Celebrities / Famous Personalities Who Have Passed Away (Compiled)

[People]

On 12/7/2024 at 4:36 PM, Tihocan said:

 

Japanese star Miho Nakayama found dead at 54

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy8xzly5yro

 

 

😶

RIP

[shyc]

 

[EastSgDad]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgy81rv22do.amp

 

Barbie Hsu ... left the World at age 48

3 hours ago, shyc said:

 

 

 

[shyc]

https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/moses-lim-death-459966

RIP

”This remind me of a story long long time ago…”

Edited February 12, 2025 by shyc

[EastSgDad]

4 hours ago, shyc said:

https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/moses-lim-death-459966

RIP

”This remind me of a story long long time ago…”

Under One Roof - sitcom made in SG

Tan Ah Teck... RIP

 

Edited February 12, 2025 by EastSgDad

[T Gunner]

RIP Gene Hackman

 

Though Gene Hackman’s legendary career was filled with iconic roles… but his appearance as a reluctant yet hilarious transgender in the finale of The Birdcage to me at least… remains a standout moment even after so many years. Perhaps was this moment I find that being gay is not the bad. You will be missed… 😔

[shyc]

RIP

https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/music-label-confirms-death-hong-081733733.html
 

[EastSgDad]

3 hours ago, shyc said:

RIP

https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/music-label-confirms-death-hong-081733733.html
 

RIP...

He sang beautiful songs.

Many fans would miss him, though his songs can be played over and over. Still, no new album.

[People]

RIP

Val Kilmer

 

https://people.com/val-kilmer-dead-65-7502180

[Steve5380]

REST IN PEACE  Pope Francis,  Jorge Bergoglio,  the BEST Pope I have knowledge of,  maybe with exception of Peter the first Pope,  of whom I have little knowledge. 

 

 

LOOK AT HIS FACE at the beginning of this video,  and everywhere else.  IT IS the personification of KINDNESS.

 

Throughout his life he as been an example of what we humans should be!  There are few people whose passing make me as sad as his.  I confess that I had to cry at the news yesterday. 

 

Let's not forget that of all the Popes we know, and all religious leaders in general, he was the most PRO-LGBT, the one who said of gays "who am I to judge them?"   The one who instructed his clergy to bless same-sex unions !!!!!

 

Will there be ever another Pope like him?  Possibly not throughout my lifetime,  but I hope that he started a positive change in his Church!   

[sphere]

Composer of X Files theme, Mark Snow, dies at 78

In addition to The X Files main theme, which was released as a single in 1996 and charted internationally, Snow composed the music for over 200 episodes and both feature films of the hit science fiction show about a pair of paranormal FIB investigators.

Actors Joel McHale, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and Creator/Executive Producer Chris Carter speak onstage during The X-Files panel discussion. (Photo: AFP/Frederick M Brown)

Mark Snow, a composer of music for television – including the distinctively eerie theme for The X Files – has died at age 78, his agent confirmed.

 

A cause of death was not provided, but Hollywood trade publication Variety said Snow died Friday (Jul 4) at his residence in the northeastern state of Connecticut.

 

In addition to The X Files main theme, which was released as a single in 1996 and charted internationally, Snow composed the music for over 200 episodes and both feature films of the hit science fiction show about a pair of paranormal FIB investigators.

 

Mark Snow, composer of The X Files theme. (Photo: AFP/Leon Bennett)

 

Born Martin Fulterman on August 26, 1946, Snow grew up in Brooklyn, New York and attended the prestigious Juilliard School.

 

He began composing music for television in the late 1970s, garnering 15 Emmy nominations over the course of his career.

 

In addition to The X Files, Snow composed the music for other US television series, including Blue Bloods, Smallville and Hart to Hart.

 

He is survived by his wife Glynnis, three daughters, and grandchildren, Variety reported.

 

 

[source: here]

 

[sphere]

‘Fantastic Four’ and ‘Nip/Tuck’ star Julian McMahon dead at 56

CBS/Getty Images

Julian McMahon in "FBI: Most Wanted."

 

CNN — Actor Julian McMahon, one of the two leads of seminal FX television series “Nip/Tuck” who also played Dr. Doom in the “Fantastic Four” movies from the 2000s, has died. He was reportedly 56.

 

The news was confirmed by a statement on the official “Nip/Tuck” Facebook page, and an additional statement from his wife Kelly McMahon who told Deadline on Friday that her husband “died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer.”

 

McMahon starred opposite Dylan Walsh in the Ryan Murphy-created “Nip/Tuck” following two upscale plastic surgeons and their exploits. The series ran for six seasons between 2003 and 2010, and was nominated for 18 Primetime Emmys, winning one for best prosthetic makeup.

 

Warner Bros/Everett Collection

Julian McMahon, Dylan Walsh, in 'Nip/Tuck' in 2007.

 

Concurrently, he played Dr. Victor Von Doom in the “Fantastic Four” movies costarring Jessica Alba and Chris Evans from 2005 and 2007. (Dr. Doom is the villain soon to be portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.”)

 

McMahon’s notable additional credits include recurring characters on TV’s “Charmed” and “Profiler.” The Australian-American actor also recently appeared in “FBI: Most Wanted” and Netflix’s “The Residence.”

 

With a resume of credits that began in the late 1980s, McMahon worked up until recently, with a role in the new Nicolas Cage movie “The Surfer,” out this summer.

 

 

[source: here]

 

Edited July 5, 2025 by sphere

[shyc]

RIP

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/connie-francis-where-boys-pop-134504059.html

 

 

[shyc]

 

https://news.now.com/home/entertainment/player?newsId=612009

RIP

 

[shyc]

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/entertainment/malcolm-jamal-warner-death#:~:text=Malcolm-Jamal Warner%2C an actor,He was 54.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor who starred as Theo in ‘The Cosby Show,’ dead at 54.

RIP

[T Gunner]

RIP… have to agree that he transformed professional wrestling into a global entertainment phenomenon during the 1980s and early 1990s. 

 

 

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/07/24/sport/hulk-hogan-death

[Steve5380]

8 hours ago, T Gunner said:

 

RIP… have to agree that he transformed professional wrestling into a global entertainment phenomenon during the 1980s and early 1990s. 

 

 

Why should a person like Hulk Hogan who worked all his life building up his body in a successful career that surely earned him a lot of money,  die of cardiac arrest at a premature age of 71?

 

The truth is that many athletes who work their bodies to grow big, like bodybuilders, don't live long lives.   If longevity is a measure of success, then we should not push our bodies too far. 

