bmwracer wrote:

Robert Culp, who starred in `I Spy,' dead at 79 By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES – Robert Culp, the actor who teamed with Bill Cosby in the racially groundbreaking TV series "I Spy" and was Bob in the critically acclaimed sex comedy "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," died Wednesday after collapsing outside his Hollywood home, his agent said. Culp was 79.

I like that he got to play a good friend of Bill Cosby (Dr. Cliff Huxtable) on "The Cosby Show" and he also played Debra's father on "Everybody Loves Raymond." It was good to see him on TV as a working actor in his later years. He had a sharp wit and gentle quality about him. He will be missed!

Jaime Escalante passes away at 79


LOS ANGELES – Jaime Escalante, the math teacher who transformed a tough East Los Angeles high school and inspired the movie "Stand and Deliver," died Tuesday. He was 79.

Escalante died at his son's home near Sacramento, after battling bladder cancer for several years, family friend Keith Miller said.

An immigrant from Bolivia, he transformed Garfield High School by motivating struggling students to excel at advanced math and science. The school had more advanced placement calculus students than all but four other public high schools in the country.

Edward James Olmos played Escalante in the 1988 film based on his story.

"Jaime exposed one of the most dangerous myths of our time — that inner city students can't be expected to perform at the highest levels," Olmos said. "Because of him, that destructive idea has been shattered forever."

Escalante was a teacher in La Paz before he emigrated to the U.S. He had to study English at night for years to get his California teaching credentials and return to the classroom.

At first he was discouraged by Garfield's "culture of low expectations, gang activity and administrative apathy," Miller said.

Gradually, he overhauled the school's math curriculum and enabled students who were previously considered unteachable to master the advanced placement calculus test.

He used his outsized personality to goad his working-class Mexican-American students to succeed, said Elsa Bolado, 45, one of his former pupils.

Bolado, now an elementary school teacher and trainer, remembers Escalante's charisma — and the way he built her confidence with long hours of solving problems and how he inspired her career choice with his unorthodox approach to learning.

"Teaching is an art form. There's a lot of practicioners and very few artists. He was a master artist," she said.

Bolado took the AP calculus test in 1982, the year that testing officials made Garfield students retake it because they were suspicious that so many of Escalante's students had passed. She said 14 students were asked to take the test again months later and all 12 who did passed.

"To this day, I still think of the example he set — the study skills, how not to give up," said Bolado, 45. "I revert back to that every time things get rough."

Escalante left Garfield in 1991, taught at schools in Sacramento and retired to Bolivia in 2001.

The cast of "Stand and Deliver" recently appealed for donations to help Escalante pay for his alternative cancer treatments.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, and six grandchildren.

Full story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100510/ap_on_en_mu/us_obit_horne

Barrier-breaking jazz star Lena Horne dies at 92

NEW YORK – Lena Horne, the enchanting jazz singer and actress who reviled the bigotry that allowed her to entertain white audiences but not socialize with them, slowing her rise to Broadway superstardom, has died. She was 92.

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One of the absolute all-time greats of music... Condolences to her friends and family.

bmwracer wrote:

Full story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100510/ap_on_en_mu/us_obit_horne Barrier-breaking jazz star Lena Horne dies at 92 NEW YORK – Lena Horne, the enchanting jazz singer and actress who reviled the bigotry that allowed her to entertain white audiences but not socialize with them, slowing her rise to Broadway superstardom, has died. She was 92. -------------------------------------------------------------- One of the absolute all-time greats of music... Condolences to her friends and family.

A true trailblazer! A life well lived. May she Rest in Peace.

P.S. I still love her version of the song "Home" from the movie "The Wiz" the best. And of course her signature song "Stormy Weather."

Lena Horne was fabulous. she was a great song stylist as well as a jazz singer.

I remember seeing her in the Broadway musical 'JAMAICA' It was the first non white musical ever and she was the leading lady. Also the wonderful Adelaide Hall was in the cast. She used to sing with Duke Ellington. If you ever heard her sing 'Creole Love Call' you would be hers forever.
Lena Hall had a leading man who was a Hollywood actor..Ricardo Montalban.

They used to have stars in those days. Talent and looks and everythings that goes with it.

Now...they just want to walk on a red carpet.

Peg

Dennis Hopper, Hollywood icon and antihero, dies
Christopher Weber, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Dennis Hopper, the high-flying Hollywood wild man whose memorable and erratic career included an early turn in "Rebel Without a Cause," an improbable smash with "Easy Rider" and a classic character role in "Blue Velvet," has died. He was 74.

