Celebrities / Famous Personalities Who Have Passed Away (Compiled)

[Guest RIP]

Veteran actor Bai Yan, passed away on August 19, 2019. He was 100.

 

[shyc]

Valerie Harper, TV's sassy, lovable Rhoda, dies at 80

JOHN ROGERS

Associated Press31 August 2019

 

https://sg.yahoo.com/style/valerie-harper-tvs-rhoda-died-230843014.html

 

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Obit Valerie Harper

FILE - In this May 7, 2014 file photo, actress and cancer survivor Valerie Harper, testifies before a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing to examine the fight against cancer on Capitol Hill in Washington. Valerie Harper, who scored guffaws and stole hearts as Rhoda Morgenstern on back-to-back hit sitcoms in the 1970s, has died, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. She was 80. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

 

More

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Valerie Harper, who scored guffaws, stole hearts and busted TV taboos as the brash, self-deprecating Rhoda Morgenstern on back-to-back hit sitcoms in the 1970s, has died.

Longtime family friend Dan Watt confirmed Harper died Friday, adding the family wasn't immediately releasing any further details. She had been battling cancer for years, and her husband said recently he had been advised to put her in hospice care.

Harper was a breakout star on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," then the lead of her own series, "Rhoda." She was 80.

She won three consecutive Emmys (1971-73) as supporting actress on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and another for outstanding lead actress for "Rhoda," which ran from 1974-78. Beyond awards, she was immortalized — and typecast — for playing one of television's most beloved characters, a best friend the equal of Ethel Mertz and Ed Norton in TV's sidekick pantheon.

Fans had long feared the news of her passing. In 2013, she first revealed that she had been diagnosed with brain cancer and had been told by her doctors she had as little as three months to live. Some responded as if a family member were in peril.

But she refused to despair. "I'm not dying until I do," Harper said in an interview on NBC's "Today" show. "I promise I won't." Harper did outlive her famous co-star: Mary Tyler Moore died in January 2017. Ed Asner, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Gavin MacLeod are among the former cast members who survive her.

MacLeod recalled her as a "talented, gifted actress" in an email to The Associated Press.

"It is indeed a sad day. My life has been so enriched by having the experience of working with Valerie and calling her a friend. ... The thing I remember so much about Val is that she loved her family, she loved the actors that she worked with and she loved the underdog. She was always helping someone," he wrote.

In recent years, Harper's other appearances included "American Dad!" ''The Simpsons" and "Two Broke Girls."

Harper was a chorus dancer on Broadway as a teen before moving into comedy and improv when, in 1970, she auditioned for the part of a Bronx-born Jewish girl who would be a neighbor and pal of Minneapolis news producer Mary Richards on a new sitcom for CBS.

It seemed a long shot for the young, unknown actress. As she recalled, "I'm not Jewish, not from New York, and I have a small shiksa nose." And she had almost no TV experience.

But Harper, who arrived for her audition some 20 pounds overweight, may have clinched the role when she blurted out in admiration to the show's tall, slender star: "Look at you in white pants without a long jacket to cover your behind!"

It was exactly the sort of thing Rhoda would say to "Mar," as Harper recalled in her 2013 memoir, "I, Rhoda." Harper was signed without a screen test.

Of course, if CBS had gotten its way, Rhoda might have been a very different character with a much different actress in place. As "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was being developed, its producers were battling a four-point decree from the network, which insisted that the nation's TV viewers would not accept series characters who were (1) divorced, (2) from New York, (3) Jewish or (4) have mustaches.

The producers lost on having Mary Richards divorced (instead, she had been dumped by her long-time boyfriend). But with Rhoda they overrode the network on two other counts.

The show that resulted was a groundbreaking hit, with comically relatable Rhoda one big reason.

Item: "What am I? I'm not married, I'm not engaged. I'm not even pinned. I bet Hallmark doesn't even have a card for me!"

