RIP Robert Hinkle

 

Robert Hinkle, Who Taught Rock Hudson and Paul Newman to Talk Like a Texan, Dies at 95 

After working as a dialogue coach on ‘Giant’ and ‘Hud,’ the actor and stunt performer managed the careers of Chill Wills and Marty Robbins and directed and produced films, too. 

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

March 30, 2026

 

Robert Hinkle, a onetime rodeo performer from Texas who served as a stunt performer and dialogue coach on the acclaimed films Giant and Hud and wrote, directed and produced a Western of his own, has died. He was 95.

Hinkle died March 3 in hospice care in Austin after suffering head, back and neck injuries in a fall in his driveway five days earlier, his daughter, Melody Hinkle, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Hinkle also showed up in The Far Horizons (1955), starring Fred MacMurray and Charlton Heston as the explorers Lewis & Clark; in The Conqueror (1956), with John Wayne as Genghis Khan; and in The First Texan (1956), starring Joel McCrea as Sam Houston.

Away from the camera, he was the personal manager for actor Chill Wills and singer Marty Robbins and a promoter for daredevil Evel Knievel.

After Hinkle had briefly interviewed with George Stevens for a part in Giant (1956), the director asked him to return to his Warner Bros. office in Burbank the next day. Instead of offering him a role, Stevens asked him, “Do you think you could teach Rock Hudson to talk like you?” Hinkle recalled in his 2009 book, Call Me Lucky: A Texan in Hollywood.

For $500 a week, Hinkle got an office on the lot and worked as a dialogue coach on the sprawling film, also advising James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Mercedes McCambridge, Carroll Baker and Dennis Hopper on how to talk like a Texan. He got to be friends with the moody Dean, taught him rope tricks and handled some uncredited stunt work as well.

“Texans don’t just say the words, they linger over them like they’re old friends, worthy of a cup of coffee,” he wrote in his book. “It’s the journey, not the destination, that’s important in a conversation.”

Hinkle also worked with Newman, Patricia Neal, Melvyn Douglas and others on Martin Ritt’s Hud (1963) and directed the scene in which Newman’s character corrals a greased pig.

In between those classics, he wrote, helmed, produced and portrayed a sheriff in the Texas-shot Ole Rex (1961), which revolves around a boy (Billy E. Hughes) who rescues a wounded dog and nurses him back to health.

The oldest of three kids, Hinkle was born on July 25, 1930, in Brownfield, Texas. His father, Wesley, worked in a chemical plant, and his mother, Hattie, ran a local hotel. He said he was 10 when he knew he wanted to be a movie cowboy — that’s when silent-film star Tom Mix visited his hometown.

After graduating from Brownfield High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and helped deliver supplies in the Berlin Airlift during his 2 1/2-year stint in the military through March 1950.

He competed in rodeos while still in the service and was riding in Pendleton, Oregon, when Universal’s Bronco Buster (1952), starring John Lund, Scott Brady and Wills, arrived to film scenes. He was hired to play a cowhand and perform stunts, and afterward, director Budd Boetticher told him to look him up if he were ever in Hollywood.

A month later, Hinkle came to Los Angeles, sneaked on the lot at Republic Pictures and bumped into Wills. The actor brought him to Boetticher, who put him in the 3-D movie Wings of the Hawk (1953).

Hinkle wound up doing stunts and/or acting in other films including All American (1953), The Bamboo Prison (1954), Outlaw Treasure (1955), Andrew V. McLaglen’s Gun the Man Down (1956), The Oklahoman (1957), Under Fire (1957), No Place to Land (1958), All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960) and The Broken Land (1962).

He also appeared on TV on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, The Sheriff of Cochise, Gunsmoke, Tombstone Territory, Tales of Wells Fargo, Dragnet and, for his final credit, a 1994 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.

Starting in 1963, Hinkle wrote, directed and produced two-reel shorts for Paramount and a year later shepherded a series of Hollywood Jubilee country music specials.

He also produced for the big screen Country Music (1972), featuring Robbins; produced and directed Atoka (1982), which saw Robbins, Willie Nelson, Larry Gatlin, Freddy Fender, Hoyt Axton and others performing at a country music festival in Oklahoma; and produced Guns of a Stranger (1973), starring Robbins and Wills.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include his son, Brad; daughter-in-law Marlinda; granddaughters Jennifer and Kim; and great-grandchildren Brady and Taylor. Another son, Michael, a Vietnam veteran, died in 1991.

While competing in 1950 as a calf-roper and bulldogger in Moses Lake, Washington, Hinkle met his future wife, Sandra, then the Queen of the Rodeo. They married in June 1952 and were together for 73 years until her death in July.

His family will put his ashes to rest on June 6 in Brownfield.

