/ Stars that died in 2023

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Richard T. Gill, American opera singer, died from heart failure he was , 82

Richard Thomas Gill was an American economist and opera singer. He held several teaching and administrative positions at Harvard University over a period of twenty-two years died from heart failure he was , 82. He was Assistant Dean of Harvard College, Allston Burr Senior Tutor (Dean) of Leverett House, and Teaching Fellow, Instructor, and Assistant Professor of Economics. In 1963, he received tenure as Lecturer on Economics and Master of Leverett House.

(November 30, 1927 – October 25, 2010)

Gill was born on November 30, 1927, in Long Branch, New Jersey. Though he did not study voice formally, Richard was a boy soprano in his church choir and played the clarinet. At 16 he entered Harvard, where he sang in the glee club. Gill left Harvard to serve in the United States Army where he saw duty during the American Occupation of Japan. After completing his military service, he returned to Harvard, where he completed his undergraduate degree in 1948. He came back to Harvard after doing graduate work in philosophy at the University of Oxford and was named an assistant dean at Harvard at the age of 21. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from the university in 1956.[1]





For over a decade, he directed Economics 1, which became the largest elective course in the previous history of Harvard College. He also taught courses in economic development, public policy, and economic theory for both graduate and undergraduate students.
 

Harvard career

He was a member of numerous university committees, including the Committee on Educational Policy, the Administrative Board, the Kimball Fund, the Committee on Admissions and Scholarships, and the Ford Faculty Fellowship Program. He was the co-author of a major report on the reform of the Harvard General Education Program, and the sole author of a report on Harvard's honors and tutorial programs.

Opera career

Richard Gill left Harvard in 1971 and spent the next decade and a half as an opera singer. He made his debut as principal artist (bass) with the New York City Opera, his roles there including Sarastro (The Magic Flute), Enrico (Anna Bolena), Sir Giorgio (I Puritani), Seneca (Poppea), Colline (La bohème), Pogner (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg), and others.
He made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1973. His roles there included Pimen (Boris Godunov), Friar Laurence (Roméo et Juliette), Timur (Turandot), Iero (Siege of Corinth), Commendatore (Don Giovanni), and others.
He appeared as principal artist with the opera companies of Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Boston, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Caracas. Toronto, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, and many others. He was in several world premieres including Philip Glass's Satyagraha.
He also appeared as a soloist with symphony orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic (under Leonard Bernstein), the Boston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and many others. His radio appearances included several Texaco Metropolitan broadcasts, Chicago Lyric broadcasts, and broadcasts of the New York City Opera, New York Philharmonic, and Radio France, Paris. He also appeared in a telecast of Joan of Arc produced by the Canadian National Opera.
While a singer, he was elected to the Board of Governors and subsequently First Vice President of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the principal union for classical operatic singers, ballet dancers, and stage directors in the United States.

Media career

Gill was the primary economic analyst on the AnnenbergCPB television series Economics U$A.
He had written 11 textbooks, one novel (The Taking of Farnham Hall: Searching for Reality in the 1960s, 2003), and several short stories.
A resident of Chocorua, New Hampshire, Gill died of heart failure at the age of 82 on October 25, 2010 in Providence, Rhode Island.[1]

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Gregory Isaacs, Jamaican reggae singer, died from lung cancer. he was 59

Gregory+Isaacs
 Gregory Anthony Isaacs [1] was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae"died from lung cancer. he was 59.[2] His nicknames include Cool Ruler[3] and Lonely Lover.


