Farewell to the Stars

By Michael Oldfield

As we say goodbye to the year 2010, we also say goodbye to some of the more notable personalities who passed away this year:

 

Pernell Roberts (left), who played Adam Cartwright, the oldest son on "Bonanza".

  

British character actor Ian Carmichael, best known for his role in "I'm All Right Jack".

Peter Graves, brother of James Arness who played Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke". Graves was best known for his roles in the TV series "Mission Impossible", the film "Airplane" and for hosting numerous TV documentaries.

Fess Parker, once known to every kid in America and Canada as "Davy Crockett".

Robert Culp (right), who starred in "I Spy".

John Forsythe, who starred in several TV series before making a big splash in "Dynasty".

Gene Kiniski, who billed himself as "Canada's Greatest Wrestler".

Lynn Redgrave, who starred in "Georgy Girl" and numerous other films.

Lena Horne (above), singer and actress, best known for singing "Stormy Weather".

Art Linkletter, who hosted the TV show, "Kids Say The Darndest Things".

Dennis Hopper (left), rebellious actor-writer-director who made his name in "Easy Rider".

Rue McClanahan, who starred in "Maude" and "The Golden Girls"

Jimmy Dean, the country singer who created his own brand of sausages.

Mitch Miller, the head man at Columbia Records for many years who brought about innovations in the pop music of the 1950's, made a star out of Rosemary Clooney and many others. He also had a hit record with "The Yellow Rose of Texas" and starred in TV's "Sing Along With Mitch".

Patricia Neal (left), who won as Oscar for "Hud", but is best remembered for her role in "The Day The Earth Stood Still". 

Eddie Fisher, pop singer of the 1950's who ended his career by divorcing Debbie Reynolds and marrying Elizabeth Taylor.   He was the father of Carrie Fisher of "Star Wars" fame.

Tony Curtis, pretty boy star of the 1950's who proved he could really act in such films as "The Sweet Smell Of Success" and "The Defiant Ones".  He was married to actress Janet Leigh. Jamie Lee Curtis is their daughter.

Barbara Billingsley, who played the mother, June Cleaver, on "Leave It To Beaver".

Tom Bosley, who played the father on "Happy Days".

James MacArthur (right).  In our opinion, truly one of the world's worst actors!   After appearing in several Walt Disney films, he wound up playing Danno on "Hawaii Five-O".   He was the son of actress Helen Hayes, proving that the apple sometimes falls very far from the tree.

Blake Edwards, husband of Julie Andrews and best known for reviving Peter Sellers' career by directing him in the "Pink Panther" series.

Leslie Nielsen, who played straight dramatic roles for over thirty years but did a complete reversal with his comic portrayal of the doctor in "Airplane" and as Lt. Frank Drebin in the "Naked Gun" films.

Harold Gould (right), character actor who portrayed the father of Rhoda in the sitcom of the same name and co-starred as one of the confidence tricksters in "The Sting".

Don Meredith (left), who quarterbacked the Dallas Cowboys for many years in the 1960's and then co-anchored Monday Night Football with Howard Cosell.

 and finally...

Radio announcer Fred Foy from WLS Chicago. For those of us who can remember huddling around the radio at 7 p.m. back in the late 1940's and early 1950's, his voice sent a tingle up our spines as we heard... "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty 'Hi Ho, Silver!' The Lone Ranger!"  Followed, of course, by the opening strains of The William Tell Overture.

May they all rest in peace for the many wonderful moments and memories they gave to all of us.