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

[on_the_edge]

39 is so young. Sadly it seems it was suicide.

[jimsteel]

Legendary Soul Train Dancer Tyrone “The Bone” Proctor Passes Away at 66

Proctor was one of the last living pioneers of the ‘70s dance show.

As one of the last living trailblazers of the ‘70s dance craze, Proctor was chosen by Don Cornelius to perform in the Don Cornelius & The Soul Train Gang Presents stadium tour in 1973. Globally known for teaching Waacking dancing, Proctor became the pioneer for the signature dance moves in Japan, China, clubs and the famous Soul Train.

Tyrone led the choreography in music videos for Dane Levert, Keith Sweat, The Isley Brothers, and more. Nominated for Best Choreographer with New Kids On The Block in 1989 at the MTV Awards, Tyrone was a staple in the dance community. Spreading the history of his recognizable “Waacking” moves, he was fea

[jimsteel]

Legendary Batman writer, Denny O'Neil dies at age 81

Dennis J. "Denny" O'Neil has died at age 81. As confirmed by his family, the legendary comic book writer died at home of natural causes on the night of June 11.

O’Neil was best known for his work on Batman, which included writing Batman, Detective Comics, and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, as well as editing DC’s Batman titles from 1986 to 2000. He, editor Julius Schwartz, and artist Neal Adams are credited for guiding the Dark Knight back to his darker roots after a period of campiness brought on by the success of the 1960s Batman TV series.

During his time on Batman, he created/co-created Ra’s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Leslie Thompkins, Azrael, and Richard Dragon; he was also involved in the revitalization of the Joker and Two-Face as modern DC villains, and oversaw the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin.

Alongside Adams, O’Neil also reinvigorated the characters of Green Arrow and Green Lantern by pairing them up as best friends and “hard-traveling heroes” who ventured the country righting wrongs while exploring complex issues of politics and social justice – one of the first comic book runs to do so in a nuanced way.

Also at DC, he wrote the iconic Superman vs. Muhammad Ali one-shot, the Armageddon 2001 event, as well as memorable runs on Justice League and the Question.

O’Neil also enjoyed a fruitful stint at Marvel, writing Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Daredevil, and was involved in the creation of Madame Web, Hydro-Man, Obadiah Stane, Lady Deathstrike, and the concept for the Transformers - including naming Optimus Prime. During his time editing at Marvel, he was the one who hired then-newcomer Frank Miller to take over the Daredevil title.

The writer also branched out to TV, writing episodes of Logan’s Run, Superboy, Batman: The Animated Series, and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

[TTX]

RIP Denny. I enjoyed much of your stuff over the years.

[on_the_edge]

In my young, immature days I called my little soldier Tyrone the Bone. So when I saw he passed I freaked for a moment thinking it was my soldier. A quick check revealed he's still there and doing fine.

[jimsteel]

Mel Winkler, Voice of Crash Bandicoot’s Aku Aku, Passed Away at 78

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Winkler “died peacefully in his sleep of unknown causes” on June 11th. He is survived by his two children, and four grandchildren.

Winkler’s career extends across live-action and voice acting. Best known in the mainstream for films such as Joppy in Devil in a Blue Dress, Melvin in Doc Hollywood and Coach White in Coach Carter; along with the TV series Oswald as Johnny Snowman.

In the world of voice acting, he was known for Aku Aku in Crash Bandicoot, as well as Lucius Fox in The New Batman Adventures.

[jimsteel]

Ricky Valance dead – Welsh singer behind 1960 Number One ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’ passes away at 84 after dementia battle

SINGER Ricky Valance – the first Welshman to have a solo UK number one single - has died at the age of 84.

Valance, who topped the charts with song 'Tell Laura I Love Her' in 1960, passed away after a battle with dementia.

The singer was born David Spencer, in Ynysddu, now in Caerphilly county, the eldest of 11 children and was lead soprano in his local church choir as a child.

He joined the air force aged 17 and saw active service in north Africa before returning three years later, the BBC reports.

Valance started performing in clubs in the north of England, before being signed and recording 'Tell Laura I Love Her'.

The song tells the tragic story of a boy called Tommy and his love for a girl called Laura, which was controversial at the time.

The track was banned from airplay by the BBC but went on to be a number one single, selling more than a million copies.

It spent 16 weeks in the chart - three of which were at the number one spot - but was to prove his only big hit in the UK.

[TTX]

www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mike-mccormick-former-mlb-all-star-and-1967-cy-young-winner-dies-at-81/

[jimsteel]

Leicester Snooker legend Willie Thorne dies

The 66-year old has passed away in a Spanish hospital

Leicester snooker legend Willie Thorne has died after a battle with leukaemia.

The star had been in an induced coma intensive care in a Spanish hospital, after suffering respiratory failure on Sunday (June 14).

The 66-year-old was diagnosed with cancer in March and has been affected by various health problems since, while undergoing chemotherapy treatment while residing in his rented flat in Alicante.

[WTIC]

Variety reporting the death of Ian Holm, Ash from Ridley Scott's 1979 masterpiece ALIEN: variety.com/2020/film/global/ian-holm-dead-bilbo-baggins-lord-of-the-rings-1234642549/


Ian Holm, the classically trained Shakespearean actor best known to film audiences for his performances in films including the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” movies, “Chariots of Fire” and “Alien,” has died. He was 88.

A rep for the actor has said Holm died in hospital on Friday morning. The actor had been battling Parkinson’s Disease for a number of years. However, as recently as January, Holm appeared in person to collect the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Icon Award in London.

Holm, who was celebrated for interpretations of most of the Shakespeare canon, including a towering “King Lear,” also excelled onstage in the original production of Harold Pinter’s “The Homecoming,” which he also brought to Broadway. He began working in films only midway through his career, debuting with an adaptation of his stage performance in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 1968.

In later years, however, he worked increasingly in movies and more selectively onstage, appearing in high-profile films such as “Alien,” “The Fifth Element,” “Lord of the Rings” pics “The Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Return of the King” and “Hobbit” movies “An Unexpected Journey” and “The Battle of the Five Armies.”

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R.I.P., Ian! "Alien" is somewhere on my favorite movies list, and Ash was one of the best characters in that movie! When I have the time, I will have to look for interviews he did about Alien, I wonder if he didn't care to talk about it since he didn't do the voice-over for his character in the "Alien: Isolation" game?

Todd C
WTIC