HINKLE, Robert (Robert Daryl Hinkle)

Born: 7/25/1930, Brownfield, Texas, U.S.A.

Died: 3/3/2026, Round Rock, Texas, U.S.A.

 

Robert Hinkle’s westerns – producer, director, writer, stuntman, actor:

Bronco Buster – 1952 (Bob) [stunts]

The Far Horizons – 1955 (Jake)

Outlaw Treasure – 1955 (Frank James)

Dakota Incident – 1956 (Joe)

Giant – 1956 [stunts]

The First Texan – 1956 (Lieutenant Hargrove)

The First Traveling Saleslady – 1956 (Pete)

Gun the Man Down – 1956 (deputy)

The Badge of Marshal Brennan – 1957 [stunts]

The Oklahoman – 1957 (Ken)

Annie Oakley (TV) - 1957 (Reno)

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – (TV) 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 (cowboy, Don Burkett, rider)

The Sheriff of Cochise (TV) – 1957 (Bronco)

Tombstone Territory (TV) - 1957 (gang member)

Tales of Wells Fargo (TV) – 1958 (Mac)

The Gunfight at Dodge City – 1959 (Rafe)

Ole Rex – 1961 [producer, director, writer]

The Broken Land – 1962 (Dave) [stunts]

Young Guns of Texas – 1962 (Sheriff Simon)

Frontier Circus (TV) – 1962 (Dave)

Gunsmoke (TV) – 1962 (cowboy, rider)

Hud – 1963 (Frank)

The Rounders (TV) – 1966 (cowboy)

Guna of a Stranger – 1973 [producer, director]

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 1994 (judge)

RIP Alex Duong

 

Alex Duong, 'Blue Bloods' Actor, Dies at 42 After Rare Cancer Battle. What He Shared About His Diagnosis

The actor previously spoke to the Los Angeles Times about his diagnosis with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

TODAY

By Chrissy Callahan

March 30, 2026

 

Following a battle with a rare soft tissue cancer, actor Alex Duong has died at the age of 42.

Duong, who appeared in "Blue Bloods," "Sideways for Attention," "Tugged" and several other projects, passed away on March 28, according to a GoFundMe verified by NBC News. He is survived by his wife, Christina, and their 5-year-old daughter, Everest.

NBC News has reached out to a spokesperson for Duong to confirm his death but has yet to hear back.

After Duong was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, the GoFundMe was set up in February 2025 to support his family as he underwent treatment.

Hilarie Steele, the woman who started the crowdfunding page, announced Duong's death in a March 28 update.

"With the heaviest hearts, we share that our dear Alex passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by love and dear friends. He was comfortable and thankfully out of pain. Christina and Everest were able to see him last night, and he was alert enough to say goodbye to his little girl, whom he has treasured every moment since the day she was born," the update reads.

Alex Duong’s Cancer Diagnosis

Duong was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in early 2025, according to an interview with the Los Angeles Times from April that year.

He revealed that he first knew something was wrong with his health when he felt a headache building behind his eyes.

One day when he went to work, Duong's manager told him his left eye looked like it was "about to fall out" and sent him home, the Times reported. When he looked at his eye, the actor noticed that it looked "massive, taut and discolored," per the outlet.

Duong was later diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and learned that he had a malignant mass that was blocking blood flow to his optic nerve.

The actor and his family didn't have health insurance when he was diagnosed. Afterward, he signed up for marketplace insurance and visited the emergency room. Following a week in the hospital, Duong underwent a biopsy and learned that his tumor was very aggressive.

Duong left the hospital with an eye patch and secured an appointment for treatment in two months. Days later, he lost vision in his left eye.

The actor then spent two and a half weeks in the hospital and found a sarcoma specialist. At the time of his interview with the Los Angeles Times, he was undergoing a second round of chemotherapy and white blood cell injections to boost his immune system.

Per the Los Angeles Times, the mass behind Duong's eyeball extended into his nasal cavity and the side of his neck. Over time, the size of the tumor shrunk, but the actor experienced monocular vision.

Over the course of the last year, Duong's GoFundMe page shared several updates on the status of his health — including one from March 27, 2026, explaining that he'd gone into septic shock.

DUONG, Alex

Born: 3/20/1984, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

Died: 3/28/2026, Santa Monica, California, U.S.A

 

Alex Duong’s western – actor:

Finding China – 2015 (Kyle)

RIP Mary Beth Hurt

 

Mary Beth Hurt Dies: ‘The Age of Innocence’ & ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ Actress Was 79 

DEADLINE

By Glenn Garner

March 29, 2026

 

Mary Beth Hurt, the actress known for roles in The Age of Innocence and Six Degrees of Separation, has died. She was 79.

The 3x Tony-nominated actress’ daughter Molly Schrader, whom she shared with husband Paul Schrader, announced that Hurt died on Saturday after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2015.

