Joan Lorring, Oscar Nominated ‘Corn Is Green’ Actress, Dies 88

Joan Lorring (April 17, 1926 – May 30, 2014) was a Hong Kong-born American actress.

Her first film role (by which time the studio had changed her name to “Joan Lorring”) was in Song of Russia in 1944. She made The Bridge of San Luis Rey in the same year, and, in 1945, appeared opposite Bette Davis in The Corn Is Green as Bessie Watty. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role.

Joan Lorring cause of death

Joan Lorring died in a hospital in the New York City.  She was ill but cause of death was not released.  Joan Lorring was 88 years old at the time of her death.

Joan Lorring The Verdict, 1946

Jerry Vale, 50’s Legendary Crooner, Dies 83

Jerry Vale (born Genaro Louis Vitaliano; July 8, 1930 – May 18, 2014) was an American singer and actor.

He made cameo appearances as himself in the 1990 film Goodfellas and the 1995 film Casino, both directed by Martin Scorsese.

Jerry Vale cause of death

Jerry Vale died of natural causes in his sleep on May 18, 2014 at his home in Palm Desert, California. He was 83 years old.

Jerry Vale AL-DI-LA

Lee Marshall, Voice of ‘Tony The Tiger’ dies 64

Lee Marshall (born Marshall Aaron Mayer; November 28, 1949 – April 26, 2014) was a professional wrestling announcer formerly of the American Wrestling Association (AWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Women of Wrestling (WOW!).

He was the voice of Kellog’s iconic Tony the Tiger, succeeding Thurl Ravenscroft when he passed away in 2005.

Lee Marshall cause of death

Marshall died in Santa Monica on April 26, 2014 of esophageal cancer.

James Hellwig, WWE Legend, Ultimate Warrior, Dies 54

James Brian Hellwig (June 16, 1959 – April 8, 2014), was an American professional wrestler, who most famously wrestled under the ring name The Ultimate Warrior. He was best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) from 1987 to 1991 and again in 1992 and 1996, and in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1998. Warrior died on April 8, 2014 at the age of 54, three days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Ultimate Warrior cause of death

Information on the cause of death is not released yet.

Warrior died on April 8, 2014. He had been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 5, appeared at WrestleMania XXX on April 6, and made his first Raw appearance in 18 years on April 7, one day before his death. According to TMZ, Warrior collapsed at 5:50 PM while walking to his car with his wife in Arizona outside of their hotel. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

During his final appearance on Raw and less than 24 hours before his death, Warrior gave a speech to the fans and wrestlers past and present as his Ultimate Warrior character.

Mickey Rooney, Legendary Hollywood Star, Dies 93

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Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule, Jr.; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances spanned nearly his entire lifetime.

He received multiple awards, including a Juvenile Academy Award, an Honorary Academy Award, two Golden Globes and an Emmy Award. Working as a performer since he was a child, he was a superstar as a teenager for the films in which he played Andy Hardy, and he had one of the longest careers of any actor, spanning 92 years actively making films in ten decades, from the 1920s to the 2010s. For a younger generation of fans, he gained international fame for his leading role as Henry Dailey in The Family Channel’s The Adventures of the Black Stallion.

Upon his death in April 2014, along with Jean Darling, Carla Laemmle, and Baby Peggy, Rooney was one of the last surviving stars who worked in the silent film era. He was also the last surviving cast member of several films in which he appeared during the 1930s and 1940s.

Mickey Rooney Cause of death

Rooney died of natural causes, surrounded by his family at his home in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California on April 6, 2014. Mickey Rooney was 93 years old at the time of his death.

Spouses

  • Ava Gardner (m. 1942–1943)
  • B.J. Baker (m. 1944–1948)
  • Martha Vickers (m. 1949–1951)
  • Elaine Devry (m. 1952–1958)
  • Carolyn Mitchell (m. 1958–1966)
  • Marge Lane (m. 1966–1967)
  • Carolyn Hockett (m. 1969–1975)
  • Jan Chamberlin (m. 1978–2014)

Arthur Smith, Musician Who Wrote ‘Dueling Banjos,’ Dies 93

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Arthur Smith (April 1, 1921 – April 3, 2014) was an American musician and songwriter.

In 1955, Smith composed a banjo instrumental he called “Feudin’ Banjos” and recorded the song with five-string banjo player Don Reno. Later the composition appeared in the popular 1972 film Deliverance as “Dueling Banjos” played by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel. Not given credit, Smith had to proceed with legal action that eventually gave him songwriting credit and back royalties. It was a landmark copyright infringement suit.

Arthur Smith won a Grammy Award in 1973 for Dueling Banjos (original writer)

Arthur Smith cause of death

Arthur Smith died at his home on April 3, 2014.  A family member confirmed the death but did not specify a cause.  Arthur Smith was 93 years old at the time of his death.

Dueling Banjos – Deliverance

Marc Platt, ‘7 Brides for 7 Brothers’, ‘Oklahoma!, Dies 100

Marcel Emile Gaston LePlat (December 2, 1913 – March 29, 2014), known professionally as Marc Platt, was an American ballet dancer, musical theatre performer, and actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Daniel Pontipee, one of the seven brothers in the film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Platt danced the role of Chalmers/Dream Curly in the original 1943 Broadway production of Oklahoma!.

Platt appeared in the 1955 film version of Oklahoma! in a dancing / speaking role as one of Curly’s cowboy friends. He is the cowboy friend who buys Curly’s saddle for $10 at the auction – and who also comments that, the previous year, Ado Annie’s sweet potato pie gave him a ‘three day bellyache’ (Marc Platt is credited in the cast list of the film as a dancer). After he stopped dancing, Platt ran the Radio City Music Hall Ballet for several years, then transitioned to full-time teaching. In 2000, Platt was presented with the Nijinsky Award at the Ballets Russes Reunion. He appeared in the 2005 documentary Ballets Russes.

Marcel LePlat cause of death

Marcel Platt died of pneumonia at a hospice in San Rafael, California on March 29, 2014. Marcel LePlat was 100 years old at the time of his death.

Barn Raising Dance – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Marc Platt (Dan) in purple shirt

Dave Brockie, Gwar Singer, Oderus Urungus, dies 50

David Murray “Dave” Brockie (August 30, 1963 – March 23, 2014) was a lead vocalist of the metal band Gwar. The character of Oderus Urungus appeared as an intergalactic humanoid barbarian with devil horns and a meaty-looking face, and carried a long sword named “Unt Lick” and a cuttlefish around his loins.

Brockie portrayed Urungus from the band’s beginning in 1982 until his death on March 23, 2014.

Oderus Urungus was the only character to have existed in every incarnation of Gwar, having started as a guitar player, then moving to bass, and finally the vocals.

David Brockie cause of death

On Sunday March 23, 2014, Brockie was found dead in his house by a band member. According to police, Brockie was found deceased and sitting upright in a chair. Foul play and suicide have been ruled out as causes of death, but drugs are being considered as the official word awaits from a medical examiner. Gwar’s management confirmed the reports of Brockie’s death on the official Gwar website at 4am on March 24 and news of Brockie’s death spread quickly with many of his fellow musicial peers and bandmates responding through social media. Mike Bishop, former member of Gwar, was one of the first to confirm Brockie’s death.  David Brockie was 50 years old at the time of his death.

GWAR “Madness at the Core of Time” – Lead singer is David Brockie