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.
Jim MacLaren was a motivational speaker and author, noted for his record-breaking performances in the marathon and Ironman triathlon after having his left leg amputated below the knee.
(April 13, 1963 – August 30, 2010)
MacLaren was born on 13 April 1963. He was a standout athlete in football and lacrosse at Yale University. Moreover even before matriculating at Yale he had been a leading athlete at Vermont Academy. In 1985, at the age of 22, MacLaren lost his left leg below the knee in a motorcycle accident. He recovered, and went on to run the marathon in 3 hours, 16 minutes, and to finish the Ironman Hawaii in 10 hours, 42 minutes.
Then, in 1993, during the Orange County Triathlon, MacLaren was struck by a van during the bike portion of the race and collided with a signpost, rendering him a quadriplegic.
MacLaren's accident inspired members of the running community to raise funds to allow him to purchase a van he could drive with his hands. The fundraiser rose above and beyond the amount of funds necessary, and the Challenged Athletes Foundation was founded in an effort to support other disabled athletes in their efforts.
Again MacLaren recovered, and used a wheelchair. MacLaren then worked as a motivational speaker and author.
He was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2005 ESPY Awards presentation. He recently passed away on August 31,2010, in his sleep.
(川本 喜八郎,Kawamoto Kihachirō?, January 11, 1925 – August 23, 2010)
Biography
Born in 1925, from an early age Kawamoto was captivated by the art of doll and puppet making. After seeing the works of maestro Czech animator Jiří Trnka, he first became interested in stop motion puppet animation and during the '50s began working alongside Japan's first puppet animator, the legendary Tadahito Mochinaga. In 1958, he co-founded Shiba Productions to make commercial animation for television, but it was not until 1963, when he traveled to Prague to study puppet animation under Jiří Trnka for a year, that he considered his puppets to have truly began to take on a life of their own. Trnka encouraged Kawamoto to draw on his own country's rich cultural heritage in his work, and so Kawamoto returned from Czechoslovakia to make a series of highly individual, independently-produced artistic short works, beginning with Breaking of Branches is Forbidden (Hana-Ori) in 1968. Heavily influence by the traditional aesthetics of Nō, Bunraku-style puppetry and kabuki, since the '70s his haunting puppet animations such as The Demon (Oni, 1972), Dōjōji Temple (Dōjōji, 1976) and House of Flame (Kataku, 1979) have won numerous prizes internationally. He has also produced cut-out (kirigami) animations such as Travel (Tabi, 1973) and A Poet's Life (Shijin no Shogai, 1974). In 1990 he returned to Trnka's studios in Prague to make Briar Rose, or The Sleeping Beauty. In Japan, he is best known for designing the puppets used in the long-running TV series based on the Chinese literary classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sangokushi, 1982–84), and later for The Tale of the Heike (Heike Monogatari, 1993–94). In 2003, he was responsible for overseeing the Winter Days (Fuyu no Hi) project, in which 35 of the world's top animators each worked on a two-minute segment inspired by the renka couplets of celebrated poet Matsuo Bashō. The Book of the Dead (Shisha no Sho) is Kawamoto's second feature length stop motion puppet animation, after Rennyo and His Mother (Rennyo to Sono Haha) in 1981. It had its world premiere as a part of a Special Retrospective Tribute at the 40th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 1–9, 2005, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic).
Filmography
Short films
Breaking of Branches is Forbidden(花折り,Hana-Ori?, 1968, 14 min.)
Anthropo-Cynical Farce (Farce anthropo-cynique, 1970, 8 min., from a story by Riichi Yokomitsu)
Conny Stuart, pseudonym of Cornelia van Meijgaard, was a Dutch actress, singer, and cabaretière.
(September 5, 1913 – August 22, 2010)
Biography
Stuart was born in Wijhe and grew up in The Hague, near the Vredespaleis. Her father was the administrator of the baron.
During her education at the HBS Bleyenburg she took on the name "Stuart" and took piano lessons. In this period, she got the nickname "Puck". Stuart started her career as chansonnière and performed with the band of Freddy Johnson. On July 25, 1939, she made her radio debut. In the Second World War, she met Wim Sonneveld, and began to perform in his ensemble. Sonneveld stimulated her comic qualities, for instance by letting his stage writer Hella Haasse write a farcical song like "Yvonne de spionne" for her. In the 1950s she became the leading lady of the show. Annie M.G. Schmidt, who wrote for the shows in those days, made sure she at least had one solo per show. She also could be heard in popular comical radio shows like Mimosa and Koek en ei.
