RIP Doug Grantham

Douglas Leon Grantham
1945 - 2019

FORT WORTH -- Douglas Leon Grantham (1945-2019) born in Dodge City, Kansas passed away December 8, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 74. SERVICE: 2 p.m., December 20, Shannon Rufe Snow Drive Funeral Chapel. MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ASPCA or a in Doug's name. Doug was a Vietnam Veteran and proudly served in the 9th Infantry Division. After his service, Doug worked as a stuntman, traveling with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and various movies and television shows. He continued his interest with performing by acting in reenactments of the Old West at various North Texas fairs and events as a member of The Legends of Texas including his recurring role as the "Old Cowboy" at Six Flags Over Texas. Doug participated in the National Veterans Golden Age Games for many years competing in 9-Ball Pool, ShuffleBoard, Texas Hold 'Em and most proudly, Air Rifle. Doug took great pride in his craftsmanship and enjoyed going to the movies, riding his Harley Davidson and time spent with his breakfast buddies at Benbrook Café and West Side Café. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Calloway Grantham and Marvel Silvers Grantham. SURVIVORS: His wife, Amanda Hill Grantham; three sons, Bob and his wife, Paula, Jason and his wife, Lori, and Jody; Eight Grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; and his loving dogs, Diesel, Sophie and cat, George.

GRANTHAM, Doug (Douglas Leon Grantham)

Born: 1945, Dodge City, Kansas, U.S.A.

Died: 12/8/2019, Ft. Worth, Texas, U.S.A.

Doug Grantham’s westerns – actor:

Blood on the Brazos – 2007 (Diablo)

The Platinum Peacemaker – 2010 (old geezer)

RIP Jack Kehoe

November 21, 1934 - January 14, 2020

HOLLYWOOD - Jack Kehoe, the brilliant character actor, who appeared in significant Oscar-winning movies, died on January 14, 2020 at the age of 85. Kehoe, who has been inactive in recent years, suffered a debilitating stroke in in 2015. In his 50-year career, Mr. Kehoe played significant character roles opposite leading stars in a variety of films including the crime drama Serpico with Al Pacino with whom he also appeared on Broadway in the Basic Training of Pavel Hummel, and in several Academy Award-winning films, Melvin and Howard with Jason Robards and Mary Steenburgen, The Sting with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and Reds with Warren Beatty, who won the Oscar for Best Director. Mr. Kehoe also played significant parts in The Pope of Greenwich Village, The Star Chamber, The Untouchables, The Paper, Midnight Run, Young Guns II, The Game, and the cult favorites Car Wash and The Fish Who Saved Pittsburgh. His filmography included some 50 motion pictures along with TV credits for The Twilight Zone and Murder She Wrote, and roles in Broadway and off-Broadway plays. Born on November 21, 1934, in the Astoria section of Queens. Following high school, Mr. Kehoe enlisted in the Army, serving three years with 101st Airborne Division. Upon his discharge he worked odd jobs while developing his acting talents studying with the renowned Stella Adler. His first movie break came in his role as the bartender in The Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight, which followed his acclaimed appearance in the Eugene O'Neill play A Moon for the Misbegotten. Mr. Kehoe, who lived in Hollywood Hills, is survived by Sherry Smith, his companion of 40 years, his nephew Michael Henry, his wife Donna and their family, his niece Ronnie Henry and her husband Apolinar Miranda. Funeral services will be conducted at the Forest Lawn Cemetery.

KEHOE, Jack

Born: 11/21/1938, Astoria, Queens, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 1/14/2020, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.A.

Jack Kehoe’s westerns – actor:

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez – 1982 (Prosecutor Pierson)

Young Guns II – 1990 (Ashman Upson)

RIP Joe Shishido

Death of actor Joe Shishido, the "Japanese Jean-Paul Belmondo"

BFM TV

1/21/2020

Actor Joe Shishido, star of several major action films and iconoclasts of the 1950s and 1960s, such as  The Mark of the Killer , died Monday at the age of 86, announces his official website.

Joe Shishido, who appeared in over 300 films, was known for his protruding cheeks which made him look like a hamster. He had them enlarged in 1957 to appear more beautiful and more mysterious. However, it was the opposite effect that occurred on the screen: the actor gained strangeness and wacky.

"Suzuki found his Jean-Paul Belmondo in the person of Joe Shishido, a dark and chubby brown, who had his cheekbones reshaped in order to give himself, he assured, a more ambiguous air", Le Monde noted in 2015 .

