RIP Jody Baker

 

Joby Baker, Gidget and Girl Happy Actor, Dies at 92

The actor and painter died of natural causes on June 22, according to his family and friends

People

By Kimberlee Speakman

July 4, 2026

 

Joby Baker, an actor in Gidget and Girl Happy, had died. He was 92.

Baker died of natural causes on June 22, his family announced to Deadline on Saturday, July 4.

The actor and artist died at a hospital in Yonkers N.Y., his granddaughter Sofia Silverman told The Hollywood Reporter.

Friends also mourned Baker’s death on Facebook. One friend wrote, “RIP my dear friend,” while another friend said, “Joby was one of my best friends and a great guy. We had a lot of fun together. Time to rest now.”

PEOPLE reached out to Baker’s family for comment on July 4 but did not receive an immediate response.

Baker — born on March 26, 1934, in Montreal, Québec, Canada — had lived most of his early life in Oahu, Hawaii, before attending school in New York City. He eventually found himself in Los Angeles and in the entertainment world.

He kicked off his acting career with small roles in The Red Skelton Hour, Studio One, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.

He eventually won the role of Stinky in 1959’s Gidget starring Sandra Dee, which would become one of his best-known roles. He returned in the film’s sequels Gidget Goes Hawaiian in 1961 and Gidget Goes to Rome in 1963.

The actor was also known for his comedic roles, including as Wilbur in 1965’s Girl Happy, which starred Elvis Presley.

Baker then starred in a line of Disney films including 1967’s The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, 1968’s Blackbeard’s Ghost and 1973’s Superdad, which also starred Bob Crane and Kurt Russell.

Baker also had a role in the sitcom Good Morning World — in which he starred in 26 episodes from 1967 to 1968. He also made appearances in a long list of shows including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Combat!, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Police Story, among others.

However, he was also known for his stint on Quincy M.E., where he played several roles over the course of the show’s eight seasons from 1977 to 1982. It was one of the last series he starred in before he transitioned to becoming an artist.

He would go on to make a few more appearances, in 1982’s McClain’s Law, 1983’s Tucker’s Witch and 1984’s TV adaptation of The Paper Chase, before saying goodbye to the screen at the age of 50.

After his TV and movie career, he established himself as a painter, sculptor and jewelry artisan. Some of his works included a sculpture of a black dog and paintings, which appeared to be inspired by his wife and singer-songwriter Dory Previn, according to Mutual Art. He also created figure drawings with a mix of different color palettes.

In his personal life, Baker married Previn and the two left Los Angeles and settled into a farmhouse in Southfield, Mass., according to Deadline. The pair lived there together until Previn died in 2012. Baker is survived by his daughters, Fredricka Baker and Michelle Wayland, his son Scott Zimmerman and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

BAKER, Jody (Joseph N. Baker)

Born: 3/26/1934, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Died: 6/22/2026, Yonkers, New York, U.S.A.

 

Jody Baker’s westerns – actor:

Wagon Train (TV) - 1961 (Nathan May)

Frontier Circus (TV) - 1962 (George Washington Jukes)

Gunsmoke (TV) - 1962 (Ky)

The Loner (TV) -1965 (Billy Ford)

F Troop (TV) - 1966 (Mario Maracucci)

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin – 1967 (bandido leader)

Death Valley Days (TV) – 1967 (Dr. William Davis)

 

RIP Santiago Rios

 

Actor Santiago Ríos passed away

Asociación Argentina de Actores y Actrices

July 1, 2026

 

We say goodbye to the actor, director, playwright and teacher Santiago Ríos, who developed an extensive and solid career in theater, film and television. We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends and loved ones, accompanying them in this painful moment.

He was born in Paraná, province of Entre Ríos, on October 15, 1955. He died on July 1, 2026. He had been affiliated with the Argentine Association of Actors since 1995. He trained with Juan Carlos Gené and Pablo Cordonet, among other outstanding teachers, and complemented his artistic work with a sustained work as a theater teacher.