Item: Eyeing a piece of candy, Rhoda wise-cracked: "I don't know whether to eat this or apply it directly to my hips."

"Women really identified with Rhoda because her problems and fears were theirs," Harper theorized in her book. "Despite the fact that she was the butt of most of her own jokes, so to speak, ... her confident swagger masked her insecurity. Rhoda never gave up."

Neither did Harper, who confronted her own insecurities with similar moxie.

"I was always a little overweight," she once told The Associated Press. "I'd say, 'Hello, I'm Valerie Harper and I'm overweight.' I'd say it quickly before they could. ... I always got called chubby, my nose was too wide, my hair was too kinky."

 

But as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" evolved, so did Rhoda. Rhoda trimmed down and glammed up, while never losing her comic step. The audience loved her more than ever.

A spinoff seemed inevitable. In 1974, Rhoda was dispatched from Minneapolis back home to New York City, where she was reunited with her parents and younger sister in a new sitcom that costarred Nancy Walker, Harold Gould and Julie Kavner.

She also met and fell in love with the hunky owner of a demolition firm.

The premiere of "Rhoda" that September was the week's top-rated show, getting a 42 percent share of audience against competition including Monday Night Football on ABC. And a few weeks later, when Rhoda and her fiance, Joe, were wed in a one-hour special episode, more than 52 million people — half of the U.S. viewing audience — tuned in.

But "Rhoda" couldn't maintain those comic or popular heights. A domesticated, lucky-in-love Rhoda wasn't a funny Rhoda. By the end of the third season, the writers had taken a desperate step: Rhoda divorced Joe. Thus had Rhoda (and Harper) defied a third CBS taboo.

The series ended in 1978 with Harper having played Rhoda for a total of nine seasons.

She had captured the character by studying her Italian stepmother. But Harper's own ethnicity — neither Jewish nor Italian — was summed up in a New York Times profile as "an exotic mixture of Spanish-English-Scotch-Irish-Welsh-French-Canadian."

And she was not a Gothamite. Born in Suffern, New York, into a family headed by a peripatetic sales executive, she spent her early years in Oregon, Michigan and California before settling in Jersey City, New Jersey.

By high school, she was taking dance lessons in Manhattan several times a week. By age 15, she was dancing specialty numbers at Radio City Music Hall. By 18, she was in the chorus of the Broadway musical "Li'l Abner" (then appeared in the film adaptation one year later). She also danced in the musicals "Take Me Along" (starring Jackie Gleason) and "Wildcat" (starring Lucille Ball).

She found comedy when she fell in with a group of Second City players from Chicago who had taken up residence in Greenwich Village. One of these improv players was Richard Schaal, whom she wed in 1964. (They divorced in 1978.)

Harper and Schaal moved to Los Angeles in 1968.Two years later, in a theater production, she was spotted by a casting agent for the role of Rhoda.

During "The Mary Tyler Moore," Harper appeared in her first major film, the comedy "Freebie and the Bean," and later was cast in "Blame It on Rio" and an adaptation of Neil Simon's play "Chapter Two."

In 1986, she returned to series TV with a family sitcom called "Valerie." While not matching her past critical successes, the show proved popular. But in the summer of 1987, Harper and her manager, Tony Cacciotti, whom she had married a few months earlier, were embroiled in a highly publicized feud with Lorimar Telepictures, the show's production company, and its network, NBC.

In a dispute over salary demands, Harper had refused to report for work, missing one episode. The episode was filmed without her. She was back on duty the following week, only to be abruptly dumped and replaced by actress Sandy Duncan. The show was renamed "Valerie's Family" and then "The Hogan Family."

Meanwhile, lawsuits and countersuits flew. In September 1988, a jury decided that Harper was wrongfully fired. She was awarded $1.4 million compensation plus profit participation in the show (which continued without Harper until 1991).

"I felt vindicated," Harper wrote in her memoir. "I had beaten Lorimar and reclaimed my reputation."

