a story collection that won the PEN/Faulkner prize and a young adult novel that received acclaim from readers and reviewers and condemnation from censors, died last week in El Paso, Texas after a lengthy illness, according to a spokesperson for Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Additional details were not immediately available.

Sáenz, born in Old Picacho, New Mexico, was an ordained Catholic priest who eventually left the order and came out as gay. His “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” the story of two Mexican American boys falling in love, was published in 2012 and received a pair of citations for outstanding LGBTQ+ literature: a Stonewall Honors Book Award and the Lambda Literary Award.


DAVID Z, GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER WHO HELPED PRINCE’S EARLY CAREER, DIES AT 78

David Rivkin, a Grammy-winning producer and engineer also known as David Z, has died at the age of 78. The influential studio veteran died on Sunday (Aug. 2) at a hospital in Burbank, Calif., due to complications from an infection, according to The Minneapolis Star Tribune. Continue reading at the Associated Press…

Widely regarded as one of the architects of the Minneapolis Sound, David Z played a pivotal role in launching rock icon Prince‘s career by producing his early demo recordings and engineering some of his early albums. His expertise also extended to work on Lipps Inc.’s chart-topping “Funkytown,” which earned the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. Additionally, David Z co-produced Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy,” which topped the Hot 100 in 1989 and earned a Grammy nomination for record of the year in 1990. Continue reading at Billboard.com


Justin Hardy dead

UK director and producer Justin Hardy died of a heart attack on July 31, just weeks before the premiere of his sequel to late father Robin Hardy’s 1973 cult folk horror The Wicker Man. He was 61.

aHardy had recently completed Wrath of the Gods based on a long lost concept written by his father as the final feature in his The Wicker Man trilogy, following the original film and 2011 picture The Wicker Tree. It world premieres at Frightfest in London on August 28. Continue reading at deadline.com


Grace Chang, a Hong Kong actress and singer whose films made her one of the defining screen idols of 1950s Chinese-language cinema, died on August 3, 2026, at the age of 93.

Born Chang Yufang in Nanjing on June 13, 1933, Chang was a Haining, Zhejiang native who grew up in Shanghai before moving to Hong Kong with her father in 1948. She began vocal training as a child and cited the singer-actress Chow Hsuan as her idol growing up. Performing under the stage name Ko Lan, an approximation of her English name Grace, she launched her career with Taishan Pictures, making her debut in 1952’s ‘Seven Sisters.’ Continue reading at That Eric Alper


Comedian Jimmy Cricket dies aged 80

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket has died at the age of 80, his family has announced.

The TV star – who was known for his clean and family-friendly brand of comedy – fronted his own programme And There’s More in the late 1980s, appeared in several Royal Variety shows and hosted a comedy series, Jimmy’s Cricket Team, on Radio 2 in the 1990s.

In a statement shared on social media on Monday (3 August), Cricket’s family said he died “this morning after a short illness” and “spent his last few days surrounded by his family, love, laughter and songs”. Continue reading…


Corbis via Getty Images Rod Liddle looking up to his right, wearing a blue-striped shirt and navy jacket

Newspaper columnist and broadcaster Rod Liddle has died aged 66 after a short illness. 

Liddle’s children paid tribute to their father, who they described as their guide “on how to live an extraordinary life”, while CEO of News UK, Rebekah Brooks, called him “an inimitable journalistic force.”

Brooks added that “he challenged conventional thinking and left an indelible mark on British journalism.”

Liddle, a columnist for the Sun and the Sunday Times, died at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on Sunday evening. Read more at BBC.com


Natalia Dontcheva Dies: Star Of French Version Of ‘Doc Martin’ Was 56

Natalia Dontcheva, the Bulgarian actress who starred in the French version of Doc Martin on TF1, has died. She was 56.

Dontcheva’s death was confirmed by her stepson, the French producer Hugo Sélignac. A cause of death was not disclosed, but Sélignac referred to her experiencing a “ten-year battle.” Continue reading at deadline.com


Vicki Wickham in 1965 Credit: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Vicki Wickham, who has died aged 87, was one of the prime movers behind Ready Steady Go!, the innovative television show that helped to launch some of the biggest names in 1960s pop, and she went on to manage the soul diva Dusty Springfield.

Although unstarry herself and, on her own assessment, “not particularly fantastic-looking or musical”, Vicki Wickham emerged from the typing pool to become the new show’s tea girl, booker, writer, producer and finally editor.

Within a year, as one pop historian reckoned it, she was presiding over

“a thrilling sprint through whatever pop was right then and there in a particular week: sounds, fashions, dance steps, slang, attitude, colours, the whole crazy teen shebang”.

Up to 14 million viewers tuned in every week. Continue reading at telegraph.co.uk


Scott Hylands, the actor known for playing Detective Kevin “OB” O’Brien in Night Heat, has died. He was 83.

The Canadian actor died on Wednesday, July 29, his cinematographer son Luke Hylands announced in a statement memorializing his “forever hero and best friend” on social media.

Born Feb. 27, 1943 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Scott Hylands Douglas was raised in British Columbia, where he studied zoology at University of British Columbia before transferring to theater arts. After college, he pursued acting in New York City, where he made his off-Broadway debut as the lead in a 1965 production of Billy Liar. He also performed with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco for several years before his onscreen debut in Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting (1969).

Continue reading at deadline.com


Monty Roberts, the renowned “horse whisperer” who bought and sold a dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner and became a friend of the late Queen, died Aug. 1 at his farm in California. He was 91.

His famous “join-up” procedure transformed the relationship between horses and humans, and the calming rugs which took his name are a familiar sight wherever an anxious Thoroughbred is reluctant to enter the stalls. Continue reading at dressage-news.com


Jeff Conolly (aka Monoman) Has Died Age 69: R.I.P.

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More sad news…Jeff Conolly  also known as Monoman and member of two fabulous bands….DMZ and The Lyres…has died, age 69.

Details are sketchy, but it seems Jeff succumbed to kidney and liver failure after battling cancer. Jeff and DMZ started making a racket around the Boston area in early 1976. Eventually signed to Sire Records, they released an album, produced by none other than Flo & Eddie. Next came The Lyres, formed in 1979 and who Conolly continued to tour and record with until recently. I had the pleasure of seeing perform back in 1983 and my ears are still ringing. So pay tribute to Jeff by cranking up his music and continue living the dream. Continue reading at 13thfloor.co.nz


Vincent Pastore, the Mobster “Big Pussy” on ‘The Sopranos,’ Dies at 80

After two decades running nightclubs around New York, he became an actor at age 42, stood out in ‘Gotti,’ got whacked by David Chase and appeared twice on Broadway.

Vincent Pastore, the Bronx-born actor who portrayed Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero, the mob informant who winds up sleeping with the fishes, quite literally, on The Sopranos, has died. He was 80. 

Pastore was found dead by Steve Villano, the actor’s self-described “right-hand man,” in his Bronx home on Saturday, he told The Hollywood Reporter. He apparently died in his sleep, he added. 

The son of a real-life wiseguy, he said, Pastore made a living running and owning bars and nightclubs for two decades and didn’t get into acting until he was 42. Yet by the time he was done, he had appeared in nearly 200 movies and TV projects — most often as an Italian American bad guy — and twice in singing roles on Broadway. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Nirmal Purja Dies In Avalanche: Celebrated Mountaineer Featured In Netflix Documentary ’14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible’ Was 43

Nirmal Purja, the British-Nepali mountaineer whose renowned career was featured in the 2021 Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan on Thursday, July 30, his company has confirmed. He was 43.

Purja was one of 10 people killed in the tragedy. Continue reading on deadline.com


Richard L. O’Connor obituary
Richard L. O’Connor, ‘On Golden Pond’
movie poster Courtesy

Richard L. O’Connor, an Emmy-winning TV producer and a studio executive in charge of production on such films as On Golden Pond, The Muppet Movie and Raise The Titanic, died July 22 in Palm Desert. He was 96.

His death was announced by his family. A cause was not disclosed. Continue reading on deadline.com


JAKOB BUTTURFF DIES AT 32

Jakob Butturff died unexpectedly on Friday, July 31 at the age of 32.

Jakob Butturff Dies at 32
JULY 31, 2026 PROFESSIONAL BOWLERS ASSOCIATION

Butturff was an eight-time PBA Tour champion, winning one major in the 2019 USBC Masters.

“Jakob was one of the most unique players in PBA history,” PBA Commissioner Tom Clark said. “Fans marveled at his delivery, as he rode a wave of strikes into becoming a top player in the sport, capable of winning at any time, in any event. Jakob was kind, he was respectful, and he was a champion. He will never be forgotten. Our hearts are with all Butters touched on his one-of-a-kind journey.”

Butturff’s breakout came during the 2016 season. Continue reading this indepth article at PBS.COM


U.S. airmen salutes during an

DEATH NOTICE -––

Orris E. Kelly, 100, retired U.S. Army Major General and former Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army, has died. Born on July 28, 1926, in Montrose, Kansas, Kelly served his country during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War before leading the Army Chaplain Corps as its 14th Chief of Chaplains from 1975 to 1979.

Following his military retirement, he continued a life of ministry and service through the United Methodist Church and hospital pastoral care. His century-long life was marked by faith, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to those serving in uniform. Details to follow…


SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Carol Lynn Pearson, the acclaimed Utah-born poet, playwright and author whose memoir “Goodbye, I Love You” helped change conversations about faith, sexuality and AIDS, has died at the age of 86.

Pearson, a fourth-generation member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, grew up in Gusher, Utah, and earned a master’s degree in theater from Brigham Young University. She went on to become one of the most recognized writers in Latter-day Saint literature, publishing more than 40 books and plays during her career. Continue reading at Salt Lake Tribune

Pearson thanked readers for traveling


MILAN (AP) — Franco Baresi, the former AC Milan captain who was one of Italy’s most acclaimed defenders, has died. He was 66.

His death was announced on Friday by Milan, the soccer club where he spent his entire 20-year playing career. No cause of death was given.

“The entire history of AC Milan is in tears,” Milan said. Continue reading at Associated Press


Australian music journalist, historian and broadcaster Glenn A Baker has died aged 74.

Known for his vast music knowledge, Baker won the BBC’s Rock Brain of the Universe three times in the mid-1980s.

In the mid-1970s, Baker was part of a research project which resulted in the formation of 2JJ, which later became triple j.

His radio career began hosting a trivia program on the station before moving on to Triple M. 

He was the manager of the band Ol’55 and in 1979, co-established Australian record label Raven Records. Continue reading


Town Marshal Brad Fisher was killed assisting in the pursuit of a stolen vehicle on U.S. 36 near Lynn at approximately 8:30 a.m.

Early Wednesday morning, Town Marshal Fisher was responding to a report of a known stolen vehicle that had fled from a  Randolph County sheriff’s deputy during a high-risk traffic stop.

While deploying a tire deflation system, the stolen vehicle struck Town Marshal Fisher and then crashed into a dump truck.


Town Marshal Fisher was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Continue reading at the Officer Down Memorial Page


Angela Wales Kirgo
Angela Wales Kirgo COURTESY
OF ALEC PERRIN

Angela Wales Kirgo, who spent nearly two decades as executive director of the Writers Guild Foundation, the educational and charitable arm of the WGA West, died Tuesday in her native Sydney after a battle with cancer, a family spokesperson announced. She was 78.

After serving as executive director of the Australian Writers’ Guild, she came to Los Angeles in 1990, joined the Writers Guild Foundation in 1993 and helped transform it into one of the entertainment industry’s premier educational institutions. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Neil Reading, UK publicist to the likes of John Cleese and Dawn French, has died. He was 56.

According to The Sun, which carried a number of tributes, the PR guru died following a short illness. 

Reading ran a PR firm, Neil Reading PR, and was an extremely well-known publicist in the UK entertainment world. He launched his agency in 1992 and specialized in entertainment along with lifestyle PR. Continue reading at deadline.com

Eugene Benson, a Canadian professor, librettist, and prolific literary figure whose work spanned opera, fiction, drama, and scholarship, has died at 98. He passed away on July 29.

Born in Northern Ireland on July 6, 1928, Benson earned a bachelor’s degree from the National University of Ireland, a master’s from the University of Western Ontario, and a PhD from the University of Toronto before building a career that touched nearly every corner of Canadian literary and performing arts life.

Benson wrote the libretti for 6 operatic works over his career, including Heloise and Abelard for the Canadian Opera Company in 1973 and Everyman for the Stratford Festival in 1974, both with music by Charles Wilson. His later operas included collaborations with composers Victor Davies and John Burge, staged by companies including the Toronto Operetta Theatre and the Westben Arts Festival Theatre. Two of his works, Everyman and Psycho Red, were broadcast nationally by the CBC. Continue reading at ThatEricAlper.com


Spanish actor Manolo Solo, one of the most prolific and acclaimed actors in the last 25 years of Spanish cinema, has died of cancer at the age of 62, as confirmed by the Spanish Academy on Thursday.

Born in Algeciras and raised in Seville, he worked in over 50 movies and almost as many TV series, ranging from comedies to thrillers and dramas, winning one Goya award in 2016, for The Fury of a Patient Man (Tarde para la ira) and being nominated four other times, including this year for The Portuguese House (Una quinta portuguesa).

Solo received critical acclaim for most of his roles, including many that have received awards, nominations and acclaim internationally, such as B, la película (2015), The Good Boss (El Buen patrón, 2021), Close your eyes (Cerrar los ojos, 2023, by acclaimed director Víctor Erice), or the TV series The Anatomy of a Moment (2025) based on the failed coup d’état in 1981. He also worked with Guillermo del Toro in Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Alejandro González Iñárritu in Biutiful (2010), and José Luis Cuerda (Tiempo después in 2018). Continue reading here….


Arlene Smith

Arlene Smith, an original member of The Chantels who wrote and sang the lead on the R&B girl group’s classic 1957 hit, “Maybe,” has died. She was 84.

Smith died Wednesday of natural causes in a hospital in her hometown of New York City, her friend Matt Beckoff told The Hollywood Reporter.

Born on Oct. 5, 1941, Smith had received classical training and performed at age 12 at Carnegie Hall when she and Lois Harris, Sonia Goring, Jackie Landry and Renée Minus auditioned for record producer Richard Barrett, a member of the doo-wop group The Valentines. Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Billy Ray Smith, linebacker for the San Diego Chargers who then became a sports broadcaster, died Wednesday at age 64, according to KGTV.

Smith’s wife, Kimberly Hunt, is a news anchor at KGTV, which first reported the news.

Smith was drafted by the Chargers in 1983 and played until 1992. After that, he became a sports broadcaster on TV, radio and online. 

Smith was selected 5th overall in the 1983 by the Chargers. Smith played his entire NFL career in San Diego, starring for the Chargers from 1983-1992. Continue reading at nbcsandiego.com


Pathbreaking Italian American artist, choreographer, and dancer Simone Forti has died at the age of ninety-one. Her death, in Los Angeles, was announced by the Milan-based gallery Raffaella Cortese, which represented her. Training under postmodern dance pioneer Anna Halprin in San Francisco in the last half of the 1950s, Forti burst onto the New York dance scene at the dawn of the ’60s with her seminal “Dance Constructions,” works in which dancers responded to cheap, ready-made objects that prompted improvisational actions such as leaning, climbing, or whistling. The pieces deeply influenced Yvonne Rainer and Steve Paxton, leading them to found the Judson Dance Theater, whose members would reshape modern dance over the ensuing decade in a way that continues to resonate more than half a century later. “This small, radical group of works by Forti was like a pebble tossed into a large, still, and complacent pond,” wrote Paxton years later. “The ripples radiated.” Continue reading here…


For My Friend, Trace Baldwin, Judge, Musician, Friend.

By Benjamin Groff II GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | ©2026

Some people enter our lives with great fanfare. Others simply appear one ordinary day and quietly become part of our story forever.

Trace Baldwin

That was Trace Baldwin.

When we first met, I was a young police officer. Trace was a clerk at C.R. Anthony’s Dry Goods Store, a clothing store well known throughout Oklahoma and Texas for quality merchandise and courteous employees. I had shopped there many times over the years, but I had never paid much attention to the young man behind the counter. At the time, he was simply another employee helping customers.

Life has a way of introducing us when we least expect it.

I had been assigned to spend my days around the local high school, providing a visible law enforcement presence. This was years before school shootings became part of our national vocabulary. Our department believed in prevention, and I enjoyed getting to know the students and their families. Before long, I knew nearly every teenager in town. Parents would often ask if I had seen their son or daughter, and more often than not, I could tell them exactly where they had been. I considered that trust one of the greatest compliments of my career.

One of those students was an outgoing young man named Mike Griffin. Every afternoon as he left school, he would honk his horn, wave enthusiastically, and flash me a thumbs-up. During lunch, he would often stop to visit, and one day he asked a simple question.

“Do you like to fish?”

“Of course,” I answered.

He invited me to spend the weekend fishing with him at Lake Thunderbird. He and a friend were taking his father’s pop-up camper for a weekend of camping and fishing. Since I happened to be off duty, I gladly accepted.

When I arrived at the campground, the lake was unusually high, leaving us almost alone on the shoreline. Mike introduced me to his friend, a skinny, quiet young man named Trace Baldwin.

Unlike Mike, Trace wasn’t particularly comfortable around police officers.

I couldn’t blame him. To him, I represented the badge.

The moment I climbed out of my truck, though, I put the badge and gun away. After making sure we were all of legal age, I opened a cold beer, and before long we settled into what became one of the most enjoyable weekends of my life.

We laughed.

We fished.

