Irvin Kershner, “Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back” director, Succumbs to Lung Cancer @ 87.

Most of you might know Irvin Kershner for directing “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” in 1980. Kershner actually had begun his career with the study of music. He played the violin and composed. He later moved to Los Angeles where he studied photography. After graduation, Kershner began to teach photography at the University of Southern California School of Cinema, and took cinema class parallel to his teaching job. Kershner intensified his role as director and writer while doing documentaries with the United States Information Service. He later began to develop and direct television series, such as “The Rebel”. In his further career as director Kershner worked together with many great actors like Barbara Streisand and Sean Connery. Kershner made his acting debut in Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” in 1988, but his focus remained on directing.

George Lucas stated that he had chosen Kershner in order to direct “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”, because “he knows everything a Hollywood director is supposed to know, but he is not Hollywood”.

After Kershner fought his battle against lung cancer for more than three years, he finally lost and died on November 27, 2010, at his home in Los Angeles. He died at age 87.

Irvin Kershner, you will be missed! Rest in Peace!

Elizabeth Edwards, Lawyer and Wife of Senator John Edwards, dies at 61.

Elizabeth Edwards – “America´s most outspoken political spouse”, lost her battle with cancer at age 61

You might know that great woman as she was married to John Edwards, North Carolina´s former Senator and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 as well as 2008. They separated after 33 years of marriage, after John Edwards admitted in January 2010, that he fathered a child born out of his wedlock. The child was the result of his affair in 2006 with his former campaign worker Rielle Hunter. John Edwards, how could you?!?! Low down dirty shame!!!

Elizabeth Edwards was a holder of a Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina (UNC). She worked as a professional attorney until 1996, when she quit her legal practice career after her son Wade died in a car accident. In remembrance of her son, she brought up the Wade Edwards Foundation into being in 1996, which focuses on supporting education. Besides dedicating much of her time with administrating the foundation, she also taught at UNC and substituted at Wake County Public Schools.

Elizabeth Edwards was recognized for being an indefatigable campaigner not only during her husband´s campaigns, but also and especially for her contributions and effort regarding U.S. health care reform.

In 2004, the day of Kerry´s defeat in the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election, Edwards was diagnosed with brest cancer. Two years later, she stated, that cancer wasn´t an issue anymore, due to oncology treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer had returned in 2007.

Edwards released two best-selling books, which mainly focused on her son´s death and her illness. “Saving Graces” was published in 2006, and “Resilience” followed in 2009, and also dealt with the general state of health care in the United States.

On December 6, 2010, according to Edwards family, she had stopped cancer treatment after she was told that the cancer has metastasized to her liver, and that she had only several weeks left. Elizabeth Edwards died only one day later of metastatic brest cancer. She has been survived of her three children and her estranged husband, John.

Elizabeth Edwards, you are a great loss for your family and for the United States!!!!

Rest in Peace!!!!

Owner of Famous Celebrity Hangout, “Elaine’s” died.

Elaine Kaufman, owner of the famous “Elaine’s” passed away.

“Naked Gun” star, Leslie Nielsen, Dies at 84

Leslie Nielson, who is best known for his role in the movies series, Naked Gun and Airplane died November 28, 2010

Princess Diana

With Prince Willam getting engaged to his longtime Girlfriend, Kate Middleton, I thought it best to honor his mother.

Jayne Mansfield

Many Remember Jayne.

Lana Clarkson

The Case against Hall of Fame producer and songwriter Phil Spector

Harvey Philip “Phil” Spector, the originator of “Wall of Sound”, might now be rather recognized for killing Lana Clarkson with the “Sound of a Gun”.

Spector had everything, a successful career beginning in his teenage years, fame and money. He has worked together with artist such as Tina and Ike Turner, The Ramones and The Rolling Stones, amongst many others. An instance for his successful work shall be the Academy Award-winning Beatle´s album “Let it be” and the Grammy Award-honored “Concert for Bangladesh” by former Beatle George Harrison, which he produced.

Now, as I assume most of you could follow the latest news on Phil Spector, who is serving a sentence of 19 years to live at the Corcoran Prison in California, where Charles Manson is imprisoned, too. In 2009, Spector was found guilty for murdering Lana Clarson, a B-Movie actress, and also for using a firearm in the commission of a crime.

Lana Clarkson was found dead in Spectors house in Alhambra, California, on February 3, 2003. Spector stated, that Clarkson´s death was “an accidental suicide” and that she “kissed the gun”, which described that she was shot in her mouth. Pretty much interesting fact is, that Spectors driver Adriano De Souza testified Spector said “I think I´ve killed someone”. Furthermore interesting, only two month before the tragic murder of Clarkson, Phil Spector told Britain´s Daily Telegraph that he had bipolar disorder and considered himself being “relatively insane”. Some witnesses described Spector as aggressive and fanatically crazy about guns.

After the Trial was postponed several time, it began on March 19, 2007, but was declared a mistrial on September 26, the same year, because of disagreement amongst the jury regarding conviction. A second trial began on October 20, 2008, in which the jury took it for granted that Spector had killed Clarkson after she denied his advances.