“Yesterday morning we lost my mom, Mary Beth, to Alzheimer’s after a decade long battle with the disease,” wrote Molly on Instagram. “She was an actress, a wife, a sister, a mother, an aunt, a friend, and she took on all those rolls with grace and a kind ferocity. Although we’re grieving there is some comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering and is reunited with her sisters in peace.”

Born Sept. 25, 1946 in Marshalltown, Iowa, where actress Jean Seberg was her babysitter, Mary Beth Supinger studied acting at University of Iowa and New York University.

Making her stage debut in the 1974 off-Broadway production of Jim Steinman and Michael Weller’s More Than You Deserve, Mary Beth was nominated for three Tony Awards for her performances in Trelawny of the Wells (1975), Crimes of the Heart (1981) and Benefactors (1985-’86).

In 1978, Mary Beth played her first onscreen role as Joey in Woody Allen’s Interiors, starring alongside the late Diane Keaton. She went on to appear in The World According to Garp (1982), The Age of Innocence (1993), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Autumn in New York (2000), The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), The Dead Girl (2006), Lady in the Water (2006) and Young Adult (2011), as well as episodes of Kojak, Thirtysomething, Saturday Night Live and Law & Order.

Mary Beth was married to late actor William Hurt from 1971 to ’82, before marrying Schrader in 1983. She and the Oscar-nominated filmmaker shared daughter Molly and son Sam.

HURT, Mary Beth (Mary Beth Supinger)

Born: 9/25/1946, Marshalltown, Iowa, U.S.A.

Died: 3/28/2026, Manhattan, New York, U.S.A.

 

Mary Beth Hurt’s western – actress:

Royce (TV) – 1976 (Susan Mabry)

RIP Barry Caldwell

 

Barry Caldwell, ‘Animaniacs’ and ‘Osmosis Jones’ Animator, Dies at 68

Variety

By Payton Turkeltaub

March 28, 2026

 

Barry Caldwell, the animator and director behind the cartoon series “Animaniacs” and the film “Osmosis Jones,” has died. He was 68. 

The news of his death was confirmed in a Facebook post shared by his colleague, friend and fellow animator Paul Dini, who was informed of Caldwell’s death by Dan Haskett, an animator and art director.

“Barry Caldwell was one of the first animation artists I met when I started my career fresh out of school way back around 1980. He was also one of the finest artists I ever met, and easily one of the best people. The man’s talent as a cartoonist, designer and director was revered throughout the industry,” wrote Dini, who went on to refer to Caldwell as a “a genial giant of a guy that you liked from the moment you met him” who “knew more about cartoons than you or I ever will (trust me on this), yet he was incredibly generous with his time and his talent.”

He continued: “Barry was admired, celebrated and loved by just about everyone, myself included, for many more reasons than I can list here. Gonna miss you, pally.”

Caldwell’s art career began in 1980 with an episode of “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids,” followed by jobs as a storyboard artist on TV series including “The New Adventures of Zorro,” “Blackstar,” “The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show,” “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” “The Smurfs” and “Alvin & the Chipmunks.” In the 2000s, Caldwell went on to work on beloved series, including “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “Kim Possible,” among others. He also worked on films including 2001’s “Osmosis Jones,” “The Tigger Movie,” “Mulan II” and “Curious George.”

Caldwell was born on June 19, 1957, in New York City, where he attended the School of Visual Arts before working at Warner Bros. Animation, Walt Disney Television Studios and DreamWorks.

CALDWELL, Barry

Born: 6/18/1957, New York City, New YoRk, U.S.A.

Died: 3/28/2026, 

Barry Caldwell’s western – art department:

The New Adventures of Zorro (TV) – 1981 [art department]

RIP James Tolkan

 

James Tolkan, ‘Back to the Future’ and ‘Top Gun’ Actor, Dies at 94

He also appeared in 'Dick Tracy,' three Sidney Lumet movies and on Broadway in the original 'Glengarry Glen Ross.'

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

March 27, 2026

 

James Tolkan, the character actor who expressed a disdain for “slackers” in the Back to the Future trilogy and portrayed Tom Cruise’s no-nonsense commanding officer in Top Gun, has died. He was 94.

Tolkan died Thursday in Saranac Lake, New York, a family spokesperson announced.

Tolkan also played Napoleon and his look-alike in Woody Allen’s Love and Death (1975) and was the crooked accountant known as Numbers who works for Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino) in Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy (1990).

He appeared in three movies directed by Sidney Lumet: as a cop in the Pacino-starring Serpico (1973), as a determined D.A. in Prince of the City (1981) and as a judge in Family Business (1989).

On Broadway, Tolkan portrayed salesman Dave Moss in the original 1984-85 production of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross. (Ed Harris played the character in the 1992 movie adaptation.)

