Category: Entertainment

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Johnny Carson, the “Tonight Show” TV host who served America a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter, droll comedy and heartland charm for 30 years, has died. He was 79.

“Mr. Carson passed away peacefully early Sunday morning,” his nephew, Jeff Sotzing, told The Associated Press. “He was surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable. There will be no memorial service.”

Sotzing would not give further details, including the time of death or the location.

The boyish-looking Nebraska native with the disarming grin, who survived every attempt to topple him from his late-night talk show throne, was a star who managed never to distance himself from his audience.

His wealth, the adoration of his guests — particularly the many young comics whose careers he launched — the wry tales of multiple divorces: Carson’s air of modesty made it all serve to enhance his bedtime intimacy with viewers.

“Heeeeere’s Johnny!” was the booming announcement from sidekick Ed McMahon that ushered Carson out to the stage. Then the formula: the topical monologue, the guests, the broadly played skits such as “Carnac the Magnificent.”
Continue reading “Johnny Carson 1925-2005”

07.22.2004
Jerry Goldsmith, one of Hollywood’s most prominent composers who left an indelible mark on Star Trek, died Wednesday night after a long battle with cancer. He was 75.

Goldsmith’s compositions have virtually defined the musical personality of Star Trek since the debut of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in 1979. That score went on to be the theme song for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Goldsmith also wrote the title music for Star Trek: Voyager, along with several other Trek movies including “Star Trek: First Contact,” which many fans believe to be one of the most inspired scores ever written for a genre film (or any film for that matter).

He’s even left his mark on the Star Trek: The Experience attraction in Las Vegas, with original music for “Borg Invasion 4D.” He also scored “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” “Star Trek: Insurrection,” and two years ago, “Star Trek Nemesis.”

His soundtrack for “ST:TMP” earned him one of his 17 Academy Award nominations (his one Oscar win was in 1977 for “The Omen”), as well as nominations for Golden Globe and Saturn awards. His Voyager theme song earned one of his five Emmy trophies. “First Contact” won him a BMI Film Music Award, and his audio commentary on the “Director’s Edition” DVD of “TMP” earned a Video Premiere Award nomination in 2001.

(CNN) — Marlon Brando, the stage and screen actor whose performances in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “On the Waterfront” and “The Godfather” earned him plaudits as one of the greatest actors of all time, has died, his attorney said. He was 80.

Brando’s agent, Jay Cantor, said the actor was admitted to UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday evening and that the cause of death was pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that involves scarring of the lungs.

Brando had suffered from congestive heart failure and was overweight.

The actor was perhaps the most influential of his generation, noted Bob Thomas of The Associated Press.

Marlon Brando was born April 3, 1924, in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother was active in the local theater and encouraged two local actors, Henry Fonda and Dorothy McGuire, onto the stage.

The young Marlon, known as Bud to the family, moved a handful of times with his family — first to Evanston, Illinois, later to Santa Ana, California, and finally back to Illinois. Known as a rambunctious child, he was sent to military school as a teenager to curb his behavior. He was expelled.

Prevented from enlisting in World War II due to his 4-F status, he moved to New York at 19 to live with his sister Frances. Another sister, Jocelyn, was studying acting with legendary coach Stella Adler; Brando soon joined her. Adler was quickly impressed.

“Within a year, Marlon Brando will be the best young actor in the American theater,” she said, according to the AP