Obituaries
John Cassaday, Artist on Joss Whedon’s ‘Astonishing X-Men’ and Co-Creator of ‘Planetary,’ Dies at 52
John Cassaday, the artist who co-created the influential turn-of-the-century comic Planetary and then drew an award-winning X-Men comic written by Joss Whedon for Marvel, has died. He was 52. His sister Robin Cassaday announced his death Monday on Facebook. She previously wrote that he had been admitted to the intensive care unit of Mount Sinai […]
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Critic’s Appreciation: James Earl Jones, Voice of Unquestionable Authority, Titan of the Stage and Ideal Elevator Companion
The actor, whose rich baritone was as indelible a part of Darth Vader’s menacing power as the black helmet, mask and cloak, was also an absolute treasure of the American theater.
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Mark Hamill, Kevin Costner Among Stars Paying Tribute to James Earl Jones: “RIP Dad”
Mark Hamill, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer and Colman Domingo were among the first Hollywood voices to pay tribute to James Earl Jones following news of his death on Monday. Jones died at his home in New York on Monday. He was 93. His career spanned half a century of film, including Dr. Strangelove, Field of […]
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James Earl Jones, Authoritative Actor and Voice of Darth Vader, Dies at 93
James Earl Jones, a commanding presence onscreen who nonetheless gained greater fame off-camera as the sonorous voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader and Mufasa, the benevolent leader in The Lion King, died Monday. He was 93. Jones, who burst into national prominence in 1970 with his powerful Oscar-nominated performance as America’s first Black heavyweight […]
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Will Jennings, Oscar Winner for “My Heart Will Go On” and “Up Where We Belong,” Dies at 80
Will Jennings, the Oscar-winning co-writer behind such hits as “My Heart Will Go On” and “Tears in Heaven,” has died. He was 80. Jennings died Friday morning at his home in Tyler, Texas, his caregiver, Martha Sherrod, told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been in declining health for the past five or six years, she […]
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Screamin’ Scott Simon, Longtime Sha Na Na Performer, Dies at 75
Screamin’ Scott Simon, who spent 52 years as the pianist of the energetic rock ’n’ roll and doo-wop group Sha Na Na, died Thursday in Ojai after a long battle with sinus cancer, his daughter Nina Simon announced. He was 75. A member of Sha Na Na from 1970 until they quit touring in 2022, […]
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Frank Griffin, Steve Martin’s Makeup Man on ‘Roxanne’ and Much More, Dies at 95
Frank Griffin, who nosed out another makeup artist to work with Steve Martin on Roxanne, just one of the 20 movies they did together, has died. He was 95. Griffin died Wednesday of cancer at his home in Studio City, his daughter Roxane Griffin, a veteran Hollywood hairstylist (Avatar, Transparent, 80 for Brady), told The […]
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Paul Harrell, YouTube Gun Safety Advocate, Announces His Own Death in Video Message
Gun safety advocate and YouTube personality Paul Harrell announced his death in a prerecorded video, which was posted to the platform on Wednesday. Harrell was 58 years old. In the video, created on Dec. 20, Harrell sits on a snow-covered log near his home in Oregon and shares that while his pancreatic cancer diagnosis was […]
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Sérgio Mendes, Brazilian Bossa Nova Giant and Bandleader, Dies at 83
Iconic bossa nova producer, songwriter, pianist and song interpreter Sérgio Mendes has died at 83. The legendary Brazilian superstar whose career spanned more than six decades and helped craft the modern sound of Latin pop and dance died in Los Angeles of undisclosed causes. Beginning in his teens, Mendes — who was born on Feb. […]
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Rich Homie Quan, “Type of Way” Rapper, Dies at 33: Report
Rich Homie Quan — born Dequantes Lamar — died Thursday (Sept. 5) at 33 years old, the Fulton County medical examiner confirmed to Billboard. “On Thursday, 5 September 2024, the Fulton County Medical Examiner was notified by Grady Memorial Hospital of the death of Dequantes Devontay Lamar,” a statement from the medical examiner reads. “An autopsy has been […]
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Norman Spencer, David Lean Collaborator and ‘Vanishing Point’ Producer, Dies at 110
Norman Spencer, the British producer, production manager and screenwriter who worked alongside famed director David Lean on films including Blithe Spirit, Great Expectations, The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia, has died. He was 110. Spencer died Aug. 16 in Wimbledon three days after his birthday, the European Supercentenarian Organisation announced. Apart […]
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Eric Gilliland, ‘Roseanne’ Writer and Producer, Dies at 62
Eric Gilliland, the prolific TV writer and producer who worked on such classic sitcoms as Roseanne, The Wonder Years and That ’70s Show, has died. He was 62. Gilliland died Sunday of colon cancer in New York City, his sister, Lisa, told The Hollywood Reporter. Gilliland’s career started in the 1980s, when he was a […]
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