Hollywood Deaths from January 1st - June 30th, 2001
Ray Walston - (January 1st, 2001)
Ray Walston died at the age of 86. He is best remembered for his roles as "My Favorite Martian," Mr. Hand from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," and Judge Henry Bone on "Picket Fences."
Dale Evans - (February 7th, 2001)
Singer, songwriter, wife and partner of Roy Rogers died at the age of 88 from congestive heart failure.
Lewis Arquette - (February 10th,2001)
Character actor Lewis Arquette, whose five children, including Rosanna, Patricia and David, followed in his show business footsteps, has died in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure. Arquette died at UCLA Medical Center. He was 65.
Howard W. Koch - (February 16th, 2001)
Howard W. Koch, a veteran producer and director whose credits include ``The Manchurian Candidate'' and the TV series ``Maverick,'' died of complications from Alzheimer's disease at the age of 84.
Dale Earnhardt - (February 18th, 2001)
NASCAR motor racing legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed in a crash in the final turn of the last lap of the 43rd Daytona 500. He was 49.
Stanley Kramer - (February 19th, 2001)
Stanley Kramer, the legendary Hollywood producer-director best known for such morality-minded movies as "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", "Judgment at Nuremburg", "High Noon" and "Inherit the Wind", died after a bout with pneumonia. He was 87.
Stan Margulies - (February 27th, 2001)
Veteran producer Stan Margulies, whose credits include such landmark TV mini-series as ``Roots'' and ``The Thorn Birds,'' and the great film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" died of cancer at age 80.
Rob ert Ludlum - (March 12th, 2001)
Former actor and thriller writer Robert Ludlum died after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 74 years old. Ludlum, whose Cold War spy tales like ``The Scarlatti Inheritance'' and ``The Parsifal Mosaic'' routinely topped the bestseller lists. Ludlum turned to spy novel writing as a lark, wondering at age 40 if he could have any success at it.
Morton Downey Jr. - (March 13th, 2001)
"Mort the Mouth" was the loud-mouthed and often controversial host of ``The Morton Downey Jr. Show.'' He died of lung cancer at the age of 67.
Ann Sothern - (March 15th, 2001)
Oscar nominated Actress Ann Sothern, who starred in the "Maisie" movies, played Susie McNamara in the 1950's TV series "Private Secretary," and lent her voice to the 1960's sitcom "My Mother the Car," died of heart failure. She was 92.
William Hanna - (March 22nd, 2001)
Animation legend William Hanna, who with partner Joseph Barbera helped turn television into their own personal cartoon world, creating such characters as Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, Scooby Doo and the Jetsons, died at the age of 90.
Beatrice Straight - (April 7th, 2001)
Actress Beatrice Straight, who earned an Academy Award for her role as William Holden's estranged wife in the television spoof ``Network,'' has died. She was 86. The movie gave Americans the catch phrase ``I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" Other roles included the paranormal investigator in 1982's ``Poltergeist'' and Mother Christophe in 1959's ``The Nun's Story.'''
David Graf - (April 7th, 2001)
Actor David Graf, who appeared in all seven `` Police Academy'' films as Eugene Tackleberry and had a recurring role as Col. Chase in NBC White House drama ``The West Wing'' died of a heart attack at a wedding in Arizona. He was 50.
Jack Haley Jr. - (April 21st, 2001)
Longtime Hollywood producer, actor, writer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, Jack Haley Jr., has died of respiratory failure. He was 67. He produced numerous films and specials including "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" a 1990 film documenting the making of the classic movie. He was the son of actor Jack Haley, who played the Tin Man in "The Wizard of Oz."
Douglas Adams - (May 11th, 2001)
Britain 's Douglas Adams, the author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," died suddenly at the age of 49. Adams died in Santa Barbara, California, after a heart attack. The author became a household name in Britain when his 1979 cult science fiction saga, about a group of galactic travelers who survive the demolition of earth to build a space by-pass, was turned into a BBC TV series. The satirical "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" centered on the search for an answer to life and the universe -- read it to find out what that answer is.