[shyc]

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/americas-nicest-judge-frank-caprio-122345319.html

RIP

[Kimochi]

RIP 

Charlie Kirk ... 😞😞😞😖

[Steve5380]

10 hours ago, Kimochi said:

RIP 

Charlie Kirk ... 😞😞😞😖

 

Charlie Kirk was an American conservative activist who pushed for the reelection of Donald Trump.

 

Any murder is a crime and should be condemned.  This one in particular, the elimination of a supporter of Trump,  a convicted criminal, to make him "the most powerful man in the world", may have some element of punishing Karma. 

[sphere]

于朦胧, China actor - Alan Yu: 15 June 1988 to 11 September 2025.

 

 

 

最坏的消息还是来了，还原于朦胧生命最后时刻

2025-09-12 07:47:00

沸沸扬扬传了一天的消息，最终等来最坏的结果。9月11日，演员于朦胧工作室发文，全文如下：我们怀着无比沉痛的心情告知大家，我们深爱的朦胧，于2025年9月11日坠楼身故。经警方工作，已排除刑事嫌疑。愿逝者安息，愿生者坚强。

 

回溯事件过程，9月11日，演员于朦胧的名字突然冲上热搜。有自媒体博主发布消息称，于朦胧于9月11日凌晨在北京坠亡。该消息迅速引发全网关注。

 

记者于9月11日下午前往位于北京朝阳区东四环的阳光上东小区了解情况。在18号楼下，记者注意到发生坠楼的地面已经打扫干净，周围没有任何隔挡。在楼下入口处，往上能看到发生坠楼事件房间的纱窗存在损坏。到楼上几层的房间内，记者用手轻松打开了玻璃窗，但发现要打开玻璃窗外的纱窗似乎并不容易。而记者也感觉到纱窗是普通纱布，并不结实，如果不小心靠在窗上，有可能会导致纱布破裂，很难确定是否是因为失误还是其他原因坠楼。到楼下向街坊邻居了解情况，围观人群中一位老太表示，自己的朋友早晨6点左右遛狗时，狗狗因为闻到血腥味先注意到有人躺在地上。上前观看，发现一个年轻人嘴巴流血躺在地上，周围一滩血。中间有人下来用衣服盖住了死者的脸，说是自己的朋友。后来保安队长打了120。现场随即被封锁起来，前后来了7辆警车，直到9点过才解封。问及死者是否是于朦胧，这位老太表示，后来看到新闻才知道是于朦胧，她曾在小区里见过于朦胧跟朋友一起拍照、嬉闹，“孩子长得那么帅，一起的那些男孩、女孩都长得那么漂亮。”

9月11日，多位圈内人士通过社交媒体发声表达震惊与悲痛。于朦胧，1988年6月15日出生于新疆维吾尔自治区乌鲁木齐市，毕业于北京演艺专修学院。

 

2007年，他参加选秀《我型我秀》，获得西安站16强。2010年5月，他又报名了《快乐男声》，在全国300强突围赛中淘汰。2013年，他再一次参加《快乐男声》，获得全国总决赛第十名，签约天娱。

本想走歌手路，但因为没什么发歌机会，于朦胧抱着不失业的想法，意外成了演员。

跟他的名字一样，于朦胧的代表角色，都是清俊飘逸的古装美男。他的第一个出圈角色是爆款剧《太子妃升职记》的九王齐翰，这个角色没能和太子妃在一起是观众的意难平。后来于朦胧在现象级爆款古偶《三生三世十里桃花里》扮演了四海八荒第一美男白真。作为女主角白浅的守护神，白真性格淡泊、出淤泥而不染，再加上扮相俊美，深得观众怜爱，被认为是白真本真。

之后，于朦胧又出演了《轩辕剑之汉之云》《新白娘子传奇》等影视作品，奉献了诸多温润型的角色。

 

2020年12月，于朦胧参加竞演综艺《追光吧！哥哥》，最终成为出道的七位“追光之星”之一。2025年，其参演的电视剧《侠客行不通》《临江仙》播出。

于朦胧目前有两部待播作品，分别是《长夜行》和《风起大漠》。古装奇幻剧《长夜行》于2025年6月底在横店杀青，该剧以架空王朝为背景，讲述了于朦胧饰演的“暗夜司首领”陆沉舟，在追查皇室秘宝失窃案时，卷入一场涉及朝堂权谋、江湖恩怨的惊天阴谋，该剧预计2026年播出。张若昀和毛晓彤主演的历史剧《风起大漠》于2017年就拍摄完成，但迟迟未能播出，于朦胧在剧中饰演李敢，故事根据《史记》和《汉书》改编，讲述了汉朝名将霍去病传奇的一生 。

 

通讯员 任宇子

扬子晚报/紫牛新闻记者 张楠

 

 

[source: here]

 

[passinthenight]

RIP Robert Redford aged 89, American actor & filmmaker.

[Steve5380]

16 minutes ago, passinthenight said:

RIP Robert Redford aged 89, American actor & filmmaker.

 

He was a good actor, good man.  RIP! 

[shyc]

7 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

He was a good actor, good man.  RIP! 

Indeed a man of talent. My first encounter of him in The Sting during a late night movie on television. It inspired and got me hooked to stay up late to watch movies like Taps, etc. Was again reminded of his multi talents when I watched A River Runs Through It which he directed. Also helped as a big fan of Barbra Streisand, His name constantly popped up. RIP. Will be fondly remembered and missed.

[仙人掌]

On 9/12/2025 at 3:25 PM, sphere said:

于朦胧, China actor - Alan Yu: 15 June 1988 to 11 September 2025.

最坏的消息还是来了，还原于朦胧生命最后时刻

2025-09-12 07:47:00

 

 

If this forum, you are the only one talked about "于朦胧". Your post captured my attention.

In the entire Singapore facebook page, I am the only one posted about "于朦胧" 八字。
 

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02CVpUgSb8nrmBpMcBAVQvqdCtVZfqeZK484W8APja3GLjvxKjdq9SNA2gf2K6gCAUl&id=100063641793355
 

Meanwhile, watch cremation of 于朦胧 and turn on volume...

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1556058285587728

If you like the background music, the music video (lyrics) can found on comment page:
https://www.facebook.com/100063641793355/videos/1556058285587728/?comment_id=3761391484159461

Edited September 27, 2025 by 仙人掌

[sphere]

Veteran Hong Kong actor Benz Hui dies at 76

Hong Kong actor Benz Hui died at about 2.30am on Oct 28 due to multiple organ failure caused by cancer.

PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

 

Veteran Hong Kong actor Benz Hui has died at the age of 76.

 

His family announced to the media through his close friend, Hong Kong TV host Maria Luisa Leitao, that Hui died at 2.30am on Oct 28 due to multiple organ failure caused by cancer.

 

His family added that they deeply appreciate everyone’s concern and will announce details of his funeral arrangements later.

 

Hong Kong media outlet Sing Tao Headline first reported on Oct 27 that Hui, whose birthday fell on Nov 4, was hospitalised in Hong Kong and was in critical condition.

 

More than 20 celebrities visited the actor in hospital at that time. They included Leitao; actor Michael Miu and his actress-wife Jaime Chik; actor Edwin Siu and his actress-wife Priscilla Wong; and actor Raymond Wong and his wife, stylist Kaka Mok.

 

Veteran actress Alice Fung, who visited at about 8pm on Oct 27, told the media that Hui was using an oxygen machine but could still hear her speak.

 

Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh worked with Hui on several TV dramas, such as You’re Hired (2009), Line Walker and Themis (2024). She cancelled her working trip to Beijing and flew from Macau to Hong Kong to visit him on Oct 27.

 

Hong Kong movie star Chow Yun Fat, who worked with Hui on the TV series The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1979 to 1980), visited on Oct 28 dressed in black.

 

Hui was in the industry for more than 50 years and starred in many classic TVB series, including The Final Combat (1989) and Golden Faith (2001).

 

His most recent role as undercover cop-turned-crime boss Foon Hei Gor (Brother Foon Hei) in TVB’s Line Walker series (2014 to 2020) earned him widespread recognition, with fans affectionately calling him by that name.

 

Benz Hui's role as Foon Hei Gor (Brother Foon Hei) in TVB’s Line Walker series (2014 to 2020) earned him widespread recognition.

PHOTO: TVB

 

He reduced his acting commitments significantly in recent years and moved to Singapore with his family to enjoy a semi-retired life.

 

Hui met his wife Angeli Lung at a gathering of friends and they married in 1992. Ms Lung gave birth to their daughter Charmaine Hui in 1997 when he was 49.

 

Benz Hui with his wife Angeli Lung and their daughter Charmaine Hui.

PHOTO: CHARMAINEXHUI/INSTAGRAM

 

Ms Hui, 28, is married to Singaporean Shane Sim, who reportedly works in the banking industry. They held a wedding ceremony and banquet in Hong Kong in December 2023, and a second one in Singapore in January 2024.

 

Hui lived in Nee Soon GRC when Ms Lee Bee Wah was the MP.

 

She paid tribute to the actor on Facebook on Oct 28. “So sad to lose a great guy,” she wrote, sharing a photo of her with Hui’s family. “Deepest condolences to the family.”

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MoKD6m4e1/

 

 

[source: Straits Times]

 

Edited October 28, 2025 by sphere

[shyc]

 

Veteran actor Stanley Fung dies just days after mourning Benz Hui's passing

RIP 😞 

[Steve5380]

Yesterday, Dick Cheney, former US vice-president with J.W. Bush, passed away.  He was 84 years old.

 

He had survived four heart attacks and had received a heart transplant.  This heart transplant may have made him a slightly better person,  because before this he was quite heatless, an evil politician.  He was a former CEO of Halliburton, and this cementing business may have helped to cement his feelings.

 

His passing may have improved the world, but not too much because he was already retired.

[shyc]

Veteran Singapore singer Ling Xiao dies, aged 75

 

[sphere]

Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane dies at 53 after battle with ALS

Eric Dane died on Feb 19 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

PHOTO: AFP

 

Published Feb 20, 2026, 12:07 PM

Updated Feb 20, 2026, 08:37 PM

 

LOS ANGELES – American actor Eric Dane, best known as the charming, hunky plastic surgeon nicknamed McSteamy on the wildly successful ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy (2005 to present), has died on Feb 19. He was 53.

 

He died after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It breaks down a patient’s ability to control the muscles, speak and eventually breathe without assistance.

 

His death was confirmed by his publicist Melissa Bank. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world,” she said in the statement.

 

He married American actress Rebecca Gayheart, 54, in 2004, and the couple’s girls are aged 14 and 15.

 

Dane revealed his diagnosis in People magazine in April 2025, and later spoke in interviews and on social media about the challenges of living with the progressing condition. Patients with ALS typically live for only two to five years, though clinical trials for potential therapies have provided hope that lives can be extended by several months.

 

“I will never forget those three letters,” he said in a 2025 interview with American broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer on television programme Good Morning America. “It’s on me the second I wake up.”

 

During the interview, he described the loss of function in his right arm. “It’s not a dream,” he added.

 

As part of a patient advocacy campaign in September 2025, Dane sat in a chair and spoke in a slightly slurred voice: “I am an actor. I am a father and now a person living with ALS.”

 

He spoke about raising funds and research and “finally, finally push towards ending this disease”.

 

Eric William Dane was born on Nov 8, 1972, in San Francisco to William Dane, an architect and interior designer, and homemaker Leah (Cohn) Dane, according to his biography on abc.com. He was the older of two brothers.

 

As a high school student, Eric Dane excelled as an athlete and developed an interest in acting after performing in a production of late American writer Arthur Miller’s play All My Sons.

 

He moved to Los Angeles in 1993 and made his TV debut on The Wonder Years (1988 to 1993) that year, and landed other small roles in popular TV shows such as Saved By The Bell (1989 to 1993) and Married... With Children (1987 to 1997).

 

His boyish looks led him to recurring roles as handsome supporting characters, including his first role as a doctor in the former ABC medical drama Gideon’s Crossing (2000 to 2001), and a San Francisco newspaper owner and love interest for American actress Alyssa Milano’s character Phoebe in Charmed (1998 to 2006), the former CW series about three sister witches.

 

Dane’s acting extended to the big screen. He played a mutant able to make multiple versions of himself in X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006. Two years later, he co-starred as the newsroom buddy Sebastian Tunney in the real-life inspired movie Marley & Me (2008), a film about married journalists raising a rumbustious yellow labrador.

 

Dane’s big breakout role came in 2006 with the popular sudsy medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.

 

Eric Dane (left) played Dr Mark Sloan in Grey’s Anatomy.

PHOTO: AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANY

 

He portrayed the handsome, blue-eyed Dr Mark Sloan, the head of plastic surgery at the fictional Seattle hospital where the show was based.

 

Each week, his character, who was known as McSteamy for his sex appeal and smarmy manner among many of the nurses, residents and even attending physicians, stirred up mischievous drama.