We told stories.

There wasn’t much else to do, and somehow that was exactly what made it perfect.

By the end of that weekend, Trace and I had become friends.

Over the following weeks, he began stopping by my house after work at Anthony’s. Before long, he wasn’t coming to visit a police officer. He was coming to see a friend. My home became a place where he could simply relax without being judged or challenged. Looking back, I think we both needed that more than either of us realized.

We spent countless hours exploring fishing holes throughout eastern Oklahoma County. Some of my favorite memories were made beside those quiet waters.

One trip stands above the rest.

Trace, his father Danny, and I drove to the Blue River to fish for trout. I never caught a single fish that day, but I left with something much greater. The beauty of the Blue River—the clear water, the peaceful woods, the stillness—was unlike anything I had experienced before. I remember thinking I had found paradise.

Without Trace, I never would have discovered that place.

He brought so many unexpected gifts into my life.

Years passed.

Life carried each of us in different directions, but somehow we always managed to find one another again. We laughed about old memories, and Trace would often remind me of moments I had long forgotten.

Not long ago he smiled and said, “You’re the only person I ever rode around with singing gospel songs at two o’clock in the morning while we drove around Lake Thunderbird.”

I had almost forgotten.

He never did.

Those little moments meant something to him.

One day he even asked me to officiate a wedding, a request that humbled me more than I probably ever told him.

As the years passed, the shy young man I had first met beside that flooded campground became an accomplished man. Trace earned his law degree from Oklahoma City University in 1998 and devoted his career to serving others through the Social Security Administration and Legal Aid Services. It somehow didn’t surprise me. The compassion, empathy, and quiet kindness I had seen in him as a young man never left him.

He found joy in life’s simple pleasures. He loved music, especially listening to his favorite band, Tool, on a carefully assembled stereo system. He was a gifted guitar player, sketch artist, and poet. He appreciated classic cars, motorcycles, World War II history, and Stephen King novels. He was known for his dry wit and quick sense of humor, but above all, he was a devoted father to his daughters, Keara and Bella.

Knowing all of that now makes me smile. It reminds me that the young man I met all those years ago never really changed. He simply became more of the person he was always meant to be.

I had been looking forward to talking with him again. There were still stories left to tell and memories left to share.

Then, on June 22, 2026, heaven quietly called my friend home.

The news left me heartbroken.

It reminded me how quickly time slips away and how important it is to tell those we love exactly what they have meant to us while we still have the chance.

Thank you, my friend, for walking beside me during one of the happiest seasons of my young life.

Thank you for every fishing trip, every late-night conversation, every laugh, every memory, and every mile we traveled together.

You helped shape my life far more than you probably ever knew.

Rest easy, Trace.

Listen for the call of the pipes—they will be playing, calling you home.

Someday, when my own journey is over, I hope to hear them too…

And I’ll see you again.

By Benjamin Groff II GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | ©2026


Jean-Pierre Dorléac Dies: Emmy-Winning ‘Battlestar Galactica’ & ‘Somewhere In Time’ Costume Designer Was 83

Jean-Pierre Dorléac, the French costume designer who won Emmy Awards for his work on TV’s Battlestar Galactica and The Lot and was Oscar nominated for the film Somewhere in Time, died July 23 of natural causes at his Hollywood Hills home. He was 83. His death was reported by a family… read more at deadline.com


French DJ Kavinsky, who was best known internationally for his track “Nightcall” that opened Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 film Drive, has died. He was 50.

Kavinsky

French media reported that the music artist, producer and DJ was found dead July 28 at his home in Paris. Continue reading at deadline.com


Legendary author Benjamin Alire Sáenz, best known for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, died July 28 at 71 after a long illness.

His publisher, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers confirmed the news on July 29. The multi-award winning novelist’s last book, When the World Was Happy, comes out on Sept. 29 and started with a deeply personal story. It centers around twins CheChe and Emma who survive a school shooting, but suffer devastating losses.Ande Phipps, family matriarch, dies at 82 Continue reading at People….


Phipps, Ande01 (crop).6-7-18.CathyDuffy (1)

Ande Phipps and her family were co-owners of Golden Tempo, this year’s Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner.

Andrea “Ande” Phipps, who was married to longtime Jockey Club chairman Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps for 46 years before his passing in 2016, died Tuesday in New York City after a brief illness surrounded by her children, according to a release sent out by The Jockey Club. She was 82.

The Phipps Stable is one of the most recognized names in Thoroughbred racing having marked its 100th anniversary this year. In partnership with Vinnie and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable, the Phippses are the co-breeders and co-owners of Golden Tempo, this year’s Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner. Continue reading at the Daily Racing Form…


Former Miami University player and coach, Joe Novak, passed away this week. He was 81 years old.

Novak spent nearly four decades coaching on the gridiron at the high school and collegiate levels. He returned to Miami as an assistant coach from 1974-76. During that time, Miami won two MAC titles, going undefeated in MAC play in 1974 and 1975, while winning the Tangerine Bowl both of those seasons.

Prior to his time at Miami as a coach, Novak began his prep coaching career as an assistant at Warren Western Reserve High School in 1968. Elevated to head coach five years later, Novak led Western Reserve to a 12-0 record and Ohio’s large school division state title to earn 1972 Coach of the Year honors. Continue reading at miamiredhawks.com


Bobby Hunt, a standout defensive back who won two AFL championships across an eight-year professional career, has died at 85. His death was announced in July, though further details were not immediately available.

Bobby Hunt was born on August 15, 1940, in Lanett, Alabama, where he starred as a quarterback and punter at Lanett High School, earning first-team All-State honors as a senior and helping lead the team to two undefeated seasons. He went on to play both quarterback and defensive back at Auburn University, leading the Tigers in passing yards, rushing yards, and scoring as a sophomore in 1959, and later quarterbacking the South to victory in the 1961 Blue-Gray Game, where he was named the game’s outstanding player. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


Singer Glen Hansard making a surprise appearance at the All Songs Considered Sweet 16 birthday party, at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., Jan. 13

Glen Hansard, seen here performing in Washington, D.C. in 2016, led the Irish band The Frames and won an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly” from the film Once.

AJ Wilhelm/For NPR

Glen Hansard, the Irish singer who won an Oscar for the musical movie Onceand led the bands The Frames and The Swell Season, died on Wednesday. He was 56 years old. Hansard’s management shared a statement with NPR, and confirmed that he died following a motorcycle crash in Dublin.

“With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard in the early hours of this morning,” the statement reads. “We are still dealing with the shock of it all, so we kindly ask that the privacy of Glen’s family, colleagues and friends is respected at this difficult time.”

Hansard dropped out of school at 13 to focus on music, performing frequently as a busker in Ireland. Not long after forming his band The Frames in 1990, he landed a part in the movie The Commitments — about a tempestuous Irish band that couldn’t overcome conflicts among its members. Continue reading at NPR.ORG


Nicholas Platt, Former U.S. Ambassador and Asia Society Leader, Dies at 90

Nicholas Platt, a distinguished American diplomat, former U.S. ambassador, and longtime president of the Asia Society, has died at the age of 90. His passing was announced by his son, acclaimed actor Oliver Platt, who shared that his father’s heart declined suddenly on Thursday morning, bringing to a close a remarkable life of public service and devotion to family. 

Nicholas Platt

A career Foreign Service officer, Platt served the United States for more than three decades, including as ambassador to Zambia, the Philippines, and Pakistan. He also held senior diplomatic assignments in Canada, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and Washington, D.C., where he served as Executive Secretary of the U.S. Department of State. Following his diplomatic career, he led the Asia Society in New York, transforming it into one of the nation’s premier cultural institutions dedicated to strengthening understanding between Asia and the United States. 

In a heartfelt tribute, Oliver Platt remembered his father as “deeply kind, generous and interested in others,” saying that while Nicholas Platt treasured the extraordinary people he met throughout his career, he loved his family above all else. He is survived by his three sons—Oliver, Adam, and Nicholas Jr.—and leaves behind a legacy of diplomacy, cultural leadership, and unwavering dedication to both his country and his family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sheila, with whom his family finds comfort in believing he has now been reunited. 


‘Peep Show’ and ‘Doctor Who’ actor Tom Chadbon dead at 80

Tom Chadbon, the British actor best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Peep Show, has died aged 80.

Taking to social media, Fantom Films, which has been putting on Doctor Who-related events for fans since 2005, announced the sad news on July 27th, writing, “We are sorry to hear the news that Tom Chadbon passed away last weekend.” Continue reading…


Andy Lippman, the Los Angeles bureau chief during the O.J. Simpson trial and the L.A. riots during a 39-year career with The Associated Press, has died at age 78.

Lippman died at his home in Tucson on July 25, according to his brother, Glenn. He died from multiple system atrophy, a rare brain disease.

A gifted writer and editor, Lippman likely made his greatest contribution to journalism through the scores of young editors and reporters he recruited, mentored in his soft-spoken but enthusiastic manner and shepherded to accomplishments they would acknowledge later they hadn’t thought possible. He had the ability to become friends with practically everybody he met, including those he supervised. Continue reading…


A central figure of the 1960s Black Art Movement, Saar pioneered assemblage boxes, or sculptures made of found objects, and reclaimed Jim Crow-era memorabilia as powerful totems of Black liberation.

Continue reading report from Associated Press…


Joel Cohen, a musician and scholar who spent his career restoring early music to the concert stage, has died at 84. He passed away in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on July 26.

Cohen was born on May 29, 1942, and studied at Harvard University before continuing his training in Europe, spending significant time in France, where he also worked on early music projects with the country’s national public radio. That grounding in both American academia and European performance practice shaped the rest of his career.


Owasso couple, including Oklahoma influencer, found dead after husband accused of child sex crimes

The Owasso and social media communities are in shock after a couple, including an influencer from Oklahoma, were found following a murder-suicide last week in their home. 

Oklahoma influencer killed in murder-suicide 

Owasso Police Department officials said in a news release that dispatchers received a call around 11:16 p.m. on July 23 about a reported domestic violence incident at a hcome on North 130th East Avenue in Collinsville, which falls within Owasso city limits. Read more at KOCO-TV News KOCO-NEWS 5ABC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma KOCO.COM


BERLIN (AP) — Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist who generated both fascination and revulsion around the globe with his “Body Worlds” exhibits of preserved human corpses, has died. He was 81.

Von Hagens’ family and the Institute for Plastination, which he founded, said he died on Friday. A statement they issued on Monday gave no further details. Von Hagens had announced in 2010 that he was living with Parkinson’s disease.

Von Hagens trod a fine line between science, entertainment and commerce with his touring exhibits, as well as headline-grabbing actions such as a public autopsy. Continue reading at the Associated Press…


Bill Oddie, Britain’s most beloved birdwatcher and wildlife TV presenter, has died July 25. He was 85.

His death was confirmed by his agent, David Foster, in at a statement carried by several British news outlets.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder.

Bill was a multi-talented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued.

Instead he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment. He taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it. He led the way and people of all ages and backgrounds responded to his call. And such a massive contribution to conservation will never be forgotten.

As Bill’s agent I witnessed close-hand his intelligence and wit. He was my friend and it was an honour and a privilege to represent him for so many years. I will miss him terribly. My thoughts and love are with Bill’s wife, Laura, and his daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie, who have asked not to be contacted at this sad time. Please respect their wishes.”

Oddie is best known for his BBC wildlife programs, especially those tracking the UK’s bird life, but he was also a script writer, composer and comedian.

His BBC shows include Springwatch, Autumnwatch, How to Watch Wildlife, Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild. Continue reading on Deadline.com


Esther Tomljanovich, a respected jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1990 to 1998, has passed away at the age of 94.

Throughout her distinguished legal career, Justice Tomljanovich earned a reputation for fairness, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law. Her years on Minnesota’s highest court were marked by thoughtful opinions and dedicated public service, leaving a lasting impact on the state’s judicial system.

She is remembered by colleagues, members of the legal community, and countless Minnesotans for her contributions to justice and her lifelong dedication to public service.

Esther Tomljanovich
Born: 1932
Died: 2026
Age: 94

Groff Media extends its condolences to Justice Tomljanovich’s family, friends, former colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her legacy of service to the law and the people of Minnesota will be long remember


Michael Selwood, a British content creator, was found dead on July 19, hours after he had been reported missing. He was 35.

Michael Selwood, a British content creator, was found dead on July 19, hours after he had been reported missing. He was 35.

A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Police told PEOPLE in a statement that the influencer was discovered dead at around 5 p.m. on Sunday.

“Michael’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time,” the spokesperson added. “We would like to thank everyone who shared and supported this appeal.”

Continue reading at People!


Ronnie Le Drew, the puppeteer whose work behind Zippy made him one of the most recognizable figures in British children’s television, died in July 2026 at the age of 78.

Le Drew was born in Toronto on October 23, 1947, and moved to Britain as a teenager, where he trained at London’s Little Angel Theatre under puppeteer John Wright, becoming his second apprentice and learning the craft from the ground up. His relationship with the theatre would last more than 30 years, first as a performer and later as a director.

In 1973, Le Drew began operating Zippy on Rainbow, eventually taking over the character’s voice as well, and stayed with the show and its spin-offs for roughly 20 years. The character became a defining piece of British children’s programming, and Le Drew’s work on it followed him for the rest of his career. Continue reading at That Eric Alper


Courtney Shah
Courtney ShahJeopardy/YouTube

Courtney Shah, the seven time Jeopardy! winner who went on to compete in the show’s Tournament of Champions, died at home on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. That, according to local radio station, KLOG, which cited confirmation from the college where Shah taught. She was 52. Continue reading at Deadline.com


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — John Anderson, the former University of Minnesota baseball coach and Big Ten career victories leader, died Sunday. He was 71.

Anderson’s family announced his death through the university, where he first arrived as a pitcher for a failed tryout in 1974 and spent 43 years as head coach of the Gophers until retiring after the 2024 season.

Anderson was hospitalized Wednesday after going into cardiac arrest, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the university did not announce the cause of death.

Anderson is survived by wife Jan and daughter Erin, who were with him when he died. His body was returned to the university for organ donation. Continue reading at the Associated Press.


Richard Fleming Brickhouse, a well-known racecar driver passed away on July 24 , 2026 at the age of 87 at his home in Rocky Point.

He was born October 27, 1938 in Wilmington, the son of James Albert Brickhouse and Idell Woodcock Brickhouse. In addition to his parents Richard is preceded in death by his son, Richard Gary Brickhouse; daughter, Jennifer McDowell; and his brother, Thomas Brickhouse

Richard is survived by his wife, Sara Lopez; children, Angela Campbell, Cara Saulter (Jason), and Richard F. Brickhouse Jr.; stepchildren, Patricia Vazquez, Sarah Vazquez, and Paul Vazquez; grandchildren, Sarah Saulter, Savannah Garner (Donald), and Kristi Byers (Scott); three great grandchildren; and many additional family members and friends.

Richard had a true spirit of adventure and embraced life with enthusiasm. Richard stated, “I stayed in trouble with the highway patrol losing my first license three weeks after receiving it. I was racing on Highway 421 with friends.” In 1969, Richard made history by winning the first NASCAR race held at Talladega, Alabama, a memory he cherished throughout his life. Strong-willed and passionate in all he did, Richard carefully considered every decision and lived with purpose and intention. He served in the US Army and considered his service a great honor. Richard deeply loved his family and found great joy in the relationships that meant the most to him. His life was one of zeal, determination, and love, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew him.

A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at Kelley Cemetery near 473 Longview Road, Kelly with Pastor Jason Saulter officiating. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service.

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.quinnmcgowen.com

A service of Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel.


Asteryth Sloane, a British composer and poet whose contemporary classical works drew on nature, philosophy, and their own experience of blindness, died on or around July 23, 2026, at the age of 26. Their death was announced by the Royal Northern College of Music, where they had studied on scholarship.

Sloane began composing through improvisation at six years old and started formal lessons at twelve. Blind since the age of two, they developed a distinctive working method, imagining pitches away from any instrument, writing them down in Braille music notation, and dictating the results to an amanuensis who transcribed them onto notation software. Their compositions returned often to themes of climate change, psychology, and Buddhist and synaesthetic imagery, and they were known for an interest in silence as a compositional tool in its own right. Continue reading in That Eric Alper


Lou Koller of Sick of it All performs at the 77 Montreal Festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau on July 27, 2018 in Montreal, Canada.
Lou Koller of Sick of it All performs at the 77 Montreal Festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau on July 27, 2018 in Montreal, Canada.MARK HORTON/GETTY IMAGES

Lou Koller, the founding frontman of New York hardcore institution Sick of It All, has died following a battle with esophageal cancer. He was 59.

The band confirmed his death in a statement posted to Instagram on Friday (July 24). “It’s with unbelievable sadness that we announce to our worldwide hardcore family the passing of our brother Lou Koller,” the group wrote, noting that 2026 would have marked the band’s 40th anniversary. 

“We have lost a beloved friend and an iconic frontman. Lou had the power to raise everyone’s spirits at our shows with a smile and a sarcastic comment, and he won people over wherever we played, from every culture and every corner of the world.” The band also thanked those who had contributed to Koller’s medical fund, writing that his “battle is over now and he can finally rest.”

Read more at Billboard.com

Director, writer, producer and showrunner Ralph W. Hemecker, known for his work on Witchblade, Blue Bloods, Once Upon a Time, The Flash, and The X-Files,among many others, has died. Hemecker died at his Glendale, CA home on July 10, his family confirmed to Deadline. The cause of death was not disclosed. He was 65. Read more at Deadline.com

 


Charles Russell, the director of such 1980s and ’90s films and cult favorites as A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Mask, The Blob and Eraser, died at his San Diego-area home Wednesday, July 22. He was 74. Read more on Deadline.com

 


Former NFL guard Jordan Devey, who played for the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Buffalo Bills has died. He was 38 years old.

