Please make them stop dying.
February 27, 2006 11:26 AM Subscribe
And the great ones keep dying. RIP Dennis Weaver.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- Brandon Blatcher
Jesus Christ.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:31 AM on February 27, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:31 AM on February 27, 2006
I just commented about McCloud on #Tapes two nights ago. WEIRD.
posted by ParisParamus at 11:32 AM on February 27, 2006
posted by ParisParamus at 11:32 AM on February 27, 2006
.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:34 AM on February 27, 2006
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:34 AM on February 27, 2006
Jesus Christ.
No, just a man. And a horse. And a stampede through the Ramble in a carriage.
posted by cedar at 11:37 AM on February 27, 2006
No, just a man. And a horse. And a stampede through the Ramble in a carriage.
posted by cedar at 11:37 AM on February 27, 2006
I was gonna do an FYI for Matthowie that obituariesRus.com or celebrityobits.com or celebrityobituaries.com were still available - but I checked and they aren't.
posted by spock at 11:37 AM on February 27, 2006
posted by spock at 11:37 AM on February 27, 2006
Macmillan & Wife, Colombo, and McCloud, the triumvirate of my 1970's pre-SNL tv watching...
posted by ParisParamus at 11:38 AM on February 27, 2006
posted by ParisParamus at 11:38 AM on February 27, 2006
There sure are a lot of celebrities dying right now, aren't there?
posted by ORthey at 11:39 AM on February 27, 2006
posted by ORthey at 11:39 AM on February 27, 2006
Jesus Christ.
Old news, but at least nobody posted his obituary to the MeFi front page.
posted by spock at 11:39 AM on February 27, 2006
Old news, but at least nobody posted his obituary to the MeFi front page.
posted by spock at 11:39 AM on February 27, 2006
Sung to the tune of Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver"
I've just been run off the road again
by the truck driver gone insane
Driver take away my worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind
oh-ooh-oh, De-eenis Weaver
Gosh, I hope McCloud's on
tonigh-iiiite
posted by tkchrist at 11:47 AM on February 27, 2006
I've just been run off the road again
by the truck driver gone insane
Driver take away my worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind
oh-ooh-oh, De-eenis Weaver
Gosh, I hope McCloud's on
tonigh-iiiite
posted by tkchrist at 11:47 AM on February 27, 2006
He was great as the creepy hotel keeper in Orson Welles' great Touch of Evil.
posted by wsg at 11:58 AM on February 27, 2006
posted by wsg at 11:58 AM on February 27, 2006
There are an awful lot of memorable performers of the 1950s-60s-70s who we cumulatively grew up with (often already in reruns) who are now reaching that age where theywill be "dropping like flies". If less than 10% of them pass away in the next year, it's going to be a lot of good-byes. But then, there were a lot last year, from Gilligan to Tony the Tiger. It's not an easy call whether celeb obits are Front Page Worthy, but fond memories have a way of getting to you...
Now, Dennis Weaver is one I have a low Degree of Seperation with, because in college, I worked as Assistant/Sidekick to an L.A. disc jockey (Dick Whittington) who was the voice on Weaver's car radio in "Duel". Director Steven Spielberg used tapes of actual prank calls he had done (interestingly, giving him the second-most lines of dialogue of anybody in the movie).
Anyway, I think the current Rule of Thumb is: If an old TV star isn't playing somebody's aging parent on a current sitcom, then you can expect to hear bad news fairly soon. Geez, that sounds cynical.
posted by wendell at 11:59 AM on February 27, 2006
Now, Dennis Weaver is one I have a low Degree of Seperation with, because in college, I worked as Assistant/Sidekick to an L.A. disc jockey (Dick Whittington) who was the voice on Weaver's car radio in "Duel". Director Steven Spielberg used tapes of actual prank calls he had done (interestingly, giving him the second-most lines of dialogue of anybody in the movie).
