R.I.P. (2006)

[Heineken Skywalker]

Darren McGavin, the amazingly prolific actor whose best-known roles included reporter Carl Kolchak in the cult TV hit The Night Stalker and the irasicble father in A Christmas Story, died Saturday in Los Angeles of natural causes; he was 83. An actor who received his training at the Neighborhood Playhouse and the Actors Studio in New York, he first came to prominence with a number of supporting parts in the 50s, most notably The Man With the Golden Arm, The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell, and Summertime, all released in 1955. Previously, he had undertaken a number of TV roles, and his familiarity with the medium, along with his tough guy persona, landed him the starring role in the Mike Hammer TV series, based on Mickey Spillane's rough=hewn detective. Though he also appeared in films and onstage throughout his career, McGavin was a constant presence in television, most often as a guest star on shows such as Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible and a veritable ton of others; the IMDb credits him with parts in over 170 individual films and TV shows. In 1974, McGavin landed the role of investigative reporter Carl Kolchak, who in The Night Stalker went up against a number of strange, supernatural creatures. Though the show lasted only one season, it became an instant cult hit, and a major influence for the "X-Files" school of spookiness and mystery (in fact, McGavin later made a two-episode appearance on The X-Files). In the 80s, McGavin played the profanity-spouting, lamp-obsessed "Old Man" in the modern-day holiday classic A Christmas Story, a gambler/bookie in an uncredited part in The Natural, and the father of Candice Bergen's Murphy Brown, which earned him an Emmy nomination. Those roles are just the tip of the iceberg, as McGavin worked non-stop up through the late 90s. Appropriately, his last credited role is for a part in the updated version of The Night Stalker, which lasted only one season. McGavin is survived by four children -- York, Megan, Bridget and Bogart -- from his first marriage to Melanie York McGavin.

Ironically, the wife and I just watched one of the X-FILES episodes he guest starred in. R.I.P.

[Heineken Skywalker]

livingdeadgirl said:

I really felt my age b/c you guys were referring to him as "Mr. Furly" & the first character I remember him as is Barney Fife from watching the Andy Griffith Show. The re-runs, of course...

Don't feel bad, LDG. I remember him as Barney Fife as well, but only ever watched a dozen or so episodes of Andy Griffith in reruns. Three's Company on the other hand, I watched when it was first-run and really became familiar with Don Knotts through that show.

[slayrrr666]

RIP Mr. Kolchack.

[Phoenix]

I had not heard of Darren McGavin's death, incredibly sad. I didn't realize he was that old! RIP. He had a real presence on screen that should be remembered.

[Pulpmariachi]

Dennis Weaver: 1924-2006


Dennis Weaver, the laconic actor who became a TV star first as the sidekick Chester in Gunsmoke and then as the leading man of 70s series McCloud, died of complications from cancer on Friday at his home in Colorado; he was 81. A struggling actor in the early 50s who appeared onstage in A Streetcar Named Desire and Come Back, Little Sheba, Weaver got his big break in the nascent medium of television by auditioning in 1955 for the small part of Chester in the new CBS series Gunsmoke. Giving his character a unique, humorous accent and a limp (neither of which were specified in the original script), Weaver easily won the part, and fame as well as an Emmy award (in 1959) followed during his nine-year run on the show. After leaving Gunsmoke, a number of TV series appearances followed, including the boy-and-his-bear show Gentle Ben (1967-69) and the cult classic Duel (1971), directed by a then little-known filmmaker named Steven Spielberg. The thriller, about a man terrorized by the unseen driver of a large truck, put the fledgling Spielberg on the map and showcased Weaver in one of his best performances (the movie was theatrically released in 1983). Weaver's most notable role in the 70s, however, was as rural country Sheriff Sam McCloud in the detective series McCloud, which ran from 1970-77. Playing a New Mexico detective clashing with the New York police department, Weaver solved crimes weekly with his laid-back style, and received two Emmy nominations during the show's run. After McCloud, Weaver worked continuously on television, with notable roles in the 70s miniseries Centennial and Pearl, the acclaimed TV movie Amber Waves (opposite Kurt Russell and a young Mare Winningham), and Lonesome Dove: The Series, where he played Buffalo Bill Cody; Weaver's most recent appearance was in ABC Family series Wildfire. President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1973-75, Weaver was also a committed environmentalist, and spoke on behalf of the cause to both the United Nations and Congress; he and his wife, Gerry, also built their home in Colorado out of recycled materials. In addition to his wife, Weaver is survived by two sons, actor Robby Weaver and actor-producer Rick Weaver

[slayrrr666]

RIP Mr. Weaver. May you always be safe from the semi's in the sky.

[Heineken Skywalker]

R.I.P. Dennis Weaver.