According to a GoFundMe set up by his family, Devey “took his own life.”

“Today would have been our 15th year anniversary,” Devey’s wife, Linsey, wrote in a post on Instagram. “We have filled the walls of our homes and hearts with countless memories, joys, struggles, and triumphs. We brought 4 beautiful children into this world that have your eyes, freckles, and compassion. You were our hero and our hearts ache in your absence. We love you. We miss you. And as you said in your last words to me, “we’ll talk soon.”

Devey was announced earlier this year as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Eagle High School in Eagle, Idaho.  Continue reading at Yahoo!Sports

 


Mary Kate Golding, a 34-year-old New York City set decorator whose credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Goosebumps and the 2025 Netflix docuseries Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, died Tuesday at her Queens residence in what police say was a possible murder-suicide.

Golding’s husband, Joseph Azzaretto, 33, was later found dead in a nearby park. Law enforcement sources have told The New York Post and other outlets that the man found unresponsive in Astoria Park apparently died by hanging.

Golding was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Tuesday, July 21, at her home, with a fatal stab wound to the back. Azzaretto’s body was discovered in the park shortly after 6:30 a.m. that day. The couple’s 11-month-old son was found unharmed at their Astoria, Queens, home. Continue reading at deadline.com


The composer, conductor, educator and radio host Bill McGlaughlin has died. He was 82.

McGlaughlin hosted “Exploring Music,” a syndicated classical music radio program that aired nationwide, including on Classical IPR. He had recently stepped down as host.

In a post on her Facebook page, jazz musician Karrin Allyson wrote, “It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my beloved partner, Bill McGlaughlin. In this season of grief, I am grateful for your kindness, your prayers, and the privacy to honor a life deeply loved and forever remembered.”

McGlaughlin had recently announced his departure from “Exploring Music” after 22 years. Produced and distributed by WFMT in Chicago, “Exploring Music” was widely regarded as the heir apparent to “Adventures in Good Music” with Karl Haas.

McGlaughlin also hosted “Saint Paul Sunday” from 1980 to 2007, which during its run was the most widely syndicated classical music radio program in the United States. Continue reading at  Interlochen Public RadioInterlochenpublicradio.com


Paddy McNally, a motor racing manager and ex-boyfriend of Sarah Ferguson, died on Tuesday, July 21, at 88 years old.

Hello! reports that McNally had been suffering from a long-term illness. His death comes just months after his eldest son, Sean, died suddenly in Scotland. Details of Sean’s death have not yet been released.

McNally was a Formula One driver and journalist before becoming involved in the management of the sport. In 1983, he formed Allsport Management SA, which provided corporate hospitality and trackside advertising at F1 events. He sold the company in 2006 and remained chief executive until his retirement in 2011. Continue reading at People…


Oliver Jones, a Canadian music icon whose illustrious career spanned nearly nine decades and helped cement Montreal’s international reputation as a jazz mecca, has died.

He was 91.

A child prodigy, Jones performed at his first concert at the age of five — among the first in an endless list of milestones for the pianist and composer.

Jones was synonymous with Montreal’s Jazz Festival, performing at the world renowned event every year between 1981 and 1999.

On May 18, 2023, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

“I kept on pinching myself saying I’m going to wake up and realize it’s just a dream,”

An 88-year-old Jones told CBC Montreal Daybreak host Sean Henry days after his induction.

“It just reminded me that, yes, I am still here, and people still remembered me.”

Jones was born in Montreal on Sept. 11, 1934 to parents from Barbados and raised in the Little Burgundy neighbourhood.  Read more about Jones at CBC.ca


Portuguese music icon Luís Represas dies aged 69
Luís Represas became one of Portugal’s best-known voices, both as the lead vocalist for Trovante and later through his solo career (Photo: Luís Represas Facebook page)

His death was confirmed this Wednesday morning (July 22) by his management agency, Sons em Trânsito.

Born in Lisbon on November 24, 1956, Represas began performing at a young age before co-founding Trovante and becoming the lead vocalist of Trovante, a band that helped redefine Portuguese popular music in the late 1970s and 1980s.  Continue reading at The Resident


OSLO, Norway (AP) — Olympic rowing great Olaf Tufte, who competed at seven straight Summer Games and won two gold medals, has died. He was aged 50.

Norwegian media reported a statement by Tufte’s family on Tuesday that he was found unconscious at their farm and died at a hospital in Oslo. He is survived by his wife and two children.

“Tufte brought immense joy through sport to us as a nation,” Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement. “He was one of Norway’s greatest sporting heroes, a decorated Summer Olympian, one of the finest rowers we have ever had, and a great role model to many.”

The two-time champion in single sculls competed at each Summer Games from Atlanta in 1996 through the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. He won back-to-back titles at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. In double sculls, Tufte took silver in Sydney in 2000 and bronze in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro.  Continue reading at the Associated Press…


Haim Yavin, the veteran broadcaster known to generations of Israelis as “Mr. Television,” died on Wednesday at the age of 93, his family announced. 
Yavin was one of the founders of Israeli television and the longtime presenter of the public broadcaster’s flagship Mabat evening news program.
His voice and image accompanied Israelis through elections, wars, peace agreements, political upheaval, and national tragedy for four decades.   Read more….

Mitch Byrd, Guy Gardner Artist, Passes Away

Mitch Byrd, longtime comic book artist probably best known for his run on Guy Gardner: Warrior with writer Beau Smith and inker Dan Davis, has passed away at 63, following a recent illness.

Byrd’s big break into comics came with the independent series, Cat and Mouse, about a pair of vigilante heroes in Louisiana, with writer Roland Mann and inker Steven Butler (the first issue had a cover by the great Paul Gulacy, so I’m using a later issue with cover art by Byrd), that was first published by EFGraphics, and then at Aircel Comics (when it was a Malibu Comics imprint. Mann maintained the rights to the characters, and has revived them in recent years at his Silverline Comics)...Read More…


Women Divers Hall of Fame is deeply saddened by the passing of Zale Parry, a member of our inaugural Class of 2000 and a woman whose courage, curiosity, and determination helped shape the history of scuba diving.
Long before opportunities for women in diving were common, Zale was breaking barriers. She set records, helped establish one of the first civilian hyperbaric chambers in California, became one of the earliest female scuba instructors, and inspired countless people through her underwater photography, television appearances, and lifelong passion for exploring the underwater world.
More than her accomplishments, Zale will be remembered for the doors she opened for those who followed. Her legacy lives on in every woman who dares to explore, discover, teach, and lead beneath the surface. Read More…
File:R James Woolsey.jpg
R. James Woolsey, 16th Director of Central Intelligence

R. James Woolsey, the former Director of Central Intelligence who led the CIA from 1993 to 1995 during the Clinton administration, died on July 21, 2026, at the age of 84. A respected attorney and national security expert, Woolsey devoted decades to public service across both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on September 21, 1941, Woolsey earned degrees from Stanford University, the University of Oxford, and Yale Law School. In addition to serving as CIA Director, he was Under Secretary of the Navy under President Jimmy Carter and played a significant role in arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Following his government service, Woolsey remained an influential voice on intelligence, national security, and energy policy through his work with defense organizations, private industry, and frequent media appearances. Throughout his career, he was recognized for his outspoken views on international security and the evolving challenges facing the United States.

Groff Media extends its condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of R. James Woolsey as they remember a lifetime dedicated to the service of the nation.


Charles Latham Gaines III, the Birmingham author whose book and documentary “Pumping Iron” helped launch Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career and bring bodybuilding into the mainstream, died at age 84 on July 21, 2026.

According to alabamaauthors.org, Gaines was born January 6, 1942, to Margaret Shook Gaines and Charles Latham Gaines in Jacksonville, Florida. When he was about 10, he and his family moved to Birmingham.

In Birmingham, Gaines attended Mountain Brook Grammar School, Indian Springs School and Birmingham University School, one of the institutions that later became the Altamont School, according to the American Museum of Fly Fishing.

According to the Notable People Project, in 1960, Gaines enrolled at Washington and Lee University but left the school to travel the country. He later enrolled at Birmingham-Southern College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963. Gaines married his wife Patricia Ellisor, an artist and the 1961 Miss Alabama, on June 20, 1963.

They were married for 63 years until his passing.  Continue reading at al.com

Dixon Q. Dern, Entertainment Lawyer Who Represented Desilu and Helped Get CAA Off the Ground, Dies at 97

He also worked for the animation studio UPA, CBS and United Artists Television, and his clients included Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason and The Jackson 5.

BY MIKE BARNES

Dixon Q. Dern, the influential entertainment lawyer who represented Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and helped structure the business affairs of their landmark Desilu production company, has died. He was 97.

Dern died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, a spokesperson for WME announced.

Dern also represented Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, The Jackson 5 and the Television Academy, among many others. And as a founding partner of Dern, Mason, Swerdlow & Floum, he helped build a formidable Hollywood law practice.  Continue reading at  The Hollywood Reporter…


Prominent worship artist Brian Doerksen has passed away in his sleep after a battle with stage 4 cancer. He was 61.

Doerksen was perhaps best known for the songs ‘Come Now Is the Time to Worship’, ‘Refiner’s Fire,’ ‘Faithful One,’ ‘Creation Calls,’ ‘Hope of the Nations,’ and ‘Today (As For Me and My House)

Jubileecast shared his backround in a recent piece about his life:

Doerksen became one of the defining voices of modern worship through his ministry with Vineyard Music before later recording with Integrity Music. Over the years he served as a worship pastor, helped plant The Bridge Church in Abbotsford, and later mentored future worship leaders as director of Prairie Bible Institute’s School of Worship Arts.

His influence has been recognized with a Dove Award, a Juno Award, numerous GMA Canada Covenant Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award.  Continue reading at protestia.com


Richard Rawlings JR

Richard M. Rawlings Jr., the four-time Emmy-nominated cinematographer who divvied up third-season episodes of Charlie’s Angels with his father and shot other shows like Matt Houston, L.A. Law, Boston Public and Desperate Housewives, has died. He was 82.    

Rawlings Jr. died June 30 in Flagstaff, Arizona, his family announced.

His father, Richard L. Rawlings, was a two-time Emmy-nominated cinematographer, and their careers overlapped in 1978-79 on ABC’s Charlie’s Angels, with each of them handling half of the 22 episodes that season.  Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter…



Michael Hendricks, a gay rights pioneer in Canada, has died. 

Just two years ago, he was celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary with René Leboeuf — a wedding that was broadcast across Quebec and marked the first time a same-sex couple married in the province.

The couple had spent six years and $300,000 in court fighting for their right to get married, and their wedding took place in Montreal on April 1, 2004, after they had already been together for 30 years.

Continue reading at CBC.ca

 


Steele spent 43 years in coaching. He was a part of the Bill Lewis staff that won the Peach Bowl. Following the 1991 season, Steele was hired by Campbell in 2006 as the Camels’ head football coach, restarting a program that had been dormant since 1950.

Later, he was a part of the 2025 Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame class. When his coaching days ended, he returned to East Caro­lina University as director of football administration. Continue reading at Yahoo!Sports

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The sheriff’s office said deputies were called around 2:52 a.m. to a single-vehicle crash in the 11400 block of Windsor Road in Ijamsville.

preliminary investigation indicates that a 19-year-old Frederick man driving a Honda Accord left the road on the right side and struck a culvert. Investigators said excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

The crash trapped the driver, who was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Hottle, 18, of Kyle, Texas, was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced deceased, the sheriff’s office said.   Continue reading report at WBALTV.com


Peter Lassally
Peter LassallyMark Mainz/Getty Images for AFI
 Peter Lassally, the late-night whisperer who produced The Tonight ShowStarring Johnny Carson and Late Show with David Letterman, died July 19.
He was 93.

Lassally was a pivotal figure in the entertainment business, particularly in late-night, where he also produced The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, retiring when he was 82 and the Scottish comedian was passing the baton to James Corden.  Read more at deadline.com


TORONTO — Morley Torgov, who spun stories of growing up Jewish in small-town Ontario into award-winning works of humour, has died. He was 98.

His family says he died on Sunday of age-related complications from a brief illness.

Originally a lawyer, Torgov took up writing as a hobby in adulthood and went on to win several literary awards while continuing his career in law.

He was best known for “The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick,” which in 1983 won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.  Learn more at ctvnews.com


Razorback, real estate legend Jim Lindsey dies at 81

A champion Razorback, real estate titan and generous philanthropist, Lindsey left a lasting mark on Arkansas.

It’s out of the ordinary for a man to become a legend in one aspect of his life. It’s nearly unbelievable for that man to do it in two. It’s even more uncommon for that man to reach legendary status in a third.

James Edgar (Jim) Lindsey, 81, who died Sunday following an extended illness, was a champion on the playing field as a multisport athlete at the high school, college and professional levels; in the business realm, developing Lindsey & Associates from the ground up following his NFL playing career; and as a philanthropist who used his wealth to lend a helping hand to an untold number of people during his lifetime.

Born Nov. 24, 1944, in Caldwell, Arkansas, Lindsey was an outstanding athlete for Forrest City High School. As great as he was on the gridiron, earning a scholarship to play for Frank Broyles’ Arkansas Razorbacks, he might have been a better baseball player, drawing crowds Sunday afternoons for his play on the diamond in American Legion baseball.

Continue reading at FayettevilleFlyer.com


Kevin Keegan, England soccer star who transcended the game with celebrity status, dies at 75

Newcastle United Manager Kevin Keegan poses for photographers and cameramen after talking to the media at St James' Park in Newcastle, England, Jan 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)

His death was announced Monday by former club Newcastle, where he had been both a player and coach. Keegan revealed last month that he had stage four cancer.

“One of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club’s history,” Newcastle said.

For a time in the 1970s, Keegan transcended the English game with his celebrity status.

Continue reading at the Associated Press….


Sylvia Bugg, PBS Programming Chief, Dies at 55

Sylvia Bugg, PBS‘ chief programming executive and general manager for general audience programming, died “unexpectedly this weekend,” PBS CEO Paula Kerger announced. She was 55.

“Over decades in public media, including her leadership at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and three chapters of service here at PBS, Sylvia shaped the programming that defines our service to the American people,”

Kerger said Sunday. “She brought forward landmark films across history, science and the arts and guided ourAmerica @250 slate through a defining year.”  Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter…

 


 

Simon Field, the pioneering film programmer and champion of filmmakers such as Wang Bing, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Christopher Nolan, has died. He was 80.

Field died on July 16. The news was confirmed by the veteran film critic Geoff Andrew, who posted an obituary of Field on his blog. Andrew was shortly followed by the Rotterdam Film Festival, which shared a tribute to Field over the weekend.

Field was Festival Director and Co-Director at Rotterdam from 1996 to 2004. During his tenure, filmmakers who passed through the festival’s Tiger Competition and won awards include Lou Ye, Christopher Nolan, Hong Sang Soo and Pablo Trapero. Continue reading at Deadline.com

 


The veteran star affectionately known as Fourth Brother has passed away peacefully at home after a career spanning seven decades in cinema.

Credit: Weibo

The postwar golden era of Hong Kong cinema has lost one of its most enduring stylistic anchors. Patrick Tse Yin, the charismatic actor and director whose screen presence defined regional film and television for over seventy years, died on Monday 20 July 2026. He was 89.

His family confirmed his passing in a public statement, noting that he died peacefully at his residence following a period of declining physical health. Known affectionately throughout the Chinese-speaking world by his moniker “Sei Gor” or “Fourth Brother,” Tse leaves behind a vast body of work that traced the transformation of the city’s entertainment industry from black-and-white studio serials to global action blockbusters. Continue reading at Resonate


JANG CHANG-sun DIES INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF OLYMPIC HOPEFULS

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According to Seoul Shinmun,Jang died at the age of 84 due to old age. Announcing the decision, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said, “The late Mr. Jang Chang-sun was a figure who made outstanding achievements and contributions to the development of sports in Korea,” adding that “the funeral will be held under the solemnity of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.”

For decades, Jang Chang-sun inspired generations, first as an Olympic medal-winning wrestler and later as a coach, administrator, and mentor. The South Korean legend, who won Olympic silver at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, passed away on July 20. In recognition of more than five decades of service to Korean sports, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced that his funeral would be held under the committee’s highest honors. Continue reading at EssientiallySports.com


Joyal dies at 86, played 9 seasons in NHL for 4 teams

Eddie Joyal obit

Eddie Joyal, an undrafted forward who played nine seasons in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers, died Monday at the age of 86.

“The Jet” was mentored by Gordie Howe and had 262 points (105 goals, 134 assists) in 465 regular-season games and 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in 50 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He debuted with the Red Wings on Jan. 24, 1963, and helped them to the 1964 Stanley Cup Final, where he scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series.

The Maple Leafs rallied to win Games 6 and 7 and the Stanley Cup.  Continue readoing at NHL.com


Stourton, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014, died on Saturday surrounded by his family, the BBC announced in a statement.

The presenter’s friend and former Today co-host James Naughtie praised Stourton’s “generosity of spirit”, adding he was “a journalist of enormous capability and experience”.

Another former Today presenter, Evan Davis, said Stourton was “a very important figure for all of us on the daily news programmes on Radio 4”.

