Cliff Robertson: American Actor, Dead at 88...

Clifford Parker "Cliff" Robertson III
(September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011)




Cliff Robertson was an American actor with a film and television career that spanned half of a century. Robertson portrayed a young John F. Kennedy in the 1963 film PT 109, and won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Charly. On television, he portrayed retired astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the 1976 Return to Earth, played a fictional character based on Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms in the 1977 adaptation of John Ehrlichman's Watergate novel The Company, and portrayed Henry Ford in the 1987 Ford: The Man and the Machine.

His last well-known film appearances were in 2002 through 2007 as Uncle Ben in the Spider-Man film trilogy.

Robertson died in Stony Brook, New York one day after his 88th birthday.

RIP

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Roberts Blossom: Actor, Dead at 87...

Roberts Scott Blossom
(March 25, 1924 – July 8, 2011)





Roberts Blossom was an American theater, film and television actor and poet. He is best known for his roles as Old Man Marley in Home Alone and as Ezra Cobb in the horror film Deranged. He is also remembered for his supporting roles in films such as Christine and Escape from Alcatraz.

Blossom died of natural causes. He resided in a nursing home in Santa Monica, California at the time of his death.

RIP

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Bubba Smith: Amer. Footballer/Actor, Dead at 66...

Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith
(February 28, 1945 – August 3, 2011)





Bubba Smith was an American professional football player who became an actor after his retirement from the sport. He first came into prominence at Michigan State University, where he twice earned All-American honors as a defensive end on the Spartans football team.

The imposing 6-foot-7 Smith retired from the NFL in 1976 after stints as a defensive lineman with the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers. He appeared twice in the Pro Bowl while playing for the Colts. After retiring from football, Smith turned to acting, most notably starring as Moses Hightower in all but one of the Police Academy films.

The 10-year NFL veteran and "Police Academy" franchise star Smith died in his Los Angeles home. Authorities believe that he died of natural causes though no official cause of death was announced.

RIP

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Amy Winehouse: Singer/Songwriter, Dead at 27...

Amy Jade Winehouse
(14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011)





Amy Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her 2006 follow-up album, Back to Black, led to six Grammy Award nominations and five wins, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night, and made Winehouse the first British female to win five Grammys.

Winehouse died at her home in Camden, London. on July 23, 2011. A coroner's inquest reached a verdict of misadventure. The report released on 26 October 2011 explained that Winehouse's blood alcohol content was more than five times the legal drink-drive limit.

RIP

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James Arness: American Actor, Dead at 88...

James King Arness
(May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011)





James Arness was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon in the television series Gunsmoke for 20 years. Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five separate decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made-for-TV Gunsmoke movies in the 1990s. In Europe Arness reached cult status for his role as Zeb Macahan in the western series How the West Was Won. His younger brother was actor Peter Graves.

James Arness disdained publicity and banned reporters from the Gunsmoke set. He was said to be a shy and sensitive man who enjoyed poetry, sailboat racing, and surfing. TV Guide dubbed him "The Greta Garbo of Dodge City".

Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960 and then wasmarried to Janet Surtees from 1978 until his death. He had two sons, Rolf and Craig and daughter Jenny Lee.

Arness died of natural causes at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles. He is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

RIP

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Clarence Clemons: Musician, Dead at 69...

Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr.
(January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011)



Clarence Clemons 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 tenor 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".

RIP

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Betty Ford: US First Lady, Dead at 93...

Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford
(April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011)




Betty Ford was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford. As First Lady, she was active in social policy and created precedents as a politically active presidential wife. Throughout her husband's term in office, she maintained high approval ratings despite opposition from some conservative Republicans who objected to her more moderate and liberal positions on social issues.

Pro-choice on abortion and a leader in the Women's Movement, she gained fame as one of the most candid first ladies in history, commenting on every hot-button issue of the time, including feminism, drugs, abortion, and gun control. She also raised awareness of addiction when she announced her long-running battle with alcoholism in the 1970s.

Betty Ford died of natural causes at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, USA.

RIP

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