During the 1950s and 1960s, Joe Shishido was the favorite actor of Seijun Suzuki, with whom he made five films, including  Detective Bureau 2-3 , The Youth of the Beast and  The Mark of the Killer , which revolutionized the history of cinema and inspired Quentin Tarantino and Jim Jarmusch.

"Shishido often wanders in [Seijun] Suzuki's films with dark glasses that he puts on and takes off constantly, occasionally winking at the viewer," according to Le Monde .

Joe Shishido, who began his career in 1955, played his last role in 2012. Only a tiny part of his bloated filmography is available in France.

Shishido Joe (Jô Shishido)

Born: 12/6/1933, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan

Died: 1/20/2020, Japan

Joe Shishido’s westerns – actor:

Nosappu no jô – 1961

Quick Draw Joe – 1961 (Joe of Aces)

Mekishiko mushuku – 1962 (Jo Nonaka)

RIP William Bogert

William Bogert, Who Appeared in ‘War Games’, ‘Small Wonder’, Dies at 83

Variety

By Pat Saperstein

January 20, 2020

TV, film and theater actor William Bogert, who appeared in a recurring role on 1980s sitcom “Small Wonder” and in films such as “War Games,” died Jan. 12 in New York. He was 83.

On “Small Wonder,” which ran from 1985 to 1989, Bogert played Brandon Brindle, the Lawsons’ neighbor and Harriet’s father who became Ted Lawson’s boss after stealing his ideas.

On Dave Chappelle’s “Chapelle Show,” Bogert was Kent Wallace, the host of “Frontline” spoofs.
Bogert also appeared in the well-known political ad “Confessions of a Republican” in 1964, stumping for Lyndon B. Johnson. He returned to the character in a 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign video, explaining that although he actually had been a Republican when he made the 1964 commercial and all his life, he felt now that Donald Trump was not the kind of Republication he could endorse. “He scares me,” Bogert says about Trump, repeating his assessment of Barry Goldwater from decades before.

The New York City-born actor also appeared in feature films, playing a Matthew Broderick’s father in “War Games,” a TV anchorman in “Dog Day Afternoon,” an actor in “The Front,” as well as roles in “Heaven Can Wait” and “A Perfect Murder.”

Bogert guested on dozens of TV shows, including “M*A*S*H,” “Barney Miller,” “The Gilmore Girls,” “Hill Street Blues,” “Eight is Enough,” “Starsky & Hutch” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

On stage, he appeared in shows including “A Man for All Seasons” and “Play it Again, Sam!”
His wife, Muppet puppeteer Eren Ozker, died in 1993.

BOGERT, William (William Russell Bogert III)

Born: 1/25/1936, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 1/12/2020, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

William Bogert’s western – actor:

Centennial (TV) – 1979 (Walter Bellamy)

RIP Andrea Arruti

Mexican Voice Actress, Andrea Arruti, dead at 21

Latin Post

By Sofia Rodriguez

January 18, 2020

Mexican voice actress, Andrea Arruti, died at the age of 21 due to respiratory complications.

The Latino and Hispanic community mourn once again after the well-known voice actor, Andrea Arruti, died at the age of 21 due to respiratory complications earlier this month.

The young Latina became a well-known voice actress after she brought life to the Spanish version of Elsa in the animated film "Frozen", Diamond Tiara in "My Little Pony", Neeko in "Leauge of Legends," and other characters.

According to a published article in We Are Mitu, the Mexican actress died due to health complications that slowly weakened her body over the past few months, eventually causing her untimely death which caused sorrow to her fans.

The Mexican actress died on January 3, just days after the New Year began. Information about her death was not confirmed this week until some companies Arruti worked with expressed their condolences to the family. Her family then decided to share the news about her death to confirm her death and appease rumors revolving around the industry.

The family posted on her Facebook page: "In the name of Andy Arruti's family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for all the love and solidarity we have received after her passing in a hospital of Mexico City. After noticing some speculation around her death -in the media as well as in social media-we wanted to note that Andrea died due to a respiratory complication that weakened her body throughout the last months."

Moreover, the family also clarified that the Mexican actress was not involved in any form of addiction and that she was an exemplary person. On her Facebook page the family wrote, "Throughout this period it was sought for their well-being and was duly attended by specialists and for her part, she did everything in her power to meet her health status and fulfill her family, school and professional commitments in a normal way. Andrea was an exemplary person who had no addiction and those who knew her can realize that she was always a cheerful young woman."

