It seems that this period is another one of those, when we hear of deaths of significant people left and right. Right before the month of May began, Amarillo Slim passed away after battling colon cancer. I am ashamed to say that I even missed the announcement and didn’t hear about it till a week later. That goes to show how people may have forgotten this man who brought poker to a whole new level. [Read more…] about RIP Amarillo Slim
Deaths
Jackass Star Ryan Dunn Dies In Car Crash
Jackass will never be the same again. If you’re one of those that took to the humor of the famed Jackass movies, then this will certainly be a sad read for all of you. Ryan Dunn died in a car crash Monday morning of June 20. The 34 year old daredevil and star of Jackass was in his 2007 Porche 911 GT3 when it was found off the road in the woods in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania. Police reports have placed an unidentified passenger along with Dunn who both suffered fatal injuries from the accident at around 3am.
Word has it the accident may have been speed related but cops can’t confirm if alcohol was involved. However, Dunn’s twitter has a picture of him drinking with friends late Sunday.
Indeed truly a sad day in the MTV office with the tragic loss of a beloved MTV family member. Ryan Dunn has been with MTV for more than a decade. In a statement, MTV Networks Music/Films Group president Van Toffler expressed his deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ryan Dunn. “ The Jackass brother will never be the same.”
His brand of humor has won many hearts with the way he made people laugh. Just like that old middle school friend you had, who never seemed to tire of his enthusiastic approach to life. One of Dunn’s infamous scenes in Jackass 2002, was of him shoving a toy car up his bum. I know, not many find that pretty funny but for those who do, Ryan Dunn will surely be missed.
Photo Credit: IHateStevenSinger
Screen Legend Dennis Hopper Passes Away at 74
The Reaper seems to have it in for entertainers these days, what with the recent passing of Lena Horne, Lynn Redgrave, Gary Coleman, Ronnie James Dio, and others. Now, Dennis Hopper, a known rebel and hellraiser prone to paranoid delusions, but a screen legend regardless, passed away in his home in Venice, California, at 74 from complications due to prostate cancer.
Hopper, who was going through a difficult divorce with his fifth wife, wrote, directed and acted in 1969’s classic Easy Rider, which featured other acting legends Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda. Easy Rider, a film that changed Hollywood and which was made for less than $500K and grossed tens of millions of dollars, gained Hopper two Oscar nominations. Before that, he played Goon in 1954’s Rebel Without a Cause, beside James Dean. Amongst his 200+ acting credits, he also appeared in numerous other films including Apocalypse Now and Blue Velvet. More recently, he played Ben Cendars for 26 episodes of Crash, and had two film projects in progress: Alpha and Omega (voice) and The Last Film Festival.
He’s survived by four children from four of his five wives.
John Travolta Opens Up To Ellen
John Travolta appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show Wednesday, and expressed his gratitude for the support that his family has been receiving in regard to the death of his son Jett. He also talked about the family movie that they are releasing this month. It was an emotional moment for John, who appeared with his daughter Ella.
RIP Nicolas Cage’s Father
Our condolences go out to Nicolas Cage and his family. His father, August Coppola, the brother of famed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, passed away on Tuesday due to a heart attack. He was 75 years old.
