Every so often there’s a sudden crash of genre people we all know who pass away within weeks of each other. In what seemed a depressing rush to make the deadline for that part of the Oscar broadcast where they mention every showbiz person who passed away in the preceding twelve months, we lost Andreas, followed by Kolchak, and the Incredible Mr. Limpett. And now, tragically, Octavia Butler, who passed away of a stroke today after she collapsed outside her house.
Our condolences to the families of Darren McGavin, Don Knotts, and Octavia, plus I’m still reeling from the loss of Andreas.
PAD
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A tragic weekend, indeed.
I just read about Octavia Butler five minutes and hadn’t heard yet about Darren McGavin at all.
Three actors and a writer in all too quick succession.
It makes me tired in my soul.
I meant “five minutes ago.”
This may sound heartless; my condolences go to all the families as well, but I don’t consider the deaths of Don Knotts and Darren McGavin as ‘tragedies’. We are all mortal, and they were both in their 80s. Sure, many people are living longer lives today, but someone who lives to 80 has already surpassed the ‘average lifespan’.
Katsulas’ and Butler’s deaths were tragedies. Both careers have been cut short. They were both young — in their late 50s.
And to think I just discovered Butler this week by reading the magnifcently sad Kindred.
They are all a terrible loss, especially Don Knotts. Mark Evanier described him as “The most well-liked man in show business”. His comedy was all turned inward, and he made us laugh by allowing us to laugh at his flaws. That is true bravery.
Kev
John, I don’t think anybody is using the word ‘tragedy,’ but every death diminishes us in a small way. And sometimes it behooves us to mark their passing, however long they’ve been with us.
And my grandfather away passed in England this weekend.
Sorry to hear that, Matt.
Without meaning to give Death any ideas, can you imagine what it’ll be like when Stan Lee dies? It would eclipse the Pope and Princess Di put together…
To paraphrase Dave Langford, Let’s hope the Death of Hollywood Actors takes a holday now…
I read about Octavia this morning, nearly first thing, when Neil mentioned it in his blog.
Parable of the Sower was part of the syllabus for a class I assisted in teaching last spring, and the faces of the kids when they learned that this amazing writer, this African American woman lived here in Seattle was just…awesome. They were so inspired. I’m glad I got to see that, and saddened I never will again.
there’s a nice write up of Ms. Butler’s passing at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002831388_butlerobit27m.html. It has several quotes from Harlan Ellison, described as her friend and mentor.
Fans of Asian cinema are also mourning the death of Tung Piu, the loveable Uncle Bill in many of Jackie Chan’s best movies. One of those character actors who lit up every scene he was on.
Bad week.
I saw Octavia Butler speak at Towson last year. Kindred was amazing, and I’ve always meant to read more of her work.
Octavia Butler’s “Kindred” was the high point of a course I took in college on ‘Women in Literature.’ I remember being floored by a book that could easily be categorized as “contemporary SF” was rubbing elbows with the likes of Jane Austen and Edith Wharton. Additionally, it was one of the best reads in a semester full of “good reads.” Like others who have commented, I put Ms. Butler on my list of “people whose works I should read more of” but just never got around to it. As there’s a library visit in my near future, I’ll most likely be fixing that.
Still, her passing (along with those of Mssrs. Katsulas, Knotts, and McGavin) is a tragic, tragic loss.
What a truly crappy two weeks. I’m not nearly as familiar with Ms. Butler’s work as I should be, but I know enough of it to know that we’ve lost a very bright light in her.
TWL
Tim, go ahead and get a copy of KINDRED by Ms. Butler. It is a book with lasting consequences.
PAD,
Did you know Octavia Butler personally?
And now Dennis Weaver has died as well.
I somewhat agree with the statements of ‘John’ above. Whenever I hear of a death (if it be the death of a public figure I know or, too often of late, loved ones of personal friends), I always find it sad. However, that sadness is not as strong if I know that the person has lived a long life. I can only hope that I can live into my 80’s, and, if possible, have family and friends by my side when I pass.
Its sad to say that I have never read anything by Octavia, although I have a couple of her books in my collection. I did recently see her in a writers panel included in the Sci-Fi channel’s DVD release of the ‘Dune’ miniseries, however.
Condolences to the families of all involved.
I met Octavia at a couple of conventions. It’s not like we were tight. In fact, I figure it’s even odds that she knew who I was. But, you know, one writer’s passing diminishes us all.
PAD
I have to agree with John. Maybe I’m just an optimist, but I don’t see someone living to a ripe old age and then dying to be a bad thing. I can understand dead people being missed, but has anyone been waiting around for the next Don Knotts or Darren McGavin movie?
“I can understand dead people being missed, but has anyone been waiting around for the next Don Knotts or Darren McGavin movie?”
