Bring Out Your Dead! The celebrity death thread....
Farewell Paul Darrow, best known as Blake's 7's Kerr Avon.
In the wake of Star Wars, we only had 3 shows to really go on to keep up the thrill of that movie - Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, and our own homegrown Blake's 7 - featuring a small band of criminals and rebels alternately fleeing and fighting a fascistic galactic Federation. Blake's 7 was THE show of the three for me, and I've watched every episode multiple times except for one, which aired when I dad passed away, and I've never been able to bring myself to see.
His character was aloof, sardonic and extremely clever, and eventually became the leader of the 7. Rationed to one single smile per episode, but with no shortage of quips, Avon wasn't easy to like, but Paul Darrow took that role and ran with it, bringing a charm and edge to him.
After the show ended, Paul went on to other roles, but eventually bought up the rights to Blake's 7, hoping to to continue it. All that really became of that project, however, was a sequel novel, written by him and an audiobook version which he narrated. He has also since provided voiceover work for many computer games and animated shows. In 2014, he suffered an aortic aneurysm, and complications during surgery resulted in the amputation of both of his legs.
By coincidence, I caught the tail end of the Buck Rogers premiere episode while channel surfing last night. I envy you your Blake’s 7 and Paul Darrow.
DaveSchmidt said:
By coincidence, I caught the tail end of the Buck Rogers premiere episode while channel surfing last night. I envy you your Blake’s 7 and Paul Darrow.
It got better. However, unlike Blake's 7, I got to see the pilot episodes of both BSG and Buck Rogers in a cinema. They were big on doing that in the UK back in the 70s. No way Doctor Who-style Blake's 7 would stand up to that scrutiny.
We just read the news re Paul Darrow, and vowed to re-watch Blake’s 7 yet again. D is a dedicated Avon fan (I think in his mind he sees Avon as a bit of a mentor), and this news has shook him a bit.
We’d also heard news of a hoped-for revival a while back, so we’re thankful for Ridski’s update.
Very sad news. The golden age of good SF, scriptwriting and imagination somehow seems far away.
This is a lovely BBC tribute. There’s also one for his radio work but it won’t give up its URL, or copy over.
Leah Chase, of Dooky Chase, New Orleans, aged 96 years.
I'm really sad to read Dr John had a fatal heart attack.
joanne said:
I'm really sad to read Dr John had a fatal heart attack.
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48551452
Likewise.
Ditto re Dr. John. Not that there's any thing wrong with them but his few hits are not really representative of his sound. I go back to this beautiful instrumental regularly:
Loved Dr. John saw him in NY and NOLA. Walk on gilded splinters Dr. John.
There cannot be enough tributes to his vision and creativity.
Franco Zeffirelli
I truly thought she'd live forever. Poor little rich girl, Gloria Vanderbilt.
"Gloria Vanderbilt was an extraordinary woman, who loved life, and lived it on her own terms," Cooper said in a statement. "She was a painter, a writer, and designer but also a remarkable mother, wife, and friend. She was 95 years old, but ask anyone close to her, and they'd tell you, she was the youngest person they knew, the coolest, and most modern."
Gosh. I thought I'd read something in the last couple of months that mentioned her... As you said, thought she'd be around forever...
Loved her. AC’s documentary was one of my favorite bio’s on anybody. She was famous the second she was born.
I've just read that Judith Krantz is gone, at 91.
librarylady said:
I truly thought she'd live forever. Poor little rich girl, Gloria Vanderbilt.
"Gloria Vanderbilt was an extraordinary woman, who loved life, and lived it on her own terms," Cooper said in a statement. "She was a painter, a writer, and designer but also a remarkable mother, wife, and friend. She was 95 years old, but ask anyone close to her, and they'd tell you, she was the youngest person they knew, the coolest, and most modern."
http://news.trust.org//item/20190617135851-xvi9d/
I just took a tour of the Vanderbilt home in May -- The Biltmore in Asheville, NC. Just learned this past weekend that it's the largest residence in the world! Stupendous!
Didn't she create the "Wrap Dress"? We "ladies of a certain age" all probably wore one at some point. (Or maybe I'm thinking of Diane von Furstenberg?)
Eta: Oops, I'm wrong (or maybe I'm right...). Diane von F designed the Wrap Dress.
Juniemoon said:
I just took a tour of the Vanderbilt home in May -- The Biltmore in Asheville, NC. Just learned this past weekend that it's the largest residence in the world! Stupendous!
Didn't she create the "Wrap Dress"? We "ladies of a certain age" all probably wore one at some point. (Or maybe I'm thinking of Diane von Furstenberg?)
Eta: Oops, I'm wrong (or maybe I'm right...). Diane von F designed the Wrap Dress.
I get those two confused also.
Formerlyjerseyjack said:
Mad Magazine
Last edition in August
Wow, that's sad.
nan said:
Formerlyjerseyjack said:Wow, that's sad.
Mad Magazine
Last edition in August
What! Me worry.
I'm surprised no one mentioned Arte Johnson:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/03/entertainment/arte-johnson-obit/index.html
oh! I hadn't seen this sad news! Thanks for bringing it to our attention - our extended family will be very sad to hear it. We still quote various sketches of his, from many years.
Eva Kor, Shoah survivor
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48880677
She and her twin sister survived Mengele, and Auschwitz, living to teach the world that forgiveness can help to overcome tragedy and heal.
May her memory be a blessing.
João Gilberto, who gave us Bossa Nova, has gone:
Tall and tan and young and lovely.....https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/06/entertainment/joao-gilberto-dies/index.html
I’m spending the weekend compiling Name That Tune/Who’s the Singer? compilations for work; it seems as if all the greats my clients would recognise and love, from all around the world, are not-so-slowly waving goodbye. 
To be honest, I was a little surprised to hear that he had been still alive and so, relatively, young.
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I had not, but then I never listened to world service, so I didn’t know of him. RIP, John.