RIP Bob Uecker passed away!

I'm heartbroken to announce that Brewers icon & Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Uecker passed away at the age of 90... I grew up a major fan of the movies MLB and would watch Brewers games just to hear him do it for real. He was so hilarious both in his film roles and in his real gig with MLB. A Little info on who he was starts with his full name which was Robert George Uecker and again yes he was an American actor, professional baseball catcher and sportscaster who served as the primary broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball for 54 seasons.

Uecker signed with his hometown Milwaukee Braves in 1956, spending several years in the minor leagues with various affiliate clubs before making his major league debut in 1962. As a backup catcher, he played for the Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves from 1962 to 1967. He won a World Series with the Cardinals in 1964. After retiring, Uecker started a broadcasting career and served as a play-by-play announcer for Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcasts from 1971. 

Uecker became known for his self-deprecating wit and became a regular fixture on late night talk shows in the 1970's and 1980's, facetiously dubbed "Mr. Baseball" by TV talk show host Johnny Carson. He hosted several sports blooper shows and had an acting career that included his role as George Owens on the television program Mr. Belvedere and as play-by-play announcer Harry Doyle in the film Major League and its two sequels.

ecker was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with its 2003 Ford C. Frick Award in recognition of his broadcasting career. Though he sometimes joked that he had been born on an oleo run to Illinois, Uecker was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[1] the son of August "Gus" Uecker, who immigrated from Switzerland in 1923, and Mary Schultz Uecker, originally from Michigan. He had two younger sisters, Carol Ann and Rosemary. He grew up watching the minor-league Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association at Borchert Field. 

Uecker enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954, ultimately achieving the rank of corporal. He played baseball while at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and Fort Belvoir in Virginia, where he was teammates with future fellow major leaguer Dick Groat.

Rest in Peace Bob Ueker, the legendary voice of the Major League!

RIP Legend pic.twitter.com/cB0h0Zf3Fw

— Lone Star American (@MadDog_TX) January 16, 2025

Uecker's sports expertise extended beyond baseball. He hosted two syndicated television shows, Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports and Bob Uecker's War of the Stars. The former has since become known as The Lighter Side of Sports (albeit with a different host, Mike Golic) and remains one of the longest-running syndicated sports programs in American television history. 

Uecker also appeared in a series of commercials for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League in the mid-1990's, including one in which he re-designed the team's uniforms to feature a garish plaid reminiscent of the loud sports coats synonymous with Uecker in the 1970's and 1980's. In February 2006, the Admirals commemorated those commercials with a special event in which the players wore the plaid jerseys during a game. The jerseys were then auctioned off to benefit charity.

In March 1987, Uecker appeared at World Wrestling Federation's (WWF, now WWE) WrestleMania III in Pontiac, Michigan, as the ring announcer for the pay-per-view's main event of Hulk Hogan versus André the Giant. He returned in 1988 at WrestleMania IV as a ringside announcer, commentator during the opening Battle Royal and backstage interviewer. Known for his humor, particularly about his undistinguished playing career, Uecker actually became much better known after he retired from playing. 

He made some 100 guest appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. Most of his wisecracks poked fun at himself. He once joked that after he hit a grand slam off pitcher Ron Herbel, "When his manager came out to get him, he was bringing Herbel's suitcase." On another occasion, he quipped, "Sporting goods companies would pay me not to endorse their products."

Uecker hosted Saturday Night Live during its 10th season on October 13, 1984. The episode also featured musical performances by Peter Wolf. Uecker appeared in a series of Miller Lite commercials starting in the 1980's. In one commercial from that decade, Uecker was seen preparing to watch a baseball game when an usher informs him he is in the wrong seat. Uecker pompously remarks, "I must be in the front row", which became another of his catchphrases. The punch line was that Uecker's seat was actually in the nosebleed section. 

Since then, the farthest seats from the action in some arenas and stadiums have been jokingly called "Uecker seats". There is a section of $1 seating called the "Uecker seats" at American Family Field, which is an obstructed-view area in the upper grandstand above home plate where the stadium's roof pivot comes together (in reference to one of his Miller Lite commercials).

Another of Uecker's catchphrases from the aforementioned Miller Lite 'front row' commercial is, "He missed the tag!" which he yells with confidence from his seat in the top row of the upper deck of the stadium, far away from the action. Uecker authored two books, an autobiography titled Catcher in the Wry with Mickey Herskowitz, and Catch 222. 

Uecker played the character of father and sportswriter George Owens on the 1985–1990 sitcom Mr. Belvedere, appearing regularly. He made cameo appearances as himself in the films O.C. and Stiggs, and Fatal Instinct, and in episodes of the sitcoms Who's the Boss?, D.C. Follies, and Late Line. He was the voice of the "head of Bob Uecker" in the Futurama episode "A Leela of Her Own".

Uecker played Harry Doyle, the broadcaster for the Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians), in the Major League film trilogy. In the movies, Uecker's character is known for his witticisms and his tendency to become intoxicated from drinking during losing games, as well as downplaying poor play by the team for the radio audience: for example, in the first film he also coins another popular sports catchphrase "Juuust a bit outside", to downplay an extremely wild pitch from Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn (played by Charlie Sheen). 