“One of those people you’re really glad to have around,” Davis reflected. “All substance, minimum ego, deeply knowledgeable, totally reliable. And he was one of the nicest of colleagues as well. He’ll be missed.”

Presenter Mishal Husain described Stourton as “a true gentleman and a broadcaster of immense capacity. Continue reading at BBC.com


TD Place Stadium holds a moment of silence before the Ottawa Redblacks’ game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Jayden Dalke, who passed away from a car accident the day prior at the age of 30.

REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Jayden Dalke has died in a car accident.

The CFL club announced Sunday that the 30-year-old Dalke was killed Saturday night. The Roughriders were on a bye week.

“A relentless warrior on the field, Jayden’s determination, toughness and work ethic inspired his teammates, who cared deeply for him and are heartbroken by his passing. On and off the field, he was the true definition of what it means to be a Saskatchewan Roughrider. Our hearts go out to the entire Dalke family, who travelled the country to watch Jayden live his dream. We will miss him terribly and will never forget the impact he had on our lives and our team.”

The Riders said in a statement!

Saskatchewan selected Dalke, of Leduc, Alta., in the sixth round of the 2022 CFL Draft out of the University of Alberta. He appeared in 68 career regular-season games, registering 69 tackles, 31 special-teams tackles, three forced fumbles, an interception and a sack. Continue reading at SportsNet.ca

 


British-Australian actor Terence Donovan – known for his roles on Neighbours and Home and Away – has died aged 90, his family has said.

His son, the actor Jason Donovan, confirmed his father died peacefully in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday night.

“Our Dad was a huge character, larger than life. He was our best friend … our world! We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days,” the post said.

London-born Donovan was also popular for his role in Australian police dramas Division 4 and Cop Shop, which aired in the 1970s and 1980s.  Continue reading from BBC.com


TV’s “Good Times” theme singer, soul man Jim Gilstrap, dies

(July 19, 2026) He didn’t possess a household name, but his voice was a part of the lives of millions of people around the world. Today we mourn the passing of powerful singer Jim Gilstrap at age 79. His family announced his passing on social media this morning.

The Texas-born singer became one of the most dependable background vocalists of the 1970s, lending his smooth, expressive tenor to recordings by many of the era’s biggest stars. After serving in the military, Gilstrap began his professional career with the Doodletown Pipers and later joined Stevie Wonder’s celebrated backing group, Wonderlove. He appeared on the landmark albums Talking Book and Innervisionsand memorably sang the opening lines of Wonder’s classic “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” He also shared lead vocals on the familiar theme song from the television series Good Times.  Continue reading at SoulTracks

 


Ward was in Toronto this week for the Blue Jays’ celebrations to honor those 1992-93 teams, which included Saturday’s unveiling of the Back-to-Back World Series Statue. Ward was noticeably absent from the ceremonies themselves, though, and the Blue Jays announced early Sunday that he passed away in Toronto from natural causes.

[TORONTO (AP) — Duane Ward, a two-time World Series champion and one of the most accomplished relievers in Toronto Blue Jays history, has died of natural causes, the team announced Sunday. He was 62. Read story from Associated Press.]

So many Blue Jays alumni spoke of Ward on Saturday, all of them still so grateful for the one-two punch that Ward and Tom Henke formed at the back of the bullpen in 1992, before Henke moved on the following season and Ward took over as the full-time closer. Cito Gaston, the legendary manager, has always joked about how easy his job became when those late innings rolled around. Continue reading on MLB.com



Jennifer Finch,
the bassist for influential rock group L7, died Saturday after a battle with brain cancer. She was 59.

L7 confirmed Finch’s death in an Instagram post. “With a very heavy heart we announce that our beloved bandmate, friend, and fellow troublemaker Jennifer Finch has passed away today,” it read. “She had a long courageous fight with brain cancer and was loved by many wonderful friends, musical peers and fans worldwide. We love you Jennifer.”

The band also issued a statement via their rep, writing: “We are shattered by the loss of our beloved bandmate, sister and friend Jennifer Finch, whose fierce spirit, humor and boundless creativity helped shape L7 and changed all of our lives forever. Jennifer was a true original who lived entirely on her own terms, and the impact she made on music, art and everyone lucky enough to know her cannot be measured. We love her beyond words and will carry her with us always. Rest in power our dear friend.”  Continue reading from RollingStone.com


West Indies cricketing great Garry Sobers dies at age 89

Garry Sobers, the graceful West Indian cricketer whose world-record test innings of 365 not out as a 21-year-old set him on the path to becoming arguably the sport’s greatest allrounder, has died. He was 89.

West Indies’ cricket federation announced his death on Friday without providing a cause.

“In the story of cricket, there are great players. There are champions. Then, there are those rare individuals who redefine the very meaning of greatness,” said Kishore Shallow, president of Cricket West Indies.

Born in Bridgetown, Barbados, with an extra finger on each hand, Sobers hit 26 test centuries and had a test average of 57.78 from batting that was both elegant and powerful. He was also a versatile bowler, dangerous with both wrist-spin and fast-medium deliveries. Continue reading report from Associated Press…

John Kirby, the longtime acting coach and son of actor Bruce Kirby, has died. He was 75.

Kirby died Wednesday, three years after being diagnosed with ALS. His associate, Nathan Besbitt, confirmed his death on Instagram.

“I am here to officially, with a broken heart, announce the passing of our beloved John on the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 15, and it has been devastating for all of us, and we’re trying to just find a way to cope,” Besbitt said.

Kirby lent his talents as an acting coach to a number of projects across his career and was a frequent collaborator with Jim Caviezel.  Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter.


Joe Caldwell, a writer on the original 1960s gothic cult-hit daytime TV series Dark Shadows who co-created the show’s signature vampire character Barnabas Collins, died Monday, July 13, following a stroke.
He was 97.

Caldwell’s death due to “a massive stroke,” was announced on Facebook by Bob Issel, a friend and frequent host of Dark Shadows fan events in the New York City area. Issel said Caldwell had fallen recently and had been convalescing at a rehabilitation center prior to his death.  Read more at Deadline.com

Dom Taylor, the chef who won Netflix‘s Five Star Chef, has died. He was 44.

It was Taylor’s restaurant, The Good Front Room, that confirmed the “sudden passing” of the founder.

“Dom was a visionary whose bold, joyful approach to celebrating the Caribbean cuisine of his childhood brought a fresh and exciting voice to London’s restaurant scene,” read the statement on the website.

“His passion, talent and generosity touched so many people, and his legacy will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing him and experiencing his food.” The statement continued, “He will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched during this incredibly difficult time.

We kindly ask that everyone respects the privacy of Dom’s loved ones at this time.”

Chef Taylor won the sole season of Netflix’s 2023 culinary competition Five Star Chef with his family by his side, celebrating the moment.

Continue reading at Deadline.com


Tony Thorpe, guitarist and vocalist for glam rock outfit The Rubettes, has died at 80. He passed away on July 18, 2026, in his native England.

Thorpe joined the band in 1974, arriving as part of the lineup assembled around the smash hit “Sugar Baby Love,” a song that had already topped the UK charts for 4 weeks before the touring band was even fully formed. He shared guitar and vocal duties with Alan Williams, John Richardson, Pete Arnesen, Mick Clarke, and Bill Hurd, helping carry the band’s distinctive doo-wop and 1950s American pop influences through the mid-1970s.

Thorpe’s defining moment came with “Baby I Know,” a country rock-styled ballad he sang lead on that reached number 10 in both the UK and Germany in 1977. The song stands as the band’s most successful self-composed hit and remains one of Thorpe’s most enduring contributions to the group’s catalogue. Continue reading at That Eric Alper…


T. Denny Sanford, the billionaire banker whose charitable contributions made him the most prolific philanthropist in South Dakota history, died Saturday. He was 90.

Sanford had been in declining health, and in recent public appearances had been limited in his mobility and speaking engagements. Still, despite his physical limitations, Sanford had participated in a flurry of recent events, including the announcement that he would donate $50 million to assist Smithfield Foods in relocating from central Sioux Falls and $300 million last year to support a new medical center.

Sanford’s legacy as a philanthropist was cemented with a $400 million donation to Sioux Valley Health System in 2007, at the time the largest ever donation to a U.S. health care organization. Sioux Valley was renamed Sanford Health, and hundreds of millions more would flow to the system in following years.  Continue reading at The Dakota Scout…


Louis Champagne Radio Obituary, Saguenay,Canadian Talk Radio Personality Dies at 79

For decades, the voice of Louis Champagne was a morning fixture in the Saguenay region, a broadcaster whose career was marked by both deep local connection and significant controversy. Born on September 16, 1947, Champagne became a prominent talk radio personality in Quebec, most notably as the host of the daily morning program on CKGS-FM in La Baie. His tenure in radio was long-standing, having previously hosted another daily show on CKRS-FM until November 2008.   Read more…


Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, the early rock & roller who scored big, joyful radio hits with, among others, 1959’s “Tallahassee Lassie” and 1962’s “Palisades Park,” died yesterday, July 17, at a California hospice facility following a brief battle with cancer. He was 89.

His death was announced by Tom Cuddy, a longtime friend and iHeart Radio producer. Cuddy noted that Cannon’s children Conny Weber and Billy Cannon were with him in the days before his passing.

Cannon, who earned the nickname “Boom Boom” from the percussive power of his songs as well as the double entendre of his last name, took a spot in the post-Elvis/pre-Beatles rock & roll landscape through a string of hits and, perhaps more significantly, repeated appearances on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand musical variety series.  Continue reading at Deadline.com


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Clara Ester, an activist who as a 20-year-old college student rushed to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s side when he was shot, has died.

Ester, who died on July 9 at the age of 78, was among a few remaining witnesses to King’s assassination and its immediate aftermath in Memphis.With the passing of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. in February and Ester this month, King aide and former U.N. ambassador Andrew Young is believed to be the last surviving eyewitness to the shooting.Ester Grew up in Memphis attending Centenary United Methodist Church, where her pastor was civil rights leader the Rev. James Lawson.

“We used to joke about colored water being Kool-Aid and the white water just being water, and so that satisfied us as children,” Ester told The Associated Press in 2018, around the 50th anniversary of King’s death. “But until you see the racism, until you see what has been withheld from you because of your color — is what started to really truly anger me. And I knew if there was a movement that could help change any of that, I had to be in it.”

Civil rights issues were often discussed from the pulpit of her church, Ester said. Lawson was very involved in the sanitation workers’ strike, so it was natural for her to become involved too.  Continue reading information from the Associated Press…


Rudolph Marcus, a Canadian-born American chemist who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing a theory that helped explain the electrochemical processes behind photosynthesis, respiration, oxidation and even how fireflies produce light, died on Thursday at his home in Pasadena, Calif.

He was 102.

His death was announced by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, where he had taught since 1978.

Sarah Reisman, the chair of the chemistry and chemical engineering division at Caltech, said that it was almost impossible to overstate the importance of Dr. Marcus’s work.

“It provides a simple theory for one of the most fundamental processes in chemistry and has been applied to understand reactions ranging from small-molecule catalysts to proteins involved in photosynthesis,”

she wrote in an email.  Continue reading at the New York Times...


Ron Hunt, the combative second baseman who became the first Met to start in an All-Star Game, was runner-up to Pete Rose for the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year Award and who as an Expo set the astonishing Modern Era record of 50 hit-by-pitches in a single season, has died. He was 85.

Hunt spent the first four seasons of his 12-year career with the Mets, beginning in 1963. He played one season with the Dodgers, three with the Giants and parts of five with the old Montreal Expos — getting elected into the team’s Hall of Fame — before closing out his career in a brief stint with his hometown Cardinals in 1974.   Continue reading at MLB.com


Deputy Sheriff Adam Heitman died from a medical emergency after apprehending a fleeing felon during an arrest attempt.    

The Creek County Sheriff’s Office Task Force, the United States Marshals Service, Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police, and Creek County Sheriff’s Office deputies were serving a warrant on a suspect wanted on multiple felony warrants. On July 7, the suspect had fled law enforcement during a traffic stop and had been charged with assault and battery on a law enforcement officer.

When officers attempted to arrest the suspect, he fled. Deputy Heitman, with his K9 partner, Thanos, pursued the suspect over a fence, across a creek, and through a field, apprehending the suspect.

Back at the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Heitman suffered a medical emergency less than an hour after the arrest. Despite attempts at life-saving measures, he passed away that evening at Ascension St. John Sapulpa Hospital.

The suspect, a convicted felon with prior escape convictions and a long criminal record, has a pending DUI case, a deferred sentence in a 2014 drug case, charges for assault and battery, and escape from arrest.

Deputy Heitman was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Creek County Sheriff’s Office for four years. He previously served with the Kiefer Police Department. Survivors include his wife and two daughters.  READ HONORS AT OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE.


Brenda Fricker, a Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner for My Left Footwho had a memorable role inHome Alone 2, has died after a period of ill health, according to her agent. She was 81.

In a statement, her agent Phil Belfield confirmed Fricker’s death and said:

“We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her. I was honored to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over,” 

Born in Dublin in 1945, Fricker started her career as a journalist before moving to TV and landing roles in British shows Coronation Street and Casualty, playing Megan Roach in the latter for 65 episodes. Continue reading at Deadline.com


A man in a suit and crossed arms leans against a wall and turns his head toward the camera
During Lattie Coor’s tenure at Arizona State University (1990–2002), the university was granted Research 1 status by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching — a major milestone in its evolution that cleared the way for rapid advancement. Archive photo

ASU would not be the institution it is today without Lattie Coor’s vision, leadership and commitment to the community,” ASU President Michael M. Crow said.

“Our university’s advancements in research growth, semiconductor R&D, workforce development, community partnerships, public health and service to learners across Arizona and around the globe — is all rooted in Lattie’s foresight and dedication to what ASU could become. With his passing, the university and the state have lost a grand champion, and Sybil and I have lost a dear friend and colleague.”

 

Before he became president of ASU in 1990, he held the same post at the University of Vermont for nearly 14 years. In a 2018 interview for the Arizona Historymakers Project, Coor admitted, “I really did not intend to take another presidency. My thinking … was that it was about time for me to start doing something else.” Continue reading from ASU….


Kris Jenner‘s mother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, has died. She was 91.
Mary Jo "MJ" Campbell dead

In a post on social media, the Kardashian matriarch shared news that her mother had died on July 16.

“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ,” Jenner posted on Instagram. “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.”

MJ was featured on E!’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians throughout its run as well as Hulu’s The Kardashians. She was grandmother to Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Rob Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.

Longtime Macon music manager, booking agent and publisher Alan Walden has died at the age of 83.

Walden died Thursday morning while in hospice care as a result of an illness, his wife, Tosha Walden, confirmed that afternoon

Walden helped put Macon and numerous musicians on the map in the music industry, signing dozens of artists. Over the years, Walden managed careers for Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Outlaws and early on, Otis Redding.

“Otis Redding became my best friend in life, and when we moved to Round Oak, Georgia, I moved right next to him,”

Walden shared with WGXA News during a 2021 interview while reflecting on his life up to the release of his memoir, “Southern Man: Music and Mayhem in the American South.”

Walden opened Redwal Music with his brother Phil Walden and the great Otis Redding in 1965, publishing hit songs like “Respect”, “I Can’t Turn You Loose”, “Sweet Soul Music”, “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”, and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”. He also co-founded Capricorn Records with his brother and later formed Hustler’s Inc., a management and publishing company.  Continue reading this story at WXGA.tv


Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Joe Melson has died at age 91.

Melson is best known for his 1960s collaborations with Nashville pop star Roy Orbison (1936-1988), including standards such as “Blue Bayou,” “Crying,” “Only the Lonely” and “Running Scared.”

Claudie Joe Melson was raised in Bonham, Texas, northeast of Fort Worth. By the time of his teen years in the early 1950s, he was singing professionally and writing songs. He went to work in the mailroom at Standard Oil while studying accounting at Odessa Junior College. In the evenings, he entertained youngsters at dances and nightclubs with his rockabilly band, The Cavaliers. The group’s crowd-pleasing “Raindrops” became Melson’s debut single.


Jimmy Nichols, a gifted pianist known for his work with artists including Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Elton John and countless others, has passed away.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Nichols was one of eight children in a close-knit family that shaped his love of music from an early age. Alongside three of his brothers, he spent 24 years touring the country as a member of the Nichols Brothers. Two weeks before his passing, Nichols was inducted into the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, his work extended beyond country music into pop, gospel and television.

Nichols is survived by his beloved wife, Tonya, who he spent the last few years caring for through a difficult illness.  Continue reading at MusicRow…


Maro Kontou, one of the most recognizable actresses of Greek cinema’s golden age, passed away Wednesday, July 15, in Athens. She was 92.

Kontou had been receiving treatment at Agios Savvas Hospital after facing serious health problems in recent weeks.

Her early screen roles included The Yellow Gloves in 1960 and Woe to the Youngin 1961. That same year, she played Ismene opposite Irene Papas in the film adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone.

Kontou became a familiar presence in Greek comedy, appearing alongside actors including Lambros Konstantaras, Dimitris Horn and Giorgos Konstantinou. Her films also included The Lady Driver, My Friend Lefterakis and An Italian Girl from Kypseli.

Her best-known role came in Giorgos Tzavellas’ 1965 comedy And the Wife Shall Revere Her Husband. Kontou played Elenitsa Kokovikou opposite Konstantinou’s Antonakis in a story about marriage, authority and changing expectations between husbands and wives.  Continue reading…


Born John Louis Esposito on May 19, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, Esposito completed his doctoral studies under Islamic scholar Isma’il Raji al-Faruqi. He spent nearly 20 years teaching religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, where he held the Loyola Professor of Middle East Studies position and chaired the Department of Religious Studies.

