R.I.P. CELEBRITY DEATHS 2020(NON WRESTLERS)

[on_the_edge]

Wow that's a big one. Didn't realize he was that old.

[jimsteel]

Bob Cobert, ‘Dark Shadows’ and ‘Winds of War’ Composer, Dies at 95

Bob Cobert, the Grammy- and Emmy-nominated composer of television’s “Dark Shadows” and “The Winds of War,” died of pneumonia Feb. 19, in Palm Desert, Calif. He was 95.

Cobert’s themes for the 1960s Gothic horror soap “Dark Shadows” – “great spook music,” he once called it – were his most popular compositions, and “Quentin’s Theme” (for the character played by David Selby) became a top 10 hit in 1969 as recorded by the Charles Randolph Grean Sound, earning a Grammy nomination as Best Instrumental Theme.

The “Dark Shadows” score, the first daytime soap to generate a best-selling soundtrack album, cemented Cobert’s partnership with the series’ creator-producer Dan Curtis, who continued to employ Cobert on nearly all of his television and film projects for the next four decades.

They did four features and more than two dozen television films together. Their largest-scale project was “The Winds of War,” the 18-hour 1983 miniseries based on Herman Wouk’s World War II novel, and its 1988-89 sequel, the 30-hour “War and Remembrance,” which brought Cobert an Emmy nomination for original score.

Curtis’s penchant for producing successful horror projects led to other memorable Cobert scores including his detective jazz for Darren McGavin as reporter Carl Kolchak in the hugely popular “The Night Stalker” (1972) and its sequel “The Night Strangler” (1973); a Romanian music-box treatment for Jack Palance in “Dracula” (1974); and a terrifying theme for the notorious Zuni doll menacing Karen Black in “Trilogy of Terror” (1975).

Their features included two based on the “Dark Shadows” series (“House of Dark Shadows” in 1970 and “Night of Dark Shadows” in 1971), the Bette Davis haunted-house tale “Burnt Offerings” in 1976 and the Danny Aiello comedy-drama “Me and the Kid” in 1993. Their other 1970s collaborations, all for television, included the high-rated Depression-era FBI dramas “Melvin Purvis, G-Man” and “Kansas City Massacre” in 1974-75 and the Western “Last Ride of the Dalton Gang” in 1979.

Curtis, in notes for a 2000 Varèse Sarabande collection of Cobert themes, wrote: “Bob has worked with me on nearly every picture I have made and has never failed me. It’s almost as if he could read my mind. People throw around this word too lightly, but in this case I am more than justified in using it: Bob Cobert is a true genius. He can write any kind of score and write it brilliantly.”

Robert Cobert was born October 26, 1924 in Brooklyn. He studied composition and conducting at New York’s Juilliard School during the war years and later studied composition at Columbia University with well-known classical composer Henry Cowell. During the ’40s, he also played clarinet and saxophone at such famous venues as the Stork Club and the Copacabana.

In the 1950s, his pop songs were recorded by such artists as Freddy Martin and Frances Wayne; his folk opera “Frankie and Johnny” and orchestral “Mediterranean Suite” were released on records. But television beckoned in 1960, as producer David Susskind hired Cobert to score such literary adaptations as “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “The Heiress” and the short-lived CBS horror anthology “Way Out.”

The New York-based composer also enjoyed great success with game-show themes including “Password,” “To Tell the Truth” and “The Price Is Right” in the 1960s and the “$25,000 Pyramid” (later the “$100,000 Pyramid”) in the 1980s. His other daytime TV credits included “The Doctors” soap and a “CBS Afternoon Playhouse,” “I Think I’m Having a Baby,” for which he received a 1981 Daytime Emmy nomination.

The “Dark Shadows” phenomenon, spurred by the introduction of vampire-as-tragic-figure Barnabas Collins in 1967, earned Cobert his greatest fame. “Quentin’s Theme,” introduced as a turn-of-the-century gramophone recording, was recorded by numerous artists including Henry Mancini and earned a special BMI citation for more than 100 million radio broadcasts. He returned to haunted Collinwood for the 1991 NBC prime-time reboot of “Dark Shadows.”

