In 2024, we've experienced the loss of several luminaries in the world of entertainment. These beloved figures—actors, comedians, musicians, singers, and coaches—have touched our lives with their talent, passion, and dedication. They've left an indelible mark on our hearts and shaped the world of entertainment in ways that will continue to inspire and influence generations to come.
Among the incredible actors who bid farewell this year, we mourn the loss of a true chameleon who effortlessly.
Luigi Waites was born Lewis Waites on July 10, 1927 in Omaha, Nebraska. Waites began playing drums at age twelve, and soon after began playing local nightclubs around Omaha. In those days there were two local musicians unions; one black, one white.
During his high school years, Waites regularly played in bars and clubs which sometimes affected his ability to get enough sleep on school nights. He might perform as a professional musician until the wee hours and then jump into a taxicab standing by in front of his mother's house to rush him to class at Central High School the next morning. This, to the chagrin of some of his instructors, since on a teacher's salary in that day most schoolteachers could not afford to take a cab to work each day. While Waites served in the U.S. Army at Camp Lee, Virginia, he met jazz drummer Elvin Jones.
In 1960, Waites founded The Contemporaries, a multicultural, independent drum corps that featured jazz rhythms, lyres and modern dance steps. Then, during the 1970s, Luigi Waites was a solo artist in The National School Tours program where he performed in classrooms and school assemblies. When leading his band, Luigi Inc, he performed on vibraharp rather than drums. He appeared with the group over 1,700 times on Sunday nights in Omaha at the bar, Mr. Toad.[2]
Waites died at 4 a.m. on April 6, 2010 at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska of natural causes. He was 82 years old To see more of who died in 2010click here
Eddie Carroll was a voice actor who took over the role of Jiminy Cricket in 1973 after the death of original voice Cliff Edwards in 1971. He grew up in Canada. In the 1950s, he moved to Hollywood to become an actor. According to an interview, he was the uncle of actress Erika Eleniak, who played Elly May in the 1990s version of the Beverly Hillbillies. Eddie Carroll entertained in dinner theatres as a Jack Benny impersonator and provided the voice of Jiminy Cricket until his death in 2010.
(September 5, 1933 - April 6, 2010)
The Canadian-born actor assumed the role of Jiminy for all manner of Disney media, including the Kingdom Hearts video game series (2002's "Kingdom Hearts" and 2005's "Kingdom Hearts II") and the 1999 video game "Disney's Villains' Revenge." The Encino, California resident was also noted for his superb Jack Benny impersonation, both live and in voiceover commercials or re-creations. Until a recent injury which may have resulted in the cause of his death, Carroll had been performing the critically-acclaimed one-man tribute stage show Jack Benny: Laughter in Bloom, which he wrote himself. He was Jiminy Cricket (the Ghost of Christmas Past) in the 1983 featurette Mickey's Christmas Carol, and portrayed Jiminy in the 2001 TV series Disney's House of Mouse. As well, he was Jiminy in the 1992 attraction "Fantasmic!". Sometimes credited as Ed E. Carroll, he was born in Edmonton, Alberta on September 5, 1933. During the 1970s, he co-wrote scripts for Hanna-Barbera and other cartoon studios (notably The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, along with Jamie Farr). His many live-action TV credits included roles on Gomer Pyle, Mary Tyler Moore, and a weekly NBC series with Don Knotts.
Carroll's Jack Benny production opened in Los Angeles. He continued to perform the show in theaters across North America, as well as engagements in Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City. His performance earned front-cover stories in major newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News. The entertainment industry lauded his show with numerous honors, including the coveted Golden Mike Award for Entertainment Excellence and the Preservation of Broadcast History. On TV, he was singled out for in-depth profiles on CNN, Turner Broadcasting and Headline News, as well as the featured story on ABC's Entertainment Magazine. Carroll's television career began with the MGM series The Lieutenant, followed by a recurring role on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. A long list of TV credits followed, including such classic shows as All in the Family, One Day at a Time, Fantasy Island, Life With Lucy and Love, American Style, plus recurring roles on the popular Maude and Alice series. He also appeared with such luminaries as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Milton Berle and -- ironically -- Benny himself on their television specials.
