107.9 The River » celebrity deaths

Etch A Sketch Inventor Dies at Age 86

Donald Deane — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:33:22 +0000

Andre Cassagnes, the man responsible for inventing the venerable Etch A Sketch, a toy that inspired countless children ever since it was introduced in 1960, has died at age 86 in France. According to the Ohio Art Co., the toy’s manufacturer, Cassagnes died in a Paris suburb on Jan. 16 due to undisclosed causes. “Etch [...]

Remembering Huell Howser, California TV Legend

Emerald Catron — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:52:57 +0000

For those outside the state of California, Huell Howser, who passed away late Sunday night, might be something of a mystery. There's a chance you saw him on 'Tracy Takes On ... Hollywood,' or heard his voice on an episode of 'The Simpsons.' Southern Californians, however, are surely familiar with his self-produced travelogues of the state, which aired on KCET in Los Angeles, in all their incarnations -- 'California's Gold,' 'Visiting ... with Huell Howser' and 'California's Water,' to name a few.

LP Pioneer Howard H. Scott Dead at 92

Jeff Giles — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:03:40 +0000

He may not have been a household name, but Howard H. Scott had a lot to do with the way several generations of music fans experienced the work of their favorite artists — and he helped revolutionize the record industry along the way. Scott, who succumbed to cancer on Sept. 22 at the age of [...]

Guitarist 'Big Jim' Sullivan Dead at 71

Dave Swanson — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:00:25 +0000

British session guitarist Jim Sullivan has passed away after a long period of poor health. He was 71 years old. He played on over 1,000 chart hits — including 55 No. 1 singles — during his vibrant career, in addition to working with a who’s who of classic rock royalty. While Sullivan was hardly a [...]

Watch Tom Hanks' Touching and Funny Eulogy for Michael Clarke Duncan

ScreenCrush Staff — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:58:56 +0000

Michael Clarke Duncan was laid to rest yesterday in Los Angeles and a number of his friends were on hand to share their memories of the larger-than-life actor including Jay Leno, Holly Robinson-Peete, Stevie Wonder and his ‘Green Mile’ co-star Tom Hanks. Below you can watch Hanks speak lovingly about his favorite Michael Clarke Duncan story, which had the audience laughing.

Legendary Screenwriter Nora Ephron Dead at 71

Don Deane — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:08:12 +0000

Filmmaker and author Nora Ephron, who penned such iconic comedies as ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and ‘Sleepless in Seattle,’ died Tuesday night at New York Presbyterian after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. She was 71-years-old. Ephron is known for creating smart, funny female characters and romantic comedies that didn’t pander to the audience. As [...]

'MAS*H' and 'Dragnet' Star Harry Morgan Dead at 96 [VIDEO]

Danny Gallagher — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:00:37 +0000

One of television’s most prolific and longest working actors has died.

Harry Morgan, best remembered for playing Joe Friday’s partner on “Dragnet” and the kindly military surgeon Col. Sherman T. Potter on the hit sitcom ‘M*A*S*H,’ passed away Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96 years old.

Former Jimi Hendrix Collaborator Jimmy Norman Dies

Joe Robinson — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:00:06 +0000

Rhythm-and-blues singer Jimmy Norman — who worked with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley early in their careers and was a battle over songwriting credit for ‘Time Is on My Side,’ which the Rolling Stones turned into a Top 10 hit in 1964 — died earlier this month in New York at the age of 84.

Was Robert Wagner Responsible for Natalie Wood's Death? [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:10:33 +0000

Thirty years after her death by drowning on Southern California’s Catalina Island, questions remain about the mysterious demise of actress Natalie Wood — and now a boat captain is alleging he knows what happened. Dennis Davern, who helmed the yacht that Wood, her husband Robert Wagner, and their friend Christopher Walken were on that fateful [...]

UPDATE – Andy Rooney's College Roommate Suffers Heart Attack at Memorial Service

Shauna Wright — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:00:49 +0000

UPDATE — Despite a previous report by TMZ on the death of Andy Rooney’s college roommate Bob Ruthman at the memorial service of the ’60 Minutes’ icon, Ruthman was later revived.

Rooney’s son Brian stood up on a chair and pronounced Ruthman dead after the man suffered a heart attack. However, FDNY was able to resuscitate Ruthman once at New York hospital and he is currently in intensive care.

'Family Circus' Cartoonist Bil Keane Dies at 89

Shauna Wright — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:49:10 +0000

Bil Keane, who drew the one-panel cartoon ‘Family Circus’ for more than 50 years, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at the age of 89.