(15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)

Biography

Gregory+Isaacs1In his teens, Isaacs became a veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place in Jamaica. In 1968, he made his recording debut with a duet with Winston Sinclair, "Another Heartache", recorded for producer Byron Lee.[1] The single sold poorly and Isaacs went on to team up with two other vocalists (Penroe and Bramwell) in the short-lived trio The Concords, recording for Rupie Edwards and Prince Buster.[1] The trio split up in 1970 and Isaacs launched his solo career, initially self-producing recordings and also recording further for Edwards.[1] In 1973 he teamed up with another young singer, Errol Dunkley to start the African Museum record label and shop, and soon had a massive hit with "My Only Lover", credited as the first lovers rock record ever made.[1] He recorded for other producers to finance further African Museum recordings, having a string of hits in the three years that followed, ranging from ballads to roots reggae, including "All I Have Is Love", "Lonely Soldier", "Black a Kill Black", "Extra Classic" and his cover version of Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper".[1] In 1974 he began working with producer Alvin Ranglin, and that year he had his first Jamaican number one single with "Love Is Overdue". [1] Isaacs recorded for many of Jamaica's top producers during the 1970s, including Winston "Niney" Holness, Gussie Clarke ("My Time") , Lloyd Campbell ("Slavemaster"), Glen Brown ("One One Cocoa Fill Basket"), Harry Mudie, Roy Cousins, Sidney Crooks and Lee "Scratch" Perry ("Mr. Cop") .[4] By the late 1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers in the world, regularly touring the US and the UK, and only challenged by Dennis Brown and Bob Marley.[4][5] Between 1977 and 1978, Isaacs again teamed up with Alvin Ranglin, recording a string of hits including "Border" and "Number One" for Ranglin's GG's label.
International stardom seemed assured in 1978 when Isaacs signed to the Virgin Records offshoot Front Line Records, and appeared in the film Rockers, in which he performed "Slavemaster".[4] The Cool Ruler (which became one of his nicknames) and Soon Forward albums, however, failed to sell as well as expected,[4] although they are now considered among his best work.[6] In 1981, he made his first appearance at the Reggae Sunsplash festival (returning annually until 1991), and he moved on to the Charisma Records offshoot Pre, who released his The Lonely Lover (another nickname that stuck) and More Gregory albums along with a string of increasingly successful singles including "Tune In", "Permanent Lover", "Wailing Rudy" and "Tribute to Waddy".[7] He signed to Island Records and released the record that finally saw him break through to a wider audience, "Night Nurse", the title track from his first album for the label (Night Nurse (1982)).[7] Although "Night Nurse" was not a chart hit in either the UK or US, it was hugely popular in clubs and received heavy radio play, and the album reached #32 in the UK.[8] This success for Isaacs coincided with drug problems with cocaine which saw him serve a six-month prison sentence in Kingston in 1982 for possession of unlicensed firearms.[7][9] Isaacs claimed that he had the weapons only for protection, but it emerged that this was his 27th arrest and that Isaacs had become involved in drug dealing and had become addicted to crack cocaine.[9] He celebrated his release from prison with his second album for Island, Out Deh! (1983).[7] Isaacs was featured in the 1982 documentary Land of Look Behind.
When his contract with Island ended, Isaacs returned in 1984 with the "Kool Ruler Come Again" single, and began a period of prolific recording, working with producers including Prince Jammy, Hugh "Redman" James, Bobby Digital, Tad Dawkins and Steely & Clevie, maintaining a consistent standard despite the volume of work produced.[5][7] Isaacs then built a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Works label. They began with Isaacs' 1985 album Private Beach Party, and had a massive hit with "Rumours" in 1988, which was followed by further popular singles including "Mind Yu Dis", "Rough Neck", "Too Good To Be True" and "Report to Me".[7] The association with Clarke continued into the early 1990s, teaming up with singers including Freddie McGregor, Ninjaman and JC Lodge.[7] He dueted with Beres Hammond on the 1993 Philip "Fatis" Burrell-produced "One Good Turn", Burrell also producing Isaacs' 1994 album Midnight Confidential.[7]
220px-Gregory_Isaacs_SNWMF_2010_1_-_on_stage-2In the 1990s the African Museum label continued to release all of Isaacs' music, and that of artists he produced. In 1997 Simply Red covered "Night Nurse" and had a hit with it. Isaacs continued to record and perform live in the 2000s. In 2005 Lady Saw produced another version of "Night Nurse" with her toasting over the original lyrics.
Isaacs' drug addiction had a major impact on his voice, with most of his teeth falling out as a result.[9] Isaacs said of his addiction in 2007: "Drugs are a debasing weapon. It was the greatest college ever, but the most expensive school fee ever paid – the Cocaine High School. I learnt everything, and now I've put it on the side."[9]
He also performed at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Inauguration at Jamaica.
In 2007 he collaborated with the Spanish rap group Flowklorikos / Rafael Lechowski album Donde Duele Inspira.
220px-Gregory_Isaacs_NegrilIn 2008, after some 40 years as a recording artist, Isaacs released a new studio album Brand New Me, which was nominated for the Grammy Awards for 2010. The album received positive reviews from critics, such as this review from Reggae Vibes: "Gregory is back, and how! 'Brand New Me' is a very suitable album title for the cool ruler's new album. He is back in a different style, more or less like we were used to from this great 'lovers & roots' artist"[10] This was followed in 2009 by the album My Kind Of Lady.
In 2010, Gregory Isaacs put out the last of his albums to be released while he was still living; Isaacs Meets Isaac, with Zimbabwean reggae singer, King Isaac. In November 2010, Isaacs Meets Isaacs was nominated for Best Reggae Album for the 2011 Grammy Awards, giving Gregory Isaacs his fourth Grammy Nomination, and Zimbabwe's King Isaac, his first.