Numerous appearances on the famed Hollywood Palace show with Knotts led to him co-starring with Don on a weekly NBC series. His most recent TV credits included guest-starring roles on Frasier and Spy-TV. On stage, he played leading roles in musicals, drama and comedy in more than two dozen theater productions from Los Angeles to New York, where he appeared in Legends On Broadway. He also had the unique experience of breaking new ground in the theater by playing two roles simultaneously. He portrayed Benny playing the fastidious Felix Unger in a new adaptation of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple. Critics said, "Juggling two roles at once is a precarious undertaking for any actor, but Carroll plays it just right... a superior performance marked by nuance and sharp timing." Carroll got his start in Canadian theater and working as a writer in radio and television. An NBC scholarship for a new talent brought him to Los Angeles, and he was soon drafted into the army, where he wrote and produced shows for Armed Forces Radio and Television. Pursuing his acting career after the service, Carroll expanded his other talents with a comedy album, writing songs that led to a recording contract and writing songs for other artists, including a hit single ("How Is Julie") for the singing group The Lettermen. During this time, Eddie and Farr formed Carroll-Farr Productions and were soon involved in creating and developing projects and pilots for ABC, CBS, Screen Gems/Columbia and H-B. In addition, they created the TV series Man to Man and wrote and co-produced a full season of episodes for MGM-TV. Over the years, Carroll also appeared in over 200 commercials and used his voiceover talents in more than a hundred animation, radio and TV spots. An honorary member of the famed Friars Club, he also served on the board of directors of the prestigious Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters, a group of more than 700 professionals who have worked in radio and television for more than twenty years. Each year, PPB holds five special events to honor the achievements of prominent actors, entertainers, directors, producers and writers who have distinguished themselves in the Broadcast media. Carroll was a recipient of the Diamond Circle Award For Many Distinguished Years In Radio And Television by the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters. The organization also has the distinction of building a library that has compiled the largest collection of radio and television memorabilia in existence. He and Carolyn Springer, a doctor of psychology, married in 1963. At the time of his death, his wife was writing a book, Touring the World with a Husband and Two Suitcases!. Besides his wife, Eddie Carroll is survived by their two children, Tina, an artist and actress, and Leland, a doctor of kinesiology and chiropractic. Video of Carroll discussing his work as Jiminy Cricket can be seen on the D23 Web site. To see more of who died in 2010click here
Born in Ames, Iowa, where she lived her entire life, to Schuyler and Carebie Freed as the youngest of four children. Neva Freed married Edward Leonard Morris in 1914. The couple had four children: Leslee, Mary Jane, Walter, and Betty Lee. They lived with Edward’s parents, Gertrude Rutherford and Walter Leonard Morris, on a farm encompassing 224 acres of land.[1] She assisted in helping her four children attend Iowa State University by raising chickens, hogs and dairy cattle.[2]Neva's son-in-law, 90-year-old Tom Wickersham, who lived in the same retirement home as Morris,[2] said “It didn’t hurt that she worked hard all her life and ate hearty and healthy meals prepared from meat, dairy products and vegetables produced on the farm.”[1] Walter Morris, age 82[3], Neva’s youngest son and only living child, believed that her secret was her passion for fast cars, as witnessed by her 80-year accident-free driving record.[1] Aged 90 years, she purchased a 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis.[2] She discontinued driving when she was 95 years of age.[2]
Morris was a member of PEO Chapter OH, a 60-year member of Collegiate United Methodist Church, and for 75 years was active in Eastern Star.[1] She also enjoyed singing in women’s choral groups, including one in Gilbert and the Story County Women’s Chorus under the direction of Max Exner.[1] Neva particularly loved to sing “You Are My Sunshine.”[1]
Morris' husband Edward died in the 1960s.[3] At age 99, Morris moved from her farm home to North Grand Care Center[1] and later to Northcrest Community in 1998.[3] According to Wickersham in March 2010, she "had hearing and vision loss but was able to participate in limited activity at the nursing home".[4]
At about 4 a.m. on April 6, 2010, Morris died with her 90-year-old son-in-law by her bedside.[4] She was the second oldest living person in the world. She is survived by one son, eight grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren To see more of who died in 2010click here
His first wife Deirdre Hamilton-Hill (1943-1997) gave him an acting daughter, Jemma Redgrave, best known for her title role in the British television series Bramwell; and a son, Luke, a camera operator and production assistant.
