|
|
Post by jimsteel on Jul 6, 2018 23:45:36 GMT -5
 Steve Ditko, Spider-Man Co-Creator and Legendary Comics Artist, Dies at 90 He also created Doctor Strange with Stan Lee during his years at Marvel. Artist Steve Ditko, who co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange with Stan Lee, has died at age 90. The New York Police Department confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was announced. Ditko was found dead in his apartment on June 29 and it is believed he died about two days earlier. In 1961, Ditko and Lee created Spider-Man. Lee, the editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, gave Ditko the assignment after he wasn't satisfied with Jack Kirby's take on the idea of a teen superhero with spider powers. The look of Spider-Man — the costume, the web-shooters, the red and blue design — all came from Ditko. Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy No. 15. The comic was an unexpected hit, and the character was spun off into The Amazing Spider-Man. Ditko helped create such classic Spider-Man characters as Doctor Octopus, Sandman, the Lizard and Green Goblin. Starting with issue No. 25, Ditko received a plot credit in addition to his artist credit. Ditko's run ended with issue No. 38. In 1963, Ditko created the surreal and psychedelic hero, Doctor Strange. The character debuted in Strange Tales No. 110, and Ditko continued on the comic through issue No. 146, cover dated July 1966. After that, Ditko left Marvel Comics over a fight with Lee, the causes of which have always remained murky. The pair had not been on speaking terms for several years. Ditko never explained his side, and Lee claimed not to really know what motivated Ditko's exit. The best explanation suggests Ditko was frustrated at Lee's oversight and his failure to properly share credit for Ditko's contributions to Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. The charismatic Lee was always the face of Marvel Comics, but Ditko (and Jack Kirby) thought Lee was more interested in self-promotion than selling the company, and, in the process, implied that he deserved the lion's share of the credit for creating the characters in the Marvel Universe. Ditko went on to work for Charlton, DC Comics and other small independent publishers. He returned to Marvel in 1979, where he worked on Machine Man and the Micronauts, and he continued working for them as a freelancer in the 1990s. Among his last creations was Squirrel Girl in 1992, who has become a cult favorite in recent years. After his work at Marvel, Ditko is probably best known for creating Mr. A in 1967. The character embodied Ayn Rand's objectivist philosophy, which Ditko was an ardent believer in from the mid-1960s on. Other objectivist-inspired characters Ditko created included The Question, Hawk and Dove and the Creeper — all for DC Comics. The reclusive Ditko was known as the "J.D. Salinger" of comics. From the 1970s on, he rarely spoke on the record, declining almost every interview request. He sat out the publicity booms that accompanied the Spider-Man films and the Doctor Strange movie. |
|
|
|
Post by TTX on Jul 7, 2018 6:36:41 GMT -5
One of the legends. RIP, Mr. Ditko.
|
|
|
|
Post by TTX on Jul 9, 2018 10:44:34 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by WTIC on Jul 9, 2018 11:26:44 GMT -5
Jim must be napping... I thought Tab died in the '80s!  Oh... and RIP, Tab! |
|
|
|
Post by jimsteel on Jul 9, 2018 11:34:57 GMT -5
Jim must be napping... I thought Tab died in the '80s! Oh... and RIP, Tab! I thought so to but he was still alive |
|
|
|
Post by TTX on Jul 9, 2018 12:36:30 GMT -5
How it is when people drop out of the Hollywood limelight.
