R.I.P in Review

 Harry Hains

FH readers might be aware that I occasionally do an R.I.P section on the site. Because I want the site to be a positive stop in people's day, I didn't mark the death of every celebrity, even if the celebrity was a huge star and well know.  I tried to limit my R.I.P's to celebrities I had some connection with, many of which appeared on the site.  I paused doing R.I.P posts this past August after noting the death of actor Chadwick Boseman.

2020 was such a shit year, and the deaths, well beyond celebrities, were growing to a point I felt overwhelming.  As Autumn came and went, I also experienced death in my own family, and wanted FH to remain the creative escape I need it to be.  Although I may return to doing some R.I.P pieces in the future, for now, I keep then on pause.  I did however, want to make note of a few celebrities who passed that I didn't take note of last year. 

Actor and model Harry Hains actually died last January, but it wasn't until into the fall that I realized it.  I first saw Harry on an episode of American Horror Story, and featured him on the site a couple of times. (HERE:)  In addition to acting, he had a haunting beautiful image portfolio that I really loved. I followed Harry on Instagram, and we'd had a few messages back and forth about a possible interview for the site.  He didn't reply ot my last message, which wasn't so odd, but I noticed a few months ago that he hadn't posted since early in year.  A quick search had me learning he sadly died at just 27 shortly after his last Instagram post. 

Alex Trebek

I wasn't a huge Jeopardy watcher except when I was sick or feeling down or depressed.  Then, Jeopardy was like chicken soup.  Alex  Trebek and the show's format was always so familiar and comforting.  It was visiting an old friend when you needed to reconnect.  

Eddie Van Halen

So, I only really know a few Van Halen songs, but I was introduced to Eddie Van Halen when I was just a kid by my older brother.  Now, my older brother didn't know he provided the introduction, as if he knew, he most likely would have punched me.  I wasn't allowed (according to him) to go in my brothers room, but that didn't stop me when he wasn't home.  My brother was a huge music fan and used to collect music magazines like CIRCUS.   I used to enjoy checking out the shirtless rock stars and Eddie had one of the most impressive bulges in the business.  

Diana Rigg

My introduction to actress Diana Rigg came from photographer Robert J. Guttke.  Robert was a huge fan and talked frequently about his love for her work, especially in The Avengers.  I later came to love Diana on Game of Thrones, and her wit and brilliance had me downloading the entire series of The Avengers.  I have yet to finish it all, but like on GOT, she lights up every scene she's in. 

Mac Davis

FH also introduced me to singer Mac Davis.  While doing an Actors & Skin piece on Nick Nolte, I ended up watching 1979's North Dallas Forty. I watched mostly to cap the locker room nude scene, but ended up finding something incredibly hot about Davis.  I ended up on Youtube getting hooked listening to some of his old country hits.

Christophe Dominici

It's always shocking when someone apparently healthy dies so young. That was the case of French Rugby player, and Stade model Christophe Dominici.  Christophe died after falling to his death from a roof this past November. 

David Prowse 

When I was kid watching and re-watching my VHS collection of Star Wars, my favorite characters were Chewbacca and Darth Vader.  It always amazed me how how these two actors created such vivid and full characters, all, while behind costumes and masks.  Part of it of course was the writing, but a big part was the actors inside those masks.  Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca, got a bit of credit for his role, but most of the credit for Darth Vader, went to James Earl Jones who supplied his voice.  That booming voice was spectacular, but only worked due to the equally strong physical performance from actor David Prowse. 

Sean Connery

They say we all only have one Bond, the one we first see in the Theatres.  For me, that's not exactly true.  The first Bond movie I saw in the theatres was Roger Moore in 1985's A View To A Kill.  I went went with my dad, who was a big Bond fan.  Now A View To A Kill wasn't one of the franchises best, and my father wasn't a fan.  He preferred Sean Connery, his Bond.  After seeing Moore's Bond, I had the chance to watch some of Connery on television and video with my Father.  

Now I wasn't then, nor am I now, really a Bond fan, regardless of who's wearing the tux, but I have found memories of watching Connery with my dad. I mostly watched him watching the movie.  My dad didn't watch much TV, mostly westerns and war movies.  It was rare to find something we both sit down and enjoy.

The Man That Would Be King (1975)