 

He became known for one scene in particular. Called the “towel scene”, it featured him ripped and shirtless while wrapping a white towel around his waist after a hot shower.

 

Dane later said he had no idea how memorable the scene would become in the show’s history and in pop culture.

 

“In the moment, it was just another scene to me,” he recalled in the 2025 interview with Ms Sawyer. “I just remember walking out of the bathroom with a very nice gentleman kind of blowing smoke towards me.”

 

Dane appeared in 139 episodes of the show, which has been one of ABC’s top-rated programmes since its premiere in 2005.

 

McSteamy represented one facet of Dane’s career. He also starred as a fearless and by-the-book naval commander in the dystopian suspense series The Last Ship (2014 to 2018) for five seasons.

 

Dane continued to work after his diagnosis.

 

One of his more recent credits was a portrayal of the father of Nate Jacobs, played by Australian actor Jacob Elordi, on the HBO teenage drama Euphoria (2019 to present).

 

And in November 2025, drawing from his own experiences, Dane portrayed a firefighter who wrestled with his family to accept his ALS diagnosis in an episode of NBC’s Brilliant Minds (2024 to present), a medical drama.

 

The Open Field, American journalist-author Maria Shriver’s publishing imprint at Penguin Random House, is planning to publish his memoir, Book Of Days, A Memoir In Moments, in 2026.

 

In an interview with American TV host Conan O’Brien in 2015, Dane reflected on his days as McSteamy and how he did not take the fandom seriously. “It’d be awkward if you did,” he said.

 

He talked about his latest role as a commander of a ship and joked about gaining weight, sitting at the helm and barking orders: “I’m going to let it all go.”

 

He added: “I just don’t care anymore.” NYTIMES

• Rylee Kirk contributed reporting.

 

[source: here]     ['McSteamy' towel scene --> here]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sphere]

 

[glowingember]

ah…Xander…

 

[sphere]

《新扎师兄》潘宏彬离世终年63岁 曾与刘德华私交甚笃

潘宏彬是TVB第10期艺员训练班，早期曾参演《新扎师兄》《猎鹰》《鹿鼎记》等多部经典作品。 （互联网）

（综合讯）香港演员潘宏彬于1984年凭藉和梁朝伟、刘青云合作的经典剧集《新扎师兄》中陈厚德一角打开知名度，也曾参与《猎鹰》《鹿鼎记》等多部经典作品。第44届香港电影金像奖纪念特刊日前推出，其中的“永垂怀念·已故影人”栏目，列出了2026年离世的艺人名单，当中包括潘宏彬，终年63岁。

 

潘宏彬出身TVB第10期艺员训练班，与梁家辉、戴志伟和徐锦江等是同期训练班同学。除了电视圈，潘宏彬也曾拍摄过《靓妹仔》《彩云曲》等电影。

 

潘宏彬（右）和刘德华曾是好友。（互联网）

 

1988年，潘宏彬转战台湾影视圈，出演过《射雕英雄传》《情在天涯》等剧集。不过，他在1998年淡出演艺圈，转换跑道投入房地产经纪工作。直到2014年，潘宏彬才重回影坛，在电影《微交少女》中饰演80年代代表作《靓妹仔》中的角色。

 

潘宏彬与刘德华出自同一期艺员训练班，因拍剧结下深厚友谊。曾一起出演多部影视剧的两人私交甚笃，更是形影不离的好友。直到1998年，潘宏彬转作地产经纪后，两人才渐行渐远，后来也曾传出两人已绝交多年。

 

[source: here]

 

 

 

 

[Guest Guest01]

Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, dies at 47 from brain cancer.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nba/jason-collins-first-openly-gay-nba-player-dies-47-brain-cancer-rcna344833

 

[shyc]

https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/taiwanese-actor-jun-fu-tzu-chun-zichun-dies-leukemia?utm_source=&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&fbclid=IwY2xjawSVZmVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETIyTm9tTEZkNDEzSU5makNTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrgkDxy5sXWnq3SOdvEaS6xu8RFZkw3yma5fyQXp8S7CWs1_6T8Y1_GzlLXI_aem_-JbWD1VfPN-6ZS83K1GnVw

Rip 

[shyc]

Veteran Mandopop singer David Huang dies, aged 61

 

 

[Guest He Man]

RIP Bonnie Tyler

 

 

[中年馬]

R.I.P  

 

 

[Kimochi]

RIP 

 

 

[shyc]

本地资深艺人杨竣贺逝世

 

Veteran Hong Kong actress Leung Oi, known for playing domestic helpers, dies aged 87

 

RIP 🌹 🙏 

[Guest Kevin]

Brenda Fricker, Oscar-winning Irish actress and ‘Home Alone’ Pigeon Lady, dies at 81

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/17/entertainment/brenda-fricker-oscar-actress-dies-scli-intl

 

[groyn88]

It is a sad day for the LGBT community that our great ally, Kenneth Jeyaratnam, the Secretary-General of the Reform Party, passed away two days ago. He spoke up for Singapore's first openly gay politician, Vincent WIjeyasinghe, when the PAP tried to smear him for having a "gay agenda" during the 2011 General Election.

On Monday, 25 April 2011, Jeyaretnam said he fully supported Singapore's first openly gay politician, Vincent Wijeysingha, after the online buzz of a YouTube video allegedly showing the Singapore Democratic Party candidate at a forum on Section 377A (see main article: Vivian Balakrishnan attacks Vincent Wijeysingha for having alleged gay agenda during 2011 General Elections). Jeyaretnam was speaking on the sidelines of a walkabout at Depot Road that evening.

"Somebody's sexuality is not a part of the qualities to be a politician. At the Reform Party, we're an inclusive, liberal party and we don't believe in discriminating against people on the grounds of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation," said Jeyaretnam.

On Sunday, 24 April 2011, Jeyaretnam also sent the following message to SDP's candidate Wijeysingha:

"Vincent, you know my stand - we have corresponded on this. You have my support, just as previously I gave my support to Dr Chee. This is a low attack. You are an asset to politics in general and to the alternative cause in particular and the incumbents should stick to the real issues resulting from their poor policy decisions."
(extreme left) with Singapore's first openly gay politician and sociopolitical activist .

Kenneth Jeyaretnam (extreme left) with Singapore's first openly gay politician Vincent Wijeysingha and sociopolitical activist Jolovan Wham.