The "League of Legends" where the Mexican actress worked with as a voice actress of Neeko also expressed their condolences through their Twitter account, "We regret the death of Andrea Arruti, who lent her voice to Neeko, and we extend our condolences to her loved ones," And people in the entertainment industry mourned and expressed also their condolences to the family of Andrea Arruti.

Fans of the late Mexican actress lamented after hearing the news and remembered her as a cheerful and talented person. Her close friends and the people she worked with like Emilio Trevino, also shared loving messages.

Trivino wrote on his Twitter account, "Life undoubtedly surprises us in tough and unexpected ways, sometimes. I'll miss you a lot."

Arruti also worked in "Phineas and Ferb" as the voice actress of Brigette. She has been working in the entertainment industry for quite a long time. And her voice has been immortalized through different animated films and series.

ARRUTI, Andrea

Born: 7/1/1998 Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 1/3/2020, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Andrea Arruti’s western – voice actress:

Spirit: Riding Free - 2017 [Mexican voice of Abigail Stone]

RIP Joseph Hannesschläger

Joseph Hannesschläger succumbs to cancer

“Rosenheim Cops” -Star

Online Focus

1/20/2020

Joseph Hannesschläger, the "Rosenheim Cop", has died. One of the most popular German television series has lost its most prominent face: the actor died of cancer at the age of 57.

This was confirmed by the PR agency Presse-Partner on Monday, citing Hannessschläger's wife. The newspaper had previously reported. Hannessschläger had spent his last days in a hospice.

Actor had pancreatic cancer

Hannesschläger had only made his illness public a few months ago. At the beginning of October it emerged that he has a tumor in the area of ​​the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas that has already spread to the liver. He could only be treated palliatively.

According to media reports, he had spent his last weeks in a hospice: Munich's former mayor Christian Ude, who shared a photo of his visit on Facebook, recently visited him there. "We thank you for the friendship, for your infectious humor and for conveying insight into what is really important in life", wrote Ude then and wished "a lot of strength for the plans that you still want to realize".

The grief at ZDF is great. "Countless fans as well as all his colleagues who were allowed to work with him mourn the loss of a great folk actor, whom we will also miss very much," said ZDF program director Norbert Himmler in Munich on Monday. "With his incomparable mixture of Bavarian charm and profound slickness, Joseph Hannesschläger gave the figure of the Korbinian Hofer a unique and unmistakable character."

Johannes Hannesschläger was still optimistic

Before he died, the "Bild" newspaper quoted Hannesschläger at the premiere of his last film "Schmucklos": "Do not grieve for yourself. Enjoy every day. It may be too late." Everything he had wished for the new year, he can no longer do, said Hannesschläger. "There would have been some nice things."

Hannesschläger had just married his partner Bettina about a year ago. She was by his side until the very end.

"Great supporter": Police mourn the loss of Hannesschläger

In the Oberbayern Süd police headquarters in Rosenheim, there is great sadness over the death of the TV investigator. "As Korbinian Hofer, the" Rosenheim Cop "had been a great supporter of the police and the Rosenheim region for around 20 years," said police chief Robert Kopp. "Our heartfelt sympathy goes to his family, who always stood by his side until the end." The police headquarters would always remember him with dignity.

The chief of police and the television policeman knew each other well. Kopp therefore liked to call him "my colleague". He had a special feeling for people and, last but not least, a healthy dose of dry humor. "Characteristics with which we also like to identify in real police life," the police chief had said earlier.

"Rosenheim Cops" was Hannessschläger's most important TV role

According to his website, Hannesschläger has appeared in more than 45 plays and around 40 cinema and television productions in the course of his career. He also appeared as a cabaret artist and also had his own band with "Discotrain".

However, his most important role was that of heavyweight Commissioner Korbinian Hofer in the "Rosenheim Cops", in which he was seen for 17 years.

"With its incomparable mixture of Bavarian charm and profound slickness"

The grief among his colleagues is correspondingly great. "Countless fans as well as all colleagues who were allowed to work with him mourn the loss of a great folk actor, whom we will also miss very much," said ZDF program director Norbert Himmler in Munich on Monday. "With his incomparable mixture of Bavarian charm and profound slickness, Joseph Hannesschläger gave the figure of the Korbinian Hofer a unique and unmistakable character."

