Above:Hal by Chris Teel
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Unforgettable
Helmut Berger by Helmut Newton
Treat Williams
Billy Miller
Tyler Christopher
Julian Sands
Matthew Perry
Perry on Beverly Hills 90210
Ryan O'Neal
The Big Bounce (1969)
Helmut Berger
1944-2023
Although I did do a couple of R.I.P post this past year, (including Helmut Berger & Treat Williams) for the most part, I stopped doing them on a regular basis. It seemed that almost every week a notable person passed away. I like FH being a bit of an escape, so decided to note some of the significant stars and celebrities we lost in one year end post. Most of the men in this post have been previously featured on FH.
Treat Williams
1951-2023
There were so many names on my initial list that also did a part 2 (HERE:) This post features other men and women who had a meaningful impact on my life and experiences. There were other major stars who passed away, but the ones I noted were the ones I felt some sort of connection with their lives, or with their work.
Billy Miller
1979-2023
The only role I ever saw actor Billy Miller is was his time as Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless. I've watched the soap on and off, mostly off, over the years, but Miller was magic on screen. His energy, his timing, his on-screen presence was undeniable. He lifted every actor he was in a scene with, seemingly with little effort. We've since learned, have we have with so many, that excursion of energy, especially for those struggling with mental health issues, always takes a toll.
Tyler Christopher
1972-2023
I knew Tyler Christopher initially due to his modeling work. I'd seen these images, (who I believe are by Greg Gorman) before I ever saw him on television. I've never watched General Hospital, but I did watch Tyler during his stint on Days of our Lives. Reports near the end of his stint were that he was struggling, and soon reports of issues arose. It wasn't long after that other issues and arrests were reported. We talk a lot about addiction, as we should, but we also need to discuss trauma and it connection to substance abuse. When we don't, the cycle continues.
Julian Sands
1958-2023
I loved actor Julian Sands, so many great performances and movie moments. I still remember the impact of that bath in the pond scene from A Room With A View. (HERE:) Sands' death was hard to accept because how he left the planet. Having gone missing last January, most knew he must have died when he was still missing weeks later. It was six month later however, before his remains were found and it was made official.
Matthew Perry
1969-2023
The higher they go, the harder they fall. This was tragically evident with Matthew Perry. Seeing some of his interviews this last year, promoting his new book, make it even sadder. Perry clearly was working at channeling his struggles into something positive and to help other people. I loved Friends, and I loved me some Chandler Bing. I haven't been able to watch since Perry's death, when a repeat comes on, I switch the channel. Look forward to when that stops so I can return to the comfort the sit-come provided for so many episodes and hours.
Ryan O'Neal
1941-2023
When I first featured actor Ryan O'Neal on FH back in 2014, (HERE) it was a inspired in snark. I hadn't seen any of O'Neal's movies at the time, and the post was motivated by an image of he and his daughter, and mostly an excuse to feature some of his on-screen nudity. I didn't think much of O'Neal at the time, but since then, thanks to TCM, have seen Paper Moon and several other of his films. Not only did I finally see how gorgeous a man he was, I also saw and enjoyed his talent and on-screen charisma.
Until We Meet Again
Lance Kerwin
Kerwin with Robert Conrad and Dan Haggerty
Andre Braugher
Gina Lollobrigida
Piper Laurie
Paul Reubens
David Jacobs
Angus Cloud
Tina Turner
Norman Lear
Adam Rich
Cindy Williams
Tom Wilkinson
Lance Kerwin
1960-2023
I'm a little young to remember actor Lance Kerwin from his day as a teen idol in the 70's and 80's, but I do remember seeing his man shirtless pin-ups when I used to collect old TV and teen magazines. I saw him on a few tv shows in the 1990's, but like Tiger Beat, his fame was dwindling. Very sad though when I heard he died of an overdose earlier this year. So many young stars from his generation struggled after their 15 minutes of fame had come and gone. Kerwin was never a huge star, but he was a big enough teen idol that the fall would have left a mark.
Andre Braugher
1962-2023
I loved everything Andre Braugher was in, his voice, his talent, his undeniable charisma on screen. I just finally finished the last season of The Good Fight and Andrew Braugher made a great show even greater.
