Table Of ContentObituaries in the Performing Arts, 2011
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Obituaries in the
Performing Arts,
2011
by
HARRIS M. LENTZ III
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London
Front cover, clockwise from top left: James Arness,
Elizabeth Taylor, Sylvia Robinson, Jackie Cooper
ISSN 1087-9617 / ISBN-13: 978-0-7864-6994-9
softcover : 50# acid free paper
©2012 Harris M. Lentz, III. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
Manufactured in the United States of America
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
This book is dedicated to
the memory of those other friends
and family lost during 2011—
Edward Bennett, Sr., Nello Giaroli, Robert Healey,
Bob Lively, Margaret Utterback and Joseph Doonan, Sr.,
and
Myrna Dell, Anne Francis, Paul Picerni, Dale Berry,
Robert Easton, Bruce Gordon, Bill Hale, Miriam Seegar,
Yvette Vickers, Jimmy Walker, and Margaret Whiting
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I greatly appreciate the invaluable assistance of my and Judy Herring, Don and Elaine Kerley, Wally
friend and c o-c onspirator Carla Clark. Special Trayl or, Jennifer Eggleston, Lance Freemon, Darr yl
thanks also go to my sister, Nikki Walker, and to and Amy Wheeler, Grace Garcia, Daniel Dixon,
Bob King at Classic Images, for granting permission Kevin Britt, Jordan Lacina, Brett Fleming, John
to use information from my columns. Also, thanks Beck, Polly Sharp, Zia Lane, Tammy Lambdin,
to Kayla Hugel, Tom Weaver, Fred Davis, John Bei- Scotty Scheno, Pierre, Jennifer Millsap, Chad
fuss, Ray Neilson, John Whyborn, Ali Meyer, Boyd Green, Verlinda Hennings, Michael Huggins, Re-
Magers at Western Clippings, Larry Tauber, Andrew becca Crook, Emily Kraninger, Jason Kennedy, Josh
“Captain Comics” Smith, Tony Pruitt, Jason “the Cleary, Sean and Amber Hart, Kira Christen sen,
Doctor” Heath, Greg Bridges, Bobby Mathews, Heather Rich, Steve Montgomery, Keith Prince,
Kent Nelson, George and Leona Alsup, Betty Alsup, Laura Crofcheck, Richie Cohen and my friends at
Toni Cerritto, Lois Donnelly, Tina Motroni, Jay and Bubba’s Ale House & Grille, Clint Isenhower, Kris-
Julie Kelley, Taca Faye Curle, Joe and Jean Garba- ten Williams, Kristen Persons, Stephanie Godman,
rini, Vicki and Ed Bennett, Darla and Randy Sell- Cassie Bizzle, Jamie Bromley, Cindy Weaver, Brad
ars, Pete and Margarete Andreoli, Dale Warren, An- Jackson, Louise Rob erts, Rebecca Mitchell, Erin
drew Clark, Aarin Prichard, Dr. Mark Heffing ton, Smith, Mike and Lynn Gehl, Katelyn Pearce, Ash-
Timmy Bell, Anne Taylor, Andy Branham, John ley Essary, Angelia Dani els, Rick Filka, Jason Hall,
Nels on, Richard Allynwood, Frank de Azpillaga, Irv Dave and Lisa Hansen, Caitlyn Pittman, Matthew
Jacobs, Bill Warren, Bob Cuneo, Alun Jones, Marty Bryan Medlin, Carrie Minehart, Justin Rickert, Al-
Baumann, Joe Caviolo, John Hiestand, Rusty lison Liles, the fine folks at J. Alexanders, Mike
White, Russ Blatt of Life in Legacy, the folks at Voy- Robilio and my friends at Sidecar, the Memphis
Forums: Celebrity Obits (especially Chronicler, Film Festival, Ray Grier of the Ellendale Post Of-
Peggy, Rock et, Loren, Greg, Buckeye, Danny, Doc fice, my friends with the Memphis Team Trivia
Rock, Da rren, Geazer, Teller, Kathy, Ed Tracey, Leagues at East End Grill, the gang at Classic Hor-
James, John, Kristian, Loretta, Micki, Davis S., and ror Film Board, Tommy Gattas, James Gattas,
M issy-J o), Joy Martin, Denise Tansil, Blaine Lester, Emma Brown, the University of Memphis Library
Louis and Carol Baird, Carlin and Renee Stuart, and the Memphis, Shelby County, and Bartlett pub-
Maggie Hernandez, Dia Barbee, Dave Ramsey, Ray lic libraries.
