Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion

Wishing everyone a healthy and safe new year!

Jerry Van Dyke, brother of Dick Van Dyke, and an actor in his own right.

Koren wrote: "Jerry Van Dyke, brother of Dick Van Dyke, and an actor in his own right."
I hadn't heard. Such a funny guy!

John Tunney
1934-2018
US Senator who was the inspiration for the film The Candidate

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/01/...

Doreen Tracey
1943-2018
Former Mouseketeer
http://www.latimes.com/local/obituari...

I barely remember The Mickey Mouse Club but I know my older sisters watched it. Interesting obit.

Dolores O'Riordan, the leadsinger for the Cranberries. It happened more or less out of nowhere.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/15/ob...

Fishface wrote: "Dolores O'Riordan, the leadsinger for the Cranberries. It happened more or less out of nowhere.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/15/ob..."

Wow, she was pretty young!

Julie wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Dolores O'Riordan, the leadsinger for the Cranberries. It happened more or less out of nowhere.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/15/ob..."

Wow, she..."
What?! I used to listen to the Cranberries. Aw. What happened? It doesn't say...

Selina wrote: "Julie wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Dolores O'Riordan, the leadsinger for the Cranberries. It happened more or less out of nowhere.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/15/ob......"

I dont think they know yet. I dont know much about the Cranberries but I love their song Linger.

Peter Mayle
1939-2018
British Author
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/ob...

Peter Wyngarde
1927-2018
Actor that inspired the character-Austin Powers
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-ra...

Another new member of the 27 Club:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...

Country music singer Lari White, age 52 from peritoneal cancer. I remember she had a couple of hits in the 90's when I was a huge country music fan. I dont remember her being in the movie Castaway with Hanks. I might have to watch that one again.

"Rosie the Riveter," at the tender age of 96:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wor...

And Ursula K. LeGuin, a fine sci-fi writer:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/...

I have read a few memoirs and bio in the past, but none recently. Some of the books you all mentioned sounds to be interesting to read. At this time I am in the middle of another book that I am writing, haven't giving it a title yet, but working on it. You can visit my page to see if my memoir would be of interest to you all, if so through in a review as well.

Horror author and true-crime fictionalizer Jack Ketchum:

http://ew.com/books/2018/01/25/jack-k...

Mort Walker
1923-2018
Cartoonist
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/27/ob...
I am a big cartoon fan so I am so sad to read about the death of Mort Walker.

Julie wrote: "
Mort Walker
1923-2018
Cartoonist
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/27/ob...
I am a big cartoon fan s..."

I see he also wrote Hi and Lois. I wonder if that comic is still around. I remember reading it when I was a kid.

Koren wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Mort Walker
1923-2018
Cartoonist
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/27/ob...
I am a big..."
Yep- Hi and Lois is still around. You can read it online at
http://comicskingdom.com/hi-and-lois/...

Jack Ketchum
1946-2018
Horror Author
http://ew.com/books/2018/01/25/jack-k...
I don't think I ever read anything by him but some of his books have been made into films.

John Mahoney, who played the dad on Frazier.

Koren wrote: "John Mahoney, who played the dad on Frazier."

So sad!

Now he is really going to be missed.

John Gavin
1931-2018
Actor/Ambassador to Mexico
He was probably most famous for acting but later was ambassador to Mexico under Reagan.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...

Daryl Singletary, country singer. Only 46. He had a couple of hit songs in the 90's. I always wondered why he was a bigger star.

Koren wrote: "Daryl Singletary, country singer. Only 46. He had a couple of hit songs in the 90's. I always wondered why he was a bigger star."

I am not familiar with him at all but he was pretty young.

Vic Damone
1928-2018
Singer, had multiple marriages including being married to Diahann Carroll
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/ob...

Julie wrote: "Vic Damone
1928-2018
Singer, had multiple marriages including being married to Diahann Carroll
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/ob..."

I think my mom had a record of his, otherwise I dont really know who he is.

Marty Allen
1922-2018
Comedian
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/ob...

