Death Anniversary Thread

[Hell 1,334]

American writer an filmmaker Michael Crichton died on this day 15 years ago, aged 66. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and over a dozen have been adapted into films. His literary works heavily feature technology and are usually within the science fiction, techno-thriller, and medical fiction genres. Crichton's novels often explore human technological advancement and attempted dominance over nature, both with frequently catastrophic results; many of his works are cautionary tales, especially regarding themes of biotechnology. Several of his stories center specifically around themes of genetic modification, hybridisation, paleontology and/or zoology. Many feature medical or scientific underpinnings, reflective of his own medical training and scientific background. He eventually wrote 26 novels, including: The Andromeda Strain (1969), The Terminal Man (1972), The Great Train Robbery (1975), Congo (1980), Sphere (1987), Jurassic Park (1990), Rising Sun (1992), Disclosure (1994), The Lost World (1995), Airframe (1996), Timeline (1999), Prey (2002), State of Fear (2004), and Next (2006). In 1973, he wrote and directed Westworld, the first film to use 2D computer-generated imagery. He also directed Coma (1978), The First Great Train Robbery (1978), Looker (1981), and Runaway (1984).

 

 

Irish presenter and host of radio and television Gay Byrne died on this day 4 years ago, aged 85. His most notable role was as the first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period span ing 1962 until 1999. The Late Late Show is the world's second longest-running chat show. He was affectionately known as "Uncle Gay", "Gaybo" or "Uncle Gaybo". His time working in Britain with Granada Television saw him become the first person to introduce The Beatles on-screen, and Byrne was later the first to introduce Boyzone on screen in 1993. From 1973 until 1998, Byrne presented The Gay Byrne Show when it expanded to two hours - on RTE Radio 1 each weekday morning. Byrne presented several other programmes, including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, The Meaning of Life and For One Night Only on RTE One and Sunday Serenade/Sunday with Gay Byrne on RTE lyric fm. In 2006, he was elected Chairman of Ireland's Road Safety Authority.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,721]

Aaron Carter died on this day a year ago, aged 34.

- Aaron was the younger brother of the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter. He would enter the music industry when he was 9 years old, opening for his big brother's band- which led to a record deal for him.

- Music videos from Carter's album would receive play during interstitial breaks on both Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, and he would go on to make guest appearances on shows like Lizzie McGuire and Rocket Power. Carter would also heavily contribute to the soundtrack of the 2001 film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, which spawned a successful TV show on Nickelodeon the following year:

Outside of those channels, he would make appearances in Liberty's Kids (which he sang the theme song for) and Sabrina the Teenage Witch

- Carter (along with Nick and his other brothers) would star in the reality show House of Carters in 2006. Carter would also be a contestant in several celebrity competition shows, including Dancing With the Stars and Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.

- Carter was known for his heavy drug use, particularly antidepressants and opioids. This eventually led to his sad and sudden demise- accidentally drowning in his bathtub after taking SPAM.

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American singer Bobby Hatfield died on this day 20 years ago, aged 63.

 

 

 

[Hell 1,334]

American singer, songwriter, and politician Jimmie Davis died on this day 23 years ago, aged 101. After achieving fame for releasing both sacred and popular songs, Davis served as governor of Louisiana from 1944 to 1948 and again from 1960 to 1964. As Governor, Jimmie was an opponent of efforts to desegregate Louisiana. Davis was a nationally popular country music and gospel singer from the 1930s into the 1960s, occasionally recording and performing as late as the early 1990s. He appeared as himself in a number of Hollywood movies. He was inducted into six halls of fame, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and more. At the time of his death in 2000, he was the oldest living former governor as well as the last living governor to have been born in the 19th century.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,721]

Clive Dunn died on this day 11 years ago, aged 92.

(this picture of him is a bit too small...)

 

(better.)

 

- Dunn came from an acting family- his parents were actors, and he was the cousin of EastEnders actress Gretchen Franklin (who was also a DeathList hit, in 2005). Dunn's first acting role came in an uncredited role in 1935's Boys Will Be Boys.

- He would have to put his career on hold once World War II broke out, and he saw action in Greece, where he was taken as a POW by the Nazis, only being freed at the war's end. Dunn would be demobilized in 1947.

- Dunn would soon turn to TV, appearing on The Tony Hancock Show, It's a Square World, and Bootsie and Snudge.

- Dunn is best known for his role as Lance Corporal Jones in Dad's Army, which he played during the entirety of the show's run (from 1968 to 1977):

(this is the uncropped version of the emoji)

- At the peak of his popularity, Dunn recorded the novelty song "Grandad", which reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1971:

He would star in a show with the same name from 1979 to 1984.

- The reason for Dunn's prominence on this site was the fact that he was the #1 name on the inaugural 1987 list (for unknown reasons), which earned him the description of "DeathList Favourite". Over the next 25 years, he would appear 16 times (a record since surpassed by Kirk Douglas in 2019), and in later years he would often take up the #50 spot. Dunn was the 10th hit of 2012.

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American professional wrestler Crash Holly died on this day 20 years ago, aged 32.

