Football Hall of Famer and actor Merle Olsen passed away yesterday at the age of 69 due to mesothelioma according to MSNBC. As a football player he played for Utah State University and the LA Rams. As an actor he was known for playing Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie, the title character in Father Murphy and was a spokesperson for FTD Florist.
So today put on Little House and remember the legacy Merle Olson left behind.
UPDATE: Melissa Gilbert just Tweeted this, “Just heard about the passing of Merlin Oleson. I an so sad. My heart go out to his dear family. He was one of the sweetest, kindest, men I have ever known. The personification of the Gentle Giant. Forever now, a guardian angel.”
Corey passed away today from a suspected prescription drug overdose at the age of 38 according to KABC. Corey was known for his roles in Silver Bullet, Lucas, The Lost Boys, Dream a Little Dream, License to Drive and so many more awesome movies from the ’80s and ’90s. A few years he teamed up with Corey Feldman to do a reality show on A&E about their fading friendship, and by the end of it they were no longer talking. Last month I posted video of the two of them reunited and I thought that because Haim was bloated he was getting the help he so desperately needed, but I was wrong. The thing that is good about that video is it shows that The Two Coreys were friends again and Feldman’s heart should be eased by the fact that when Haim died they parted as friends and not as enemies so he doesn’t have the regret if only I made up with him.
Now when it comes to Haim’s death, it sincerely saddens me because it looks to be another senseless death in Hollywood due to prescription drugs. It is so sad that it looks like he never was able to conquer the demon that eventually killed him. Corey Haim was a true Lost Boy.
I pray that his mother, whom he was very close to, some how gets through this.
And now enough of the sadness, put in one of his classic movies from the ’80s today and remember the good times we had of him!
UPDATE: Corey Feldman blogged about the lost of his best friend and brother.
I was awakened at 8:30 this morning by my brother and sister knocking on my bedroom door. They informed me of the loss of my brother Corey Haim. My eyes weren’t even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face. I am so sorry for Corey, his mother Judy, his family, my family, all of our fans, and of course my son who I will have to find a way to explain this to when he gets home from school. This is a tragic loss of a wonderful,beautiful,tormented soul, who will always be my brother,family, and best friend. We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference. Please respect our families as we struggle and grieve through this difficult time. I hope the art Corey has left behind will be remembered as the passion of that for which he truly lived. ~ Corey
(photo of Michael, the one in the sweater vest, from WireImage)
Marie Osmond’s 18 year old adopted son Michael Blosil committed suicide yesterday by jumping from a building in LA. According to People, he left a note saying that he felt he had no friends and did not fit in. Michael suffered from depression and spent some time in rehab in 2007 around the time when Marie was on Dancing on the Stars.
Marie released this statement, “My family and I are devastated and in deep shock by the tragic loss of our dear Michael and ask that everyone respect our privacy during this difficult time.†Her Las Vegas show with her brother Donny Osmond is cancelled for the time being.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Marie, her ex-husband and her 7 children.
Before you get to the point that Michael Blosil and Andrew Koenig were at, please get help. Things can change, death cannot.
After missing for almost two weeks, Andrew Koenig was found dead today in Stanley Park at the age of just 41. According to his father, Walter Koenig from Star Trek his son committed suicide due his depression.
Although we found him once again when he was missing, let’s remember him from happier times back when he was playing Boner on Growing Pains.
As his dad said, if you need help please get it. There are people that love you and let them help you because they want to and you need them to.
The toxicology report from the LA Coroner’s Office is in for Brittany Murphy and she did not have illegal drugs in her system. According to TMZ, the report says, “Multiple medications were present in the blood, with elevated levels of hydrocodone, acetaminophen, and chlorpheniramine. L-methamphetamine was also present.” The report goes on, “It should be noted that the pattern of use of these medications suggest treatment of symptoms of a cold or other respiratory infection. Acetaminophen and hydrocodone are components of Vicodin. Chlorpheniramine is the active ingredient in some over-the-counter medications. L-methamphetamine is a component of some inhalers.” The report goes on to say, “The possible adverse physiological effects of elevated levels of these medications cannot be discounted, especially in her weakened state. Therefore the manner of death is Accident.”
It is so scary that you think that over-the-counter drugs can’t kill you, but what we have learned from her death is that they can. So sad and scary.
When Brittany Murphy died, I was on the phone with my friend and she was convinced it was illegal drugs that killed her and I said it could have been the flu. Now we know it was the pneumonia and self-medicating with over-the-counter and prescription drugs that took away this talented actress way too soon. I really hope that now that we know what was the cause of her death, that her reputation has cleared up because there were a lot of people who thought like my friend.
