2021 Obituaries Thread

[Superballer]

Saddening indeed, as I did watch GWF action regularly during the promotion's peak, and Wilkes as the Patriot was one of my favorite members thereof. 

[whowouldeverhurtawhammy]

Philece Sampler, who was remembered for Days of Our Lives as Renee DiMera, Another World as Donna Love Hudson, as well as the original voice of Mimi Tachikawa in the English dub of the Digimon Adventure anime series (known in America as Digimon: Digital Monsters), died on 7/1/21 after suffering from a heart attack. She was 67.

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-03/tv-actress-voice-actress-philece-sampler-passes-away/.174764

[dagdoggnh]

Matiss Kivlenieks, a goalie for the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets, died on July 4, 2021 of a head injury suffered in a fall after a fireworks malfunction at the age of 24: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/jackets/2021/07/05/matiss-kivlenieks-blue-jackets-goalie-dies-tragic-accident/7864545002/

[jude_este]

Two deaths to report.

Football coach Terry Donahue, the winningest coach in Pac-12 Conference and UCLA football history and later served as general manager of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, died Sunday after a two-year struggle with cancer at age 77.

Director and producer Richard Donner, who helmed some of the most iconic movies of the 1970s and 1980s, including the Christopher Reeve-starring Superman, The Goonies, and the Mel Gibson-Danny Glover buddy cop series Lethal Weapon. Died today at age 91, cause of death not disclosed.

[dagdoggnh]

Matiss Kivlenieks, a goalie for the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets, died on July 4, 2021 of a head injury suffered in a fall after a fireworks malfunction at the age of 24: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/jackets/2021/07/05/matiss-kivlenieks-blue-jackets-goalie-dies-tragic-accident/7864545002/

I just saw an update on the passing of Matiss Kivlenieks.  An autopsy by a medical examiner in Michigan showed that chest trauma, not a head injury, was what caused his death.

[Ccook]

John Lawton, vocalist for 70s band Uriah Heep, age 74 of unknown causes.

[jude_este]

Actor and director Robert Downey Sr., known for directing the countercultural satire Putney Swope, with roles in films including Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and The Family Man. Downey Sr. passed away Wednesday in his sleep from complications of Parkinson's at age 85.

[PatrickRox80]

Suzzanne Douglas of The Parent 'Hood and How Stella Got Her Groove Back passed away of cancer at age 64.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/07/entertainment/suzzanne-douglas-obit/index.html

[SeaBreeze341]

Actor and director Robert Downey Sr., known for directing the countercultural satire Putney Swope, with roles in films including Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and The Family Man. Downey Sr. passed away Wednesday in his sleep from complications of Parkinson's at age 85.

TBH, I wasn't even aware that he was still alive.  RIP.

We've lost a ton of legends & great people recently.  Their legacies will forever live on.


As for Matiss Kivlenieks, this one hurts as it could have been avoided.  I made mention to how we lost several people due to the fact that they've left us after decades of success & their own stories.  With Columbus's goalie, he had a lot of living to do, but just bad, fatal luck changed that.

There have been some discussions on banning fireworks.  I respect that.  Obviously it's a no for me in terms of official showings of fireworks, but I believe that people should have to obtain a license in order to operate their own private shows featuring fireworks in one's backyard or front yard.

[JayC]

Chick Vennera, actor most known for "Thank God It's Friday" and a recurring role on "The Golden Girls," died yesterday from cancer at the age of 74.
https://deadline.com/2021/07/chick-vennera-dead-obituary-actor-thank-god-its-friday-the-golden-girls-1234788536/

[Alfonzo]

Chick Vennera, actor most known for "Thank God It's Friday" and a recurring role on "The Golden Girls," died yesterday from cancer at the age of 74.
https://deadline.com/2021/07/chick-vennera-dead-obituary-actor-thank-god-its-friday-the-golden-girls-1234788536/

For any Golden Girls fans like myself, Chuck played Enrique Mass, the consumer advocate television show host, and Rose's boss.

[jude_este]

Two deaths to report.

Actor Charlie Robinson, best known as Mac Robinson on the sitcom Night Court, passed away July 11 at the age of 75 from cardiac arrest.

And Wrestler Paul Orndorff, the WWE Hall of Famer who fought in the first WrestleMania, died today at age 71, and the cause of death is not known. But his son Travis said that he had CTE and was last month in declining health.

[Superballer]

Given the wear and tear a wrestler's body no doubt goes through over the decades, it would not be surprising if Orndorff was suffering from CTE, and he's probably far from the only one.  Interesting fact:  had Andre the Giant not been physically able to face Hulk Hogan in the WrestleMania III main event, Vince McMahon's backup plan would have been a final Hogan-Orndorff match to settle their previous long running feud, hence why Mr. Wonderful did not appear at the event otherwise. 

[pricefan18]

Given the wear and tear a wrestler's body no doubt goes through over the decades, it would not be surprising if Orndorff was suffering from CTE, and he's probably far from the only one.  Interesting fact:  had Andre the Giant not been physically able to face Hulk Hogan in the WrestleMania III main event, Vince McMahon's backup plan would have been a final Hogan-Orndorff match to settle their previous long running feud, hence why Mr. Wonderful did not appear at the event otherwise.

That's really interesting.....I wonder if that'd have been also a backup in case Andre didn't wanna do business. Hogan had claimed he and Vince weren't sure he would in his book. May or may not have been true knowing Hogan, but....was out there. Hannibal from the Hannibal TV did an interview with Paul a few years ago too re: CTE, and he said in a video posted today Paul was clearing declining health even then, so it woulda been an issue for a while evidently.

[Borusa]

NY Times reported that William Smith (Kimo of Hawaii Five O-original series) died early this month.