Rue McClanahan (1934 - 2010)

Rue McClanahan passed away at 1 a.m. this morning after a stroke. She was 76.

When I read earlier this year about her being hospitalized after "a minor stroke", I prepared myself for this. But the news is still tragic, and as corny as it sounds...it pains me to hear this. It was only recently that I had begun to appreciate her non-Blanche work: Nunsense, Maude, numerous guest spots on television shows, supporting roles in feature films, and -- most notably -- the blind, burnt biology teacher in Starship Troopers. She was a funny woman, a class act, immensely talented. She will be sorely missed.

Dixie Carter (1939 - 2010)

When I saw That Evening Sun Thursday night, I thought about how beautiful Dixie Carter still is. She was my favorite the few times I watched Designing Women, and I always thought it a pity that I didn't see her in more stuff. I thought to myself, "Self, when you get to H'wood, you need to find a part for that Dixie Carter."

Too late, though. Just three hours ago came news that Dixie Carter passed away at the age of 70, an age that seems far too young. She is survived by her husband, Hal Holbrook.

So raise a glass to Dixie Carter, a true Southern belle: classy, funny, born in Tennessee. You'll be sorely missed, but you'll always be remembered.

In Body, But Not in Spirit

Actress and AIDS activist Zelda Rubinstein passed away today. She was taken off life support back in December and has now, at 76, left her earthly body. Maybe it's because of her roles, but to me, this just means Zelda has moved on from that physical embodiment. I'm serious. I've never given much thought to reincarnation, but Zelda seems too spiritual to just be gone. She is best-known for her role as the psychic in Poltergeist, but to me, she will always be the world's awesomest mentor in the cult classic Teen Witch:



"He's gonna become your love slave."

You'll be sorely missed, Zelda.

Goodbye, Dear, and Amen

Bond Fans the world over: Mourn.



Joseph Wiseman, whose portrayal of Dr. Julius No in the first James Bond movie will always be known as one of the Ten Great Performances in the series' history, has passed away at the age of 91. Wiseman's brand of villain was smooth, intelligent, classy; his feathers were never ruffled, and I am always taken aback when he so casually dismisses Bond as "a stupid policeman whose luck has run out". It is one of many Bond Performances that I felt to be worthy of an Oscar nomination (maybe over Terence Stamp in Billy Budd?). He will be sorely missed.

Two, I'm Thinking of You....

Just days after the tragic passing of Patrick Swayze, we have to say goodbye to another one of the greats.

Henry Gibson, 73, passed away Monday at his home in Malibu.

Gibson is one of my favorite actors. I'll still use present-tense, though he is gone. My personal favorite performance of his is in Robert Altman's 1975 opus Nashville, in which he played high-falutin' country singer Haven Hamilton. Like the rest of the cast, Gibson penned his own songs, and his are among the best in the film, from the satirically patriotic "200 Years" to the genuinely amazing romantic ballad "One, I Love You."

His claim to fame on the Silver Screening Room, of course, is having appeared in more Casting Coups than any other actor. He's an amazingly versatile performer, as proficient in comedy as he is in drama.

Goodbye, farewell, and amen. You are already sorely missed.

Mrs. Slocumbe (1922 - 2009)

StinkyLulu linked to a blog that compared recent celebrity deaths to a scene in Dynasty, and so I went to see what this blog was all about, and lo and behold only THEN do I learn that the IMDb and all other American news sites have YET to actually discuss, the heartless sons of bitches.

So thank you, The Lisp, for informing me.



Mrs. Slocumbe has gone off to that great Department Store in the sky, joining Mr. Humphries, Mr. Grainger, Mr. Beverly, Young Mr. Grace, and most recently, Miss Brahms.

To Mollie Sugden, I need only say: "Dear Sexy Knickers, Thanks for the good times."

Karl Malden (1912 - 2009)

Karl Malden. When Ben told me at the office, the world froze. I could feel myself welling up. Something Farrah, Michael, and the Orange Glo guy couldn't do was get this reaction out of me. This overwhelming sadness, the knowledge that the world was now a much dimmer place.

And yet I can only think of one film that I've seen him in: his Oscar-nominated role in <span style="font-style:italic;">On the Waterfront</span>. My grandfather made me watch it once, and I am forever in his debt because of it. Malden's performance as Father Barry was incredible, captivating. Edmond O'Brien won for The Barefoot Contessa, but I just...I can't see anything being better than this:



I don't care for a world without Father Barry.

Another Angel Called Home

Beatrice Arthur (1922 - 2009)

This comes just on the heels of my post describing Dorothy Zbornak as my second favorite TV character of all time. I feel like a schmuck for having never watched Maude, but to me, she'll always be Dorothy and Vera Charles (Mame). She was much more of a star on stage and TV than in films, but she was excellent in Lovers and Other Strangers and the film version of Mame, in which she reprised her stage role as Mame's boozy actress friend.

According to the AP: "She was 86...Arthur died peacefully at her Los Angeles home with her family at her side, family spokesman Dan Watt said. She had cancer, Watt said, declining to give further details."

She was a marvelous talent and will be sorely missed. But at least Ma and Pussycat are together again.

Picture It: Heaven, 2008.

Estelle Getty
(1923 - 2008)