Remembering Two Sitcom Legends

In the past week, we lost two TV legends -- actress Barbara Billingsley and actor Tom Bosley. Billingsley, 94, starred as the mom on "Leave it to Beaver" (1957 - 1963) and Bosley, 83, starred as the dad on "Happy Days" (1974 - 1984). Both shows were set in the same time -- the mid-1950s to mid-1960s. A time when almost all the mothers were homemakers, and the fathers always had the right answers. Ah -- a simpler time.

I found it interesting that photos released this week for both stars were quite similar! Check it out. And RIP to them both.


Photo captions/credits:

Right: TV's Cleaver family decorates their first Christmas tree, December 1957. From left, Hugh Beaumont, Jerry Mathers, Billingsley and Tony Dow (compliments of CBS; photo appeared on the Los Angeles Times Website).

Bottom: TV's Cunningham family decorates their first Christmas tree, December 1974. From left, Ron Howard, Bosley, Erin Moran, Randolph Roberts and Marion Ross (compliments of ABC, via Photofest; photo appeared on The New York Times Website)


Note: Although no date (or caption) was given for the "Happy Days" photo -- a keen eye will see that this image has to be 1974. How so? Well look who's in there -- the infamous older brother Chuck! The basketball-playing college student went to practice one day and never came back (during season 2).

The series debuted in January 1974 -- so, this photo has to be from December 1974 -- or season 2 -- which included the show's first Christmas episode. Randolph Roberts was actually the second actor to play the part. Gavan O'Herlihy originated the role in the first season.

Actress Brittany Murphy Dead at 32

As reported earlier via Twitter, actress Brittany Murphy died today at 32 after suffering cardiac arrest. A police investigation is underway -- and an autopsy will be performed.

Probably best known for her work as the made-over Tai in Amy Heckerling's Clueless, Murphy was recently replaced on the set of her latest starring vehicle, The Caller, for being a disruption and hindering production. Murphy's rep stated "creative differences" as the reason for the split.

News of her exit from The Caller was made light of on the December 5 episode of Saturday Night Live that EntertainmentBlogger attended! After Seth Meyers reported Murphy's "detriment to production," cast member Abby Elliott (see below) came out to the Weekend Update set as Murphy, parodying her as a ditzy airhead who believed she was actually hosting that evening's episode before leaving with her infamous line reading from Don't Say a Word, "I'll never tell."

Murphy's other credits include Girl Interrupted, Drop Dead Gorgeous, 8 Mile, Just Married, Spun, Uptown Girls, Little Black Book, The Dead Girl, Summer Catch, Riding in Cars with Boys, and Sin City.

CDU: Patrick Swayze Dead at 57

Actor Patrick Swayze, best known for his roles in the movies Ghost and Dirty Dancing, died today after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57. To lighten the mood, click on the video below to watch Swayze and the late Chris Farley in that hilarious Chippendales skit from the October 27, 1990 episode of Saturday Night Live. RIP -- both of you.

by tressage

DJ AM Found Dead -- Eerily Timed with Release of The Final Destination

Philadelphia-born Adam Goldstein, known to most by his stage name of DJ AM, was found dead in his bed today in New York City. According to some early reports, drug paraphernalia was allegedly found at the scene. He was 36.

DJ AM (above, left) barely escaped death in a 2008 plane crash involving him and fellow musician Travis Barker (right). Their plane crashed after aborting takeoff, killing four other people. Goldstein was badly burned in the crash. Barker, who was also injured, recently reunited with his Blink-182 bandmates and is currently back on tour.

Goldstein's death opens up the debate on whether or not we can cheat death. In the movie, Final Destination (2000), a group of teenagers believe they have cheated death by avoiding a plane crash. But soon after their escape, they begin dying one-by-one in mysterious freak accidents. Just today, the newest installment in the series, The Final Destination, opened in theaters. Eerie timing indeed.

Click on the video below -- to view a collaboration between Travis Barker and DJ AM -- RIP.

RIP, Walter Cronkite

Back when Walter Cronkite was an anchorman, news was not entertainment -- and entertainment was not news. They were distinct and different entities. There were no 24-hour news channels -- and people weren't online tweeting and blogging and IMing breaking news to each other. Instead, the public turned in each night to get the real news -- from a real source.

Since Cronkite left the anchor desk at CBS Evening News in 1981, there has been a blending of news and entertainment -- and that's not for the better.

Cronkite was known as the most trusted man in America - when he spoke, people listened -- and believed. Flash forward to today, and our breaking news is coming from the likes of TMZ instead. Enough said.

If you're too young to remember -- take a look at this video of Cronkite announcing the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. You will hear him get choked up a bit, but he managed to keep it together for the sake of the nation. He was so real. So human. And that's why he was so trusted. Not like so many of the fake talking heads of today's entertainment news.

Walter Cronkite, legendary newsman -- and a class act of a human being, died today at 92. Sadly, the news will never be the same again. And that's the way it is.

