We mourn the loss of Oscar-winning actor Earnest Borgnine, who died today at age 95. As the title character in the Best Picture winner, “Marty,” he was heart-wrenchingly poignant, a man who feared that his romantic soul and yearning for love would never overcome his shy, clumsy appearance.
Recently, he appeared in “Red” as a keeper of the deepest (in every sense of the word) secrets of the CIA, and provided voice talent for Lion of Judah and Mermaid Man in SpongeBob SquarePants.
Andy Griffith, beloved star of the long-running television series about the small-town sheriff and single father, died today at age 86. Griffith first became known for his gentle, countrified story-telling and singing and then had a brief but notable film career with the service comedy No Time for Sergeants and the searing and still very timely media expose A Face in the Crowd. His brilliant performance as the megalomanic radio star brought him critical acclaim, but he said the experience of working with director Elia Kazan was so stressful he never wanted to take on such a role again.
The Andy Griffith Show was the perfect match of performer and role, inspired by Griffith’s own experiences growing up in Mout Airy, North Carolina, which has a popular “Mayberry Days” festival for fans of the show. He played Andy Taylor, whose homespun wisdom and small-town humor made the show one of the most successful in television history, and still popular in reruns. Here he explains the story of Romeo and Juliet to his son, Opie (Ron Howard).
razor-sharp self-awareness and the ambition to transform workaday absurdities, cultural idiosyncrasies, romantic foibles and even marital calamity into essays, novels and films brimming with invitingly mordant wit. She credited her mother with bestowing “this kind of terrific ability, not to avoid pain but to turn it over and recycle it as soon as possible.”
She is remembered for her romantic comedies, especially the classics “When Harry Met Sally….,” which she wrote, and “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail,” which she wrote and directed. But she also co-wrote the powerful and evocative drama, Silkwood. She took the most painful experience of her life, discovering that her husband was unfaithful to her when she was seven months pregnant with their second child, and followed her parents advice, turning it into the trenchantly funny novel and then movie Heartburn. Two of her films that I especially love are My Blue Heaven (I think it is adorable that she wrote a witty witness protection program romantic comedy as her husband’s non-fiction book was being turned in to the witness protection program drama “Goodfellas”) and “This is My Life,” with Julie Kavner as a single mother and stand-up comic struggling with life/work balance. She loved food (even included recipes in Heartburn), not surprising as her work was just plain tasty.
She has inspired some magnificent tributes, including Indiwire’s list of 10 of her best lines and this gorgeous piece by Lena Dunham of “Girls” that says so much about her wisdom and generosity — and the legacy of writers she inspired to find and own their voices. I loved the echo of “take notes” in her comforting response to Dunham’s failed brownies. Tom Hanks, who starred in her two best-loved films, wrote a warm and perceptive appreciation in Time Magazine, noting her insistance on telling details and distinctive voice. The producers of Ephron’s forthcoming Broadway show have promised the show will open, so we all have one more treat to look forward to. Celebrate Nora Ephron by sharing your favorite Ephron book or movie with someone you love. May her memory be a blessing.
Bradbury was nattily attired in suspenders and a tie featuring grinning jack o’lanterns.
“We met through our mutual love of dinosaurs. King Kong inspired us both. “The Lost World” — nothing like it had been done. My first influence was Lon Chaney. I have total recall from birth on, and I can remember when I was very young seeing “Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Then “Phantom of the Opera.” These things teach you about love, falling in love, stories for a lifetime. Then there was Buck Rogers when I was nine. I got the job of reading the comic strips on the radio. My pay was tickets to the movies — “King Kong,” “Murders in the Wax Museum.” I was rich! Because we are surrounded by reality, which is stupid, we fall in love with Beauty and the Beast, Jack the Giant Killer. When I was five years old, I fell in love with fairy tales. Love what you do and do what you love and forget about the money. I wanted to become a magician, and I did, didn’t I?”
We mourn the loss of disco diva and five-time Grammy winner Donna Summer, whose anthems like “Last Dance” and “Hot Stuff” helped define an era. She died at age 63 from cancer. Her songs were featured in a number of movies, most memorably in “The Full Monty,” “Roll Bounce,” “Zoolander,” and “Charlie Wilson’s War” as well as episodes of “Sex and the City” and “The Simpsons.” Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, she performed in the European cast of the original production of “Hair,” sang in a rock band, and was a back-up singer for Three Dog Night. Her powerful voice was perfect for the disco era, when she became the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the US Billboard chart. May her memory be a blessing.
. One of the greatest thrills of my life was