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

Dennis Hopper and Gary Coleman passed over the weekend. Both achieved the highest heights in Hollywood, before settling somewhere below the glamorous, envy of outsiders who see a star lifestyle as the "good life." HOPPER worked with some of the industry's biggest stars early on, with a role in GIANT in 1956 alongside ELIZABETH TAYLOR, CARROLL BAKER, JAMES DEAN, SAL MINEO and ROCK HUDON. But he really rose to fame after his role in EASY RIDER, with PETER FONDA and JACK NICHOLSON in 1969. The movie had an "indy" budget of somwwhere around $400,000, but became an American legend in the hippie environment of the '60's. HOPPPER was nominated for a writing Oscar along with PETER FONDA and TERRY SOUTHERN, one of 2 nominations the Academy bestowed upon him. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1987 for HOOSIERS. He went on to work with some of the biggest stars of the day, including NATALIE WOOD, with whom he was alleged to have been romantically involved. He was married 5 times, most recently to VICTORIA DUFFY until his death. He had well documented bouts with drug addiction and spousal unrest, blaming his last wife for shortening his life because of the stress she put him through. He died of complications from prostate cancer, as he was undergoing bitter divorce proceedings. "SEE VIDEO"

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"

DIXIE CARTER, aka JULIA SUGARBAKER, died over the weekend at the age of 70, from complications associated with cancer. She starred alongside ANNIE POTTS, JEAN SMART and DELTA BURKE in the it series DESIGNING WOMEN which ran from 1986 to 1993. CARTER also appeared on FAMILY LAW, and was an Emmy nominee in 2007 for her role on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.

She was married 3 times, and is survived by her current husband, actor, HAL HOLBROOK, with whom she worked on DESIGNING WOMEN, and in the 2009 film THAT EVENING SUN.

DIXIE CARTER May 25, 1939 - April 10, 2010.

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.

JOHN FORSYTHE January 29, 1918-April 1, 2010.

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.

3.16.10 - March 18 1926 Peter Graves was born in Minneapolis, and later grew up to join the military. Mr Graves served in the Air Force from 1944-1945. He then attended The University of Minnesota and studied Drama. He then Later to become the Hit sensation in the CBS television show Mission Impossible which aired 1967-1973, And stared in the Movies Airplane and Airplane II the Sequel. Sunday March 14 2010 Peter Graves Passed away at the age of 83, Leaving behind his wife Joan Endress, and their three daughters.