So they're not overlooked, also passed away recently:

Andreas Katsulas (May 18, 1946-February 13, 2006)

Character actor Katsulas has succumbed to lung cancer. Besides many film and tv credits, he was perhaps best known as Frederick Sykes, the one-armed man, in the big-screen version of The Fugitive (1993), starring Harrison Ford, and Sci-Fi fans perhaps best knew him as G'Kar on the cult series Babylon 5.

Richard Bright (June 28, 1937-Feb. 18, 2006)

Fair complexioned, cold eyed actor Richard Bright was struck and killed by the rear wheels of a tour bus on the Upper West Side of New York City. He was best known as bodyguard / enforcer "Al Neri" protecting Al Pacino in The Godfather (1972), and returned in the same role in The Godfather: Part II (1974) and, 16 years later, he was back once again still protecting mob boss Al Pacino in The Godfather: Part III (1990).
He also appeared in The Panic in Needle Park (1971), The Getaway (1972), Sergio Leone's, Once Upon a Time in America (1984) and Sam Raimi's Crimewave (1985). In addition, he appeared regularly on TV in police/drama shows such as "Hill Street Blues" (1981), "Houston Knights" (1987), "Third Watch" (1999) and "The Sopranos" (1999).

R.I.P to both.

2006 has not been kind to Hollywood so far.

[Quorthon]

This guy's not some shallow celebrity: But Midwestern, especially, Minnesotan Baseball hero Kirby Puckett died last night.

For those of you who don't know (I mean, come on, what gives?), Kirby played Center Field for the Minnesota Twins and helped lead the team to two World Series victories. He stayed true to his team and never left to another team, despite several pricey offers. He was one of the most positive and likable people in sports, and baseball specifically. He played in 10 All-Star games and holds one of the best batting averages in the sport.

Kirby grew up in The Projects in Chicago. This should be the inspiration that poor inner-city blacks should look to, not fucking 50 Cent or one of those violence-happy ghetto thugs.

He retired early from Baseball after being diagnosed with Glaucoma (worse, around the same time he was nailed in the eye with a fastball).

He was 45 I think, died of a stroke.

[Bartwald]

RIP to all these good fellows.

Dennis Weaver will never really go away for me - each re-watch of Duel brings him right back to my house.

[Bartwald]

The genius of Stanislaw Lem (the author of Solaris) is no more.

Very sad. He hasn't been writing books lately but was still playfully predicting the nearest future of the world and commenting on the latest events in the press. Has always been fun to read or listen to, a truly great man.

[slayrrr666]

Almost went over this one:

RIP Richard Fleischer. Can't remember any movies he directed, but his name sounds familar. I know there's bound to be some fans of his work on here, so I'll let them say more about him than me. Still, RIP.

[Heineken Skywalker]

R.I.P. to Syd Barrett, 60, founding member of rock band, Pink Floyd, and to comedian/actor Red Buttons, 87.

[frankenjohn]

Rest in Peace indeed! To both!

[LivingDeadGirl]

heinekenskywalker said:

R.I.P. to Syd Barrett, 60, founding member of rock band, Pink Floyd,

Wow, I hadn't heard that....that sucks.

[Heineken Skywalker]

Another legend gone. R.I.P., sir.

Emmy-Winning Actor Jack Warden Dies at 85

Jack Warden, the prolific character actor who received Oscar nominations for Shampoo and Heaven Can Wait as well as an Emmy award for Brian's Song, died Wednesday in New York; he was 85. Known for playing men who were tough on the outside but softies inside, Warden was a boxer before he became an actor. Fighting under the name "Johnny Costello," Warden turned professional after being expelled from high school, but found only intermittent success first in boxing and then as a bouncer. After serving in both the Navy and the Army during World War II, Warden moved to New York to take acting classes, making his Broadway debut in Clifford Odets' Golden Boy in 1952 and later in Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge. A year earlier, Warden had (along with fellow veteran Lee Marvin) made his screen debut in You're in the Navy Now. After a small part in the Oscar-winning From Here to Eternity, he embarked on a successful and lengthy TV career, but also found time for movies, with 1957's Twelve Angry Men considered his breakthrough role. Warden appeared in innumerable TV shows through the 50s and 60s, and in 1971 won an Emmy for his role as coach George Halas in the acclaimed football tearjerker Brian's Song. The 70s also saw Warden collaborate with actor-director Warren Beatty on Shampoo (1976) and Heaven Can Wait (1978), earning Best Supporting Actor nominations for both films (he later appeared in Beatty's 1998 film Bulworth as well). Notable films through from the 70s through the 90s included All the President's Men, Being There, The Verdict, The Presidio, Bullets Over Broadway, While You Were Sleeping, and Mighty Aphrodite. Warden also starred in the TV mystery series Crazy Like a Fox, for which he received two Emmy nominations. His last film appearance was in the 2000 football comedy-drama The Replacements. opposite Keanu Reeves. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff