Dominick John Dunne died he was 83

Dominick John Dunne^{[1] [2]} was an American writer and investigative journalist whose subjects frequently hinged on the ways high society interacts with the judicial system. He was a producer in Hollywood and was also known for his frequent appearances on television. He was the brother of author John Gregory Dunne; the writer Joan Didion was his sister-in-law. He was the father of Alexander Dunne, and of the actors Griffin Dunne and Dominique Dunne as well as two daughters who died in infancy.

(October 29, 1925 - August 26, 2009)

Dunne, the second of six children, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Dorothy Frances (née Burns) and Richard Edwin Dunne, a hospital chief of staff and prominent heart surgeon.^[3][4] His Irish Catholic family was wealthy (his maternal grandfather founded the Park Street Trust), but from his earliest days Dunne recalled feeling like an outsider in the predominantly WASPish West Hartford.^[3]

After Dunne's studies at the Kingswood School and Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut^[5] 'Nicky' Dunne – as he was known during his boyhood – attended Williams College and then served in World War II, including the battle of Metz. Afterward he moved to New York, then to Hollywood, where he directed Playhouse 90 and became vice-president of Four Star Television. He hobnobbed with the rich and the famous of those days. In 1979, beset with addictions, Dunne left Hollywood and moved to rural Oregon, where he says he dealt with his personal demons and wrote his first book, The Winners.

In November 1982, his daughter, Dominique Dunne, best known for her part in the film Poltergeist, was murdered. Dunne attended the trial of her murderer (John Thomas Sweeney) and wrote the article "Justice: A Father's Account of the Trial of his Daughter's Killer" for Vanity Fair.

Dunne went on to write for Vanity Fair regularly and fictionalized several real-life events, such as the murders of Alfred Bloomingdale's mistress Vicki Morgan and banking heir William Woodward, Jr., for best-selling books. He eventually hosted the TV series Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice on CourtTV (later truTV), in which he discussed justice and injustice and their intersection with celebrities. Famous trials he covered include those of O.J. Simpson, Claus von Bulow, Michael Skakel, William Kennedy Smith, and the Menendez brothers.

In 2005, Gary Condit won an undisclosed amount of money and an apology from Dunne, who had earlier implicated him in the disappearance of Chandra Levy, an intern from his district with whom he had been carrying on an affair. In November 2006, he was sued again by Condit for comments made about the former politician on Larry King Live on CNN^[6] but the suit was tossed out of court.

While it was rumored in early 2006 that he intended to cease writing for Vanity Fair, Dunne stated the opposite in a February 4, 2006 interview with talk show host Larry King. "Oh, I am at Vanity Fair. I'll be in the next issue and the issue after that. We went through, you know, a difficult period. That happens in long relationships and, you know, you either work your way through them or you get a divorce. And I didn't want a divorce and we've worked our way through and Graydon and I are close and he's a great editor and I'm thrilled to be there."^[7]

Dunne frequently socialized with, wrote about, and was photographed with celebrities. A Salon.com review of his memoir, The Way We Lived Then, recounted how Dunne appeared at a wedding reception for Dennis Hopper. Sean Elder, the author of the review, wrote: "But in the midst of it all there was one man who was getting what ceramic artist Ron Nagle would call 'the full cheese,' one guy everyone gravitated toward and paid obeisance to." That individual was Dunne, who mixed easily with artists, actors and writers present at the function. The final line of the review about Dunne quoted Dennis Hopper wishing he "had a picture of myself with Allen Ginsberg and Norman Mailer."^[8]

In 2008, at age 82, Dunne traveled from New York to Las Vegas to cover O.J. Simpson's trial on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery for Vanity Fair magazine, claiming it would be his last. During the trial, an unidentified woman approached and kissed him, causing her to be ejected from the courtroom. When he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, he expressed amazement[1]at how fast the word spread at his fan site, DominicksDiary.com.[2]

Dunne's adventures in Hollywood as an outcast, top-selling author and reporter, were catalogued in the release of Dominick Dunne: After the Party. This film documents his successes and tribulations as a big name in the entertainment industry. In the film, Dunne reflects on his past as a World War II veteran, falling in love and raising a family, his climb and fall as a Hollywood producer, and his epic comeback as a writer.

In September 2008, Dunne disclosed that he was being treated for bladder cancer.^[9] He was working on Too Much Money, his final book, at the time of his death.^[10] On September 22, 2008, Dunne complained of intense pain and was taken by ambulance to Valley Hospital.^[11] Dunne died on August 26, 2009 at his home in Manhattan from bladder cancer.^[12] However news of his death was minimal, as Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy had died the day before.^[13]

Brenda Joyce died she was 92

Brenda Joyce died she 92. Joyce was an American film actress. She was born as Betty Graffina Leabo in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Although she appeared in many B-movies of the 1940s, she is best-remembered as the seventh actress to play Jane in the Tarzan series of films. She succeeded Maureen O'Sullivan in the series and appeared in the role five times.

Her first four appearances as Jane were opposite Johnny Weissmuller. However, her last performance as Jane, in Tarzan's Magic Fountain (1949), was with Lex Barker as Tarzan. Joyce and Karla Schramm from the silent era were the only two actresses to play Jane opposite two different actors playing Tarzan.

(February 25, 1917^[1] – July 4, 2009^[2])

She retired from acting in 1949.

She was married to Owen Ward from 1941 until their divorce in 1949; they had three children, Pamela Ann, Timothy Owen and Beth Victoria.

Brenda Joyce died on July 4, 2009 in a nursing home in Santa Monica, California.^[2]

Dave Lester Laut died he was 52

David "Dave" Lester Laut died he was 52. Laut was an American shot putter. He was born in Findlay, Ohio.

(December 21, 1956 – August 27, 2009)

He won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He also won the gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games and the bronze at the 1981 IAAF World Cup.

His personal best throw was 22.02 metres, achieved in August 1982 in Koblenz.

Laut was murdered at his home in Oxnard, California on August 27, 2009 by an armed prowler. He was shot three times and died immediately. He had been the Athletic Director for Hueneme High School in the Oxnard Union High School District.

Adam Michael Goldstein (DJ AM) has died he was 36 years old

Adam Michael Goldstein has died he was 36. DJ ASM was an American club disc jockey better known as DJ AM. Goldstein was a former member of the rock band Crazy Town, and scratched on albums for Papa Roach, Madonna, and Will Smith, among others. He collaborated with Travis Barker of Blink-182 at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, and appeared in several television series.

(March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009)

On September 19, 2008, Goldstein was seriously injured when a Learjet he was traveling in crashed on takeoff. Singer Mandy Moore, with whom he was close, flew to be by his side at the Georgia hospital where he was staying.^[1] He had been battling post-traumatic stress after the crash, and suffering from 'survivor guilt'.^[2]

Goldstein was found dead at his New York City apartment at around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a Jewish family,^[3][4][5] His father verbally abused him, as Goldstein said, it was "unbelievably cruel." Later he found out his father was secretly gay and addicted to drugs.^[6] Eventually his father was sent to jail for committing bank fraud and died of AIDS.^[7] He began taking drugs, so his mother placed him in a treatment center that specialized in “tough love.” Unbeknownst to his mother, the place was an abusive house of horrors that would eventually be shut down. "The counselors beat us. They spit in our faces. They starved us. They never let us see or talk to our parents," Goldstein later pictured the situation.^[8]

When Goldstein was 20 years old, he started deejaying, which he'd been obsessed with ever since he saw Herbie Hancock do the song “Rockit” at the Grammy Awards. He started going to AA meetings again and distanced himself from friends who were still using drugs. "By then, I was booking jobs at every major club and had started to gain a following," he told Glamour magazine. ^[9]

Goldstein was a member of the rock band Crazy Town, known for their hit "Butterfly". He has also scratched on albums for Papa Roach, Madonna, Will Smith, and Shifty and played concerts with Jay-Z. He has played private events for celebrities like Jim Carrey, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Stiller, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, and Kate Hudson.^[10] He had had a one-year contract with Las Vegas' Pure Nightclub inside Caesar's Palace to play at the venue every Friday and opening a nightclub at Caesars Atlantic City called Dusk.^[11]

He had recently collaborated with Travis Barker of Blink-182 and +44 in several performances, including the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. On December 1, 2008, TV Guide reported that DJ AM would make his first appearance with Travis Barker since the two survived the plane crash. The duo performed at New Year's Nation's Los Angeles 2008 New Year's Eve Party at The Wiltern. Their performance was streamed live on the Internet via New Year's Nation's official site, and was broadcast at other New Year's Nation parties across the U.S.^[12][13] Before the gig Barker told press, "I'm ready to get back onstage with AM and continue to rock the house. I'm very excited to bring in the New Year in my hometown of L.A."^[14]

His reality television appearances include Punk'd, where his former fiancée, Nicole Richie, was the subject of a practical joke, and the third season of The Simple Life. Goldstein appears as himself in the "What About Bob?" episode of Entourage's third season; he gets the last pair of an exclusive line of shoes, right before Vince (Adrian Grenier) and Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) arrive. He had recently finished filming a reality show for MTV, called Gone Too Far, in which he and concerned families staged interventions for drug abusers.^[15]

He was also a co-owner of the popular club LAX. In 2009, DJ AM became Rain Nightclub's regular Friday night DJ.^[16]

