Author: John

Teddy Pendergrass (March 26, 1950 — January 13, 2010) was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Also known by the nicknames Teddy P, TP, or Teddy Bear, Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before embarking on a successful solo career at the end of the decade.

Death of Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass died at Bryn Mawr Hospital at age 59, from complications following surgery for colon cancer.

Pendergrass was Paralyzed from the waist down since 1982
On March 18, 1982, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia on Lincoln Drive, Pendergrass was involved in an automobile accident. The brakes failed on his 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit, causing the car to hit a guard rail, cross into the opposite traffic lane, and hit two trees. Pendergrass and his passenger, Tenika Watson, a transsexual nightclub performer with whom Pendergrass was casually acquainted, were trapped in the wreckage for 45 minutes. While Watson walked away from the accident with minor injuries, Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the waist down

Teddy Pandergrass – close the door (live)

Teddy Pandergrass discography continues next page

Discography

Albums

    * 1977: Teddy Pendergrass (Philadelphia International) – US Pop #17, US R&B #5
    * 1978: Life Is a Song Worth Singing (Philadelphia International) – US Pop #11, US R&B #1
    * 1979: Teddy (Philadelphia International) – US Pop #5, US R&B #1
    * 1979: Live! Coast to Coast (Philadelphia International) – US Pop #33, US R&B #5
    * 1980: TP (Philadelphia International) – US Pop #14, US R&B #3
    * 1981: It’s Time for Love (Philadelphia International) – US Pop #19, US R&B #6
    * 1982: This One’s for You (Philadelphia International) – US Pop #59, US R&B #6
    * 1983: Heaven Only Knows (Philadelphia International) – US Pop #123, US R&B #9
    * 1984: Love Language (Asylum) – US Pop #38, US R&B #4
    * 1985: Greatest Hits (Philadelphia International) – US R&B #65
    * 1985: Workin’ It Back (Asylum) – US Pop #96, US R&B #6
    * 1988: Joy (Elektra) – US Pop #54, US R&B #2
    * 1991: Truly Blessed (Elektra) – US Pop #49, US R&B #4
    * 1993: A Little More Magic (Elektra) – US Pop #92, US R&B #13
    * 1997: You and I (Surefire) – US Pop #137, US R&B #24
    * 1998: The Best of Teddy Pendergrass (The Right Stuff)
    * 1998: This Christmas I’d Rather Have Love (Surefire/Wind-Up) – US R&B #83
    * 2001: Greatest Slow Jams (The Right Stuff) – US R&B #98
    * 2002: From Teddy with Love (Razor & Tie) – US R&B #63
    * 2004: Love Songs Collection (The Right Stuff) – US R&B #70

Singles

    * 1977: "I Don’t Love You Anymore" – US Pop #41, US R&B #5
    * 1977: "The Whole Town’s Laughing At Me" – US R&B #16
    * 1978: "Close the Door" – US Pop #25, US R&B #1
    * 1978: "Only You" – US R&B #22
    * 1979: "Turn Off the Lights" – US Pop #48, US R&B #2
    * 1979: "Come Go With Me" – US R&B #14
    * 1980: "Shout and Scream" – US R&B #21
    * 1980: "It’s You I Love" – US R&B #44
    * 1980: "Can’t We Try" – US Pop #52, US R&B #3
    * 1980: "Love T.K.O." – US Pop #44, US R&B #2
    * 1981: "Two Hearts" (with Stephanie Mills) – US Pop #40, US R&B #3
    * 1981: "I Can’t Live Without Your Love" – US R&B #10
    * 1982: "You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration" – US Pop #43, US R&B #4
    * 1982: "The Gift of Life" / "Nine Times Out of Ten" – US R&B #31
    * 1982: "I Can’t Win for Losing" – US R&B #32
    * 1983: "I Want My Baby Back" – US R&B #61
    * 1984: "Hold Me" (with Whitney Houston) – US Pop #46, US R&B #5
    * 1984: "You’re My Choice Tonight (Choose Me)" – US R&B #15
    * 1985: "Never Felt Like Dancin’" – US R&B #21
    * 1986: "Love 4/2" – US R&B #6
    * 1986: "Let Me Be Closer" – US R&B #67
    * 1988: "Joy" – US Pop #71, US R&B #1
    * 1988: "2 A.M." – US R&B #3
    * 1988: "Love Is the Power" – US R&B #57
    * 1990: "Glad to Be Alive" (with Lisa Fischer) – US R&B #31
    * 1991: "Make It with You" – US R&B #23
    * 1991: "It Should’ve Been You" – US R&B #1
    * 1991: "I Find Everything in You" – US R&B #31
    * 1993: "Voodoo" – US R&B #25
    * 1994: "Believe in Love" – US R&B #14
    * 1994: "I’m Always Thinking About You" – US R&B #90
    * 1997: "Don’t Keep Wastin’ My Time" – US Pop #90, US R&B #39
    * 1997: "Give It to Me" – US R&B #57

Arthur C. Clokey (October 12, 1921 – January 8, 2010) was a pioneer in the popularization of stop motion clay animation.

