7-8-2012

Ernest Borgnine Dies At 95

Borgnine died of renal failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife and children at his side.

Television fans loved him as the scheming Navy officer in the sitcom “McHale’s Navy.

Borgnine joined the Navy in 1935 and served on a destroyer during World War II. He weighed 135 pounds when he enlisted. He left the Navy 10 years later, weighing exactly 100 pounds more.

“I wouldn’t trade those 10 years for anything,” he said in 1956. “The Navy taught me a lot of things. It molded me as a man, and I made a lot of wonderful friends.”

My favorite character was Ernest in the Poseidon Adventure.

My late grandfather took me to see that movie

RIP Ernest

There's got to be a morning after

7-23-2012

styles/abbcode/images/url.gifSally Ride, first American woman in space, dies

Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space, died Monday after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, her company said. She was 61.

"Sally Ride broke barriers with grace and professionalism -- and literally changed the face of America's space program," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "The nation has lost one of its finest leaders, teachers and explorers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sally's family and the many she inspired. She will be missed, but her star will always shine brightly."

7-24-2012

'Jeffersons' Star Sherman Hemsley Has Died

Sherman Hemsley, the actor best known for playing George Jefferson on the sitcom The Jeffersons, has died at the age of 74

George has moved on up

Marvin Hamlisch dies at 68

Marvin Hamlisch, the stage and film composer who created the memorable songs for "A Chorus Line," has died at 68. The composer died on Monday in Los Angeles after collapsing from a brief illness, his family said in a statement.

Hamlisch made his mark in the musical theater world with "A Chorus Line," which originated at New York's Public Theater in 1975 before transferring to Broadway, where it ran for nearly 15 years. Hamlisch wrote the music for the show, working with lyricist Edward Kleban.

Hamlisch's other musical stage work includes the scores for "They're Playing Our Song," "The Goodbye Girl," and "Sweet Smell of Success." Most recently, he wrote the score for the stage adaptation of "The Nutty Professor," which recently opened in Nashville. He was also expected to work on on a new Broadway musical titled "Gotta Dance."

In Hollywood, Hamlisch wrote music for the movies "The Way We Were," "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Sophie's Choice." In recent years, he teamed with director Steven Soderbergh on "The Informant!" and the upcoming "Behind the Candelabra," a biopic of Liberace.

In 2011, Hamlisch became the lead conductor of the Pasadena Pops. He also held conducting positions at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and San Diego Symphony.

I thought he was a lot older than 68.

He sure got a lot done in those years.

Here he is in 1976 on the Johnny Carson show with Bing Crosby and Ray Bolger (scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz). Marvin Hamlisch at the keys

Wow, nice find.

I didn't think the guy from Oz was still alive then even.

8-20-2012

Tony Scott dies at 68

Long time Director and Producer.

Directed Top Gun and current TV series such as The Good Wife