“Lassie” and “Lost in Space” star June Lockhart died of natural causes in her Southern California home this week, her family said Saturday. She was 100.
Lockhart played the mother roles in the two popular TV series, but she also won what is now called a Tony Award early in her career in the Broadway production “For Love or Money.”
She died at her home in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday with her daughter June Elizabeth and granddaughter Christianna by her side, the family said in a statement.
In “Lassie,” Lockhart played Ruth Martin, and in “Lost in Space” she played Maureen Robinson. She also played Dr. Janet Craig in “Petticoat Junction.”
Lockhart was long a proponent of the space agency NASA and its mission, and she appeared with pioneering moon-walking astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
Dad was laid to rest today.
Requiem æternam dona ei, Domine
Et lux perpetua luceat ei
Requiescat in pace.
Amen.
Well. Pater Familias passed away around noon today after being home on Hospice for the past two weeks. He had a long life being close to his 101st birthday.
His résumé also included work on Coogan’s Bluff (1968) — that kicked off his long association with Eastwood and director Don Siegel — Kelly’s Heroes (1970), Charley Varrick (1973), The Eagle Has Landed (1976) Telefon (1977), The Nude Bomb (1980), Black Moon Rising (1986), Money Talks (1997), Something to Believe In (1998), Tango (1998), Bringing Down the House (2003) and The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004).
MS ‘Shoulder Thing That Goes Up’ passes from the scene. It only took 12 years for the lung cancer to finally do her in.
Jim once said something about only saying good things about the dead.
As he put it: Good, she’s dead.
Professional hunter and TV personality Phil Robertson, best known for his role on the series “Duck Dynasty,” has died. He was 79.
In an emotional May 25 Instagram post, Robertson’s son, Willie Robertson, and daughter-in-law, Korie Robertson, confirmed Phil died after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
“We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” the couple wrote. “He reminded us often of the words of Paul, ‘You do not grieve like those who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
The rifle and pistol range in Heaven has added a new member.
John August Taffin, author, originator and Chairman Emeritus of The Shootists, and good friend has passed, aged 85, from this mortal coil and crossed the river on March 10th, after a long illness.
His presence here on Earth will be missed
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, have been found dead at their home, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office says.
In an interview with Santa Fe New Mexican, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said there was no indication of foul play and their dog had also died.
He said Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63 and a classical pianist, were found dead on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday AEDT) at their home in Santa Fe Summit north-east of the New Mexican city.
Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Avila said deputies responded to a request to do a welfare check at the home on Wednesday about 1.45pm and found the bodies.
Mendoza did not provide a cause of death for the actor, one of the industry’s most respected and honored performers, or Arakawa, his wife of more than 30 years.
Sergeant Major Anders Johansson proudly served his country for over two decades, enlisting as an infantryman in 2003. His unwavering dedication to duty saw him rise through the ranks within 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant and then within the United States Army Special Operations Command, where he held numerous leadership positions.
His bravery and commitment were recognized with numerous awards and badges, including a Silver Star, a Purple Heart, eight Bronze Stars, and was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit. Sergeant Major Johansson bravely deployed on multiple occasions in support of combat operations during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Operation NEW DAWN, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
Beyond his military service, Sergeant Major Johansson was married to his loving wife, Sarah. Together, they built a beautiful life filled with laughter and love. They were blessed with four children: Anders, Gunnar, Arete and Eowyn who will forever cherish their father’s memory.
Sergeant Major Johansson will be remembered for his strength, courage, and unwavering devotion to his family and country. His legacy of service and sacrifice will continue to inspire generations to come.
Everyone seems to wonder about Carter, when he was just another politician, though one with the narcissistic mile-wide-and-deep ego needed to want to be POTUS.
The public appearance last fall of a senile Jimmy Carter was one of the worst cases of public elder abuse I’ve ever seen. It was ghoulish of his family to wheel him out in such an undignified condition in service of a political stunt on behalf of the Democratic Party, even if Carter wanted to bask in the glow of knowing that soon he would no longer be regarded as America’s worst modern president after Joe Biden’s ignominious end.
I generally disdain speaking ill of the recently departed, and there are some aspects of real genius to the Carter story, especially his insight into how an obscure figure could rise fast and win the presidency out of the ashes of Watergate in 1976. And we can expect a flood of encomiums in the days ahead about how Carter was an unappreciated president, and above all that he was America’s greatest ex-president.