He is best known for his animated television character Gumby. Since 1955, Gumby has been a familiar presence on television, appearing in several series—and even in a 1995 feature film, Gumby: The Movie. Clokey’s second most famous production is the duo of Davey and Goliath, funded by the Lutheran Church.

Death of Art Clokey
Arthur died peacefully in his sleep the morning of January 8, 2010; at his home in Los Osos, CA. Art Clokey was 89 years old at the time of his death

Gumby – Scrooge Loose

Casey Johnson (September 24, 1979 – January 4, 2010) was an American socialite. She was also one of the great-great-granddaughters of Robert Wood Johnson I, co-founder of Johnson & Johnson.

Death of Casey Johnson
On January 4, 2010, Johnson was found dead in her Los Angeles home. The cause of death is yet to be determined (pending coroner’s toxicology report), however authorities reported "no evidence of foul play" and that she might have been dead a few days. Tequila said Johnson had not answered her phone since December 29, 2009. Tequila later posted to her Twitter that Johnson was not dead, but in a coma. Later she backtracked stating that Johnson was, in fact, dead

At the age of 14, Johnson co-wrote a book with her father entitled Managing Your Child’s Diets. She has appeared as herself on the television shows The Fabulous Life of… and E! True Hollywood Story. In addition she was a popular Hollywood socialite known for making outrageous headlines.

Johnson openly declared her sexuality as a lesbian.

This is my top 10 famous celebrity deaths in Hollywood – 2009

I came up with the list by considering three factors: 1) How much I like them personally, 2) How much they contributed to entertainment industry, 3) Shock value. 

So, you are likely to disagree with me.  But it’s OK.  Feel free to share your opinion.

1. Michael Jackson 50
2. Jennifer Jones 90
3. Patrick Swayze 57
4. Farrah Fawcett 62
5. Ed McMahon 86
6. Karl Malden 97
7. Billy Mays 50
8. David Carradine 72
9. Ted Kennedy 77
10. Al Martino 82

James Owen Sullivan (February 10, 1981 – December 28, 2009), better known by his stage name, The Rev, or The Reverend Tholomew Plague was the drummer and back-up vocalist for the band Avenged Sevenfold, and lead vocalist in the avant-garde metal band Pinkly Smooth with fellow Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Synyster Gates. Sullivan lived in Huntington Beach, California and was married to Leana MacFadden aka Leana Silver. He was found dead on December 28, 2009, aged 28.

Death of James Sullivan
Sullivan was found dead at his home in Huntington Beach on Monday, December 28, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. The Orange County Police Department is investigating his death; they said that it appeared to be due to natural causes.

Avenged Sevenfold – Afterlife (Jimmy on Drums)

James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009) was a singer-songwriter living in Athens, Georgia. He had been writing songs since he was five years old. Injured in a car accident in 1983, the paraplegic artist’s first big breakthrough to commercial success came with the release of the tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation.

An adoptee, Chesnutt was raised in Zebulon, Georgia, where he first started writing songs at the age of 5. At 18, a car accident left him partially paralyzed, though it wasn’t long afterward that he realized he could still play guitar. After his recovery he left Zebulon and moved to Nashville, Tennessee; the poetry he read there (by Stevie Smith, Walt Whitman, Wallace Stevens, W. H. Auden, Stephen Crane, and Emily Dickinson) served to inspire and influence him.

Death of Vic Chesnutt
On December 25, 2009, Chesnutt died from an overdose of muscle relaxants that had left him in a coma in an Athens hospital.

 Vic Chesnutt – Band Camp

George Michael (March 24, 1939 – December 24, 2009) was a sportscaster best known nationally for his long-running American sports highlights show called The George Michael Sports Machine. Started as a local show in 1980 called George Michael’s Sports Final and then nationally syndicated in 1984, the nationally broadcast show was distributed for syndication by NBC until it left the air following the March 25, 2007 airing. Michael won a Sports Emmy in 1985 for his work on The George Michael Sports Machine.

Death of Geroge Michael
Michael died on December 24, 2009 at 70 years old after a 2 year battle with cancer.

James Gurley (December 22, 1939 – December 20, 2009) was an American musician. He is best known as the guitar player of Big Brother and the Holding Company, a psychedelic/acid rock band from San Francisco.

Relationship with Janis Joplin
A few weeks after Janis Joplin joined the band, James began having an affair with her. Once James and Janis became involved, he moved out of the apartment he shared with his wife and moved in with Janis. According to Janis, that arrangement ended the day Nancy came barging through the front door of Janis’s apartment. "What an embarrassing situation," Janis told Jim Langdon later. "His old lady comes marching into my bedroom with the kid and the dog and confronts us." James continued his affair with Janis for a while, but eventually returned to Nancy, who forgave both him and Janis, with whom she had a close friendship. In 1966, the members of Big Brother, along with their wives and children, all moved into a single house in Lagunitas, California.