Hopper died Saturday at his home in the Los Angeles beach community of Venice, surrounded by family and friends, family friend Alex Hitz said. Hopper's manager announced in October 2009 that the actor-director had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The success of "Easy Rider" and the spectacular failure of his next film, "The Last Movie," fit the pattern for the talented but sometimes uncontrollable Hopper, who also had parts in such favorites as "Apocalypse Now" and "Hoosiers." He was a two-time Academy Award nominee and in March was honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

bmwracer wrote:

Dennis Hopper, Hollywood icon and antihero, dies Christopher Weber, Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES � Dennis Hopper, the high-flying Hollywood wild man whose memorable and erratic career included an early turn in "Rebel Without a Cause," an improbable smash with "Easy Rider" and a classic character role in "Blue Velvet," has died. He was 74. Hopper died Saturday at his home in the Los Angeles beach community of Venice, surrounded by family and friends, family friend Alex Hitz said. Hopper's manager announced in October 2009 that the actor-director had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The success of "Easy Rider" and the spectacular failure of his next film, "The Last Movie," fit the pattern for the talented but sometimes uncontrollable Hopper, who also had parts in such favorites as "Apocalypse Now" and "Hoosiers." He was a two-time Academy Award nominee and in March was honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

R.I.P. Mr Dennis Hopper

John Wooden, The Wizard of Westwood, 1910-2010.

RIP.

bmwracer wrote:

John Wooden, The Wizard of Westwood, 1910-2010. RIP.

Ditto.....Pure class.

Rue McClanahan, 'Golden Girl' Blanche, dies in NY
By DAVID BAUDER (AP)

NEW YORK �\ Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning actress who brought the sexually liberated Southern belle Blanche Devereaux to life on the hit TV series "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 76.
Her manager, Barbara Lawrence, said McClanahan died Thursday morning at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital of a brain hemorrhage.
She had undergone treatment for breast cancer in 1997 and later lectured to cancer support groups on "aging gracefully." In 2009, she had heart bypass surgery.

McClanahan had an active career in off-Broadway and regional stages in the 1960s before she was tapped for TV in the 1970s for the key best-friend character on the hit series "Maude," starring Beatrice Arthur. After that series ended in 1978, McClanahan landed the role as Aunt Fran on "Mama's Family" in 1983.
But her most loved role came in 1985 when she co-starred with Arthur, Betty White and Estelle Getty in "The Golden Girls," a runaway hit that broke the sitcom mold by focusing on the foibles of four aging �\ and frequently eccentric �\ women living together in Miami.

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WAH! I'm SO sad! Only one Golden Girl left. You know, one Golden Girl has died each year since Getty's death? Please don't touch Betty White!

RIP Rue.
_________________

Wynter wrote:

Rue McClanahan, 'Golden Girl' Blanche, dies in NY By DAVID BAUDER (AP) NEW YORK �\ Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning actress who brought the sexually liberated Southern belle Blanche Devereaux to life on the hit TV series "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 76. Her manager, Barbara Lawrence, said McClanahan died Thursday morning at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital of a brain hemorrhage. She had undergone treatment for breast cancer in 1997 and later lectured to cancer support groups on "aging gracefully." In 2009, she had heart bypass surgery. McClanahan had an active career in off-Broadway and regional stages in the 1960s before she was tapped for TV in the 1970s for the key best-friend character on the hit series "Maude," starring Beatrice Arthur. After that series ended in 1978, McClanahan landed the role as Aunt Fran on "Mama's Family" in 1983. But her most loved role came in 1985 when she co-starred with Arthur, Betty White and Estelle Getty in "The Golden Girls," a runaway hit that broke the sitcom mold by focusing on the foibles of four aging �\ and frequently eccentric �\ women living together in Miami. -------- WAH! I'm SO sad! Only one Golden Girl left. You know, one Golden Girl has died each year since Getty's death? Please don't touch Betty White! RIP Rue.

RIP Rue
Betty White is going to live for ever!

I didn't realize that Gary Coleman passed away recently.

bmwracer wrote:

John Wooden, The Wizard of Westwood, 1910-2010. RIP.

I attended UCLA when Coach Wooden was still coaching. If you were enroute to an early morning class, you could occasionally see him see him in front of Bruin Walk, always dressed in coat and tie, stopping to buy a newspaper from a vending machine before heading up to the student union building. I got a kick out of watching the people around him; when they recognized who he was, they would invariably stop and stare.

Among the many tributes that have poured in with his passing, one in particular was telling: the manager of Pauley Pavilion stated, "he was the greatest coach ever; then he became the greatest ex-coach ever." Coach Wooden's post-retirement career--the "third act" of his remarkable life--lasted longer than the almost 30 years he spent coaching at UCLA. Through his many books, speaking engagements, and mentoring--all dealing with how to live life--he made an impact that was probably as great as the imprint he left as a basketball coach. As such, he was that rare athletic figure whose influence went far beyond the boundaries of sport.