In response to a joint letter signed by 7 members of the LGBT community several months before the 2011 General Election querying Singapore's political parties' views on various issues of concern to the community (see main article: Singapore political parties’ positions on LGBT concerns – General election 2011), Jeyaretnam sent the following e-mail reply on 1 November 2010:

"Thanks for sending this questionnaire to us. I am aware that these issues are of overwhelming importance to the LGBT community. Please be assured that the Reform Party is a liberal secular Party. We believe passionately in freedom of expression and association. One of our central tenets is that there should not be any discrimination between individuals based on gender, race, religion, age and sexual orientation. We are committed to working towards the repeal of Section 377A and the decriminalisation of homosexuality. However we have not had time to consider our position in detail on the additional issues raised by you. Rather than asking for our position, it might be more productive if you would send us a list of the policies you would like to see adopted. Better still, you could join us and work on getting us elected to Parliament or contribute to our campaign. Unless you (like other Singaporeans) are prepared to stand up then there is very little chance of change.

Regards,
Kenneth Jeyaretnam
Secretary General"

Links:
https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Kenneth_Jeyaretnam's_views_on_homosexuality

[sphere]

Veteran Hong Kong actor and filmmaker Patrick Tse dies at age 89

His children, Nicholas Tse and Jennifer Tse, confirmed on social media that he died peacefully in hospital after a period of declining health.

Veteran Hong Kong actor and director Patrick Tse. (Photos: 8days)

 

The Hong Kong veteran actor, director and filmmaker Patrick Tse has died at the age of 89.

 

His children, actor-singer Nicholas Tse and actress-model Jennifer Tse, confirmed his death on social media on Monday (Jul 20).

 

"With profound sadness, our family announces the passing of our beloved father, Patrick Tse," Jennifer wrote on Instagram.

 

"He passed away peacefully in hospital, surrounded by the love of his family, after a period of declining health."

 

She described her father as someone who "brought joy to everyone around him" and said his contributions to Hong Kong cinema had "touched generations". She also asked for privacy as the family mourns his passing.

 

Instagram story from Jennifer Tse announcing the death of her father, Hong Kong actor and director Patrick Tse. (Photo: Instagram/jennifertsetingting)

 

Nicholas also paid tribute to his father in a post written in Cantonese.

 

"My father devoted his entire life to film, television and entertainment, hoping to bring joy and laughter to every audience member," he wrote.

 

"He often said, 'The show must go on.' All we need to do is keep in our hearts the image of him as he always was – forever charismatic, forever smiling, forever at his best."

 

IG Link

 

The elder Tse made his acting debut at the age of 17 in the 1952 film The Stormy Night and went on to become one of Hong Kong cinema's biggest stars in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

Throughout his career, he was known for his romantic leading-man roles, comedies, martial arts films and television dramas, including Swordsman Siu Sap Yat Long in 1978 and The Shell Game in 1980.

 

In 2022, Patrick won Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards for his performance as a retired contract killer in the black comedy film Time. He later became the oldest recipient of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for the same role.

 

According to Hong Kong newspaper The Standard, his last reported public appearance was in late April, when he was spotted having coffee with friends at a cafe. Although he appeared noticeably thinner and was using both a wheelchair and a walking stick, he remained cheerful, smiling and posing for photographs with members of the public.

 

Following his Best Actor win in 2022, Patrick had largely stepped away from the public eye and did not take on any new acting projects.

 

 

[source: here]

 

[AgentFit]

1 hour ago, sphere said:

Veteran Hong Kong actor and filmmaker Patrick Tse dies at age 89

His children, Nicholas Tse and Jennifer Tse, confirmed on social media that he died peacefully in hospital after a period of declining health.

Veteran Hong Kong actor and director Patrick Tse. (Photos: 8days)

 

The Hong Kong veteran actor, director and filmmaker Patrick Tse has died at the age of 89.

 

His children, actor-singer Nicholas Tse and actress-model Jennifer Tse, confirmed his death on social media on Monday (Jul 20).

 

"With profound sadness, our family announces the passing of our beloved father, Patrick Tse," Jennifer wrote on Instagram.

 

"He passed away peacefully in hospital, surrounded by the love of his family, after a period of declining health."

 

She described her father as someone who "brought joy to everyone around him" and said his contributions to Hong Kong cinema had "touched generations". She also asked for privacy as the family mourns his passing.

 

Instagram story from Jennifer Tse announcing the death of her father, Hong Kong actor and director Patrick Tse. (Photo: Instagram/jennifertsetingting)

 

Nicholas also paid tribute to his father in a post written in Cantonese.

 

"My father devoted his entire life to film, television and entertainment, hoping to bring joy and laughter to every audience member," he wrote.

 

"He often said, 'The show must go on.' All we need to do is keep in our hearts the image of him as he always was – forever charismatic, forever smiling, forever at his best."

 

IG Link

 

The elder Tse made his acting debut at the age of 17 in the 1952 film The Stormy Night and went on to become one of Hong Kong cinema's biggest stars in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

Throughout his career, he was known for his romantic leading-man roles, comedies, martial arts films and television dramas, including Swordsman Siu Sap Yat Long in 1978 and The Shell Game in 1980.

 

In 2022, Patrick won Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards for his performance as a retired contract killer in the black comedy film Time. He later became the oldest recipient of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for the same role.

 

According to Hong Kong newspaper The Standard, his last reported public appearance was in late April, when he was spotted having coffee with friends at a cafe. Although he appeared noticeably thinner and was using both a wheelchair and a walking stick, he remained cheerful, smiling and posing for photographs with members of the public.

 

Following his Best Actor win in 2022, Patrick had largely stepped away from the public eye and did not take on any new acting projects.

 

 

[source: here]

 

 

Another movie icon gone...  RIP Mr Tse.

 

[groyn88]

https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Samuel_Seow

Samuel Seow was a lawyer and the founder and chief executive of local talent management, entertainment, branding and event consultancy agency Beam Artistes.

He died on 25 July 2026 at the age of 53. A family friend said: “It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Samuel, who passed away peacefully in his sleep last night. The attending doctor has confirmed that the cause of death was a heart attack.” Seow's family at the time was believed to be in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, attending to his afterlife matters.

Seow, a bachelor, launched Beam Artistes in 2010 and organised male pageants such as Mr World Singapore, Mister International and Manhunt Singapore. The latest competition to be organised by the agency was Masters of the World 2026, a pageant that aimed to celebrate men of all ages from 18 to 80 years of age. It was slated to take place in September 2026 at a venue in Bugis Junction.

