Death Anniversary Thread

[John "요한" Sulu 419]

On this day 266 years ago, French writer Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, who wrote the popular science book "Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds", passed away at the age of 99.

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On this day 31 years ago in 1992, american actor Steve Brodie died from cancer aged 72.

 

With a few exceptions he was mainly cast in supporting roles. 

His film credits include film noir Desperate (1947) with Raymond Burr, a 1949 western movie  called Brothers in the saddle with Tim Holt playing the lead role, one of Elvis Presleys films Blue Hawaii (1961), Superhero comedy  The Wild world of Batwoman (1966), Spy in the sky (1958) and Frankenstein Island (1981) with John Carradine. 

 

 

His real name was John Stephens  but he reportedly  chose Steve Brodie as a stage name as it was the name of a daredevil  who jumped of the Brooklyn Bridge in the 19th century and survived. 

[John "요한" Sulu 419]

On this day 175 years ago, German-born English astronomer Caroline Herschel passed away at the age of 97.

[Hell 1,334]

first President of France from 1848 to 1852 and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870 Napoleon III died on this day 150 years ago, aged 64.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

David Bowie died on this day 7 years ago, aged 69.

Bowie needs no explanation, so here's some interesting things about him.

- Bowie's son is Duncan Jones, best known for directing the 2016 film Warcraft (based on the Blizzard game).

- Before being cast as Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth, other actors and singers were considered, including (DeathList alumnus) Simon MacCorkindale, Kevin Kline, Sting, Prince, and Michael Jackson.

- Bowie occasionally voice acted, most notably in the 1999 game Omikron: The Nomad Soul (alongside his wife Iman) as the character Boz. He would also voice Lord Royal Highness in the SpongeBob episode "Atlantis SquarePantis"- a musical episode in which the celebrity guest singer doesn't sing.

- Bowie composed music for the 1986 film adaptation of Raymond Briggs's When The Wind Blows.

- Bowie enjoyed Nirvana's version of his song "The Man Who Sold The World", saying that it "would have been nice to work with [Kurt Cobain], but just talking with him would have been real cool."

- Below is Bowie's final picture, taken two days (his final birthday) before his death from liver cancer:

 

- "Lazarus" was the final song of his released during his lifetime, showcasing him on his deathbed before entering a wardrobe (symbolizing death).

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

Italian-American mobster Roy DeMeo died on this day 40 years ago, aged 42.

 

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French fashion designer and businesswoman Coco Chanel died on this day 52 years ago, aged 87.

 

[WinterCake 41]

On this day 15 years ago, New Zealand Mountaineer Edmund Hillary died at the age of 88, providing the 2008 deathlist with its first hit.

On this day 1 year ago, American Serial Killer Robert Durst died at the age of 78, providing the 2022 deathlist with the 2nd hit. This is the fastest 2nd hit ever; with Sidney Poiter dying 4 days before.

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On this day 88 years ago in 1935  australian Olympic gold medallist and tennis player Edwin Flack died aged 61 from long standing heart problems. 

 

Edwin was the first australian to take part in the Olympics,  being their only representative at the first fully  international Olympics in 1896. 

He was first and foremost an athlete and was the first Olympic champion in the 800 and 1500 meters when he won  gold in both races-making him both a world first and australian first in sport.

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

Constantine I of Greece died on this day 100 years ago, aged 54.

Constantine was the son of king George I, and was known for helping organize the first modern Olympics in 1896. In 1897, Constantine became the commander-in-chief of the Army of Thessaly during the Greco-Turkish War, and would again lead this army in the First Balkan War in 1912.

 

Constantine became king after the assassination of his father in 1913, and soon had to decide whether to join World War I- his PM, Eleftherios Venizelos, wanted to fight for the Allies, while Constantine wanted to remain neutral (likely due to Kaiser Wilhelm being his brother-in-law). Venizelos soon formed a militia that declared war on the Central Powers, and led to a period known as the "National Schism". The Allies soon put pressure on Constantine to abdicate, and after Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown in 1917, none of their leaders supported Constantine. Threats from the Allies to bomb Athens caused him to flee to neutral Switzerland, with his son Alexander becoming king in his absence.

 

Constantine would return to Greece as king in 1920 after Alexander's death from sepsis and Venizelos losing the election. The country was in the midst of another war with Turkey (at the time breaking away from the disintegrating Ottoman Empire), and attempted to siege Ankara- this failed, and after another military revolt, Constantine abdicated, with his son George II succeeding him. He would die of heart failure in Italy four months later.

 

The newly-deceased Constantine II was his grandson (his father was King Paul, George II's successor).

[John "요한" Sulu 419]

On this day 180 years ago, American lawyer, author, and amateur poet Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the USA national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", passed away at the age of 63 from pleurisy.

[John "요한" Sulu 419]

On this day 26 years ago American film and television actor, producer, director, and screenwriter Sheldon Leonard, whom Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter, the two main characters from "The Big Bang Theory" were named after, passed away at the age of 89.

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On this day 26 years ago in 1997  british actress,  comedienne and performer  in English music hallsJill Summers died aged 86.

