Rolling Obituary Thread 2026

The thread of the dead.

James Grauerholz, William S. Burroughs' longtime assistant/manager/editor/everything else. When I called Burroughs in Kansas to request an interview as a high school student, I spoke to Grauerholz. (Didn't get the interview.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3atJxdNJGc

(xpost)

Legendary Japanese psych-rock guitarist Munehiro Narita (High Rise, etc.).

Damn shame I never saw him live.

co-founder of Sega Games David Rosen, 95
(also a pilot in the Korean War!)

Andrew Bodnar, bassist for (Graham Parker &) the Rumour who also appeared on Nick Lowe's "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass" with Bob Andrews (both got a co-writing credit), Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives," The Pretenders' Learning to Crawl, and a few of Garland Jeffreys's best records.

correction, he played on the Pretenders' cover of "Thin Line Between Love and Hate," not the entire album

Molly Parkin, painter novelist and journalist, 93

Andrew Bodnar was a favorite of mine, RIP :( Glad I got to see one of the Rumour reunion shows.

biographer/author Michael Schumacher, aged 75

i’d forgotten all about molly parkin. i used to have some sort of vague ongoing connection with her - it must have been back when i worked in a bookshop.

Béla Tarr

Only 70, I had assumed he was quite a bit older

Dunno why you would associate him with longevity

Bye bye Béla

damn, one of the greats imo. RIP Bela

RIP Béla, I will endeavour to actually watch Sátántangó this year in your honour. I've only had it on DVD for what, ten years?

RIP

RIP, Werckmeister Harmonies would be in my top 10 films of this century. One of these days I'll rewatch Sátántangó too.

I've got the Curzon box and have been trying to motivate myself enough to crack it open. Guess this is it.

i had about half the curzon box on £5 dvds from fopp so i didn't bother, but there's a lot of non-feature extras and it's a bump in quality. expensive though.

So did I but mine was a present so yay for me I guess.

Extremely sad news to wake up to. I'm glad he lived long enough to see his all of his work return to circulation in spectacular quality - it used be so difficult to see his films and even more difficult to do so in decent quality. (One of my most memorable filmgoing experiences was seeing Sátántangó in 35mm at Lincoln Center, years after the DVD fell out-of-print and years before it was finally restored in 4K.)

Only 70, I had assumed he was quite a bit older

I saw him at his last NYC appearance 16 months ago, and I was stunned how unhealthy he looked. In 2011, he was at the NYFF to present his final film, and on that gorgeous, unseasonably warm October afternoon, he walked onstage and said "what are you doing here? It's beautiful outside!" He looked great striding along with the ponytail and the shades on his head.

In fact, you can see him here at the free talk he gave at the festival (maybe even the same day):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxHNl2H8IO0

Now flash forward to June 2023, and he looked frail and physically unsteady, hunched over and tremoring while using a cane. I would've guessed he was easily in his 70s, maybe in his 80s. (He was 68.)

But he was still as sharp as ever and still had the same fire - when someone asked about making a film, he got worked up, whipped out his iPhone and basically said: "You have THIS in your pocket. You don't need anything else, just fucking make your movie and don't let anyone else tell you that you can't."

Afterwards he sat outside, smoking another cigarette (I'm guessing he never cut back) and when people asked him to sign their DVD's, he agreed while saying "promise not to sell this, I already saw one script I signed yesterday on fucking eBay."

He was never going to make another movie, but he was dedicated to mentoring and teaching new and uncompromising filmmakers. An Elephant Sitting Still is perhaps the best film made from one such filmmaker, though sadly the same person committed suicide before it ever saw release.)

(IIRC that free talk was probably the same day and before his film was scheduled to play - he probably gave the talk and walked over to Alice Tully afterwards. The NYFF's schedule is usually packed pretty tight that way.)

Martin Chivers, footballer.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/07/martin-chivers-former-tottenham-england-southampton-striker-dies-aged-80

Aldrich Ames, CIA agent who spied for the Soviet Union - died in prison, aged 84

The NYT obituary for Ames is a very entertaining read in its vociferousness. RIP to all those people Ames exposed

Michael Reagan

Rest In Piss

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the city's paper of record.