Tolkan, whose specialty was playing intense, intimidating types, was steely as Hill Valley High School principal Mr. Strickland in Back to the Future (1985) and its 1989 sequel, then returned as Strickland’s grandfather in Back to the Future Part III (1990). Pretty much wherever he went, fans asked him to berate them as “slackers” just for fun.

In Top Gun (1986), he was imposing yet again as Tom “Stinger” Jardian when he lights into Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell for reckless behavior.

Tolkan’s big-screen résumé also included The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), The Amityville Horror (1979), Wolfen (1981), WarGames (1983), Masters of the Universe (1987), True Blood (1989) and Opportunity Knocks (1990).

Born on June 20, 1931, in Calumet, Michigan, James Stewart Tolkan cycled through Chicago after his parents divorced and wound up in Tucson, Arizona, where he graduated from Amphitheater High School in 1949. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, he attended Coe College and the University of Iowa, came to New York with $75 in his pocket and studied with Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg at The Actors Studio, where Beatty was a classmate in 1956.

He made his onscreen debut in 1960 on an episode of ABC’s Naked City, and in 1966 he understudied for Robert Duvall before replacing him as bad guy Harry Roat in the original Broadway production of Wait Until Dark, starring Lee Remick. (Alan Arkin was cast as Roat in the 1967 film.)

Later, Tolkan played insurance investigator Norman Keyes on five episodes of NBC’s Remington Steele and several characters over 21 installments of A&E’s A Nero Wolfe Mystery (he directed a couple of episodes as well).

He also guest-starred on Miami Vice, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wonder Years, Leverage and many other shows.

Survivors include his wife, Parmelee, who worked at the American Place Theater as a costumes and scenery painter. They met on the set of the 1971 off-Broadway play Pinkville when he was acting in it and she was a prop girl, and they married that year in Lake Placid.

Donations in his memory can be made to your local animal shelter, animal rescue organization or Humane Society chapter.

TOLKAN, James (James Stewart Tolkan)

Born: 6/20/1931, Calumet, Michigan, U.S.A

Died: 3/26/2026, Saranac Lake, New York, U.S.A.

 

James Tolkan’s westerns – actor:

Back to the Future 3 – 1990 (Marshal Strickland)

Bone Tomahawk – 2015 (pianist)

RIP Marta Lubos

 

Marta Lubos died at the age of 82; the actress stood out in theater, film and television and achieved international projection with the series "Mujeres asesinas".

Excelsior

By: Jessica Zamora

March 27, 2026

 

With a career built over several decades, Marta Lubos managed to move through different formats and audiences, from the theater stages to television, where her presence achieved international recognition.

Argentine actress Marta Lubos has died at the age of 82, after a solid career in theater, film and television. Her work left an important mark on the series Mujeres asesinas, a production that brought her talent to new generations and expanded her reach beyond the theater circuit.

The news was confirmed by the Argentine Association of Actors and Actresses (AAA) through its social networks on the morning of Friday, March 27. In the message, the organization highlighted her artistic legacy and her place within the acting community.

It is with deep regret that we say goodbye to our affiliate, the actress Marta Lubos, who developed an outstanding and extensive career in theater, film and television, consolidating herself as an interpreter of great versatility

Who was Marta Lubos, actress of "Mujeres asesinas"?

Marta Lubos was an Argentine actress with a career spanning several decades, recognized mainly for her work in theater. His training and professional development were closely linked to the stage, where he built a constant and respected presence.

Although she participated in different productions, her name reached greater international projection after her appearance in Mujeres asesinas. The series, based on cases inspired by real events, portrays stories of women taken to extreme situations, which allowed her work to connect with audiences outside Argentina.

This television project represented a meeting point between her stage experience and a wide-ranging audiovisual format. Thanks to this, new generations were able to approach his career.

Within the Argentine cultural sphere, Lubos was considered a relevant figure for her perseverance and commitment to art. His career was characterized by an active participation in the theater, a space where he consolidated his artistic identity.

This is known about his death

The death of Marta Lubos was also announced by her relatives through a statement published on her official Facebook account. In the message, her children shared parting words and details about the last goodbye to the actress.

Her children, Joaquín and Laura, invite all her loved ones to say goodbye to her. She left loved, grateful, full of light and at peace. We appreciate not sending floral offerings,” they said.

Through social networks, Joaquín Segade and Laura Segade reported that the farewell of the actress will take place on Friday, March 27.

What did Marta Lubos die of?

So far, the causes of Marta Lubos' death have not been officially announced. The news generated immediate reactions within the artistic field, where colleagues, institutions and cultural organizations expressed their sorrow.

Although his presence on television and film allowed him to expand his reach, his greatest contribution is in the theater. In that space he developed a career marked by discipline, interpretive sensitivity and commitment to each project.