Uecker received the role not because of his broadcasting history with the Brewers but because of his popular Miller Lite commercials. In 2021, Uecker made a guest appearance in the Disney+ series Monsters at Work where he voiced a parody of himself named "Bob Yucker". The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association named Uecker as Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year five times (1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987), and inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2011. Uecker was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2001.

In 2003, he received the Ford C. Frick Award, bestowed annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball". His humorous and self-deprecating speech was a highlight of the ceremony. In 2005, Uecker's 50th year in professional baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers placed a number 50 in his honor in their "Ring of Honor", near the retired numbers of Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. 

Four years later, on May 12, 2009, Uecker's name was also added to the Brewers Wall of Honor inside American Family Field. Uecker was inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010, honored for his appearances at WrestleMania III and WrestleMania IV.

On August 31, 2012, the Brewers erected the Uecker Monument outside American Family Field alongside statues of Hank Aaron, Robin Yount and Bud Selig. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared September 25, 2021, as Bob Uecker Day in honor of his 50th year broadcasting Brewers games. Uecker threw out the first pitch in the game against the New York Mets. 

But instead of throwing the ball to the catcher, he unveiled a pitching machine and used that. Before the game, left fielder Christian Yelich presented a gift on behalf of the players, a pair of custom Nike sneakers with "Air Uecker" and "Get Up, Get Up" on one foot and "One Of Us" and "Just a Bit Outside" (see reference in the section above) on the other.

Uecker and his first wife, Joyce (died 2015), had four children: Leeann (1957–2022), who died of ALS in March 2022; Steve (1959–2012), a cowboy, who died of complications of San Joaquin Valley fever; Sue Ann; and Bob Jr. Uecker and his second wife, Judy, were married in Louisiana in 1976 and divorced in 2001. At the time of the divorce, he lived in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. On April 27, 2010, Uecker announced that he was going to miss 10–12 weeks of the 2010 baseball season because of heart surgery. 

His aortic valve and a portion of his aortic root were successfully replaced four days later, and he returned to broadcasting for the Brewers on July 23. On October 14, 2010, the Brewers announced Uecker would again undergo heart surgery, this time to repair a tear at the site of his valve replacement. Uecker was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer in 2023. He died in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, on January 16, 2025, at the age of 90.

Rickey Henderson RIP!

Oh wow so this just broke, and it's breaking my soul! I grew up idolizing this man and watching him play while living in California. By far the worlds all time best lead off hitter, and stolen base icon! Not only was he this in Americas MLB but he's considered the greatest at what he did on any continent when it comes to baseball. This man will always be a major icon in the sport. Cannot believe this but. Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson , nicknamed "Man of Steal", played 25 seasons in Major League Baseball for nine teams from when he made his debut in 1979 until he hung up his cleats in 2003 he accumulating 111.1 WAR in his 25 MLB seasons. This including four separate tenures with his original team, the Oakland Athletics.

Rickey is also the all-time leader in runs scored. He was named the American League MVP in 1990 after leading the AL with a 1.016 OPS, 65 stolen bases and 119 runs scored. He also played for the Yankees, Padres, Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Angels and Dodgers. But to us all he will always be a member of the Oakland A's during the BASH BROTHERS ERA, and he was the man who did most damage batting 1st than anyone EVER! He is a major factor why they had so much fun in Oakland in the late 80s. Rickey Henderson's wife, Pamela, confirmed her husband's death in a statement.

"A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a truly humble soul. Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind," Said Pamela. "For multiple generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting. Rickey was one of the most accomplished and beloved Athletics of all-time," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "He also made an impact with many other clubs during a quarter-century career like no other. Rickey epitomized speed, power and entertainment in setting the tone at the top of the lineup. When we considered new rules for the game in recent years, we had the era of Rickey Henderson in mind.

"Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Rickey’s family, his friends and former teammates, A’s fans and baseball fans everywhere." Henderson won two World Series, one with the A's in 1989 and another with Toronto four years later. Henderson became MLB's all-time stolen bases leader May 1, 1991, when he swiped third base in Oakland. He finished with 1,406 in his career, surpassing Lou Brock by nearly 500 bags. Henderson also retired with 2,295 runs scored, 50 more than Ty Cobb. His 3,055 hits are 27th all-time.

His 130 stolen bases in 1982 are the most in the live ball era. He and Vince Coleman are the only players since 1920 to have three seasons of at least 100 stolen bases. Henderson swiped 50-plus bags in 13 seasons, the most ever. The amount of awesome that was his career is unmatched by ANY lead off man in the sport, and will remain so forever I feel. What a true legend... 

Rest in PEACE!

Tony Todd has sadly passed away RIP

Well this really is sad news friends but ICONIC actor Tony Todd has sadly passed away at the age of 69. The actor in the horror franchise series “Candyman”, Tony Todd, died Friday evening. He was 69. The president of the agency Todd belonged to, Defining Artists, confirmed to NBC News of his passing. Tony who's acting awareness go beyond his work as "Candyman" he also was a major factor in his small roles in the "Final Destination" franchise. While not the main villian in that franchise his overall character was so spooky which always kept us wondering if he was "FATHER DEATH" while watching him everytime he came out.

