OFFICIAL 2016 APOLYTON CELEBRITY DEAD POOL

[rah]

I'm sure the group that bought the mansion is somewhat relieved since Hef was allowed to live there for the rest of his life.

[Proteus_MST]

I'm sure the group that bought the mansion is somewhat relieved since Hef was allowed to live there for the rest of his life.

I remember that such an agreement backfired once, in case of the oldest french woman (which died roughly 10 years ago).
Some lawyer bought her appartment under the condition that she would be allowed to live there for the rest of her life.
At that time the lawyer was around 50 years old and the woman was ~75-80 years old.

Well, ~20 years later the lawyer and his wife were dead and said woman still alive

[Uncle Sparky]

Monty Hall is dead. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/30/o...?smid=fb-share

[Elok]

Now he gets to find out what's behind the OTHER door.

[SlowwHand]

R.I.P. Tom.Petty

[Uncle Sparky]

That is a shock. RIP, but first

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aowSGxim_O8

[Uncle Sparky]

Roy (Doc) Halladay, pitcher, died in a plane crash today. Age 40.

[Broken_Erika]

Australian guitarist and AC/DC co-founder Malcolm Young has died aged 64 after a long battle with dementia.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42037566

[SlowwHand]

David Cassidy, 67, from organ failure and dementia.

[Grandpa Troll]

Robert D Raiford

Charlotte radio curmudgeon Robert Raiford dies at 89

BY MARK WASHBURN

NOVEMBER 18, 2017 07:24 PM
CONCORD

Robert D. Raiford, the unrepentant iconoclast whose war on political correctness amused Charlotte radio listeners for decades, diedFriday. He was 89.

Raiford started on radio as a teenager and left the airwaves only in August 2015, after a stroke robbed him of his mobility and discombobulated the source of his livelihood: his voice.

For 30 years, Raiford served as “curmudgeon at large” on the “John Boy and Billy Big Show” that originates at Charlotte’s WRFX-FM (“Fox” 99.7) and is syndicated to 57 other stations nationally.
A curmudgeon, Raiford once explained, is a person who provides the public service of observing all things and interpreting them for others. “I call it a curse of sensitivity,” he said.

[Grandpa Troll]

Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis, a country music singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the 1960s, charting multiple top forty hits over a long career despite a lifelong stuttering problem, has died in Florida at the age of 85, Billboard and other sources have reported.

According to a statement from his publicist, Tillis had been ill for some time after suffering a bout of diverticulitis in January 2016 that required surgery, following which he spent weeks in intensive care fighting sepsis. Tillis passed away in Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida on 19 November 2017. The suspected cause of death was respiratory failure.

Born Lonnie Melvin Tillis in Tampa, Florida in 1932, Tillis had malaria as a child, leaving him with a speech impediment for which he was mocked in his youth but which he embraced as an adult, incorporating it into his performances for comic effect. He titled his 1984 autobiography Stutterin’ Boy.

Tillis displayed musical talent at a young age, teaching himself guitar, playing at parties, and winning a local talent competition. After attending the University of Florida and dropping out, Tillis joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Okinawa, where his interest in music continued to grow and he performed with a country band on Armed Forces Radio. After leaving the Air Force he worked on a railroad while writing songs on the side, and eventually moved to Nashville to pursue a music career in 1957.

His first big hit as a songwriter was “I’m Tired,” recorded that same year by Webb Pierce, who went on to hit the charts with several more of Tillis’s compositions. On the strength of his songwriting successes, Tillis himself secured a recording deal in 1958. Among his best-known hits as a singer-songwriter were “Good Woman Blues,” “Coca-Cola Cowboy,” and “Wine.” In addition to being a successful recording artist, Tillis performed frequently on radio and television, and acted in minor roles in movies such as Smokey and the Bandit II and The Cannonball Run.

Mel Tillis was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

[-Jrabbit]

RIP, M-m-mel. A fantatic artist and, the one time I met him, a really nice guy.

[SlowwHand]

Charles Manson is dead.

[Uncle Sparky]

I just read he was born in Cincinnati... Ohio really does produce 'em...

[The Mad Monk]

nvm.

[Grandpa Troll]

Legendary actress Della Reese died Sunday, Page Six has confirmed. She was 86.

Reese, who was born in Detroit, was best known for her work on the long-running series “Touched by an Angel.” Her co-star Roma Downey shared a statement with People.

“On behalf of her husband, Franklin Lett, and all her friends and family, I share with you the news that our beloved Della Reese has passed away peacefully at her California home last evening surrounded by love,” Downey said on Monday. “She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people.”

Downey, 57, touted their close relationship — which began in 1994 and extended far beyond the show’s end in 2003. “She was a mother to me and I had the privilege of working with her side by side for so many years on ‘Touched By an Angel,’ ” she added. “I know heaven has a brand new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. Rest In Peace, sweet angel. We love you.”

Reese was also a well-known singer and performed in the late Mahalia Jackson’s gospel group. She also starred in her own variety series, “Della,” and became an ordained minister in her lifetime. Her acting career was also well respected, earning her Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nominations for “Touched by an Angel.” She also won seven NAACP Image Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

In addition to her husband, Reese leaves behind four children: Deloreese, James, Franklin and Dominique.

Reese’s manager Lynda Bensky told Page Six in a statement, “The world has lost a huge talent. A successful actor, singer, writer and more for decades. She was also a trailblazer. Della was the first black woman to host a talk show. A forerunner to Oprah. Her life was difficult at times with illness and loss; but her cup was never ½ empty… and it wasn’t half full… it was overflowing with goodness and love for everyone. She was the most consistently positive and optimistic person I have known. And she touched so many people with that beautiful energy. She always resonated at such a high frequency. That was the gift she gave you when you were in her company. She truly personified being “Touched By An Angel.”

[Grandpa Troll]

Earle Hyman, best known to TV audiences for his role as Cliff Huxtable’s father Russell on “The Cosby Show,” has died at the age of 91.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hyman died on Friday at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, N.J. A cause of death has not been reported.

Hyman appeared in 40 episodes of “The Cosby Show” over the course of its nine-season run. In 1986, he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for his work in the classic Season 2 episode “Happy Anniversary.”

In addition to his work on “The Cosby Show,” Hyman was the voice of Panthro on the 1980s cartoon “Thundercats.” Additional TV credits included “All My Children” and “The Defenders.”

Hyman was also known for his stage work. In 1980, he won the Tony award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for the role of Oscar in Edward Albee’s “The Lady From Dubuque.”