Michi mourns: "Joseph was and is a friend"

The Austrian actor Max Müller aka policeman Michi Mohr in "Die Rosenheim-Cops" was dismayed by the death of investigator Joseph Hannesschläger.

"Friend is an honorary title for me. Joseph was and is a friend. I feel the same way,” said the 54-year-old on Monday. It was good that Hannesschläger had lived so uncompromisingly until the end and had been with his wife, said Müller.

Müller and Hannesschläger met about 20 years ago on the occasion of the planned series and shot hundreds of episodes together.

Grief among the fans: "And now again a cop is investigating in heaven"

The fans were also sad: "And now a cop is investigating in heaven again ... Rest in peace!" Wrote "Der Sinnfrereite" on Twitter. And "Sweet Cherry" said, "Without you, the Rosenheim Cops will never be the same again". And a Facebook user praised: "You were really the heart of the Rosenheim Cops! Arrive well at the top and greet our Hamburg cop Jan from all of us!”, Alluded to the late Jan Fedder, TV policeman in the ARD series “Großstadtrevier”.

HANNESSCHLAGER, Joseph

Born: 6/2/1962, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Died: 1/20/2002, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Joseph Hannesschläger’s western – actor:

Manitou’s Shoe – 2001 (barman)

RIP Chris Darrow

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Member and Country Rocker Chris Darrow Dies

Saving Country Music.com

January 16, 2020

Chris Darrow, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, country rock pioneer and member of multiple influential bands including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Corvettes who backed up Linda Ronstadt, has passed away according to his representatives. He was 75-years-old.

A centerpiece to the country rock movement spanning from the mid 60’s into the 70’s, Chris Darrow’s list of contributions and accomplishments are vast, including being one of the founding members of California’s influential bluegrass outfit the Dry City Scat Band in 1964, playing with David Lindley, Richard Greene and others, and hanging out with Chis Hillman of The Byrds at the time. Darrow would follow Hillamn as a bluegrass musician transitioning into more rock-oriented music, doing time in The Floggs, and eventually the well-known psychedelic band Kaleidescope in the mid 60’s along with fellow Dry City Scat member David Lindley.

1967 is when Chris Darrow’s name would go more national when he joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, replacing Bruce Kunkel, recording two albums with the outfit, Rare Junk and Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy, as well as appearing in the Clint Eastwood Western musical film, Paint Your Wagon with the band.

From there he formed The Corvettes with fellow Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Jeff Hanna in 1969, and they were soon tapped to be the backing band for Linda Ronstadt just as her country rock career was exploding. Jeff Hanna eventually left The Corvettes to return to Nitty Gritty, and was replaced by Bernie Leadon, which put together one of the early building blocks of The Eagles—speaking to how deep Chris Darrow was embedded in the earliest incarnations of country rock.

From there Chris Darrow launched a solo career, releasing a total of 10 records between 1972 and 2006, while composing songs and playing on multiple recordings from numerous artists, including James Taylor, John Stewart, Hoyt Axton, Harry Chapin, and others. Chris Darrow was also considered a mentor to Ben Harper, who recorded his song “Whipping Boy” on his 1994 record Welcome to the Cruel World. Ben Harper posted upon hearing about the death of Chris Darrow,“I didn’t go to college, I went to Chris Darrow…”

Born Christopher Lloyd Darrow on July 30th, 1944 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he grew up in Southern California in the Los Angeles suburb of Claremont. His father was a jazz clarinet player, and Darrow began to play ukulele at an early age, transitioning to guitar at 13. His interest in American roots music came from attending Pitzer College in Claremont where he studied folk and bluegrass music under well-known musicologist and musician Guy Carawan. He also attended the Claremont Graduate school, eventually earning a master’s degree in art. Darrow’s first professional gigs were playing with the Dry Scat Band at Disneyland, and at the famous Ash Grove folk club in Hollywood.

Darrow was also passionate about photography, and was responsible for numerous cover photos for records.

“The number of musicians he supported, inspired and helped launch made him a godfather of California’s country rock of the late sixties,” said Everloving Records upon his passing, who reissued his well-regarded 1973 self-titled release in 2009.

DARROW, Chris (Christopher Lloyd Darrow)

Born: 7/30/1944, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.A.

Died: 1/16/2020, Claremont, California, U.S.A.

Chris Darrow’s western – actor, singer, musician:

Paint Your Wagon – 1969 (miner’s band)

McCabe & Mrs. Miller – 1971 [soundtrack]