Anyway, I think the current Rule of Thumb is: If an old TV star isn't playing somebody's aging parent on a current sitcom, then you can expect to hear bad news fairly soon. Geez, that sounds cynical.
posted by wendell at 11:59 AM on February 27, 2006
Don Knotts
Darren McGavin
Dennis Weaver
if I were Dick Clark, Doris Day or Debbie Reynolds, I'd be a little nervous right about now.
posted by briank at 12:13 PM on February 27, 2006
Darren McGavin
Dennis Weaver
if I were Dick Clark, Doris Day or Debbie Reynolds, I'd be a little nervous right about now.
posted by briank at 12:13 PM on February 27, 2006
Two fine deputies have gone to that FOP in the Sky: Chester and Barney.
posted by onan at 12:15 PM on February 27, 2006
posted by onan at 12:15 PM on February 27, 2006
I'm calling Denny Hecker and telling him to stay home for the next few days. And Don Shelby. And Dick Enrico. Minneapolis can't afford to lose any of our local celebrities!
Anybody else a little loopy as a result of all these celebrity deaths?
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:18 PM on February 27, 2006
Anybody else a little loopy as a result of all these celebrity deaths?
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:18 PM on February 27, 2006
Has to be said:
"Uncle Bill?"
"Jody?"
"Buffy?"
"Mr. French?"
"Mrs. Beasley?"
"Chief?"
"McCloud!"
posted by JHarris at 12:32 PM on February 27, 2006
"Uncle Bill?"
"Jody?"
"Buffy?"
"Mr. French?"
"Mrs. Beasley?"
"Chief?"
"McCloud!"
posted by JHarris at 12:32 PM on February 27, 2006
Celebrities die? This is not intelligent design.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:33 PM on February 27, 2006
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:33 PM on February 27, 2006
Dennis Weaver is Joplin, Missouri's favorite son, the road to the airport is named after him. He spent much of the last few years promotoing something he named "ecolonomics," by which he simply meant sustainable development. He funded an Institute of Ecolonomics at Missouri Southern State University where I work. Last year Weaver was a guest speaker in an environmental history class I taught. He was very gracious, mentally sharp, and seemed in excellent health. It is surprising and sad that he passed away...
posted by LarryC at 1:02 PM on February 27, 2006
posted by LarryC at 1:02 PM on February 27, 2006
Shoulda chased him in a truck. Better death.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:45 PM on February 27, 2006
posted by Smedleyman at 2:45 PM on February 27, 2006
.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:32 PM on February 27, 2006
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:32 PM on February 27, 2006
It's amazing how well known (old) American TV series are throughout the world. For instance, I remember watching McCloud, Duel, and The Night Stalker -- my childhood favorite along with Night Gallery and The Twilight Zone -- on Iranian television in the 70's. Of course, they were all dubbed in Farsi. I believe just about every American 70's detective show was broadcast on Iranian tv, so these departed icons of 70's television are known (and probably mourned) in many more countries than you'd think.
RIP Don, Darren, and Dennis.
posted by Devils Slide at 3:56 PM on February 27, 2006
RIP Don, Darren, and Dennis.
posted by Devils Slide at 3:56 PM on February 27, 2006
JHarris: I was just thinking about that myself. Bonus points for obscure reference, etc. And a hilarious episode too, one of my favourites.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 4:17 PM on February 27, 2006
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 4:17 PM on February 27, 2006
Barney Fife, Kolchak and McCloud... Not a good week to be a TV cop.
posted by chudmonkey at 4:24 PM on February 27, 2006
posted by chudmonkey at 4:24 PM on February 27, 2006
There are an awful lot of memorable performers of the 1950s-60s-70s who we cumulatively grew up with (often already in reruns) who are now reaching that age where theywill be "dropping like flies
posted by wendell at 2:59 PM EST on February 27
That is exactly what I was thinking when I saw the post title. First we were only exposed to movie stars and a few classical musicians. Then TV and FM radio came along so we got all those aging rockers and television stars to be worrying about. But wait...in the 50s, 60s, and 70s there were only 3 television channels. Come the eighties and we got cable, so 20 or 30 years in the future, we'll have to worry about the MTV personalities, the Real Life crowd, the Food Channel Chefs, the American Idol contestants, the Simpsons voices, the HBO stars, the Do-it-yourself channel hosts....
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:29 PM on February 27, 2006
posted by wendell at 2:59 PM EST on February 27
That is exactly what I was thinking when I saw the post title. First we were only exposed to movie stars and a few classical musicians. Then TV and FM radio came along so we got all those aging rockers and television stars to be worrying about. But wait...in the 50s, 60s, and 70s there were only 3 television channels. Come the eighties and we got cable, so 20 or 30 years in the future, we'll have to worry about the MTV personalities, the Real Life crowd, the Food Channel Chefs, the American Idol contestants, the Simpsons voices, the HBO stars, the Do-it-yourself channel hosts....