Marta Lubos' career is part of a generation of performers who consolidated theater as a fundamental space for artistic expression in Argentina. His work contributed to strengthening the local scene and projecting it to other audiences.

Her participation in television productions such as Mujeres asesinas allowed her to build a bridge between the theater and the screen, which expanded the visibility of her career.

The recognition of his work came not only from the public, but also from institutions and colleagues who valued his perseverance over the years. His name remains linked to a significant stage of Argentine cultural development.

LUBOS, Marta (Marta Matilde Lubos)

Born: 8/18/1943, Argentina

Died: 3/27/2026, Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

Marta Lubos’ western – actress:

Gauchito Gil – 2020 (Irandú)

RIP Tony Wickert

 

Martin WICKERT Obituary

Sydney Morning Herald

February 20, 2026

 

WICKERT

Martin Anthony (Tony)

16/1/1937 – 17/2/2026

Died peacefully at home with his loving family around him.

Beloved partner of Rosie and devoted father to Barny, Joe and Guy and their partners. Adoring grandfather to Maxine, Charlotte, Ida and Flo. Fond brother to Judith, Robert and David.

Born in Wollongong, Tony built a life defined by a commitment to the possibilities of education through media.

His legacy lives on through his films and shared memories of his warmth, leadership and integrity.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend a celebration of Tony's life at Mylestom Hall, 18-20 River St, Mylestom NSW,

on Feb 21st from 4pm.

A Sydney event is being planned.

 

WICKERT, Tony (Martin Anthony Wickert)

Born: 1/16/1937, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Died:  2/17/2026, Mylestom, New South Wales, Australia

 

Tony Wickert’s western – actor:

Whiplash (TV) 1960-1961 (Dan Ledward)

RIP Reagan Wilson

 

Facebook

 March 20, 2026

 

Diana Hornig, aka, Reagan Wilson was an American model and actress, who was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for its October 1967 issue, has died at 79.

Wilson was born in Torrance, California, and attended Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Monica. After her parents' divorce, she relocated to Missoula, Montana with her mother, younger brother and sister. She studied journalism at the University of Montana.

Wilson began working as a model after relocating to Los Angeles, California in the late 1960s. She made her film debut in the 1970 horror film Blood Mania with fellow Playmate Vicki Peters, and later appeared in the 1973 film Running with the Devil. Wilson later relocated to New York City, where she did further modeling work, followed by jobs in Paris and London.

In 1968, Wilson appeared at a Men's Day event at the University of Washington in Seattle, which also featured a concert by Phil Ochs. Wilson was criticized for her appearance by feminist organizers, who chanted, "Reagan Wilson, you are an empty vessel" at the event.

In November 1969, a nude photo of Wilson made a trip to the Moon. As a joke, NASA ground staff hid a small nude photo of her (along with fellow playmates Angela Dorian, Cynthia Myers and Leslie Bianchini) inside the schedule of Apollo 12's mission commander, Pete Conrad. A photograph of Pete Conrad in his spacesuit with the Lunar Module in the background can be enlarged to see her picture.

Pete Conrad was the third man to walk on the Moon.

Wilson again posed nude for Playboy for the December 1979 pictorial "Playmates Forever!"

Wilson married Barry Hornig in 1987. The couple owns a textile rug company in Santa Monica, California.

WILSON, Reagan (Reagan Diana Wilson)

Born: 3/6/1947, Torrance, California, U.S.A.

Died: 3/20/2026, Santa Monica, California, U.S.A.

 

Reagan Wilson’s western – actress:

The Big Valley (TV) – 1967 (Jeanette)

RIP Hermann Huppen

 

Comic book artist Hermann Huppen dies in Brussels at 87

The Brussels Times

March 23, 2026

The Belgian comic artist Hermann, born Hermann Huppen in Bévercé (Wallonia), passed away on Sunday at the age of 87 in Brussels, the publishing house Le Lombard confirmed on Monday.

Hermann was a cherished cartoonist, known for series such as Bernard Prince, Comanche, Jeremiah, The Towers of Bois-Maury, Duke, and several standalone works including Cartagena, which will be released on 30 April by Le Lombard.

He had been battling cancer for two years but continued working, completing his final comic, Cartagena, shortly before his death.

Active since the 1960s, Hermann created more than 120 albums spanning genres from westerns and science fiction to medieval sagas and fantasy. His realistic drawing style was often described as cinematic.

The American television series Jeremiah was loosely based on his comic of the same name.

He collaborated on multiple albums with his son, writer Yves H.

In 2016, Hermann received the Grand Prix de la Ville d’Angoulême, the highest honour in the comic world.