In fact this story line has been taking shape for at least 25 years now. As disastrous as his presidency was, many Americans came to have a warm spot in their heart for Carter, sympathizing with his intentions, admiring his good works such as Habitat for Humanity, fighting to eradicate horrible diseases in the Third World, and hopeful about his globetrotting efforts on behalf of peace. People magazine, which Carter criticized during his presidency for its focus on self-absorbed celebrity, wrote about him 20 years ago: “Almost everyone agrees that Jimmy Carter was not our best President, but as former Presidents go, he’s tops,” while Time magazine wrote that Carter is the “consensus best ex-President.” Carter’s former chief of staff Jack Watson remarked effusively that Carter is “the only man in American history who used the United States presidency as a stepping-stone to greatness.” Howard Baker said in the 1980s that “history will be kind to Jimmy Carter.”
I’ll leave to another time evaluating both his presidency and ex-presidency, and for the moment reflect merely on how Carter’s character and capacities were both underestimated and overestimated from the very beginning and continuing to this day.
Burt, the Saltwater crocodile many may recognize from the 1986 comedy Crocodile Dundee, has reportedly passed away. The crocodile was estimated to be over 80 years old.
His passing was announced in a statement from the Australian herpetarium and aquarium Crocosaurus Cove, which noted that Burt “passed away peacefully over the weekend.”
The statement notes Burt was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and came to Crocosaurus Cove in 2008, where he lived until his final days.
“Known for his independent nature,” the statement notes. “Burt was a confirmed bachelor—an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm. His fiery temperament earned him the respect of his caretakers and visitors alike, as he embodied the raw and untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile.”
The statement continues, “Burt was truly one of a kind. He wasn’t just a crocodile; he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved.”
While this is tragic news, Burt should not be confused with comedy legend Paul Hogan, who wrote and starred in Crocodile Dundee as the titular character, Mick “Crocodile” Dundee.
Photo: Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection
Is Paul Hogan Still Alive?
Hogan is very much alive and well! His most recent projects include the 2020 comedy The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, which features Hogan as himself attempting to rehabilitate his career before he gets knighted, as well as a role in the 2018 comedy That’s Not My Dog!
He also reprised his role as Mick ‘Crocodile’ Dundee in the 2018 comedy from Danny McBride, who plays his son Brian Dundee.
A socialist and a gun grabber, I never cared much for his musical ability either, but he was a passable actor.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor, has died.
Kristofferson died at his home on Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland said in an email. He was 88.
McFarland said Kristofferson died peacefully, surrounded by his family. No cause was given.
We at Ed Brown Products are deeply saddened to report that Ed Brown, industry icon and founder of Ed Brown Products, has passed away.
Ed passed away at his home on September 15, 2024, after an intense battle with an aggressive, un-treatable liver cancer.
Ed was born on December 13, 1946, and is survived by his wife, who he married Nov 27, 1965. Next year would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. Ed is also survived by his three children, and six grand-children.
As I recall, the first time I saw James Earl Jones in a film (not counting his uncredited voicing of Darth Vader in “Star Wars”) was in 1997, in the Michael York/Marty Feldman comedy “The Last Remake Of Beau Geste,” in which Jones played “the Shiek.” Later, on a television Saturday matinee, I saw him as a young United States Air Force Lieutenant Lothar Zogg in “Doctor Strangelove.”
Now, James Earl Jones is gone, having died in his New York home. He was 93.
James Earl Jones,the revered actor who voicedStar Wars villain Darth Vader, starred inField of Dreamsand many other films and Broadway shows and is an EGOT winner, died this morning at his home in Dutchess County, NY. He was 93.
His reps at Independent Artist Group confirmed the news to Deadline.
Widely regarded as among the world’s great stage and screen actors Jones is one of the few entertainers to have won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), though his Academy Award was Honorary. Jones has received two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy, a spoken-word Grammy Award in 1977 and three Tony Awards.
James Earl Jones’ range was as great as his voice was deep and magnificent. He played such different roles as Thulsa Doom in the original film adaptation of “Conan the Barbarian,” Admiral Greer in “Patriot Games” and several other adaptations of Tom Clancy’s work, as well as lending his legendary voice to a variety of features from Disney’s “The Lion King” to narrations of dozens of documentaries and other productions.
Jones’ honors and awards were as varied as the roles he played.
He was nominated for a Lead Actor Oscar for his role in The Great White Hope (1971) and was given an honorary Oscar at the 2012 ceremony. An eight-time Emmy nominee, his two wins both came in 1991: Lead Actor in a Drama series for Gabriel’s Fire and Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for Heat Wave.