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:29 PM on February 27, 2006
Kolchak... Not a good week to be a TV cop.
Kolchak was not a cop. He hated the man. Damn it!
posted by tkchrist at 5:50 PM on February 27, 2006
Kolchak was not a cop. He hated the man. Damn it!
posted by tkchrist at 5:50 PM on February 27, 2006
Yes, there will be more mournable dead celebrities in 2036 than 2006, but the ones worth mentioning will still be the ones who had long-term success AND multiple claims to fame.
Don Knotts was Barney Fife AND The Tonight Show's Man on the Street AND Mr. Limpet AND Mr. Furley.
Darren McGavin was Kolchak AND Ralphie's Dad
Dennis Weaver was McCloud AND Chester AND the guy in Duel
Even if you're totally anchored to a single great role, if that's all you've done, you're not going to be remembered without other credits...
The MTV VeeJays? Can you remember any besides Adam 'Podcast' Curry?
Food Channel Chefs? Alton, Emeril and Rachael, the rest are either a blur or one-trick ponies.
American Idol? If Kelly C. hadn't gotten a new string of hits, she'd be fading away like Ruben, Fantasia, even Clay are.
Strange but true, some members of the cast of the Simpsons, Friends, Lost, Buffy, Housewives, Sopranos will be nothing more than footnotes when they pass away.
But it'll keep on feeling like all of Old Hollywood is dying when you get three in two days like this.
posted by wendell at 6:09 PM on February 27, 2006
Don Knotts was Barney Fife AND The Tonight Show's Man on the Street AND Mr. Limpet AND Mr. Furley.
Darren McGavin was Kolchak AND Ralphie's Dad
Dennis Weaver was McCloud AND Chester AND the guy in Duel
Even if you're totally anchored to a single great role, if that's all you've done, you're not going to be remembered without other credits...
The MTV VeeJays? Can you remember any besides Adam 'Podcast' Curry?
Food Channel Chefs? Alton, Emeril and Rachael, the rest are either a blur or one-trick ponies.
American Idol? If Kelly C. hadn't gotten a new string of hits, she'd be fading away like Ruben, Fantasia, even Clay are.
Strange but true, some members of the cast of the Simpsons, Friends, Lost, Buffy, Housewives, Sopranos will be nothing more than footnotes when they pass away.
But it'll keep on feeling like all of Old Hollywood is dying when you get three in two days like this.
posted by wendell at 6:09 PM on February 27, 2006
Oh, the Duel guy.
Maybe we don't need to post EVERY single celebrity death that happens. The Metafilter of our grandkids' time will be clogged with every celebrity of the week kicking off.
Let's move to a digest format, once a week. Or better yet, once a month.
posted by Eideteker at 8:08 PM on February 27, 2006
Maybe we don't need to post EVERY single celebrity death that happens. The Metafilter of our grandkids' time will be clogged with every celebrity of the week kicking off.
Let's move to a digest format, once a week. Or better yet, once a month.
posted by Eideteker at 8:08 PM on February 27, 2006
EVERY single celebrity death
Don't you be runnin down Dennis Weaver now.
After living through "Duel" with him, I felt like I knew him. That's as attributable to Spielberg as to him, but I still felt that way. So I'll miss the guy.
posted by soyjoy at 9:34 PM on February 27, 2006
Don't you be runnin down Dennis Weaver now.
After living through "Duel" with him, I felt like I knew him. That's as attributable to Spielberg as to him, but I still felt that way. So I'll miss the guy.
posted by soyjoy at 9:34 PM on February 27, 2006
"Bring me my pills ... the one's marked 'McCloud'."
/one of the greatest lines in TV history.
posted by RavinDave at 9:41 PM on February 27, 2006
/one of the greatest lines in TV history.
posted by RavinDave at 9:41 PM on February 27, 2006
Sorry to see the guy go, but... not exactly one of "The Great Ones." Heck, when Dr. McCoy kicked off, I had no illusions about his acting prowess, and I ran around in a star trek shirt for nearly all of my adolescence.
Yeah - I know it sounds bitter; But I've always felt the eulogy of public figures a little disingenuous.