On television and platforms he was part of the casts of Tumberos, ATAV – Argentina, tierra de amor y venganza, Son amores, Disputas, Costumbres argentinas, Culpable de este amor, Los Roldán, La Niñera, Los simuladores, Panadería Los Felipe, El show de Videomatch, Los machos, Amor en custodia, Un cortado... Coffee Stories, Who's the Boss, Gladiators of Pompeii, Married with Children, Palermo Hollywood, Housewife, Almost Angels, My Love, Ugly Duckling, Cha Cha Cha, Lalola, The Successful Pells, The Successful Perez, Blind to Dating, Peter Punk, Mr. and Mrs. Beds, Graduates, Sandro from America, I Want to Live by Your Side, 100 Days to Fall in Love and The Best Heart Attack of My Life, among other productions.

His theatrical work was equally prolific. He performed in some of the main venues of the official, commercial and independent circuit, under the direction of renowned creators such as Rubén Szuchmacher, Pompeyo Audivert, Norman Briski, Agustín Alezzo and José María Muscari. He was part of the casts of Los Locos Addams, No hay que llorar, Sinvergüenzas, Rey Lear, Stefano, Manzana podrida, Marat-Sade, Diario de un loco, La farsa de los ausentes, Gente educada, Filomena Marturano, Extraña pareja and Dice mamá que basta, among many other works that gave an account of the breadth of his artistic career.

In cinema he participated in the films 1978, Tiro de gracia, Amor a mares, La boleta, El abismo... we're still there, Lucky Luke, A Brilliant Son, The Fury and Enlightened Heart, among others.

RIOS, Santiago

Born: 10/15/1955, Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina

Died: 7/1/2026, Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

Santiago Rios’ western – actor:

Lucky Luke – 2009 (Hatter desperado)

RIP Sherry Monahan

 

Bryan Lee Funeral Home

July 1, 2026

 

Sherry Monahan obituary

Sherry Ann Teeter Monahan, beloved wife, daughter, sister, and friend, passed from this life on June 28, 2026, surrounded by love. Born on December 30, 1962, in Rantoul, Illinois, Sherry was the cherished daughter of John Philip Teeter and Marilyn Teeter. She grew up in Burlington, New Jersey, alongside her younger sister, Susan Eve Teeter Cunningham, forming bonds that remained strong throughout her life.

Sherry met the love of her life, Lawrence Monahan, in 1978 while beginning her first career as a model. They married in 1985 at Holy Name Catholic Church in Delran, New Jersey, and soon after made North Carolina their home.

A woman of curiosity, creativity, and determination, Sherry explored many professional paths—modeling, retail, finance, and genealogy—before discovering her true calling as an author and culinary historian. Blending her passions for food, history, and travel, she authored 18 published books, many of them award‑winning, including multiple Will Rogers Gold Medallion Awards. She was an active member of several professional organizations and proudly served as a past president of the Western Writers of America.

Sherry’s presence was a gift. Compassionate, patient, and endlessly optimistic, she inspired everyone she met. She listened deeply, supported wholeheartedly, and offered advice with wisdom and kindness. Her radiant smile and magnetic personality—full of charm, wit, and intelligence—made every room brighter and every friendship lasting.

Sherry is survived by her devoted husband, Lawrence Monahan; her mother, Marilyn Teeter; her sister Susan Cunningham and husband Dennis; her sister‑in‑law Natalie Monahan Baltra; her brothers‑in‑law William Monahan (and wife Noreen) and Michael Monahan (and wife Denise); many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cat, Allie. She was preceded in death by her father, John Philip Teeter.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the NC Wake County Animal Rescue and Adoptions Center, honoring Sherry’s lifelong love of animals.

MONAHAN, Sherry (Sherry Ann Teeter)

Born: 12/30/1962, Rantoul, Illinois, U.S.A.