But his acting background has a long list of fine work as he was an actor with amazing range while yes best known for his work in the horror movies.



He is forever remembered as Candyman, Sergeant Warren in Platoon, Ben in Night of the Living Dead (1990), Grange in The Crow (1994), Captain Darrow in The Rock, Johnny Valentine in Wishmaster, William Bludworth in Final Destination, and The Fallen in Transformer 2: Revenge of the Fallen. We will miss him dearly.

RIP Tony Todd 1970-2024

Cuban legend Luis Tiant passes at 83

WOW One of the biggest names ever to come from my country island Cuba and former Red Sox pitcher Cuban legend Luis Tiant passes away at 83. I remember as a kid my dad would talk about him A LOT as he was a major icon in Cuban baseball here in America and really did a lot to open the eyes of scouts, and people in MLB (Major League Baseball) in terms of scouting Latin America for talent.

With an amazing whirling, twisting delivery a style on his own in the history of the sport Luis Tiant turned his performances into theatrical magic. While in his prime in the 1970's, you didn’t need a radio or television to know that Tiant was pitching at Fenway Park. Throughout the packed houses he pitched in front of, cries of “Looie, Looie, Looie!” echoed around Kenmore Square and other parts of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. The lovably charismatic El Tiante as he came to be known throughout his memorable career was said that “Luis had the kind of unforgettable presence that made you feel like you were part of his world,” said Red Sox principal owner John Henry in a statement. “He was a pitcher with incredible talent, accomplishing so much with a style uniquely his own. But what truly set Luis apart was his zest for life, embracing every moment with an infectious spirit, even in the face of his many challenges. He channeled everything into his love for the game and the people around him. He was magnetic and had a smile that could light up Fenway Park. Luis was truly one of a kind and all of us at the Red Sox will miss him.”

But he left behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten by those who knew him, played with him or cheered for him. "At least people still remember me and remember what I did all those years,” Tiant said in a 2017 interview with MLB.com. “I know what I've had to do with my life, and I'm lucky. I'm lucky I played all those years. God gave me the opportunity to play. What more can you ask? You can't ask for more than that." His teammates never asked for more than what Tiant gave them. “Nobody was a tougher competitor or a better teammate. He meant too much to us, and to the fans. We all loved him,” wrote Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski in the foreword of Tiant’s autobiography, “Son of Havana,” which was published in 2019. In a 19-year Major League career, the Cuban native had a career record of 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA, pitching for Cleveland (1964-69), Minnesota (’70), Boston (’71-78), the Yankees (’79-80), Pittsburgh (’81) and the Angels (’82). When fellow Cuban Tony Oliva was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022, he stood on the stage on a stifling hot Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y., and noted that Tiant deserved to be there also.

Though Tiant never got the call from the Hall, the three-time All-Star led the American League in Baseball Reference WAR for pitchers in 1968 and was in the top 10 in seven other seasons. That '68 season was the Year of the Pitcher and Tiant played the part better than anyone not named Bob Gibson or Denny McLain, posting a 1.60 ERA in the first of his eventual four 20-win seasons. The 1975 World Series, in which the upstart Red Sox played a compelling seven-game set before ultimately falling to Cincinnati’s vaunted Big Red Machine, turned Tiant into a household name. But for the gritty righty, the son of a Negro Leagues star (Luis Tiant Sr.), it all started in Cuba, where he was born on Nov. 23, 1940. Tiant followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming an ace in his homeland during his youth. The problem was that Cuba didn’t have professional baseball once Fidel Castro took power in 1959. For three seasons from 1959 through ’61 Tiant pitched for the Mexico City Tigers, hoping he would be noticed by a pro scout. Tiant got his wish when Cleveland purchased his contract from Mexico City for $35,000 prior to the '62 season. Any remorse Tiant might have had for fleeing to the United States straight from Mexico City was eliminated by a letter his father had written him a couple of months earlier that was quoted in Tiant’s autobiography:

“Don’t come home. Castro is not going to allow any more professional sports here no baseball or boxing. If you do come home, I don’t think you’ll be able to get out again. They are not letting many people leave the island, especially young men of military age.” Years after his father, a lefty, had dominated in the Negro Leagues, Luis Jr. carved his own path in the United States, starting with parts of three seasons in the Minors. In 1964, Tiant got his break when Cleveland needed a starter for a July 19 game at Yankee Stadium against a team that was in the middle of a dynasty. All Tiant did in his debut was fire a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts while out dueling the legendary Whitey Ford. “I was not nervous, but had a little tension,” Tiant said in a 2009 documentary about his life, “Lost Son of Havana.” “You’re pitching against best team in baseball, you’re a rookie. That day was my day. They let me do what my father couldn’t do.” When Tiant started the ’68 All-Star Game, many Cubans including his father watched him on television as a Major Leaguer for the first time. By the time '69 came Tiant started to have arm problems and his ERA swelled to 3.71. In ’70, he started 6-0 for the Twins, but disaster soon struck. Tiant felt a popping sensation on a breaking ball during a start and learned that he had a broken scapula. Medical science not being what it would evolve into, doctors suggested to Tiant he would never pitch again.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Luis Tiant.