His second wife was the actress Kika Markham, by whom he had two sons, Arden and Harvey.
In June 2005, he was described by his family as being in a "critical but stable" condition in hospital following a severe heart attack at a public meeting in Basildon, Essex.[1] Redgrave had also been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer since 2000. His first wife, Deirdre Redgrave, died of cancer and his sister, Lynn, is in remission from breast cancer for which she was treated in recent years.
In March 2009 Corin made his return to the London stage playing the title role in Trumbo, based on the life of the blacklisted Hollywood screen writer Dalton Trumbo. On opening night Corin dedicated his performance to the memory of Natasha Richardson, his niece, who had died earlier that week following a skiing accident.
He died on 6 April 2010 in a South London hospital.[2]
Sugar Lee Hooper,stage name of Marja van der Toorn, died she was 62. Hooper was a Dutchsinger , presenter , entertainer and television personality.Zij stond vooral bekend om haar stevige voorkomen, kaal geschoren hoofd en haar felgekleurde jurken. She was known for her strong prevention, shaved head and her brightly colored dresses.Haar bekendste nummers zijn De Wandelclub (Jo met de Banjo) en Oh, wat ben je mooi . Her best known songs are the Wandelclub (with Jo Banjo) and Oh, you're beautiful.
Van der Toorn werd geboren als dochter van een jazzpianist en Hawaï-gitariste. Van der Toorn was the daughter of a jazz pianist-guitarist and Hawaii.Als veertienjarige kreeg ze haar eerste drumstel . As a fourteen year old got her first drum kit .Enige tijd later werd ze drumster van het vrouwenorkest The Ladybirds . Some time later she became the wife of drummer band The Lady Birds.Later kwam ze bij de band Vin and the Cardinal Queens . Later she joined the band Vin & the Cardinal Queens.Met haar broer Hans bracht Van der Toorn twee redelijk succesvolle singles uit, waarna ze koos voor het moederschap. With her brother Hans, Van der Toorn two fairly successful singles, after which she chose motherhood.
Later koos ze er toch voor weer te gaan drummen. Later, they nevertheless chose to return to drumming.Twaalf jaar lang deed ze dit voor The Crazy Rockers . For twelve years she did this for The Crazy Rockers .Bij een val van het podium raakte ze zo gewond dat er een revalidatie van zeven jaar volgde. When falling off the stage she became so wounded that a rehabilitation of seven years followed.Er ontstond blijvende schade, wat ertoe leidde dat ze besloot om niet langer meer te drummen maar te gaan zingen. There was lasting damage, which led them decided to no longer be drumming, but to sing.
Begin jaren '90 kwam Van der Toorn in aanraking met boekingsagente Dini Maagdenberg , die interesse in haar als zangeres had. Early 90s came into contact with Van der Toorn booking agent Maagdenberg Dini , who had interest in her as a singer.Dit was de geboorte van de artieste Sugar Lee Hooper . Sugar verwees naar Van der Toorns liefde voor zoetigheden, Lee Hooper was de naam van de manager van Billie Holiday . This was the birth of the artist Sugar Lee Hooper. Sugar, referring to Van der Toorn love sweets, Lee Hooper was the name of the manager of Billie Holiday .Hoewel haar platenmaatschappij graag had dat ze een Nederlandstalig repertoire nam, hield Hooper vast aan het Engels. Although her record that she would have preferred a Dutch repertoire took Hooper held fast to the English.Haar inspiraties waren Ella Fitzgerald , Sam & Dave en The Pointer Sisters . Her inspirations were Ella Fitzgerald , Sam & Dave and The Pointer Sisters .Haar opvallende stemgeluid en verschijning zorgden ervoor dat ze op veel feesten en partijen verscheen. Her voice and striking appearance made sure they appeared in many festivals and parties.