Esposito later joined Georgetown University as a university professor, teaching religion, international affairs, and Islamic studies. In 1993, he founded the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown and served as its founding director, overseeing a $20-million endowment from Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal aimed at strengthening cross-cultural and inter-religious dialogue. Read more at That Eric Alper…


Veteran actor Hal Williams, who played Officer “Smitty” Smith on the hit 1970s comedy Sanford and Son and also starred on ’80s hit 227during a long screen career, died July 15 at his home in Rancho Mirage, CA, according to his representative. He was 91.

As Smitty, Williams was one half of a crimefighting duo who appeared on 22 episodes of the classic 1972-77 NBC show adapted by Norman Lear from a British format. His partner, Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins — played by Howard Platt — would often lead off a scene with an “official” stiff police explanation of their investigation. Smitty would then interpret in plain English for Fred and Lamont — played by Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson, respectively. Continue reading on Deadline.com 


The World Boxing Council Mourns the Passing of José Legrá, Boxing Legend and Two-Time WBC World Champion

Another Great has left the stage, but although he has passed on, we’ll forever and a day remember him with the deepest of affection, admiration and respect.

The World Boxing Council expresses its deepest sorrow over the passing of José Legrá, one of the most iconic figures in boxing history, who leaves behind an unforgettable legacy both inside and outside the ring.

Born in Baracoa, Cuba, and later becoming a Spanish citizen, José Adolfo Legrá Utría was a shining Star of excellence, perseverance, and sporting greatness. Known to millions of fans as “The Puma of Baracoa,” he captured the hearts of boxing enthusiasts through his extraordinary talent, charisma, determination, courage and unwavering competitive spirit.

Legrá etched his name into the history of the World Boxing Council by becoming WBC Featherweight World Champion on two occasions. His first reign began in 1968, and he reclaimed the crown in 1972, establishing himself as one of the truly great all time  featherweights. Continue Reading…


Dave Kendall
Dave Kendall STEVE EICHNER/WIREIMAGE

Dave Kendall, the creator and host ofMTV‘s120 Minutes, has died.

Kendall’s former colleague Matt Pinfield announced his death on social media. No cause of death has been presented, and Kendall’s age has not officially been confirmed. Kendall’s Wikipedia page lists his age at 68.

“Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dave Kendall,” Pinfield wrote on Tuesday. “Dave was one of the true believers. Long before alternative music found its way into the mainstream, he was there every week on 120 Minutes, introducing people to bands that would go on to define an era.”

Kendall created the program in 1986 and became its host in 1988. In 1991, he famously debuted Nirvana’s music video for Smells Like Teen Spirit, the song that launched grunge into the stratosphere and changed pretty much everything about rock and alternative music. Kendall exited the program the following year; Pinfield took over in 1995.  Continue reading and learn more a The Hollywood Reporter.


Kent State, Corrigall’s alma mater, announced his passing on Wednesday. The university didn’t divulge the cause of death but in 2019 Corrigall and his daughter, Amy Corrigall Jones, told the Akron Beacon Journal he had learned that he likely suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an incurable degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma.

“We mourn the passing of Kent State great Jim Corrigall,” the school posted on social media. “Jim embodied what it means to be a Golden Flash both as a player and a coach.

“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Kent State head coach Mark Carney echoed those sentiments.

“Sad to hear of the passing of @KentStFootball great Jim Corrigall,”

Carney said in a social media post.

“(He’s) one of just five players to have his number retired here.”

“Your legacy will not soon be forgotten Coach!”

Corrigall was born in Barrie, Ont., and attended high school in North Bay, Ont., before going on to play collegiately at Kent State. The six-foot-three, 253-pound Corrigall enjoyed a stellar university career, being selected the team’s most valuable sophomore, top defensive lineman and most inspirational player. Continue reading more at SportsNet.ca


Denise Oliver-Velez, American Activist and Community Organizer, Dies at 78

Denise Oliver-Velez, an American activist, educator, writer, and community organizer whose decades of work championed civil rights, women’s equality, public health, and social justice, has died at the age of 78. A pioneering voice in grassroots organizing, she devoted much of her life to advocating for underserved communities and empowering future generations.

Denise Oliver-Velez

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Oliver-Velez rose to national prominence as a member of the Young Lords, where she challenged gender inequality within the organization and became one of its highest-ranking female leaders. She later joined the Black Panther Party and continued a lifetime of activism that included AIDS education, community media, and public broadcasting. She also taught anthropology and women’s studies and became a respected writer and contributing editor, sharing her insights on history, culture, race, and Caribbean affairs with a wide audience.

Throughout her career, Oliver-Velez remained a passionate advocate for social justice and education, earning admiration from colleagues, readers, students, and fellow activists alike. In the days leading up to her passing, friends and supporters reflected on her enduring influence, describing her as a mentor, teacher, and unwavering champion for equality whose work inspired countless others.

Denise Oliver-Velez leaves behind a legacy of activism, scholarship, and public service that spanned more than five decades. Her commitment to justice and community empowerment will continue to be remembered by those whose lives she touched through her leadership, writing, and advocacy.

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Guy Scott, the Zambian politician who briefly served as acting president to become Africa’s first white head of state in more than two decades, died Wednesday, the Zambian government said. He was 82.

Scott was Zambia’s vice president and stood in as president of the southern African country for three months when Michael Sata died in office in 2014.

That made Scott the first white head of state in Africa since South Africa’s F.W. de Klerk, the last leader under apartheid who left office after that country’s first all-race elections in 1994 voted in Nelson Mandela. Read more from the Associated Press…


Sam Masaru Sekoff
Sam Masaru Sekoff Birdie Thompson
The Hollywood representation community has suffered a tragic loss. Sam Masaru Sekoff, a literary manager at Entertainment 360, passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning, July 14, on what was his 33rd birthday. He died in his Los Angeles home by apparent suicide.
Born in Japan, Sekoff grew up in Florida and spent several years in foster care when his father died before moving to Los Angeles to attend USC. After graduating, he started his career in the mailroom at Gersh where he was made an agent in the television department in 2018 at the age of just 25. In 2021, Sekoff pivoted to management and joined Range Media Partners. He moved to Entertainment 360 in 2024.  Continue reading at Dateline.com …

Cees Geel, the Dutch actor known for his roles in “Simon” and nine seasons of “Flikken Rotterdam,” has died at 61. He passed away from cardiac arrest on July 14, 2026.

Born in Schagen on March 13, 1965, Geel built a career spanning film, television, radio, and theatre that stretched back to the 1990s. He appeared in the long-running Dutch crime series “Baantjer” and took on the role of Willem Van Maaren in the 2001 miniseries “Anne Frank: The Whole Story.”

Geel broke through with audiences nationwide in 2004, starring as a hash dealer coming to terms with a terminal cancer diagnosis in ‘Simon,’ the Dutch entry for the Oscars that year. The role earned him the Golden Calf for Best Actor. Continue reading at That Eric Alper…


Elsa Aguirre, one of the last surviving stars of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, has died at 95. The actress passed away at her home in Cuernavaca, Mexico, on July 14, 2026, from natural causes.

Aguirre’s career began almost by chance. As a teenager, she was discovered at a talent contest held by CLASA Films Mundiales, a production company scouting new faces. She and her sister, Alma Rosa Aguirre, were cast together in their first film, ‘El sexo fuerte,’ in 1945.

From there, Aguirre built a filmography spanning more than 40 films and telenovelas across drama, romance, action, and fantasy. She shared the screen with some of Mexican cinema’s biggest names, including Pedro Infante in ‘Cuidado con el amor,’ Pedro Armendáriz in ‘Pancho Villa y la Valentina,’ and Ignacio López Tarso in ‘Vainilla, bronce y morir.’ Her role in ‘Algo flota sobre el agua’ even inspired a song written just for her, “Flor de azalea.”   Continue reading…


Reggae singer Fantan Mojah dies at 49 after heart-related complications

Jamaican reggae singer Fantan Mojah has died at age 49, just weeks before his 50th birthday.

The Rastafarian entertainer, whose given name was Owen Lennox Moncrieffe, passed away on Tuesday evening at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Kingston after suffering complications related to his heart.

A close associate of the singer told Observer Online that Fantan Mojah’s health had deteriorated rapidly in the days leading up to his death. Continue reading…


 

Legendary Spanish boxer José Legrá has died at the age of 83, following a recent diagnosis of a serious illness. He passed away at Madrid’s Gómez Ulla Hospital on Tuesday.

The Spanish Boxing Federation confirmed his death, describing him as “one of the greatest figures in Spanish boxing.” It paid tribute to the lasting impact he had on the sport: “Spanish boxing will always be grateful to him.”

Nicknamed ‘El Puma de Baracoa’ (The Puma of Baracoa), Legrá was born in Cuba, but moved to Spain in 1963 and went on to become one of the country’s greatest boxing icons.

Between 1967 and 1973, he won the world featherweight title and was crowned European champion seven times.  Continue reading SURinEnglish

 HOUSTON(AP) — Janice S. McNair, who alongside her late husband Robert “Bob” McNair brought the NFL back to Houston after the Oilers left for Tennessee by founding the Texans, has died. She was 89.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce Houston Texans co-founder and senior chair Janice S. McNair passed away peacefully in Houston this afternoon with her family by her side,” the Texans said in a statement on Tuesday.    

“It is with profound sadness that we announce Houston Texans co-founder and senior chair Janice S. McNair passed away peacefully in Houston this afternoon with her family by her side,” the Texans said in a statement on Tuesday.

After her husband Bob died in 2018 following a battle with both leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma, Janice took over the Texans organization as owner. McNair’s son, Cal, was approved as primary owner of the team in 2024.  Continue reading on WFAA 8ABC


Around 3:00 p.m., members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force and deputies with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office were attempting to arrest a man wanted for sexual battery. When deputies entered the home, they found the suspect barricaded in a bedroom. He fired at officers, striking Deputy Marshal Hanson.

The suspect was apprehended after a three-hour standoff.

Deputy Marshal Hanson had served with the United States Department of Justice – United States Marshals Service for six years. He previously served with the U.S Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Police Department, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and the Gulfport Police Department. Survivors include his wife and two children.  Learn More….

 


Pat Oliphant, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist whose cutting sketches critiqued power and corruption in U.S. politics over a lengthy career that made him one of the most recognizable and lauded artists in the newspaper business, died Monday morning.

He was 90 years old.  His son, Grant Oliphant, said he died at his home in Santa Fe after suffering from a variety of age-related illnesses. 

Pat Oliphant was a widely admired and highly influential newspaper cartoonist whose work lampooned American powerbrokers — chronicling their missteps with his own brand of grim fury — from President Richard Nixon to President Donald Trump. He was often described as the most syndicated editorial cartoonist in the country, and his daily political cartoons once appeared in more than 500 publications worldwide.  Continue reading at the Sante Fe New Mexican

Mike Browning, a founding member of the pioneering death metal bands Morbid Angel and Nocturnus, has died at age 62.

Browning’s passing was reported by the record label Profound Lore, home of his most recent band Nocturnus AD. The label stated, “RIP death metal legend/sci-fi death metal godfather Mike Browning of Nocturnus/Nocturnus AD. Journey beyond the gateway to the outer void!”

Browning co-founded Morbid Angel in Tampa, Florida, in 1983. He sang lead and played drums on what was supposed to be the band’s debut album, Abominations of Desolation, but the LP was shelved with the band explaining that it wasn’t satisfied with the recording. However, Browning once said that the album didn’t see the light of day due to apparent in-fighting in the band that ultimately led to Browning’s departure.   Continue reading.

BARCELONA  Gilda Love, considered the longest-lived drag queen in the State, died at the age of 100 this Sunday in Barcelona, according to sources close to the artist.

Born in Cadiz as Eduardo Enrique Gustavo, the drag queen became an icon in the seventies in Raval cabarets. In recent years, Gilda Love had appeared little in public, but her legacy remains current in the world of drag.

The artist began her career at the Madame Arthur cabaret in Paris, where she adopted the name of the mythical character from the film Gilda, played by actress Rita Hayworth. Continue reading.  


.Actor Sam Neill poses at the premiere of "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 22, 2016, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)

Actor Sam Neill poses at the premiere of “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 22, 2016, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Sam Neill, the smoothly elegant and versatile actor whose prolific career moved from art films to blockbusters as he dodged velociraptors in “Jurassic Park” and played Holly Hunter’s husband in “The Piano,” has died. He was 78.

In 2023, Neill disclosed he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He died on Monday in Sydney, according to a statement posted to the actor’s social media page.

His death was “sudden and unexpected,” the statement said, adding that he “remained cancer free” when he died. A cause of death wasn’t specified. “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life,” his family wrote.   Read more at the AP.


Scott Bryce

Scott Bryce, the actor best known for playing Craig Montgomery on As the World Turns across three separate runs, has died at age 68. Bryce died on July 12, 2026, after being diagnosed with terminal esophageal and stomach cancer in 2025.

Born Scott Macalister Bryce in New York City on January 6, 1958, he was the son of daytime actor Ed Bryce, who spent years playing Bill Bauer on The Guiding Light. Scott grew up in Westport, Connecticut, attending Staples High School, where he was an active member of the Staples Players theatre group. He made an early Broadway appearance at the Palace Theater in Caesar & Cleopatra alongside Rex Harrison in February 1977.

Bryce joined As the World Turns in 1982, originally paired opposite Meg Ryan, and played Craig Montgomery through 1987 before returning for shorter stints over the following years. He departed the role in 1994, returned again in 2007, and left the soap for good in 2008. The performance earned him two Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, along with multiple Soap Opera Digest Award nominations. Continue reading on That Eric Alper


Josh Grisetti — the Broadway actor, television performer and beloved musical theater educator known for his work on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Something Rotten! and It Shoulda Been You — died by suicide on Friday, July 10, PEOPLE can confirm. He was 44.

The sad news was announced in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, July 12, by actor Rob McClure, who starred alongside Grisetti in Something Rotten! on Broadway and on the show’s national tour.

“It is with a shattered heart that I share that the brilliant Josh Grisetti took his own life on Friday,” McClure wrote. “I’m not ready to even attempt to understand. My heart is with his wife and family as they try to deal with the reality of this.”

“[My wife] and I are beyond heartbroken,” added McClure, noting that he served as the best man at Grisetti’s wedding. “Communities around the world will never be the same without him.”

“We love you Josh. Just a cataclysmic loss,” said the actor. “Memorial info to come in time.”

In the comments of McClure’s tribute, many members of the Broadway community shared their condolences, including Rachel Zegler, Caissie Levy, Lea Salonga, Erika Henningsen, Drew Gehling and Donna Murphy — the latter of whom called Grisetti “a beautiful, gifted human and artist.”  Continue reading…


Mary Morello, Free Speech Activist and Founder of Parents for Rock and Rap, Dies at 102

© Benjamin H. Groff II — Truth Endures / benandsteve.com.  
Sun Jul 12, 2026
Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images
Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: Mary Morello attends the WhyHunger Chapin Awards held at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers on May 16, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images)

Mary Morello, the American educator and lifelong activist who founded the anti-censorship organization Parents for Rock and Rap, has died at the age of 102. A steadfast defender of free expression, she established the organization in 1987 to oppose efforts to censor popular music and to champion the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment.

A longtime high school teacher, Morello devoted her life to education, civil rights, and social justice. Her advocacy extended well beyond music censorship, including work in adult literacy, community activism, and support for humanitarian causes. In 1996, she was honored with the

– Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award in Arts and Entertainment –

for her unwavering commitment to freedom of speech.

Morello was also widely recognized as the mother of guitarist Tom Morello, whose own career in music and activism reflected many of the principles she championed throughout her remarkable life. Remembered for her courage, conviction, and dedication to constitutional freedoms, Mary Morello leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of America’s enduring voices for free expression.

Wai Ching Ho, the actress known for playing Madame Gao in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has died. She was 82.                                                                                     

THE DEFENDERS, (aka MARVEL’S THE DEFENDERS), Wai Ching Ho in ‘Ashes, Ashes’ (Season 1, Episode 6, aired August 18, 2017). ph: Sarah Shatz/©Netflix/courtesy Everett Collection

THE DEFENDERS, (aka MARVEL’S THE DEFENDERS), Wai Ching Ho in ‘Ashes, Ashes’ (Season 1, Episode 6, aired August 18, 2017). ph: Sarah Shatz/©Netflix/courtesy Everett Collection

The actress’ Daredevil co-star Peter Shinkoda was one of several to react to Wai’s passing on social media, after playing Gao’s The Hand supervillain organization co-founder Kagenobu Yoshioka on the Netflix series from 2015-’16.

“Just lost someone very special to me. She was one of the coolest. Thinking aloud,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

“I won’t ever forget you. I learned every minute from you when we were together on and off set,” Shinkoda added in another post. “I know wisdom – I’d hang on your every word. We will meet again, my friend. You were beautiful.”

Born Nov. 16, 1943 in Japanese-occupied Hong Kong, Wai’s onscreen debut came in the 1990 Robin Williams-starrer Cadillac Man. She went on to roles in Soapdish (1991), Happiness (1998), The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010), Tracers(2015), Set It Up (2018), Hustlers (2019) and Disney’s Turning Red (2022).  Continue reading…


David Willey, who served as a BBC foreign correspondent for more than half a century, has died aged 93.