His Pyramid of Success and his many Woodenisms have become famiiar to many. I have used a number of his aphorisms; two in particular have greatly influenced how I approach my job: "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail" and "Never mistake activity for achievement."

Coach Wooden thought that love was the most powerful thing humans have going for them, and it was an integral part of his philosophy of life. And he was a living testament to that, the most famous example being that after his wife passed away in 1985, every single month for the next 25 years he would write her a love letter, then place it on her pillow next to his side of the bed.

I suspect most people on this site have not heard of Charlie Wedemeyer. But if you're from Hawaii and of a certain age, you know of him. He was a legend in high school athletics in Hawaii; then he became an even bigger legend with his courageous and remarkable fight against ALS.

He passed away several days ago; here's an article from the Honolulu Star Bulletin about his death:

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100604_Disease_was_no_match_for_this_legend.html

He was certainly the embodiment of determination and perseverance.

shin2 wrote:

I suspect most people on this site have not heard of Charlie Wedemeyer. But if you're from Hawaii and of a certain age, you know of him. He was a legend in high school athletics in Hawaii; then he became an even bigger legend with his courageous and remarkable fight against ALS. He passed away several days ago; here's an article from the Honolulu Star Bulletin about his death: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100604_Disease_was_no_match_for_this_legend.html He was certainly the embodiment of determination and perseverance.

I'm from bay area so I heard of him. Saw the tv movie about his life. Michael Nouri played him and Pam Dawber played his wife. He was still a good coach even with ALS. RIP

Takoyama wrote:

I didn't realize that Gary Coleman passed away recently.

yeah

shin2 wrote:

I suspect most people on this site have not heard of Charlie Wedemeyer. But if you're from Hawaii and of a certain age, you know of him. He was a legend in high school athletics in Hawaii; then he became an even bigger legend with his courageous and remarkable fight against ALS. He passed away several days ago; here's an article from the Honolulu Star Bulletin about his death: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100604_Disease_was_no_match_for_this_legend.html He was certainly the embodiment of determination and perseverance.

Never heard of him, but I just read that he was the brother of Herman Wedemeyer who played Duke for many years on the long-running series Hawaii Five-O...

bmwracer wrote:

Never heard of him, but I just read that he was the brother of Herman Wedemeyer who played Duke for many years on the long-running series Hawaii Five-O...

I suspect most people (primarily baby boomers) who recognize the name Herman Wedemeyer associate him with his tenure on Hawaii Five-O. But for many older people from Hawaii, Herman Wedemeyer ("Squirmin' Herman") was the greatest football player Hawaii ever produced. After a storied multi-sport high school career, he went on to play for St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA in the 1940's. While a small school, St. Mary's in the 30's and 40's was a big-time college football power. Herman Wedemeyer became a consensus All-American, finished fourth one year in the Heisman Trophy balloting (and was fifth another year), and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

shin2 wrote:

I suspect most people (primarily baby boomers) who recognize the name Herman Wedemeyer associate him with his tenure on Hawaii Five-O. But for many older people from Hawaii, Herman Wedemeyer ("Squirmin' Herman") was the greatest football player Hawaii ever produced. After a storied multi-sport high school career, he went on to play for St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA in the 1940's. While a small school, St. Mary's in the 30's and 40's was a big-time college football power. Herman Wedemeyer became a consensus All-American, finished fourth one year in the Heisman Trophy balloting (and was fifth another year), and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Yup... Read that in his Wiki bio.

Winter Sonata actor Park Yong-ha commits suicide
MSN-Singapore
Depressed actor found dead in his room in an apparent suicide


According to reports, Park Yong-ha's mother found the 33-year-old dead in his room after the actor retreated to his room at midnight. Police spokesperson revealed that the actor had hung himself with the cords of a handphone charger.

Investigations are underway. However, police spokesperson said that judging by preliminary observations, Park most likely committed suicide.

Park has had an illustrious career after his turn in Winter Sonata in 2002 made him a household name. He later took on a leading role in On Air and was slated to star alongside actress Yoon Eun-hye in a high-profile drama.

A producer revealed that the actor appeared to be depressed recently, probably due to his father's sickness.

Reports also revealed that before his death, Park's last phone-call was to his good friend, Kim Jae-joong of popular boyband TVXQ.

"He sounded chirpy on the phone, I didn't feel like he acting out of sorts. We even promised to meet up when I'm back in Korea. I am shocked," said Kim.

He acted with Yukie Nakama in Tokyo Wankei.