At one point, the company represented about 20 artistes, including Ase Wang, Shane Pow, Jaymee Ong and Paul Foster. A representative for Beam Artistes said of Seow’s death: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. We kindly ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy as they take the time they need to grieve and make the necessary arrangements.” Seow was also a former high-profile entertainment lawyer who had represented local celebrities such as singer Tanya Chua and actress Michelle Saram.

In 2019, he admitted before a disciplinary tribunal to eight instances of professional misconduct involving three women employees, including a lawyer who is also his niece, at his office between March and April 2018. He was disbarred in May 2022. He was sentenced in October 2022 to four weeks’ jail and fined $1,500 for assaulting his niece and using criminal force on another female employee.

Local filmmaker Kelvin Sng, who directed movies such as The Fortune Handbook (2017) and King Of Hawkers (2024), paid tribute to Seow on Facebook on July 26 after receiving the “shocking news”. “He became my godparent back in 2010 when I was baptised a Catholic,” Sng, 52, wrote, sharing two photos with Seow. “Despite whatever that happened over the years, I choose to remember the good times and his goodness. Rest in peace, Sam.”

Male beauty pageant controversy

In September 2025, the Singapore representative for Mister International 2025, Mhar Jayson Cortez, withdrew from the pageant set to take place in Thailand.

In an Instagram post dated 2 September 2025, the then 30-year-old wrote that he had made the decision “with a heavy heart”[1]. “This dream has guided me, challenged me and shaped who I am, but I have realised that to grow and protect my well-being, I must take a step back. Every lesson, every moment and every inspiration from this journey will stay with me forever,” he added. “It’s time to dream a new dream.” However, pageant organiser and talent agency Beam Artistes said that Cortez had made the post without its approval, and that it planned to take legal action against him.

The competition in Bangkok was scheduled to start on 12 September 2025 and the finals would take place on 25 September 2025.

A Beam representative said: “In any procedures of pageantry, no candidate can announce his or her withdrawal without the national organisation confirming it.” He added that Beam had to bear the costs of obtaining the franchise fee, travel expenses and other preparations, and that Cortez’s withdrawal jeopardised future opportunities for other candidates from Singapore to participate in international pageants. Beam Artistes was still in discussions about the possibility of finding his replacement, but the process was challenging due to the short timeframe.

According to Beam, Cortez was a finalist in another pageant, Mister Nusantara, that took place in May 2025. The following month, he offered himself as Singapore’s candidate for Mister International, and Beam agreed. The initial agreement was that Beam would cover the costs of flying him from Singapore to Bangkok.

Cortez later told Beam that he had received a job offer in New Zealand. The Beam representative said Cortez asked the organisers for a loan of $2,900 to cover his travel to Singapore, as well as his living expenses during the competition period. Beam offered to fly him from New Zealand to Bangkok instead. The representative said: “He didn’t bother to reply, and then went on to post about his withdrawal. So I guess he didn’t agree.”

On 5 September 2025, Cortez uploaded a series of Instagram stories refuting several of Beam’s claims. In response to Beam’s claim that he did not reply to them during ongoing discussions, and instead went on to post about his withdrawal on social media, he said: “This is not accurate. Before I made my withdrawal public, the communication from Beam was already inconsistent and, at times, intimidating.”
Samuel Seow during an interview. Photo credit: The Straits Times.

Samuel Seow during an interview. Photo credit: The Straits Times.

He alleged that Samuel Seow from Beam Artistes sent him messages which were “inappropriate and crossed professional boundaries” and contained threats related to his workplace. “(Mr Seow) suggested that if I did not comply with his demands, my employer would somehow be dragged into the situation. At that point, I realised that what was happening was no longer about dialogue… but rather about pressure tactics”. Cortez also said he never signed any contract with Beam. He wrote: “The only record they could point to was a Google Form I submitted when joining Mr Singapore, something that clearly does not constitute a binding agreement. “The constant threats of legal action without any valid legal basis showed me that the situation had deteriorated beyond repair.”

According to a post on Beam’s Instagram page, Cortez was a father and a husband[2]. He was born in the Philippines and moved to Singapore nine years prior to the controversy. His LinkedIn page listed him as a principal engineer at a Singapore-based industrial electrical solutions company.

Employee abuse

Charged

On Friday, 7 June 2021, Seow, then 46 years of age, was charged for an incident of alleged staff abuse. He was represented by lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam and handed four charges including for voluntarily causing hurt and using criminal force. He was accused of grabbing the arms of his niece, pushing her against the table and slapping her cheek several times at his office in South Bridge Road on 17 April 2020, and also for pushing another woman to the ground. On that same day, he allegedly used criminal force on a third woman by poking her forehead with his finger. He was also accused of threatening her a few weeks before this by telling her: "I will take a knife and kill you."

The lawyer, who appeared downcast in court, first hit headlines in May 2020 after audio of an altercation between him and a female employee went viral. Almost a year on, in April 2021, accompanying videos were leaked online showing him beating and shouting at at least two women, one of whom was his niece. Seow ran his own law firm Samuel Seow Law Corporation and founded artiste management firm Beam Artistes, which organised the Manhunt beauty pageant.

Both he and one of the women filed police reports against each other when the news first broke in May 2020, but later dropped them. Seow said in a statement on his Facebook page then that the incident had taught him important lessons and asked for anyone he was harsh to or had wronged to accept his apology. After the fresh videos were leaked on YouTube in April this year, Seow issued a statement saying he was unsure what those who leaked the clips were trying to achieve.

He added that he did get stressed as he had three companies to manage, and that “time is a constant struggle” for an entrepreneur. “It’s not an excuse - but it’s been a year and the relevant people have made peace and wish for this to be behind us,” he said. “I hope to find closure with this issue soon, so I can move on with my life after my mistake from a year ago, so that the people who are constantly and conscientiously seeking to damage me can finally also, rest peacefully.”

Law Society president Gregory Vijayendran said that the Law Society did not comment on matters concerning lawyers who were charged in court. “We have full faith in our legal system to mete out a just verdict in Mr Samuel Seow’s case,” he said, reiterating a previous statement by the Law Society that it did not condone any form of abuse. “In this case, notwithstanding the withdrawal of the complaint by the complainant in May 2018, Council unanimously referred information touching upon the conduct of Mr Samuel Seow to the Chairman of the Inquiry Panel pursuant to section 85(2) of the Legal Profession Act,” he said. “The matter is now pending before the Disciplinary Tribunal.” The Law Society would publish the findings of the tribunal when the matter has been determined, it added. The maximum punishment for voluntarily causing hurt was two years in prison, a fine of S$5,000, or both, while the highest penalty for criminal force is three months' jail, a S$1,500 fine, or both.

