Rolling Obituary Thread: 2018

Oh wow, I remember him!

Played Billy's dad in "Billy Liar" when he was only 12 years older than Tom Courtenay.

... no, hold on, no he didn't that was Wilfred Pickles, he played him on TV.

RIP
Last time I watched Billy Liar, the film, I noticed Tom Courtenay seemed to be doing a brief Brando imitation at the breakfast table.

At the breakfast table with Wilfred Pickles, not with George A. Cooper, mea culpa.

Ricky Jay...

An amazing performer; one of my few real heroes. I was lucky enough to see a revival of Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants years ago in NYC. His books are great, too. I have a couple of them.

no! he was remarkable, as a magician and historian and all around intellectual.

awesome in Deadwood as well.

is he getting paid on commission now?
https://historyofourworld.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/ingmar-bergman-the-seventh-seal-1957.jpg

I got to interview him once, years ago. One of a kind.

Ricky Jay totally could have beat the grim reaper at chess.

Wow, I'm genuinely envious. I always wanted to talk to him. I really admired him for having what looked from the outside like exactly the life he wanted. And at the same time exemplifying how you could make a niche for yourself in the world by working really, really fucking hard at something (because imagine how much practice it takes to be a master of cards the way he was, and then to also learn as much as he did about the history of magic, gambling, obscure vaudeville performers, and cons).

I want to say there was a really good if predictably cagey documentary about him? There certainly was a great New Yorker profile from about 25 years ago.

RIP. I got a copy of Cards As Weapons in '78 or so, ruined a bunch of decks of cards practicing.

From my interview:

Have you ever used your magic powers for evil?

RJ: Can't think of a day when I haven't. (Laughs.)

Ricky Jay - I heard this story from more than one person who was there and I just want it to be true.
Ricky Jay was invited to a fancy party in Long Island. The hostess had these fancy bottles of wine, that she was bragging about.
She did not know Ricky Jay but insisted

— John Lurie (@lurie_john) November 25, 2018

Ray Hill, Legendary Houston-area Activist & Radio Personality

https://m.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Ray-Hill-a-Houston-icon-and-civil-rights-13418968.php

Ricky Jay's book Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women is one of my favorites.

Hah I was about to post the link that Josh mentioned, and is in the John Lurie tweet - but what the hell, here it is anyway, from 25 years ago:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1993/04/05/secrets-of-the-magus

that was great, thanks for sharing

Malcom Young of AC/DC.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/malcolm-young-ac-dc-guitarist-and-co-founder-dead-at-64-123387/?fbclid=IwAR1wMqLnNIM8gn7Salfb3i5MBx-L3UhbaMVng5QcTYyWMHnIROyqY2-wGoE

He died a year ago.

Dammit, I checked the date on the article but not closely enough. Was surprised it hadn't been reported here yet (which should have made me check it again).

Still, RIP Malcolm nonetheless.

Bernardo Bertolucci

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/26/bernardo-bertolucci-last-tango-in-paris-director-dies-aged-77

Crikey, RIP BB.

Him and Roeg, I guess I forgot they were still around.

BB made some amazing films, and also 1900.

have only seen The Conformist and Last Tango, great films, RIP!

I've only seen 1900 it sucked RIP!

lol

Credit where it's due: although many have tried, only Bertolucci was able to capture on film an instance of Gerard Depardieu touching Robert De Niro's dinkus.

1900 sucked yeah

it has like a total of maybe 30 to 40 minutes of good scenes but it's like 4-5 hours long

dreamers was lol

he's generally silly euro gar-baaash

I think I was 10 when The Dreamers came out and really wanting to see it because it was NC-17. Was that the last major NC-17 release? I actually think Steve McQueen's Shame was NC-17, seems rare still.

Dude is great based on The Conformist and Last Tango alone

Brando is amazing in LT (lotta improv), what surrounds him not so hot.

The way I remember 1900 is Stefania Sandrelli (?) holding the deNiro and Depardieu members simultaneously. And of course Sutherland bashing the kitty's brains in.

I'm not a huge Last Tango fan but Il Conformista is a masterpiece, and I'm pretty sure Spider's Stratagem is very good.

i can't really get past the homophobia in Conformist

berto still had that mussolini vibe running through his veins

1900 is titled that because that's the running time in minutes iirc

A little late here, but I had never heard of Ricky Jay til his obit here. And once again, thank you ILXors for hopping me to him, he was cool as shit. I spent a good 3 hours on YouTube last night watching various things pertaining to him, and was glued to my IPad. I know it's a phrase that gets used a lot in these situations but we won't be seeing the likes of him anymore. A total one off and I get the distinct impression that he was a man of great appetites who lived his life to the fullest. And a seriously great entertainer. RIP Mr. Magic Man

there's a good Ricky Jay documentary on Amazon Prime right now, plus he was a welcome presence in a lot of films. He even cameos via a sample on a Saint Etienne album.

HIPping me to him. Damn spell check thingy.

always a welcome bit player in just about anything, and (obviously) an incredible sleight of hand artist and raconteur. I'd like to check out one of his books at some point.

there's a good Ricky Jay documentary on Amazon Prime right now, plus he was a welcome presence in a lot of films. He even cameos via a sample on a Saint Etienne album.

in other words:

Ricky Jay was the coolest. Somehow, a magician was cool.

— Ryland Walker Knight (@rylandwk) November 25, 2018

Saw one doc on Ricky Jay that was called something like Tricksters, Fraudsters, Conmen and Ricky Jay. And 'twas very good indeed. Also an old CBS tv special loosely based on his book called Erudite Pigs and Fireproof Women (that first word,pre-pig is something else but I can't remember actual name. And also Doug Henning is a ponce!

Was wondering when he would be contrasted and compared with Doug Henning.

And yes, Ryland Walker Knight you are absolutely right. Ricky Jay WAS the coolest. I said just those words myself last night, out loud with no one but my cat to hear me. But I was so impressed and enthralled I couldn't help myself!

wut does yr cat hav 2 say about all o this