(Actually, it won't officially die until May 3.)

Just read about Bob Pulford, a Leaf mainstay when I was a kid and watched hockey:

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2026/01/06/bob-pulford-the-engine-of-the-maple-leaf-dynasty-in-the-1960s/

In the HOF, too. 16 seasons, never more than 30 goals, never fewer than 10.

Terry Yorath, ex dirty Leeds scum

I used to deal with him when I worked in the bookies when he was Jacko's assistant. He was such a rude, arrogant glowering presence. If you knocked him back on a price that had gone his puce bald head would start glowing an even brighter shade of puce. Horrible guy. tbh.

So RIP then?

Looked like a serious boozer to me.

peace was not a word to associate with Tel!

oh he was a boozer, in fact he was let go during his last period at Town for a drink driving incident

Actually from late 2025:

Marcia Rodd, actress who was very memorable (actually unbelievable) in Alan Arkin's Little Murders (1971) which was her film debut after doing Broadway, and was also acclaimed for her work in Jonathon Demme's Handle with Care, aka Citizens Band (1977), 87.

Yorath's son died in front of him aged 15 and he, being an unreconstructed man of a certain age, decided on drinking rather than counselling (according to a clip I just saw there).

Gabby Logan is his daughter and that's why she disappeared in the middle of MOTD last night.

Marcia Rodd also played Maude's daughter Carol in the All In The Family episode that was a backdoor pilot for Maude, but quit after the show was picked up for series and was replaced by Adrienne Barbeau.

I used to deal with him when I worked in the bookies when he was Jacko's assistant. He was such a rude, arrogant glowering presence. If you knocked him back on a price that had gone his puce bald head would start glowing an even brighter shade of puce. Horrible guy. tbh.

― calzino, Thursday, 8 January 2026 11:17 (seven hours ago)

So RIP then?

― Wilfried Nuance (Tom D.), Thursday, 8 January 2026 11:25 (seven hours ago)

Rest in puce, surely?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/movies/bahram-beyzaie-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.DVA.y69j.Vha3CKOF6pCF&smid=nytcore-ios-share

RIP Bahram Beyzaie, pioneer in Iranian film and theatre

T.K. Carter, best known for playing Nauls in The Thing

Bob Weir

British character actor Derek Martin.

Lovely memory here from The Curious Orange.

Farewell Derek Martin. R.I.P.

Derek once came in to do a Fat Fighters sketch. Marjorie introduces him to the group, "he plays a character from EastEnders, but not one of the main ones". Derek roared with laughter. He was a really good sport & top bloke.https://t.co/6zozl0Da6R

— Paul Putner (@RealPaulPutner) January 11, 2026

92! I had not idea he was that old.

The thumbnail made me think Matt Lucas had died and was somehow 92.

erich von däniken (90)

https://childofatlantis.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_0141.png

I was surprised to learn months ago that Sterzinger was a regular here, she was close friends with Goad, I think.

Wasn't aware of that but she def became an alt right shithead yes, and if you look into the archives always kinda was.

As someone who also had to research this Goad person when the news came on another forum, think it's important to mention that dude was not just an edgelord with bad opinions, he was in jail for violently abusing a romantic partner and never did anything but gloat about that afterwards. Even had he been a woke marxist he'd still be an irredeemable piece of shit, rest in piss.

he and GG are eating each other’s assholes in hell

The US jazz saxophonist Plas Johnson, best known for his solo riff on the timeless classic The Pink Panther Theme, has died at the age of 94, according to reports.

18 year old deaf actress who was in two recent Godzilla movies, car crash:

https://apnews.com/article/kaylee-hottle-dies-godzilla-actor-7971cbb43107772fe4e9a6174ea84111

Tragic

Kaylee Hottle, a deaf actor best known for her starring role in two “Godzilla” films, died in a car crash in Maryland early Tuesday morning, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said. She was 18.

Double tragic.

