Dennis Hopper Dead at 74.

29May10:  Dennis Hopper is DEAD at 74.  26 points to Sandy.  Sandy vaults over Mark and Roland into 2nd place, with 29 total points.   Sandy has hit 2 deaths in three days with Linkletter and Hopper.  Dawson still in first place with 60 points.  Who is next?.................................................................................................................................................

Dennis Hopper

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Dennis Hopper, the high-flying Hollywood wild man whose memorable and erratic career included an early turn in "Rebel Without a Cause," an improbable smash with "Easy Rider" and a classic character role in "Blue Velvet," has died. He was 74.




Hopper died Saturday at his home in the Los Angeles beach community of Venice, surrounded by family and friends, family friend Alex Hitz said. Hopper's manager announced in October 2009 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.



The success of "Easy Rider," and the spectacular failure of his next film, "The Last Movie," fit the pattern for the talented but sometimes uncontrollable actor-director, who also had parts in such favorites as "Apocalypse Now" and "Hoosiers." He was a two-time Academy Award nominee, and in March 2010, was honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.



After a promising start that included roles in two James Dean films, Hopper's acting career had languished as he developed a reputation for throwing tantrums and abusing alcohol and drugs. On the set of "True Grit," Hopper so angered John Wayne that the star reportedly chased Hopper with a loaded gun.

He married five times and led a dramatic life right to the end. In January 2010, Hopper filed to end his 14-year marriage to Victoria Hopper, who stated in court filings that the actor was seeking to cut her out of her inheritance, a claim Hopper denied.






View results for: Dennis Hooper dies Dennis Hooper career "Much of Hollywood," wrote critic-historian David Thomson, "found Hopper a pain in the neck."



All was forgiven, at least for a moment, when he collaborated with another struggling actor, Peter Fonda, on a script about two pot-smoking, drug-dealing hippies on a motorcycle trip through the Southwest and South to take in the New Orleans Mardi Gras

Art Linkletter DEAD.

26May10: Art Linkletter is dead at age 97.  3 points each to Roland and Sandy.  Roland is now tied with Mark for 2nd place with 19 points each.

TV host Art Linkletter dead at 97


(AFP) – 3 hours ago



LOS ANGELES — Legendary US television host Art Linkletter, best known for shows such as "House Party" and "People Are Funny," died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, his family said. He was 97.



Known for his interviews with celebrities and children, the Canadian-born TV personality was a household name with his "House Party" show, which began life on radio in 1944 before running for 17 years on CBS television from 1952.



His NBC show "People Are Funny" ran for 19 years, making Linkletter one of television's most enduring personalities.



Linkletter's interviews with children were collected for a book titled "Kids Say the Darndest Things," which led to a television series of the same name.



Former US First Lady Nancy Reagan paid tribute to the man she called "a good friend for a long, long time."



"Ronnie and I admired him very much," Reagan said in a statement. "Art was great to be around, always warm and optimistic and he loved people."

Ernie Harwell Dead at 92. 8 Points for Roland West

Legendary baseball broadcaster Ernie Harwell, 92, died Tuesday at his home, 10 months after he was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer in his bile duct.

A member of the Baseball and Sportscasters Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting in 1981, Harwell is best known for his work calling Detroit Tigers games, which he did for 42 years until retiring in 2002.



"All of Major League Baseball is in mourning tonight upon learning of the loss of a giant of our game, Ernie Harwell. This son of Georgia was the voice of the Detroit Tigers and one of the game's iconic announcers to fans across America, always representing the best of our national pastime to his generations of listeners," said commissioner Bud Selig.



Said Tigers owner Mike Ilitch: "Ernie Harwell was the most popular sports figure in the State of Michigan. He was so genuine in everything that he did -- from his legendary broadcasting to the way he treated the fans and everyone around him. He was truly a gentleman in every sense of the word. Ernie has a special place in the hearts of all Detroit Tigers' fans and the memories he created for so many of us will never be forgotten. Baseball lost a legendary voice this evening and we have all lost a dear friend."



"Ernie is probably the most beloved person who has ever been in Detroit with the Detroit Tigers," Tigers Hall of Fame outfielder Al Kaline said upon the announcement that Harwell would retire in 2002. "He is loved by everybody and rightfully so. He's a great broadcaster but even a better person. That comes across on his broadcasts."