Pleaded guilty

On Monday, 27 July 2021, Seow pleaded guilty to one charge each of voluntarily causing hurt and using criminal force on two of his employees. Another charge of using criminal force and a fourth charge under the Protection from Harassment Act was taken into consideration for sentencing. The victims Rachel Kang Pei Shan, then 21, and Brenda Kong Shin Ying, then 26, were employed under Seow. Kang worked as an artiste and events executive at Beam Artistes, while Kong, who was also Seow's niece, worked at the law firm as a lawyer.

On 17 April 2018, Kang was about to leave the office to prepare for a company event when Seow reprimanded her, as she had not finished her work and was leaving the office without giving a proper account of her work to him. In his anger, Seow forcefully poked Kang's forehead twice with his finger, causing her annoyance and pain. He also pushed a file that Kang was holding, causing her to stagger back, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Kumaresan Gohulabalan. The acts were captured by closed-circuit television cameras in the firm, and were witnessed by Seow's niece, Kong.

Shortly after the encounter with Kang, Seow asked where Shaun, an associate director of the firm, was. Court documents did not give Shaun's last name. Kong heard her uncle's questions but did not respond to him. She walked to the photocopy machine, leaving her phone on voice-recording mode after watching what her uncle had done to Kang. Seow saw her and asked her where Shaun was, and Kong replied that Shaun had a meeting earlier, but said she did not know where he went after that.

Seow grew angry and asked Kang why she had not replied earlier, and Kong said she did not know where Shaun was after his meeting. Unsatisfied with her answer, Seow walked towards her while repeatedly asking why she had not replied him, coming close to her face. Kong raised her arm across her chest to protect herself, fearing that Seow might grow violent, but accidentally touched Seow's chest.

This angered Seow, who charged towards Kong shouting "Brenda!" and repeatedly saying "you beat me, you beat me, you dare to beat me". He grabbed Kong by her arm and pushed her back. Another employee intervened and held onto Seow to restrain him. Seow broke free and slapped his niece several times on both her cheeks and the top of her head.

Kong retaliated by hitting Seow once on his face. By this time, other employees had arrived and witnessed the assault. They kept pleading with Seow to calm down and stop, but he continued to confront his niece, poking her with his hand. When she tried to fend him off, he charged towards her and pushed her against a table in the office, and Kong fell down.

Seow was restrained and separated from Kong, but kept shouting at her and scolding her, demanding to know why she had not replied earlier about Shaun's whereabouts. He charged at Kong again after she said Seow was "destroying" her, and another employee Serene Tan intervened and pulled Seow away. Seow turned to Tan and shouted "you stop it", while hitting Tan on her arm. He broke free and confronted Kong again, but she eventually managed to leave.

She went to a hospital with tenderness over her cheek, scalp and arm, along with a bruise on her arm and an abrasion on her thigh with an accompanying bruise. An audio recording of Seow's assault against Kong was captured on her phone, and a video of the attack was uploaded on YouTube on 26 April 2019.

The hearing was adjourned for a pre-trial conference in August 2021, and was set for a Newton hearing to settle issues on whether and when Seow had a mental condition. Law Society President Gregory Vijayendran said that a disciplinary tribunal had been formed and had released its findings in March 2021. The tribunal found that there was cause of sufficient gravity for Seow’s conduct to be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct. LawSoc has since filed an application for Seow to show cause as to why he should not be sanctioned. A date for the hearing would be fixed after the criminal case had concluded.
Struck off lawyers' roll

On Wednesay, 18 May 2022, the Court of Three Judges ordered Seow to be struck off the roll of advocates and solicitors for physically and verbally abusing his employees in 2018. Delivering the judgment on behalf of the Court of Three Judges, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said there was due cause for disciplinary action against Seow. "It is plain that a reasonable person would, without hesitation, say that as a solicitor he should not have done what he has done," said the Chief Justice. "His misconduct brings him discredit as a lawyer and brings discredit to the legal profession as a whole."

The decision to strike off Seow, who had been a lawyer for about 20 years, came after the Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) in February 2022 urged the court to make such an order. Seow had pleaded guilty to eight charges brought against him by LawSoc for physically and verbally abusing three of his employees in March and April 2018. He also faced pending criminal charges in the State Courts over the same incidents of workplace abuse.

LawSoc said that it expected each of its members to act with honour and integrity at all times. "This includes, not just how lawyers behave in court, but also how they behave to their colleagues and to subordinates at the office. Senior lawyers, in particular, hold positions of authority, and must exhibit a greater degree of decorum and professionalism." LawSoc also said that in abusing his staff, Seow fell short of the "high standards that the profession holds dear". "His misconduct discredits him, and discredits the profession. So long as he remains a member of the profession, it continues to undermine the standing of the profession. That is why the Law Society took the action that it did. "Everyone who works in a law firm must feel safe. There must be a culture that promotes mental wellness and security. The Law Society will continue to promote such values as a matter of priority."

In the ruling, the Court of Three Judges said that in cases of misconduct not involving dishonesty or conflicts of interest, there were two questions to consider when deciding if a striking-off order was warranted.

    First, the court should consider whether the misconduct points to any character defects making the lawyer unfit to be a member of the legal profession.
    Second, the court should consider whether the lawyer has caused grave dishonour to the standing of the legal profession.

The court found that both questions were answered in the affirmative in Seow's case. Seow's conduct "evinced such volatility and lack of self-control that it detracts from his ability to discharge his professional functions", said Chief Justice Menon. "His behaviour was egregious, involving both protracted instances of physical and verbal abuse ... and extreme threats." He also said that the "quick succession" of eight instances of misconduct in just over a month reflected a sustained pattern of offensive conduct. This was deemed to be an aggravating factor, along with Seow's position of authority over his employees.

The judges found that the leaked footage showed that abusive language and "extremely unruly" behaviour were involved. They also noted witness testimony that Seow was "a temperamental man who was prone to bouts of extreme emotion", and that shouting and screaming were regular occurrences. The judgment placed limited weight on Seow's claims of remorse, noting that he initially downplayed his misconduct until the leaked video footage emerged online.

