Rolling Obituary Thread 2024

Villa legend Chris Nicholl has also passed away at the age of 77.

Great centre-half for us, although he's probably best known for scoring all four goals in a 2-2 draw against Leicester.

Brian Stableford

Je suis triste d'annoncer que Brian Stableford est décédé hier, le 24 février a l'age de 76 ans.
Selon sa fille Kathy, il est mort paisiblement dans son sommeil.
Sans lui, Black Coat Press ne serait qu'un fantôme d'elle-même.

JM

(Brian à Carcassonne ; photo Randy Lofficier) pic.twitter.com/x1dgAXj2gC

— Editions Rivière Blanche (@RivBlanche) February 25, 2024

He was an interesting guy. I just read his book of translations of stories by Leon Bloy, a Decadent French writer.

I was hoping he might get another lifetime achievement award, he had one for his scholarly work but really he should have had a Grandmaster award too for everything he's done

RIP Brian, I had a tremendous day with him (and many other writers/Forteans) a few years ago that I have discussed several times.

Richard Lewis, I'm hearing

Richard Lewis Dies: Beloved Comic, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Actor Was 76 https://t.co/pZKb5lTxcF

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 28, 2024

RIP

It's kind of amazing how familiar I am with him despite never seeing any of his stand-up sets or specials. I feel like he was just always on TV in some capacity.

he was a deeply funny guy rip

I mean thinking back and realizing that he fronted a sitcom with Jamie Lee Curtis plus the lead singer of Bongwater as a featured ensemble member is one of those 'how did that happen again?' moments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQmSD8-WXwo

Mat his memory be a blessing. Intensely funny (and provocative) man.

oh fuck, legend. rip
so fucking funny

He's been a fixture since I was a teenager, I just don't know his work that well. The one impression I strongly have is that he was a friendly guy.

(Basically what Josh said then.)

Pour out a Boku

My #1 thought about thim was popularizing the "comedian face-palming his forehead" photo pose. just searched and he had parkinson's :(

So much to say- must save for later. Now it’s about grief and enjoying every moment of precious life- and profound gratitude that he was my friend. (He loved #procolharum His license plate simply said PROCOL) #richardlewis

— Ann Magnuson (@annmagnuson) February 29, 2024

greatest head of hair in comedy

johnny knoxville shared this clip of Lewis on Conan in 2002: fucking hilarious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsvkNjY2dxE

I posted the Claymation version of that one upthread!

That 10/18/02 episode being the one redone in Claymation and airing the following summer.

^^Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSU1Mv-zNpep1lfQXJYeD9Azk-sBobXMS&si=rRvVr1p2hRJPa6p2

omg jinx <3

It's an All-Time clip either way!

so epic

Did it ever get sorted whether Richard Lewis originated the "___ from hell" figure of speech? He used it in his standup going way back, and I thought he had some claim to having popularized it.

he may have popularized it, but the OED's earliest citation is a 1902 book about the Klondike Gold Rush:

"I felt that I had received a very high compliment..when an old-timer in the party..told me that I was a ‘musher from hell’."

Dave Myers, Hairy Biker, 66.

Oh no:(

half of the only good tv chefs, that's sad

Re: "From Hell": Jack the Ripper has an earlier claim, I would argue.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Hell_letter

Apparently! Not sure if myth or real

Here’s a good fact for you: Dave Myers, now of the Hairy Bikers, painted the white stripe on Adam Ant’s face when he was a make-up artist forty years ago. pic.twitter.com/KTGy4BbYYR

— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) November 2, 2019

One of the best-ever TV chefs, I think, in spite of the award formats that sometimes got thrown at him. Also someone who seemed like their interior life wasn't just "food" and "being rich"

*Awkward formats

Yeah, both the Hairy Bikers just seem absolutely decent guys who like food and a laugh and bikes and meeting people.

They were comrades (and flashed their Che Guevara tats during the 2017 election).

rip dave + richard

Huge news in Canada:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/brian-mulroney-passes-away-1.7130287

His first term coincided with the Reagan-Thatcher moment, and he was a supposed real-life pal of Reagan's--or at least photo-op pal--but I think he was probably pretty moderate in the context of today. To the right of his predecessor, Joe Clark, but I'm my recollection is basically a Romney Chamber of Commerce-type. Famous debate moment at 0:35.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j64lzExjWSc

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/27/world/asia/pankaj-udhas-dead.html

Pankaj Udhas, Bollywood Singer and Maestro of the Ghazal, Dies at 72
His soulful renditions of ghazals, or traditional love poems, were featured on the soundtracks of hit Bollywood movies and moved generations of Indians.

Iris Apfel, 102!

Iris Apfel, fashion giant and self-dubbed “geriatric starlet” has died. She was 102 https://t.co/73LD6WI3VZ

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 2, 2024

<3

what a legend

Film scholar David Bordwell, 76
https://www.indiewire.com/news/obituary/david-bordwell-dead-film-scholar-1234959386/?f

RIP

RIP David Bordwell.
I’m currently reading “Ozu and the Poetics of Cinema” and it’s excellent. Respect.

I don't think I've read a Bordwell book other than the famous textbook that I studied and then taught from. I remember his prose as very clear but very dry as well, not so appealing to read if you don't have to.

His first term coincided with the Reagan-Thatcher moment

...and for those unaware, I'll just note that his original deputy PM was Erik Nielsen, brother of Leslie

Don't call him Shirley

Austin Bluesman WC Clark

Antone's Record Shop on FB:

We are heartbroken to share that WC Clark has passed away. The Austin native and Godfather of Austin Blues was not only an important part of Antone's but our entire Austin music community.

He grew up playing on Austin's Eastside at places like the Victory Grill and then joined Joe Tex's band in the late 60s. Upon returning to Austin he played with Southern Feeling with a lineup that at various times featured Denny Freeman, Angela Strehli, Derek O'Brien, Alex Napier, Hambone and Rodney Craig among others. After a brief stint as a mechanic he was asked by Stevie Vaughan to play in Triple Threat Revue which, in addition to Stevie and WC, included Lou Ann Barton, Mike Kindred & Freddie Pharoah. Bandmates WC and Mike Kindred co-wrote "Cold Shot" which was later recorded by Stevie Ray Vaughan and went Platinum.

Even after starting his own band, WC Clark continued to mentor up and coming musicians like Charlie & Will Sexton when they were kids just starting out. WC won multiple WC Handy awards and multiple Austin Music Awards, including Hall Of Fame honors. His catalog of recordings spans the decades.

He was still performing regularly up until a couple of weeks ago. We were so lucky to have him in our city on so many stages on so many nights. His soulful voice and guitar playing were the perfect combination.

Belated RIP for David Bordwell - when his Ozu book was first released, he presented a series of Ozu screenings at the NFT in London. This was the first chance for UK cinephiles of my generation to see a lot of these films, and Bordwell was an excellent guide into them. I'm not do fully down with his more hardcore formal analysis, but things like his study of classic Hollywood narrative style in terms of shot length etc def needed to be done.