Jones also was a 2002 Kennedy Center Honoree and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from SAG-AFTRA in 2009 and by the National Board of Review in 1995.
Also a commanding presence on the Broadway stage, Jones earned four competitive Tony Award nominations for Best Actor in a Play, winning twice for his performances as Jack Jefferson in The Great White Hope in 1969 and as Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Fences in 1987. He received a Special Tony Award at 2017 ceremony.
Hollywood is a bit messed up these days, but James Earl Jones was an example of what an entertainer could be: Talented, focused, and dedicated to his craft. The world of show business is now a poorer place for his passing.
If to mark the event, you want to see one of Mr. Jones’ lesser-known works that is nonetheless wonderful and touching, seek out the 1996 film “A Family Thing,” in which Robert Duvall co-stars as James Earl Jones’ brother. Yes, really. It’s a heartwarming piece about how people from different backgrounds can learn to see each other as family – a lesson we could all use as a reminder today.
Paul Harrell, a renowned gun rights activist and firearms expert with over a million YouTube subscribers, has passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. The news was shared by fellow YouTuber Tom Grieve, who posted on X, “I just learned and was given permission to share that Paul has passed. A true lion of men, a paragon of integrity, the gun dad of the internet, and a role model for us all. May he continue inspire and call us to be better and do more. Rest in peace.”
The announcement came shortly after Harrell’s brother released a video indicating that his time was running short. Following his passing, fans and followers took to social media to honor his legacy.
“RIP Paul! This is a loss for not only his loved ones, but an entire community, that will be felt for a long time. Let’s ordain him the Patron Saint of something,” one person wrote on X.
Another wrote, “Paul Harrell passed away today. He fought hard, and he’s finally at peace. A lot of you have never seen his videos, but Paul, even as his page grew, never developed an ego or changed. He was always willing to help anyone and did so because he loved it. He was the gun dad for many who didn’t have anywhere to get advice from. Rest in peace, Paul, and may God welcome you in open arms.”
A third person expressed, “A GunTube legend passed away today. Paul Harrell will live on forever for his contributions to our nation and to the 2A community. Rest in peace Paul. You will be missed but never forgotten.”
Another person wrote, “I will always miss Paul Harrell. He had the greatest knowledge and experiences when it came to firearms and hunting, and he lived a legendary life being involved in several shootings. The man had influenced my purchases even his video made me buy a Beretta 92. RIP Paul God bless.”
In July 2023, Harrell announced his diagnosis of Stage 2 pancreatic cancer and said he would be around “for a long time.”
Bob Newhart, the beloved stand-up performer whose droll, deadpan humor showcased on two critically acclaimed CBS sitcoms vaulted him into the ranks of history’s greatest comedians, died Thursday morning. He was 94.
The Chicago legend, who won Grammy Awards for album of the year and best new artist for his 1960 breakthrough record, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, died at his Los Angeles home after a series of short illnesses, his longtime publicist, Jerry Digney, announced.
The former accountant famously went without an Emmy Award until 2013, when he finally was given one for guest-starring as Arthur Jeffries (alias Professor Proton, former host of a children’s science show) on CBS’ The Big Bang Theory…..
Mark Hampton, world-famous handgun hunter, author of the Handgun Hunting column in American Handgunner and an old friend of mine, passed away suddenly while on his latest African big game hunt. Details are limited right now, but it seems Mark passed away on day two of the hunt from natural causes, doing what he loved to do most — hunt!
I’ve known Mark for 25 years and brought him aboard to write his iconic column in Handgunner to replace J.D. Jones — tough shoes to fill! Mark’s modest demeanor and easy story-telling prose often hid the fact he was likely the world’s number one handgun hunter. Mark hunted on every continent, taking hundreds of game animals of every type with many landing in world record books. He hunted in Africa almost 30 times, and his tales of hunts around the world and the guns he used graced the pages of American Handgunner and GUNS for almost two decades. Yet, when my wife and I hunted with Mark and his wife, Karen, on their farm in Missouri, he was always a pure gentleman, caring and humble about his many talents and experiences.
Mark also wrote several books on handgun hunting and hundreds of articles in publications across the industry. His legacy of knowledge, consideration, thoughtful help and sincere desire to help new hunters learn the ropes will be missed by all who knew him.
Our hearts go out to his wife, Karen and to the family members.