Anyone who met him, on or off the mound, knew he was a true force. A fixture of Fenway and Fort Myers well beyond his playing days, El Tiante was family.

We send our love to his wife, Maria, their children, and grandchildren. pic.twitter.com/idhRVDc76P

— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 8, 2024

Cut by the Twins the day before camp broke in '71, Tiant was signed to the Braves’ Minor League system, but he was released after a month. The Red Sox signed him two days later, and it wound up being one of the best moves in club history. Still building his arm strength back up after the Red Sox recalled him from the Minors, Tiant went 1-7 with a 4.85 ERA in 21 appearances. There weren’t many expectations for Tiant entering '72, but that was the season he reinvented himself. Lacking the dazzling fastball he once had, Tiant recreated his delivery into one that nobody had ever seen before. Perhaps Joe Garagiola described it best to the NBC audience years later. “If you’re sitting in center field, you got to see his eyeballs. Look at that,” Garagiola said. There was a method to Tiant’s madness, which he explained in the documentary. “I knew I needed something different,” he said. “I had to do something so I could hide the ball better to keep me back more. It gave me more power. I changed my delivery completely.” For the Red Sox, Tiant turned into an utter force, winning 81 games in a four-season span (1973-76).

“Luis embodied everything we love about this game: resilience, passion, and an undeniable sense of belonging to something greater than himself,” said Red Sox chairman Tom Werner in a statement. “He was a cornerstone of the Red Sox pitching staff for years, with an unmatched grit and tenacity on the mound. His ability to rise in the most pressure-filled moments especially his complete-game performances cemented his place as a true legend." In '75, it all came together for Tiant, on and off the field. With relations between the United States and Cuba softening a little that year, United States Senator Edward Brooke from Massachusetts wrote a letter to Castro asking for Tiant’s parents to be permitted to fly from Cuba to Boston to see their son for the first time in 14 years. Senator George McGovern, who had already scheduled a trip to Cuba to discuss other business, hand-delivered the letter to Castro, who granted the request. In fact, Castro said that Tiant’s parents could remain in the United States for as long as they wished. Luis Sr. and Isabel Rovina Vega Tiant arrived in Boston in August 1975.  Luis Jr., by then a husband and a father, wept with joy when his parents walked off the plane. One of the most emotional moments took place on Aug. 26 of that '75 season, when the Red Sox invited the elder Tiant to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on a night his son was starting against the Angels. While Luis Sr. fired a strike, his son held his dad’s sport coat from just behind the mound and beamed with pride.

We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of three-time All-Star Luis Tiant, who has passed away at 83.

Luis started three games for the @RedSox in the ‘75 World Series, with two complete games and 25.0 innings pitched. He accompanied @MLB on the 2016… pic.twitter.com/GHkwzwJvQI

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) October 8, 2024

The real fun started in October. Tiant started Boston’s postseason run with a Game 1 American League Championship Series shutout against an Athletics team that had won the World Series the three previous years. Then came the Fall Classic, which Tiant opened by not only firing another shutout against the heavy-hitting Reds at Fenway, but he also jump-started his team’s six-run rally in the bottom of the seventh with a lead off single followed by some of the most humorous base running of all time. On a sacrifice bunt by Dwight Evans, the throw by Johnny Bench to second was low. The bulky Tiant, wearing his warm up jacket, basically rolled over second base as the ball traveled into the short outfield. Tiant had Boston coaches, players and fans gasping for air when he started toward third, but somehow stumbled back into second safely. On an RBI single by Yaz, Tiant originally missed home plate, but then tip-toed back before the Reds could throw it back in as the park lit up with a combination of joy and laughter.

Then came the pure guts of Game 4 in Cincinnati in which the Red Sox needed a win to tie up the Series. It took a whopping 155 pitches from Tiant, but he got the job done, leading Boston to a pulsating 5-4 victory. "In my time, that's what we did we finished games," Tiant said in 2017. "My father used to tell me, 'What you start, you finish.' That's how you learned and you grew up that way. Now, it's different. They are protected more. I guess you have to because there's a lot of money involved. A lot of guys want to keep pitching but they come out." Boston’s 4-3 loss in Game 7 was heartbreaking, especially on the heels of the euphoria created by Bernie Carbo and Carlton Fisk a day earlier. It is surely no coincidence that all three victories the Red Sox had in that Fall Classic were started by Tiant. In his post-playing days, it became clear which of his teams Tiant identified most with: He settled in the Boston area and eventually opened up a Cuban food stand on the street outside Fenway Park, where he would smoke cigars and converse with fans.