BBC David Willey, wearing a suit and a pink shirt, talks with Pope John Paul II during a plane trip back to Rome from Bulgaria 26 May 2002

He reported from Algeria, Vietnam and China, but is best known for his time in Rome as the BBC’s Vatican correspondent, where he covered the papacies of five popes.

Widely regarded as one of the most experienced journalistic voices on the Vatican, Willey wrote a book on Pope Francis and was awarded an OBE for services to broadcast journalism.

He was still working well into his nineties – last year, after the death of Pope Francis, Willey reflected on how the Vatican had changed under the late pontiff.   Read more…

LONDON (AP) — Ken Bates, the former Chelsea owner and chairman who bought the club for just a pound in 1982, has died. He was 94.

Chelsea confirmed the death in a statement Saturday, saying Bates “passed away peacefully in Monaco this morning surrounded by his wife and family.”

“The club sends our heartfelt condolences to Ken’s wife Suzannah, the rest of his family and his friends. Ken’s determination to fight for Chelsea when times were tough, and drive the team on to winning trophies will never be forgotten.”

Bates bought Chelsea when it was laden with debt and struggling in the English second division — hence the price of just one pound — but injected money into the club and oversaw a return to the top flight in 1984. Read More…


Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after a former basketball star was killed in a devastating Harlem shooting on Friday that also injured two others during a basketball tournament.

Kinu Rochford, 35, has been identified as the man who lost his life during the opening game of a basketball tournament on July 10. The Brooklyn man was found with a gunshot wound to his head at around 10:23 p.m. He was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital.

Rochford left a lasting legacy thanks to his time playing hoops for Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), who themselves referred to the star as “a standout Knight and leader” in an Instagram post remembering him. He also played professionally throughout Europe. At the time of his death, he worked as a coordinator for WIN, a homeless service provider.  Continue reading…


Bower, the German-born British actress who starred on an Adam & Eve-like episode of The Twilight Zone and portrayed the seductive catlike alien Sylvia on an installment of Star Trek, has died. She was 93

Antoinette Bower with William Shatner on 'Star Trek' in 1967.

Bower died April 30 in an Eagle Rock senior retirement home in Los Angeles, her friend Carlotta Glackin — great niece of famed Golden Age character actor Edward Everett Horton — told The Hollywood Reporter.

On the big screen, Bower got top billing in the Filipino-shot horror film Superbeast (1972), played the wife of Leslie Nielsen and mother of Jamie Lee Curtis in the slasher classic Prom Night (1980) and was kidnapped by Charles Bronson in the action thriller The Evil That Men Do (1984). Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter


Jayden Adams, who recently represented South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has died. He was 25.

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder’s body was found on Saturday morning in a house in the Schotschekloof suburb of central Cape Town, where police have begun an investigation into his death, according to the BBC. A cause of death is not yet known.

Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s minister of sport, arts and culture, reacted to the news in a statement. “It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams,” he said, according to the outlet.  Read More from Deadline.com


Barbara Ling, the production designer behind Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood(2019) and Michael (2026), has died. She was 73.

The Academy Award winner died on Thursday in Santa Barbara after she was diagnosed with cancer, a WME spokesperson confirmed to Deadline.

“Equally gifted at period authenticity, contemporary realism, and stylized fantasy, Ling leaves behind a legacy that profoundly influenced the art of production design and the visual language of modern filmmaking,” said Ling’s family in a statement.

Born in August 1952, Ling began her career designing sets and lighting for more than 200 theater, opera, and musical productions, before she got her start in Hollywood as a lighting designer on the 1981 comedy special The Pee-Wee Herman Show. Her onscreen production design career began with David Byrne’s True Stories (1986).  Continue reading on Dateline.com


Broadcasters and politicians have paid tribute to TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan, who has died a year after he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer.

Getty Images Dermot Murnaghan in a suit looking slightly off camera

The former BBC, ITV and Sky News journalist was 68. 

“It is with great sadness that the family of Dermot Murnaghan announces that he passed away at home in North London earlier this morning,” his family said in a statement posted to his X account. “He died peacefully with his family at his side.”

A fixture on British TV news across five decades, he presented flagship programmes including the ITV Evening News and the BBC News at Six and Ten. Continue reading…


Martha Lillard had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with polio and depended on an iron lung to live. She died June 26 in Oklahoma, the last U.S. polio patient who used the machine, her sister said. She was 78.

“They told her she wasn’t supposed to live past 20 years old,” Lillard’s younger sister, Cindy McVey, told The Associated Press on Friday. “She had the enthusiasm and the drive to continue living and make the best of her life.”

McVey attributes her sister’s death to the effects of long-haul COVID-19. A death certificate lists causes as chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome, McVey said. Continue reading 


Lillian Roberts, the former executive director of AFSCME  

District Council 37 and a giant of the labor movement, has died.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders announced her passing in a special message to members and honored her legacy as a trailblazer. 

“Her leadership at DC 37 and across AFSCME left a lasting mark on this union and on generations of labor leaders who followed her,” Saunders wrote.

Roberts built power for working people at a time when very few Black women held positions of leadership. She helped found the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and made history as the first Black woman to serve as New York State Industrial Commissioner. Continue Reading.


Don Iwerks, the former Disney executive who innovated several cinematic advancements during his career, has died. He was 96.

The Iwerks Entertainment co-founder died peacefully on Thursday at Ojai Community Memorial Care Center, “surrounded by the love of family and friends,” according to an obituary shared by his family.

“Those who knew Don remember not only his extraordinary accomplishments, but the quiet grace with which he achieved them, like his father, he delighted in solving problems, sharing knowledge, and celebrating the successes of others. Humble, endlessly curious, and unfailingly optimistic, he believed every challenge held the possibility of a solution. Up to the end he was sketching new inventions, cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers, and watching classic films. Mary Poppins remained especially close to his heart—a film whose optimism and enduring message that anything was possible perfectly reflected the way Don lived his life. … To the world, Don was an engineer, inventor, and Disney Legend. To those fortunate enough to know him, he was a devoted husband and father, a trusted mentor, a steadfast friend, and an eternal optimist.”    ––– The family said of Iwerks.

Born July 24, 1929 in Dallas, Texas, Iwerks grew up in Southern California, where his father, animator Ub Iwerks, became Walt Disney’s business parter, co-creating Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.  Continue reading at DeadLine.com

Authorities in England have arrested a man in connection with the killing of right-wing British political and television personality Ann Widdecombe, after she was found dead with serious injuries at her home on Thursday.

Police said at a Friday evening news conference that a 26-year-old was apprehended in Newton Abbot, Devon. It is unlikely that the violent killing of 78-year-old Widdecombe was “a politically motivated crime,” Matt Longman, assistant chief constable at Devon and Cornwall, told the press on Friday evening. The case is not being treated as a terror attack, investigators said.  Read more.


Veteran stage and screen actor Peter Van Norden, whose career spanned Broadway, film, television, and regional theater, died on July 9, 2026, at a Southern California hospice facility. He was 75. His wife, Wendy, said he passed away peacefully while facing multiple health conditions.

Van Norden was perhaps best known to movie audiences for portraying Officer Vinnie Schtulman in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment and the White House Chief of Staff in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear. Throughout a career that stretched across decades, he also appeared in The Accused (1988), the television adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand (1994), and numerous television and stage productions, earning a reputation as one of Hollywood’s dependable character actors.

The theater remained at the heart of Van Norden’s career. He made his Broadway debut in Romeo and Juliet and performed with distinction at New York’s Circle in the Square Theatre and in acclaimed regional productions across the country. His final performance came in Los Angeles’ Matrix Theater production of Corktown ’39, where his portrayal of Philadelphia businessman Joe McGarrity received critical praise.

Whether on a Broadway stage, in front of a television camera, or bringing memorable supporting characters to life on the silver screen, Peter Van Norden devoted his life to the craft of acting. His performances, often understated yet unforgettable, leave behind a legacy appreciated by theatergoers, film enthusiasts, and television audiences alike.

Randolph Mantooth as Johnny Gage

    Randolph Mantooth, who starred as the goofy but gallant firefighter-paramedic Johnny Gage on Emergency!, the 1970s NBC action show that changed life-saving services as we know it, has died. He was 80.

Mantooth died Thursday at a hospice facility in Ventura, California, his brother, Donald Mantooth, told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been “ill for a number of years and kept getting thinner and thinner,” he said.

Mantooth also had two stints (1987-90 and 1993-95) as Clay Alden/Alex Masters on the ABC soap opera Loving, and he appeared on other daytime serials including ABC’s General Hospital, CBS’ As the World Turns and ABC’s One Life to Live.  Continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter!


Greg Hawthorne, the versatile former NFL running back, tight end, and wide receiver who was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round selection in the 1979 NFL Draft and helped the franchise capture its fourth Super Bowl championship, died Wednesday. He was 69. His family announced his passing on Facebook.

A standout at Baylor University, Hawthorne was chosen with the 28th overall pick in the 1979 draft, the final selection of the first round. Although the choice surprised many at the time, he quickly became part of one of football’s greatest dynasties, earning a Super Bowl XIV championship ring during his rookie season with Pittsburgh. Over the course of his nine-year NFL career, he also played for the New England Patriots—appearing in Super Bowl XX—and finished his career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Known for his versatility, Hawthorne contributed as a running back, wide receiver, and tight end, compiling 527 rushing yards, 1,112 receiving yards, 92 receptions, and 11 total touchdowns during his professional career. His athleticism and willingness to fill multiple roles made him a valuable teammate wherever he played.

Though he entered the league amid the immense expectations that accompanied Pittsburgh’s championship era, Greg Hawthorne carved out a respected career defined by adaptability, professionalism, and perseverance. He will be remembered as a member of the Steelers’ storied Super Bowl teams and as a player whose contributions extended far beyond the statistics. Find similar news here…


UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 04: Photo of JOHNNY HATES JAZZ; Calvin Hayes (L) and Mike Nocito at the launch of the Here and Now Tour 2008 (Photo by Marc Broussely/Redferns)

Calvin Hayes has died at the age of 63 (Picture: Marc Broussely/Redferns)

Calvin Hayes, the British musician and co-founder of 1980s pop band Johnny Hates Jazz, has died at the age of 63 after collapsing at his home.

The keyboardist and drummer was found dead at his property in Washington in the US, his wife Kathy has confirmed.

Hayes rose to performing in Johnny Hates Jazz in 1986 alongside singer Clark Datchler and bassist Mike Nocito.

The band’s breakthrough came with their 1987 single Shattered Dreams, which became an international hit and reached the Top 10 in several countries. Read more…


Patricia Greene, the longest-serving cast member of BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers, has died at the age of 95.

She will be remembered for playing Jill Archer, the mother figure who was known for her lemon drizzle cake, in the programme for nearly 70 years after first appearing in 1957.

The news was announced on the Today programme, with the station’s controller Mohit Bakaya describing Greene’s contribution to the soap as “outstanding”.  Continue reading…


Nicolas Johnson
Nicolas Johnson COURTESY OF JOHNSON FAMILY
Nicolas Johnson, the older son of prominent entertainment attorney Matt Johnson, died July 1 in a car crash. He was 28.

Johnson was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Sherman Oaks at about 1 a.m. at the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Valley Meadow Road, just west of the 405 Freeway, the Canyon News reported. He was driving a Toyota GR86 when his car struck a curb and hit a light pole and was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department personnel.

Born on May 28, 1998, Johnson graduated from Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in 2016 and left Los Angeles to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, graduating magna cum laude in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.  Continue reading…


Cristina Sanz, with ‘Born This Way’ castmate and then-husband Angel Callahan, at Season 4 event, 2018 Michael Kovac/Getty Images for A&E Network

Cristina Sanz, who appeared in all four seasons of A&E’s Emmy-winning 2015-19 reality series Born This Way that chronicled the lives of adults living with Down syndrome, died July 6 after suffering cardiac arrest in Long Beach, CA. She was 36.

Her death was announced by parents Mariano and Beatriz Sanz on Instagram. Continue reading.


CAPE TOWN – Former Ajax Cape Town coach Leo van Veen has died, aged 80.

According to his former Dutch club FC Utrecht, Van Veen was the first Ajax Cape Town coach when the club was formed in 1999 as an amalgamation of Cape Town Spurs and Seven Stars.

He stayed for the first season where Ajax finished fourth, in the best league finish by a new club and they also qualified to play the CAF Cup the next season.

Van Veen was known as ‘Mister FC Utrecht’ after playing 13 seasons at the club with 391 appearances and 154 goals.  Continue reading….


 

Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Gerald Atchison Jr. (left) with Sheriff Larry Smith in 2018. Atchison died Tuesday after suffering a medical emergency while on duty.

Smith County Sheriff's Deputy Gerald Atchison Jr. and Sheriff Larry Smith in 2018.
Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Gerald Atchison Jr. (left) with Sheriff Larry Smith in 2018. Atchison died Tuesday after suffering a medical emergency while on duty.

A longtime Texas deputy died Tuesday after suffering a medical emergency while on duty.

Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Gerald Atchison Jr. was working at agency headquarters in Tyler at around 2 p.m. in his role as a property and evidence technician when he collapsed, the sheriff’s office stated in a news release posted to social media.

His colleagues began performing until medics arrived, but Atchison remained unconscious.

He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Atchison is thought to have suffered “a massive coronary event,” according to the sheriff’s office.  Continue reading…


BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Former Romania soccer player Gabriel Muresan has died after drowning in a lake near the town where he was the mayor, local media reported on Thursday. He was 44.

The Romanian soccer federation confirmed the death of a midfielder who played nine times for the national team, including in qualifying games for the World Cup and European Championship from 2007-11.

“The Romanian Football Federation sends its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and all those who knew Gabriel Muresan,” it said.

Muresan was “a devoted servant of our community,” the public authority in Apold said on Facebook. He had been mayor there since 2020.  Continue reading.


Connor Murphy

Connor Murphy, an American “looksmaxxing” influencer, died in an apparent drowning in Thailand on July 7. He was 32.      

Friends of the content creator confirmed his death in several posts on social media on July 8.

Authorities in the Samut Prakan province of Thailand responded to a call of a man acting erratically on Tuesday afternoon at a luxury rental property, reported local outlets Bangkok Post and Thairath. When police arrived, the outlets reported, Murphy jumped into a nearby lake and swam for several minutes before appearing exhausted and drowning.  Continue reading…


Harris Katleman, whose executive positions in television had him overseeing the development of such classic series as The Simpsons, NYPD Blue, CHiPS, Medical Center, In Living Color, Doogie Howser, M.D. and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, died July 8 of natural causes in Los Angeles. He was 97.   His death was announced by family. Read More 


Joanna Pettet, who rose to fame as one of the tight-knit Vassar grads in Sidney Lumet’s 1966 adaptation of novelist Mary McCarthy’s bestseller The Group, died Tuesday, July 7. She was 83.

Her death was announced on Facebook by friend and former manager Pam DuBois, who noted that Pettet died on the anniversary of the death of her son (with actor and former husband Alex Cord) Damien Zachary Cord.

“We all loved Jo,” DuBois wrote. “But there was one person who loved her more. And yesterday on the 31st anniversary of his death. Damien Zach took his mother to heaven and there she will stay with him forever.”

Pettet’s cause of death was not disclosed.  Continue reading…


Human Rights First mourns the passing of its beloved Chair Emeritus, William D. Zabel, and honors his outsize legacy championing human rights and social justice at home and abroad for over seven decades. A leading lawyer and towering figure in the ongoing quest to expand U.S. civil and human rights protections, Zabel was a guiding light and champion for Human Rights First from its earliest years and chaired its Board for more than 20 years. Zabel wrote the ACLU’s amicus brief in Loving v. Virginia, the case in which the Supreme Court ruled that laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional and, in 1969, co-founded Schulte, Roth & Zabel, a leading New York-based law firm.

Bill Zabel

“Bill was one of a kind,” said Tom Bernstein, Human Rights First’s Chair Emeritus and a longtime friend of Zabel. “He was a lion who put his heart and soul into Human Rights First from day one. Over the next five decades, his joyful advocacy and steadfast commitment to the organization’s work inspired his extensive network of friends and admirers to join him in becoming human rights advocates and Human Rights First supporters.”

Zabel traveled the world on behalf of Human Rights First, participating in fact-finding missions investigating abuses in the Soviet Union, the Philippines, and China. In Pinochet’s Chile, Zabel investigated the disappearances of lawyers and judges and met Judge Carlos Cerda, who was under attack by the regime as the only judge to pursue human rights cases during that time. Zabel secured safe haven for Judge Cerda in the United States. In 1989, as the Iron Curtain came down, Zabel and Bernstein travelled to Moscow to examine the rights situation there.

“We had been friends before,” Bernstein recalled. “On that trip, we became comrades.”\

Zabel, born in Nebraska to Russian and Romanian immigrants, heard the call to activism early. Senator George McGovern, a friend of his politically-active parents, took him to the Sioux Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge where the brutal conditions left an impression. “Just like the organization he helped found, and to which he contributed so greatly, for Bill, human rights always came first,” said Lynda Clarizio, co-chair of the organization’s board of directors.  Continue reading…


Rodney Franklin, the jazz pianist whose track “The Groove” became a genuine dance phenomenon in the UK, has died at 67.

Franklin’s story starts remarkably early. Born in Berkeley, California, he began taking jazz piano lessons at just six years old under Dr. Herb Wong, a respected jazz journalist, disc jockey, and educator. By 14, he was already leading his own funk-jazz band, In One Piece, recording his first sessions at Ray Dobar’s House of Music in Berkeley. Before he’d even signed a major label deal, he was already working alongside John Handy, Bill Summers, Freddie Hubbard, and Marlena Shaw, building real credibility in the San Francisco jazz scene as a teenager.

