Lenny Von Dohlen passed on Tuesday at the age of 63. His sister, Catherine, wrote on Facebook, “The world lost a magnificent man on July 5. Brother Len was passionate about everything and everyone. He was always leading; whether it be riveting conversation, an artistic creation or a trip to new places. He loved a good laugh. He continues on his spiritual journey. Living life full in his memory.💕”
Von Dohlen acted nonstop from 1981 until his death. He is best known for his work in the movie Electric Dreams, about a man whose computer becomes obsessed with him and ruins his life. He is also known for playing Harold Smith, the agoraphobic, in Twin Peaks.
Today let’s honor the late actor by watching him in one of his great roles. I will be rewatching Electric Dreams again on Tubi to keep his carbon footprint alive.
James Caan passed away yesterday at the age of 82. “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6,” his rep wrote. “The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
Caan is the type of actor where everyone is going to have a favorite movie of his, but it is not necessarily going to be the same as everyone one else’s.
I am sure most will say that his best role was as Sonny in The Godfather. However, there are a lot of men who are going to tell you that they cried when he died in Brian’s Song. Then there are the people who will say they cringed during that scene in Misery. We all know the one. And finally, there will be the ones who laughed with him in Elf.
While those are our favorite roles of his, I am sure he would’ve said his greatest role was being a father to his five children.
Caan’s career spanned all genres, and he nailed them all. So, today pick your favorite part of his and watch him in it. I will be crying as I watch Brian’s Song again.
Ray Liotta passed away in his sleep today at the age of 67. According to Deadline, he was in the Dominican Republic filming the movie Dangerous Waters at the time of his death. Foul play is not suspected.
Liotta’s break-out role came in 1989 when he played Shoeless Jackson in Field of Dreams. Then in 1990, he because a household name due to a movie called Goodfellas. From that moment on, he continued to star in movies and TV shows on both the big and small screen. Productions like Article 99, Hannibal, Blow, Wild Hogs, Muppets Most Wanted, The Rat Pack, and Shades of Blue. Those are just a few of the many memorable parts he had throughout his career.
Liotta was getting ready to play a husband again to his fiancee, Jacy Nittolo. The couple got engaged in 2020. The actor is also survived by his daughter, Karsen Liotta, from his marriage to Michelle Grace.
Today let’s remember Liotta by watching him do what he did best, entertaining us. I will start by rewatching.
The actor spent nearly 50 years entertaining us and had a resume consisting of comedies, dramas, horror, romantic comedies, and so much more.
He is known for his work in The Right Stuff, Swing Shift, Henry & June, Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult, Tremors, Tremors 2, Joe Dirt, and Sweet Home Alabama, to name a few.
However, my favorite movie of his is Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. He plays a tough NYC cop who is trained by a Korean martial artist to be a killing machine. Normally, I am not into movies like this, but he was so lovable in it that you couldn’t but to love the film.
So today, let’s honor him by watching Remo Williams or one of his many other roles. Let’s show him we will always love him.
Naomi Judd passed away yesterday at the age of 76, and tonight she was supposed to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame with her older daughter, Wynonna, for their duo, The Judds.
However, that did not come to pass because she passed. Her daughters, Ashley and Wynonna, could’ve stayed at home, but they showed up to honor their mother on what should have been a happy occasion.
Ricky Skaggs introduced The Judds, and then the two sisters accepted their medallions. When they were done with that, they each gave a speech. Ashley started it off with, “My momma loved you so much, and she appreciated your love for her, and I’m sorry that she couldn’t hang on until today.”
Ashley then went on to say that honor was not only their mom’s but also their sister’s. Then she went on to praise her sister.
When she was done, it was time for Wynonna to talk.”I didn’t prepare anything tonight ’cause I knew that mom would probably talk the most,” Wynonna said with tears in her eyes. “I feel so blessed, and it’s a very strange dynamic to be this broken and this blessed … but though my heart is broken, I will continue to sing.”
Wynnona said that she kissed her mom on the forehead one final time at 2:20p and hadn’t spoken from that moment until she accepted the award. Then, she said the last time they were together; they read Psalm 23 together. So she read it with the audience.
When Wynonna was done, they thanked their peers and walked off the stage.
My heart breaks for them. I know what it is like to lose both of my parents, and it is never easy. I admire their courage for going through with the ceremony, but I think they felt it is what their mother would’ve wanted.
It was the perfect place to hold a memorial service and let the people who knew and loved their mom honor her.
The Judds are loved by Country Music, and you can’t get more country than this.
So, to Wynonna and Ashley, thank you for sharing your mom with us during the good and bad times. Thank you for honoring her tonight in such a beautiful way. She is looking down on you with pride, and know she is at peace. She is why we say Rest In Peace. Because that is what she is doing. The pain is gone, and she is free.
