Some of those who left us in 2004:
Ann Miller One of a long line of MGM triple threats, she acted, sang and tap danced her way through some of the great Hollywood musicals of the post- war years - “Easter Parade,” “On the Town” and “Kiss Me, Kate” among them.
Bob Keeshan As the walrus-mustached, bowl-haircut “Captain Kangeroo,” he was one of the inventors of early children’s television, and the reason many of us late baby boomer kids got up in the morning. The show ran on CBS from 1955 to 1985, and then moved to public television for six more years and won six Emmys and three Peabody Awards.
Jack Paar Host of NBC’s “Tonight Show” pre-Johnny Carson, he popularized the late night talk show format, then told his viewers farewell when still in his prime. Leno, Letterman, Conan and all the others owe a debt of gratitude to him.
Mercedes McCambridge Powerful and commanding actress with a very distinctive voice, she won an Academy Award for her 1949 film debut in “All the King’s Men,” and also was the volatile nemesis of Joan Crawford in the western “Johnny Guitar” (1954).
Paul Winfield Strong character actor who in 1972 became the third African-American to be nominated for an Oscar. It was for his role as Nathan Morgan in the critically acclaimed Sounder. His partner of many years, Charles Gillian Jr, predeceased him.
Robert Pastorelli He played housepainter Eldin on “Murphy Brown.” He was heading for a career as a truck driver or a boxer when a serious car accident on his 19th birthday made him re-think his goals and enter acting. He was found dead in his apartment of an apparent drug overdose.
Sir Peter Ustinov Distinguished British actor on stage, screen and television, he appeared in such films as “Quo Vadis” and “Spartacus.” Also enjoyed a successful career as journalist, actor, playwright and author.
Alistair Cooke Esteemed writer and BBC broadcaster famed for his program “Letter From America,” he was best known to American audiences as host of the PBS series “Masterpiece Theatre.”
Alan King Brooklyn-born standup comedian, actor, writer and producer, he often opened for Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Judy Garland, with whom he had a record-breaking run at New York’s Palace Theatre. When marriage took him from Manhattan to a house in Queens, his humor focused on being a displaced Jew in suburbia.
Tony Randall His portrayal of Felix Unger on “The Odd Couple” endeared him to television audiences. Before that he had a long movie career often playing the fussy foil in many Rock Hudson and Doris Day films. Later in life, he founded and ran the National Actors Theatre in New York, devoted to classic plays.
President Ronald Reagan 40th President of the United States. Former Governor of Californa, and before that an actor and GE spokesman. His administration made widespread cuts in federal aid to poor people, ignored the growing AIDS epidemic, and grew the largest federal deficit in history (since surpassed by both Presidents Bush). Good riddance.
Ray Charles Innovative singer and musician who combined blues and gospel music to form a unique blend of soul music. “Hit the Road Jack,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “Busted” were some of my personal favorites.
Marlon Brando Stage and screen legend, he was arguably one of the greatest actors of our time. His 1947 Broadway performance as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire” made him a star. Movie roles in “Streetcar,” “On the Waterfront” and “The Wild One” made him an icon of the 1950’s. His portrayal of mafia don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather” won him renewed acclaim.
Isabel Sanford As Louise “Weezy” Jefferson on the long-running sitcom “The Jeffersons” she traded sharp-tongued wisecracks with husband George (Sherman Hemsley). Her biggest movie role was in Stanley Kramer’s “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1967) where she stole every scene she was in. She played the maid, Tillie, who disapproved of the interracial love match between Sidney Poitier and Katharine Houghton.
Rick James His1981 funk hit “Super Freak” might well have been used to describe James himself. He worked hard and partied even harder, often enjoying drugs and sex to excess, resulting in stints in jail. He had a comeback of sorts just before his death, thanks to a parody done by comedian Dave Chappelle.
Julia Child An early television superstar and bestselling cookbook author, she helped a generation of Americans to master the art of French cooking.
Elmer Bernstein The consummate Hollywood film composer, he was classically trained and capable of doing a wide variety of assignments. His scores for the movies “The Man with the Golden Arm,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and “To Kill A Mockingbird” are considered some of his finest work.
