Joe Cool was silly, but how much sillier was he than the WWI ace? I used to think Schulz intended for Marcie to be seen as an Asian kid (heavy dark hair, glasses and excessive politeness), and he created her boring persona out of his preconceptions, just like Franklin was the only Peanut to not shake hands like everyone else. Frida, Violet and Sherman didn't really contribute to the strip, IMO, just put in to kinda round out the group, but Pig Pen kinda had a built-in topic starter.
Jimmy Ellis (actor) most famous for his role in Z Cars http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a556458/z-cars-actor-jimmy-ellis-dies-aged-82.html
Author/Reporter Joe McGinniss. Author of Fatal Vision, The Selling of The President and most importantly for soccer fans (he was a HUGE soccer fan) The Miracle of Castel di Sangro. http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/10/showbiz/joe-mcginniss-obit/
I just found out that Scott Asheton, original drummer of one of my favorite bands, died yesterday RIP
David Brenner, one of the earliest observational comics. Oddly enough he was married to Tai Babilonia. He retained his sense of humor to the end. “In David’s final request,” his family said in a statement on Saturday, “he asked that $100 in small bills be placed in his left sock ‘just in case tipping is recommended where I’m going.’ ” http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/a...favorite-on-tonight-show-dies-at-78.html?_r=0
She wasn't his wife - just a lover/fiancee for several years. http://www.ibtimes.com/tai-babilonia-remembers-david-brenner-after-some-confuse-her-his-wife-1561709
He was big back in the early days of HBO with several stand up shows. Was a great Howard Stern guest.
Creator of one of the greatest Broadway show scores ever. He never came close to achieving the same success again. RIP. Mitch Leigh, 'Man of La Mancha' Composer, Dies at 86 - N.Y. Times http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/17/t...-composer-dies-at-86.html?ref=obituaries&_r=0
I love those guys. Wayyyyyyy ahead of their time. Here's Gary and the band doing "Monk Time" in Bemidji MN, 2006, which I'm almost certain I've posted in the video thread...
Not exactly famous, but we've all seen him plenty of times in the movies. Most recently in TV's Homeland series. James Rebhorn Dies at 65 - N.Y. Times
The Godfather of "House" Music, Frankie Knuckles, is Dead at 59 http://www.chicagotribune.com/enter...rankie-knuckles-obit-20140331,0,565674.column House was initially cruder and less polished than disco, a reflection of its blue-collar origins. Knuckles was hardly the only innovator in the scene, as Marshall Jefferson, Ron Hardy, Steve "Silk" Hurley, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk and dozens more also played key roles. By the late ‘80s, Knuckles and many of his peers were stars in Europe’s emerging rave scene. Knuckles would often joke that he could walk down the middle of the street in Chicago and not be recognized, yet would be greeted by cheering fans when he would arrive at European airports for overseas DJ gigs. “I wasn’t frustrated by that, not at all,” he said. “I’m not the kind of person that lives for fame and glory. If I’ve got a nice, clean home and can put a meal on my table and can entertain my friends, I’m fine. I don’t need to see my face plastered everywhere.” Yet he took pride in Chicago’s growing recognition over the years as the home of contemporary dance music, celebrated by such mainstream hitmakers as Daft Punk and Paul Oakenfold.
Great actor. Not long ago my wife and I were re-watching some of the MGM musicals from the 40s and 50s, and the only reason we watched Words and Music again was because of how great Rooney is as Lorenz Hart. That movie is nowhere near as good as it could be, but Rooney is fantastic playing the lonely, neurotic and troll-like genius. Part of what makes his performance great is that the movie couldn't really call attention to Hart's sexuality (which means it couldn't really go into the depths of his frustration), but Rooney still does a great job suggesting it.
Comic John Pinette, famous for his role as the carjacking victim in the final episode of Seinfeld, dead at 50 in a Pittsburgh hotel. http://www.post-gazette.com/local/c...dies-in-Pittsburgh-hotel/stories/201404060212 Apparently, the guy lost quite a bit of weight and dealt with other addictions as well.