Died: 6/28/2026, Garner, North Carolina, U.S.A

 

Sherry Monahan – author, actress:

Taste of Tombstone – 1998 [author]

Pikes Peak: Adventurers, Communities and Lifestyles – 2002 [author]

Wild West Tech (TV) – 2004 [self]

The Wicked West: Boozers, Cruisers, Gamblers, and More – 2005 [author]

Tombstone's Treasure: Silver Mines and Golden Saloons – 2007 [author]

Cowboys & Outlaws (TV) – 2009 [self]

Mrs. Earp: Wives and Lovers of the Earp Brothers – 2013 [author]

Frontier Fare – 2014 [author]

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Tombstone: 30 Sites Not to Miss – 2014 [author]

The Cowboy's Cookbook: Recipes and Tales from Campfires, Cookouts and Chuck Wagons – 2015 [author]

Gunslingers (TV) – 2015 [self]

Legends & Lies (TV) – 2015 [self]

The Golden Elixir of the West: Whiskey and the Shaping of America – 2017 [author]

Tinsel, Tumbleweeds, and Star-Spangled Celebrations: Holidays on the Frontier from New Years to Christmas – 2017 [author]

California Madams - 2019 [author]

Tombstone Cookbook: Recipes and Lore from the Town Too Tough to Die – 2022 [author]

Former TNA Star Joe Doering Has Passed Away After Entering Hospice Treatment

 

Wrestling Inc.

By Brie Coder

June 26, 2026

 

Former All Japan Pro-Wrestling and TNA star Joe Doering has passed away.

On Friday morning, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling announced the unfortunate news via X, stating, "At 9:13 a.m. today, June 26, our brother Joe Doering passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. Though his time on this earth lasted only 44 years, Joe packed a thousand years' worth of living into every one of them. Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Lindsay, his family, and leaves behind countless friends and devoted fans around the world who will forever remember his strength, courage, and spirit. Rest in peace, Joe. You will never be forgotten."

Simply known as "Big," Doering's capabilities in the ring were monstrous in all the best ways possible. The Chicago-born wrestler began his pro wrestling career in 2004, training at Can-Am Wrestling School/Total Nonstop Action Wrestling School. His beastly 6'8" presence made him a must-see spectacle to many fans across the globe. His first big break came in AJPW (from 2007-2010 and his return from 2010-2019), where he was the company's former two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight and four-time World Tag Team Champion.

His accomplishments didn't stop there. Later, he would join Eric Young in TNA as part of the brutal administrators known as Violent By Design. Their mission from 2020 through 2022 was all about "curing the wrestling world of its sickness." During his second tenure there, he carried the former Impact World Tag Team Championship twice.

Doering was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in February 2016 and underwent surgery to remove it a month later. Six years later in 2022, the disease returned. After undergoing his second surgery, he developed ataxia (a rare neurological disease that affects coordination, speech, and motor skills). In November of last year, his sister-in-law announced that he was diagnosed with a third brain tumor. He had entered hospice care just three days ago.

From all of us here at Wrestling Inc., we send our deepest condolences to Doering's family, friends, and fans.

DOERING, Joe (Joseph Doering)

Born: 4/16/1982, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Died: 6/26/2026, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.

 

Joe Doering’s western – actor:

Big Money Rustlas – 2010 (cowboy)

RIP Ellen Weston

 

Ellen Weston, Actress from The Young and the Restless and Get Smart, Dies at 87

Ellen Weston died on May 28 in Los Angeles, her manager confirmed

People

By Julia Moore

June 26, 2026

 

Soap opera actress Ellen Weston has died.

Weston's friend and manager, Susan Zachary, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the actress died on May 28 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 87.

The actress was best known for her role in The Young and the Restless. She played Suzanne Thurston, ex-wife of conman Derek Thurston (Joe DiSazio) from 1979 to 1981.

Her earliest role was as Robin Fletcher in Guiding Light, in which she starred from 1963 to 1964, before she joined Another World. She also played Dr. Steele in Get Smart.

In a statement shared with THR, Weston was described by her friends as "beyond a loyal friend — she was a fierce advocate for every single one of us."

“She was our consigliere dispensing advice, wisdom, compassion and care in equal measure — especially when we most needed an ear, a shoulder and a true confidante," the statement said.

“She took excellent care of herself, always tastefully put together with gorgeous outfits, the perfect makeup and more. Up until the very end, she was still dancing and taking new classes," the statement continued. "The latest was a pottery class taught by a dear friend that ended a month before her passing.”

Later in her career, Weston worked behind the camera as a writer and producer. Among the most notable projects she worked on was 1999's And the Beat Goes On: The Sonny and Cher Story, and she returned to Guiding Light as a writer in 2003.

Weston is survived by her son, Jon Weston.