HUPPEN, Hermann

Born: 7/17/1938, Bévercé, Belgium

Died: 3/22/2026, Brussels, Belgium

 

Hermann Huppen’s westerns – comic book artist:

Comanche – 1972-1983

Red Dust - 1972

Jeremiah – 1979

Les Dalton – 1980

Wild Bill is Dead - 1999

Duke – 2017

RIP Valerie Perrine

 

'Superman' Star Valerie Perrine

Dead at 82

TMZ

March 23, 2026

 

Valerie Perrine, famous for her work in multiple "Superman" movies, is dead.

The actress died Monday at her home in Los Angeles ... according to her close friend, filmmaker Stacey Souther.

The cause of death is unclear, but Stacey tells us Valerie had been fighting Parkinson's disease and was bedridden for the past decade.

Valerie starred in 1978's "Superman" and 1980's "Superman II" as Eve Teschmacher ... Lex Luthor's personal assistant and love interest. Gene Hackman played Lex in those flicks.

We're told Valerie spent Sunday watching all her old movies ... and that Gene's death last year took a huge toll on her, as they were both very close friends from their time on the "Superman" movies.

Before her "Superman" fame, Valerie starred in 1974's "Lenny" ... and she got a lot of recognition for her acting. She won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress, the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Among Valerie's other Hollywood credits ... "What Women Want," "Silver Skies" and major TV shows like "Third Watch," "Walker, Texas Ranger," "The Practice," "Nash Bridges," "ER" and "Just Shoot Me!"

Valerie's loved ones started a GoFundMe to raise money for her funeral ... saying she wanted to be buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

She was 82.

RIP

PERRINE, Valerie (Valerie Ritchey Perrine)

Born: 9/13/1943, Galveston, Texas, U.S.A.

Died: 3/23/2026, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A.

 

Valerie Perrine’s westerns – actress:

The Electric Horseman – 1979 (Charlotta)

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 1998 (Marge Wyman)

RIP Chuck Norris

 

Chuck Norris dies after being hospitalized in Hawaii

The family of Chuck Norris shared Friday that the legendary martial artist and actor has died.

King5 News

By Hunter Bassler

March 20, 2026

 

KAUAI COUNTY, Hawaii — Legendary actor Chuck Norris has died after he was hospitalized in Hawaii following a reported medical emergency.

His family confirmed on Friday that the 86-year-old icon died Thursday morning.

He had reportedly been hospitalized on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

"While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace," his family's statement said. "We know many of you had heard about his recent hospitalization, and we are truly grateful for the prayers and support you sent his way. As we grieve this loss, we kindly ask for privacy for our family during this time."

The emergency happened a week after Norris' birthday, when the star posted a video on social media showing him sparring with a physical trainer.

"Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young," Norris said in the video's caption. "I’m grateful for another year, good health and the chance to keep doing what I love. Thank you all for being the best fans in the world. Your support through the years has meant more to me than you’ll ever know."

Norris quickly went from an Air Force veteran and martial arts trainer to an American icon. The now world-renowned actor got his start in Hollywood when Bruce Lee invited him to play one of the main villains in the 1972 movie "The Way of the Dragon." Soon after, he became an international action star, acting in the lead role in numerous movies throughout the 1980s before starring in the long-running hit show "Walker, Texas Ranger."

His popularity exploded again in the 2000s, when "Chuck Norris facts" that depicted outrageous and funny fictional information about the star became an early Internet meme. Although Norris had no role in creating the meme, he was signed to numerous advertising and book deals because of its popularity.

NORRIS, Chuck (Carlos Ray Norris)

Born: 3/10/1940, Ryan, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Died: 3/19/2026, Lihue, Kawai, Hawaii, U.S.A.

 

Chuck Norris’s westerns – producer, director, singer, actor:

Lone Wolf McQuade – 1983 (J.J. McQuade)

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 1993-2001 (Cordell Walker, Hayes Cooper) [producer, director, singer]

Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion (TV) – 1994 (Ranger Cordell Walker)

Forest Warrior – 1996 (McKenna)

RIP Matt Clark

 

'Back to the Future' Actor Matt Clark Dead

TMZ

March 16, 2026

 

Matt Clark -- whose acting career spanned decades in film and TV working alongside some of Hollywood's biggest stars -- has died.

His family tells TMZ ... Clark -- arguably best known for his bartender role in "Back to the Future: Part III" and the TV sitcom "Grace Under Fire" -- died in his Austin, Texas home Sunday morning from complications after back surgery.

Clark appeared in several Westerns on the big and small screens alongside the likes of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne ... and he appeared in the '80s cult classic "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension."

He also appeared on the series "Grace Under Fire" ... along with classic shows including "Bonanza," Kung Fu," and "Dynasty."

His family tells us ... Clark was an "actor's actor" who loved and respected the job, but was not concerned with stars and fame. He was impressed when working with good people who loved their families. He felt "lucky" about his career ... and "he died the way he lived, on his terms."