In 1993 bracht ze een album en singles uit. In 1993 she released an album and singles.Dit werden uiteindelijk maar kleine hits. This small but were finally hits.Een jaar later was Suger Lee Hooper een vast panellid in het TROS -spelprogramma Dat zeg ik niet . A year later, Suger Lee Hooper establish a panelist at the TROS -game I do not say .Weer een jaar later stapte ze alsnog over naar het Nederlands en bracht ze het lied De Wandelclub uit. A year later she moved on to Dutch, and still she brought the song from The Wandelclub.Onder meer door een opvallend optreden in de André van Duin Show werd dit haar eerste top 10-hit. Including a notable appearance in the Yardbirds show , this was her first top 10 hit.De hierop volgende albums en singles werden echter kleine tot geen successen. The subsequent albums and singles were, however small or no success.Desondanks werd Hooper een gevestigd artiest en daarmee veelgevraagd in het schnabbelcircuit. Hooper was nevertheless an established artist and therefore much in demand in the gig circuit.Zo speelde ze enkele gastrollen in oa Het zonnetje in huis , PaPaul en in Pittige tijden . She played several guest roles in such light up the house , PaPaul and Spicy times .Ook speelde ze recent een rol in de speelfilm I Love Dries , als huisvriendin. Also recently, she played a role in the feature film I Love Dries , as family friend.
Met haar vriendin Andrea van der Kaap sloot Sugar Lee Hooper in 1998 een geregistreerd partnerschap . With her friend Andrea van der Kaap ditch Sugar Lee Hooper in 1998 a registered partnership .In 2001 was ze de eerste Nederlandse artiest die een homohuwelijk sloot door het geregistreerd partnerschap om te laten zetten in een huwelijk. In 2001 she became the first Dutch artist to a same-sex marriages entered into by the partnership to be registered into a marriage.
In januari 2006 onderging Sugar Lee Hooper in Duitsland een facelift . In January 2006 Sugar Lee Hooper underwent in Germany a facelift .In 2007 onderging ze een buikwandcorrectie en een borstoperatie. In 2007 she underwent a tummy tuck and breast surgery.
Op 31 maart 2008 werd bekendgemaakt dat Sugar Lee Hooper een tumor in de heup had, waaraan zij geopereerd moest worden. [2] Later bleek het om een goedaardige tumor te gaan. [3] Op 14 april 2008 deelde het management van Sugar Lee Hooper mee, dat de artieste per direct zou stoppen met optreden, omdat zij het werk fysiek en mentaal niet meer aankon. On March 31, 2008 it was announced that Sugar Lee Hooper a tumor in the hip had, which she needed surgery. [2] later turned out to be a benign tumor to go. [3] On April 14, 2008 informed the management of Sugar Lee Hooper implies that the artist would immediately stop action as they work physically and mentally no longer cope.Het feit, dat de 60-jarige zangeres naar eigen zeggen lichamelijk op was, deed haar besluiten om haar artiestenbestaan aan de wilgen te hangen. [4] The fact that the 60-year-old singer had to physically own words, made her decide her artists are hanging on the willows. [4]
Op 28 maart 2010 viel ze van haar scootmobiel , waarbij ze haar heup brak. On March 28, 2010 she fell from her scooter , which she broke her hip.Tijdens de hierop volgende operatie kreeg ze een hartstilstand en zuurstofgebrek. During subsequent surgery she had a cardiac arrest and oxygen lack.Om die reden werd ze kunstmatig in een coma gehouden. [5] Op 31 maart 's avonds werd bekendgemaakt, dat het weer iets beter ging. For this reason she was in an artificial coma held. [5] On March 31 evening it was announced that the weather was little better.De slaapmiddelen werden afgebouwd, waarna afgewacht moest worden of en hoe ze zou ontwaken. The hypnotics were phased out, then wait to be or how they would awaken.Uiteindelijk is ze op zondagmorgen 4 april 2010 om 10.05 uur overleden op 62-jarige leeftijd. [6] Ultimately it on Sunday April 4, 2010 at 10.05 am deceased at age 62. [6]
The actor and director Buza Ferraz, 59, died at 3:15 am this Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, according to the Samaritan Hospital, where he was hospitalized.Buza foi encaminhado ao hospital devido a um mal-estar e teve uma parada cardíaca fatal enquanto era atendido. Buza was taken to hospital due to malaise and had a fatal cardiac arrest while being treated.O ator sofria de leucemia. The actor was suffering from leukemia.
