Year: 2011

Roberts Scott Blossom (March 25, 1924 – July 8, 2011) was an American actor and poet.

Blossom won three Obie awards. After his long career, Roberts Blossom is perhaps best known for a small role in Home Alone.

In the thriller Deranged, Blossom played the leading role as killer Ezra Cobb. In the Oscar-winning film drama The Great Gatsby (1974), he was accompanied on-screen by Robert Redford. He won the Soapy Award for his role on Another World, on which he appeared from 1976-1977. In 1990 he starred in Home Alone as Kevin McCallister’s (Macaulay Culkin) snow-shoveling neighbor, Old Man Marley. In the comedy Doc Hollywood (1991), he appeared on-screen with Michael J. Fox.

He retired from acting in the late-1990s to pursue writing poetry. He lived in Berkeley, California, and resided in Southern California until his passing on July 8, 2011.

Roberts Blossom cause of death
Roberts Blossom died of natural causes.  Roberts Blossom was 87 years old at the time of his death.

"Deranged" movie trailer (1974 Roberts Blossom A.I.P.)

Manuel Galbán (1931 – July 7, 2011) was a Grammy winning Cuban guitarist, pianist and arranger, most notable for his work with Los Zafiros, Ry Cooder and the Buena Vista Social Club. The last surviving member of Los Zafiros,

In 2001 he recorded Mambo Sinuendo with Ry Cooder which won the 2003 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

Manuel Galban Cause of Death
Manuel Galban passed away on July 7, 2011 of cardiac arrest at his home in Havana, Cuba. Manuel Galban was 80 years old at the time of his death.

Elaine Stewart (May 31, 1929 – June 27, 2011) was an American actress and model.

Stewart made her debut by winning Miss See in See Magazine in 1952, with measurements 34-25-36. She was in many magazines such as Playboy and Photoplay.

She had a supporting role in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), as Laila. She appeared in other films, such as Brigadoon, Night Passage and The Adventures of Hajji Baba.

She is also known as the co-hostess on two 1970s game shows, Gambit with Wink Martindale and the nighttime edition of High Rollers with Alex Trebek, both produced by her husband.

Elaine Stewart cause of death
Elaine Stewart died after a long illness.
Elaine Stewart was 81 years old at the time of her death

Gambit (CBS) with Wink Martindale & Elaine Stewart 

Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films and television guest roles, and has been nominated for an Academy Award twice (for 1960’s Murder, Inc. and 1961’s Pocketful of Miracles), and won the Emmy Award on five occasions (four for Columbo) and the Golden Globe award once.

In 1968 he starred with Gene Barry in a ninety-minute TV pilot about a highly-skilled, laid-back detective. Columbo eventually became part of an anthology series entitled, The NBC Mystery Movie, along with McCloud and McMillan And Wife.

Peter Falk Cause of Death
Peter Falk died at his Beverly Hills home on June 23, 2011. According to his daughter, Catherine Falk, the actor had been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Cause of death is not known.

 Columbo Fantastic Interrogation Example
Lower quality video, but this is also my favorite scene.

Eugene “Gene” Colan (September 1, 1926 – June 23, 2011) was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics’ classic horror series. He co-created the Falcon, the first African-American superhero in mainstream comics.

Colan was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2005.

Gene Colan cause of death
Gene Colan died, following complications from liver disease and a broken hip received in a fall.  Gene Colan was 84 years old at the time of his death.

Ryan Dunn (June 11, 1977 – June 20, 2011) was an American reality television personality and daredevil best known for being a member of The Jackass Crew, MTV’s Viva La Bam, and Homewrecker. A member of the CKY Crew, Dunn played the main character in Bam Margera’s film Haggard, which was based on a failed relationship Ryan had experienced.

Ryan Dunn Cause of Death
On June 20, 2011 at approximately 3:30 am EDT, Dunn died in a car crash in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania. He posted a photo of him drinking with friends hours beforehand. At the time of the accident, Dunn was believed to have been traveling over 110 mph (180 km/h). An unidentified occupant of the vehicle was also found dead at the scene. WKST-FM reported that both of the bodies had suffered severe burns, and the emergency medical technicians experienced difficulty in identifying the vehicle’s occupants; Dunn was reportedly identified by his tattoos and facial hair.

 Jackass Ryan Dunn with (more) facial hair

Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. (January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011), also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death, he was a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, playing the saxophone. He released several solo albums and in 1985 had a hit single with "You’re a Friend of Mine", a duet with Jackson Browne. As a guest musician he also featured on Aretha Franklin’s classic "Freeway of Love" and on Twisted Sister’s "Be Chrool to Your Scuel" as well as performing in concert with The Grateful Dead and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. As an actor Clemons featured in several films, including New York, New York and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. He also made cameo appearances in several TV series, including Diff’rent Strokes, Nash Bridges, The Simpsons and The Wire. Together with his television writer friend Don Reo he published his autobiography, Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales, in 2009.

Clarence Clemons Cause of Death
Clarence Clemons suffered a stroke on June 12, 2011. He underwent two surgeries after which he was in serious, but stable condition. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, he had been showing signs of recovery. However, Clemons died from complications caused by the stroke on June 18.
Clarence Clemons was 69 years old at time of his death.

Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus is coming to town – Paris 07
Clarence Clemon on Sax, also sings "You better be good for goodness sake"

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Jungleland

Wild Man Fischer (November 6, 1944 – June 15, 2011) was an American songwriter in the outsider genre. He was notable for being responsible for Rhino Records’ first release, Go To Rhino Records (1975). Described by Allmusic as "certified paranoid schizophrenic and acid casualty", Fischer’s highly unusual style had developed a cult following.

Wild Man Fischer Cause of Death
Fischer died in Los Angeles, on June 15, 2011 after heart problems.

Larry "Wild Man" Fischer, early 1980’s

Bob Banner (August 15, 1921 – June 15, 2011) is an Emmy-winning American producer, writer and director.

During The Golden Age of Television, Bob was one of the prime movers of variety programming. The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, which he produced and directed, garnered a myriad of awards including three Emmys, two Christopher Awards and two Peabodys.

In 1958, he formed Bob Banner Associates. BBA’s first production was “The Garry Moore Show” with regulars Durward Kirby, Carol Burnett, and Marion Lorne. The program ran for 218 episodes and won several Emmy Awards, including one for Carol.

Special “Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall,” starring Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett which garnered three Emmys and the International Golden Rose Award.

Bob Banner Cause of Death
Bob Banner died of Parkinson’s disease at the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement community in  Woodland Hills, California.
Bob Banner was 89 years old at the time of his death.

Carl Gardner (born Carl Edward Gardner; April 29, 1928 – June 12, 2011), was an American singer, best known as the foremost member and founder of The Coasters.

Gardner was born in Tyler Texas. He formed the group with Bobby Nunn in 1955, after leaving The Robins, at the behest of the songwriting/producing team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Gardner’s son, Carl Jr., officially joined The Coasters in late 2005, after Gardner semi-retired, although Carl Jr. had been touring with them since at least 1998.

Carl Gardner Cause of Death
Carl Gardner, Sr. died on June 12, 2011, after suffering with Congestive Heart Failure and Vascular Dementia. (Source: Coasters Website.) His son Carl, Jr., having taken over as lead singer of The Coasters, carries on with the group. Carl Gardner was 83 years old at the time of his death.

The Coasters – Poison Ivy.   Lead Singer: Carl Gardner