Death of James Gurley
James Gurley passed away on December 20, 2009, of a heart attack at home in Palm Desert, Ca, just two days before his 70th birthday.

Big Brother & The Holding Co. feat. Janis Joplin, James Gurley on Guitar

Brittany Murphy (November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009) was an American actress and recording artist. She starred in films such as Just Married, Clueless, Girl, Interrupted, 8 Mile, Sin City, The Dead Girl, Uptown Girls, Riding in Cars with Boys and Spun.

Murphy starred in many successful films, including Clueless (1995), Girl, Interrupted (1999), Don’t Say a Word (2001), the TV adaption of the novel The Devil’s Arithmetic (2001), 8 Mile (2002) and Uptown Girls (2003) as well as many lesser-known films, such as Spun (2003). In 2004, she starred in the romantic comedy Little Black Book, and the critically acclaimed Sin City (2005). She starred in two Edward Burns films: Sidewalks of New York (2002) and The Groomsmen (2006). In 2009, she was cast in the Lifetime TV movie, Tribute, as the main character, Cilla.

Death of Brittany Murphy
On December 20, 2009, Murphy was rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and pronounced dead.  Her family said Brittany Murphy suffered flu-like symptom before death.

Cause of death
February 4, 2010, the Los Angeles County coroner stated that the primary cause of Murphy’s death was pneumonia, with secondary factors of iron-deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

February 25, 2010, the coroner released a report stating that Murphy had been taking a range of over-the-counter and prescription medications, with the most likely reason being to treat a cold or respiratory infection. These included “elevated levels” of hydrocodone, acetaminophen, L-methamphetamine and chlorpheniramine. All of the drugs were legal and the death was ruled to be an accident, but the report observed: “the possible adverse physiological effects of elevated levels of these medications cannot be discounted, especially in her weakened state”

Brittany Murphy on Letterman

Updates

• July 26, 2010 – Investigation is underway for possible toxic mold that might have killed both Brittany Murphy & her husband Simon Monjack.


• May 24, 2010 – Brittany Murphy’s husband Simon Monjack dies in the same apartment, same room, for same cause of death. Brittany Murphy’s mother discovers the body (the same person who found Brittany Murphy’s body months earlier)


• February 25, 2010 – Brittany Murphy’s death was ruled “Accident”


• February 4, 2010, the Los Angeles County coroner stated that the primary cause of Murphy’s death was pneumonia, with secondary factors of iron-deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication.


• Dec 23, 2009: Retailers are pulling Brittany’s new movie poster “Deadline” – The poster shows Brittany in the bath tub (looked like she’s dying).


• Dec 21, 2009: Autopsy is completed, but it may take up to 6 weeks for the result to be released (especially toxicology result). Autopsy found no signs of trauma.  The family said she suffered “flu like symptom” before death.


• Dec 21, 2009: Hulu & YouTube pulled ‘SNL’ Brittany Murphy skit.


• Dec 20, 2009: Autopsy is underway.  Her husband originally didn’t want autopsy.  He claimed autopsy was against his Jewish belief.

Related Pages

• Brittany Murphy’s husband found dead in the same room Brittany died (May 24, 2010)


• Brittany Murphy & Simon Monjack’s death – Toxic Mold Investigation (July, 26, 2010)

Arnold Stang (September 28, 1918 – December 20, 2009) was an American comic actor who played a small and bespectacled, yet brash and knowing big-city type.

In films, he played Sparrow in The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) with Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak. In It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) he played Ray, who along with his partner Irwin (played by Marvin Kaplan), owns a gas station that is destroyed by Jonathan Winters. He appeared in Hello Down There (1969). In one of the oddest movie pairings, he partnered with Arnold Schwarzenegger (billed as "Arnold Strong") in the latter’s first film, the camp classic Hercules in New York (1970).

As a voice actor for animated cartoons, Stang provided the voice for Popeye’s pal Shorty (a caricature of Stang), Herman the mouse in a number of Famous Studios cartoons, Tubby Tompkins in a few Little Lulu shorts, the famous Hanna-Barbera lead character Top Cat (modeled explicitly on Phil Silvers’s Sgt. Bilko), and Catfish on Misterjaw. He also provided many extra voices for the Cartoon Network series Courage the Cowardly Dog. On television, he appeared in commercials for the Chunky candy bar, where he would list all of its ingredients, smile and say, "Chunky, what a chunk of chocolate!" He provided the voice of the Honey Nut Cheerios Bee in the 1980s and was also a spokesman for Vicks Vapo-Rub.

Stang appeared on an episode of The Cosby Show with guest star Sammy Davis Jr. In one TV ad he played Luther Burbank, proudly showing off his newly-invented "square tomato" to fit neatly in typical square slices of commercial bread, then being informed that the advertising bakery had beat him to it by producing round loaves of bread. He played the photographer in the 1993 film Dennis the Menace with Walter Matthau.

Death of Arnold Stang
Arnold Stang died of pneumonia in Newton, Massachusetts, on December 20, 2009. Arnold Stang was 91 years old at the time of his death.