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

[on_the_edge]

Damn that sucks.

[jimsteel]

Stan Kirsch Dead: ‘Highlander’ Actor Dies at 51 After Committing Suicide

Stan Kirsch, one of the stars of the TV series “Highlander,” has died at the age of 51. Kirsch was a renowned acting coach in LA. He is survived by his wife, Kristyn Green. Online records show that Kirsch committed suicide by hanging.

For six seasons, Kirsch played the role of Richie Ryan on the TV incarnation of the movie “Highlander.” Later, Kirsch contributed to the fan fiction book of short stories, “Highlander: An Evening at Joe’s.” Kirsch’s story was titled, “From the Grave.”

In May 1995, Kirsch made a memorable appearance in a controversial episode of “Friends.” Kirsch played the part of Ethan, a man who is dating Monica. During the episode, Monica discovers that Ethan is only a senior in high school thus making their relationship illegal.

In a Cosmopolitan 2015 round-up of all of Monica, Rachel and Phoebe’s boyfriends during the show’s 10 years, Kirsch’s turn is referred to as a “storyline [that] probably wouldn’t fly on TV today (although, hello, Ezra Miller in Trainwreck), but it did seem funny at the time.”

[Shane Sullivan]

I was a huge Highlander mark back in the day. This hurts my heart. Every suicide hurts my heart. So bummed.

[jimsteel]

Washington Nationals Prospect Fausto Segura Dead At 23 After Motorcycle Crash


Tragic news in the Washington Nationals organization ... one of their up-and-coming pitching prospects died Sunday reportedly after a motorcycle crash in the Dominican Republic.

Fausto Segura -- a 6-foot-3 right hander who signed with the Nats back in 2017 -- was allegedly driving his motorcycle when he was struck by a van, ESPN Deportes said.

Segura was reportedly visiting his hometown of Barahona at the time of the accident. He was 23 years old.

"The Washington Nationals are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Fausto Segura," the team said in a statement Monday. "He was beloved by his teammates, coaches, coordinators and everyone he came in contact with throughout our organization."

Segura pitched in the Nationals' farm system the past three seasons ... and showed some upside, according to assistant general manager of international operations Johnny DiPuglia.

"He was starting to take off," DiPuglia said of Segura. "We were excited about him. But the thing we were most excited about him was how his maturation had improved."

[on_the_edge]

I think another young baseball player died same way in last year.

[TTX]

www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/former-kansas-city-royals-owner-david-glass-dies-at-age-85/

[magnumta]

Jan 14, 2020 13:04:39 GMT -5 Shane Sullivan said:

I was a huge Highlander mark back in the day. This hurts my heart. Every suicide hurts my heart. So bummed.

Me too.

[jimsteel]

Derek Fowlds: Yes Minister and Heartbeat actor dies aged 82

Derek Fowlds also starred in The Basil Brush Show, appearing as the iconic puppet fox's loyal friend Mr Derek.

The actor was best known for playing the private secretary Bernard Woolley in the popular 80s sitcom, and he later reprised the role in the sequel series Yes, Prime Minister.

Fowlds also played Oscar Blaketon in long-running ITV police drama Heartbeat during a successful TV career that began when he took on the role of Mr Derek on The Basil Brush Show.

He appeared alongside the iconic puppet fox with his trademark "boom boom!" catchphrase from 1969 to 1973, replacing Rodney Bewes as presenter.

[Bazzy]

Derek Fowlds what a legend with Basil Brush and in Heartbeat as Oscar Blaketon

[jimsteel]

Hugh Wilson, Creator of 'WKRP in Cincinnati' and Director of 'Police Academy,' Dies at 74

His résumé also includes the films 'The First Wives Club,' 'Guarding Tess' and 'Stroker Ace' and TV's 'Frank's Place.'
Hugh Wilson, who created the acclaimed sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati and directed and co-wrote the first Police Academy movie, launching a Warner Bros. franchise, has died. He was 74.

An Emmy winner and seven-time nominee, Wilson died Sunday at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia, his family announced. The cause of death was lung cancer.

Wilson also directed The First Wives Club (1996), starring Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton as women seeking revenge on their ex-husbands, and co-wrote and helmed Guarding Tess (1994), featuring Shirley MacLaine as a first lady and Nicolas Cage as a Secret Service agent trying to protect her.

Wilson wrote and directed two 1999 films that starred Brendan Fraser, Blast From the Past and Dudley Do-Right, and penned the screenplay for Hal Needham's Stroker Ace (1983), starring Burt Reynolds and his future wife Loni Anderson, one of the breakout stars of WKRP.

WKRP in Cincinnati, set at a rock radio station in the Ohio city, ran for four seasons on CBS from 1978-82. It starred Howard Hesseman and Tim Reid as deejays Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap, respectively; Gary Sandy and Gordon Jump as station execs; Richard Sanders as the mousey newsman Les Nessman; and Anderson as WKRP's comely receptionist. The station call letters were a pun on "W-crap."

Wilson was a writer at MTM Enterprises and at work on The Tony Randall Show when he approached MTM head Grant Tinker about an idea for another comedy, one that was based on his experience as a sales executive at a Top 40 radio station in Atlanta.