[jimsteel]

Former CNN Anchor Bobbie Battista Dies of Cancer at 67

Battista died Tuesday after a four-year battle with cervical cancer

Bobbie Battista, who was among the original anchors for CNN Headline News and hosted CNN’s “TalkBack Live,” has died. She was 67.

During her 1981-2001 career with the cable news company, Battista anchored coverage of major events including the Challenger space shuttle explosion, the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan and the Gulf War.

When she moved from CNN Headline News to CNN in 1988, she anchored shows that included “CNN NewsHour."

During Battista's early career, she worked as a local news anchor and producer for WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1981, she was the writer and assistant producer for the Peabody Award-winning documentary “Fed up with Fear.”

[jimsteel]

Hong Kong tycoon Chan Tai-ho – the founder of Playmates toymaker which gave the world the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures – died on Thursday aged 87

[jimsteel]

The Supremes singer Barbara Martin has passed away at 76

Barbara Martin, one of the original vocalists for The Supremes, has died at 76.

News of the Detroit native's death was announced via the legendary Motown group's Facebook on Thursday.

Bandmate Mary Wilson sent her condolences, writing: 'Our hearts go out to Barbara's family and friends. Once a Supreme, always a Supreme.'

The group was completed by leading lady Diana Ross and Florence Ballard.

During Barbara's time with The Supremes, the then-quartet signed with Motown records.

On their first album, 1962's Meet The Supremes, Barbara sings on most of the tracks, but was not featured on the cover art - which is said to be because she was heavily pregnant at the time.

Notably Barbara sang the lead on The Supremes song After All in 1961, while her three bandmates sang backing vocals. But the song's release was cancelled in favor of the radio hit Buttered Popcorn.

Martin left the group in spring 1961 after recording their first album.

She was not replaced and the musical act went on as a trio in coming years

[jimsteel]

'Rosie the Riveter' dies at 95: New York woman who first inspired the iconic character while working on a fighter plane assembly line during WWII passes away

One of the original women who are thought to have inspired Rosie the Riveter has died at the age of 95.

At 19, Rosalind P. Walter, from New York, was one of many women to pitch in during World War II, working on an assembly line as a riveter on Corsair fighter planes in Connecticut.

[jimsteel]

Habs legend Henri Richard passes away at 84

Henri Richard, the speedy centre who won a record 11 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, died Friday after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

He was 84.

The Canadiens confirmed his death on Twitter.

"The Montreal Canadiens are saddened to learn of the passing of one of the organization's greatest legends and ambassadors, Henri Richard, this morning," the Canadiens tweeted. "Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the Richard family."

Richard was captain of the Canadiens from 1971 to his retirement in 1975, succeeding the legendary Jean Beliveau, with whom he shares the record of playing 20 seasons for the NHL club.

He was better known as the younger brother of superstar Maurice (Rocket) Richard and was nicknamed the Pocket Rocket for his five-foot-seven, 160-pound frame.

"Richard was a great player and a great ambassador for the Montreal Canadiens organization. His passing is a great loss for all," Canadiens owner Geoff Molson tweeted.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called Richard "one of the true giants of the game.

"The entire National Hockey League family mourns the passing of this incomparable winner, leader, gentleman and ambassador for our sport and the Montreal Canadiens," Bettman said in a statement.

Despite his small stature, Henri Richard played 1,256 regular-season games, another Canadiens record. He scored 358 goals and had 1,046 points, third in team history behind Guy Lafleur (1,246) and Beliveau (1,219).

He added 129 points in 180 playoff games.

His 11 Stanley Cups, one more than Beliveau and another former Canadiens captain Yvon Cournoyer, is unlikely ever to be surpassed. Seven were won when the NHL had only six teams.

