Gale Storm, TV Actress, Dead at 87...

Josephine Owaissa Cottle
(April 5, 1922 - June 27, 2009)

Gale Storm, born Josephine Owaissa Cottle, was an American actress and singer, who starred in two popular television programs of the 1950s, "My Little Margie" (originally a summer replacement for "I Love Lucy" on CBS) and "The Gale Storm Show".

Before landing the starring role in "My Little Margie" in 1952, Storm appeared in numerous B movies opposite such stars as Roy Rogers, Eddie Albert and Jackie Cooper. After her last TV series, "The Gale Storm Show," ended in 1960 she went on to a successful singing career while continuing to make occasional TV appearances.

She died in a convalescent home in Danville, California.

RIP

Michael Jackson, Pop Icon, Dead at 50...

Michael Joseph Jackson
August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his début to the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1969, and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, his 1982 album Thriller is the world's best-selling record of all time and four other solo studio albums are also among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" — widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form — helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.

He died from what was apparently a cardiac arrest. Jackson was pronounced dead at about 2:26 pm local time, at the UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. A final verdict on Michael Jackson's autopsy will only be possible after the toxicology test results are confirmed.

RIP

Farrah Fawcett, Actress, Dead at 62...

Ferrah Leni ("Farrah") Fawcett
February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009

Ferrah Leni ("Farrah") Fawcett was an American actress. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the TV series Charlie's Angels in 1976. Fawcett later appeared off-Broadway to the approval of critics and in highly rated television movies in roles often challenging and sometimes unsympathetic. Fawcett was also a pop culture figure whose hairstyle was emulated by millions of young women and whose poster sales broke records, making her an international sex symbol in the 1970s and 1980s. While her impact was particularly strong on the teens of the 1970s, her appeal spreads over multiple generations.

She died in the intensive care unit of Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, with her longtime partner Ryan O'Neal and friend Alana Stewart by her side.

RIP

Ed McMahon, TV Personality, Dead at 86...

Edward Leo Peter McMahon, Jr.
March 6, 1923 - June 23, 2009 (aged 86)

Edward Leo Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. was a decorated war veteran, an American comedian, game show host, announcer, and television personality. Most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992, also as the host of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995, also co-hosting with Dick Clark on TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes from 1982 to 1986.

He died shortly after midnight at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. No formal cause of death was given, but McMahon's publicist attributed his death to the many health problems he had suffered over his final months.

RIP

Farewell...Remember...Icons...Entertainers...Legends

Dedicated to the memory of those Icons, Entertainers and Legends that have passed away recently. Rest In Peace.

Also includes Lives Remembered this week in the past for Icons, Entertainers and Legends.

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