Veteran Hollywood Film & Broadway Actor Ben Gazzara Dies of Pancreatic Cancer at Age 81

Another Hollywood and Broadway icon has passed away … Ben Gazzara, Rest in Peace. 

Ben Gazzara, best known for his collaborations with director John Cassavetes, has died at the age of 81 from pancreatic cancer. As reported by NBC, Gazzara fittingly died the same day that Cassavetes did more than twenty years ago. Gazzara had a 60 year acting career on statge, film and TV. The veteran actor appeared in more than 100 film and TV movies.  Gazzara is survived by his third wife Elke Stuckmann, their daughter, and an adopted daughter as well as Gazarra’s brother, Anthony.

Ben Gazzara in “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie.”

Ben Gazzara: 1930 – 2012 … Rest in Peace

From the NY Times:

Ben Gazzara, an intense actor whose long career included playing Brick in the original “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” on Broadway, roles in influential films by John Cassavetes and work with several generations of top Hollywood directors, died on Friday in Manhattan. He was 81.

The cause was pancreatic cancer, his lawyer, Jay Julien, said. Mr. Gazzara lived in Manhattan.

Mr. Gazzara studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in Manhattan, where the careers of stars like Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger were shaped, and like them he had a visceral presence. It earned him regular work across half a century, not only onstage — his last Broadway appearance was in the revival of “Awake and Sing!” in 2006 — but in dozens of movies and all sorts of television shows, including the starring role in the 1960s series “Run for Your Life.”

How could the New York Times not mentioned ‘Road House’ with Patrick Swayze in their list of movie appearances?

IMBb – Ben Gazzara’s film career.

Great obit at the LA Times.

‘Soul Train’ Creator Don Cornelius Dead of Gun Shot Wound at Age of 75 of an Apparent Suicide

Don Cornelius, the creator of the TV dance show ‘Soul Train’ has died at the age of 75 of an apparent gun shot wound. How tragically sad. It appears that Cornelius was found dead in his apartment around  4 am of an apparent suicide, self inflicted gun shot wound. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Cornelius died of a gunshot wound at a house on Mulholland Drive, said Los Angeles police Officer Tenesha Dodine. Police responded to the call about 4 a.m. (7 a.m. ET), Dodine said.

Cornelius was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, according to Lt. Larry Dietz of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

Los Angeles police investigators reported to the coroner that Cornelius died from a “self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter said. The coroner’s office will perform an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.

He was the black Dick Clark of the 1970′s. However, it was not just black America that watched ‘Soul Train’. I can remember Soul Train on the TV on Saturday and the amazing crazy dance moves performed that I could only dream of doing. As stated at the WAPO, long before BET or MTV,  before cable television or the Internet, “Soul Train” taught a generation how to dance and let black America see itself having fun. At the center stood Cornelius in all his preternatural cool.   Some singing greats provide comments of the dearly departed Don Cornelius.

Gladys Knight, who performed on the pilot of the show more than four decades ago, said Cornelius “opened up so many avenues for African-American artists.”

In an interview with CNN Wednesday, Knight said he appeared in ill health when she saw him recently.

“Last time I saw him, he was pretty sick,” Knight said. “He had lost a lot of weight, but he still had that thing about him.”

Singer Aretha Franklin called his death “so sad, stunning and downright shocking.”

Singer Smokey Robinson said it was “a musical tragedy.”

Music producer Quincy Jones expressed shock and deep sadness in a written statement to CNN.

Tremendous obit at the Washington Post and the New York Times.

Robert Hegyes, Actor who Played Juan Epstein on ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ Dies at Age 60

Robert Hegyes, the actor who played Juan Epstein on one of my favorite comedies of all times, ‘Welcome Back Kotter” has died. Hegyes, who played Puerto Rican wheeler-dealer Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein and one of the “SweatHogs” on the 1970s classic “Welcome Back Kotter,” back in the day when comedies could be un-PC and were actually funny, dies at the age of 60 of an apparent heart attack.

Obit from USA Today:

THe was born in Perth Amboy and grew up in Metuchen, the eldest child of a Hungarian father and Italian mother.

He attended Rowan University, formerly Glassboro State College, in southern New Jersey, before heading to New York City after graduation. He returned to Rowan on several occasions to teach master classes in acting, a university spokesman said Thursday.

“He was a good friend to the university,” spokesman Joe Cardona said.