 

 

 

 

[Hell 1,334]

American actress Gene Tierney died on this day 32 years ago, aged 70. She is acclaimed for her great beauty. She became established as a leading lady. Tierney was best known for her portrayal of the title character in the film Laura (1944), and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Ellen Berent Harland in Leave Her to Heaven (1945). Tierney's other roles include Martha Strable Van Cleave in Heaven Can Wait (1943), Isabel Bradley Maturin in The Razor's Edge (1946), Lucy Muir in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), Ann Sutton in Whirlpool (1949), Mary Bristol in Night and the City (1950), Maggie Carleton McNulty in The Mating Season (1950), and Anne Scott in The Left Hand of God (1955).

 

[diego 1,978]

Here is still 6 nov so what will be posted refers to the 6th

Pope John XVII died 1010 years ago, born in Rome and died in the same city at the age of 48, was Pope for 5 months and his baptismal name was Giovanni Sicco,

Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovski died 130 years ago in St. Petersburg at the age of 53 and was born in Votkinsk, the first Russian composer to win international fame, his career was driven by his participation as a conductor in other European countries and the United States. In recognition, in 1884 he was honored by Emperor Alexander III and received a lifetime pension

Jorge Dória was born and died in Rio de Janeiro 10 years ago at the age of 92, he was a great Brazilian actor and comedian.

 

 

[Drewsky1211 4,721]

Leslie Phillips died on this day a year ago, aged 98.

- Phillips made his film debut in 1938, and would enter World War II service in 1942. He would be demobilized in 1944, and would often have uncredited roles throughout the decade.

- In 1959, Phillips would begin to star in the radio show The Navy Lark, which was broadcast for the next 18 years.

- Phillips is best remembered for his roles in the Carry On franchise between 1959 and 1992- he starred in four of the 31 movies, but his catchphrases, most notably "Ding dong", became embedded in British pop culture.

- Phillips would also star in three of the Doctor movies, playing the titular role in 1966's Doctor in Clover.

- Phillips would introduce himself to a new generation- and the US- by voicing the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films.

- Phillips occasionally voice acted, particularly in commercials for Virgin Atlantic and Iams cat food, and had a video game voice credit as Gex in the PAL version of Gex: Enter the Gecko.

- Phillips debuted on the DeathList in 2015 and would appear on every list afterwards except for 2019. He was the 13th death of the year- Bill Treacher's demise would be announced later on November 8th (the day news of Phillips' death broke), but he died two days prior.

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American stage, film and television actor Charles Aidman died on this day 30 years ago, aged 68.

 

[diego 1,978]

Cornelius Drebbel was born in Alkmaar, and died in London 390 years ago, he was the inventor of the first navigable submarine, a gift to his boss, King James I, as he was an employee of the court. He also made improvements in microscopes and telescopes

Dwight Frye was born in Salina, Kansas and died 80 years ago in Hollywood, California. He is best known for his appearances in classic horror films such as Dracula (as Renfield), Frankenstein (as the hunchbacked wizard Ygor), and The Bride of Frankenstein ( as Karl), died at age 44 after suffering a heart attack while driving a bus

Amparo Rivelles died 10 years ago in Madrid, where she was born, she won the Goya award in 1987 for best actress

 

[Hell 1,334]

 American actor and racing driver Steve McQueen died on this day 43 years ago, aged 50. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Sand Pebbles (1966). His other popular films include The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Bullitt (1968), The Getaway (1972) and Papillon (1973). In addition, he starred in the all-star ensemble films The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963) and The Towering Inferno (1974). In 1974, McQueen became the highest-paid movie star in the world, although he did not act in film for another four years.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,721]

Pope Adeodatus I died on this day 1405 years ago, aged 58.

- Adeodatus lived in Rome his whole life, and was a priest for several decades. It is known that his father's name was Stephen. Adeodatus was also known as Deusdedit

- Adeodatus would be elected pope after the death of Boniface IV in 615. He would replace the monks Boniface had appointed into administrative roles with priests.

- Adeodatus was the first pope to sign documents with lead seals, known as bullae- this is where the term "papal bull" comes from.

- Adeodatus would oversee an earthquake in Rome and a scabies epidemic in the city.

- Adeodatus died after a 3-year papacy, and would be succeeded by Boniface V- the papacy would be vacant for over a year before Boniface's election.

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American singer Guy Speranza died on this day 20 years ago, aged 47.

 

 

 

[Hell 1,334]

American painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell died on this day 45 years ago, aged 84. His works have a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of the country's culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life he created for The Saturday Evening Post magazine over nearly five decades. Among the best-known of Rockwell's works are the Willie Gillis series, Rosie the Riveter, The Problem We All Live With, Saying Grace, and the Four Freedom series. He is also noted got his 64-year relationship with the Boy Scouts of America, during which he produced covers for their publications Boys' Life, calendars, and other illustrations. These works include popular images that reflect the Scout Oath and Scout Law such as The Scoutmaster, A Scout is Reverent and A Guiding Hand, among many others.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,721]

Bill Tarmey died on this day 11 years ago, aged 71.

- Tarmey's first job was as a construction worker, but he quit when he was 27 to become a singer at nightclubs.

