Year: 2007

Amazon.com: Marcel Marceau’s Videos, Books, and more

Marcel Mangel (March 22, 1923 – September 22, 2007), better known by his stage name Marcel Marceau, was a well-known mime artist, among the most popular representatives of this art form world-wide.

Marceau passed away on September 22, 2007. He died of a heart attack in his house of Cahors (France); he was 84.

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I hate mimes. But, never gave them a chance. I guess I am close minded. So, I am willing to give it a shot and learn more about the world of mime just for the sake of Celebrating Marcel Marceau’s life.

I know one of his quotes – "Don’t let the mime speak they will not stop" (something like that)

I knew of his name for some reason the name Marcel Marceau was very familiar to me. I didn’t know it was a name of a world famous mime.

If you look at the youtube clips of him you can tell Marcel is a good mime (and very popular). I wouldn’t mind seeing his show.

God bless Marcel Marceau

Alice Ghostley (August 14, 1926 – September 21, 2007) was a Tony Award-winning American actress. She was best known for her roles as Bernice Clifton on Designing Women (Emmy Nomination, Best Supporting Actress; 1992), as Esmeralda on Bewitched, and as Cousin Alice on Mayberry R.F.D..

Death

Alice Ghostley died at her home in Studio City, California on September 21, 2007 after a long battle with colon cancer and a series of strokes. Her death finally came from lung cancer. She was 81 years old. She is survived by a sister, Gladys Ghostley.

 

Amazon: Jane Wyman Movies, Books, Posters

Jane Wyman (January 5, 1917 – September 10, 2007) was an Oscar, Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated American actress. She was an ex-wife of the President Ronald Reagan.

Birth name:  Sarah Jane Mayfield
Born: January 5, 1917 Saint Joseph, Missouri, United States
Died September 10, 2007 (aged 90) Palm Springs, California, United States
Years active 1932-1993
Spouse(s) Myron Futterman (1937-1938), Ronald Reagan (1940-1948),  Fred Karger (1952-1954), (1961-1965)
Official site: www.jane-wyman.com

Death

Jane Wyman died at the age of 90 at her Palm Springs home on Monday, September 10, 2007, having long suffered from arthritis and diabetes.

 

Amazon.com: Luciano Pavarotti CD, DVD, & Memorabilia

Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007) was a celebrated Italian tenor in operatic music, who successfully crossed into popular music becoming one of the most beloved vocal performers. Known for his televised concerts, media appearances, and as one of The Three Tenors, Pavarotti also was noted for his charity work benefiting refugees, the Red Cross and other causes. 

Cause of Death: Cancer. Age 72
While undertaking an international "farewell tour," Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2006. The tenor fought back against the implications of this diagnosis, undergoing major abdominal surgery and making plans for the resumption and conclusion of his singing commitments. On September 6 2007, however, in an e-mail statement, his manager, Terri Robson, wrote, "The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life. In fitting with the approach that characterized his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness."

According to several reports, before he died the singer had reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church and received the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick before his death.

Pavarotti’s remains were honored in Modena Cathedral. The Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival Hall flew black flags in mourning. Tributes were published by many opera houses, such as London’s Royal Opera House.

Pavarotti was survived by four daughters: three, Lorenza, Cristina and Giuliana with first wife Adua, to whom he was married for 34 years; and one, Alice, with second wife Nicoletta Mantovani. At the time of his death, he had one granddaughter.

On September 5, 2007, Italy’s AGI news agency reported that Luciano Pavarotti’s health has deteriorated and the 71-year-old singer is in a “very serious condition”.

Numerous news venues and È TV Antenna Uno television station in Modena, the tenor’s home town, reported on September 5 Luciano Pavarotti is unconscious and his kidneys have stopped working. Pavarotti’s condition is “very grave,” the television said, citing unnamed sources.In March 2005, Pavarotti underwent neck surgery to repair two vertebrae. In June of the same year, he had to cancel a Three Tenors concert in Mexico due to laryngitis.

In early 2006, he had back surgery and contracted an infection while in the hospital, forcing cancellation of concerts in the U.S., Canada and the UK.

Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2006 and required emergency surgery to remove the tumor. Shortly after surgery he was reported to be “recovering well.” His remaining appearances for 2006 were canceled because of his ongoing cancer treatment; however, his management stated that it is anticipated that his farewell tour would resume in early 2007.