|
|
|
|
Post by WTIC on Jul 14, 2018 8:33:37 GMT -5
From Variety, via Yahoo.com: Roger Perry, ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Harrigan and Son’ Actor, Dies at 85 Actor Roger Perry died Thursday at his home in Indian Wells. Calif., after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 85. Perry compiled dozens of feature, television, and stage credits during a long career that began when he was discovered by Lucille Ball, who put the young actor under contract to Desilu Studios. He co-starred with Pat O’Brien in the 1960 ABC series “Harrigan and Son,” and co-starred with Chuck Connors and Ben Gazzara in the 90-minute drama “Arrest & Trial” (1963-64). Perry was a guest star on the “Star Trek” TV series in a memorable first-season episode in 1967, “Tomorrow Is Yesterday,” playing Captain John Christopher. He appeared on “Love, American Style,” “Ironside,” “The F.B.I.,” “Hawaii 5-0,” “Barnaby Jones,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Quincy,” “CHiPs,” “The Fall Guy,” and many more before becoming a regular on programs such as “The Facts of Life” and “Falcon Crest.” His movie credits included “Follow the Boys” (1963) with Connie Francis, “Rollerboogie” with Linda Blair, “The Thing With Two Heads” with Ray Milland and Rosevelt Grier, and “Cat” and “Count Yorga,” which both co-starred Craig T. Nelson and Mariette Hartley. Among his starring theater credits were productions of “Gypsy,” “Annie,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” “Mr. Roberts,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” “Anything Goes,” “The Royal Hunt of the Sun,” “Goodbye Charlie,” “Lovers and Other Strangers” and “Love Letters.” Perry composed the music for “Make a Promise, Keep a Promise,” which premiered at the Doolittle Theater in Hollywood. He also composed the score for the musical version of George Bernard’s “You Never Can Tell,” starring himself and his wife, Joyce Bulifant, at Theatre East in Los Angeles. Barbra Streisand sang his song “A Kid Again” in her 1965 TV special titled “My Name is Barbra.” Perry and his wife starred in “The First Hundred Years” (produced by John Forsythe), “Hanging By a Thread” with Patty Duke (1979), and “The Happiness Bench,” with Mariette Hartley and John Aniston. In recent years, the Perrys have been performing in benefit productions for children’s programs and charity. Perry was previously married to Patty Perry and then Joanne Worley. He is survived by his wife, brother Nick Perry, son Chris Perry, daughter Dana McNerney, and grandson Parker McNerney. Services are pending. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to River Bridge Regional Center for Abused Children in Glenwood Springs Co., which was founded by Perry and his wife. ----- RIP, Captain John Christopher! That was a good ST episode! |
|
|
|
Post by jimsteel on Jul 16, 2018 0:32:55 GMT -5
 Former NHL goalie Ray Emery drowns in reported swimming accident Former NHL goalie Ray Emery died Sunday in what authorities, per reports, described as an accidental drowning while swimming. Emery, whose 11-year career ended in 2015 and included a share of the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2013, when his Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, was 35. According to police in Hamilton, Ontario (via the Hamilton Spectator), Emery’s body was found by divers Sunday afternoon in Hamilton Harbour, at the western end of Lake Ontario. A native of the area, he had been visiting a friend who owned a boat when he jumped in from where it was docked for a swim at around 6 a.m. Sunday. When Emery didn’t resurface, his companions called for rescue services, but they were not able to immediately locate him. Inspector Marty Schulenberg said Emery’s body was eventually discovered approximately 20 meters from where he entered the water. “At this time we do not believe there to be suspicious or foul play,” Schulenberg said. “We do believe this is a case of misadventure.” Authorities are waiting until an autopsy is performed to determine the cause of death. Emery was nicknamed “Razor” for his aggressive approach to the game, and he was known to be an unusually willing and able fighter for his position. In one 2007 melee, Emery squared off with the opposing goalie, Martin Biron of the Sabres, before taking on Buffalo enforcer Andrew Peters — with a smile on his face. |
|
|
|
Post by TTX on Jul 16, 2018 11:46:22 GMT -5
RIP to them.
|
|
|
|
Post by WTIC on Aug 6, 2018 0:30:59 GMT -5
Charlotte Rae, who had a six decade career as an actress and was best known as the wise housemother on “The Facts of Life,” died Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 92. The Tony and Emmy nominated actress appeared on the popular 1980s sitcom “The Facts of Life” for nearly 10 years, sharing her personal struggles with the writers for the show to keep things realistic. In the early 1960s, she created the role of Sylvia Schnauzer on TV series “Car 54 Where Are You?” She also worked extensively on Broadway, in Shakespeare in the Park and in summer stock. Rae’s other television work included a year on “Sesame Street,” and a recurring role on “Hot L Baltimore,” then a season on “Diff’rent Strokes,” where her character Mrs. Garrett was born before spinning off on “The Facts of Life,” for which she earned an Emmy nomination. Born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky in Milwaukee, she began her career on the radio and at the Wauwatosa Children’s Theatre before attending Northwestern University. She roomed with Cloris Leachman and also befriended Paul Lynde, then she began doing standup comedy in the New York cabaret scene in the early 1950s. She was married to composer John Strauss, with whom she had two sons. Andy Strauss died in 1999, and she wrote her memoir “The Facts of My Life,” with Larry Strauss. She is survived by a sister, her son Larry, three grandchildren and a great-grandchild. From Variety: variety.com/2018/tv/news/charlotte-rae-dead-dies-facts-of-life-1202895871/----------- I remember her as "Molly", the mail carrier on Sesame Street way back... And of course on Diff'rent Strokes. RIP, Charlotte! We will miss ya! From Muppet Wiki: muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Charlotte_Rae |
|