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vi
Introduction ix
Reference Bibliography xiii
The 2011 Obituaries 1
vii
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INTRODUCTION
This book provides a single source that notes ing film figures who died during the year include
the deaths of all major, and many minor, figures in Farley Granger, who starred in Hitchcock’s Strangers
the fields of film, television, cartoons, theatre, music on a Trainand Rope, and Ropescripter Arthur Lau-
and popular literature throughout the world. The rents; Marlon Brando’s The Wild One co- star, Mary
obituaries within this volume contain pertinent Murphy, and his Last Tango in Parisplaymate Maria
details of deaths including date, place and cause, of Schneider; controversial British director Ken Rus-
more than 1000 celebrities who died in 2011. Biog- sell, of Tommyand The Devilsfame, and his Devils
raphical information and career highlights and screenwriter Christopher Logue; Charles Chaplin’s
achievements are also provided. I have also included leading lady from Monsieur Verdoux, Marily Nash;
a complete- as- possible filmography for U.S. film director Sidney Lumet of 12 Angry Men, Dog Day
and television performers. Both print and o n-l ine Afternoon, and Serpico fame; character actor Peter
resources used are listed below and in the bibliog- Postlethwaite of In the Name of the Father and The
raphy. A photograph has been included for the vast Usual Suspects; Linda Christian, who was the first
majority of the individuals within. Bond girl opposite Barry Nelson in a television pro-
The year 2011saw the passing of legendary film duction of Casino Royale; They Shoot Horses, Don’t
star Elizabeth Taylor; Apple Computers and Pixar They?c o-s tars Michael Sarrazin and Susannah York;
Animation c o-f ounder Steve Jobs; British singer and 1940s femme fatale Myrna Dell; football player
songwriter Amy Winehouse; Gunsmoke’s Matt Dil- turned Police Academy star Bubba Smith; Three
lon, television western icon James Arness; Oscar- Stooges c o-s tar Edson Stroll; Aron Kincaid, frequent
w inning leading actor Cliff Robertson; Jackie star of 1960s beach films; Eve Brent, Jane, to Gor-
Cooper—w hose long career ran the gamut of child don Scott’s Tarzan; A Clockwork Orange’s ill- fated
star (Skippy, The Champ), television leading man Catlady Miriam Karlin; I, Claudius and 2001: A
(Hennessey, The People’s Choice), and character actor Space Odysseyactress Margaret Tyzack and I, Clau-
(Perry White in the Superman films with Christo- dius’ Tiberius, George Baker; Grease’s Jeff Conaway
pher Reeve); Columbo star Peter Falk; Harry Mor- (Danny Zuko) and Annette Charles ( Cha-C ha);
gan, who starred in December Bride, Dragnet, and Porky’s star Wyatt Knight; and Bob Hope’s widow,
M*A*S*H as Col. Potter; Andy Rooney, the long- Dolores.
time commentator and curmudgeon- in- chief of 60 Other film passings include directors Michael
Minutes; physical fitness guru Jack LaLanne; boxer Cacoyannis of Zorba the Greek, Silvio Narizzano of
Joe Frazier; Czech playwright turned president Georgy Girl, and Peter Yates of Bullitt; Oscar win-
Vaclav Havel and North Korean dictator turned film ning film composer John Barry; British leading
producer Kim Jong- il; Clarence Clemons, saxo- ladies Jill Haworth, Sue Lloyd, and Anna Massey;
phonist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, screenwriters David Zelag Goodman of Straw Dogs,
known as the Big Man; Easy Riderand The Monkees Kevin Jarre of Glory, and Jorge Semprun of Z;
producer Bert Schneider; Excalibur’s Merlin, Nicol French leading ladies Annie Girardot, M arie-F rance
Williamson; and actress Jane Russell, who busted Pisier, and Silvie Soler; Wizard of Oz Munchkin
into films as The Outlaw’s leading lady. Other lead- Karl Slover; French actress and sex symbol Denise
ix