Death

After a long battle with lung cancer, Isaacs died on 25 October 2010 at his home in south London[11] A memorial service was held on 20 November at Kingston's National Indoor Sports Centre, including a musical tribute from artists including Lloyd Parks and We the People Band, Ken Boothe, Freddie McGregor, Mavado, The Tamlins and Bongo Herman, before his remains were interred at the Dovecot Cemetery.[12]

Discography

More than 500 Gregory Isaacs albums have been released during his career, many being compilations. Studio albums of original material are listed below:
  • In Person (1975) Trojan
  • All I Have Is Love (1976) Trojan
  • The Best Of Vol. 1 (1977) GG's
  • Extra Classic (1977) African Museum
  • Mr Isaacs (1977) DEB
  • Cool Ruler (1978) Front Line
  • Soon Forward (1979) Front Line
  • Slum (Gregory Isaacs in Dub) (1978) Burning Sounds
  • Gregory Isaacs Meets Ronnie Davis (1979) Plant (with Ronnie Davis)
  • Showcase (1980) Taxi
  • Lonely Lover (1980) Pre
  • More Gregory (1981) Pre
  • The Best Of Vol. 2 (1981) GG's
  • Night Nurse (1982) Island/Mango
  • Out Deh! (1983) Island/Mango
  • Let's Go Dancing (1984)
  • Judge Not (1985) Greensleeves (with Dennis Brown)
  • Private Beach Party (1985) Greensleeves & RAS
  • Easy (1985) Tad's
  • Double Dose (1986) Blue Trac (with Sugar Minott)
  • All I Have is Love Love Love (1987) Tad's
  • Victim (1987) VP
  • Watchman of the City (1987) Rohit
  • Come Along (1988), Live & Love
  • Red Rose for Gregory (1988) Greensleeves & RAS
  • Warning (1989) Firehouse
  • Feature Attraction (1989) VP for Mixing Lab records
  • No Contest (1989) Greensleeves & VP (with Dennis Brown)
  • I.O.U. (1989) Greensleeves & RAS
  • On The Dance Floor (1990) Heartbeat
  • Call Me Collect (1990) RAS
  • Set Me Free (1991) VP, Digital B & Vine Yard
  • No Intention (1991) VP
  • Boom Shot (1991) Shanachie
  • State of Shock (1991) RAS
  • Past and Future (1991) VP
  • Pardon Me! (1992) RAS
  • Cooyah! (1992) Label Unknown...
  • Can't Stay Away (1992) VP & Xterminator
  • Rudie Boo (1992) Star Trail
  • Unattended // Absent (1993) Pow Wow & Greensleeves
  • Unlocked (1993) RAS
  • Midnight Confidential (1994) Greensleeves for Xterminator records
  • Dreaming (1995) Heartbeat
  • Not a One Man Thing (1995) RAS
  • Private Lesson (1996) Heartbeat
  • Mr. Cool (1996) VP
  • Maximum Respect (1996) House of Reggae
  • Hold Tight (1997) Heartbeat
  • Hardcore Hits (1997) Ikus
  • Dance Curfew (1997), Acid Jazz – with Dread Flimstone
  • Kingston 14 Denham Town (1998) Jamaican Vibes
  • Do Lord (1998) Xterminator
  • New Dance (1999) Prestige
  • Turn Down The Lights (1999) Artists Only
  • So Much Love (2000) Joe Gibbs Music
  • Future Attraction (2000) VP
  • Father & Son (2000), 2B1 – Gregory Isaacs & Son
  • It Go Now (2002), 2B1
  • Life's Lonely Road (2004)
  • Give It All Up (2004) Heartbeat
  • Rat Patrol (2004) African Museum
  • Masterclass (2004) Greensleeves for Blacker Dread records
  • Revenge (2005) P.O.T.
  • Substance Free (2005) Vizion Sounds
  • Come take my hand (2006) Mun Mun
  • Hold Tight (2008) Mafia & Fluxy
  • Brand New Me (2008) African Museum
  • My Kind Of Lady (2009) Rude Productions
  • Isaacs Meets Isaac with King Isaac (2010) King Isaac Music

