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![]() 8.9.10 - PATRICIA NEAL by: Memo Menos |
8.9.10 -Oscar-winning actress PATRICIA NEAL dies at 84. She is seen here at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, May 20, 2005...continue
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![]() 6.2.10 - DENNIS HOPPER AND GARY COLEMAN by: Memo Menos |
GARY COLEMAN rose to fame as a child star on DIFF'RENT STROKES, which ran for 184 episodes from 1978-1986. COLEMAN had made appearances on THE JEFFERSONS, GOOD TIMES and THE FACTS OF LIFE, among other television shows, but it was DIFF'RENT STROKES that was his star vehicle, giving rise to the timeless line, "Watchu talkin 'bout Willis?" COLEMAN made occasional appearances after that, in an episode of some popular shows now and then, or a movie of little note, as his life spiralled downward. He was adopted, and had health issues his entire life. By the age of 16 he had undergone several kidney transplants. His hit show ended when he was 18, and he never could achieve the level of success that a hit show on the air for nearly a decade had brought him. COLEMAN had scuffles with the law, was forced to take anger managment classes for punching a female fan, and filed bankruptcy in 1999. He had a marriage fail in ugly public display, and even ran for governor of California before moving to Utah. It was there that he died, after some blunt trauma injury to his head. His wife is silent on how it happened, and his adoptive parents have said they'd like some closure as to how he got the anuerism that killed him. It's not clear if COLEMAN was divorced from his current wife, or perhaps remarried her, but she called 911 to report he injued himself in a fall. Authorities have not induicated any wrongdoing, and his life is now over at the age of 42. We caught up with him at the 85th birthday party for former President RONALD REAGAN of all places, where he ironically spoke of living to 85: "SEE VIDEO" |
![]() 4.01.10 - DYNASTY TRANSFORMED |
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DYNASTY TRANSFORMED JOHN FORSYTHE, who played the ruthless, oil tycoon and patriarch of the Denver Carringtons on television's long-running, primetime soap opera DYNASTY, died at the age of 92 last week at his home near Santa Barbara, California. As BLAKE CARRINGTON, FORSYTHE brought some stability to a household that included his scheming ex-wife, ALEXIS, played by JOAN COLLINS; his statuesque beauty queen, current wife, KRYSTLE, played by LINDA EVANS; a spoiled, boy-crazy daughter, FALLON, played by PAMELA SUE MARTIN; a gay son coming to terms with his sexuality, played first by AL CORLEY and then by JACK COLEMAN; and a host of other twisted, tormented, and torqued characters dripping in money or scandal or blackmail. His wives fought like dogs, but at least in the beginning of the show, lived on the same compound. ALEXIS, in a classic episode, later foreclosed on nthe house, kicking BLAKE and his cheap tramp out. BLAKE soldiered on, through the emotional warfare as well as a slew of financial triumphs and failures, all the while keeping that dapper hair, and strong masculine chin up and ever strong. He was great. JOHN was nominated for an Emmy for the role on DYNASTY in 1982, 1983 and 1984, losing to DANIEL TREVANTI (HILL STREET BLUES), ED FLANDERS (ST. ELSEWHERE), and TOM SELLECK (MAGNUM PI). He did win the Golden Globe in 1983 and 1984. Before DYNASTY, FORSYTHE was known as CHARLIE from another baby-boomer television classic, CHARLIE'S ANGELS. He was memorable in a role where he appeared only on a speaker phone, dispatching assignments to JILL, KRIS and SABRINA, usually in the office of BOSLEY. Never showed his face, but he was an integral part of that show, because of that booming, familiar voice. JOHN FORSYTHE once called games for the BROOKLYN DODGERS in a plum summer job. He starred in a number of films, but considered himself outside the circle of great actors. "I figure there are a few actors like MARLON BRANDO, GEORGE C SCOTT and LAURENCE OLIVIER who have been touched by the hand of God. I'm in the next bunch," FORSYTHE told the AP in 1981. I'm sure he's already scheduled meetings to redress that point with THE POWERS THAT BE.
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ROBERT CULP, who along with BILL COSBY, advanced civil rights via entertainment in their 1965 TV hit "I Spy", died on Wednesday at the age of 79 of an apparent heart attack. He was found by a jogger on the sidewalk in his Hollywood Hills neighborhood, where he went for a walk. CULP was nominated for an Emmy in each of the 3 years the show was on the air, but lost each time to his co-star BILL COSBY, who ironically, had primarily only done stand-up comedy until then. The gentleman made a concious effort to sculpt the characters into a likeable tandem, in an age of intense racial strife and discordance. ROBERT CULP was seen most recently in his recurring role as the father-in-law on "Everybody Loves Raymond." We interviewed him August 1, 2000 at the premiere of "Running Mates", a feature film in which he had a role. There, his charming personality, and easy gong nature were on full display. ROBERT CULP was married 5 times and is survived by 5 children, two daughters and 3 sons.
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