Perry Como - (May 12th, 2001)
Perry Como, the crooning baritone barber famous for his relaxed vocals, cardigan sweaters and television Christmas specials, died Saturday after a lengthy illness. Como died in his sleep at his home in Jupiter Inlet Beach Colony. Some sources listed Como's age as 88; others said he was 87.
Jason Miller - (May 13th, 2001)
Pulitzor Prize winning playwright, director and actor Jason Miller died of a heart attack at 62. He was best know for playing Father Damien Karras in "The Exorcist," but also won the Pulitzor for his play "That Championship Season."
Anne Haney - (May 26th, 2001)
Anne Haney, the longtime character actress who appeared in such films as ``Mrs. Doubtfire'' and ''Liar Liar,'' died of natural causes at her home in Studio City. She was 67.
Hank Ketcham - (May 31st, 2001)
Cartoonist Henry ``Hank'' Ketcham, who created the ``Dennis the Menace'' comic strip after his wife complained that their young son named Dennis was indeed a menace, died at home in Carmel, California. He was 81 years old. Ketcham, who had been battling cancer, died of a heart attack. His creation became one of the world's most popular comic strips and Dennis became a tow-haired, freckle-faced symbol of mischievous youth. The boy, who was forever five years old, turned 50 on March 12.
Arlene Francis - (June 1st, 2001)
Arlene Francis, the witty actress and television personality who was a panelist on the popular ``What's My Line?'' show for its 25-year run, has died. She was 92. Francis died of natural causes. Her screen debut was in ``Murders in the Rue Morgue'' in 1932. She screamed ``No! No!'' as Bella Lugosi shackled and killed her. Later films included ``Stage Door Canteen'' in 1943, ``All My Sons'' in 1948, Billy Wilder's ``One, Two, Three'' in 1961 and ``The Thrill of it All'' in 1963.
Imogene Coca - (June 2nd, 2001)
Imogene Coca, the diminutive U.S. actress who co-starred with actor Sid Caesar in classic television comedy sketches in the 1950s, died of natural causes at her Westport, Connecticut, residence. Coca's acting credits include ``Plaza Suite,'' ``The Rivals,'' ''Fourposter,'' ``Cabaret,'' ``Gin Gamae,'' ``Bewitched,'' ``The Brady Bunch,'' `` Fantasy Island'' and ``Mama's Family.'' She was 92.
Anthony Quinn - (June 3rd, 2001)
Actor Anthony Quinn, who died on Sunday at age 86, starred in more than 100 films and won two Oscars in a career that spanned nearly six decades, but the role that defined him in the public mind was the earthy fun-loving character he played in the 1964 film ``Zorba the Greek.''
Carroll O'Connor - (June 21st, 2001)
Actor Carroll O'Connor, who became one of television's biggest stars as grumpy, bigoted but lovable Archie Bunker on the landmark 1970s TV series "All in the Family," died of a heart attack brought on by complications from diabetes. He was 76.
John Lee Hooker - (June 21st, 2001)
Bluesman John Lee Hooker, whose foot stompin' and gravelly voice on songs like "Boom Boom" and "Boogie Chillen" electrified audiences and inspired generations of musicians, died of natural causes in his sleep. Also, lets not forget his appearence as Street Slim in the "Blues Brothers." He was 83.
Jack Lemmon - (June 27th, 2001)
Jack Lemmon, who portrayed finicky Felix Unger in "The Odd Couple," the boastful Ensign Pulver in "Mr. Roberts" and a cross-dressing musician in "Some Like It Hot," as well as many other roles, has died of complications from cancer. He was 76.
Chet Atkins - (June 30th, 2001)
Nasvhille guitarist Chet Atkins, whose pioneering fingerpicking style accompanied the likes of Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, influenced the Beatles and helped transform the entire genre of country music died in his Tennessee home after a long bout with cancer. He was 77. |