On September 19, 2008, after having performed at a college event with frequent collaborator Travis Barker, Goldstein was seriously injured when a Learjet he was traveling in crashed on takeoff in West Columbia, South Carolina. The crash killed both crew members and two other passengers, and critically injured Goldstein and Barker.^[17] They were both transported to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, and were both listed in critical condition.^[18] According to reports, Goldstein suffered burns on his hands and part of his head. His ex-girlfriend, singer Mandy Moore, with whom he was still close, flew to be by his side at the Georgia hospital where he was staying.^[19][20] Goldstein was released from the hospital on September 26, 2008, a spokeswoman told AP.^[21]

In December 2008, Goldstein filed a civil lawsuit against the plane's charter company, Learjet and Goodyear tires; the suit claims negligence on the part of the pilots and a manufacturing defect on the part of the plane. Goldstein was asking for damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement and loss of earnings.^[22] Goldstein was the last passenger to file a civil suit; the estates of deceased passengers Chris Baker and Charles Still have already filed suits, as has crash survivor Travis Barker, although Barker and Still's suits did not name the deceased pilots as defendants.^[23]

"I have a great deal of faith that everything happens for a reason. I put myself in God's hands," Goldstein told People magazine in October 2008.^[24]

Goldstein was addicted to crack cocaine and "at 24 I felt like my life was over," he told Glamour magazine in January 2008. At the time he hadn't taken drugs or had a drink for nine and a half years. "At any given moment, I'm five seconds away from walking up to someone, grabbing their drink out of their hand and downing it. And if I do that, within a week, tops, I’ll be smoking crack," he added.^[25]

He began dating actress Nicole Richie in 2004 and announced their engagement a year later in February 2005.^[26] However, the couple broke up in late 2006.^[27] "The one thing that stands out about Adam is that I can be myself," Richie said after the breakup.^[28] After his breakup with Richie, Goldstein dated singer-actress Mandy Moore.^[29][30] He was good friends with Steve Aoki, Cory Kennedy, Samantha Ronson, John Mayer, Paris Hilton, Travis Barker and DJ Eric Cubeechee.^[31]

DJ AM was an avid "sneakerhead" (posting on sneaker enthusiast message board Niketalk.com), he collected athletic shoes, primarily Nikes. His collection of over 600 shoes includes a pair of Nike Air Force 1 shoes that were created specifically for him, with his DJ AM logo appearing on the shoe itself. In a new commercial, he starred alongside Mike Epps and Kobe Bryant sporting the Nike Air Yeezy, the signature shoe for Kanye West.^[32]

Adam Goldstein was found dead at his New York City apartment at 210 Lafayette Street at around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009. He was 36 years old. Friends called the police, who along with paramedics broke into the apartment and found Goldstein's body. Sources say the cause of death may have been accidental drug overdose.^[33][34] Statements by a New York law enforcement official to the Associated Press indicate that drug paraphernalia was found in the apartment, but no signs of foul play.^[35] A rep for Goldstein released a statement: "Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein was found deceased this afternoon in his New York City apartment. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear. Out of respect for his family and loved ones, please respect their privacy at this time."

A week before his death, Goldstein and longtime girlfriend Hayley Wood had broken up. On August 21, Life & Style magazine reported that Goldstein's friends took him out for dinner earlier that week in Los Angeles "because he was depressed." His friends told TMZ.com that he continued to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).^[36] "He struggled with pain after the crash," a close friend of Goldstein told E! News Friday. "But it seemed like he was functioning fine and never missed work."^[37]

Ted Kennedy died he was 77

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal lion of the Senate and haunted bearer of the Camelot torch after two of his brothers fell to assassins' bullets, has died at his home in Hyannis Port after battling a brain tumor. He was 77.

For nearly a half-century in the Senate, Kennedy was a steadfast champion of the working class and the poor, a powerful voice on health care, civil rights, and war and peace. To the American public, though, he was best known as the last surviving son of America's most glamorous political family, the eulogist of a clan shattered again and again by tragedy.

His family announced his death in a brief statement released early Wednesday.

"We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever," the statement said. "We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all."

Kennedy was elected to the Senate in 1962, when his brother John was president, and served longer than all but two senators in history. Over the decades, he put his imprint on every major piece of social legislation to clear the Congress.

His own hopes of reaching the White House were damaged - perhaps doomed - in 1969 by the scandal that came to be known as Chappaquiddick, an auto accident that left a young woman dead.

Kennedy - known to family, friends and foes simply as Ted - ended his quest for the presidency in 1980 with a stirring valedictory that echoed across the decades: "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die."

Kennedy learned he had a malignant tumor called a glioma after suffering a seizure on May 17, 2008, at his home in Hyannis Port. The prognosis was grim: Median survival for the worst form of gliomas is 12 to 15 months, although the time depends on the type of glioma.