Buza, que dirigiu o filme For All - Trampolim da Vitória (1997), fez seu último trabalho em 2006, na série Faça sua História da Rede Globo. Buza, who directed the film For All - Springboard to Victory (1997), made his last work in 2006, the series make its history of Rede Globo.O seu primeiro trabalho foi na novela Selva de Pedra , em 1972. His first work was the novel concrete jungle in 1972.Ele ficou famoso devido ao papel de Cauê na novela O Rebu , de 1975, sendo o primeiro ator a ter um caso homossexual em uma novela da emissora. He became famous because of the role of the novel The Cauê Rebu, 1975, being the first actor to have a homosexual affair in a novel of the station.
Ele também foi produtor do filme Estorvo (2000), baseado na obra de Chico Buarque de Hollanda. He was also Estorvo movie producer (2000), based in Chico Buarque de Hollanda.
Buza's last job in television was in 2006, the novel "Pages of Life" from TV Globo.
Son of the traditional family in Rio, he graduated in Journalism, but chose to devote himself to playwriting.Apoiado pelo pai, começou a trabalhar no teatro em 1969, com musical "Hair", que contava com Sônia Braga no elenco. Backed by his father, began working in theater in 1969, with musical "Hair", which featured Sonia Braga in the cast.Em pouco tempo, Ferraz chegou ao cargo de diretor. Soon, Ferraz reached the position of director.
Na TV, foi galã de diversas produções globais dos anos 80. On TV, it was heart-throb several global productions of the 80s.Sua estreia aconteceu ao lado de Regina Duarte e Francisco Cuoco na novela "Selva de Pedra", de Janet Clair . His debut came alongside Regina Duarte and Francisco Cuoco on the novel "concrete jungle", by Janet Clair.Seu papel mais importante na TV, no entanto, foi na novela "O Rebu" (1972), que exibiu o primeiro caso homossexual da teledramaturgia nacional. Their most important role on the TV, however, was the novel "The Rebu" (1972), which showed the first case of homosexual teledramaturgia nationwide.
Botafoguense, já foi casado com a atriz Gilda Guilhon . Botafogo, has been married to actress Gilda Guilhon.Em 1985, Buza perdeu o pai, que cometeu suicídio. In 1985, Buza lost his father, who committed suicide.
Em 1998, se afastou da tv para fazer cinema. In 1998, retired from television to cinema.Através de sua Bigdeni Filmes, produziu "Estorvo", adaptado do romance de Chico Buarque de Hollanda . Esteve à frente de um único longa-metragem – "For All, o Trampolim da Vitória" (1996), grande vencedor do 25º Festival de Gramado. Through its Bigdeni Films, produced "embarrassment", adapted from the novel by Chico Buarque de Hollanda. He was a leader of one feature film - "For All, the Springboard of Victory" (1996), winner of the 25th Festival de Gramado .Seus trabalhos mais recentes foram nas séries "Malhação" e "Casos e Acasos", embora sua última novela tenha sido "Páginas da Vida" (2006), de Manoel Carlos . His most recent works were in the series "Malhação" and "Cases and Chance," while his last novel was "Pages of Life" (2006), Manoel Carlos.
Era casado com Denise Maia , com quem teve cinco filhos e uma enteada.Denise was married to Maia, who had five sons and one stepdaughter.Em entrevista ao RJ TV, da Rede Globo, Denise revelou que o marido lutava contra uma leucemia, mas que sua morte não teve qualquer associação com a doença. In an interview with RJ TV, Globo, Denise revealed that her husband was fighting leukemia, but that his death had no association with the disease.Ainda de acordo com a viúva, Buza estava em um sítio em Teresópolis, região serrana do Rio, quando começou a passar mal. Also according to the widow, Buza was on a site in Teresopolis, mountainous region of Rio, when he began to feel ill."Os médicos pediram que ele voltasse para o Rio e procurasse atendimento. Quando ele chegou no hospital teve três paradas cardíacas e uma espécie de edema pulmonar", contou. "The doctors asked him to return to the river and sought care. When he arrived at the hospital had three cardiac arrests and a kind of pulmonary edema.