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/football-journalist-luca-esposito-shot-dead-and-set-on-fire-in-horrific-execution-539330

jesus

christ ill pull back my provocative opinions on the world cup threads

Rodney Holmes, 60, great drummer, most famous to the general public for playing on Carlos Santana's 'Smooth' (hate it or not, that's one of probably five drum fills you can play to a civilian and have them recognize the song).

Love that the Pink Panther sax guy (also on "Peter Gunn Theme") made it to 94.

six days from his 95th, I think

Apparently music journalist Andrew Perry of Select and Mojo died in April

https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/he-was-a-true-believer-one-of-the-good-guys-a-tribute-to-music-journalist-andrew-perry/093894

Sick Of It All vocalist Lou Koller, 59.

I loved Sick Of It All in high school - saw them play at CBGB and at City Gardens in Trenton.

I had no idea director Chuck Russell died. He had an interesting genre film filmography, I thought. "Blob" remake, "The Mask," "Nightmare on Elm Street 3," etc.

John “Jammin’” Collins, techno DJ legend and Underground Resistance associate, who started his career DJing with Jeff Mills in the pre-techno era, passed away.

https://ra.co/news/85647

Saw him DJ once and it was, of course, incredible. RIP.

Just had word that Bill Oddie died.

Bill Oddie, naturalist and broadcaster, dies aged 85 https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jul/27/bill-oddie-naturalist-and-broadcaster-dies?CMP=share_btn_url

Oh, no. No no no no no.

This weekend, I bought a "compendium" book of the Goodies history, was just about to dig up the dvd full anthology that's somewhere in the garage.

Knew he'd been ill, but not that ill, RIP

Oh no, RIP Bill.

Graeme Garden seemed so much older than the other two when I was a kid. Now he's the last Goodie standing.

RIP you delightfully grumpy old sod

Zippy

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a73271748/ronnie-le-drew-death-zippy-rainbow/

Keegan, Oddie, Zippy. All the 70s icons are dying off.

Gunther Von Hagens, who plastified corpses for his Körperwelten/Body Worlds exhibition - his own body will also be sliced up and become part of his exhibition:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/27/gunther-von-hagens-creator-of-body-worlds-and-plastination-dies-aged-81

I went to see that exhibition on a date once. it was a poor choice.

Depends on who you date, surely. "Why yes I'm free that evening, Dr. Lecter."

Czech girl called Marketa, there wasn't much of a spark in the first place tbh, but that killed it stone dead.

Bill Oddie always made me think of Bruce Dickinson when I saw him which I loved.

xp You should’ve taken her to see ‘Sexual Freedom in Denmark’.

I went to see that exhibition on a date once. it was a poor choice.

No-one can say you don't know how to show a girl a good time.

As for Von Hagens, a creepy ghoul who stole his look from Joseph Beuys, Rest in (Plastinated) Pieces.

Keigo Higashino, 68. mystery novel author
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2026/07/27/books/keigo-higashino-obituary/

I also took a date to the Body Worlds show. I think it cemented our relationship.

Or plasticised, whatever.

(My Baby Does) Flesh Sculptures

Tom Chadbon, most famous round these parts as Duggan in the Tom Baker era Doctor Who serial City of Death.

Familiar face on UK TV.

Legendary artist Betye Saar.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-07-27/betye-saar-dead-artist-assemblage-aunt-jemima-99

Re: Zippy.

Hayes was a fan of the Scottish football team Dundee United, having lived in the city in the 1960s. Hayes said that he asked the producers of Rainbow to make the Zippy puppet tangerine in colour, to match Dundee United's colours rather than the blue of local rivals Dundee.[15]

just checked and this is apparently not a sectarian thing? because zippy doesn't need that.

Dundee United were originally called Dundee Hibernian and were a product of Dundee's Irish community a la Hibs and Celtic.

right, so tangerine, not orange.

Dundee also famous for its marmalade coincidentally.

there's a ghost sign on the way into Notting Hill that still reads

Dunde
Marmal

via the Bob Moog Foundation, Synth Wizard Patrick Gleason

Up to this point, all of Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi septet were still alive.

Did the cool synth score for The Plague Dogs