The 2013 Off Topic Celebrity Dead Pool

[SlowwHand]

Adios.

[Wezil]

90.

God must have hated him.

[SlowwHand]

The groundwork for a possibility certainly exists.

[snoopy369]

Jack Vance:

Science Fiction Pioneer and Grand Master Jack Vance, 1916-2013
TOR.COM
Jack Vance obituary in remembrance

“I wrote The Dying Earth while working as an able sea-man aboard cargo ships, cruising, for the most part, back and forth across the Pacific. I would take my clipboard and fountain pen out on deck, find a place to sit, look out over the long rolling blue swells: ideal circumstances in which to let the imagination wander.”

—Jack Vance, Oakland, 2008

Jack Vance’s family and Locus Magazine have announced the passing of science fiction great Jack Vance on Sunday, May 26, at the age of 96.

In his long and prolific career, Vance won many awards and accolades, including the Hugo and Nebula Awards, and inspired countless readers and fellow writers with his work in fantasy, science fiction, and mystery. His longtime editor at Tor Books, Beth Meacham, offered the following tribute:

I don’t often talk about the writers I work with, because I do truly believe that the work is theirs, not mine. But I’m feeling just a little bereft right now.

I first dealt with Jack and Norma Vance in my earliest days as an editorial assistant at Ace —I was responsible for the editorial work on reissuing his books there. I mostly talked to Norma, because she handled all the proofs. I always enjoyed talking to them, and I do mean “them” — they’d both get on the phone when I called. They were kind to me.

Several years later, when I’d moved to Tor, I acquired a huge package of Jack’s backlist books, everything that was out of print at the time. Years of work with Jack and Norma on getting the books into print again. And we also did a contract for new work. From that day in 1985, I was Jack Vance’s editor. I worked with him on every book from Araminta Station to his last, Lurulu. Jack was a challenge in some ways, and a delight in almost all. His work was amazing. He was cynical about it.

Through years of phone calls and dinners, he told me stories, led me to music. And he and Norma were always, always, kind to me. Glad when I called. Happy to see me, which is not entirely to be expected in this business. They were never people to disguise their feelings. I’ve been missing Norma since she passed some time ago. Now Jack is gone too. Who is going to bellow “It’s Beth!” anymore, and make it sound like the best thing in the world?

Vance’s family has set up a page where condolences can be left. Their statement:

Jack Vance passed away at home on the evening of Sunday May 26, 2013, ending a long, rich and productive life. Recognized most widely as an author, family and friends also knew a generous, large-hearted, rugged, congenial, hard-working, optimistic and unpretentious individual whose curiosity, sense of wonder and sheer love of life were an inspiration in themselves. Author, friend, father and grandfather – there will never be another like Jack Vance.

[-Jrabbit]

Aww. RIP, Jack.

[embalmer42]

Tim Curry isn't ready to say "Hello" to oblivion quite yet...

British stage and screen actor Tim Curry is recovering at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a major stroke on Thursday Night, according to the Daily Mail. The 67-year-old star of 1975's "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is said to be "doing great" following the collapse. "He absolutely can speak and is recovering at this time and in great humor," his longtime agent, Marcia Hurwitz, told the paper.

If he'd done it last year, I would have been impressed. Bugger obviously can't commit to anything.

[Wezil]

I checked the list when I saw the news item as I remembered you picking him in the past.

[-Jrabbit]

RIP comic actor Harvey Korman, 81...

Most people will remember him as the evil Hedley Lamar in Blazing Saddles, but my memories of Korman were as a key member of the repertory company (with Tim Conway, Lyle Waggoner and Vicki Lawrence) on The Carol Burnett Show in the 60s and 70s...

[Tuberski]

Count De Money.

ACK!

[SlowwHand]

Oh, rats.

R.I.P.

[embalmer42]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/01/showbiz/jean-stapleton-obit/index.html

Jean Stapleton has apparently passed on.

[-Jrabbit]

Age 90. A fine actor and a strong spokesperson for equality.

RIP, Dingbat...

[SlowwHand]

Dropping like flies.

R.I.P.

[Uncle Sparky]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/02/us/mid...her/index.html

Tim Samaras, 55, his son Paul Samaras, 24, and Carl Young, 45, died while chasing a tornado.

CNN) -- Three storm chasers were among the nine people killed in powerful storms that struck Oklahoma on Friday night, relatives told CNN on Sunday.

Tim Samaras, 55, his son Paul Samaras, 24, and Carl Young, 45, died while chasing a tornado, relatives said.

"Thank you to everyone for the condolences. It truly is sad that we lost my great brother Tim and his great son, Paul," Jim Samaras wrote in a statement posted on his brother's Facebook page.

"Our hearts also go out to the Carl Young family as well as they are feeling the same feelings we are today. They all unfortunately passed away but doing what they loved," he wrote.

Tim Samaras founded TWISTEX, the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment, to help learn more about tornadoes and increase lead time for warnings, according to the official website.

Two children were also among the dead from Friday night's storms. Scores of people were injured.

[embalmer42]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/02/us/mid...her/index.html

Tim Samaras, 55, his son Paul Samaras, 24, and Carl Young, 45, died while chasing a tornado.

Play with fire.....