In those years she was married to Henri Hofman. They had two sons. In 1957 she divorced and married fellow actor Joop Doderer. They divorced in 1960.
From the 1960s on, she became one of The Netherlands' greatest musical stars. She mainly acted in the musicals of Annie M.G. Schmidt and Harry Bannink, including their first, Heerlijk duurt het langst from 1965. The show was an incredible success, and Schmidt and Bannink wrote four more musicals for her. She ended her career in 1985 with her stage show De Stuart Story, accompanied by Louis van Dijk, where she performed old success songs and new songs written for her by Schmidt.
Dave McElhatton, an esteemed figure in the world of broadcast journalism, left behind a profound legacy following his passing on August 23, 2010, at the age of 81. Having served as an evening news anchor in San Francisco, California for several decades, McElhatton's contribution to the field was truly remarkable.
McElhatton's exceptional career and influence within the industry were acknowledged with his inclusion in the first class of inductees to the Bay Area Hall of Fame. This distinguished honor solidified his standing as a respected and beloved figure in the San Francisco community. McElhatton remained a significant presence in the world of news broadcasting until his retirement in 2000.
Fondly referred to as "Mac" by colleagues and viewers alike, McElhatton's commitment to delivering accurate, insightful, and engaging news coverage fostered a strong connection between himself and the audience he served so faithfully.
Dave McElhatton's impact on the broadcast journalism landscape, particularly within the Bay Area, remains an inspiration for aspiring and seasoned journalists alike. As the community mourned his passing, his life and work continue to be celebrated as a testament to the power of dedication and integrity in news reporting.
(December 8, 1928 – August 23, 2010)
Early life
Dave McElhatton's early life was rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area. Born and raised in Oakland, California, McElhatton pursued higher education at San Francisco State College, now known as San Francisco State University. His dedication to learning culminated in the achievement of a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies in 1951.
San Francisco State University is a respected institution that provides a diverse and well-rounded education, encompassing many areas of knowledge in the humanities, arts, and sciences. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, effective communication, and the pursuit of intellectual growth.
This educational foundation served as a stepping stone for McElhatton's future success in broadcast journalism, equipping him with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the competitive world of news reporting. The early years of his life laid the groundwork for his illustrious career, and his connection to San Francisco and its institutions continued to shape his personal and professional journey.
Dave McElhatton's illustrious career in journalism garnered him numerous awards and accolades, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the field. Some of the most notable awards he received include:
Excellence in Journalism Award by the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California Chapter in 1988, honoring his distinguished career.
Induction into the Alumni Hall of Fame at San Francisco State University in 1996, recognizing his achievements as an alumnus.
The Governor's Award at the Northern California Emmy Presentation in 1999, acknowledging his remarkable influence in the broadcasting industry.
The Associated Press Television-Radio Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, celebrating his lifelong dedication and significant impact on journalism.
Induction into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2006 as part of its inaugural class, solidifying his status as a radio legend.
These prestigious awards highlight the immense respect and admiration that McElhatton's peers and the industry at large had for his work and the lasting legacy he left behind.
Edwin George Morgan was a Scottish poet and translator who was associated with the Scottish Renaissance died of pneumonia , he was 90. He is widely recognised as one of the foremost Scottish poets of the 20th century. In 1999, Morgan was made the first Glasgow Poet Laureate. In 2004, he was named as the first Scottish national poet: The Scots Makar.
(27 April 1920 – 17 August 2010)
Biography
Morgan was born in Glasgow and grew up in Rutherglen. His parents were Presbyterians. As a child he was not surrounded by books, nor did he have any literary acquaintances and schoolmates labelled him a swot. He convinced his parents to finance his membership of several book clubs in Glasgow. The Faber Book of Modern Verse (1936) was a "revelation" to him, he later said.[1]
Morgan entered the University of Glasgow in 1937. It was at university that he studied French and Russian, while self-educating in "a good bit of Italian and German" as well.[1] After interrupting his studies to serve in World War II as a non-combatantconscientious objector with the Royal Army Medical Corps, Morgan graduated in 1947 and became a lecturer at the University. He worked there until his retirement in 1980.