On Thursday, August 9, 2007, he was hospitalized for observation in his hometown of Modena, in Northern Italy, hospital officials there said. Hospital spokesman Alberto Greco declined to give the reason the 71-year-old tenor was hospitalized, but local daily Il Resto del Carlino reported that it was pneumonia. Announcement of his “imminent release” was made on August 15, 2007, but with no date cited. The report stated that he planned to return to recording his “sacred songs” and teaching his young pupils. On August 21, it was announced that he was being treated on the cancer ward, given tests related to his pancreatic cancer and would not be released for another few days.

Richard A. Jewell (December 17, 1962 – August 29, 2007) was a central figure of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Jewell, working as a private security guard, discovered a pipe bomb, alerted police, and helped to evacuate the area before it exploded, saving many people from injury or potential death. Initially hailed by the media as a hero, Jewell later was considered a suspect.

Despite having never been charged, he underwent what was considered by many to be a "trial by media" with great toll on his personal and professional life. Eventually he was exonerated completely: Eric Robert Rudolph was later found to have been the bomber

Death
Jewell suffered from diabetes, severe heart disease and kidney disease, which contributed to his death on August 29, 2007 from natural causes, aged 44.

Buy from Amazon.com: Owen Wilson DVDs

Wilson was taken to St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica on August 26, 2007 after a reported suicide attempt at his Santa Monica home, confirmed by a Santa Monica Police Department log. Once stabilized at St. John’s, Wilson was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where his condition was initially described as serious, then later upgraded to good and stable condition.

On August 27, 2007, Wilson issued a statement: "I respectfully ask that the media allow me to receive care and heal in private during this difficult time." On August 29, 2007, Wilson dropped out of filming Tropic Thunder, being produced and starring his friend and frequent collaborator, Ben Stiller. He was brought home and is now under constant observation.

• Buy from Amazon.com: Owen Wilson DVDs

 

Leona Helmsley (July 4, 1920 – August 20, 2007) was a billionaire New York City hotel operator and real estate investor. She was a flamboyant personality and had a reputation for tyrannical behavior that earned her the nickname "Queen of Mean." The image of Helmsley was sealed when a former housekeeper testified that she heard Helmsley say: "We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes." She was convicted of federal income tax evasion and other crimes in 1989 and served 19 months in prison (and two more months in house arrest), after receiving an initial sentence of 16 years.

Death

Leona Helmsley died from congestive heart failure, at the age of 87, on August 20, 2007, at her summer home in Greenwich, Connecticut Cardiovascular disease ran in her family, claiming the lives of her father, son and a sister. After a week at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, she was entombed next to Harry Helmsley in a mausoleum constructed for $1.4 million and set on 3/4 acre in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Westchester County, New York.

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I grew up in the 80’s. I probably heard Johnny Carson cracking jokes about Leona Helmsley about thousand times.

She was a great person in a way.  She started out as a secretary, then took over the industry.  I wish I was like that.

Then she made some bad decisions later in her life.

She must have been lonely, because she left 12 million dollars to her dog.

• Click here for a Leona Helmsley biography
• Share your memory, add your comment below
• Buy from Amazon.com: Leona Helmsley Books & Documentaries

 

Buy from Amazon.com: Max Roach CD

Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach (January 10, 1924 – August 16, 2007) was a bebop/hard bop percussionist, drummer, and composer. He worked with many of the greatest jazz musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins and Clifford Brown. Roach also led his own groups, and made numerous musical statements relating to the civil rights movement of African-Americans. He is generally considered to be one of the most important drummers in history. Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Death
Max Roach was 83 years old at the time of his death.  Cause of death was not known. but he had suffered for years from a neurological disorder.

 

 

Buy from Amazon.com: Merv Griffin DVDs, Books

Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American talk show host, game show host, entertainer, pianist, television personality and raconteur. He began his career as a singer and also appeared in movies and on Broadway; he later became host of his own TV show, The Merv Griffin Show, and created the long-running award-winning game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, becoming an entertainment business magnate.

Death 

Griffin’s prostate cancer, treated originally in 1996, returned and he was admitted to Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, where his condition deteriorated leading to his death on August 12, 2007 at age 82. Griffin is survived by his son, Tony, from Griffin’s only marriage to Julann Wright during 1958 from 1976, and two grandchildren.

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Merv Griffin had a good and long life.

I remember a Seinfeld episod on Merv Griffin studio set.