"Bring me my pills ... the one's marked 'McCloud'." - one of the greatest lines in TV history - was spoken by J.D. Cannon, who died last year to a unknowing and indifferent world. Ken Lynch, the harried Sgt. Grover (Detective Grover in "The Return of McCloud" in 1989) croaked out almost 16 years ago to the week. His obituary was carried in the Burbank paper. Both of these men had storied histories that shoot through those early days of television with roles in most of the shows now considered iconic, like
Ken Lynch - The Honeymooners, Zorro, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, The Rifleman, Peter Gun, 77 Sunset Strip, Have Gun Will Travel, The Untouchables, Perry Mason, The DIck Van Dyke Show, The Munsters, The Lucy Show, Star Trek (TOS), Wild Wild West, The Andy Griffith Show, That Girl, Gomer Pyle USMC, The FBI, The Virginian, Bonanza, Adam-12, Emergency, Kung-Fu, All in the Family, Gunsmoke, Ironside, The Night Stalker, The Rockford files, Barnaby Jones, Battlestar Galactica... I could go on. And on.
It's been my pleasure to know a fella like this - his name is Sid Haig, and his resume is much a mirror of this one. He's a good man; in fact, after years of playing the stereotypical heavy, he took a huge dent in income when he decided never to take those roles again - essentially hacking off his primary income. He's an old campaigner, has a fervent love of the craft of acting even to this day, teaches inner-city kids the art most summers (when he's not otherwise employed, as he was for the Rob Zombie films)... and will die pretty much as unmourned as Ken Lynch and JD Cannon.
And that pretty much bites.
Nothing against Dennis Weaver, or McCloud. But he wasn't a "Great One." He was one of the many who populated our childhoods. I guess I just wish that people with equal talent and much, much deeper resumes are lost without comment, when they've populated our lives probably ever bit as deeply on hundreds of programs.
Apiece.
posted by Perigee at 7:54 AM on February 28, 2006
Yeah - I know it sounds bitter; But I've always felt the eulogy of public figures a little disingenuous.
"Bring me my pills ... the one's marked 'McCloud'." - one of the greatest lines in TV history - was spoken by J.D. Cannon, who died last year to a unknowing and indifferent world. Ken Lynch, the harried Sgt. Grover (Detective Grover in "The Return of McCloud" in 1989) croaked out almost 16 years ago to the week. His obituary was carried in the Burbank paper. Both of these men had storied histories that shoot through those early days of television with roles in most of the shows now considered iconic, like
Ken Lynch - The Honeymooners, Zorro, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, The Rifleman, Peter Gun, 77 Sunset Strip, Have Gun Will Travel, The Untouchables, Perry Mason, The DIck Van Dyke Show, The Munsters, The Lucy Show, Star Trek (TOS), Wild Wild West, The Andy Griffith Show, That Girl, Gomer Pyle USMC, The FBI, The Virginian, Bonanza, Adam-12, Emergency, Kung-Fu, All in the Family, Gunsmoke, Ironside, The Night Stalker, The Rockford files, Barnaby Jones, Battlestar Galactica... I could go on. And on.
It's been my pleasure to know a fella like this - his name is Sid Haig, and his resume is much a mirror of this one. He's a good man; in fact, after years of playing the stereotypical heavy, he took a huge dent in income when he decided never to take those roles again - essentially hacking off his primary income. He's an old campaigner, has a fervent love of the craft of acting even to this day, teaches inner-city kids the art most summers (when he's not otherwise employed, as he was for the Rob Zombie films)... and will die pretty much as unmourned as Ken Lynch and JD Cannon.
And that pretty much bites.
Nothing against Dennis Weaver, or McCloud. But he wasn't a "Great One." He was one of the many who populated our childhoods. I guess I just wish that people with equal talent and much, much deeper resumes are lost without comment, when they've populated our lives probably ever bit as deeply on hundreds of programs.
Apiece.
posted by Perigee at 7:54 AM on February 28, 2006
Hey! I'm quite familiar with Sid Haig, and would be quite distressed were he to pass away. Every time he pops up in a film, I shout, hey, it's Sid Haig!
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:33 AM on February 28, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:33 AM on February 28, 2006
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Can we talk about Susan St.James now?
posted by cedar at 11:31 AM on February 27, 2006