The Graffe's Celebrity Death Pool

'Police Academy,' 'Punky Brewster' star George Gaynes dies at 98

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George Gaynes, who starred in all seven “Police Academy” movies and had a lead role in the 1980s sitcom “Punky Brewster,” died Monday in his daughter’s Washington state home. He was 98.

Iya Gaynes Falcone Brown confirmed her father’s death to The New York Times on Tuesday.

Gaynes had a role in 35 films over the course of his career, including starring oppose of Dustin Hoffman in the movie “Tootsie,” which received 10 Academy Award nominations. Other film credits include “The Way We Were,” “Altered States” and “Wag the Dog.”

He also appeared in several television shows, including “The Defenders,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Bonanza” and “Hawaii Five-0.”

Jonathan Howard, a longtime agent for Gaynes, told The Hollywood Reporter that his death was a “sad loss.”

“The last couple times I got in touch with him, even in his 90s, he was always happy to take the call and consider something,” Howard said. “He was really one of the true gentlemen in this business and was working steadily for 50 years or more. A sad, sad loss. But he had a really long, great life.”

Gaynes was born George Jongejans in Helsinki, Finland on May 16, 1917 to a Russian mother and a Dutch father. He was raised in France, England and Switzerland.

World War II halted his promising opera career and after spending three months in Spain, he traveled to the U.K. and enlisted in the Royal Dutch Navy.

When the war ended, he took his talents to New York and joined the New York City Opera. He got his first start on Broadway in the 1950s, starring in the musical “Wonderful Town.”

Gaynes retired following his appearance in the 2003 film “Just Married,” starring Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy.

Gaynes is survived by his wife, actress Allyn Ann McLerie, his daughter, one granddaughter, and two great-granddaughters. His son, Matthew, died in a 1989 car accident.

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Harper Lee, author of "To Kill A Mockingbird", dead at age 89:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35616011

Probably the second most impactful book I read as a kid. Rest in peace, Scout.

Literary world got a two-fer on Friday: Umberto Eco is a goner too. Maybe the Illuminati, Knights Templar and St. Germain finally knocked him off.

For what little it's worth, I've read or tried reading all seven of his novels, loved two of them (Foucault's Pendulum, The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana), enjoyed another on my second try (Name of the Rose, the book that made his name as a fiction writer). Just for those three books alone, I'm very glad Eco was around.

As for the others, I mostly enjoyed one (Baudolino), found myself uninterested enough to not finish two of them (Island of the Day Before and Prague Cemetery) and finished the last one but was very disappointed (Numero Zero) by its lack of depth or, for that matter, much of a plot of any sort.

If you know anything about wine then you know the Mondavi name. Peter Mondavi, brother of Robert Mondavi passed away today.

http://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/article61755542.html

Apollo Creed's (and later Rocky's) trainer has gone to the big gym in the sky:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/27/mo...ies-at-78.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtAdy4mfyJk

Apropos. Burning Heart by Foreigner has been stuck in my head lately.

Is it East versus West
Or man against man
Can any nation stand alone!!!

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Originally Posted by Daxil Solshok

Apropos. Burning Heart by Foreigner has been stuck in my head lately.

Is it East versus West
Or man against man
Can any nation stand alone!!!

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Survivor, not Foreigner

Frank Kelly (best known outside of Ireland as Father Jack in Father Ted) passed away yesterday, 18 years to the day that Dermot Morgan (the titular Father Ted) died

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Originally Posted by [URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-35682191"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-35682191[/URL]]
Tributes have been paid to Irish actor Frank Kelly, best known for playing Father Jack Hackett in the comedy sitcom Father Ted, who has died aged 77.

Kelly was a veteran of stage and screen, his career lasting 60 years.

He had more recent roles in Emmerdale and Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie.

Kelly revealed last November that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, although he said he would continue to work.

He had received the all-clear from bowel cancer in 2011. He was treated for skin cancer last year and also had heart problems.

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George Kennedy - star of tons of great movies, dead at 91:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...edy-dies-at-1/

Not a celebrity, but someone who came up with something that most, if not all of us, use every day:

Inventor of email dies

I think I'll go check my email now.

Nancy Reagan passed away at 94.

ignore me

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/09/entert...bit/index.html

I saw the name, and was almost sad GoT would never be finished.

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Originally Posted by Schezar

I saw the name, and was almost sad GoT would never be finished.

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Oh, my sweet summer child.

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Originally Posted by Schezar

I saw the name, and was almost sad GoT would never be finished.

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Hodor?

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Originally Posted by Schezar

I saw the name, and was almost sad GoT would never be finished.

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When I hovered over the link, that was my first thought as well.

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Originally Posted by jaly

Nancy Reagan passed away at 94.

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Drove by a Perkins on my way into work and was confused as to why the flag was at half staff.

Ahh, Nancy. The lady who misled me into thinking that when I grew up, everyone was going to give me free drugs.

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Originally Posted by Schezar

I saw the name, and was almost sad GoT would never be finished.

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Apparently you and I weren't the only ones:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...-producer.html