Tiant also became a fixture at Red Sox Spring Training and loved to pass those days riding around the complex in a golf cart while laughing with former teammate Jim Rice. “Luis had a style of pitching that was as memorable as it was effective, but to me, the rarer gift was his ability to lift you up with just a smile,” said Red Sox president & CEO Sam Kennedy in a statement. “When you were with him, you were reminded of what really matters. Whether you were a teammate, a fan, or just someone fortunate enough to share a conversation, Luis had a way of making you feel special, like you were a close friend. "His legacy on the mound is undeniable, but all of us today are mourning the man, the friend, the mentor who connected generations of fans and players. I am gutted by the news of his passing and will miss him more than words can express. Spring Training won’t be the same without Luis’s infectious energy spreading throughout camp.” Poignantly, Tiant at last visited Cuba in 2007 during a celebration of his 67th birthday. It was there he visited family members, friends and teammates he hadn’t seen in 46 years. Many scenes from that trip were included in the '09 documentary, which originally aired on ESPN.

As he headed back to his second home of Boston after the emotional trip, Tiant offered this: “I feel better, my heart is better, my head is better. I guess I can say, I can close my book now. If I die, I die happy. Now, I’m a free man. I feel free inside of me. Full of good inside of me. That’s a feeling nobody can take away from me now.”

James Earl Jones Rest in Peace

Wow this broke my heart... The voice of my favorite cinematic character of all times has passed away as we have lost the incredible Icon James Earl Jones. Not just the voice of Lord Vader but also the voice of many iconic roles. His voice was one for the ages, be it as a Lord of the Sith in "Star Wars" to King of the jungle in "The Lion King" the mans voice was one you can recognize for his voice was one for the ages. But he was more than a voice... He was a true cinema GEM, and one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema period.

Born January 17, 1931 not just an American actor of films but he was also very known for his amazing years of work in theater. He was one of the few performers to have achieved the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). Jones has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances on stage and screen, and "one of the greatest actors in American history".

Being born In 1931 at Arkabutla, Mississippi, he had a stuttering issue since childhood. Just picture this Darth Vader with a stuttering issue! But some would shy away from public speaking due to this curse it wasn't something James Earl Jones would do as he said that poetry and acting helped him overcome the challenges of his disability. A pre-med major in college, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting. 

His deep voice was praised as a "stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects. Jones made his Broadway debut in 1957 in Sunrise at Campobello (1957). He gained prominence for acting in numerous productions with Shakespeare in the Park including Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear. Jones worked steadily in theater, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a boxer in The Great White Hope (1968), which he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation, earning him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.

Jones won his second Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as a working class father in August Wilson's Fences (1987). He was nominated for Tony awards for his roles as part of an aging couple in Ernest Thompson's On Golden Pond (2005), and a former president in the Gore Vidal play The Best Man (2012). Other Broadway performances include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), Driving Miss Daisy (2010–2011), You Can't Take It with You (2014), and The Gin Game (2015–2016). He received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.

Jones made his film debut in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove (1964). He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Claudine (1974). Jones gained international fame for his voice role as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, beginning with the original 1977 film. Jones' other notable roles include in Conan the Barbarian (1982), Matewan (1987), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Sandlot (1993), and The Lion King (1994). Jones reprised his roles in Star Wars media, The Lion King (2019), and Coming 2 America (2021).

He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985. He was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1992, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009 and the Honorary Academy Award in 2011.

From the age of five, Jones was raised by his maternal grandparents, John Henry and Maggie Connolly, on their farm in Dublin, Michigan; they had moved from Mississippi in the Great Migration. Where Jones found the transition to living with his grandparents in Michigan traumatic and developed a stutter so bad that he refused to speak. He said, "I was a stutterer. I couldn't talk. So my first year of school was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school." He credits his English teacher, Donald Crouch, who discovered he had a gift for writing poetry, with helping him end his silence. Crouch urged him to challenge his reluctance to speak through reading poetry aloud to the class.

Jones graduated from Dickson Rural Agricultural School In 1949 (now Brethren High School) in Brethren, Michigan, where he served as vice president of his class. He attended the University of Michigan, where he was initially a pre-med major. He joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and excelled. He felt comfortable within the structure of the military environment and enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow cadets in the Pershing Rifles Drill Team and Scabbard and Blade Honor Society. After his junior year, he focused on drama with the thought of doing something he enjoyed, before, he assumed, he would have to go off to fight in the Korean War. After four years of college, Jones graduated from the university in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in drama.

But for all his work over the years it was In 1977, Jones made his debut in his iconic voiceover role as Darth Vader in George Lucas' space opera blockbuster film Star Wars: A New Hope, which he would reprise for the sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). Darth Vader was portrayed in costume by David Prowse in the film trilogy, with Jones dubbing Vader's dialogue in post production because Prowse's strong West Country accent was deemed unsuitable for the role by director George Lucas. At his own request, Jones was uncredited for the release of the first two Star Wars films, though he would be credited for the third film and eventually also for the first film's 1997 "Special Edition" re-release. As he explained in a 2008 interview:

When Linda Blair did the girl in The Exorcist, they hired Mercedes McCambridge to do the voice of the devil coming out of her. And there was controversy as to whether Mercedes should get credit. I was one who thought no, she was just special effects. So when it came to Darth Vader, I said, no, I'm just special effects. But it became so identified that by the third one, I thought, OK I'll let them put my name on it.