Fred Ebb Lyricist who, with partner John Kander, penned some of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including “Cabaret,” “Woman of the Year,” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” all of which earned the pair Tony Awards.
Geoffrey Beene New York designer whose fashions ranged from suits and coats as sleek as modern sculpture to evening dresses as colorful and frothy as wedding cakes. Beene was among the first designers of his level to use fine-quality rayon and other synthetic fabrics for his collections, partly because they resisted wrinkles.
Richard Avedon One of the most influential fashion photographers of the post-war era, Avedon created an extraordinary portfolio which documented the gamut of American public life, from Ike Eisenhower to Andy Warhol and from Marilyn Monroe to Nastassja Kinski.
Janet Leigh Her Oscar-nominated role as the victim of a shower stabbing in Alfred Hitchcock’s ”Psycho” became iconic in the film world. Also starred in “The Manchurian Candidate” and “Touch of Evil” and along with ex-husband Tony Curtis, gave birth to actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
Gordon Cooper One of the “Original Seven” astronauts, he flew the sixth and final Mercury space mission in 1963 and later commanded Gemini 5. To a generation of young boys like myself who dreamed of exciting space adventures, he was a hero.
Rodney Dangerfield A comedian who always made me laugh, he used self-deprecating humor as his schtick. His line “I don’t get no respect” was his trademark. Regular appearances with Johnny Carson on the “Tonight Show” led to success in movies and his own NYC comedy club Dangerfield’s.
Christopher Reeve Strapping six-foot-four actor who would rise to fame in the 1978 movie “Superman,” he would devote his life to a search for a cure for paralysis following a 1995 horse riding accident that left him in a wheelchair.
Pierre Salinger A witty, debonair bon vivant, he rose from a newspaper reporter in San Francisco to a top position at the White House before he was 40. Press secretary to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and later chief European foreign correspondent for ABC News.
Howard Keel Stage and screen actor with a powerful baritone voice, he starred in such musicals and “Showboat,” “Kiss Me Kate” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” His career was rejuvenated when he took on the role of Clayton Farlow on tv’s “Dallas.”
Yasser Arafat Since the late 1960s, the living symbol of the Palestinian cause. Arafat was Chairman of al-Fatah and the Palestine Liberation Organization and elected President of the Palestinian Authority. Known for his trademark black-and-white checkered kuffiyah draped carefully over his shoulder so as to assume the proportions and shape of the map of Palestine.
Susan Sontag Novelist, essayist and critic whose impassioned advocacy of the avant-garde and equally impassioned political pronouncements made her one of the most lionized presences - and one of the most polarizing - in 20th-century letters. She wrote four novels, dozens of essays and a volume of short stories and was also an occasional filmmaker, playwright and theater director.
Reggie White A two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and ordained minister who was known as the “Minister of Defense,” White played a total of 15 years with Philadelphia, Green Bay and Carolina. He retired after the 2000 season as the NFL’s all-time leader in sacks with 198. The mark has since been passed by Bruce Smith.
Jerry Orbach Known to tv audiences as Lennie Briscoe on “Law & Order,” he was a veteran actor of both the stage and the big screen. Orbach won a Tony award for Best Actor in a Musical for “Promises, Promises” in 1969 and was nominated for Tonys for his performances in “Guys and Dolls” in 1965 and “Chicago” in 1976. Orbach starred in other hit Broadway musicals, including “Carnival” and “42nd Street.” He played Baby Houseman’s father in 1987’s cult classic, “Dirty Dancing.” He also appeared on film in “Prince of the City” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
Artie Shaw A clarinetist and bandleader who recorded the Big Band hit “Begin the Beguine,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Accent-tchu-ate the Positive,” “Moonglow” and “Stardust.” Performers who worked with Shaw include drummer Buddy Rich, singers Mel Tormé and Billie Holiday. Shaw also married four times, to among others Lana Turner and Ava Gardner.
Aaron Hawkins One of the first Black bloggers, at Uppity-Negro.com, he wrote with great wit, intellect, insight and sarcasm to comment on politics, race, gender and other issues. His presence in the blogosphere will be greatly missed. Where ever you are Aaron, I hope you are at peace.