I thought he had passed away a long time ago. 95 years old -that is a long life.

Julie wrote: "Marty Allen
1922-2018
Comedian
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/ob...

I thought he had passed away a long time ago. 95 years old -that i..."

I would have thought he had died a long time ago also. Maybe I'm thinking of Buddy Hackett. Boy they just dont make 'em like that anymore.

Julie wrote: "Marty Allen
1922-2018
Comedian
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/ob...

I thought he had passed away a long time ago. 95 years old -that i..."

Way too many comedians lately.

Margot Schlesinger
1919-2018
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mar...
Interesting obit about a young woman who was saved because of Schindler's List

Rev. Billy Graham, age 99. A long life well-lived.

I had almost forgotten, I saw Billy Graham in person when I was 15 or 16. I got fairly close to the stage when people were told to walk to the front if they wanted to speak to someone about turning their life over to Christ. He was an imposing figure.

Koren wrote: "Rev. Billy Graham, age 99. A long life well-lived."

I did not hear about him.

Nanette Fabray
1920-2018
Actress
https://www.billboard.com/articles/ne...
I thought she had passed away years ago. Loved her movies!

Julie wrote: "Nanette Fabray
1920-2018
Actress
https://www.billboard.com/articles/ne...
I thought she had passed away years ago. Loved her m..."

I also did not realize she was still living. I remember she had a serious hearing deficit but according to the article it was fixed with surgery. I didn't know that.

Lewis Gilbert
1920-2018
Bond/Alfie Director
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/ob...

Penny Vincenzi
1939-2018
British Best Selling Author
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/ob...
Never heard of her - anyone read her books?

David Ogden Stiers, Major Charles Winchester on MASH

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainme...

I loved all the characters on MASH. Lets see...how many are gone now...
Colonel Black (McLean Stevenson
Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan)
Trapper John (Wayne Rogers)
Frank Burns (Larry Lynville)
Father Mulchahy (William Christopher)
Dr. Sidney Freeman (Alan Arbus)

Did I miss any?

I never heard about Wayne Rogers! And David Ogden Stiers -- what a funny, funny guy he was.

Fishface wrote: "I never heard about Wayne Rogers! And David Ogden Stiers -- what a funny, funny guy he was."

I remember when Wayne Rogers died because he was my favorite just because he looked like a guy I dated once or twice. I wonder whatever became of that guy.

Fishface wrote: "I never heard about Wayne Rogers! And David Ogden Stiers -- what a funny, funny guy he was."

I dont remember seeing him in anything besides a MASH, but his obit lists quite a few projects and it seems he did quite a bit of voice work.

Koren wrote: "David Ogden Stiers, Major Charles Winchester on MASH

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainme...

I loved all the characte..."
Loved that show- makes me feel old when I see all these actors passing away!

Julie wrote: "Koren wrote: "David Ogden Stiers, Major Charles Winchester on MASH

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainme...

I loved al..."

I know. I like to watch the old shows from the 60's but it makes me sad that a lot of them are gone.

Russell Solomon
Owner of Tower Records
1925-2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/ob...

Trevor Bayless
1937-2018
Invented the windup radio
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...

Two Interesting Obits Today
Hubert De Givenchy
1927-2018
Fashion Pioneer
http://www.philly.com/philly/obituari...

Ken Dodd
1927-2018
UK Comic
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-43...
I never heard of him but he had a interesting obit.

Stephen Hawking
1942-2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/ob...
Despite his infirmity, I was shocked at his passing.

Julie wrote: "Stephen Hawking
1942-2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/ob...
Despite his infirmity, I was shocked at his passing."

I saw a movie about him. He was a very special person who did a lot for the world. I dont remember what he had- was it MS?

Koren, he had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND), and Lou Gehrig's disease.

Diane wrote: "Koren, he had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND), and Lou Gehrig's disease."

Thank you. Amazing that he was given two or three years to live when he was in his 20's.

Yeah, he practically outsmarted ALS! Not too shabby! I believe he was also co-inventor of the technology that allowed him to speak using a computer after he lost the power of speech.