He signed with CBS Records in 1978 and released his debut album, In the Center, at just 20 years old, already carrying a distinctive sound shaped by influences like McCoy Tyner, George Duke, Chick Corea, and Lonnie Liston Smith. Two years later, everything changed with You’ll Never Know and its lead single, “The Groove,” which climbed to number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The track didn’t just chart, it sparked its own dance craze in the UK called “The Freeze,” championed by DJ Chris Hill, turning Franklin into a defining voice of the era’s jazz-funk crossover sound.  Read More.


Aviation trailblazer Wally Funk, who lived in Grapevine, Texas has died.

Wally Funk, right, describes her flight experience as Mark Bezos, left, and Jeff Bezos, left, center, applaud in the spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
Wally Funk, right, describes her flight experience as Mark Bezos, left, and Jeff Bezos, left, center, applaud in the spaceport.

In 2021, Funk was celebrated by the city of Grapevine for her historic spaceflight aboard a Blue Origin New Shepherd rocket. The mission was six decades in the making, as Funk, known as a pioneer for women in aviation and spaceflight, underwent a series of tests as part of NASA’s first human spaceflight program, “Project Mercury,” in the 1960s.

Funk was one of 13 women selected to undergo the tests, known as the “Mercury 13.” Though it is commonly held that the group of women qualified to fly in space but were excluded because of their gender, Funk was adamant she was not selected because she did not have an engineering degree. Continue reading…


Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer behind bombastic 1980s hits including “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out For A Hero,” has died. She was 75 years old. The news was shared on her website and official social media channels.

“Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for,” the statement reads.

In May, Tyler was admitted to a hospital near her home in Faro, Portugal for emergency intestinal surgery. Following the procedure, her official website announced that she had been placed in an induced coma for recovery.  Continue reading…


Saverio Francis Morea obituary, 01/23/1932-07/06/2026, Huntsville, AL

Saverio “Sonny” Francis Morea, a pioneering aerospace engineer whose work helped make the Apollo Moon missions possible, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 6, 2026, at the age of 94.
Born on January 23, 1932, in Queens, New York, Sonny was the son of Italian immigrants Domenico and Grace Morea. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife of more than 70 years, Angela Morea; his brother, Russell Morea; and his sister, Gloria Leo.
Sonny and Angela were married in 1954 and soon made their home in Huntsville, Alabama, where they raised four children: Gail, Lorraine, Domenic and Patricia. Together they built their life in Alabama focused on faith, family and community.

After graduating from City College of New York in 1954 with a degree in mechanical engineering and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sonny began his engineering career with North American Aviation. When called to active duty the following year, he was assigned to the team led by Wernher von Braun in Huntsville. Following his military service, he remained with the group as an aerospace engineer and became one of the original members of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Read More…


Phil Regan, a former All-Star pitcher who later managed the Orioles and spent decades as a pitching coach for teams including the Cubs and Mets, has died at age 89.

Regan died Wednesday, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, citing Regan’s attorney, Matt Blit.

The righty made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 1960 and spent six seasons in Detroit before stints with the Dodgers, Cubs and White Sox. His best season came in 1966, when he went 14-1 with a 1.62 ERA and had an NL-best 21 saves during an All-Star campaign with the Dodgers that led to him being named both the Sporting News NL Reliever of the Year and the publication’s NL Comeback Player of the Year. Read More.


Rhett Bernstein – The football community is mourning the loss of Rhett Bernstein, the former Mjøndalen IF defender and Brown University standout, who passed away at the age of 38.On July 8, 2026, Mjøndalen announced Bernstein’s death, expressing condolences to his family and all those affected by the loss.  
The club confirmed his passing but did not disclose a cause of death, and no additional details have been released publicly. A native of the United States, Bernstein built an impressive football career that began at Brown University, where he earned recognition as one of the program’s top defenders. In 2009, he represented Maccabi USA at the Maccabiah Games, proudly competing on the international stage. His professional career later included playing in Israel, Norway with Mjøndalen IF, and the United States with Miami FC.

Megas, the singer-songwriter widely regarded as the father of Icelandic rock and roll, has died at the age of 81. Born Magnús Þór Jónsson in Reykjavík on April 7, 1945, he passed away in July 2026 after a career spanning more than five decades that reshaped Icelandic music and literature.

An early admirer of Elvis Presley, Megas developed a love of rock and roll as a boy before immersing himself in painting, piano, and writing. By 1968 he had already published the sheet music and lyrics to 14 songs, drawing on influences like Bob Dylan and Ray Davies as he moved into songwriting as a young bohemian writer.  Read More.


Jamil Merrell, a former Rutgers football defensive end who served as a captain for the Scarlet Knights during his senior season, has died, according to a social media post from his twin brother Jamal. He was 36.

Jamil Merrell

The cause of death was not immediately available.  

Merrell, who grew up in Delaware, played at Rutgers between 2009 and 2013, appearing in 32 games under head coaches Greg Schiano and Kyle Flood. He collected 79 tackles (16 for loss), including 8.5 sacks, and forced a fumble. Merrell served as a captain alongside his twin brother Jamal in 2013, when they became the second pair of brothers in program history to simultaneously serve as captains, doing so 120 years after George and Gabe Ludlow did so in the 1893 season.  Read More.


Tony Rayns (BIFF)
Tony Rayns, the British film critic who introduced Korean cinema to global audiences, died Wednesday. He was 77.

The Busan International Film Festival announced his death on social media the same day. “Tony Rayns, who championed the value of Korean and Asian cinema to the world ahead of anyone else, has passed away. May he rest in peace,” the festival said.

Born in 1948, Rayns worked as a film critic for Sight and Sound, the magazine of the British Film Institute, and as a programmer for the London Film Festival and the Vancouver International Film Festival, continually discovering Korean films and introducing them overseas. Read More.


Kevin Chown, the versatile American bassist who spent nearly a decade touring and recording with Finnish vocalist Tarja Turunen and became a fixture across the progressive rock and metal world, has died at 56.

Born and raised in Escanaba, Michigan, Chown grew up surrounded by music thanks to a band-teacher father and piano-teacher mother, and switched from drums to bass after discovering Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones. He was performing professionally by age 15. After studying jazz at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he was named Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival’s College Jazz Soloist of the Year in 1993, Chown built a career that stretched across genres, session work and production, all while playing in the progressive metal band Edwin Dare and running his own Detroit recording studio. Read More.


Walt Whitman Odets (February 4, 1947 – July 5, 2026) was an American clinical psychologist and author. He has written about the early development, psychological and social experiences of gay men and their communities.

Odets’ earlier writing focused on the lives of men living in and surviving the early AIDSepidemic. The spring 1996 issue of Positive Impact Journal called him “an important voice in the AIDS education and prevention arena.”Odets’s 1995 study, In the Shadow of the Epidemic: Being HIV-Negative in the Age of AIDS, was listed by The New York Times as among the “Notable Books of the Year 1995.”Additionally, In the Shadow of the Epidemicwas the No. 1 bestselling book purchased by gay men in the late fall of 1995, according to The Advocate, and was confirmed as a “Gay Bestseller of 1995” by the Feminist Bookstore News.

Odets was born on February 4, 1947, in Los Angeles, California,to playwright, screenwriter and director Clifford Odets and actress Bette Grayson. The family, which included Walt’s sister Nora, two years his senior, moved to New York City in the summer of 1948. Odets and Grayson separated in October 1949 and were divorced in November 1951. In February 1954, Grayson died suddenly of pneumonia, leaving seven-year-old Walt and his disabled sister in the care of their father. In 1955, the truncated family moved back to the West Coast so that Clifford could return to screenwriting in order to make a living. He also considered California a healthier environment in which to raise children.   Read More.

July 7th, 2026

Gail Clark, 75, of Bellefontaine, passed away Friday, leaving behind a legacy that spans generations of Chieftain football players, coaches and fans.

Clark was a standout linebacker for the Bellefontaine Chieftains from 1965 through 1968 before graduating from Bellefontaine High School in 1969. His success on the field earned him a scholarship to Michigan State University, where he became one of the nation’s top defensive players. During his collegiate career, Clark received both All-America and All-Big Ten honors while helping establish himself as one of the Spartans’ premier linebackers.

Following college, Clark fulfilled his dream of playing professional football in the National Football League. During his NFL career, he suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots.  Read More.


 

Ski Racing Media has confirmed with people close to Lanning that TJ Lanning, a former U.S. Ski Team alpine racer remembered for his fearless approach to speed skiing, his resilience through repeated injuries and his later work as a coach, has died. He was 41.

Thomas “TJ” Lanning was born Aug. 27, 1984, in Helena, Montana, and became one of the most promising American speed skiers of his generation. He specialized in downhill, super-G and combined, bringing an aggressive, all-in style that made him one of the more compelling U.S. racers of his era.

Lanning learned to ski at a young age and emerged quickly as a standout junior racer. He competed at the 2001 and 2002 FIS Junior World Ski Championships and later represented the United States at the 2007 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Åre, Sweden.  READ MORE….


 

EDMONTON — The founder of North America’s longest running Fringe theatre festival has died.

Brian Paisley at the Fringe.

Edmonton’s Fringe Theatre says Brian Paisley died Thursday.

Paisley, who was known as Father Fringe, launched the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival 45 years ago.

Fringe Theatre says his idea inspired other theatre festivals across Canada.

He was recognized for leaving an indelible mark on Canadian theatre while recieving the Order of Canada in 2010. Read More.


Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has died after a prolonged illness a day before his 39th birthday.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday “with profound grief and deep sorrow.”

“Shapoor Zadran was one of the foundation-laying figures of Afghanistan cricket, whose dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment played a vital role in the rise and development of the game in our country.”  Read More.


Brian Potter, the British songwriter and producer who teamed with Dennis Lambert on the Billy Jack theme “One Tin Soldier,” the Four Tops’ “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)” and Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy, has died. He was 87.

Potter died June 30 at a residence for seniors in Granada Hills after living with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s for several years, his daughter, Courtney Potter, announced.

Other hits written by Lambert & Potter included 1971’s “Don’t Pull Your Love” by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, which made it to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100; 1971’s “Two Divided by Love,” from The Grass Roots; 1974’s “Dream On,” by The Righteous Brothers; and 1975’s “It Only Takes a Minute” by Tavares, which peaked at No. 10.  Read More.

Moritz de Hadeln dead

Moritz de Hadeln, a pioneering industry professional who led the Berlin, Venice and Locarno Film Festivals, died July 4 of complications from a scheduled medical procedure. He was 85.

Reps close to de Hadeln’s family confirmed the news to Deadline.De Hadeln was born in the UK city of Exeter on December 21, 1940, the son of former WWII intelligence officer-turned-art book publisher Harry Hudson and Romanian French artist Alexandra Bălăceanu. READ MORE.


The Rev. Ed King, a United Methodist Church minister and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic

Party (MFDP), is remembered by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

King died July 4, 2026, at the age of 89.

Born Ralph Edwin King, he joined the ministry as a young man and enrolled at Boston University, where he volunteered for civil rights causes. In 1963, he accepted a position as chaplain at Tougaloo College and joined the Jackson Freedom Movement, organizing a downtown Jackson boycott with Mississippi NAACP field secretary Medgar Wiley Evers and John Salter, a professor at Tougaloo College. King served as an “observer” during the 1963 Jackson Woolworth sit-in, reporting the demonstration’s ensuing violence to Evers.  Read more.


FORT MILL, S.C. — Al Holland, used primarily as a reliever during his 10-year career in the major leagues, died on July 4, his son confirmed. He was 73.

Al Holland Jr. confirmed that his father died in Fort Mill, South Carolina, according to the North Carolina A&T baseball website.

The elder Holland is a member of the North Carolina A&T Sports (1994) and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Halls of Fame (1993), the school said.

The Phillies announced Holland’s death in a statement on X on Monday.

“The Phillies are saddened to learn of the passing of Al Holland, who spent parts of three seasons with the club from 1983-85,” the statement said. “As a dominant closer, Al was an integral part of the team’s winning the National League pennant in 1983 and was an All-Star in 1984. The club and fans are forever grateful for his contributions and the legacy he leaves behind in Philadelphia.” Read More. 



JOHNNY GINGER ACTOR DIES

Galen Grindle, the beloved Detroit television personality known to generations of local kids as Johnny Ginger, has died. He was 92.

Grindle died on July 5, 2026. His death was announced by his former station, WXYZ Detroit.

Born on June 16, 1934 in Toledo, Ohio, Grindle grew up in a Vaudeville family act alongside his parents Ray and Edna and his tap-dancing brother Kenny, performing at Toledo’s Paramount Theater. His career began almost by accident when the family brought young Galen onstage to sing “Sonny Boy” and he became an instant hit. As a teenager, he built on that early spark performing stand-up comedy in clubs across Toledo, Detroit, and Canada.  Read More.


Louise Lasser dead: 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' star
Louise Lasser in 2015 and in 1970s
serial ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’
Getty Images

Louise Lasser, whose pig-tailed braids, bangs and baby-doll gingham dresses took the nation by storm when they became her trademark look on Norman Lear‘s Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in the 1970s, died Monday at her home in Manhattan. She was 87.

Her death was reported by her friend Susan Charlotte to The New York Times.

Initially making her name in early Woody Allen films — the two married in 1966 and divorced four years later — Lasser employed a droll, deadpan comic delivery to great effect not only in Allen’s Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) but in buzzy commercials for NyQuil and Excedrin.  Read More.

Renowned Quebec actor Marc Messier passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the age of 78, leaving behind his three children, Gabrielle, Félix, and Jeanne, along with generations of grieving fans across the province.

The prolific performer sustained a career spanning over 50 years, transitioning from an athletic childhood of hockey and swimming in Granby to becoming one of Quebec’s most recognizable cultural figures. Messier achieved legendary status through his roles as Réjean in La petite vie, Marc Gagnon in Lance et compte, and Bob Chicoine in the Les Boys franchise, alongside a 38-year run in the theatrical comedy Broue.  READ MORE.


July 6th, 2026

Sprinter Asafa Powell, left, stands with his coach Stephen Francis as he poses with his Chairman Award for being named Jamaica Sportsman for 2005, Feb. 23, 2006 in Kingston, Jamaica. (AP Photo/Collin Reid, File)
Sprinter Asafa Powell, left, stands with his coach Stephen Francis as he poses with his Chairman Award for being named Jamaica Sportsman for 2005, Feb. 23, 2006 in Kingston, Jamaica. (AP Photo/Collin Reid, File)
 KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Stephen Francis, the influential Jamaican track and field coach whose athletes won Olympic and world titles and helped turn the small Caribbean island into a sprinting powerhouse, has died, his club said Sunday. He was 64.

The training group Francis co-founded in 1999, the Maximising Velocity & Power Track & Field Club, or MVP, became one of the sport’s premier training centers, producing generations of Olympic champions and world record holders. The club said Sunday that Francis had died late Saturday but did not disclose a cause of death. Read More.


Sergeant Scott Ries was shot and killed responding to a call near 90 Chippewa Trail in Rittman at approximately 9:30 p.m.

After receiving a call reporting shots fired, officers from the Rittman Police Department, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, where they were immediately fired upon. Sergeant Ries and four Medina County Sheriff’s officers were struck. Sergeant Ries succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Two deputies were transported to a local hospital in stable condition, two others were treated at the scene, and a Wayne County Sheriff’s Office K-9 who was shot during the incident remains in serious condition at a local animal hospital. Two other individuals were also killed during the incident.  Read More.


Darrell Jackson, former Arizona State and Minnesota Twins pitcher, has died at the age of 70.

Image

The cause of death is unknown at this time.

After ASU, he was drafted in the ninth round by the Twins in 1977 and made his MLB debut on June 3, 1978, winning his start against the Detroit Tigers. Jackson spent all five years with the Twins before a career-ending arm injury at 27 years old.

The Los Angeles native pitched for the Sun Devils from 1974-77, including three College World Series appearances. The left-hander helped secure the national championship by throwing a three-hit shutout in the semifinals of the 1977 CWS.   Read More.


George E. Johnson founder of Johnson Products Company.

George E. Johnson, who founded Johnson Products Company, and along with it a new universe of hair care products tailored to Black consumers, died Monday morning.

He died from natural causes at his Downtown Chicago condo, said his son John Edward Johnson. He was 99.

“I think his legacy as a businessman and philanthropist speaks for itself,” his son said.

 Read More…


Bennett’s death was confirmed by members of her former group, GRL, who shared a statement mourning her loss on Instagram.

“Her beautiful spirit touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed and forever loved,” the statement said.

Read More…


July 5, 2026

Closee up of Slaine Kelly

The Tudors star Slaine Kelly has died “peacefully” at home, aged 43, surrounded by her family, following a battle with cancer. The mum of one’s death was confirmed by her family in a notice on obituary site RIP.ie.   

It read: “Slaine Kelly … passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family. Beloved daughter of Marion and Joe Kelly. Cherished mother of Knox, much-loved sister of Darragh and sister-in-law of Mags and adored aunt of Eliza. Read More…


Mike Wallace, a self-proclaimed radical historian whose magisterial, unvarnished biography of New York, “Gotham,” written

A man with a white beard and tufts of white hair wears glasses and stares off camera into the sun.

with Edwin G. Burrows, won the Pulitzer Prize and inspired two more door-stopper volumes about the city, died on Sunday in Mexico City. He was 83.