Y’know…I remember some years back when Roger Zelazny died, and some guy posted on a board that it was probably for the best because his recent books hadn’t been very good. The response was the first example of a true flamewar that I ever witnessed and it was a real bloodbath.
Your comment isn’t QUITE as insensitive as that…but it’s up there.
Appearances by beloved actors such as those are ALWAYS welcome. That’s what makes them beloved. Don Knotts as the TV repairman in “Pleasantville” was inspired casting. If Darren McGavin was announced as showing up playing just about anyone’s father on any TV sitcom, I would tune in.
Television in particular provides a certain intimacy of entertainment, the sense that you’re visiting with “friends,” illusory as that sense might be. Their passing prompts sadness because it means we won’t be seeing these new “friends” in any further appearances.
Your agreement with John is based entirely on his complete misstatement about tragedies. I stated that Olivia “tragically” died abruptly at such a relatively young age; a follow-up poster described it simply as “a tragic weekend,” presumably referring to the combination of a variety of relatively young people and well-liked seniors all passing within days of each other. An overabundance of things to mourn, as it were. This was transformed by John into a complete distortion that nobody said or claimed: That people living very long and successful lives and passing away was a tragedy.
So ultimately, while you can agree with John all you want, all you’re doing is concurring with his critique of that which no one claimed, and piling on insensitivity to boot.
PAD
And now Dennis “McCloud” Weaver.
Okay, God, you can cut it out now.
I think any death is tragic, whether the person was 8 or 80 years old. Sure, maybe Darrin McGavin and Don Knotts could be considered semi-retired, but their deaths does mark a note of finality on their careers.
As a kid growing up in the 70s, I remember seeing Knotts in the Apple Dumpling Gang and other Disney movies of the time at the drive-in theater. That drive has been a strip mall for about 20 years now. The death of Don Knotts takes yet another piece of my childhood away.
I got a chance to see Octavia at one con. She was a rarity and will be missed as well.
I just read that obit for Dennis Weaver. I’ve been saying “There ya go” for decades now and totally forgotten that I’d picked it up from “McCloud.”
PAD
Yeah, I just don’t get the need to even comment on the appropriateness of sadness at the death of anyone, unless its friggin Pol Pot or something. If the worst thing that could be truly said of us was that we feel a needless sadness, what a great world we would be living in.
I can understand the idea behind John’s claim — it certainly feels more tragic when it’s somebody who goes at a relatively young age, like Octavia Butler or (to use an older example) Jim Henson. It’s just that “not as tragic” doesn’t equate to “not sad”.
My mother-in-law had to put her cat to sleep last month. Now, said cat was 18 1/2 years old, which is a helluva good run for any cat. She was very old, very creaky, and clearly in some pain, so it was the right time to go and nobody felt it was “tragic” per se — but it was still a sad time, no mistake.
Just my too-wordy $0.02.
TWL
Here is a link to an article about Dennis Weaver.
Wally
Now…here is the link:
http://people.aol.com/people/articles/0,19736,1167965,00.html
Wally
http://www.thegraphicsgarage.com
One thing that I’ve noticed about celebrity deaths–when someone dies young they get to be referred to as “the late_____________” for an inordinately long time. I just read a review of the about to be released DOG DAY AFTERNOON DVD where they mention “the late John Cazale”. It’s been almost 30 years.
But when you make only 5 films, all of which get nominated for best picture and you are arguably the best dámņ thing in each one of them, well…
I was in a very “Old Hollywood” Steak & Seafood restaurant about 10-12 years ago when I suddenly heard a man say, “Excuse me” as he walked by my table and went to the restroom.
The commanding voice was clearly unmistakable– even if his heads (sans hairpiece) did mislead me at first.
Darren McGavin had just walked past my table on the way to the men’s room.
When he returned, I politely waited until he was finished with dinner and then abruptly went over and introduced myself. This being one of the few times I have ever accosted a celebrity like this, I was making shaky conversation at best.
Finally, I just stammered, “Thank you. It was a real pleasure meeting one of America’s greatest actors.”
I walked away and he said, “Would you like some dessert?”
My companion at the time, not being able to hear his question, said that the smile on my face was bigger than any smile she had ever seen.
I insisted that Darren have dessert with us (even though we had not quite finished our entrees) and we talked for almost (2) hours.
His gruff demeanor (so famously used against network “suits” in his TV heyday) was in full display but was as charming as it was straightforward. (Or was he charming because he WAS so straightforward?)
At one point, I think I scared the crap out of him. I’ll never forget what he did when I spouted off a list of his credits like I’d just typed his resume.