Hegyes continued to act after Kotter and was a regular on Cagney & Lacey. He also guest-starred in shows including Diagnosis Murder and The Drew Carey Show.

Robert Hegyes website.

In honor of the debates, we have included the Youtube VIDEO of the Sweathogs debate. Welcome Back Kotter, and its cast  John Travolta, Ron Palillo, Gabe Kaplan, Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs and Robert Hegyes were brilliant in a time when comedy was comedy and there was no such thing as “reality TV” on TV.

Goodbye Robert Hegyes, Rest in Peace … signed, Epstein’s Mother’s doctor.

CNN Does Anything for Ratings … New Year Eve Host Kathy Griffin Strips Down to Underwear & Begs Anderson Cooper to take His Off

Kathy Griffin’s clothes drop prior to the ball …

With CNN’s low ratings, it is obvious that they will do anything for ratings … thus, off come Kathy Griffin’s clothes. It is obvious that CNN wants the awkward banter between Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin. For a square, Anderson Cooper made the comment, “you got a rockin body”.

Before the ball dropped in Time Square New York last night ushering in 2012 … CNN’s New Years Eve host Kathy Griffin’s clothes dropped down to her underwear in from of a supposed shocked Anderson Cooper. Sorry, after year after year of comedian Kathy Griffin’s antics on New Years Eve, this cannot come as a shock to CNN. One might even think that it is scripted. Although edgy, Girffin’s actions last night were actually far more tame than in previous years like THIS and THIS.

More at The Blaze.

Harry Morgan, the Beloved Colonel Potter on ‘M*A*S*H,’ Dies at Age 96

Harry Morgan – Rest in Peace

Sad news out of the City of Angels … Harry Morgan, better known for his role as Colonel Sherman T. Potter on ‘M*A*S*H’ and Officer Bill Gannon of ‘Dragnet” fame has passed away at the age of 96 at his home in Los Angeles. His career spanned the decades and he was in over 100 movies; however, is best known for his role as Col. Sherman T. Potter of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit in the Korean War on the TV series from 1975 to 1983. He  is survived by his wife, three sons, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Harry Potter discusses his years on M*A*S*H … “I have never been on a show where I actually liked every person on that show very dearly”.

Harry Morgan, the prolific character actor best known for playing the acerbic but kindly Colonel Potter in the long-running television series “M*A*S*H,” died on Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96.

His son Charles confirmed his death, saying Mr. Morgan had been treated for pneumonia recently.

In more than 100 movies, Mr. Morgan played Western bad guys, characters with names like Rocky and Shorty, loyal sidekicks, judges, sheriffs, soldiers, thugs and police chiefs.

Even though I actually preferred M*A*S*H when Mclean Stevenson was in charge of the 4077, I much enjoyed Morgan’s role on Dragnet, officer Bill Gannon, the perfect compliment to Jack Webb.  Check out the VIDEO below of Harry Morgan discussing Dragnet, his role of officer Bill Gannon and Jack Webb.

Alec Baldwin Thrown Off American Airlines Plane at LAX

Say it isn’t so, a liberal who thinks that the rules don’t apply to them.

What a shock, a liberal not listening to some one in authority and thinking that the rules do not apply to them.  Such was the case with NBC 30 Rock actor Alec Baldwin aboard an American Airlines plane at LAX. Baldwin was removed from the flight for not listening to the flight attendant. The incident caused the plane to have to return to the gate and delayed the flight for other passengers. More from TMZ regarding the incident.

What a smart Alec.

Hot-head Alec Baldwin was kicked off an American Airlines flight this afternoon in Los Angeles because he was playing a game on his phone apparently past the point when passengers are supposed to have turned off their devices.

On his Twitter account, Baldwin wrote: “Flight attendant on American [Airlines] reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS while we sat at the gate, not moving.”

Fellow passengers stuck on the runway at Los Angeles International Airport quickly tweeted about the incident moments after it took place.

“On an AA flight at LAX. Alec Baldwin removed from the plane. We had to go back to the gate. Terrible that everyone had to wait.”

Baldwin was aboard AA Flight 4, which was delayed an hour, when the “30 Rock” star was booted for not listening to the flight attendant.

So here we have an example of some one behaving badly and not following the rules, yet Baldwin tweeted as if he was the victim.Oh and wait, he attacked women as well. I guess he must have had a flashback of leaving a message for his daughter calling her a little pig.  What would have happened if Baldwin had acted so rudely to TSA agents before getting on the plane?