His death, in a hospital, was confirmed in a statement by his wife, Carmen Boullosa, a poet and playwright. She said he had been suffering from Lewy body dementia. Read More…


No photo description available.
JON DYMOND has left this earth this morning and is on his New Musical Journey with ALL the other Musicians, His Family Members, Friends and ANGELS.
Jon Dymond was an outstanding Bass Player and Vocalist. Oh so much Musical Talent Jon had and now he has joined the Heavens with this Talent.
Jon played in many Bands throughout his Musical Career. Jon has been in the Skunks, Bootleggers, Larry Lynne Band, Larry Lynne Revue, Larry Lynne Decades Band with me for over 24 Years. Gone Too Soon
We had such a great time playing at Mole Lake Casino and on the Road. Jon’s voice was so powerful that night ! Jon’s Last Song he Sang was “Does Anybody Really Know Time It is?” We believe Jon knew what time it really was and that was his message to ALL of US. We will miss you, Jon
As days go by Please Keep Jon’s Wife, Nancy in your Prayers as Nancy copes with her loss of her Husband, Jon.
Until we meet again Jon, we will listen for your SMOOTH TWANG of your Bass you played.
On a few Notes we are going to miss with Jon: If we could not find a piece of equipment at the end of the night, Jon’s Famous Words were: “Don’t worry about it, I put it on EBay already !”
Jon was our Stage Apparel Chief: “Boys, this is your apparel, Black Sequin Jacket, Black Shirt, White Bolo…
Jon, Please watch over ALL of US especially your Wife, Nancy & Georgie (your cat).
Jon – It’s Not Good Bye – It’s See YOU Later Our Musical Brother
R.I.P. Jon – Musically Yours, Larry Lynne, James Aubrey, Chris Eddie Davis. READ MORE….

July 4, 2026

Joby Baker obituary
Joby Baker in 1967 on
‘Good Morning World’
CBS via Getty Images

Joby Baker, whose presence on television and in film throughout the 1960s and ’70s made him one of the era’s more familiar faces in both drama and light comic fare, died June 22 of natural causes in Mount Kisco, New York. He was 92.

His death, announced to Deadline by his family, came just 10 days after that of Ronnie Schell, Baker’s co-star in the short-lived but fondly remembered 1967 sitcom Good Morning World. The CBS single-season comedy featured Baker and Schell as a morning drive radio disc jockey duo and best friends though of differing temperaments. Goldie Hawn also was a cast member.  Read More…


Doreen C. Broadnax, known professionally as Sparky D, or spelled Sparky Dee (June 2, 1965 – July 2026) was an American hip–hop musician and rapper. Broadnax is noted as one of the first female battle rappers, first gaining attention through the Roxanne Wars; when she responded to Roxanne Shante’s “Roxanne’s Revenge” with “Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne, You’re Through)” in 1985.


Robert B. Sloan Jr., president of Houston Christian University, died at age 77 on July 4, 2026, after leading the institution for nearly two decades.(Michael A. Tims, Houston Christian University)

HOUSTON – Houston Christian University President Robert B. Sloan Jr. has died, the university announced Saturday. He was 77.

HCU Board Chairman Ramiro Peña said Sloan’s death was sudden and happened Saturday morning. In a statement to the university community, Peña credited Sloan with steering HCU through what he called its most consequential years, pointing to growth in enrollment and academic offerings, new construction and campus expansion, and increased national visibility.

Hip-hop Pioneer Doreen Broadnax, known professionally as Sparky D has reportedly passed away at the age of 61. Sparky D who helped shaped the early days hip-hop, during the legendary Roxanne wars of the mid 1980s, with a series of battle records. She later dedicated herself to Gospel Music and ministry, inspiring others through her faith and testimony.  Read more.


July 3, 2026

Trevor Fishlock is best known in Wales for his series Fishlock’s Wales on HTV, now ITV Cymru

Black and white photo of a smiling older man

Trevor Fishlock – Renowned reporter, author and broadcaster Trevor Fishlock has died. He wrote several books on Wales and was best-known for his long-running television series Fishlock’s Wild Tracks and Fishlock’s Wales.

The former foreign correspondent adopted Wales as his home after a career covering more than 60 countries. He was celebrated for his knowledge of Welsh history and creating engaging documentaries.

Zoe Thomas, Head of News and Programmes At ITV Cymru Wales, said: “ITV Cymru Wales is deeply saddened by the passing of legendary journalist, author, and broadcaster Trevor Fishlock.

“As a master storyteller, Trevor brought warmth, intellect, and humanity to Welsh broadcasting, capturing the heart of the nation through his acclaimed series Wild Tracks and Fishlock’s Wales.”

His books on Wales included ‘Wales and the Welsh’, ‘Talking of Wales’, ‘Fishlock’s Wild Tracks’, ‘Senedd’, ‘IOn This Place: The National Library of Wales’ and ‘Pembrokeshire: Journeys and Stories’.

Born in Hereford in 1941 Trevor moved to Cardiff as a correspondent for The Times in the 1970s and adopted Wales as his home.  READ-MORE


Dave Stimson, co-founder of the pioneering ’80s hardcore punk zine, record label, and distribution company Touch & Go, has died. Stimson reportedly passed away Wednesday. Touch & Go’s Corey Rusk posted the news to the label’s Instagram account today along with a tribute to Stimson.

Today is a sad day. Touch and Go co-founder Dave Stimson has passed away. I spent last night reminiscing and telling DS stories with Tesco. Bittersweet. Back in the Touch and Go Fanzine days, Tesco was the master of verbose storytelling. Although Dave was his linguistically minimalist counterpart, Dave could convey as much with a dry, condensed sentence as Tesco could in a full page. He was funny in a very different manner from Tesco. Together, they were like cool older brothers to us guys in the Necros (who were still in high school when we met Dave and Tesco). They put us on the cover of their fanzine, started a label (which I quickly joined them in running) to put out our records, and got us opening slots at Lansing’s Club DooBee with Black Flag and DOA at the start of 1981. Legends… both of them.

Stimson and the Meatmen’s Tesco Vee launched the Touch & Go zine together in 1979. Stimson and Vee, elementary school teachers in Lansing, Michigan, published button-pushing humor and reviews of records by punk bands. As related in Michael Azerrad’s Our Band Could Be Your Life, their review of the debut Teen Idles single helped build a buzz around Dischord Records that helped the label to continue as a going concern.  READ MORE…


‘Trainer to the stars’ John Parisella dies at 85

Parisella, John.7-26-09.BL
Trainer John Parisella won more than 1,200 races and more than $23 million during his career.

John Parisella, a man with a big personality, who was dubbed “trainer to the stars,” and a winner of more than 1,200 races in a four-decade-plus career, died Friday in a hospital in Long Island, N.Y., according to his ex-wife Melissa. He was 85.

Parisella was born in Brooklyn and attended St. John’s University. He got into the sport as an assistant to trainer Tommy Gullo on the New York circuit and, according to Equibase, started training horses in 1969. He won 1,241 races and his horses earned more than $23 million purses before Parisella saddled his last horse in 2016.

Parisella trained a large number of graded stakes winners that included Simply Majestic, Chapel of Dreams, Chieftain’s Command, Am Capable, Danzig’s Dance, Raja’s Shark, Kamikaze Rick, Fray Star, Don Rickes, Fight Over and Jones Time Machine. Fight Over finished third in the 1984 Preakness. Simply Majestic finished third in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Parisella’s uncle Joe Scanadore was the manager for comedian Don Rickles. Through that relationship, Parisella was introduced to a number of Hollywood stars. He trained for some including James Caan, Jack Klugman, and Telly Savalas.  Read More…

 


Kjell Nilson

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Lam Wing-kee, a former Hong Kong bookseller who became a symbol of resistance to Beijing’s crackdown on speech freedom after he was seized by Chinese authorities in late 2015, has died in Taiwan, the island’s official Central News Agency reported, citing an unnamed source.

The news agency didn’t give a cause of death but said the 70-year-old Lam had a cancer relapse last year and was admitted to MacKay Memorial Hospital in Taipei on Tuesday. He fell into a coma on Wednesday and died Thursday evening, according to the report.

Lam, who was the manager of Causeway Bay Books in Hong Kong, moved to Taipei in 2019 over fears of legal troubles and reopened the bookstore under the same name in the Taiwanese capital in 2020.   Read More.


Kjell Nilson, and as Lord Humungus Kjell Nilsson

Kjell Nilsson, the Swedish born weightlifter and actor best known for playing the villainous masked marauder Lord Humungus in the classic 1981 Mad Max film The Road Warrior, died in Queensland, Australia, Thursday, July 2, following a four-year battle with kidney disease. He was 76.

His death was announced by family on his Facebook page.  Read More.


Chicago metal legend Shaun Glass has died at the age of 57.

Glass, who has played with a number of acclaimed metal bands over the past four decades, including SOIL, BROKEN HOPE, SINDROME, TERMINAL DEATH, DIRGE WITHIN, THE BLOODLINE and, more recently, REPENTANCE, passed away on July 1, a month after suffering a stroke at his Illinois home that he shared with his wife Michelle and their 13-year-old son Maddux.

Michelle shared the news of Shaun‘s death in a social media post on Wednesday (July 1). She wrote: “It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share that Shaun passed away this morning after suffering a medical emergency on May 31.

“Shaun and I met in 2003 and married in 2010. In 2012, we welcomed our son — Shaun‘s pride and joy, as anyone who knew him well already knows.

“Our lives will never be the same. We are devastated, and we ask for privacy and respect as our family begins to navigate this unimaginable loss.”  Read More.


Longtime college football coach Jim Walden, who played quarterback in the Canadian Football League before leading Washington State to a bowl game and spending nine seasons at Iowa State, died Thursday. He was 88.

The two schools announced his death in statements Friday. No cause was given.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Coach Walden,” Cougars athletic director Jon Haarlow said. “He will forever be remembered as a great Coug who deeply loved Washington State. Our heart is with Coach Walden’s family, friends and all the former players whose lives he positively impacted.”

Walden was born and raised in Aberdeen, Mississippi, and played quarterback in junior college before transferring to Wyoming, where he played for future Nebraska coach Bob Devaney. He led the Cowboys to two championships in the old Skyline Conference.

 Second Report

Read More.


“Canada’s Country Gentleman” Tommy Hunter, the celebrated musician whose professional career spanned from the 1950s into the early 2010s, has died.

The singer and guitarist died Thursday of natural causes, entertainment promoter and manager Brian Edwards confirmed to CBC News.

Hunter was 89.Born on March 20, 1937, in London, Ont., Hunter got an early start as an entertainer. He began taking guitar lessons at around nine years old, which soon led to him booking gigs, playing in churches and eventually landing on the radio.


 Canada’s Oldest Draq Queen Russell Alldread, aka Michelle DuBarry, Has Passed.

Russell Peters Alldread, AKA Anita Modé, AKA Michelle DuBarry, Canada’s Oldest Drag Queen has passed away. November 23, 1931 – July 1, 2026
Russell was born and raised in Bowmanville, Ontario. But he was reinvented as first Anita, then our beloved Michelle, in Toronto, Canada. This is where he found his community, his people, his tribe, and lived for the remainder of his life.
He spent his remaining years at Heritage Nursing home, and his final days at Rekai Sherbourne. He will be missed.
She will be remembered.
The official Celebration of Life will take place at Woody’s on Church Str. in Toronto, Canada. Date to be announced soon. All are welcome.   Read More.

July 2, 2026

Moritz Borman dead

Moritz Borman, a veteran producer whose credits include several Oliver Stonemovies along with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator Salvation, The Crow: Salvation and others, died July 1 in Munich, where his upcoming film was being shot. He was 71.

Texas A&M All-American linebacker Keith Mitchell died at 51, Texas A&M athletics confirmed to KBTX on Thursday.

According to a statement from Mitchell’s family provided to KBTX, his death was “sudden and unexpected.”

“As we begin to process this heartbreaking loss, we ask for your continued prayers as we await additional answers in the days ahead,” the statement read, in part. “We trust that God will continue to surround our family with His peace, grace, and strength as we navigate this difficult journey.”

Mitchell was a member of the “Wrecking Crew” defense from 1993-96, including the 1993 Southwest Conference champion squad. He earned All-SWC honors in 1995, followed by an All-Big 12 nod in 1996 to go along with his College Football News All-America selection. Read More…


Hikaru Kurosaki, actor from the series "The Fantastic Jaspion" — Disclosure

The news of the death of Hikaru Kurosaki, Japanese actor who marked generations as the hero Jaspion, has been confirmed. The artist was 64 years old and the information was published by the ZakII portal, part of the Sankei group in Japan.

The work “The Fantastic Jaspion”, a Japanese series in the tokusatsu genre, which combines action with real actors and visual effects, was produced by Toei. Its debut in Brazil in 1988 transformed it into a true cultural phenomenon, opening doors for the popularization of several other Japanese productions on Brazilian television.

The official statement about Kurosaki’s death was made by a colleague from the Diving Association in the city of Motobu, located in Okinawa Prefecture, through a post on the social network Facebook. Read More.


LEGENDARY jockey and former Gold Cup hero Graham Bradley has sadly died surrounded by family and friends aged 65 after a battlewith semantic dementia.

A truly gifted rider who became a household name in the 1980s, he was no stranger to trouble either and won a massive fanbase as a larger-than-life character on and off the racecourse.

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Born near Wetherby in 1960, Bradley, whose dad Norman was a famous trainer, would ride more than 700 winners in a 22-year career which included the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Irish Grand National. 1983 victory aboard 100-30 fav Bregawn at Cheltenham went down in history for trainer Michael Dickinson saddling the first five home – a feat unmatched to this day.

And his unforgettable 1996 Champion Hurdle win came after he was jocked off favourite Alderbrook after turning up late for a training session.  Read More.


Los Angeles Rams cornerback LeRoy Irvin (47) on the field.

LeRoy Irvin, a first-team All-Pro at both cornerback and punt returner with the Rams in the 1980s, has died at the age of 68.

The Rams announced Irvin’s death today, and among those remembering him are former teammate Eric Dickerson, who posted about him on social media this morning.

“Devastated to hear about the passing of my brother, teammate, and Rams legend Leroy Irvin. Leroy wasn’t just a lockdown corner and a fierce competitor on the field; he was a true friend and a great man who always brought incredible energy. Rest in peace, my brother. Sending my thoughts and prayers to the Irvin family and all of Rams Nation,” Dickerson wrote.  READ MORE.


July 1, 2026

Abdul Ahad Momand, Afghanistan ’s first citizen in space, has died at age 67, his family and friends said.

A national hero, Momand died from cancer on June 21 in a hospital in Stuttgart, Germany, where he had lived since leaving Afghanistan in 1992 during the civil war.

“I am deeply saddened by the sudden death of Afghanistan’s first and only astronaut, Abdul Ahad Momand,” former President Ashraf Ghani wrote on X. “I pray to God to grant Momand a high place in heaven, and I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, children, and other family members.”  Read More.


Wilford Lloyd Baumes dead: Produced TV's 'Wonder Woman' & developed 'The Love Boat'
Wilford Lloyd BaumesCourtesy

Wilford Lloyd “Bud” Baumes, who developed ABC’s long-running series The Love Boat and executive produced TV’s Wonder Woman, has died. He was 86.

Mihovk-Rosenacker Funeral Homes in Cincinnati said he died June 28 but did not provide a cause of death.Born on November 24, 1939, Baumes served in the U.S. Navy before launching a career in show business in the early 1970s. He worked as a writer and/or producer on some TV movies before serving as an associate to the executive producer of CBS’ 1972-73 interfaith romance sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie. Baumes continued to work on telefilms before becoming an executive producer on the superhero series Wonder Woman.

Read More.

Former Supreme Court justice and state attorney Edna Arbel died at the age of 82 on Wednesday.

Arbel served as state attorney from 1994 to 2004, after which she served on the Supreme Court until 2014.

She was born in Jerusalem in 1944 to a Czech-born father, Yitzhak, and a Hungarian-born mother, Tova.

Arbel was admitted to the bar in 1969 and worked for a few years at Tel Aviv’s Hayak law firm before joining the Central District Office of the State Attorney in 1972, and eventually became district attorney in 1984. Read More…

“We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People,” said a statement posted on the band’s official Facebook page.

Village People Perform At The Chicago Stadium

“Victor passed on Tuesday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness,” it added. “Privacy is requested.”

His wife, Karen Huff Willis, later issued a similar statement on Facebook.

Texas-born Willis was a co-founder and the original lead singer for the band, whose hit singles included “Y.M.C.A.,” “Go West” and “In the Navy.”

Willis left the group in 1979 in hope of embarking on a solo career before he re-formed the flamboyant disco band in 2017, leading to disputes with some of his former bandmates.

Willis had said he got thousands of complaints about the use of the song at Trump’s events and had decided to ask him “to stop using Y.M.C.A. because his use had become a nuisance to me.”  

He said he wrote the lyrics based on “the things I knew about the Y in the urban areas of San Francisco such as swimming, basketball, track, and cheap food and cheap rooms.”   READ MORE...


A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was killed Wednesday morning after he was struck by a tractor-railer while conducting an inspection on the side of I-81

 Michael Pahira, who served as a trooper for over 20 years, was struck just before 7 a.m., Lt. Col. George Bivens said during a press conference livestreamed by WFMZ.

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Former Southern University baseball coach Roger Cador has died at the age of 74, prompting an outpouring of reactions from members of the community.

“The man died a hero,” Bivens said. “He was an outstanding trooper.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed the driver was being treated at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Their condition is unclear at this time.Shapiro said flags will fly at half-staff to honor Pahira’s service.

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