WESTON, Ellen (Ellen R. Weinstein)

Born: 4/19/1939, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 5/28/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Ellen Weston’s western – actress:

Bonanza (TV) – 1969 (Louise)

RIP Kadir Inanir

 

Veteran Turkish actor Kadir Inanir dies at 77

Turkiye Today

June 26, 2026

 

Veteran Turkish actor Kadir Inanir died at the age of 77 on Friday after undergoing treatment at a hospital in Istanbul for pneumonia-related respiratory complications.

Inanir was admitted to the hospital after developing breathing problems, but his condition later worsened despite treatment, according to the Turkish media.

A memorial ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. local time (GMT+3) at the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM) in Istanbul before funeral prayers are held at the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa Mosque in the city.

One of Turkish cinema's giants

Born in 1949, Inanir spent more than five decades on screen, becoming one of the defining figures of Turkish cinema with a filmography spanning nearly 200 productions. His best-known works included Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalim (The Girl with the Red Scarf), widely regarded as one of the classics of Turkish cinema.

His performances earned multiple Best Actor honors, including awards for Utanc (Shame) (1973) at the 5th Golden Boll Film Festival, Yilanlarin Ocu (Revenge of the Snakes) (1985) at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, and Medcezir Manzaralari (Ebb Tide Views) at the 3rd Ankara Film Festival.

He also received lifetime achievement honors from the 40th SIYAD Turkish Cinema Awards and the 37th Antalya Film Festival.

Inanir remained active well into his career, making his final film appearance in Kapi (The Door) in 2019.

Tributes pour in

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy paid tribute to Inanir, praising his contribution to Turkish cinema and extending condolences to his family, loved ones and the arts community.

"I learned with great sorrow of the death of Kadir Inanir, one of the master actors of Turkish cinema. I pray to God for mercy upon Mr. Kadir Inanir and extend my condolences to his family, relatives, loved ones and our entire arts community," Erdogan wrote on social media.

Yilmaz described Inanir as "one of the unforgettable names of Turkish cinema," saying the actor left a lasting mark on society through "his art, his stance and his works."

Ersoy remembered Inanir as "a legend" whose performances in films including Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalim, Tatar Ramazan, Yilanlarin Ocu, Kara Gozlum, Bitirim Kardesler and Dila Hanim would continue to live on in the memories of audiences. "We will not forget you," he wrote.

INANIR, Kadir

Born: 4/15/1949, Fatsa, Ordu, Turkey

Died: 6/26/2026, Istanbul, Turkey

 

Kadir Inanir’s western – actor:

Vur - 1972

RIP Ann Blyth

 

Ann Blyth, the Evil Daughter in ‘Mildred Pierce,’ Dies at 98

The Oscar-nominated actress also starred in 'The Helen Morgan Story' and sang in such films as 'The Great Caruso' and 'Kismet.'

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

June 25, 2026

 

Ann Blyth, the petite actress and singer who earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Joan Crawford’s demon daughter, Veda, in the classic 1945 melodrama Mildred Pierce, has died. She was 98.

Blyth died Wednesday of natural causes, KABC’s George Pennacchio reported.

An operatic soprano, Blyth introduced the classic song “The Loveliest Night of the Year” when she played the wife of Enrico Caruso (Mario Lanza) in The Great Caruso (1951) and starred in three other MGM musicals: Rose Marie (1954), The Student Prince (1954) and Vincente Minnelli’s Kismet (1955).

Blyth also portrayed Burt Lancaster’s wife in the gritty prison drama Brute Force (1947) and was an attractive creature from the sea brought home by William Powell in the fantasy Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948).

After she departed MGM and hooked on with Warner Bros., she starred in two 1957 biopics: Sidney Sheldon’s The Buster Keaton Story, also starring her former teenage dancing partner, Donald O’Connor, and The Helen Morgan Story (1957), in which she played the alcoholic 1930s torch singer opposite Paul Newman.

On loan from Universal, where she played innocent teens in small roles, Blyth, then 16, landed the part of the spoiled Veda opposite Crawford, who had just left MGM with her career in disarray. Hundreds of teenagers had auditioned, but Crawford saw something in Blyth and helped her get the role by appearing opposite her in her screen test.

