Mentioning the Little Rascals, I have heard nothing about Robert Blake in awhile.

I thought I recognized him in a recent Geico commercial.




They got some Brit to dub his voice, though...


Signor V.

The famous British actress Dora Bryan died today at age 91.



The Guardian obituary

Not sure if anyone had her on their list. Anyone from the U.K.?


Signor V.

‘magicJack’ inventor Dan Borislow dies after adult league soccer match

Dan Borislow, the inventor of magicJack and a pioneer in developing phone calls over the Internet, died Monday, officials at the company he founded said. He was 52. A spokeswoman for MagicJack Vocaltec Ltd. said he died of a heart attack. MagicJack, based in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Netanya, Israel, became widely known through television commercials and infomercials beginning in 2008. More than 10 million of the devices have been sold since, MagicJack VocalTec says, and they remain a ubiquitous offering in some 25,000 stores. In a statement, MagicJack CEO Gerald Vento praised Borislow as a visionary. "Dan was a true telecom pioneer whose vision, creativity, energy, passion and single-minded focus was the driving force behind the success of magicJack," said Vento, who was named president and CEO of MagicJack VocalTec in December 2012. At the time, Borislow said it was time to hand over the reins to someone else to grow the business. Borislow was also well-known as a horse breeder and for his controversial stint as the owner of a women's soccer team. Even after the millions he made from magicJack, he made a few more million in May when he won the biggest Rainbow 6 payout in history at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino. He paid about $7,600 to bet on the horses, and came out with $6.67 million.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/magicjack-inventor-dan-borislow-dies-in-west-palm-/ngkgb/

That's Robert Blake??

It ain't easy being green....

The actor James Shigeta who played Joseph Takagi in Die Hard passed last week aged 81.

I remember him. Wasn't he on an old tv show too. I wanna say the original Hawaii Five 0. I'll have to check. Anyway, sorry to hear of his passing.




TIS

I only know him from Die Hard..

To those of us of a certain age, James Shigeta will always be remembered as the male lead in the 1961 film version of the musical Flower Drum Song. That's him in the center.



He had quite as long career, besides Flower Drum Song and Die Hard.

R.I.P.


Signor V.

Was he Mr. Takagi in Die Hard? The man with the custom made suits?

Indeed it was Mr Takagi as per my above post..

Dick Smith, the makeup artist who did his magic on Marlon Brando in "The Godfather" died yesterday at age 92. Smith also did work on LInda Blair in "The Exorcist" and Robert DeNiro in "Taxi DRiver".

Dick Smith was, in every sense of the word, a genius. I met him several times in the 1970's and 1980's, and you couldn't help but be impressed and amazed by the man and his knowledge. One time, he even gave an impromptu lecture to a theatrical makeup class I was teaching.

He was the first head of a makeup department in the new medium of television, after World War II. He established the NBC makeup department in New York City, and ran it for several years.

He was a man who didn't mince words, and wasn't one for small talk. But, if you had a question about makeup or makeup techniques, he would always give you very detailed answers - it was best to take notes when Dick spoke! He didn't believe in keeping everything a "trade secret", and was always amazingly helpful to up-and-coming young makeup artists. Rick Baker was an early protégée of his.

In addition to GF1 & 2, and the other films SC mentioned, he also made up Dustin Hoffman in Little Big Man, Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!, Anthony Quinn in Requiem for a Heavyweight and Marco the Magnificent, Jack Palance in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, David Bowie in The Hunger, William Hurt and Blair Brown in Altered States, and many, many more. He received an Academy Award for his makeup on F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus, but so many of his greatest makeup creations were done before the Makeup category was added to the Oscars.

The last few years were not good, health-wise. From what I heard, he had dementia and needed full-time care. So many makeup artists who started out years ago (myself included) owe such a debt to this man - a booklet that he wrote back in the 1960's (Dick Smith's Monster Make-up Handbook) is still in print, I believe, and may just be inspiring new generations.

R.I.P., Dick - you were truly one-of-a-kind.


Signor V.

I know you were into Dick in your line of work, SV... wait...I mean, your work WITH Dick at least... you know what I mean!

He was an artist, to say the least. And I know you, too, were also, SV. I never did get to meet him, but I did meet you. You're a fine and talented man as well.

...but all kidding aside, guys like you and him can make or break a production. Dick was one of the best! RIP!

*I don't think I've misspoken, but, I have been slowly watching the Dean Martin Roasts that I paid for -- in 5 "easy" installments -- and maybe they've influenced me a little. lol!

I was "influenced" too!

Let's borrow Stewie's time machine: You get the roasts, I get The Golddiggers.


Signor V.

Shot Reagan spokesman James Brady dies at 73

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28644495

I believe that only leaves Agent Tim McCarthy as the lone survivor of the assassination attempt of Mar. 31, 1981. Reagan, of course, died more than ten years ago, and I believe Officer Thomas Delahanty, who suffered permanent nerve damage, died several years ago although I'm not sure.

According to Wikipedia, Delahanty is still alive.


Signor V.

Actress Marilyn Burns, a "scream queen" in the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," died Tuesday, her manager said. She was 64.



http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people...65-9650886.html

Just came across the L.A. News channel that Robin Williams has died. Oh no!! Don't know any details yet.



http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-dead-at-63/

Channel 2 says it was suicide. OMG


TIS

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-dead-at-63/

Oscar winner and comedian Robin Williams died this morning at 63. While his publicist wouldn’t confirm that it was a suicide, they did issue this statement. “Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”
Williams, who won an Oscar for his supporting role in Good Will Hunting, will reprise his role as Theodore Roosevelt in the third installment of Night at the Museum this December. He had recently signed on to reprise his beloved role as Mrs. Doubtfire in a sequel to be directed by Chris Columbus and was last seen opposite Annette Bening in the indie film The Face of Love.
According to a press release issued by the Marin County Coronor’s office, the Sheriff’s office suspects the death to be “suicide due to asphyxia.” The 9-1-1 phone call came in just before noon today.

Asphyxia?

He probably hung himself. Either that or he got in the car and did that tail pipe thing. I liked him, but it's just getting harder and harder to sympathize with celebrities who can't get off the drugs.

Anyway, RIP Mork.

Wow what a shock! Was just watching an episode of Law and Order SVU that he was guest starred on. RIP

I am beyond sad to hear this. Williams was one of the very few superstars that I'd look forward to seeing (a new film or on tv).

Who knows what goes through the mind of someone with his genius?

R.I.P. Robin and thank you so much for the countless, real laughs and those many hours of real dramatic viewing.

Didn't he have a heart attack/heart surgery a couple years ago. My first thought was a heart attack. Suicide really surprises me for some reason. How sad.



TIS

Looks like he did about five years ago.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/art...rt-surgery.html

Just stunned. Amazing actor -- both comedic and dramatic roles (that guest appearance on SVU was chillingly brilliant).

I wonder who found him and hey, if someone is depressed severly, why leave them at home alone? Oh well, what measures and it must have hurt! Autoerotica, car or hanging? Which asphyxia?

RIP Robin, thanks for sharing your talents.

That appearance on SVU was nothing short of amazing. I always figured they'd bring him back because he seemed to escape at the end. But it never panned out for some reason.