Recently, we in the "geek" universe lost two iconic figures in Irvin Kershner, director of
The Empire Strikes Back, and actor Leslie Nielsen (
Airplane). So I decided to look back over the rest of the year to see who else has passed on. For the sake of this being CBM.com, I will do my best to keep the dearly departed within the realm of our topics, and maybe just toss in a few others for good measure.
James Aubry Actor (
Lord of the Flies)
Michael Been Musician (The Call)
Glen Bell Businessman (Founder of Taco Bell)
Barbara Billingsly Actress (
Leave it to Beaver)
Manute Bol Athlete (Philidelphia 76ers, Washington Bullets)
Tom Bosley Actor (
Happy Days)
Stephen J. Cannell Film/TV Producer (Creator of
The Rockford Files)
Art Clokey Cartoonist (Creator of
Gumby)
Gary Coleman Actor (
Different Strokes)
Robert Culp Actor (
I Spy)
Tony Curtis Actor (
Some Like it Hot)
Jimmy Dean Entrepreneur/Singer (Jimmy Dean Sausages)
Ronnie James Dio Musician (Black Sabbath, Dio)
Blake Edwards Director (
The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany's)
Doug Fieger Musician (The Knack)
John Forsythe Actor (
Charlie's Angels)
Frank Frazetta Artist (Creator of
Conan cover Art)
James Gammon Actor (Character Actor)
Greg Giraldo Comedian (Comedy Central Roasts)
Peter Graves Actor (
Mission: Impossible)
Paul Dedrick Gray Musician (Bassist for Slipknot)
Bob Guccione Businessman (Founder of
Penthouse Magazine)
Guru Musician
(Rapper from Gang Starr)
Cory Haim Actor (
The Lost Boys)
Dennis Hopper Actor (
Apocalypse Now, Easy Rider)
Lena Horne Musician (
Stormy Weather)
Irvin Kershner Director (
The Empire Strikes Back)
Andrew Koenig Actor (
Growing Pains)
James MacCarthur Actor (
Hawaii Five-O)
Simon MacKorkindale Actor (
Casualty)
Kevin McCarthy Actor (
Invasion of the Body Snatchers)
Rue McClanahan Actress (
Maude, Golden Girls)
Fred Morrison Inventor (The Frisbee)
Patricia Neal Actress (
The Day the Earth Stood Still)
Ronald Neame Director (
The Poseidon Adventure)
Leslie Nielsen Actor (
Airplane!, The Naked Gun)
Arthur Penn Director (
Bonnie and Clyde)
Zelda Rubenstein Actress (
Poltergeist)
JD Salinger Author (
The Catcher in the Rye)
Glenn Shadix Actor (
Beetlejuice)
Peter Steele Musician (Type O Negative)
George Steinbrenner Businessman (Owner of the New York Yankees)
Gloria Stuart Actress (
Titanic, The Invisible Man)
Ari Up Musician (The Stilts)
Obviously, there are many, many others who left us this year (for a full list,check out the link below), but these are the few that stood out to me. We lost many talented actors, savvy businessmen, unique inventors and incredible musicians. Join me in "pouring one out" for these fine folks.