- Tarmey joined Coronation Street initially as an extra, before being cast as Jack Duckworth in 1979. This character would appear in 2,093 episodes of the show, until being killed off in 2010.

- Tarmey would use his Corrie fame to sell records- most notably his 1993 cover of Barry Manilow's "One Voice", which peaked at #16 on the UK Singles Chart:

- Tarmey had chronic health issues- he had a major heart attack when he was only 35 years old (and a stroke the following year), two bypass surgeries (one following another heart attack in 2002), and was a chronic smoker. Tarmey debuted on the DeathList in 2011 and was the 11th hit of 2012.

[diego 1,978]

Stanley Myers, born in Birmingham and died in London 30 years ago, was a composer and conductor, who scored more than sixty films and television series, working closely with filmmakers Nicolas Roeg, Jerzy Skolimowski and Volker Schlöndorff. He is best known for his guitar piece "Cavatina", composed for the 1970 film The Walking Stick and later used as the theme for The Deer Hunter. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Music Film for Wish You Were Here (1987), and was an early collaborator and mentor to Hans Zimmer

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas died on this day 70 years ago, aged 39.

 

[Hell 1,334]

Scottish politician Ramsay MacDonald died on this day 86 years ago, aged 71. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the first who belonged to the Labour Party, leading minority Labour governments for nine months in 1924 and again between 1929 and 1931. From 1931 to 1935, he headed a National Government dominated by the Conservative Party and supported by only a few Labour members. MacDonald was expelled from the Labour Party as a result. MacDonald, along with Keir Hardie and Arthur Henderson, was one of the three principal founders of the Labour Party in 1900. He was chairman of the Labour MPs before 1914 and, after an eclipse in his career caused by his opposition to the First World War, he was Leader of the Labour Party from 1922. The second Labour Government from 1929 to 1931 was dominated by the Great Depression. He formed the National Government to carry out spending cuts to defend the gold standard, but it has to be abandoned after the Invergordon Mutiny, and he called a general election in 1931 seeking a "doctor's mandate" to fix the economy.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,721]

Canaan Banana died on this day 20 years ago, aged 67.

- Banana was a Methodist preacher before entering anticolonial politics- which he incorporated into his sermons. He would be forced to flee Rhodesia in the 1970s when Ian Smith's government began to arrest members of his United African National Council party, and he would reside in Botswana, Japan, and the US.

- He would be arrested upon return but released soon after, and joined the Zimbabwe African National Union party and became a leading member. He would become Zimbabwe's first president in 1980 under the terms of the Lancaster House Conference. During his presidency, he passed a law forbidding Zimbabweans from making jokes about his surname- because I don't live in Zimbabwe, I can do this:

- Banana would be ousted as president in 1987, when Robert Mugabe took over the role and called himself the "executive president". He would remain active in politics, helping merge the ZANU and ZAPU parties into the ZANU–PF party in 1988.

- In 1997, Banana was accused of homosexuality- which is still illegal in Zimbabwe. He would be found guilty of 11 counts of sodomy, and some claimed his trial was politically motivated. He was sentenced to ten years in prison, but was released after six months and soon sought political asylum in the UK, where he lived until his death from cancer in 2003.

[diego 1,978]

Michael I of Poland was born in Biały Kamień, and died in Lviv 350 years ago, and was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from his election in 1669 until his death.
His short reign was plagued by wars, civil discord and Turkish invasions. When he died, Poland was about to disappear when he was saved by his successor, King John III Sobieski.

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

German writer Otto Flake died on this day 60 years ago, aged 83.

 

[Hell 1,334]

German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany Helmut Schmidt died on this day 8 years ago, aged 96. He served as the chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. As chancellor, he focused in international affairs, seeking "political unification of Europe in partnership with the United States" and issuing proposals that led to the NATO Double-Track Decision in 1979 to deploy US Pershing II missiles to Europe. He was an energetic diplomat who sought European co-operation and international economic co-ordination and was the leading force in creating the European Monetary System in 1978. He was re-elected chancellor in 1976 and 1970, but his coalition fell apart in 1982 which the switch by his coalition allies, the Free Democratic Party.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,721]

Henry Gunther died on this day 105 years ago, aged 23.

- A bookkeeper, Gunther was drafted into the US Army in September of 1917 during World War I. He was the supply sergeant of his regiment, having to provide clothing.

- Gunther would be sent to France in July of 1918. He would be demoted from sergeant to private soon after when a letter he wrote describing the horrors of the frontline was intercepted.

- His unit would arrive at the Western Front that September, and he would fight for the next two months.

- On the morning of November 11, 1918, Gunther and his squad would spot German machine gunners. The gunners heard the news of the armistice's signing, but it had not taken effect yet. They would try to shoo Gunther away, but he charged at them with his bayonet, causing them to fatally return fire. Gunther was killed at 10:59 AM local time, less than a minute before the armistice was to take effect, making him the last soldier to die in World War I.

- Gunther would be interred in a French military cemetery, and his body would be returned to the United States in 1923. He was posthumously re-promoted.

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American trumpeter and big band leader Erskine Hawkins died on this day 30 years ago, aged 79.