During the 1990s, Harper starred in a pair of short-lived sitcoms (one of which, "City," was created by future Oscar-winner Paul Haggis) and made guest appearances on series including "Melrose Place," ''Sex and the City" and "Desperate Housewives."

She reunited with Moore in a 2000 TV film, "Mary and Rhoda." In 2013, there was an even grander reunion: Harper and Moore were back together along with fellow "MTM" alumnae Leachman, White and Georgia Engel to tape an episode of White's hit comedy, "Hot in Cleveland." It was the ensemble's first acting job together in more than 30 years and during a news conference Harper cited a valuable lesson: The character of Rhoda, she said, pointing to Moore, "taught me to thank your lucky stars for a fabulous friend."

Survivors include her husband, Tony Cacciotti, and daughter, Cristina Cacciotti.

___

Frazier Moore, a long-time television writer for The Associated Press who retired in 2017, was the principal writer of this obituary. AP Television Writer Lynn Elber contributed.

Edited September 1, 2019 by shyc

[Guest 犯贱冰冰]

So sad

[Guest Guest]

One of the great directors

[Guest disclosed yourself]

18 minutes ago, Guest 犯贱冰冰 said:

So sad

 

Yeah

[Guest Yukio]

I really enjoyed the Last emperor

 

 

John Lone made me fantasise about a bygone era, where one man had absolute power

[Guest Guest]

I know right! It is a classic movie. Hope that younger directors will try to live up with it

[Guest disclosed yourself]

Former Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe dies aged 95

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/zimbabwe-former-president-leader-robert-mugabe-dead-11879622

 

HARARE: Robert Mugabe, the bush war guerrilla who led Zimbabwe to independence and crushed his foes during nearly four decades of rule as his country descended into poverty, hyperinflation and unrest, died on Friday (Sep 6). He was 95.

Declared a national hero within hours of his death by the long-serving aide who succeeded him as president, Mugabe was one of the most polarising figures in his continent's history - a giant of African liberation whose rule finally ended in ignominy when he was overthrown by his own army.

 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his predecessor had been declared a "national hero" and that Zimbabwe would mourn him until the burial.

"The late departed icon will be eternally remembered and honoured for the bold and historic land reform programme which he undertook," said Mnangagwa during a national address broadcast on television.

"On the backdrop and solid foundation of the first republic which he moulded as its leader, we today recover and grow."

Mugabe passed away at 1040am in Singapore, where he had been hospitalised in April, a Zimbabwean diplomat in South Africa told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

In November, Mnangagwa said Mugabe was no longer able to walk when he had been admitted to a hospital in Singapore, without saying what treatment Mugabe had been undergoing.

Officials often said he was being treated for a cataract, denying frequent private media reports that he had prostate cancer.

Mugabe took power in 1980 after seven years of a liberation bush war, with a reputation as "the thinking man's guerrilla". He held seven degrees, three earned behind bars as a political prisoner of then-Rhodesia's white minority rulers.

Later, as he crushed his political enemies, he boasted of another qualification: "a degree in violence".

Nearly four decades later, many at home and abroad denounced him as a power-obsessed autocrat willing to unleash death squads against his political enemies, rig elections and trash the economy in the relentless pursuit of control.

READ: Robert Mugabe: Liberation hero turned despot

As the economy imploded starting from 2000 and his health eroded, he found fewer people to trust as he seemingly smoothed a path to succession for his wife, four decades his junior and derided by critics as "Gucci Grace" for her luxury lifestyle.

Confined for the remaining years of his life between Singapore and his sprawling "Blue Roof" mansion in Harare, Mugabe stayed bitter to the end. Last year, before the first election without him, he said he would vote for the opposition.

"COLOSSUS"

David Coltart, an opposition senator and rights lawyer who opposed Mugabe, nevertheless paid tribute to the former leader.