In 1977, Jones also received a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Great American Documents. In late 1979, Jones appeared on the short-lived CBS police drama Paris, which was notable as the first program on which Steven Bochco served as executive producer. Jones also starred that year in the critically acclaimed TV mini-series sequel Roots: The Next Generations as the older version of author Alex Haley.

The year 1987 saw Jones starring in August Wilson's play Fences as Troy Maxson, a middle aged working class father who struggles to provide for his family. The play, set in the 1950's, is part of Wilson's ten-part "Pittsburgh Cycle". The play explores the evolving African American experience and examines race relations, among other themes. Jones won widespread critical acclaim, earning himself his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. 

Beside the Star Wars sequels, Jones was featured in several other box office hits of the 1980's: the action/fantasy film Conan the Barbarian (1982), the Eddie Murphy comedy Coming to America (1988), and the sports drama/fantasy Field of Dreams (1989) which earned an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination. He also starred in the independent film Matewan (1987). The film dramatized the events of the Battle of Matewan, a coal miners' strike in 1920 in Matewan, a small town in the hills of West Virginia. He received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his performance.

In 1985, Jones lent his bass voice as Pharaoh in the first episode of Hanna-Barbera's The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible. From 1989 to 1992, Jones served as the host of the children's TV series Long Ago and Far Away. Jones appeared in several more successful films during the early-to-mid 1990's, including The Hunt for Red October (1990), Patriot Games (1992), The Sandlot (1993), Clear and Present Danger (1994), and Cry, the Beloved Country (1995). He also lent his distinctive bass voice to the role of Mufasa in the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King. In 1992, Jones was presented with the National Medal of the Arts by President George H. W. Bush. Jones had the distinction of winning two Primetime Emmys in the same year, in 1991 as Best Actor for his role in Gabriel's Fire and as Best Supporting Actor for his work in Heat Wave.

He might be gone but he will never be forgotten as he's sealed a legacy unmatched by many... 

(January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024) Rest in Peace.

Fatman Scoop passes away! RIP

Damn this is some sad news here as Rapper Isaac Freeman III, aka Fatman Scoop, has died after the iconic musician collapsed onstage Friday night. This according to Scoop's tour manager who posted, "I am honestly lost for words… You took me all over the world and had me performing alongside you on some of the biggest and greatest stages on this planet, the things you taught me have truely made me the man I am today. Thank you so much, I love you x."

The Reminisce Festival, where Fatman Scoop was set to perform Sept. 7 also posted to Instagram saying, "It is with the deepest sorrow that we at Reminisce have received the devastating news of the tragic passing of the legendary Isaac Freeman III, known to us all as Fatman Scoop. This loss has left us all heartbroken."

TMZ broke the news that the legendary hip hop hype man was performing at Town Center Park in Hamden, CT when he appeared to suffer a medical emergency. Horrifying video showed Scoop collapse mid-performance. Following his collapse and being rushed to the hospital, Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett asked fans to "please keep him in your thoughts and prayers."

Our deepest condolences to his family, fans and the rap industry for this loss. He was a true great... RIP

Sidney Raymond Eudy has passed away! RIP

The name Sidney Raymond Eudy might not ring a bell to some but those who watched American professional wrestling in the 80's and 90's will never forget this man and to those who will know him by the in ring name which he's best known as I'm talking about the one and only "Sid Vicious", aka "Sycho Sid", "Sid Justice", his tenures in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling we're iconic for multiple reasons. Him prime really was during the WWF now known as WWE when he was am A level star for sometime and even had matches with icons like Hulk Hogan.

SID was a six-time world champion, having won the WWF Championship twice, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice, and the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship twice. In addition to world title success, Eudy held the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship once, among other accolades. During his tenures with the WWF and WCW, Eudy headlined multiple pay-per-views for both organizations, main-eventing WrestleMania VIII and WrestleMania 13 in 1992 and 1997 respectively as well as Starrcade in 2000.

Also he entered wrestling after an encounter with Randy Macho Man Savage and his brother Lanny Poffo. After being trained by Tojo Yamamoto, SID made his debut as he teamed with Austin Idol and wrestled the team of Nick Bockwinkel and Jerry Lawler. He then adopted the masked wrestler persona known as Lord Humongous. He began his career in Continental Championship Wrestling (CCW) in 1987, under a mask and the name Lord Humungous. On Christmas Day 1987 he won the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division), going on to be the final titleholder. Later he turned fan favorite after rekindling a (kayfabe) childhood friendship with Shane Douglas, resulting in the two forming a tag team and capturing the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship.

He also competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he challenged Tatsumi Fujinami for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship under the name Vicious Warrior, but was unable to win the title. SID then made a very brief stint in World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he adopted one of his most notable ring names: Sid Vicious, which he took from the punk rock musician of the same name who played bass for the Sex Pistols. 

