Death Anniversary Thread

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

American artist Jane Frank died on this day 35 years ago, aged 67.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

David Ruffin died on this day 30 years ago, aged 50.

 

[MariNisia 4,194]

Stephen Boyd, the Irish-born actor who was in dozens of Hollywood films, died of a heart attack suffered while playing golf in Los Angeles on this date in 1977.
He was 45 years old.

Boyd appeared in some 60 films during a 20-year film career, but he's best known for the coveted role of Messala in "Ben-Hur".

 

Many other actors, including Leslie Nielsen , had been considered for the part but Boyd's screen test convinced to the director that he had found the perfect villain for his epic.
Stephen Boyd was cremated and his ashes were interred in Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, California.

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

American comic actress Imogene Coca died on this day 20 years ago, aged 92.

 

[MariNisia 4,194]

Anthony Quinn, Mexican-born American actor who appeared in more than 100 films, died in Boston of respiratory failure and throat cancer on this date in 2001.
He was 86 years old.
He won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for "Viva Zapata!" (1952) and "Lust for Life" (1956).

 

 

Quinn, was a great creative personality too, he also dabbled in painting and drawing.
He lived around the world, but spent his last years in Bristol. He bought a 10-acre compound on Poppasquash Neck.
His widow asked the Town of Bristol for permission to bury him on his property.

Her wish was granted.

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

American professional boxer Muhammad Ali died on this day 5 years ago, aged 74.

 

[MariNisia 4,194]

Charles Vidor, Hungarian-born film director, died in Vienna from a heart attack on this date in 1959.
He was making his new film and it was completed by George Cukor.
Vidor was 58 years old.
He was married four times.

Vidor's marriage to Doris Warner, daughter of Warner Bros. President Harry Warner, was his fourth.

 

 

"Gilda" is considered his best film.
Vidor's other credits include "Cover Girl" (1944), "A Song to Remember" (1945), "The Loves of Carmen" (1948), "Thunder in the East" (1952), "The Swan" (1956) or "A Farewell to Arms" (1957).
Vidor was interred at Home of Peace Cemetery in East Los Angeles, California in the same mausoleum as Harry Warner.

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

American model Joan Vohs died on this day 20 years ago, aged 73.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,744]

Looks like you could use some distraction from all the still images.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty (who died on this day 28 years ago, aged 59).

 

 

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American actor Philo McCullough died on this day 40 years ago, aged 87.

 

[The Unknown Man 584]

Billy Preston stopped going 'round in circles after this day 15 years ago, aged 59.

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American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz died on this day 30 years ago, aged 64.

 

 

 

[MariNisia 4,194]

Christopher Lee, the English-born actor who appeared in more than 250 films, died at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London after being hospitalised for respiratory problems and heart failure on this date in 2015.
He was 93 years old.

 

 

During his film career, he shared the screen with legends as Peter Cushing and Vincent Price, he will be remembered for his work in the Horror genre and his association with Hammer Films.
Christopher Lee was cremated and his ashes were scattered in Surrey Hills in England.

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

Max Factor Jr. died on this day 25 years ago, aged 91.

 

[MariNisia 4,194]

Robert Taylor, one of the most popular actors of his time, died of lung cancer in Santa Monica, California on this date in 1969.
He was 57 years old.
With him was his wife, the actress Ursula Thiess.
During the final months of his life, he was hospitalized seven times due to infections and complications related to the disease.

 

 

He was nicknamed "The Man with the Perfect Profile" and his film and television career spanned four decades and he appeared in nearly 80 films.
At his funeral, California Governor Ronald Reagan gave the eulogy.
Taylor was cremated and his ashes were interred at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Ursula Thiess' ashes are now with his.

[time 8,599]

Mountaineers George Mallory & Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine died at ages 37 & 22 respectively, 97 years ago today (or possibly tomorrow), during the 1924 Everest expedition. It's not known whether or not they reached the summit. Mallory's body was found in 1999, Irvine's has still not been found.

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

American astronaut Joseph A. Walker died on this day 55 years ago, aged 45.

 

[MariNisia 4,194]

Charles Dickens, probably the greatest English novelist of the 19th century, died after suffering a stroke at Gad's Hill Place, his country home in Kent, England on this date in 1870.
He was 58 years old.
His many novels include "A Christmas Carol", "A Tale of Two Cities", "David Copperfield", "Great Expectations", "Nicholas Nickleby", "Oliver Twist" or "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club".

 

 

His father was the inspiration for the character of Mr. Micawber in "David Copperfield" and his mother inspired the characters of Mrs. Nickleby in "Nicholas Nickleby" and Mrs. Micawber in "David Copperfield".
At the time of his death, he was working on a novel, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", the book remains unfinished.
He was interred in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey after a private funeral.

[msc 18,463]

1 hour ago, MariNisia said:

Charles Dickens, probably the greatest English novelist of the 19th century, died after suffering a stroke at Gad's Hill Place, his country home in Kent, England on this date in 1870.

 

Damn, sad news, I was a fan. Hope he gets better soon...

 

 

Spoiler

This is an obvious gag - I've seen this posted on Twitter for real...

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

American television personality Allen Ludden died on this day 40 years ago, aged 63.

 

[MariNisia 4,194]

Spencer Tracy, a favorite among film fans, who admired his sincerity, his humor and his acting style, died of a heart attack on this date in 1967.
He was 67 years old.
Spencer Tracy is often referred to as "the actor's actor".
He garnered nine Academy Award nominations and won two consecutive Oscars for "Captains Courageous" (1937) and "Boys Town" (1938).

 

 

During his later years, Tracy's health worsened after he was diagnosed with diabetes and emphysema, with complications caused by alcoholism.
He said: "Come to work on time, know your lines and don't bump into the other actors".
Tracy was buried at Forest Lawn Glendale, in a small garden area near the Freedom Mausoleum. His grave says, simply, "Tracy".

[time 8,599]

Its 28 years since Les Dawson died. As well as being an excellent comic, he was also an accomplished pianist; both skills ably demonstrated here.

Les Dawson at the Royal Variety Performance (1987) - YouTube

 

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

American boxer Jack Johnson died on this day 75 years ago, aged 68.

 

[MariNisia 4,194]

Robert E. Howard, American poet and fiction writer famous for writing pulp fiction and creator of Conan and Solomon Kane, died in Cross Plains, Texas on this date in 1936.
He was 30 years old.
Howard committed suicide upon being informed that his mother, who was dying of tuberculosis, would not regain consciousness.

 

 

He walked out of his house, gun in his hand, and got into his car.

Robert E. Howard had shot himself in the head.
Although a Conan novel was nearly published into a book in 1934, his stories never appeared in book form during his lifetime. 
His mother succumbed the following day and they were buried in the same plot in nearby Brownwood.

[The Ashes Urn 1,356]

Chesley Bonestell died on this day 35 years ago, aged 98.