"He was a colossus on the Zimbabwean stage and his enduring positive legacy will be his role in ending white minority rule & expanding a quality education to all Zimbabweans," Coltart said on Twitter.

 

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang hailed Mugabe as an "outstanding national liberation movement leader and politician."

"Throughout his life, he firmly defended the sovereignty of his country, opposed foreign interference, and actively promoted China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa friendship and cooperation," he said at a press briefing in Beijing.

The South African government said in a tweet: "We send condolences to the Government and the people of the Zimbabwe following the passing on of their founding leader and former President Robert Mugabe ... (a) fearless pan-Africanist liberation fighter."

 

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta remembered Mugabe as "a man of courage who was never afraid to fight for what he believed in even when it was not popular".

"In this moment of sorrow, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his relatives and the people of Zimbabwe who, for many years, he served with commitment and dedication," he said in a statement.

"Words cannot convey the magnitude of the loss as former President Mugabe was an elder statesman, a freedom fighter and a Pan-Africanist who played a major role in shaping the interests of the African continent."

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Mugabe's "great personal contribution" to Zimbabwe's independence.

"Many important dates in Zimbabwe's modern history are tied to the name of Robert Mugabe. He made a great personal contribution to the battle for your country's independence, to the building of Zimbabwean state institutions," Putin said.

He also was a proponent of "friendly relations" with Russia, Putin added.

Zimbabwe was one of the few countries that supported Moscow over its annexation of Crimea, voting against a United Nations resolution affirming the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

ARMY COUP

Mugabe was forced to resign in November 2017 after an army coup designed to prevent his unpopular wife Grace succeeding her husband, who planned to step aside due to his age and failing health.

The military feared the rise of the uncompromising Grace to the presidency would ensure the opposition would win general elections and lead to curbs on their influence in politics and the economy.

Mugabe denounced his enforced resignation, which triggered wild celebrations across the country of 13 million, as an "unconstitutional and humiliating" act of betrayal by his party and people.

His departure failed to lift Zimbabwe's economy, however, which remains in its worst economic crisis in a decade. 

Triple-digit inflation, rolling power cuts and shortages of US dollars and basic goods have revived memories of the hyperinflation that forced it to ditch its currency in 2009.

Source: Agencies/nc/nh/ec
 

[StockBottom]

https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/model-actor-godfrey-gao-35-reportedly-dead-after-collapsing-while-filming-a

 

SINGAPORE - Taiwan-born Canadian model-actor Godfrey Gao, 35, has died after he collapsed while filming a Chinese variety series. His agency, JetStar Entertainment, confirmed this on Weibo. He was reportedly rushed to hospital, where he died after nearly three hours, according to JetStar's statement.

According to Chinese media reports, he had been filming Chase Me - a night-time variety series by Zhejiang Television which focuses on physical tasks for its contestants.

He reportedly collapsed at around 2am on Wednesday morning (Nov 27) midway through filming. Other celebrities on set included Hong Kong actor William Chan and boy band Fahrenheit member Calvin Chen.

In photographs circulating on the Web, Chan can be seen with his hands in a prayer position. Paramedics could also be seen working on someone, who is obscured in the photographs.

Netizens who claimed to witness the incident said that Gao's heart stopped beating for a few minutes before it resumed and that he was rushed to the hospital.

 

Godfrey Gao in the Chinese sci-fi film Shanghai Fortress. PHOTO: GODFREYGAO/INSTAGRAM

 

The 1.93m tall Gao first caught the public's eye as a fashion model. He was the first Asian male model to appear in luxury brand's Louis Vuitton ad campaign in 2011.

He has since been in Hollywood films like The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) and also became popular in China when he starred in Remembering Lichuan (2016), a television adaptation of a Chinese romance novel.

[fab]

[Guest OMG]

OMG.

This is way too sudden.

May he rest in peace.

[Guest Guest]

Such a fine specimen of a man. RIP

[Guest bottom]

does anyone know if he was gay?