He just looked at me for what seemed to be the longest time and then he said, “Ðámņ.” To my extreme relief, he got a huge smile on his face… Almost as if I had reminded him of some accomplishments he had long forgotten while explicitly showing how much he had touched me as a fan.
So Robert, even if I hadn’t had that wonderful experience with Darren– like Peter– I would make an effort to watch ANYTHING that Darren McGavin was associated with.
Peter handled your insensitive, “I can understand dead people being missed, but has anyone been waiting around for the next Don Knotts or Darren McGavin movie?” question quite nicely.
Me? I ‘m doing everything in my power to suppress the urge to play the “Ghost of Christmas Present” to your Ebenezer Scrooge. (Especially the “Ghost” Edward Woodward so masterfully portrayed in the excellent 1984 George C. Scott led rendition of “A Christmas Carol”)
Instead of trying to come up with some pithy little “Dennis Miller” pseudo bon mots to litter the “internets” with– why don’t you take some of that misspent energy and try to CREATE something instead?
Then maybe, if you’re really, really lucky, you’ll create some artistic work someday that will mean something to somebody too.
And now Paul Carr. The lead on the story at “TrekToday”:
“Paul Carr, who played Lieutenant Lee Kelso in the second Star Trek pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, died on February 17th of lung cancer at age 72. “
I admit I did misinterpret some of the original commenters. I also made sure that I was clear that I offered my condolences to all the families, as regardless of when death hits, all families are saddened.
But when there is a death of a celebrity (or a friend) I prefer to celebrate their life rather than mourn their death. This is easier when there is a long life to celebrate. So when a life is cut short, I find there is more sadness within me. When they have lived a long life, I am able to actually feel happiness. Not happiness that they are dead, but happiness they have lived to bring so much joy into the world.
“Your comment isn’t QUITE as insensitive as that…but it’s up there.”
Geez, and I thought I was being as sensitive as I could be.
“Your agreement with John is based entirely on his complete misstatement about tragedies.”
Not really. I understood that it was something of a misstatement by him, but I was agreeing more with the spirit of what he was saying (and which he just clarified), which is that a death after a long life shouldn’t be sad, that it’s a part of life and they’re most likely in a better place, and their lives should be celebrated. So, in that respect, I don’t think I’m being insensitive. I do understood what you’re saying about missing them on TV, though.
There’s an informal memorial gathering for friends and fans of Octavia this Friday in NYC. For all those interested and within easy traveling distance, here are the details:
What: Drowning our sorrows – in memory of Octavia Butler
When: Friday, March 3, 7 – 9ish PM (feel free to drop by anytime)
Where: KGB bar 85 East 4th Street New York, NY 10003 http://www.kgbbar.com/
And, worse still, they don’t make them like that any more. Was re-re-re-watching BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S this past weekend and it occurred to me I couldn’t think of one actress today who was fit to so much as lick Audrey Hepburn’s shoes. Yes, I know she’s not one of those being mourned here, but she does hail from the, mostly, same period and the idea is still valid, I think.
Don Adams and Bob Denver too. When I was little there wasn’t a day I could go without watching Gilligan’s Island. To this day I remain a huge fan of Agent 86. (and now that you mention it, ever since Hulk #390 something, in which a US diplomat to Transsabal said “There you go” to Guido–I’ve been throwing that one around myself–I had no idea!)
I was really shocked to see that the actor who portrayed G’Kar is no longer with us. Without him Babylon 5 will never be the same. I don’t think that a movie could be produced without him.
It was after watching B5 that I recognized him as the one armed man in the Harrison Ford remake of the “Fugitive” …I will miss him a lot.
On Don Knotts: Andy Griffith’s show would not have lasted one year without him. Over the years Andy Griffith and Mayberry have become part of my daily watching habits on TV Land.
Every death is a tragedy for the people who loved the deceased. Whether 50 or 80 or 265, it always sucks for someone you love to die.
Well, they just had the In Memoriam, and it looks like the recent slew of passings didn’t make the cut.
Quite frankly, the list was shorter than it seems like it should’ve been, even without the last few weeks.
I don’t think it’s a matter of making the cut. I could be wrong, of course, but I think it’s only people who have died in the previous calendar year. That would only make sense; after all, if it’s honoring the films released in 2005, it would also honor those who departed during that same period.
PAD
Ahh, I didn’t think about that.
I don’t think it’s a matter of making the cut. I could be wrong, of course, but I think it’s only people who have died in the previous calendar year. That would only make sense; after all, if it’s honoring the films released in 2005, it would also honor those who departed during that same period.
As I posted on the other disuccsion thread, accoding to Mark Evanier’s weblog (http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2006_03_06.html#011093 ) the deadline (no pun intended) for inclusion in the “In Memoriam” feature is 1 February, which could/would explain the absence of many recent passings.