Tribute to the Fallen of 2012 – Actors/Comedians

For many of these actors and comedians I found it hard to write something that would be meaningful. Their names and a few of their credits or a quick acknowledgment of who they were will be sufficient I feel especially for someone like me who is an avid film, television and theater lover who could go on and on about many of these people. I have had personal life experience with two of the men listed and neither of these are actually good experiences, so I’ll save the vitriol on a Tribute.

Ian Abercrombie (77, kidney failure): ARMY OF DARKNESS, STAR WARS: CLONE WARS, SEINFIELD

Luke Askew (80, cancer): COOL HAND LUKE, EASY RIDER, PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID, ROLLING THUNDER

R.G. Armstrong (95, natural causes): BONANZA, RAWHIDE, GUNSMOKE, PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID, CHILDREN OF THE CORN, PREDATOR

Zina Bethune (66, accident) Noted mostly as a dancer, she also appeared in THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES and WHO’S THE KNOCKING AT MY DOOR

Peter Bergman (72, leukemia): FIRESIGN THEATER

Ernest Borgnine (95, renal failure): MARTY, AIRWOLF, POSEIDON ADVENTURE, THE GREATEST (coincidentally Angelo Dundee also passed away), THE BLACK HOLE, THE SINGLE GUY, BASEKETBALL

Dennis Bowen (61,undisclosed): WELCOME BACK KOTTER

Gary Collins (74, natural causes): THE SIXTH SENSE, AIRPORT

Richard Dawson (79, cancer): HOGAN’S HEROES, THE RUNNING MAN (oh and he hosted FAMILY FEUD)

Phyllis Diller (95, natural causes): This wacky standup appeared on every variety show, talk show and almost every episode of Hollywood Squares, as well as having her own sitcom in the 60s

Michael Clarke Duncan (54, complications of heart attack): THE GREEN MILE, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS, THE FINDER

Charles Durning (89, unknown): DOG DAY AFTERNOON, THE MUPPET MOVIE, TOOTSIE, V.I. WARSHAWSKI, HUDSUCKER PROXY

James Farentino (73, complications of hip fracture): BEN CASEY, POLICE STORY, DYNASTY, MELROSE PLACE

Ben Gazzara (81, cancer): THE YOUNG DOCTORS, THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE, THEY ALL LAUGHED, THE BIG LEBOWSKI,

Andy Griffith (86, Heart Attack): ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, MATLOCK, A FACE IN THE CROWD

Larry Hagman (81, leukemia): I DREAM OF JEANNIE, DALLAS

Robert Hegyes (60, Heart Attack): WELCOME BACK KOTTER, CAGNEY & LACEY

Sherman Helmsley(74, cancer): THE JEFFERSONS, AMEN

Davy Jones (66, heart attack): OLIVER, THE MONKEES, MY TWO DADS

Lila Kaye (82, natural causes): Longtime British television actress who appeared in film and also had her own American series MAMA MALONE

Alex Karras (77, kidney failure): BLAZING SADLES, PORKY’S, WEBSTER

David Kelly (82. illness): (British series) OH, FATHER!, LAST OF SUMMER, ROBIN’S NEST, also was in WAKING NED DEVINE

Jack Klugman (90, cancer): THE ODD COUPLE TV series, QUINCY M.E.

Elyse Knox (94, natural causes): The JOE PALOOKA series co-starring Joe Kirkwood.

Lance LeGault (77, natural causes): VIVA LAS VEGAS, THE A-TEAM, AIRWOLF

Richard Lynch (72, Heart Attack): DEATHSPORT, GOD TOLD ME TO, BAD DREAMS

Russell Means (72, cancer): Primarily a political activist for Native Americans he had notable acting roles in DANCESA WITH WOLVES, NATURAL BORN KILLERS and DISNEY’S POCAHANTAS, as well as various TV appearances

Jerry Nelson (78, various complications): SESAME STREET, MUPPET SHOW, FRAGGLE ROCK

Lupe Ontiveros (69, cancer): ZOOT SUIT, THE GOONIES, SELENA, CHUCK & BUCK, REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES

Ron Palilio (63, Heart Attack): WELCOME BACK KOTTER, FRIDAY THE 13TH VI, also an young adult book illustrator

Hal Roach (84, long illness): Many comedy self titled comedy specials

Sage Stallone (36, heart attack): ROCKY V, DAYLIGHT

Dick Tufeld (85, heart failure): LOST IN SPACE, SPIDERMAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS

Ginny Tyler (86, unknown): DAVEY & GOLIATH, GUMBY, SPACE GHOST

This entry was posted in Tributes to the Fallen. Bookmark the permalink.