Rolling RIP/Obituary Thread 2012

Was just 68. Hamlisch collapsed after a brief illness, his family announced

RIP, Robert Hughes. A great populizer and genuinely captivating guy.

Bernard Lovell, founder of Jodrell Bank:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19164236

Mark O'Donnell, playwright, novelist, librettist of the Broadway musical of Hairspray

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/08/07/tony-winning-hairspray-writer-mark-odonnell-dies/

Sir Bernard was also an accomplished musician, a keen cricketer and an internationally-renowned arboriculturalist who created an arboretum at Jodrell Bank.

He is survived by four of his five children, 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

What a guy!

Ad exec Curvin O'Reilly, who was responsible for the Bill Cosby/Jell-O pudding campaign (among many other things).

I missed that about Robert Hughes--he was great in Crumb, contemptuously deriding the hallowed halls of Berkeley or something like that. Culture of Complaint was quite good.

Judith Crist. Man, it's been a rough month for the arts.

I remember Crist's column about the week's network movie telecasts in TV Guide very well.

'zinging and influential'!

Wow--along with Toronto's Clyde Gilmour, the first film critic I ever encountered. Can't even find an image of Judith Crist's TV Guide to the Movies to post.

Like Morbz and clemenza, first film critic I ever read -- loved her column though I was too young to really get a grasp on much of what was discussed.

http://gos.sbc.edu/c/crist.html

At one point the Times obit treats her almost on a plane with Kael and Sarris, and, as with Rex Reed, that just wasn't where she resided. Her blurb on Vertigo, from the book I mentioned earlier: "You'll find yourself helpless in the hands of the ultimate artist of chill-and-thrill films." I'm sure she would have been the first to admit that she served a different function. Could be wrong, but in Kellow's biography I think there was mention of Kael maintaining a casual friendship with her.

Jairo Varela, Founder of Colombia's Grupo Niche, Dead at 62
August 08, 2012 | By Leila Cobo (@leilacobo), Miami

Jairo Varela, the iconic founder and leader of celebrated Colombian salsa band Grupo Niche, died suddenly of apparent heart failure in his home in Cali, Colombia. He was 62 years old.

Wow, no idea Hughes died. "Fatal Shore" is fascinating.

Humorist and This American Life contributor David Rakoff.

wait what

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/david-rakoff-humorist-and-essayist-dies-at-47/

Mel Stuart, TV documentarian who went on to make Wattstax and, of course, Wonka

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/mel-stuart-director-willy-wonka-dead-83-article-1.1133430

wattstax is a great movie.

Carlo Rambaldi, FX designer of E.T., Alien, Possession etc.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/italian-special-effects-master-carlo-rambaldi-father-of-et-dead-at-86/2012/08/10/eade6e52-e30e-11e1-89f7-76e23a982d06_story.html

Rest In Peace, Joe Kubert. Will post a link when I have one. Absolutely crushed.

NOOOOOOO

exactly. Tearing up here.

Oh man, no. Have been wasting time watching this Olympic shite when I could have been reading his stuff again.

Gary Cox, guitarist/songwriter for US power pop band Artful Dodger.

Joe Kubert, comic book artist on Sgt Rock, Hawkman and many others:

http://www.newsfromme.com/2012/08/12/joe-kubert-r-i-p/

Damn, how'd I miss hearing about David Rakoff? That's awful.

My cousin Paul has some great things to say about Kubert, for whom he worked, here: http://kupps.malibulist.com/2012/08/13/joe-kubert/

Great memories from Kupperberg. Thanks Phil, and thanks to your cousin, too.

Al Green??

Hearing things through FB but see no reference to this anywhere yet. Hopefully it's not true

dunno about that but helen gurley brown seems definite

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Legendary-editor-Helen-Gurley-Brown-dies-3784845.php

hope al green is still with us...

oh man RIP Joe :(

The internet's killed Al Green at least a couple other times.

Just heard about Rakoff. What a bummer.

Ron Palillo, Horshack on Welcome Back, Kotter

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/ron-palillo-actor-best-horshack-back-kotter-dead-63-article-1.1136024

Brett Grulke, SxSW Creative Director

http://www.austin360.com/music/brent-grulke-creative-director-at-sxsw-dies-2435507.html

BRENT GRULKE

A good friend of mine that was a former roommate of his described him once to me as, I wish I could remember the exact wording, one of those guys who seems a little gruff at first and bugs people or rubs them the wrong way but then they all end up liking. RIP.

Harry Harrison: http://io9.com/5934884/rip-harry-harrison-creator-of-the-stainless-steel-rat-bill-the-galactic-hero-and-soylent-green

Oh man! RIP Harry.

another good obit here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/15/harry-harrison

yet another skiffy author i haven't read enough of.

found a paperback of Make Room! Make Room! on the street a few months ago, haven't read yet.

RIP "not the radio guy" Harry.
Mark Evanier's obit, incl. stuff about Harrison's comic book career: http://www.newsfromme.com/2012/08/15/harry-harrison-r-i-p/

Did you get the radio DJ Harry Harrison where you live, William?

I didn't -- wish I had! When I hear his short late 60s interview spots on Psychedelicized Radio (and previously TechWebSound), that slick radio-puker patter always gives me a laugh.

Al Freeman Jr, a volcanic actor from '60s Broadway (Blues for Mister Charlie, The Slave) to his performance as Elijah Muhammad in Spike Lee's Malcolm X:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/theater/al-freeman-jr-actor-prominent-in-civil-rights-era-dies-at-78.html