His death late Tuesday comes just weeks after that of his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver on Aug. 11.

In recent weeks, Kennedy had spent most of his time at his Hyannis Port home with his family, appearing frail during his brief public appearances. He was too ill to attend the funeral of his sister. Nor could he make the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony when President Obama awarded him the country's highest civilian honor.

The famed orator made only a handful of public statements since he was first stricken, including a surprise speech in August to the Democratic National Convention, a December address at his alma mater, Harvard University and brief remarks at the White House health care conference in March.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Kennedy's son Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., said his father had defied the predictions of doctors by surviving more than a year with his fight against brain cancer.

The younger Kennedy said that gave family members a surprise blessing, as they were able to spend more time with the senator and to tell him how much he had meant to their lives.

The younger Kennedy said his father's legacy was built largely in the Senate.


"He has authored more pieces of major legislation than any other United States senator," Patrick Kennedy said in the interview. "He is the penultimate senator. I don't need to exaggerate when I talk about my father. That's the amazing thing. He breaks all the records himself."

William Williams died he was 93,

William J. Williams, a driving force in Cincinnati sports and a former owner of the Reds, died he was 93.

Williams is also remembered as one of the Queen City's leading businessmen and charitable forces for decades, but he's best known as the man who steered the Reds' Big Red Machine to its 1970s glory.

"Mr. Williams made many contributions to the success of this proud franchise, and his family continues to play an important role in its stewardship," said Reds president and chief executive officer Bob Castellini. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time."

Williams became a principal owner of the Reds when a group including him purchased the club in 1966, launching Williams on a 16-year stretch as the team's vice president.

Shortly after beginning his role with the Reds, Williams influenced the 1967 hiring of Bob Howsam as general manager, which helped ignite the Big Red Machine.

The Reds were baseball's dominant team in the 1970s, a decade during which they won six West Division titles, four National League pennants and World Series championships in 1975 and '76.

Williams became the Reds' managing general partner in 1980, then general partner from 1982-84. The club was sold to Marge Schott in 1985.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig released a statement upon learning of Williams' death.

"Major League Baseball is deeply saddened by the loss of William J. Williams Sr., who served as a part-owner, vice president and general partner during his tenure with the Reds from 1966-84. Bill helped lead the franchise known as the Big Red Machine, which had a profound impact on baseball history.

"A proud member of the Cincinnati community, Bill's sound judgment and quiet, determined leadership have left a considerable legacy not only with the ballclub and with Major League Baseball but throughout the city he loved. Bill was a baseball activist who was very influential on league and baseball policy throughout his tenure in the game. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest sympathies to his family, including his sons, Reds chairman Joe Williams and vice chairman Tom Williams, and his many friends."

Williams' family remains deeply involved with the Reds' day-to-day operations. In addition to sons W. Joseph Williams Jr. and Thomas L. Williams, grandson Dick Williams is the team's vice president of baseball operations.

"He wasn't flashy; he wasn't egotistical," Thomas Williams told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "He never let ego affect his judgment."

In 1968, Williams Sr. became a founding owner of the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, an ownership he retained until his death.

Millionaire Murder Suspect Ryan Jenkins Found Dead he was 32

Ryan Jenkins, committed suicide he was32. Jenkins was a Canadian reality television contestant.

The manhunt for murder suspect Ryan Jenkins is officially over. Canadian police found the former reality star dead in a hotel room this afternoon, E! News has confirmed.

Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death, but police say the 32-year-old died of an apparent suicide. He reportedly hanged himself.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police found his body in a motel room in Hope, British Columbia, a town 84 miles east of Vancouver.

The death ends an international manhunt for the Megan Wants a Millionaire finalist, who fled to his native Canada on foot last week.

"The sadness of all this is that Mr. Jenkins will not be standing before an Orange County jury for his crime," Buena Park Police Lt. Steve Holliday said in a press conference last night.

Jenkins was charged in the gruesome murder of his ex-wife, former swimsuit model Jasmine Fiore, after her body was found stuffed in a suitcase inside of a trash bin on Aug. 15. Fiore, 28, was missing her teeth and fingers.

Jenkins, who met and married Fiore within the span of just a few weeks this spring, quickly moved from "person of interest" to person charged with murder.

It's a tag his death may not relieve.

"I do believe he participated in the murder," Holliday said. "Because there's additional information we're following up on, I can't expand any further than that."

Holliday added that Jenkins' vehicle is a "key piece of evidence in this investigation," but declined to confirm reports that Fiore was killed in the car.

"We're lucky to have that car. And we would love to have seen Ryan Jenkins stand before an Orange County jury."