Dammit: RIP Christopher Lee

Fuck You, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences! He was older than your fucking award. Could you give him and honorary one for his work dating back to 1947? No. Fuck you.

Apparently, he died Sunday, but it wasn't announced until today so his wife could notify relatives. Lee aspired to be an opera singer in his youth, but put his sonorous voice to good use in more than 200 films, television shows, recordings and video games.  So long, Chris.

RIP Geoffrey Lewis, 1935-2015

"Who are you?!?!?"

That line in High Plains Drifter is how most people first learned who Geoffrey Lewis was. He died yesterday at 79. Yeah, I found an obit with the clip in it. So long, Geoffrey. You'll be missed.

RIP Leonard Nimoy, 1931-2015

I grew up with Leonard, from The Untouchables, and the I Robot episode on Outer Limits, to Spock, of course, and Mission Impossible, replacing Martin Landau.
It was about that time I learned I'd seen him--looking amazingly Spockish--years before in the combined Commando Cody serial Zombies of the Stratosphere. He was on everything: Combat, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Sea Hunt, The Twilight Zone, even Get Smart. I even saw him play Malvolio in Twelfth Night at the old Pittsburgh Public Theater back in the 1970s. He died this morning at 83. Yeah, He lived long and prospered.
*the above photo is from a party his record label threw--yeah he had a record deal--in 1969. Partying with Eric and Jimi. You don't get to do that every day. So long, Leonard.

Cry Me A River: Joe Cocker 1944-2014

He used to have bad stage fright, and it got to where he drink so much that he once said he wouldn't go on stage until he'd thrown up at least once. Between that and the heroin, by 1974 he couldn't go on stage at all. By the late 70s, he'd cleaned up and went on to enjoy 30 more years of, albeit less colorful, success. RIP Joe, say hi to Jack Bruce for me.

RIP Richard Attenborough, 1923-2014

Many may only remember him from Jurassic Park, but that's the curse of living to be 90. I first noticed him in The Great Escape, and though he went on to win an Oscar for directing Gandhi, I'll always remember him for this 1971 portrayal of serial killer John Reginald Christie:

RIP Richard, and haunt your brother about that Thermageddon hysteria.

RIP: Al Feldstein, 1925-2014

Yeah MAD was Gaines' baby, but in its heyday, this guy ran it. He hired Don Martin. He hired Antonio Prohias. He hired Mort Drucker. He knew his shit. So long, Al.  

Damn, Bob Hoskins Dead At 71

Pneumonia...? Unreal. He'd retired after beginning to suffer from Parkinson's disease. Last saw him as a dwarf in Snow White and The Huntsman. First saw him in this...

RIP, Bob.

Death Of A Giant: RIP Peter O'Toole 1932-2013

Night of The Generals, Murphy's War, How To Steal A Million, What's New Pussycat, Lawrence Of Arabia, Becket, The Stunt Man, The Ruling Class and The Lion In Winter...There are no words, he uttered them all.

RIP Richard Matheson: 1926-2013

Last of the Titans.