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Roy Skinner, American college basketball coach (Vanderbilt), died from respiratory failure he was , 80


Roy Gene Skinner  was an American basketball coach who was best known for his time as head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball where he holds the record for most wins as coach and helped break the racial barrier by recruiting the first African American athlete to play varsity ball for a team in the Southeastern Conference died from respiratory failure he was , 80.

(April 17, 1930 – October 25, 2010)

 

Biography

Skinner was born on April 17, 1930, in Paducah, Kentucky. He played basketball as a point guard in high school, at Paducah Junior College, and at Presbyterian College, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1952. His first basketball coaching job was in 1955 at his alma mater Paducah Junior College in 1955 (now part of West Kentucky Community and Technical College).[1] He was hired by head coach Bob Polk at Vanderbilt as an assistant coach two years later after Skinner led his Paducah team to a win against Vanderbilt's freshman squad.[2] He spent the 1958-59 season as the acting head coach in Polk's absence, and led the team to an overall record of 14-10.[3]
Skinner succeeded Polk as head coach in the 1960-61 season. With the support of Vanderbilt University chancellor G. Alexander Heard, he pursued the recruitment of African American players for the basketball team. The first player to make the team was Perry Wallace, a local schoolboy star, who enrolled at Vanderbilt in 1966 and first started playing for the team in 1967, becoming the Southeastern Conference's first African American varsity player. Skinner faced opposition from alumni who were opposed to integrating the team, and biographer Andrew Maraniss stated that Skinner was primarily looking at recruiting Wallace as someone who would be "a great player, and also a great student, a valedictorian" and that the fact that he was making history was a secondary aspect of the choice.[3] Skinner had tried to recruit African American players from outside the South who had the academic and athletic abilities to succeed at Vanderbilt, but he was unsuccessful. Wallace recalled in a 2009 interview that Skinner practically lived at his house from the time he started trying to recruit him while he was a high school junior.[4]
Skinner led the team to the Elite Eight in the 1965 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament behind a 24–4 record that season, losing to the University of Michigan by two points.[2] Skinner was chosen as coach of the year in the SEC in 1974 by the Associated Press after leading the team to a 23–3 season record, with Skinner receiving seven votes from the 10-member board that selected the winner.[3][5] Saying that "I don't want to get old being basketball coach", Skinner announced in March 1976 that he would be stepping down as head coach after 16 years and turning the reins over to assistant head coach Wayne Dobbs.[6] Skinner led the Commodores to a 278-135 record during his tenure, the most of any head coach in team history, and was named SEC coach of the year in 1965, 1967, 1974 and 1976.[7] In 2009, Skinner was inducted into the Vanderbilt Sports Hall of Fame.[2]
Skinner died in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 80 on October 25, 2010, due to respiratory failure. He was survived by his second wife, Nathleene, as well as by two daughters, three sons and eight grandchildren, all from his first marriage.[3]

