In news that I’m still in shock over, beloved actor/comedian, Robin Williams has died at the age of 63! The cause of death is suspected to be suicide, but hasn’t been stated for certain.
Category: Notable Deaths
Actor Casey Kasem Dies At 82!
It is with a sad, bereaved heart that I announce the death of the beloved DJ/music host/voice actor, Casey Kasem. Casey Kasem (1932-2014) died this Father’s Day after being hospitalized for a couple of weeks.
The man was known for hosting American countdown music shows as well as for his foray into voice acting, including voicing Robin in a few cartoons as well as a few Transformers in the animated series. But, his most famous role was that of the voice of Shaggy Rogers in many Scooby-Doo adaptations.
This is someone whom I really loved and probably the first celebrity for whose death I’ll actually cry. Goodbye, Casey Kasem! We’re gonna miss you!
Actor Bob Hoskins Dies At 71!
In what comes (at least to me) as shocking and sad news, actor Bob Hoskins has passed away at the age of 71 due to pneumonia.
Actor Mickey Rooney Dies At 93!
Actor Mickey Rooney has died at the age of 93! Mickey Rooney (1920-2014) was an actor known best for his lengthy career in the entertainment industry (he’s been active in the industry from the ’20s all the way to the 2010’s) as well for his 8 marriages.
Some of his movies include “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”, “Requiem for a Heavyweight”, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, “Pete’s Dragon”, “The Magic of Lassie”, “The Black Stallion”, “Babe: Pig in the City”, “Night at the Museum”, and even a cameo appearance in “The Muppets”.
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman Dies At 46!
Wow, this one is just as shocking as when Paul Walker died (well, maybe slightly less so)!
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has passed away at the age of 46 due to an apparent drug overdose! Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014) was known for his roles in films such as “Twister”, “The Big Lebowski”, “Patch Adams”, “Capote”, “Mission: Impossible III”, “Charlie Wilson’s War”, “Doubt”, “Moneyball”, “The Master”, and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”. Continue reading “Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman Dies At 46!”
Animation Director Arthur Rankin, Jr. Dies At 89!
Arthur Rankin Jr., an animation director/producer/writer most famous for his work done with partner Jules Bass, has passed away at the age of 89! Arthur Rankin, Jr. (1924-2014) founded the company now known as Rankin/Bass Productions with his partner, Jules Bass. They were most famous for their stop-motion holiday specials including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”, and “The Year Without a Santa Claus”. They also worked on animated feature films including “Mad Monster Party”, “The Hobbit”, and “The Last Unicorn”.
Arthur Rankin, Jr.’s death is a great loss indeed!
Actor James Avery Dies at 65!
I regret to inform you all that we start the year with some sad news. Actor James Avery has died! Mr. Avery (1948-2013) was an actor most famous for playing the role o“f Philip “Uncle Phil” Banks on the sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, also featuring Will Smith.
Mr. Avery was also quite adept in the field of animation providing voices for various animated series and films including “The Prince of Egypt”, “Spider-Man”, “Iron Man”, “Aladdin”, and “The Legend of Prince Valiant”. His most famous animated role was probably that of Shredder in the series, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.
He also provided the voices of Br’er Frog and Br’er Bear in the Disneyland/Magic Kingdom ride, “Splash Mountain”.
Whether you loved him as Uncle Phil or Shredder or any of his other voice and live roles, he will definitely be missed!
Actor Peter O’Toole Dies at 81!
Actor Peter O’Toole has died at the age of 81! Peter O’Toole (1932-2013) was an amazing actor who sadly held the record for most Academy Award acting nominations without a win. His most famous role was that of T.E. Lawrence in the epic, “Lawrence of Arabia”.
Animation fans will also know him as the voice of Anton Ego in Pixar’s “Ratatouille”
as well as the voice of Sherlock Holmes in a few animated adaptations of the “Sherlock Holmes” stories.
He shall be missed.
Walt Disney’s Daughter, Diane Disney Miller, Dies at 79!
Sigh…we’ve lost a connection to the man himself, his daughter, to be precise. Diane Disney Miller (1933-2013) has passed away at the age of 79! She was instrumental in bringing to life the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. She leaves behind her husband Ron W. Miller (an ex-NFL star who was actually the CEO of The Walt Disney Company for some time) as well as 7 children, 13 grandchildren, and 1 great-grand child. We shall miss her very much indeed!
http://blogs.disney.com/insider/articles/2013/11/19/remembering-diane-disney-miller/
Actor Michael Ansara Dies at 91!
Actor Michael Ansara (1922-2013) has died at the age of 91! Once married to Barbara Eden of “I Dream of Jeannie” fame, the actor was famously known as Commander Kang on three “Star Trek” series,
Cochise in “Broken Arrow”,
and Abu Sufyan in “The Message”, a film about the story of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
In terms of animation, Mr. Ansara has lent his voice many time. His most famous animated role would probably be Mr. Freeze in “Batman: The Animated Series” and its many spinoffs.
This is an actor that many of us will be remembering, and I’m no exception!
The Animation Commendation 