When he did return to WCW he came back as a challenger for Scott Steiner's WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but Sid failed to defeat Steiner in their title match at Starrcade. On January 14, 2001, at the Sin pay-per-view in Indianapolis at Conseco Fieldhouse (now Gainbridge Fieldhouse), Sid faced Steiner, Jeff Jarrett and Road Warrior Animal in a Four Corners match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. During the match, he suffered a near career-ending injury. WCW executive John Laurinaitis allegedly felt that SID needed to broaden his arsenal of wrestling moves and suggested that he try an aerial maneuver, despite his "unwillingness".

SID felt it unnecessary for a wrestler of his size and type to do high spots and did not feel comfortable doing them. During the match, Eudy suffered a leg fracture following his leap from the second turnbuckle in an attempted big boot on Steiner. This had him awkwardly landing with all his weight on one foot while kicking with the other, severely fracturing the leg on which he landed. SID broke his left leg in half, snapping both the tibia and fibula, with at least one of the bones breaking through the skin and rotating his foot without his input at 90 degrees anti-clockwise. The fracture was too graphic for many television stations to re-air, although it was shown on the following Nitro.

The injury put Sid out of action indefinitely, and he pondered retiring from wrestling for good: "I had about a year left on my contract, and I was thinking back then prior to hurting my leg what was I going to do as far as wrapping up my career. The only thing I really wanted to do was ideally go out in a big pay-per-view, like a WrestleMania or something like that main event, leave like that, and not come back again. It would really be the retirement match". A 17-inch (43 cm) rod was placed in his leg during the two-hour surgery. For a while, Eudy used a cane to walk. Sid later sued WCW, claiming that he was made to jump off the second rope against his objections. 

The injury forced a plot change in the SuperBrawl Revenge event. The main event was supposed to be Kevin Nash, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sid against Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett, and Road Warrior Animal but was rewritten as Kevin Nash versus Scott Steiner...

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I'd like to say he was a true legend and his time in the ring was one for the ages. Shame what happened to him with the leg injury but he will always be remembered. We extend our condolences to his family on the loss, and to fans of his world wide never forget the name SID VICIOUS!

REST IN PEACE: Lou Dobbs He was 78

REST IN PEACE: Lou Dobbs, known as a political commentator and television host, has died. He was 78. Our deepest condolences go out to his family on this sad day. He was one of the best on air for many years. Always keeping a pretty level head on himself while speaking he was a real fun person to listen to speak, and watch do his talk shows. As someone trying to be on the same path and do what he was blessed to do for so long I myself get sad when a pioneer and real good guy like him passes away.

"The Great Lou Dobbs has just passed away. A friend, and truly incredible Journalist, Reporter, and Talent. He understood the World, and what was ‘happening,’ better than others. Lou was unique in so many ways, and loved our Country. Our warmest condolences to his wonderful wife, Debi, and family. He will be greatly missed!" - Donald Trump

The news was later confirmed on Lou Dobbs' X account. "It's with a heavy heart that we confirm the passing of ‘the great Lou Dobbs.’ Lou was a fighter until the very end fighting for what mattered to him most, God, the family, and the county," the post stated. "Lou’s legacy will forever live on as a patriot and a great American. We ask for your prayers for Lou's wonderful wife Debi, children and grandchildren." No other information, including his cause of death, was revealed.

Dobbs joined CNN in 1980 as a host and reporter covering business. Then, in 2011 he left to Fox Business, where he hosted the top-rated show Lou Dobbs Tonight for 13 seasons until it was canceled in 2021. Fox News Media said in a statement that the network was saddened by Dobbs’ passing. "An incredible business mind with a gift for broadcasting, Lou helped pioneer cable news into a successful and influential industry," the statement said.

"We are immensely grateful for his many contributions and send our heartfelt condolences to his family." Dobbs was named in a lawsuit against Fox News by Dominion Voting systems over lies told on the network about the 2020 presidential election. A mediator in 2023 pushed the two sides toward a $787 million settlement, averting a trial. A mountain of evidence some damning, some merely embarrassing showed many Fox executives and on-air talent didn’t believe allegations aired mostly on shows hosted by Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro. At the time, they feared angering Trump fans in the audience with the truth.

Dobbs dove into the complex public policy and economic issues that drive society. Dobbs said he always wanted to be straight with his viewers about his own views on issues. "My audience has always expected me to tell them where I’m coming from, and I don’t see any reason to disappoint them," he said in 2011. Other politicians paid their condolences to Dobbs and his family on social media. "We’re all praying for Lou Dobbs, his family, and staff. Lou was a great American and will be deeply missed," Rep. Jim Jordan wrote on Twitter. Rep. Matt Gaetz also wrote, "I am saddened to hear about the passing of the great Lou Dobbs. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Dobbs family during this difficult time."

