The Celebrity Obituary Thread

[Matt]

I agree, Patty Duke was awesome in the Miracle Worker movies. I watched The Flying Nun as a kid too (Christopher and I have something in common?  )

Sorry she left the world so young. R.I.P. Patty Duke.

[Christopher]

It was the 1962 version we watched in school, and I remember thinking how raw the film felt. I haven't seen the other one.

[higashimori]

 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/arts/television/patty-duke-dies.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

 R.I.P. Patty. 

[Shannonsmith1993]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/06/entertainment/merle-haggard-country-music-dies/

[KC]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/06/entertainment/merle-haggard-country-music-dies/

R.I.P., Merle Haggard. Memorable in his single appearance in an Eastwood film, Bronco Billy.

Mr. Haggard also appeared in several movies, including the 1980 Clint Eastwood film “Bronco Billy.” “Bar Room Buddies,” a duet with Mr. Eastwood from the film’s soundtrack, became a No. 1 country hit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/07/arts/music/merle-haggard-country-musics-outlaw-hero-dies-at-79.html

[higashimori]

 

 R.I.P., Merle Haggard.

[The Schofield Kid]

Anne Jackson, who collaborated extensively with husband Eli Wallach, together comprising one of the best-known acting couples of the American theater, died Tuesday at her home in Manhattan. She was 90.

http://variety.com/2016/legit/news/actress-anne-jackson-dead-dies-married-to-eli-wallach-dies-at-90-1201752957/

[Christopher]

Doris Roberts, best known from Everybody Loves Raymond, has died at 90 years old.

http://www.people.com/article/doris-roberts-dead-at-90?xid=socialflow_facebook_peoplemag

[Shannonsmith1993]

http://www.thejamesbonddossier.com/news/director-guy-hamilton-dies-aged-93.htm?utm_content=bufferab4e7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[Shannonsmith1993]

http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/prince-dies-at-the-age-of-57__14689/

[KC]

Shannon, it's traditional to put in a few words about the departed, instead of just posting a link.

[Matt]

Woah, that last link is a heartbreaker.  This is the first I've heard of it, and yes... a more fitting tribute would have been needed. I'll do my best.



Prince has died at the age of 57.

I had to check a few sources to make sure this wasn't an internet prank. He's one of the greatest of my generation. When Purple Rain came out in 1984, I went with a group of friends to see the movie. I still remember thinking it was "the greatest movie I'd ever seen", which is ridiculous... it's really not a good movie.  I was reacting to the way the music swept me away, and the emotional depth of the ending song.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/W8O0Wy5YRb4" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/W8O0Wy5YRb4</a>

(It seems all the videos of Purple Rain are purged regularly from YouTube, so this one may not stay up long, and it's not an official video, but it sounds great.)

These are some beautiful lyrics:

I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted to one time to see you laughing
I only wanted to see you
Laughing in the purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
I only wanted to see you
Bathing in the purple rain

I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend
Baby, I could never steal you from another
It's such a shame our friendship had to end

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
I only wanted to see you
Underneath the purple rain

Honey, I know, I know
I know times are changing
It's time we all reach out
For something new, that means you too

You say you want a leader
But you can't seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
If you know what I'm singing about up here
C'mon, raise your hand

Purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you
Only want to see you
In the purple rain

He was an artist. As a songwriter, he could write gorgeous music like the above, and "When Doves Cry", some of the greatest dance music fo the 1980's "1999" and some pretty risque stuff too. He took chances. He reinvented himself with every song, and every album.  He could play guitar like Jimi Hendrix. He was a rock god. He also stood up against corporate influence in music, hating that his very name had become a product. He changed his name to a symbol (the symbol of love) at the height of his career... and if you needed to speak it, he was to be called "The artist formerly known as Prince."

I saw him in concert for the Purple Rain tour at the Philadelphia Spectrum (Rocky fans will recognize that from where the big fight between Rocky and Apollo was held).  Security was lax, and my friend and I managed to get down to the first level, and all the way down to the side of the stage. And what a concert it was.

Rest in peace, Prince. You will be missed a lot.

[Gant]

Prince passing is a real shocker..
To me he was to the 80's what Bowie was to the 70's...
A great artist always pushing forward, creative and a brilliant
Performer... I saw him live many times.. The consummate artist

R.I.P

[Matt]

This is a great video that's well worth watching. It features behind-the-scenes interviews with the producers of the Super Bowl 41 Half Time Show where Prince would perform in the middle of a typhoonish Florida rainstorm. When the producer called Prince to discuss what they would do that night, he told Prince "It's raining hard."  Prince replies "Yes. It's raining.  Can you make it rain harder?"

Watch this. What a performer.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NN3gsSf-Ys&feature=share

[The Schofield Kid]

From facebook:

[Matt]

Yeah, that's kinda true. And Eric is pretty awesome himself.

[Jed Cooper]

Wow. I bet heaven sounds much better now that Prince is with Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. 

Rest In Peace, Prince. God Bless.

[Matt]

I see the Purple Rain video I posted above has already been removed from YouTube. The soundtrack album Purple Rain is one of the greatest rock albums of all time, so if you haven't really discovered Prince before this, and want to know what's the best thing to get, I'd highly recommend it.

Prince really was one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. This is a really enjoyable video I stumbled upon today. Jeff Lynn and Tom Petty were in the George Harrison band (with Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan) The Traveling Willburys. Here's Jeff, Tom and George's son Dhani (who looks just like his father) playing one of George's greatest songs While My Guitar Gently Weeps. But who's that in the awesome red hat that shreds that solo at the end, falling backwards off the stage (he's caught, don't worry)... Prince.  You'll get an idea of how great a guitarist he is when he plays this so effortlessly, and with so much emotion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/6SFNW5F8K9Y" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/6SFNW5F8K9Y</a>

[higashimori]

 ^^ Beautiful!! Thanks Matt to find that video!  I miss George Harrison very much!! 

 R.I.P. Prince.

[Matt]

I love that video. I'm going to download it before it disappears forever. I just love the way Prince throws his guitar at the end, and struts off stage. There's just almost too much cool on that stage.