Gina Lollobrigida
1927-2023
When I was a kid, the only thing I knew about actress Gina Lollobrigida was that she inspired the character of Lollobrickida, the maid character on an episode of The Flintstones. I used to love watching repeats of the cartoon on Sunday mornings, and the character stood out. In the last few years however, I got to know the actress through her film appearances on TCM. One of my favorites is Trapeze, (pictured above) a film I love to check out whenever it airs.
Piper Laurie
1932-2023
My introduction to Piper Laurie came through the tough of nails Catherine Martell on Twin Peaks. Since that introduction, I've seen, and enjoyed her in many roles and projects from sit-coms, (she was really funny) to her big screen roles in The Hustler and of course her Oscar nominated turn as Mrs. White in Carrie.
Paul Reubens
1952-2023
I only watched a few episodes of Pee-Wee's Playhouse, but that doesn't mean I was impacted as a kid by the character of Pee Wee Herman. I also enjoyed Reubens in many other roles including Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and his many guest appearances on television, including one of my favorites on Everybody Loves Raymond.
David Jacobs
1939-2023
I've written before about the impact the television show Dallas had on me when I was just a kid. Even before I was old enough to watch, I remember it was the only television show that both my parents watched together. When I was a kid, I was usually ushered off to bed before it started so my parents could watch uninterrupted. The spanned 13 years, so when I got a little older, I remember watching with them. I actually didn't pay much attention to the show, but loved watching my parents faces when they watched. Later, I became a fan of the show when it aired on TNN. I have to thank creator and writer David Jacobs for those moments and memories.
Angus Cloud
1998-2023
Euphoria is a bit of a hit and miss show for me. Some of the episodes are incredibly powerful and television at it's best. Some episodes are a bit confusing. With the storytelling and editing leaving me wondering what the hell is going on. No matter which version was on however, scenes with Angus Cloud were always standouts. Angus brought a realism to Fezco and his character and presence, will be sorely missed.
Tina Turner
1939-2023
I remember seeing Tina Turner live when I was a kid, and being amazed at how much energy she had on stage. I would have been about 14 or 15, and Tina was in her early 50's. I went with my aunt and cousin and although wasn't a huge fan before going, instantly became one watching from the upper dome of the arena.
Norman Lear
1922-2023
I already miss Norman Lear, I was really hoping for more of those 'Live in Front of A Studio Audience' specials. Lear brought us so much, including brining many huge Broadway stars to television. Some of televisions most iconic characters were created by Lear and I am just finally getting to watch and enjoy some of later seasons of The Jeffersons, All In The Family and Maude that I never saw before.
Sue Johanson / Frances Sternhagen
Sue Johanson
1930-2023
I know I'm not the only one who watched The Sunday Night Sex show and learned a lot from the brilliant Sue Johnson. I think Sue was the first person I ever saw on television hold and demonstrate the proper way to use a dildo. She also normalized sex, all sex, no matter who you were and who you loved.
Frances Sternhagen
1930-2023
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting actress Frances Sternhagen during one of my first trips to New York in the 1990's. Sternhagen was on Broadway in The Heiress and although I didn't get to see the production, I did become an instant fan of her work.
Adam Rich
1968-2023
I've only seen a handful of episodes of Eight Is Enough. I'd love to see more, I don't think the show is streaming anywhere that I know. I did see and enjoy a Christmas episode, and a few repeats when I was a kid. I did follow actor Adam Rich on Twitter before his death, not because he was a child star, but because of his politics. Adam often showed up in threads I was involved in. He was certainly not a Trump fan, which was enough to have me like him. You can never tell on social media how someone is really doing, but Adam seemed to be ok, until he wasn't. He disappeared for long periods of time, the last pause being his final bow.
Cindy Williams
1947-2023
I always knew who Cindy Williams was, I caught repeats of Laverne & Shirley when I was a kid, and saw her in other shows and movies. When I moved earlier this year though, I got a new retro channel and every evening they played back to back episodes of Laverne & Shirley. I finally got to see it from the beginning, and really loved going to sleep with their antics playing on my television. Penny Marshall was great, but Williams didn't really get the credit she deserved for grounding the show and balancing out the craziness around her.
Tom Wilkinson
1948-2023
I loved actor Tom Wilkinson in The Full Monty, but I also loved many of his other supporting roles. Even when he wasn't the lead, Wilkinson always brought it, making everything he was in better. Some of my favorites including his appearances in; Normal, Sense & Sensibility and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
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