“I knew that other people wanted the part as well but I was the lucky one because Joan Crawford did the test with me, and it made a world of difference,” she told THR’s Scott Feinberg in 2013. “People just didn’t do that, not people of her stature.”

Crawford’s instincts were correct; for playing the self-sacrificing mother, she won the best actress Oscar (missing the ceremony but famously accepting the trophy at home in bed in her pajamas), and Blyth was nominated for best supporting actress.

Blythe excelled as the beautiful brat who will do anything — even commit murder — for money.

“This Blyth child is exquisite in her understanding of one of the most difficult roles ever written,” The Hollywood Reporter wrote in its review. “Only the undeniable genius that has made Joan Crawford the great popular star she long since became enables her to keep Ann Blyth from running off with the film.”

Five days after wrapping Mildred Pierce, Blyth broke her back in a sledding mishap near Lake Arrowhead, California.

“One minute we were sailing down the hard-packed icy hillside like snowbirds, then there was a crash and I fell on my back with a sickening thud,” she wrote in a 1954 storyheadlined “My Career Took a Toboggan Ride.” “I didn’t cry out. The feeling was too big for that.”

The 5-foot-2 Blyth spent seven months in body cast and several more confined to a wheelchair. She did manage to attend the 1946 Oscars, wearing a studio-designed gown that fit over her back brace.

In the 1970s, Blyth became known to a new generation of TV viewers when she appeared as a mom in a series of commercials for Hostess Cupcakes, pitching Twinkies, Crumb Cakes and Ding Dongs.

Anne Marie Blythe (she shortened her first and last names after coming to Hollywood) was born Aug. 16, 1927, in Mount Kisco, New York, and raised on the Lower East Side on Manhattan. Her father left the family, leaving her mother to raise her and her older sister.

Blyth sang and recited poetry on radio shows starting at age 6 and performed with the San Carlos Opera Company. In the principal’s office at school, she was approached by writer Lillian Hellman and producer-director Herman Shumlin to read for a part in the anti-Nazi Broadway drama Watch on the Rhine. She won the role as Paul Lukas’ daughter in a 1941-42 production, turning 13 during the run.

After Watch on the Rhine closed on Broadway after almost 400 performances, she toured around the country with the play and joined other castmembers for dinner at the White House with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1943, Blyth was signed by Universal in part to provide competition for their chronically dissatisfied resident soprano, Deanna Durbin, and she quickly was cast in four musicals released in 1944: Chip Off the Old Block, Babes on Swing Street, The Merry Monahans and Bowery to Broadway (three of those with O’Connor).

Michael Curtiz’s Mildred Pierce, based on a 1941 novel by James M. Cain, came next, and after her back mended, she played another brat in Swell Guy (1946). A few years later, she refused to play another bad girl in the film Abandoned and was put on unpaid suspension.

Blyth also appeared in such films as Killer McCoy (1947), Another Part of the Forest (1948), Top O’ the Morning (1949), Once More, My Darling (1949), The Golden Horde (1951), I’ll Never Forget You (1951), One Minute to Zero (1952), The World in His Arms (1952), All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953), The King’s Thief (1955) and Slander (1957).

Curtiz’s The Helen Morgan Story was her last feature — she quit the movies even though she was considered for the lead in The Three Faces of Eve (1957), for which Joanne Woodward won the best actress Oscar.

However, she had a nightclub act in Las Vegas, appeared in local theater and appeared on such TV shows as Wagon Train, The Twilight Zone (as a Hollywood star who doesn’t age), The Name of the Game, Quincy M.E. and Murder, She Wrote.

In 1953, Blyth wed Los Angeles obstetrician James McNulty, the brother of singer Dennis Day. They had five children, Timothy, Maureen, Kathleen, Terence and Eileen, and were together until his 2007 death at age 89.

BLYTH, Ann (Ann Marie Blyth)

Born: 8/16/1928, Mount Kisco, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 6/24/2026,

 

Ann Blyth’s westerns – actress:

Red Canyon – 1949 (Lucy Bostel)

Rose Marie – 1954 (Rose Marie Lemaitre)

Wagon Train (TV) – 1959-1963 (Clementine Jones, Eve Newhope, Nancy Winters Jenny, Phoebe Tannen, Martha Barham)