After college, he began training under Pete McKay Gonzalez, Ismael Gerena and Bobby Bold Eagle at the Lower East Side Wrestling Gym in Manhattan at some point between December 1991 and January 1992. He wrestled his first match on April 5, 1992 in Levittown, New York at the Island Trees Junior High School, and wrestled one match as Chris Morgan before adopting the ring name Chris Canyon and later changed it to Chris Kanyon. Kanyon worked as a physical therapist for the next three years, wrestling on weekends and in the evenings, before finally deciding to become a full-time professional wrestler in 1995. Early in his career, Kanyon formed a tag team with Billy Kidman which saw both men wrestle in the uniform of hockey players.[1]
In late-1994 he made several appearances with the World Wrestling Federation as a jobber, facing wrestlers such as Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Tatanka and Bob Holly.[1] His friend and future manager James Mitchell saw potential in him and sent him for training with The Fabulous Moolah in South Carolina and with Afa at the Wild Samoanwrestling School.[1]
Kanyon debuted in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as a jobber. After several months he was placed with Mark Starr in a tag team called "Men at Work".[1] Their gimmick was that they were two construction workers turned wrestlers who wore jeans to the ring, and that Kanyon would cause the team to suffer losses by taking measurements with his tape measure at inopportune times. Kanyon was replaced with Mike Wenner before the team disbanded altogether.
In 1997, Kanyon donned a mask and was repackaged as Mortis,[1] a Latin word meaning death. The gimmick was based on an amalgamation of two characters from the fighting gameMortal Kombat - Reptile and Scorpion. Managed by James Vandenberg,[1] Kanyon feuded with Glacier (modeled after the character Sub-Zero).[1] Kanyon faced Glacier at Uncensored on March 16 in his pay-per-view debut but lost to the undefeated Glacier.[1] Following the match, Wrath debuted, siding with Kanyon and assaulting Glacier. Glacier defeated Kanyon in a second match at Slamboree on May 18.[1] After the match, Wrath and Mortis once again attacked Glacier. However, Glacier was spared a post-match beating when Ernest Miller ran to the ring to defend him. The four men fought one another over the following weeks, culminating in a match at Bash at the Beach on July 13 which was won by Kanyon and Wrath.[1] Kanyon and Wrath continued to team together until the angle was quietly dropped in late 1997.
In February 1998, Kanyon (still in his guise as Mortis) asked Raven if he could join Raven's stable The Flock but was told that he could only become a member if he defeated Diamond Dallas Page for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. Kanyon failed to defeat Page for the title on the 12 February episode of Thunder,[3] and he was DDT'ed on the entrance ramp by Raven as a result. This event led to Kanyon discarding the "Mortis" persona and beginning a feud with Raven, in the course of which he was dubbed "The Innovator of Offense" by play-by-playcommentatorMike Tenay due to his unique wrestling technique, which included multiple moves performed from a fireman's carry position. He formed an uneasy alliance with Perry Saturn in order to fight against The Flock, but eventually turned on Saturn and joined forces with Raven. After Saturn forced The Flock to disband by defeating Raven at Fall Brawl, Kanyon and Raven continued to team together until Raven, in storyline, was sidelined with depression and Kanyon took time away from his wrestling career to work as stunt coordinator and stuntman on The Jesse Ventura Story.
Kanyon returned in 1999, helping Raven and Saturn win the WCW World Tag Team Championship, but soon abandoned them and formed a stable with Bam Bam Bigelow and Diamond Dallas Page known as the Jersey Triad. The Triad feuded with Saturn and Chris Benoit over the Tag Team Championship, defeating them for the title on June 13 in the Baltimore Arena at The Great American Bash. During their reign, they were given special dispensation by WCW President Ric Flair to defend the title as a three man unit, granting them a numerical advantage over their opponents. However, the ruling was overturned by Flair's replacement Sting, and Kanyon and Bigelow lost the title to Harlem Heat at Road Wild on August 14, 1999. The Triad disbanded shortly thereafter, with Kanyon once again placing his wrestling career on hiatus to work on the WCW produced film Ready to Rumble, where he served as stunt coordinator and as the stunt double of lead actor Oliver Platt.
Kanyon returned to WCW in late 1999 as Chris "Champagne" Kanyon, abbreviated to C.C.K., accompanied by J. Biggs, his "agent", and two former Nitro Girls, Baby and Chameleon. He claimed that he had become acclimatised to the glamor of Hollywood and thus began indulging in luxuries such as champagne, women, and expensive cars. He feuded briefly with Bigelow and Page before being removed from WCW by interim bookerKevin Sullivan.