It also found that there was little evidence to support Seow's argument that he suffered from adjustment disorder at the time and that this contributed to his actions. "We are therefore satisfied that the respondent’s conduct demonstrates a character defect rendering the solicitor unfit to be a member of the legal profession," said the Chief Justice. The Court of Three Judges' panel for Seow's case comprised Chief Justice Menon, Justice Steven Chong and Justice Andrew Phang.
Forging ahead with male beauty pageants

In 2024, Seow found the courage to push ahead with his ambitions and dreams for his company, Beam Artistes. The latter organised the Mr World Singapore 2024 pageant held at Rave Singapore which was a lively affair with enthusiastic supporters cheering on the contestants. At its coronation night on 15 August 2024 which was full of surprises, Seow said: "I took it very hard at the time and even today, I feel it was a very harsh punishment for six minutes of rage on my part. However, if God wants to charter a new course for my life, then maybe I should stop lamenting and start looking at what new opportunities there are.” The night's theme was #reachinghigher, a message personal to Seow himself.

He revealed that there were fewer restrictions on him now that he was no longer a lawyer. He hoped to work more in the media and acted in a short TikTok video with content creator Titus Low, adding that the clip had since garnered over 300,000 views. "I'm doing pageants on a bigger level now, being the biggest owner of male pageants in Singapore and Malaysia," he explained. Reporter Farah Daley was invited by Seow to be on the panel and judge the contestants on casual wear, formal wear, swimwear and X-factor. She was also tasked with asking a couple of the participants questions for the Q&A segment.

There was even an unexpected proposal by contestant Daryl Ng who went down on bended knee to ask his girlfriend to marry him. There were tears — from him — but she said yes. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for, the awarding of eight prestigious titles, including the highlights of the night. Mr World Singapore 2024 went to personal trainer and student Isaac Yip, 23, who said that he did not expect to win but was happy for the opportunity. When asked what he was going to do now that he had won the title, he said: “I’m going focus on school! I’ve got to get my grades up, my grades are bad right now!” He added that he would then return to win more titles for Seow.

Some were shocked when Accrelist executive chairman and managing director Terence Tea, 56, snagged the title of Mr World Singapore (Senior) 2024 despite being the oldest in the competition. “At my age, I didn’t expect to come this far,” he said. “However, I have a slight advantage because I'm the oldest, so some people gave me some credit for that.”

On the winners, Seow said: “To be honest, I’m a bit shocked but they are good winners and good-looking people. Terence, especially, has achieved great things in his life.” He added that he would continue to make it his mission to get Singaporeans to support their own at pageants such as this.

 

[shyc]

🌹 🙏 🪷 

[tubbycheeks]

So young...

 

[People]

RIP DOLLY PARTON

Do you all remember Dolly?

https://people.com/dolly-parton-dead-7565853

 

[shyc]

 

 

 

Good bye Ms Remarkable, great loss 🌹 deeply missed, RIP

Edited August 25 by shyc

[sphere]

Star Trek, X-Men star Patrick Stewart dead at 86

British actor Patrick Stewart, best known for his roles in Star Trek and X-Men, has died at 86 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.

Actor Patrick Stewart arrives at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, US, Sep 19, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni)

 

Patrick Stewart, the British Shakespearean actor who became a Hollywood megastar through roles in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, has died at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86.

 

His death on Wednesday (Oct 28) came after a "brief and poignant journey" with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, according to an official statement on his social media accounts.

 

"His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre," the statement said.

 

The actor, who hailed from the northern English region of Yorkshire, trod the boards in Britain with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in London, and worked on British television.

 

But he rocketed into the pop culture history books as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in multiple X-Men and related Marvel films.

 

"He explored the human condition in all its poetic complexity and brought hope not only to the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but into science fiction's most iconic final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise," the official statement said.

 

ABOARD THE ENTERPRISE

Stewart was 47 when he was cast as Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the first live-action television spinoff of the trailblazing sci-fi series from the late 1960s.

 

He effectively filled the boots of William Shatner's Captain Kirk from the original show, and the role became Stewart's path to fame and fortune.

 

Picard became known for a few catchphrases including "Make it so!" Stewart's 2023 memoir was entitled "Making It So".

 

But his move to America in 1987 was initially greeted with disdain by the Los Angeles Times, who wrote him off as an "unknown British Shakespearean actor".

 

Stewart later said he was offended by suggestions he was "slumming it" by moving into US television.

 

He once called his Shakespearean bona fides "nothing but a preparation for sitting in the captain's chair of the Enterprise".

 

"GRAVITAS AND PROFUNDITY"

Stewart found further acclaim on the big screen in many films of the X-Men series, debuting in 2000 as Professor Charles Xavier, the founder and mentor of the mutant superhero team.

 

"For more than 25 years, he brought a gravitas and profundity to the role, earning fans across the globe and helping to transform Super Hero storytelling forever," Marvel Studios said on Thursday.

 

Longtime co-star Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine, remembered Stewart as both "one of the greats of stage and screen" and "a tremendous friend and man".

 

From 2020 to 2023, Stewart was tempted back to the Star Trek franchise, starring in the Star Trek: Picard television series.

 

He was nominated for four Emmys, but never took one home.

 

And even as he found success in Hollywood, Stewart's love of theatre, and the bard in particular, never left him.

 

Between filming, he would return to his roots on the stage, winning two Olivier awards.

 

"Having spent so much of my life with Shakespeare's world, passions and ideas in my head and in my mouth, he feels like a friend, someone who just went out of the room to get another bottle of wine," he said.

 

The decorated performer also nabbed a Grammy for spoken word, for his narration of Prokofiev: Peter And The Wolf.

TROUBLED START

Stewart was born on Jul 13, 1940, in the small West Yorkshire town of Mirfield, the third of three brothers in a working-class family.

 

He grew up, it emerged much later, in the shadow of domestic violence.

 

His father, back from World War II and perhaps suffering from PTSD, would often beat Stewart's mother.

 

Stewart would later work with the charity Refuge, which specialises in domestic abuse.

 

The actor left school at 15 but not without the encouragement of his English teacher Cecil Dormand, who introduced him to Shakespeare and gave him his first role in a play with adults.

 

He studied at Bristol Old Vic Drama School beginning in 1957, making his professional acting debut two years later.

 

Prematurely balding, Stewart missed out on many of the young romantic leads but quickly slotted into theatre life, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1966 and staying there until 1982.

 

Any misgivings Stewart had about taking on the Picard role in Star Trek were mollified by the thought it would be a one-season failure.

 

He was wrong.

 

"It changed my life," he said. 

 

Stewart is to make his final on-screen film appearance as Professor Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday, set for release in December.

 

Knighted in 2010, Stewart married three times: to Sheila Falconer, with whom he had two children, including Daniel, who is also an actor, briefly to Star Trek producer Wendy Neuss and most recently to American singer Sunny Ozell, 38 years his junior.

 

 

[source: here]