Entertainment industry obituaries

[Rewind]

Horowitz was the host of the regional Emmy Award-winning program Fight Back!, which began in 1976 as California Buyline on KNBC-Channel 4 in Los Angeles and was syndicated nationally from 1980 to 1992. Horowitz tested advertisers' claims, warned viewers about defective products and tried to resolve consumers' issues with manufacturers. Horowitz earned a master's degree in journalism at Northwestern University, worked at several newspapers and tv stations in the midwest, worked as a writer for NBC's Huntley-Brinkley Report and opened NBC's first news bureau during the Việt Nam war.

David Horowitz, legendary consumer journalist, dies at 81

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/l...506025941.html

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Vicious was born Quame Byron Riley but he also went by the names Eric Johnson and Lil' Vicious. He released three albums, an EP and a few singles. His biggest hit, Nika, reached #9 on the rap chart, #39 on the r&b chart and #69 on the Hot 100 in 1994. Vicious also recorded with Razor, Skribble, Scarface, Big Joe, Doug E. Fresh, X-Mob and other artists, none of whom use their real names.

Louisiana rapper Vicious dies of cancer complications at 51

http://107jamz.com/louisiana-rapper-...d-with-cancer/

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"Here we come, walkin' down the street....." And Peter is now walking alongside Davy on the streets of heaven.

Peter Tork of the Monkees dead at 77

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...77-report-says

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Vella appeared in more than 70 movies and tv shows, often playing a detective, mobster or gangster. In 2013, he hosted a weekly talk show, cleverly titled The Vinny Vella Show, on a public-access cable channel in New York City.

Vinny Vella, who starred in Casino and The Sopranos, dead at 72 after battling liver cancer

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/new...cer/ar-BBTU30K

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Foster founded Monument Records in 1958 and the Sound Stage 7 label in 1963. He produced several of Roy Orbison's biggest hits and Dolly Parton's first album and single (Dumb Blonde). He also produced recordings for Larry Gatlin, Willie Nelson, Ray Stevens, Al Hirt, Charlie McCoy, Tony Joe White and many other artists and, with Kris Kristofferson, co-wrote Me & Bobby McGee. Foster was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2016.

Fred Foster, country music producer who helped launch the careers of Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Kris Kristofferson, dies at 87

https://www.tennessean.com/story/ent...ry/2940740002/

[Rewind]

Bramble wrote (or co-wrote), produced and directed several musicals on Broadway, off-Broadway and in London, Tokyo and other cities. He was nominated for a Tony award for writing Barnum, which starred Jim Dale and Glenn Close and ran on Broadway from 1980 to 1982. Michael Crawford starred in the 1981-82 London production.

Mark Bramble, Tony-nominated book writer of Barnum and 42nd Street, dies at 68

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/194949...et-dies-at-68/

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Donald "Gus" Backus was an early member of the Del Vikings, whose biggest hit, Come Go With Me, reached #4 in 1957. (This obituary erroneously says Whispering Bells, which reached #9, was their biggest hit.) After leaving the band, Backus moved to West Germany. He recorded songs in German and had 19 top-40 hits in the 1960s. He also appeared in 29 German movies and tv shows.

Singer-actor Gus Backus dies at 81

https://westernsallitaliana.blogspot...us-backus.html

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Gable and his father, John Clark Gable, were both in the cast of Sunset At Dawn. The movie, still being filmed, is based on a true story of a five-year-old Italian boy who commits a murder and grows up to be a hit man for the Mafia.

Clark Gable III, Clark Gable's grandson and host of Cheaters, found dead at 30
Variety, Feb 22 2019 12:25 PM

Clark Gable’s grandson, Clark Gable III, died this morning at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. He was 30. Gable was an aspiring actor who previously hosted several seasons of the reality show Cheaters, a hidden-camera unscripted series about people suspected of committing adultery, which began airing in 2000 and has since filmed 17 seasons. As host, Gable confronted people caught in the act, before delivering the bad news on television. Before his death, Gable was filming the crime drama Sunset At Dawn and had recently wrapped the comedy-drama Heckle.

https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/cla...st-1203146367/

[Rewind]

Brody Stevens starred in The Hangover and The Hangover Part II -- and today he hanged himself. Eek! He was also in Due Date, I'll Remember You and dozens of comedy specials and television shows.

Actor-comedian Brody Stevens dies at 48

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...was-48-1189224

[Rewind]

Among the many films directed by Stanley Donen: Charade, Lucky Lady, Indiscreet, On The Town, Two For The Road, Royal Wedding, Kiss Them For Me, Funny Face, Blame It On Rio, The Little Prince, The Pajama Game, The Grass Is Greener, Once More With Feeling and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Whew!

Stanley Donen, director of classic musicals including Singin' In The Rain, dies at 94

https://www.chicagotribune.com/enter...225-story.html