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Bob Courtney, British-born South African broadcaster and actor. died he was , 87

Bob Courtney  was a British-born South African actor and broadcaster. Courtney appeared in more than twenty film roles and worked as an on-air presenter and broadcaster on Springbok Radio died he was , 87.[1] [2] Additionally, Courtney co-founded Radio Today in 1996.[2]

(October 25, 1922[1] - October 24, 2010[1])

Courtney was born Christopher Robert Courtney Leaver on October 25, 1922, in Dorset, England.[2] Courtney successfully studied to be an accountant. Leaver, a self taught pianist, was drafted into the Royal Air Force's entertainment corps as an entertainer during World War II.[1][2] Courtney served as an RAF entertainer in North Africa, Greece and Italy.[2] He met two South African entertainers, Siegfried Mynhardt and Uys Krige, in Rome, Italy, near the end of World War II. Krige and Mynhardt persuaded Courtney to move from Britain to South Africa.[2]
Leaver emmigrated to South Africa in 1946 and began working at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in 1947 using the shortened name, Bob Courtney.[2] He hosted many of the SABC's most well known radio shows during the 1940s.[2]
In 1950, Courtney began hosting the Welcome Little Stranger childrens show on the now defunct Springbok Radio.[2] His radio name on the show was "Uncle Bob."[2] However, Courtney's most famous job at Springbok Radio was the host of the hugely popular quiz show, Pick a Box, which aired for fourteen years from 1960 until 1974.[2] Courtney toured South Africa with the show throughout its airing, attracting large crowds of fans.[2] In one instance, the Mayor of East London sent a limousine to meet Courtney at the East London Airport, where he had arrived to host Pick a Box in the city.[2] Courtney broadcast Pick a Box from a variety of unusual locations including Antarctica, the Cango Caves, the Union-Castle Line and a mine shaft.[2] The popular radio show ended in 1974. Pick a Box was briefly ressurected as a televison quiz show in the 1980s with Courtney once again as its host. However, the TV version was not a hit and was quickly cancelled.[2]
Courtney's other shows on Springbok Radio included the Eyegene Jackpot game show, which aired from the 1950s until the 1970s, and Stop the Music, which aired for ten years.[2] He also launched the Springbok show Greet the Bride, which would air for five days per week for twenty years on the radio.[2] Courtney attempted to reopen Springbok Radio after the station was closed in 1985.[2] However, the South African Broadcasting Corporation decided against the relauch of Springbok Radio in 1994, citing financial concerns.[2]
He also co-founded Radio Today in 1996 with former Springbok Radio broadcaster, Peter Lotis.[1] The station's targeted audience were listeners in their 50s and older.[2] The station attracted more than 70,000 listeners, but did not attract advertisers.[2] Courtney hired a financial adviser, who saved Radio Today, though Courtney diagreed with some of the station's new financial and creative directions.[2] He retired from Radio Today in 2008.[2]
Courtney's acting career spanned several decades and included more than twenty film credits.[2] His film roles included Lord Oom Piet in 1962, Kruger Millions, All the Way to Paris, Dingaka and Hans en die Rooinek.[1] He was also a founding member of the South Africa National Theatre.
Bob Courtney died in Johannesburg at the age of 87 on Sunday, October 24, 2010, just one day before his 88th birthday.[1][2] His funeral was held at the St. Martin’s-in-the-Veld Anglican Church in Dunkeld, Gauteng. [1] Courtney was survived by his wife, Yvonne, and their two children.[2]