An American Airlines spokesman declined comment, saying the company does not comment on “something that might or might not have happened” due to customers’ privacy concerns.

Meanwhile, Baldwin continued his criticism of the airline on Twitter.

He vowed never to fly American Airlines again.

“#theresalwaysunited,” Baldwin tweeted. “Last flight w American. Where retired Catholic school gym teachers from the 1950?s find jobs as flight attendants.”

Nice. How selfish could one be, but then again, He’s Alec Baldwin and he’s special.

by Brian in a Blue State

UPDATE I: American Airlines fires back on Facebook of what took place to have Baldwin tossed off plane.

Since an extremely vocal customer has publicly identified himself as being removed from an American Airlines flight on Tuesday, Dec. 6, we have elected to provide the actual facts of the matter as well as the FAA regulations which American, and all airlines, must enforce. Cell phones and electronic devices are allowed to be used while the aircraft is at the gate and the door is open for boarding. When the door is closed for departure and the seat belt light is turned on, all cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off for taxi-out and take-off. This passenger declined to turn off his cell phone when asked to do so at the appropriate time. The passenger ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane’s lavatory. He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. They immediately contacted the cabin crew to check on the situation. The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language. Given the facts above, the passenger was removed from the flight and denied boarding.

Hollywoods Dirty Little Secret … Sexual Abuse of Children in Hollywood Just Tip of Iceberg

How morally bankrupt is and has Hollywood been over the decades? It is not just about the immorality of the adult actors and actresses, what is most concerning and alarming is the continued crimes against children …

Child sex abuse isn’t just taking place on college campuses like Penn St and Syracuse University. The recent wave of child sex allegations is pointing the spotlight on Hollywood and it appears that the sexual abuse might be widespread. The recent child sex allegations against Hollywood manager Martin Weiss, award winning composer for “Sesame Street” Fernando Rivas, and registered sex offender casting agent Jason James Murphy is said to be just the tip of the iceberg of sexual abuse crimes against children.

If a spate of recent allegations proves true, Hollywood may have a hideous epidemic on its hands. The past two weeks have brought three separate reports of alleged child sexual abuse in the entertainment industry.

Martin Weiss, a 47-year-old Hollywood manager who represented child actors, was charged in Los Angeles on Dec. 1 with sexually abusing a former client. His accuser, who was under 12 years old during the time of the alleged abuse, reported to authorities that Weiss told him “what they were doing was common practice in the entertainment industry.” Weiss has pleaded not guilty.

Should it really come as a surprise to anyone how morally bankrupt and little concern about sexual abuse crimes against children really is in Hollywood when Roman Polanski was allowed to skate free on rape charges. How long has child sex abuse crimes been going on in Hollywood and why has nothing ever been done to stop the heinous crime?

by: Brian in a Blue State

Daily Commentary – Wednesday, November 30, 2011 – Conrad Murray Gets Maximum Sentance

• Is justice served?

Daily Commentary – Wednesday, November 30, 2011: Download

Daily Commentary – Tuesday, November 29, 2011 – Preview of Tonight’s Show with Robin Sax and Clint van Zandt

• Preview of Tonight’s Show with Robin Sax and Clint van Zandt

Daily Commentary – Tuesday, November 29, 2011: Download

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown … The Peanuts Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Provides a Ratings Victory Over Lady Gaga

Let this be a lesson to all TV networks, nothing is better than a nostalgic holiday special like Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town or Heat Miser …

This time it was Lada Gaga who had the football pulled from her at the last minute, not Charlie Brown.  The cartoon character who is always known for bad luck, scored a victory over the Thanksgiving Day holiday. The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Day special scored a ratings victory, even beating Lady Gaga.

All the Thanksgiving specials Thursday night couldn’t hold a candle to a repeat of the CBS comedy, which delivered 11.2 million viewers and a 3.6 adult demo rating. Compare that to ABC’s Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (5.8 million, 1.8) and A Very Gaga Thanksgiving (5.4 million, 1.6 — more on that one here).

Linus even manages to Thank God during the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Day Special (2:48 of VIDEO), which is more than I can say for President Barack Obama, who managed to omit God from his Thanksgiving Day message.

We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in our new land. We thank God  for the opportunity to create a new world with freedom and justice. Amen.