Gene Wilder passed away today at the age of 83 from Alzheimer complications according to NBC News.
The curly red head was a staple of our childhood thanks to his portrayal of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Along with winning that Golden Ticket, we also loved him as Mel Brooks go to star in legendary movies like The Producer, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Then he went on to star in Stir Crazy and See No Evil, Hear No Evil with Richard Pryor, The Women in Red and Haunted Honeymoon with his true love Gilda Radner. They had a love for the ages which sadly did not last that long because she died 5 years after they married from Ovarian Cancer. He opened Gilda’s Club in her honor.
Today, let’s remember the man who brought so much joy into our lives and watch one of his several films.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Karen Webb and nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman.
Jack Riley passed away today at the age of 80 from pneumonia and an infection according to Deadline.
He is best known for playing Mr Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show. Mr Carlin was unlikable; but yet the way Riley played him, you couldn’t help but to love him. The next generation of TV viewers loved him as Uncle Stu Pickles on The Rugrats and All Grown Up. While those are his two biggest roles, he guest starred on some of our favorite shows throughout the decades like Hogan’s Heroes, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Happy Days, Family Ties, One Day at a Time, Diff’rent Strokes, Silver Spoons, Night Court, Family Matters, Friends, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, Seinfeld, That ’70s Show and many more. Riley also can be seen in several of Mel Brooks movies like High Anxiety, History of the World Part 1 and Spaceballs.
Today let’s honor him by watching one of many memorable and enjoyable roles.
Fyvush Finkel passed away today at the age of 93 according to The New York Times. The actor got his start in Yiddish Theater, but found huge television success later on his life.
In 1992, David E Kelley hired him to be the no scruples lawyer on Picket Fences and he won our hearts over. Eight year later, Kelley hired him again, but this time as a teacher stuck in his old ways on Boston Public. Even though he had roles that were not meant to be lovable, how could you love the guy with the huge eyes. Those big peepers could make anyone want to have him as their grandfather.
Although, he didn’t act as much recently that doesn’t mean he stopped acting, he still has one more film that is yet to be released. Still acting in 90’s shows how much he loved the art that loved him back.
So today honor a man who brought us so much joy by watching one of his many roles from Yiddish Theater to his parts on several of David E Kelley’s shows.
Finkel is survived by a brother, 2 sons, 3 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2p-tJpCWsg
Kenny Baker passed away today at the age of 81, just days before his 82nd birthday, according to StarWars.com. Baker starred in several movies including Time Bandits, The Elephant Man and Amadeus, but he was most famous for a role we didn’t see him in. He was the man behind R2-D2 in the first six Star Wars movies.
Even though he was only 3’8″, his heart was 7’tall. Today, remember the man who brought us so much joy by watching one of his many movies and beeping just like infamous character to keep his huge beautiful spirit alive.
Garry Marshall passed away today at the age of 81 from pneumonia a complication recent stroke according to his Falcon Theatre.
If you love TV and movies, then there is something of his that you have seen. He left his mark on the small screen by creating the shows The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy. Then he transferred over to big screen and gave us The Flamingo Kid, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve and Mother’s Day to name a few. It is a resume people would dream to have and it was a dream to watch them all.
So today honor his amazing legacy by rewatching something he did that touched your life.
Marshall is survived by his wife Barbara, 3 children Kathleen, Scott and Lori, and his sisters Penny and Roni.