He was 89.

RIP

CLARK, Matt

Born: 11/25/1936, Washington, District of Columbia, U.S.A.

Died: 3/15/2026, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

 

Matt Clark’s westerns – actor:

Will Penny – 1967 (Romulus Quint)

Death Valley Days (TV) - 1967 (Montana Joe)

Dundee and the Culhane (TV) 1967 (Smith)

Bonanza (TV) 1969 (Fantan)

Macho Callahan – 1970 (jailer)

Monte Walsh – 1970 (Rufus Brady)

The Cowboys – 1972 (Smiley)

The Culpepper Cattle Co. – 1972 (Pete)

The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid – 1972 (Bob Younger)

Jeremiah Johnson – 1972 (Qualen)

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean – 1972 (Nick the Grub)

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid – 1973 (J.W. Bell)

Kung Fu (TV) - 1973 (Niebo)

This Is the West That Was (TV) – 1974 (Buffalo Bill Cody)

Hearts of the West – 1975 (Jackson)

Kid Vengeance – 1975 (Grover)

Little House on the Prairie (TV) 1975, 1979 (Eric Boulton, Seth Berwick)

The Outlaw Josey Wales – 1976 (Kelly)

Lacy and the Mississippi Queen (TV) – 1978 (Reynolds)

The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang – 1979 (George 'Bitter Creek' Newcomb)

The Legend of the Lone Ranger – 1981 (Sheriff Wiatt)

Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues (TV) – 1987 (Sergeant Grinder)

The Quick and the Dead – 1987 (Doc Shabitt)

Back to the Future Part III – 1990 (bartender)

Lonesome Dove: The Series (TV) 1995 (Reverend Bantry)

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 1996, 2001 (Cooper's Friend, Hank Cotton)

South of Heaven, West of Hell – 2000 (Burl Dunfries)

A Million Ways to Die in the West – 2014 (old prospector)

RIP Bruno Salomone

 

Bruno Salomone, actor in "Don't Do This, Don't Do That", has died at the age of 55

In the cinema, the French actor had starred in "Brice de Nice" and "Les Vacances de Ducobu".

Le Monde

March 15, 2026

 

Actor Bruno Salomone, well known to viewers for his role as Denis Bouley in the family series Fais pas ci, fais pas ça on France 2, has died, his agent announced Sunday to AFP, on behalf of his family. He was 55 years old.

Also known to the general public for having been Jean Dujardin's rival in Brice de Nice (2005) with his role as Igor d'Hossegor, as well as the voice-over of Alain Chabat's show "Burger Quiz", Bruno Salomone began his career as a comedian, notably within the Nous ç Nous troupe alongside the same Jean Dujardin.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Bruno Salomone," said his agent, Laurent Grégoire. He passed away on Sunday, March 15 after fighting a long illness. »

Don't Do This, Don't Do That left the air in 2017 after nine seasons. The series made a first comeback at the end of 2020 with a Christmas TV movie, then a second in December 2024, for two new episodes.

The comic driving force of this successful series is the antagonism between a bohemian family, the Bouleys (played by Isabelle Gélinas and Bruno Salomone), and a reactionary family, the Lepics (Valérie Bonneton and Guillaume de Tonquédec).

Known thanks to "Graines de Stars" on M6

After spending part of his childhood in Marseille and then in the suburbs of Paris, Bruno Salomone made a name for himself by participating, in 1996, in the show "Graines de Stars" on M6. He then became a member of the Nous ç Nous, before going solo on stage.

An actor in film, television and theatre, he had also worked as a voice actor, notably as the voice of Jolly Jumper in James Huth's Lucky Luke (2009), whose title role was given to Jean Dujardin.

His last appearance on television dates back to last year, in the series A priori on France 3. The channel has just announced that season 2 will resume at the end of March with former swimmer Florent Manadou as the headliner, in place of Bruno Salomone.

SALOMONE, Bruno

Born: 7/13/1970, Villeneuve Saint Georges, Val-de-Marne, France

Died: 3/15/2026, France

 

Bruno Salomone’s western – voice actor:

Lucky Luke – 2009 [French voice of Jolly Jumper]

RIP Judy Pace

 

Actress Judy Pace Passes Away at 83 – Farewell to a Silver Screen Gem

The groundbreaking actress and former Ebony Fashion Fair model leaves behind a legacy of elegance and barrier-breaking roles.

eurweb

By Jack Fisher

March 15, 2026

 

The entertainment world has lost one of its most radiant and groundbreaking stars. Judy Pace, the stunning actress whose grace lit up screens large and small for over three decades, has passed away. She was 83.

