The Six Innocent Victims Killed by Gunman Jared Lee Loughner are Named

So much focus has been put on the shooting of US Rep Gabrielle Giffords in the horrendous mass shooting by gunman Jared Lee Loughner. Thankfully, Giffords was not killed, but is still in critical condition after being shot in the head at close range. 

However, sadly as reported at Michelle Malkin.com via MyFoxPhoenix, six innocent people died yesterday who did nothing more than wake up on a Saturday and try and meet their Congresswoman. Among the dead include a Giffords’ staffer, a federal judge and a 9 yea old little girl. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families, friends and loved ones of the victims and may the Peace of the Lord be with you, rest in peace.

9 year old Christina Greene, a life taken far to soon, RIP

The Pima County Sheriff has confirmed that five people were pronounced dead at the scene, and a 9-year-old later died at a local hospital.

The deceased have been identified as: Judge John Roll ,63; Dorthy Murray, 76; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; Christina Greene, 9;Phyllis Scheck, 79; and Gabriel Zimmerman, 30

Please say a prayer …

Legendary Pink Panther, Comedy & Film Director Blake Edwards Dead at Age 88

Talk about the loss of one of the best writer/directors of comedies ever. An SOB, Cool Cat and 10 rolled all up into one …

Julie Andrews & Blake Edwards, 1973
Rest in Peace Blake Edwards: 1922 – 2010

Blake Edwards, the legendary Hollywood comedy director has passed away at age 88 from complications of pneumonia  at a hospital in Santa Monica, California with his wife and children at his bedside. Aside from his acclaimed directing, Blake Edwards might best be known for his 40 year marriage with Academy Award winning  English actress Julie Andrews. Oh how I have laughed at this man’s films over the years, they still crack me up like I just heard them for the first time … REST IN PEACE

Hear Blake Edwards discuss how he met Julie Andrews

Hat Tip: AOL News

Edwards not only directed comedy classic like The Pink Panther series, he also directed such classic films ‘Like Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ and ‘Days of Wine and Roses’. Who could also forget the movie that put Bo Derek on the map and changed how we all rated woman, “10″, as well as other over the top moview like ‘SOB’ and ‘Victor/Victoria’.

His publicist, Gene Schwam, said the cause was complications of pneumonia. Mr. Edwards’s wife, the actress Julie Andrews, and other family members were at his side at St. John’s Health Center, Mr. Schwam said.

What the critic Pauline Kael once described as Mr. Edwards’s “love of free-for-all lunacy” was flaunted in good movies and bad ones …

Blake Edwards was born William Blake Crump on July 26, 1922, in Tulsa, Okla. He became Blake McEdwards when he was 4, after his mother, Lilian, had married Jack McEdwards, an assistant director and movie production manager. Having joined the Coast Guard after high school, Mr. Edwards was seriously injured when, after a night of alcohol-fueled partying, he drunkenly dived into a shallow swimming pool. He spent five months in traction at the Long Beach Naval Hospital.

From the UK Telegraph:

When he was three years old Blake’s family moved to California, and he was brought up in Los Angeles and educated at Beverly Hills High School. While there he worked as a child actor, appearing in numerous B-pictures, but claimed that he “never wanted to act seriously enough to make a career of it”. He left school in 1940 and continued to accept small roles — often as a soldier — in films such as Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942), Marine Raiders (1944) and A Wing and a Prayer (1944).

During the war he served in the US Coast Guard and was badly injured in a diving accident. After a lengthy recuperation he decided to try to re-enter the film industry, writing a low-budget Western with his friend John Champion and approaching Monogram for backing. When the company turned down the project, Edwards and Champion raised the money themselves, making their debuts as producers with Panhandle in 1948.

More great clips from Blake Edward’s The Pink Panther.

How Sad, Elizabeth Edwards Stops Cancer Treatment, Prognosis Described as Terminal (Update: Elizabeth Edwards Loses Battle with Cancer)

My prayers go out to Elizabeth Edwards, what strength and grace during such difficult times.

What terrible news for Elizabeth Edwards with regards to her battle with cancer. It is being reported that Elizabeth Edwards is stopping her cancer treatment as she was informed bydoctors that further treatment would be unproductive. Terrible, just terrible. Having known many who have passed away from cancer, including my mom, I can only wish Elizabeth Edwards my prayers and the strength to remain positive during these difficult times. God bless and may the peace of the Lord be with you.

Elizabeth Edwards is surrounded by family and friends in her North Carolina home after being informed by her doctors that further cancer treatment would be unproductive.

“Elizabeth has been advised by her doctors that further treatment of her cancer would be unproductive,” the Edwards family said Monday in a statement. “She is resting at home with family and friends and has posted this message to friends on her Facebook page.”

Read more

Actor Leslie Nielsen of Airplane & Naked Gun Fame Dies at Age 84

Surely you can’t be serious, actor  Leslie Nielsen has passed away at the age of 85.

Sad news from an actor that brought us so many laughs. Actor Leslie Nielsen has passed away at the age of 85 after a long bought with pneumonia. Believe it or not, Nielsen used to do serious acting roles; however, was best known for his dead pan humor in such movies as Airplane, Police Squad and the Naked Gun series.

Rest in Peace Leslie Nielsen

Leslie Nielsen, the Canadian-born actor who in middle age tossed aside three decades of credibility in dramatic and romantic roles to make a new, far more successful career as a comic actor in films like “Airplane!” and the “Naked Gun” series, died on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 84.

According to The Associated Press, his agent, John S. Kelly, said Mr. Nielsen died at a hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale where he was being treated for pneumonia.

 More at Boing Boing with videos of many movie clips. More from The Hollywood Reporter:

“We are sadden by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60-year career in motion pictures and television,” said a statement from Nielsen’s family released through his rep.

Nielsen died surrounded by family including his wife, Barbaree, and friends.

Nielsen was born Feb. 11, 1926, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s after performing in 150 live TV dramas in New York. His acting career spanned several decades, starting with episodes of series including The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and Tales of Tomorrow and encompassing several genres.

God bless and rest in peace.

Barbara Billingsley of “Leave It To Beaver” Fames Passes Away at Age 94

 Barbara Billingsley, the actress best known for her role as June Cleaver on ‘Leave It to Beaver’ passed away Saturday at the age of 94. She was America’s mom in the 1950′s and her acting carrer spanned decades and numerous diverse endeavors as seen by her role in ‘Airplane’ when she played the Jive Lady.

The actress won a new legion of fans in a brief, but memorable, scene in the 1980 send-up movie “Airplane.”

“Oh, stewardess. I speak jive,” Billingsley said in her role — much different from her June Cleaver persona — as an elderly passenger comforting an ill man on the flight. She, the sick man and his seat companion engaged in street-slang banter.

 Sadly, the 50′s role model mom passed away on Saurday at her home following a long illness of rheumatoid disorder polymyalgia.

The actress passed away at 2 a.m. (5 a.m. ET) Saturday at her home in Santa Monica, California, after a long illness, spokeswoman Judy Twersky said. A private memorial is being planned.

Actor Jerry Mathers, who played Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, called Billingsley a lifetime mentor.

“Barbara was a patient advisor and teacher. She helped me along this challenging journey through life by showing me the importance of manners, and respect for others,” Mathers said in a statement. “She will be missed by all of her family, friends, fans and most especially by me.”

Video Hat Tip: Left Coast Rebel

We say goodbye to a classy woman, God Bless June Cleaver, rest in Peace.