Kanyon returned to WCW once more on April 10, 2000, when Vince Russo replaced Sullivan. He teamed with Page for several months, which climaxed at Slamboree with him attempting to save DDP from being powerbombed by Mike Awesome on top of the triple cage which was also used in the Ready to Rumble movie. Kanyon saved Page, but Awesome turned his attention to Kanyon, throwing him off the triple cage onto the ramp below, ending the pay-per-view in dramatic fashion. Kanyon, after a storyline which saw him in a halo brace in a hospital and in a wheelchair, stepped out of the wheelchair and turned on Page at The Great American Bash costing him his Ambulance match against Mike Awesome. Kanyon then joined Eric Bischoff, the leader of the New Blood faction. In the course of his renewed feud with Page, Kanyon began imitating Page, renaming himself "Positively" Kanyon (a reference to Page's autobiography, Positively Page) and wearing a long blonde wig. He eventually dyed his hair blonde and wore a "P.C.K." (Positively Chris Kanyon) T-shirt. In the course of the feud he began using a version of Page's finishing move, the Diamond Cutter, known as the Kanyon Kutter. He began arbitrarily delivering the Kutter to various WCW backstage employees, and at one point executed the move on Gene Okerlund and Buff Bagwell's mother Judy, leading to a short feud with the Bagwell family, which led to Buff Bagwell defeating Kanyon at New Blood Rising in a Judy Bagwell Judy Bagwell on a Forklift match. Kanyon left WCW shortly afterward.
Kanyon returned to WCW on the February 5, 2001 episode of Nitro attacking Diamond Dallas Page renewing his feud with Page. Kanyon returned to the ring and defeated Page at SuperBrawl Revenge on February 18, 2001, but Page defeated Kanyon in a rematch the following night on Nitro. Kanyon began feuding with Ernest "The Cat" Miller in March 2001. During this time he had a small gimmick change including a more intense look, new entrance music and a black leather jacket he wore to the ring. The feud has not been resolved by the time WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation in late March, 2001.
On July 6, 2001, Kanyon made his WWF debut on SmackDown! as part of The Alliance,[1] a group of former WCW wrestlers who were "invading" the WWF. At Invasion Kanyon along with Shawn Stasiak and Hugh Morrus defeated The Big Show, Billy Gunn and Albert in a six-man tag team match. On July 26, 2001 in the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, WCW World Heavyweight ChampionBooker T, at the request of Stephanie McMahon, gave Kanyon his WCW United States Championship.[1] Upon being presented with the title, Kanyon began referring to himself as "The Alliance MVP" and frequently posed the rhetorical question"Who betta than Kanyon?".
Kanyon reformed his tag team with fellow Alliance member Diamond Dallas Page on the August 6, 2001 edition of Raw when Kanyon helped Page attack The Undertaker backstage. On the August 9, 2001 episode of SmackDown!, they defeated the Acolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq and Bradshaw) for the WWF Tag Team Championships.[1] Their reign lasted until August 19, when they were defeated by the Brothers of Destruction (Kane and The Undertaker) for the title in a steel cage match at SummerSlam. Kanyon went on to lose the United States Championship to Tajiri on the September 10, 2001 episode of Raw.
Kanyon then had a small feud with Matt Hardy over Kanyon hitting on Lita. Kanyon pinned Hardy on September 24, 2001 edition of Raw. The feud eventually ended in early October after the Hardy Boyz defeated Kanyon and multiple Alliance partners, such as Rhyno, Lance Storm, Chuck Palumbo and Hugh Morrus, in a series of tag team matches. Kanyon then began working on the WWF's B-shows.
On October 29, 2001 Kanyon tore his left anterior cruciate ligament during a dark match with Randy Orton. He underwent surgery with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama and was sidelined for the remainder of the Invasion angle. In May 2002, Kanyon was cleared to compete and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling, a WWE developmental territory, through the end of the month to restore himself to full fitness.[1] However, while wrestling Lance Cade in Lima, Ohio on July 13, 2002 Kanyon injured his left shoulder, suffering a humeral headcontusion and supraspinatustendinitis. He underwent surgery on July 21, 2002 but began experiencing breathing difficulties on July 25, 2002. As a result of an allergy to the medications with which he was being treated, Kanyon's lungs filled with fluid and his blood oxygen level fell to 41%. He gradually recovered and was discharged from hospital on July 28, 2002 having lost 32 lb (15 kg) in the interim.