Lana Jean Clarkson died on February 3, 2003, aged 48. She was a B-movie actress, and might be recognized for her appearances in “Scarface”, “Knight Rider” and “A-Team”. Furthermore, some of you might remember her from several commercials in earlier years, such as Mercedes-Benz or Nike.

Rest in Peace, Lana Clarkson!

Ronni Chasen, “Hollywood´s Publicist” Murdered at 64.

 

A new murder mystery in Hollywood is once again underway.

A lot of you might remember the 2002 movie “Phone Booth”, which starred Colin Farrell. The man who wrote the story is Larry Cohen, who is known for producing and writing low-budget satirical, and inventive horror films and thrillers. Now, Cohen is facing a thrilling story in his own family.

On the morning of November 16, 2010 Ronni Chasen, was driving home from the Hollywood premiere of the film “Burlesque”, when she was murdered by an unknown person or persons for hitherto unknown reasons. According to the Beverly Hills Police Department, Chasen got approximately 5 gunshots to her chest, while driving in her car. Police found her severely wounded in her Mercedes-Benz, after local residents had called 911, due to noted sounds of gunshots, and a car-accident in which a black Mercedes-Benz was involved. Chasen succumbed to her severe injuries, after she was taken to Cedars Sinai Hospital.

Ronni Chasen was a successful Hollywood publicist and owner of the PR firm Chasen & Co. She  represented actors like Sylvestor Stallone, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Douglas, amongst many others artists. Her recent PR work was with the new “Wall Street II – Money Never Sleeps”-movie. You also might remember the classic film “Driving Miss Daisy” – just to give you an example of her earlier work.

Ronni Chasen –  you will be missed!

“An Officer and A Gentleman” co-star, Lisa Blount, passed away at 53

 

I am pretty sure most of you remember the 1982 movie, “An Officer and a Gentleman.” It starred a young, sexy Richard Gere and the “then-hot” Debra Winger. Well, than I assume you also remember Lisa Blount then. She played Lynette Pomeroy in the movie. Remember the blond who broke up with Gere´s best friend, Sid Worley?

“I’m sorry, Sid, but I don’t wanna marry you. I really like you. We’ve had ourselves some really great times, but I thought you understood. I want to marry a pilot. I want to live my life overseas. The wife of an aviator…”.

Then they found Sid hanging. That was actress and Oscar-winning producer Lisa Blount!

 Blount was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award “New Star of the Year- Actress” for her role in that movie. You might have also  recognized Blount as Jim Profit´s outragous stepmother, Bobbie Stakowski in  the short-lived, but critically acclaimed Fox TV series, “Profit”.

 On March 24, 2002, Blount along with her husband Ray McKinnon was honored with the Academy Award for “Best Live Action Short Films in 2001” for “The Accountant.”

Lisa Blount passed away on October 25, 2010 at the age of 53. Her mother found her dead at home in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is assumed that Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) caused her death since she recently suffered from extreme pain in her neck.

 R.I.P. Lisa Blount.

You wil be missed!

“Serpico” Producer, Dino DeLaurentiis, Dead at 91

 

Dino DeLauretiis, an academy award-winning movie  producer, has died. He was 91.

After more than 150 movies – needless to say that many of them Oscar-winning ones, Agostino De Laurentiis a.k.a. Dino Di Laurentiis died at the age of 91 in Los Angeles. He was also known as “The Last Emperor of Hollywood Producers.”  He has produced an estimated 500 films to the big screen, since his first film Battle of the Bulge directed by Ken Annakin in 1965.

Thinking about the name Dino De Laurentiis, I can think of  so many good movies!  The  1973 movie “Serpico”  with Al Pacino, King Kong, Orca, and the “Hannibal Lecter” series, just to name a few!

Dino De Laurentiis is the famed producer of the Hannibal  series, based on the novels by Thomas Harris. He produced the first Hannibal Lecter 1986 film Manhunter directed by Michael Man. Although he passed on producing the critically acclaimed The Silence of the Lambs, De Laurentiis produced Ridley Scott-directed Hannibal (2001) and Red Dragon (2002). In 2007, he also produced Hannibal Rising. He even owned the rights to the character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a role portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, several times on-screen.

In 2001, Dino de Laurentiis received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which is given to “creative producers, whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production” from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

 De Laurentiis was married 3 times and had  6 children. His first marriage was annulled and without kids. His second wife  was actress Silvana Mangano. They had four children together;  Veronica, Raffaella, Federico and Francesca. De Laurentiis and Mangano were married for about 39 years and divorced one year prior her death in 1989. He, then, married movie producer Martha Schumacher. They were married until his death. They had two daughters, Carolyna and Dina.

 Dino definitely passed on his producing talent and entertainment genes to his progeny. His daughters Franesca and Rafaella, and also his nephew Aurelio  are film producers. Veronica, Carolyn and Dina decided to become actors.  His granddaughter Giada, host of “Everyday Italian”, “Behind the Bash”, “Giada at Home” and ”Giada´s Weekend Getaways” has made a name for herself in homes across the world. His son, Federico, also produced films until his death in an airplane crash in 1981.

On November 10, 2010, Dino DeLaurenttis passed away at his home in Beverly Hills, California.

His life lives on through his movies. and through his family’s creations.

Rest in Peace, Dino! They don’t make them like you anymore!

We will miss you!!!!