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.
Gans acted and did voice work on "Lost in Space" in 1966-67 and appeared on such series as "It
Movie roles included "Tarzan and the Jungle Boy" in 1968 and "Runaway, Runaway" in 1971.
Ronald Kenneth Gans was born Aug. 9, 1931, in Chicago and his family moved to California when he was 14. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School and attended USC before serving in the Navy, his wife said. He started acting after leaving the service.
Gans' voice also could be heard on commercials and promos for television shows and movies, his wife said. To see more of who died in 2010 click here
Queen Jane was from Murang'a District. She started her musical career in 1984 as back up vocalist for Mbiri Young Stars under the band leader Musaimo (Simon Kihara). She formed her own band Queenja Les Les and released her debut album Ndorogonye in 1991, produced by Lemanco Productions [1]
Her career reached prominence a year later upon the release of her hit song Mwendwa KK[2][3]. Her other hits include Ndutige Kwiyaba, Muici Wa Itura, Muthuri Teenager and Arume Ni Nyamu[4]. Many of her songs handled social issues [5].
Her last album Gikuyu Giitu (Our Gikuyu (Language/tribe)) was released in early 2010 [1]. Maina David Mithu of Leemax Studio has been one of her producers [6].
She won awards from the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) and Music Composers Association [2]. Her song Nduraga Ngwetereire (I've been Waiting for You) was released on The Rough Guide to the Music of Kenya compilation CD [2].
Queen Jane died of meningitis[1] June 29, 2010 at St Mary's Hospital in Nairobi after a spell of illness [4]. Her funeral was postponed as her relatives disputed over the place of her burial [7].
She is survived by husband Kariuki Mburu [8]. Her siblings Ejidiah Wanja (aka Lady Wanja) and Agnes Wangui (Princess Aggie) are also musicians [3]. Kenyan politician John Michuki is her uncle [1].
Taricone was born in Frosinone. He was a contestant on the first season of Grande Fratello, the Italian version of Big Brother, in 2000.[2] On the show, Taricone had an affair with fellow contestant Cristina Plevani after just three days in the house.[2] Taricone came in third place on the show, while Plevani won the season.[2] However, the show launched Taricone and he later appeared in Italian television and film roles.[1]
Taricone and Smutniak took part in a skydive over Terni, Umbria, in June 2010.[1] During the jump, Taricone waited to open his parachute until he was just 100 metres from the ground.[1] However, the parachute malfunctioned and failed to open, slamming Tarcione to the ground.[1] He suffered severe back, leg and head injuries in the accident.[2]
He died on June 29, 2010, after more than nine hours of surgery at the age of 35.[2][1] He was survived by his six-year old daughter with Smutniak, Sofia.[2]
William "Bill" Aucoin[1][2] was an American band manager.
(29 December 1943 – 28 June 2010, )
Born in 1943, Aucoin attended Northeastern University and graduated with a degree in film.[3] He worked at WGBH in Boston during his college years and after. Aucoin later worked at Teletape Productions as a cinematographer.[4]
Credited with discovering KISS, Aucoin managed the group for nearly a decade. He quit in 1982 citing creative and directional differences [5], but later worked with the band on various DVD projects.
Aucoin originally produced a television show called "Supermarket Sweep" in the early (pre-1973) 1970s.[6]
Aucoin had re-entered the management business with his company, Aucoin Globe Entertainment, at the time of his death of surgical complications from prostate cancer. He is survived by partner Roman Fernandez, and two sisters, Betty Britton and Janet Bankowski.
Corey Allen was an Americanfilm and television director, writer, producer, and actor. He began his career as an actor but eventually became a television director. He may be best known for playing the character Buzz Gunderson in Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause (1955). [1] He was one of the last surviving cast members of the film.