[Guest also a bottom]

1 hour ago, Guest bottom said:

does anyone know if he was gay?

 

does it matter?

[Guest Guest]

In shock. Belinda Lee wrote a nice tribute to godfrey, he seams like a nice guy. He was suppose to be James Mao's best man at his wedding this friday.

[Guest guest]

Omg, so sudden and shocking. Still young and yet gone too soon. Looks like nowadays life is very fragile.

[Guest Try and see]

21 hours ago, Guest bottom said:

does anyone know if he was gay?

 

He has a gf who is possibly also his fiancee

 

 

 

19 hours ago, Guest also a bottom said:

does it matter?

 

People just curious, that's why asking.

No need to get so triggered over eveything like those dumb liberals in America. Sheesh.

[lonelyglobe]

16 hours ago, Guest guest said:

Omg, so sudden and shocking. Still young and yet gone too soon. Looks like nowadays life is very fragile.

Not only nowadays,  life have always been fragile,  that's why they say " live everyday like your last day"

[Guest guest]

9 hours ago, lonelyglobe said:

Not only nowadays,  life have always been fragile,  that's why they say " live everyday like your last day"

But last time seldom hear people so common to have cardiac arrest suddenly and die or just like that fainted and die also. Now hear so many people passed away so sudden due to such cause. 

[Guest Tomato]

11 minutes ago, Guest guest said:

But last time seldom hear people so common to have cardiac arrest suddenly and die or just like that fainted and die also. Now hear so many people passed away so sudden due to such cause. 

 

it is always the combination of fatigue (working long hours), stressed and sleeping very late at night.

Something which is all too common with people nowadays.

That means, anyone could just develop this sudden situation and dies.

[Guest guest]

19 minutes ago, Guest Tomato said:

 

it is always the combination of fatigue (working long hours), stressed and sleeping very late at night.

Something which is all too common with people nowadays.

That means, anyone could just develop this sudden situation and dies.

Like that what's the point of going regular health screening, exercising, looking fit and good. Health is in good status. But still can just develop this sudden situation and dies?

[Guest Guest]

26 minutes ago, Guest Tomato said:

 

it is always the combination of fatigue (working long hours), stressed and sleeping very late at night.

Something which is all too common with people nowadays.

That means, anyone could just develop this sudden situation and dies.

I agree but in case in SG, I always hear singaporeans compliant they work very long hours...but really? Most will leave on the dot from what I see...singaporeans are fatigued because of party too much, gaming too much...stressed because not enough money for the latest trends and holidays. 

[Guest Guest]

44 minutes ago, Guest guest said:

But last time seldom hear people so common to have cardiac arrest suddenly and die or just like that fainted and die also. Now hear so many people passed away so sudden due to such cause. 

I am trying to understand what you wrote.

 

Your 'last time' and present times are the same...so....whats your point?

[Guest Destiny]

Based on his bazi can predict his death. RIP

[fab]

15 minutes ago, Guest Destiny said:

Based on his bazi can predict his death. RIP

 

U know his bazi?

 

If you don't share the details, you are just a mahoupao.

[Guest Destiny]

22sep84, 未神

 

When the time came, his fire was distinguish and ceased, so did his heart

[Firday]

5 hours ago, Guest Destiny said:

22sep84, 未神

 

When the time came, his fire was distinguish and ceased, so did his heart

Which APK u used ?

 

[Guest Brother]

On 11/27/2019 at 1:32 PM, Guest Guest said:

Such a fine specimen of a man. RIP

His brother, Calvin, is also very good looking. Their parents really pass on good looks to their children.

[Guest Bazi]

6 hours ago, Guest Destiny said:

22sep84, 未神

 

When the time came, his fire was distinguish and ceased, so did his heart

Can you predict mine too? Somehow I cannot visualise my future. Maybe there is no future for me. If really can predict my departure date, then at least I can plan accordingly. 