 

Jill was in showbusiness for 80 years. Infact she was born into a family of performers, her father was a circus tightrope walker and her mother a revue artist.

She found national level fame late in life when she was cast in Coronation Street as eccentric purple haired   pensioner Phyliss Pearce,  who was slightly obsessed with trying to pursue a romantic relationship  with pensioner  Percy Sugden. Up to a point Phyliss was a bit of a comedy character and was often heard saying in a sort of raspy and flamboyant  voice Oooh Percy. Percy Percy! as she chased him in pursuit of love!!.

 

Many  Coronation Street cast members who worked with Jill and wrote autobiographies such as Julie Goodyear,  Bill Waddington and  Lynne Perrier,  spoke extremely highly of Jill, her professionalism and her naughty cheeky humour.

 

I am  aware of chatter in some of the working mens clubs and Royal British legion clubs in Merseyside  of pre Coronation Street stories of Jill when she performed in this venues pretty much universally saying the same thing.  A lovely warm hearted lady with a heart of gold but with an incredibly  dirty and vulgar sense of humour who told some incredibly dirty jokes!! More so off stage after the show or in the dressings rooms

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American composer, arranger and musician William Russo died on this day 20 years ago, aged 74.

 

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Israeli general and politician who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Israel from March 2001 until April 2006 Ariel Sharon died on this day 9 years ago, aged 85.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

Maurice Gibb died on this day 20 years ago, aged 53.

During their childhoods (specifically 1955), Maurice and his brothers Barry and Robin formed the band The Rattlesnakes, which became the Bee Gees in 1958. While Barry was usually the lead singer, Maurice had some songs where he took that role- the most popular of which was 1970's "Lay It On Me".

 

During the Bee Gees' temporary breakup, Maurice also released his own solo song, "Railroad".

 

Maurice would stay with the group until his death- he died from cardiac arrest that was the result of a twisted intestine. His funeral was attended by Michael Jackson. Following Maurice's death, Barry and Robin retired the "Bee Gees" name, before returning its use in 2009.

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American professional football player Turk Edwards died on this day 50 years ago, aged 65.

 

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On this day three years ago in 2020, British Conservative philosopher and writer Sir Roger Scruton died aged 75 from cancer.

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American singer who co-founded and fronted the girl group The Ronettes Ronnie Spector died on this day a year ago, aged 78.

 

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Schuyler Colfax died on this day 138 years ago, aged 61.

(his first name is pronounced the same as "Skylar")

 

Colfax was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1854 as a member of the newly-founded Republican party, running as a staunch abolitionist. In 1863, during the midst of the American Civil War, Colfax was elected as the Speaker of the House, a position he would hold for the remainder of his time in Congress.

 

In 1868, Ulysses S. Grant won the Republican nomination for president, and Colfax- who was very popular within the party- was nominated to be his vice president. Colfax believed Grant would only serve one term, and as such did not seek renomination in 1872- Henry Wilson was nominated in his place. However, a scandal emerged in which Colfax was accused of insider trading with the Crédit Mobilier construction company (that was helping build the transcontinental railroad) in 1868. In January 1873, a motion to impeach Colfax was introduced, but failed due to voting on party lines, the fact that he had done it while as a congressman instead of VP, and that was not going to be in the vice presidential position much longer.

 

Colfax spent the rest of his days as a lecturer, often talking about his experiences with Abraham Lincoln, improving his reputation. In 1885, Colfax walked a kilometer from one train station in Minnesota to a second one in -30 degree weather, and died of a heart attack at the station due to the combination of extreme cold and exhaustion.

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American film, television and stage actor Arthur Space died on this day 40 years ago, aged 74.

 

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38th Vice President of the United States Hubert Humphrey died on this day 45 years ago, aged 66.

 

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On this day 9 years ago in  2014, Scottish footballer Bobby Collins died aged 82.

 

He played for numerous teams but his longest and best known stints were with  Celtic, Leeds United and Everton as well as playing for Scotlands national football team. 

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

Ricardo Montalban died on this day 14 years ago, aged 88.

Montalban began acting in the 1940s, and became a celebrity in his native Mexico in films such as The Escape. He would soon sign with MGM in the United States, mostly starring in B-movies. In 1967, Montalban had his first major notable role as Star Trek's

The clip above is from 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, in which Montalban's character was the titular antagonist.

 

Montalban would star in some Planet of the Apes sequels as Armando and Mr. Rourke in the Fantasy Island TV series. Montalban would continue to act well into his 80s, and in the 2000s, starred in the Spy Kids movies as Valentin, the grandfather of main characters Carmen and Juni.

 

Montalban was also known for being a devout Catholic, stating that his religion was "the most important thing in [his] life". While attending a Tom Lehrer concert at the Hungry I nightclub, Montalban became offended by "The Vatican Rag", and the following conversation was had between the two:

Montalban: "How dare you make fun of my religion! I love my religion! I will die for my religion!"

Lehrer: "Hey, no problem, as long as you don't fight for your religion."

 

In 1998, Montalban was made a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II- the highest honor a non-ordained member can receive.

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Soviet politician Georgy Malenkov died on this day 35 years ago, aged 86.