Allen was best known for his role as gang leader Buzz Gunderson in Nicholas Ray's 1955 film Rebel Without A Cause. Starring in the film was James Dean, who played Jim Stark, a disaffected teenager who has moved to Los Angeles to start a new life, only to find more problems in his new home. After a show at the Griffith Observatory, Buzz challenges Jim to a knife fight, which Stark wins by subduing Buzz with his switchblade. During the filming of the knife fight, both Allen and Dean, aficionados of method acting, used real knives and Dean was injured when Allen lunged at him with his knife.[2] The gang challenges Jim to a chickie run, in which two stolen cars will be raced towards a cliff and the winner will be the last one to jump out.[2] Before the two are about to embark on their death race, Buzz and Jim stand at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the fall they might face if they remained in their cars to the end. As Jim questions why they are going ahead with this race, Buzz responds "You got to do something, don't you".[3] Allen would later recall that his classic line was "the underlying question of each generation. Here we are: What do we do?".[4] As the cars are heading to the cliff, Buzz attempts to jump out but is unable to escape when his leather jacket gets caught in the car door and is killed in the crash at the beach below.[2]
He was actively involved in theatrical productions in the Los Angeles area, creating the touring company Freeway Circuit Inc. in 1959 and the Actors Theater in 1965. He was also involved in teaching theater at The Actors Workshop.[3]
He died due to complications of Parkinson's disease on June 27, 2010, in Hollywood, California, just two days before his 76th birthday. He was survived by a daughter, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.[2]
Giuffrè died yesterday evening, June 26th during an operation for peritonitis in San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome. Giuffrè turned 86 years old on April 10. A native of Naples, Italy he was a radio announcer before he was 20 years-old and announced the end of the war in 1945.
He started acting on stage in 1942 with the Eduardo De Filippo company. He worked on stage with Luchino Visconti and Giorgio Strehler. In 1972-1973 he played alongside his brother Carlo in the comedy “Un coperto di più”. His film debut was in 1947 in the drama “Assunta Spina” directed by Mario Mattoli. He also appeared in “I eri, oggi, domani” directed by Vittorio De Sica but is best remembered for his role as Captain Clinton in Sergio Leone's “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966). His last film appearance was in 2001's “La republica di San Gennaro” directed by Massimo Costa. In the 1960s he devoted most of his acting skills to television. Giuffrè also appeared in the Euro-western “Two Mafiamen in the Far West” (1964) as a defense attorney with Franco and Ciccio.
Rammellzee's graffiti and art work are based on his theory of Gothic Futurism, which describes the battle between letters and their symbolic warfare against any standardizations enforced by the rules of the alphabet. His treatise, Iconic Panzerisms, details an anarchic plan by which to revise the role and deployment of language in society.[3]
He has stated that his name is derived from RAM plus M for Magnitude, Sigma (Σ) the first summation operator, first L - longitude, second L - latitude, Z - z-bar, Σ, Σ - summation.
Rammellzee performed in self-designed masks and costumes of different characters which represented the "mathematical equation" that is Rammellzee. On the basis of his Gothic Futurism approach, he described his artistic work as the logical extension into a new phase which he calls Ikonoklast Panzerism. This artistic work has been shown in art galleries throughout the US and Europe. His Letter Racers, and other Noise includes artistic works by individuals mostly identified with their musical contributions.[4]
Rammellzee was also instrumental as one of the original hip hop artists from the New York area who introduced specific vocal styles which date back to the early 1980s.[5] His influence can still be heard in contemporary artists such as The Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill. His song Beat Bop was featured in the film Style Wars. Rammellzee makes a cameo appearance near the end of Jim Jarmusch's 1984 film Stranger Than Paradise.
Discovered by a larger audience through the 1982 cult movie Wild Style by Charlie Ahearn, his fame in graffiti circles was established when he painted New York subway trains with Dondi, OU3, and Ink 76, and doctor Revolt.[6] Rammellzee was also a member of the Death Comet Crew, with Stewart Albright, Michael Diekmann and Shinichi Shimokawa.
In 1988, he and his band Gettovetts recorded the album Missionaries Moving. In 2003, Rammellzee performed at the Knitting Factory in New York with the newly reformed Death Comet Crew. Subsequently Troubleman Unlimited re-released recordings made by DCC between 1982 and 1984. Their single for Exterior St was featured on the compilation Anti-NY with Ike Yard, Sexual Harassment, and Vivian Goldmann, among others. In 2004, Rammellzee released his debut album Bi-Conicals of the Rammellzee, produced by Gomma Records. Rammellzee also performed at Knitting Factory with guitarist Buckethead several times.
Ronald Kenneth Gans , sometimes credited as Ron Kennedy, was an American voice-over artist[1] and character actor, known for portraying Sebastian the alley cat on The Disney Channel's Dumbo's Circus and the voice of Kanga and Roo on Welcome to Pooh Corner. He also voiced the Stunticon Drag Strip in The Transformers. Gans died in Los Angeles at the age of 79, due to complications from pneumonia.[2]
(August 9, 1931 – June 29, 2010)