While details surrounding her transition in March 2026 remain private, the outpouring of love from fans and colleagues makes one thing clear: Judy Pace was more than just a beautiful face—she was a true artist who shattered barriers with every role.

From Ebony Fashion Fair to Hollywood Stardom

Born Judy Lenteen Pace on June 15, 1942, she first captivated audiences not on screen, but on the runway. As one of the youngest models to ever walk in the legendary Ebony Fashion Fair tour in the early 1960s, she became a symbol of elegance and Black representation long before she spoke her first line of dialogue.

That natural charisma made her transition to Hollywood seamless. Pace quickly became a familiar face in the late 1960s and 1970s, appearing in a staggering array of iconic television shows. From cult classics like Batman, Bewitched, and The Flying Nun to groundbreaking dramas like I Spy and The Mod Squad, her presence was always “welcoming, warm, sexy but innocent,” as one fan recently noted.

Making History as Television’s First Black Villainess

However, Pace was not content with playing it safe. She made history by stepping into the role of Vickie Fletcher on the primetime soap opera Peyton Place, becoming one of the first Black actresses to portray a villainess on American television. This bold move showcased her range and earned her critical respect. She would go on to win an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her starring role as Pat Walters in the ABC legal drama The Young Lawyers (1969–1971).

A Staple of 1970s Film and Television

Her film career was equally impactful. Pace graced the screen in some of the most memorable films of the era, including the classic Brian’s Song (1971), and became a staple of the Blaxploitation era with roles (including Cotton Comes to Harlem) that added depth and complexity to the genre. Whether she was appearing on Sanford and Son, That’s My Mama, or What’s Happening!!, Judy Pace Flood (as she was known in her personal life) brought a unique blend of strength, sensuality, and sophistication that was unmatched.

A Beauty, Period—And a Grand Actress

To call her a “Black beauty” almost seems too narrow. As one admirer beautifully put it, “Restricting her to just being a ‘black’ beauty is a slap in the face because she’s a beauty, period.” She was a vision of loveliness, yes, but she was also a grand actress who paved the way for generations of women of color.

Judy Pace’s legacy is not just in the films she left behind, but in the doors she kicked open. She was a pioneer who proved that a Black woman could be elegant, powerful, and versatile all at once.

Rest in Paradise, Ms. Pace. You will be deeply missed.

PACE, Judy (Judy Lenteen Pace)

Born: 6/15/1942, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Died: 3/15/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Judy Pace’s western – actress:

Kung Fu (TV) – 1974 (Jenny)

RIP Gemma Cuervo

 Actress Gemma Cuervo dies at 91

The actress, an endearing face on television thanks to 'Aquí no hay quien viva', developed a long career in theater, cinema and the small screen

La Vanguardia

3/14/2026

 

The Catalan actress Gemma Cuervo died this Saturday at the age of 91, according to family sources. In recent years she was known for her role in the series Aquí no hay quien viva. Born in Barcelona in 1934 and mother of the also renowned actors Cayetana and Fernando Guillén Cuervo, throughout her extensive career she played roles in film, television and theater.

Trained on stage, Cuervo participated in numerous theatre companies and gave life to a wide repertoire of classics and contemporary authors, building a sustained prestige among critics and audiences. From there he made the leap to the big screen and television, at a time when the audiovisual industry was making its way strongly in Spain in the second half of the twentieth century.

In recent years, her popularity multiplied thanks to her role in the series Aquí no hay quien viva, where she played one of the most remembered characters in fiction. Her comic vision and her ability to give humanity to everyday characters made her a close face for several generations of viewers.

During his theatrical career he was the protagonist of more than a hundred productions in classics such as 'El malentendo' by Albert Camus, directed by Adolfo Marsillach, 'Bodas de sangre de Federico García Lorca', 'La Celestina' by Fernando de Rojas, 'Los siete infantes' by Lara and 'El castigo sin venganza' by Lope de Vega, as well as texts by Valle-Inclán. Robert Patrick, among others. He also acted and directed pieces such as 'Siempre no es toda la vida' or 'El otro William'.

She arrived on television in the 1960s, when she participated in 'Estudio 1', a space that adapted plays to the small screen, and in 'Historias para no dormir'. In addition, Cuervo has been awarded numerous awards throughout her career such as the Max de Honor Award 2021, the National Theater Award (1965) and the

The death of Gemma Cuervo is the farewell of an actress who accompanied, from the screens and the stages, the daily life of many homes. The family has not yet given details about the farewell events, but it is expected that the acting world will pay tribute to him in the coming days.

CUERVO, Gemma (Gemma Cuervo Igartua)

Born: 6/22/1934, Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Died: 3/14/2026, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

 

Gemma Cuervo’s westerns – actress:

Why Kill Again? – 1965 (Pilar Gomez) [as Jennifer Crowe]

Guns of the Revolution – 1969 (Leurela)