"No one's going to break that record, it's impossible," Richard said. "I say that without boasting. There are too many teams now and the best players are too spread out."

He was also hockey's most famous leap year boy, having been born on Feb. 29, 1936.

Known for his tenacity and playmaking skills, Richards twice led the NHL in assists, with 52 in 1957-58 and 50 in 1962-63. He had nine 20-goal seasons, including a high of 30 in 1959-60.

He won the Bill Masterton Trophy for sportsmanship and perseverance in 1974 and was selected to four league all-star teams.

The Canadiens retired his No. 16 on Dec. 10, 1975, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.

After a brilliant career with the Junior Canadiens, including 56 goals and 109 points in 1953-54, Richard joined his brother on the NHL club in 1955, just in time for the Canadiens to start on a run of five consecutive Stanley Cups.

He proved himself right away, notching 19 goals and 21 assists in 64 games in his rookie season.

Maurice Richard, who was 15 years older, retired after the 1960 campaign.

Henri stayed on and won four more Cups over a five-year span from 1965 to 1969. A highlight was in 1966, when Richard's only goal in the final was the Cup-winner in overtime in Detroit.

Five years later, he did it again, scoring the series-deciding goal in the third period of Game 7 in Chicago. Richard said later he considered that 10th Stanley Cup the most memorable of his career because of the controversial circumstances.

He had been left out of the lineup for Game 5 of the final by coach Al MacNeil. Feeling insulted and unhappy with the atmosphere on the team, Richard blasted the coach in public, calling MacNeil "incompetent."

"I was angry and I said some things I probably shouldn't have said," Richard said in a 2009 interview. "I spoke out because I thought it was necessary.

"I'm not saying it's right because it's important to respect the coach, but I just wanted to play hockey."

Two years later, in 1973, Richard won his 11th Cup, his only one as captain of the Canadiens.

After his playing career, he worked as a public relations "ambassador" for the team.

[jimsteel]

SOAP VET ROSCOE BORN PASSES AWAY

Roscoe Born, a soap opera veteran whose daytime television career spanned more than 30 years on series that included “The Young and the Restless,” “All My Children,” “One Life to Live” and “Ryan’s Hope,” died on Tuesday. He was 69.

News of Born’s death was announced by his friend and business partner Deanne Lynne on Facebook. No cause of death was given.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Roscoe Born’s passing,” Lynn wrote. “He was an incredibly talented actor and songwriter. Many who knew him know how dedicated he was to social and political causes. He will be missed forever.”

Born began his acting career with guest spots on series such as “Joe Forrester, “The Rockford Files” and “The Incredible Hulk.” In 1981, the actor dove into his long run of daytime television roles, playing Joe Novak, the love interest of the Ryan clan’s Siobhan Ryan, in “Ryan’s Hope.” Two years after leaving the series in 1983, the actor married his co-star Randall Edwards, but they divorced in 1990.

His dual role as twins Robert Barr and Quinn Armitage on the show “Santa Barbara” earned Born a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1990. From 2005 to 2006, he would play abusive father Tom Fisher on “The Young and the Restless” and go on to star as Mitch Lawrence in “One Life to Live” from 2009 to 2012.

Born’s other soap opera credits include “All My Children,” “As the World Turns,” “Guiding Light” and “The City.”

[TTX]

Richard was one of the greats. RIP.

[jimsteel]

Marnie the Dog, Famous Tongue-Out Pup, Dies at 18

Marnie the Dog -- the Internet-famous pooch who was known for her tongue-out expression -- has died.

The Shih Tzu's owner, Shirley Braha, announced the tragic news Saturday on Instagram, writing ... "It is with much grief I share the news that Marnie passed away painlessly & peacefully in my home on Thursday afternoon at the age of 18."

She continued, "Her comfort had been notably declining over the past few days with little hope for improvement and she let me know she had had enough. She enjoyed her chicken until the very end." Braha goes on to thank everyone for embracing Marnie, explaining how her dog put her on the journey of a lifetime and how grateful she was for the love.