[Mssg-exchange]

6 hours ago, Guest Destiny said:

22sep84, 未神

 

When the time came, his fire was distinguish and ceased, so did his heart

Didn't you mean *extinguish? 

[Guest Destiny]

Ya, extinguished,  lmao

[Guest Genetics]

4 hours ago, Guest Brother said:

His brother, Calvin, is also very good looking. Their parents really pass on good looks to their children.

Where do you find his brother Calvin picture? Alot of handsome guy from Taiwan. 

[Guest Destiny]

4 hours ago, Firday said:

Which APK u used ?

 

 

What's apk, lol

[fab]

46 minutes ago, Guest Destiny said:

 

What's apk, lol

 

I guess he meant app.

[Guest Link]

13 hours ago, Guest Genetics said:

Where do you find his brother Calvin picture? Alot of handsome guy from Taiwan. 

https://mobile.twitter.com/godfreygaodaily/status/863016645865996288

Can see his brother plus parents picture here

[Guest Guest]

一起回顾新加坡播放的电视剧 《武神赵子龙》

[Guest Guest]

4 hours ago, Guest Guest said:

一起回顾新加坡播放的电视剧 《武神赵子龙》

 

Aiyoh ... those horsey so poor thing ... kenna shaved (0.47 and 1.33) still never mind, but also kenna kicked in the head (1.44)  like that... wah piang eh ...

[Guest Guest]

精通命理的前辈请指教 。

 

探讨高以翔的八字

 

新加坡新闻头条版

 

 

[Guest Guest]

Corrected hyperlink -> 探讨高以翔的八字

[Guest godfrey]

So sad to hear about Godfrey’s death

[Guest guest]

22 hours ago, Guest godfrey said:

So sad to hear about Godfrey’s death

It show that life is very fragile, no matter how young, healthy, fit, cute and nice body you have, such thing could happen to anyone.

[FattChoy]

Saw the video on FB.  They flew back the coffin?   Really?  I thought all dead ppl must be cremated prior to being transfered internationally. 

[Steve5380]

On 11/27/2019 at 9:59 PM, Guest Try and see said:

 

People just curious, that's why asking.

No need to get so triggered over eveything like those dumb liberals in America. Sheesh.

 

Oh really?

 

It seems that the people here getting so triggered over the death of Gao are all Singaporeans...

.

Edited December 3, 2019 by Steve5380

[Guest somebody]

Michael Lai (composer)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lai_(composer)

[Guest Rip]

Marie Frederiksson of Swedish pop duo Roxette dies at 61

5 of 5

 

A photo taken on June 11, 2011, shows Marie Fredriksson performing during a concert in Berlin.PHOTO: DPA

PUBLISHED

45 MIN AGO

FACEBOOKWHATSAPPTWITTER

 

STOCKHOLM (AP) - Marie Fredriksson, the female half of the Swedish pop duo Roxette, has died at age 61, her management agency said on Tuesday (Dec 10).

Frederiksson formed Roxette with Per Gessle in 1986. The two released their first album the same year and went on to achieve international success in the late 1980s and 1990s.

The Dimberg Jernberg agency said Frederiksson died on Monday "of the consequences of a long illness". It "is with great sorrow that we must inform you that one of greatest and most-loved artists is gone", the firm said.

Fredriksson became ill in 2002 and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She underwent radiation treatment and had continued health problems.

Frederiksson is survived by her husband, Mikael Bolyos, and their two children, Josefin and Oscar.

[Guest Guest]

RIP Marie.

[thepresentfitness]

https://mothership.sg/2019/12/roxette-singer-marie-fredriksson-die/

Edited December 13, 2019 by thepresentfitness

[wilfgene]

Euthanasia?

[Guest iku iku ikuuuuu]

She had been battling brain tumour since the 2000s lived 19 years since diagnosis very good alredi.

[Guest Guest]