Kanyon returned to OVW in October 2002 and remained there for a further four months, while continuing working dark matches before Raw and SmackDown throughout late 2002 and early 2003. On the February 13, 2003 episode of SmackDown! he returned to the main SmackDown roster, emerging from a large crate, from The Big Show, dressed as Boy George and singing the song "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" to The Undertaker, prompting The Undertaker to attack him.[1] Kanyon made his televised in ring return on the April 19, 2003 edition of Velocity with his "Who Betta Than Kanyon?" gimmick and was defeated by Rhyno. Despite a few appearances on SmackDown, Kanyon was relegated to Velocity as a jobber from that point on for the rest of 2003, in addition to wrestling on several dark matches and house shows as Mortis.
On February 9, 2004, after a year of not being used in any major storylines and two injuries, Kanyon was officially released from his contract.[1] He retired from professional wrestling on August 28, 2004 after losing a retirement match to Diamond Dallas Page in Wayne, New Jersey. In July 2005, he announced the end of his retirement and his imminent return to the independent circuit. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, he took part in several benefit shows.
Kanyon appeared at the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay-per-view Turning Point on December 11, 2005 as Larry Zbyszko's choice, Chris K, losing to Raven.[1] Kanyon also appeared in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla taking on PWG champion, Joey Ryan. Joey retained the title with help of distraction by someone wearing a Mortis outfit.
In October 2006, Kanyon joined Tha O Show as a regular columnist. On one edition of the show, he claimed that Bret Hart indirectly admitted to him that Hart, Vince McMahon, and Pat Patterson were all in on the Montreal Screwjob.[4]
As a youth, Kanyon played roller hockey, basketball, and baseball at school.[1] Tall, lean, and strong, Kanyon spent most of his spare time lifting weights in the gym. In 1992 he graduated from the University at Buffalo with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy.[1] During his time there, he was a member of the Mad Turtles, the University of Buffalo Rugby Football Club. Kanyon worked full time as a physical therapist for three years before becoming a wrestler. In the early hours of October 16, 2004 he was arrested in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida for "disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence" after attempting to break up a fight.[1] He was released that same day after fellow wrestler Altar Boy Luke provided a $750 cash bond. Kanyon publicly claimed he did nothing wrong, and the case was thrown out of court.
Kanyon, along with Scott Levy and Michael Sanders, attempted to sue WWE for "cheating them out of health care and other benefits" but a federal judge in Stamford, Connecticut dismissed the case.[5] In addition, on February 4, 2006, while wrestling on an independent show for Blood Sweat and Ears, Kanyon cut a post-match promo saying that Vince McMahon released him because he was homosexual.[1] Kanyon told a few reporters and even stated on a number of radio interviews, that it was just a publicity stunt and that he was really heterosexual.[6] However, later, he claimed that his initial statements were false, and he was actually homosexual in his real life.[7]
On April 2, 2010, Kanyon was found dead in his Sunnyside, Queens, New York apartment, due to an apparent overdose of medication. Initial reports indicated a possible suicide.[7] He was 40 years old.
Luigi Waites died he was 82. Waites was a jazz drummer and vibraphonist from Omaha, Nebraska. He performed weekly gigs in the Omaha area both solo and with ensembles such as Luigi, INC. He served the Omaha music community for over 60 years. He toured Europe twice and performed with jazz legends such as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington. Luigi, Inc has shared the stage with Jean-Luc Ponty, James Brown and Dizzy Gillespie.[1] 
During his high school years, Waites regularly played in bars and clubs which sometimes affected his ability to get enough sleep on school nights. He might perform as a professional musician until the wee hours and then jump into a taxicab standing by in front of his mother's house to rush him to class at Central High School the next morning. This, to the chagrin of some of his instructors, since on a teacher's salary in that day most schoolteachers could not afford to take a cab to work each day. While Waites served in the U.S. Army at Camp Lee, Virginia, he met jazz drummer Elvin Jones.
As a drummer, Luigi Waites was influenced by Buddy Rich, Joe Jones, Louie Bellson and Max Roach.[1]