Celebrity Death Update: Michael Jackson is Dead at 50; Was the King of Pop

Singer Michael Jackson died this afternoon of cardiac arrest at the age of 50. Jackson debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11, joining his older brothers as a member of The Jackson 5. He began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums become some of the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

More recently, Jackson's wacky lifestyle overshadowed his amazing talent and successes (inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and had 13 number one singles in his solo career). Let's hope that history focuses on his musical genius and not the crazy "Wacko Jacko" persona he became known as in his later years.

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Poll Results:

1) Who should get custody of Michael Jackson's kids?

• Michael's mom, Katherine 41 (54%)
• One of Michael's siblings, like Janet 18 (24%)
• Debbie Rowe for her two; the un-named surrogate for the 3rd 3 (4%)
• Diana Ross 7 (9%)
• Dame Elizabeth Taylor 1 (1%)
• California Child Services 5 (6%)

Total votes: 75


2) What was your favorite Michael Jackson song?

• Beat It 12 (8%)
• Billie Jean 41 (29%)
• Thriller 19 (13%)
• Bad 5 (3%)
• Rock With You 14 (9%)
• Man in the Mirror 24 (17%)
• Black or White 9 (6%)
• Human Nature 9 (6%)
• I Just Can't Stop Loving You 1 (0%)
• Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough 7 (4%)

Total votes: 141

Celebrity Death Update: Farrah Fawcett Loses Cancer Battle

Actress Farrah Fawcett died of cancer this morning at 62. Her long-time companion, actor Ryan O'Neal, was reportedly by her side.

Fawcett will forever be remembered as one of the original stars of the tv hit, Charlie's Angels. The series, about three women who work for a private investigation agency, was one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men. Although she was a regular only for the show's 1976-77 season, she became an international pop culture icon for decades to follow. Her hairstyle was emulated by millions of young women, and she was a swimsuit-wearing pin-up sex symbol for millions of young men in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sadly, many may have forgotten that Fawcett went on to become a critically-accepted actress, appearing in challenging roles off-Broadway and in acclaimed movies. In the 1984 tv movie, The Burning Bed, Fawcett gave a riveting performance as a battered housewife who took revenge on her husband. Fawcett also won acclaim in the stage (1983) and theatrical movie version of Extremities (1986), in which she played a rape victim who turns the tables on her attacker. Along the way, she earned several acting nominations (three for Emmy Awards, one for a Golden Globe Award).

photo credit: Bruce McBroom

Celebrity Death Update: "Kung Fu" Actor David Carradine

American actor David Carradine has been found dead in a Bangkok, Thailand hotel, according to his personal manager, Chuck Binder. He was 72.

David Carradine, pictured in 2005, became famous in the 1970s after starring in the television series "Kung Fu." Binder said Thursday that the death is being investigated but could provide no other details. There is a rumor that he committed suicide by hanging himself.

Carradine's death was "shocking and sad. He was full of life, always wanting to work ... a great person," Binder told People magazine. Carradine, who became famous in the 1970s when he starred in the television series "Kung Fu." Modern audiences may best know him as "Bill" in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" films. His career included more than 100 feature films, two dozen television movies and theater work.


Update: Carradine was found nude and hanging by a nylon rope in a hotel room closet. Rope was believed taken from the hotel room curtains. Police found no sign of forced entry into Carradine's room. An autopsy was conducted at a Bangkok hospital, but results will not be available for another day.

Last Survivor of Titanic Sinking Has Died -- Stars of Hit Film Recently Lent Support

Millvina Dean, who as a baby was wrapped in a sack and lowered into a lifeboat in the frigid North Atlantic, died Sunday, having been the last survivor of 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic. She was 97 years old, and she died where she had lived — in Southampton, England, the city her family had tried to leave behind when it took the ship's ill-fated maiden voyage, bound for America.

Of 2,223 people aboard the Titanic, Dean was the youngest at nine weeks old. Only 706 survived the disaster and 1,517 perished as the ship hit an iceberg on the night of April 14 -- and sank two hours and forty minutes later, early on April 15.

Dean, pictured above at a 1999 Titanic convention, moved into a nursing home after breaking her hip about three years ago. She had to sell several Titanic mementoes to raise money to offset bills, prompting her friends to set up a fund to subsidize her nursing home fees. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, the stars of the film "Titanic," pledged their support to the fund last month with a joint contribution of $20,000. This was added to by donations of $10,000 from the film's director, James Cameron, and Celine Dion, who sang the theme song for the 1997 blockbuster.

Meanwhile, did you know that Gloria Stuart is still alive and well? Stuart, who played the fictional Rose in the movie, will turn 99 on July 4.

CDU: Comedic Legends

Hollywood has lost two comedic geniuses -- less than two weeks apart.

Dom(inick) DeLuise, the portly actor/comedian, whose career spanned 50 years and included memorable turns in movies such as The Cannonball Run, Spaceballs, Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Blazing Saddles, died last night in Los Angeles. He was 75.

Bea(trice) Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress who considered herself lucky to be discovered by television executives after a long stage career that included a Tony award for the musical "Mame," died of cancer Saturday, April 25 at the age of 86. The star also won Emmy awards for her TV roles in "Maude" and "The Golden Girls."

Both DeLuise and Arthur appeared in the 1981 Mel Brooks' cult classic (and the funniest movie I've ever seen), History of the World: Part I.