Morgan came out as gay in Nothing Not Giving Messages: Reflections on his Work and Life (1990), but explored his sexuality in many previous works.[3] He had written many famous love poems, among them "Strawberries" and "The Unspoken", in which the love object was not gendered; this was partly because of legal problems at the time but also out of a desire to universalise them, as he made clear in an interview with Marshall Walker available from Carcanet Press.
At the opening of the Glasgow LGBT Centre in 1995, he read a poem he had written for the occasion, and presented it to the Centre as a gift.
In 2002 he became the patron of Our Story Scotland. At the Opening of the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh on 9 October 2004, Liz Lochhead read a poem written especially for the occasion by Morgan, titled Poem for the Opening of the Scottish Parliament.
Near the end of his life, Morgan reached a new audience after collaborating with the Scottish band Idlewild on their album The Remote Part. In the closing moments of the album's final track "In Remote Part/ Scottish Fiction", he recites a poem, "Scottish Fiction", written specifically for the song. In 2007, Morgan contributed two poems to the compilation Ballads of the Book for which a range of Scottish writers created poems to be made into songs by Scottish musicians. Morgan's songs "The Good Years" and "The Weight of Years" were performed by Karine Polwart and Idlewild respectively. His work also influenced the 'Sonnets from Scotland' series by landscape photographer Alex Boyd.[4]
Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney "[paid] formal homage" during a 2005 visit.[5]
In later life he was cared for at a residential home as his illness worsened, though he published a collection in April 2010 titled Dreams and Other Nightmares, months before his death[6] to mark his 90th birthday.[5] At times he suffered pain.[6] Up until his death, he was the last survivor of the canonical 'Big Seven' (the others being Hugh MacDiarmid, Robert Garioch, Norman MacCaig, Iain Crichton Smith, George Mackay Brown, and Sorley MacLean).
On 17 August 2010, Edwin Morgan died of pneumonia in Glasgow, Scotland, at the age of 90 years.[2][7] The Scottish Poetry Library made the announcement in the morning.[5] Tributes came from, among others, politicians Alex Salmond and Iain Gray, as well as Carol Ann Duffy, the UK's Poet Laureate.[8]
Works and publications
Beowulf: A Verse Translation into Modern English, Hand and Flower Press, 1952
The Vision of Cathkin Braes and Other Poems, William MacLellan, 1952
The Cape of Good Hope (limited edition), Pound Press, 1955
Poems from Eugenio Montale (translator), School of Art, University of Reading, 1959
Morgan has worked in a wide range of forms and styles, from the sonnet to concrete poetry. His Collected Poems appeared in 1990. He has also translated from a wide range of languages, including Russian, Hungarian, French, Italian, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Old English (Beowulf). Many of these are collected in Rites of Passage. Selected Translations (1976).[9]. His 1952 translation of Beowulf has since become a standard translation in America.[6]
Morgan is also known to be influenced by the American beat poets, with their simple, accessible ideas and language being prominent features in his work.
In 1968 Morgan wrote a poem entitled Starlings In George Square. This poem could be read as a comment on society's reluctance to accept the integration of different races. Other people have also considered it to be about the Russian Revolution in which "Starling" could be a reference to "Stalin".
Other notable poems include:
The Death of Marilyn Monroe (1962) – an outpouring of emotion after the loss of one of the world's most talented women.
The Billy Boys (1968) – flashback of the gang warfare in Glasgow led by Billy Fullerton in the Thirties.
Glasgow 5 March 1971 – robbery by two youths by pushing an unsuspecting couple through a shop window on Sauchiehall Street
In the Snackbar – concise description of an encounter with a disabled pensioner in a Glasgow restaurant.
A Good Year for Death (26 September 1977) – a description of five famous people from the world of popular culture who died in 1977
Poem for the Opening of the Scottish Parliament – which was read by Liz Lochhead at the opening ceremony because he was too ill. (9 October 2004)
Awards
Morgan received several honorary degrees, was bestowed with an OBE in 1982 and was shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize in 2007 for A Book of Lives.[5]
Jim MacLaren was a motivational speaker and author, noted for his record-breaking performances in the marathon and Ironman triathlon after having his left leg amputated below the knee.