BREAKING: Richard Simmons passed away Rest in Peace

Sad Breaking: Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons was an American fitness personality and public figure. He was a promoter of weight-loss programs, most prominently through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos. Eccentric fitness guru Richard Simmons, known for his unrelenting positivity, has died, according to his representative. Simmons just celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to his home after a 911 call from his housekeeper and found Simmons dead, according to police sources. He appears to have died of natural causes, and no foul play is suspected, the sources said.

Simmons had spooked fans just three months ago when he posted that he was dying on Facebook, writing in March, "I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am .... dying. Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death." He later clarified that he was not actually dying, but that the message was intended to encourage everyone to "embrace every day that we have." Simmons has been out of the public eye lately, though there were reports of a biopic being made about the fitness enthusiast earlier this year. Simmons criticized the reports, writing, "Don’t believe everything you read. I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful."

Simmons posted prolifically on social media, often several times a day. He posted about his birthday on Facebook a day before his death, writing, "Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday." He told his fans in March that he'd had skin cancer removed from his face, but was now doing well. "I know some of you reading this have had cancer or have known someone in your life who has had cancer," he wrote. "Promise me you will see your doctor and get a complete check up."

He was born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans on July 12, 1948, but adopted the name Richard while growing up. Simmons has often talked about how he was overweight as a child, which led him to his weight loss journey and pursuit of a career in fitness starting in the 1970's and '80's. His first foray into weight loss came with the opening of his gym, Simmons, in Beverly Hills, California. He released his first book, "Never Say Diet," in 1980. The book was the first of 12 he would release in his career.

His line of fitness videos exploded in popularity in the 1980s, along with a nationwide fitness craze that included a growing popularity of aerobics and Jazzercise. His videos, including the "Sweatin' to the Oldies" series, became some of the most popular videos of the era. Simmons also made regular TV appearances, including as a regular on talk shows from the "Late Show with David Letterman" to the "Rosie O'Donnell Show." He also had a regular role on the soap opera "General Hospital" and made guest appearances as himself on shows such as "Arrested Development" and "The Larry Sanders Show." 

He also hosted his own talk and fitness show, "The Richard Simmons Show," from 1980 to 1984. The show won four Daytime Emmy Awards.

Our condolences to his family and we will always miss our old friend Richard... Rest in Peace

BREAKING: Shannen Doherty Passed Away Rest in Peace

SAD BREAKING NEWS: Actress Shannen Doherty best known for her roles on "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Charmed" series, has died, a representative for the actress said. She was 53. This is very sad but not unexpected as she had been sick for sometime and recently she wrote about getting her mother ready to deal with her eventual passing. Still the sadness of her losing her life doesn't touch us all who have experienced death thanks to this awful illness called Cancer.

Shannen Doherty has died after years of living with cancer, the statement of her passing "It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease," Doherty's longtime publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Sunday, July 14.

"The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace," Sloane continued. The Beverly Hills 90210 star was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and spoke candidly to PEOPLE in November 2023 about her Stage 4 breast cancer, which had by then spread to her bones, saying at the time that she didn't "want to die."

“I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better,” she told PEOPLE. "I’m just not I’m not done.” Following her 2015 diagnosis, the actress revealed less than two years later in April 2017 that she had gone into remission, however, by 2019, the cancer returned. Doherty announced her diagnosis of metastatic stage 4 cancer publicly in 2020. Then, in June of 2023, the actress shared that the cancer had spread to her brain and that she had undergone surgery.

Doherty posted on Instagram on June 6, 2023, sharing in a candid and emotional message that the cancer had spread to her brain. Then, later the same month in another post, that she had undergone surgery in January 2023 describing the fear she felt ahead of the procedure as "overwhelming" to remove a brain tumor, which she had named Bob. “He had to get removed and dissected to see his pathology,” she told PEOPLE in November 2023. “It was definitely one of the scariest things I’ve ever been through in my entire life.” Despite that, the actress was determined to continue working as she lived with the disease.

“People just assume that it means you can’t walk, you can’t eat, you can’t work. They put you out to pasture at a very early age ‘You’re done, you’re retired,’ and we’re not,” she said, adding “We’re vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and embrace life and keep moving forward.” Indeed, before her death, Doherty hoped to raise funds, and awareness, for cancer research at the same time demonstrating to others that people like herself, with terminal cancer, are still individuals with plenty to contribute. “When you ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why did I get cancer?’ and then ‘Why did my cancer come back? Why am I stage 4?,’ that leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life,” she said.

Her candid comments echoed her words from a 2020 interview with Amy Robach for ABC News that aired on Good Morning America, in which she was equally pragmatic. "I definitely have days where I say, 'Why me?'" Doherty told Robach of the development in her health at the time. "And then I go, well, 'Why not me? Who else? Who else besides me deserves this?' None of us do." That interview with Robach marked Doherty first revealing her breast cancer had returned as stage 4 cancer after she had previously gone into remission. "It's going to come out in a matter of days or a week that I'm stage 4. So my cancer came back, and that's why I'm here," Doherty said on Good Morning America. "I don't think I've processed it. It's a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways."

For her fans her passing will be a hard to digest as she's pretty much grown up in our tv sets for decades... She will be missed. Our condolences to her family... Rest in Peace.