‘Family Circus,’ which runs in 1,500 American newspapers, uses humor and traditional family values to chronicle the life and times of a clan with four kids, two harried parents, and three household pets.

'Willy Wonka' Actor Leonard Stone Dies at Age 87

Shauna Wright — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:00:44 +0000

Leonard Stone, who played the fast-talking father of Violet Beauregarde in 1971′s ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,’ died of cancer on Wednesday just shy of his 88th birthday. In Gene Wilder’s classic film, Stone watches in disbelief as his perpetually gum-chewing daughter samples an experimental piece and blows up into a giant blueberry, uttering [...]

'60 Minutes' Stalwart Andy Rooney Dies at Age 92 [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:30:08 +0000

For 33 years, the CBS Sunday night newsmagazine ’60 Minutes’ ended with Andy Rooney providing his wry and sometimes cantankerous observations on topics ranging from religion to his messy office.

And now, just a month after retiring from the show, Rooney has died at the age of 92 after failing to recover from “serious complications” following minor surgery two weeks ago.

John Lennon Inspired Steve Jobs to Strive for Perfection

Nancy Dunham — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:02:42 +0000

John Lennon‘s creativity and work ethic didn’t just help ensure the Beatles‘ music was legendary, it also inspired Apple’s recently deceased co-founder Steve Jobs to strive for perfection within his company, according to an authorized biography of the visionary by Walter Isaacson.

'King of Infomercials' Don Lapre Dead from Apparent Suicide

Shauna Wright — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:00:23 +0000

The self-proclaimed “King of Infomercials” Don Lapre, 47, was found dead in his cell of an apparent suicide on Sunday, although an investigation is still underway.

Lapre was jailed in an Arizona federal jail without bond on charges of defrauding at least 220,000 people out of nearly $52 million.

Jermaine Jackson Defends Brother Michael Jackson in New Book

Chris M. Junior — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:00:31 +0000

Michael Jackson had millions of fans and supporters during his lifetime, but arguably the most ardent and vocal defender of the superstar since his death in 2009 has been older sibling Jermaine Jackson.

He continues to uphold the late King of Pop’s legacy and paint a favorable picture of him, both verbally and in his recently released book, ‘You Are Not Alone, Michael: Through a Brother’s Eyes.’

'Ziggy' Creator Tom Wilson Dead at 80

Jeremy Taylor — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:00:46 +0000

Tom Wilson, who created the comic strip ‘Ziggy,’ has died at the age of 80, due to complications from pneumonia. For 35 years, Wilson was also the creative director of American Greetings. Ziggy, a bald, featureless man who lived with a menagerie of pets and would fall victim to one misfortune after another, was first introduced to [...]

Amy Winehouse Toxicology Report Indicates No Presence of Illegal Drugs at Time of Death

Shauna Wright — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:30:27 +0000

The toxicology report from Amy Winehouse’s autopsy is in.

Chris Goodman, the Winehouse family spokesman, released a statement saying, “Toxicology results returned to the Winehouse family by authorities have confirmed that there were no illegal substances in Amy’s system at the time of her death. Results indicate that alcohol was present, but it cannot be determined as yet if it played a role in her death. The family would like to thank the police and coroner for their continuing thorough investigations and for keeping them informed throughout the process. They await the outcome of the inquest in October.”

Jerry Leiber, Co-Writer of Songs for Elvis Presley and Other Legends, Dies

Chris M. Junior — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:12:57 +0000

Lyricist Jerry Leiber, who with composer and longtime collaborator Mike Stoller wrote songs recorded by Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones and many others, died Monday in Los Angeles. Leiber, 78, had been battling cardiopulmonary disease. “He was my friend, my buddy, my writing partner for 61 years,” Stoller said in a [...]

Amy Winehouse Funeral: Family, Friends and Celebrities Gather to Mourn

Shauna Wright — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:28:37 +0000

British pop singer Amy Winehouse, 27, who died on Saturday from causes that have yet to be determined, was mourned today as 200 of her family members and famous friends gathered for a private funeral in London.

In a tribute to her close friend, reality star and ‘Fashion Police’ panel member Kelly Osbourne wore her blonde hair in Winehouse’s trademark beehive. Producer Mark Ronson, who worked with the singer on her blockbuster album, ‘Back to Black,’ and has called her a “musical soulmate,” was also in attendance, as were her bandmates and her most recent boyfriend, Reg Traviss.