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Mike Esposito, American comic book artist died he was , 83

Mike Esposito ,[1] who sometimes used the pseudonyms Mickey Demeo, Mickey Dee, Michael Dee, and Joe Gaudioso, was an American comic book artist whose work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics and others spanned the 1950s to the 2000s  died he was , 83. As a comic book inker teamed with his childhood friend Ross Andru, he drew for such major titles as The Amazing Spider-Man and Wonder Woman. An Andru-Esposito drawing of Wonder Woman appears on a 2006 U.S. stamp.
Esposito was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2005.

 (July 14, 1927 – October 24, 2010)

 Biography

Early life and career

Born in New York City, New York,[1] Mike Esposito graduated from the High School of Music and Art, where one of his classmates was future comics artist Ross Andru.[2] Originally Esposito dreamed of becoming an animator at Disney. This ended when his father did not want him to leave New York for the West Coast.[2]
Following his military service, Esposito entered the comic-book field drawing for the publisher Fiction House and later for later for industry giant DC Comics, then called National Comics.[3] Because writer and artist credits were not routinely given during that era of comic books, a comprehensive account of his work is difficult to ascertain. His first confirmed work is as penciler and inker of the war comics story "Heat Of Battle" in Men's Adventures #6 (Feb. 1951), from Atlas Comics, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel Comics.[4]
He and Andru co-founded the studio Mike/Ross Publications in the early 1950s.[3] The two artists became longtime collaborators, working together on various projects over a span of four decades. Their first known credited collaboration was the cover and a 24-page story, "The Jungle That Time Forgot" in the whimsical adventure comic Mister Universe #2 (1951; no month given, but published between the July and December issues).[4] This five-issue series was the sole title from a comic book company they founded, Mr. Publications.[1] The two also co-founded Mikeross Publications in 1953, which through 1954 produced one issue each of the 3D romance comics 3-D Love and 3-D Romance, two issues of the romance comic Heart and Soul, and three issue of the satiric humor comic Get Lost.[5]
By this time, after having teamed for early work on Key Publications' Mister Mystery in 1951 and Standard Comics' The Unseen and Joe Yank (the latter credited as "Mikeross"), the two began a long career as one of DC Comics' primary war story artists, alongside the likes of Joe Kubert, Russ Heath, and Jerry Grandenetti. Beginning with a story each in All-American Men of War #6, Our Army at War #14, and Star Spangled War Stories #13 (all Sept. 1953),[4] For those titles as well as G.I. Combat and Our Fighting Forces, Andru and Esposito drew hundreds of tales of combat under editor and frequent writer Robert Kanigher. With Kanigher, they co-created the non-superpowered adventurers the Suicide Squad in The Brave and the Bold #25 (Sept. 1959). They also drew early issues of Rip Hunter, Time Master in 1961.

Silver Age

Shortly after DC Comics ushered in the period fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books by reimagining such Golden Age superheroes as the Flash and Green Lantern for modern audiences, Andru and Esposito began a long run on DC's Wonder Woman, from issues #98–171 (May 1958 – August 1967), "defining her look during [this] boom period".[1] As well, with writer-editor Robert Kanigher, they co-created the robot superheroes the Metal Men in Showcase #37 (April 1962), going on to draw the first 29 issues of the lighthearted series Metal Men, from 1963 to 1968.
Esposito gradually began freelancing for Marvel Comics, starting with his uncredited inking of industry giant Jack Kirby's cover of Fantastic Four Annual #3 (1965).[6] For his inking of Bob Powell in the "Human Torch and the Thing" feature in Strange Tales #132, and his inking of Don Heck's "Iron Man" in Tales of Suspense #65 (both May 1965), he took the pen name Mickey Demeo (occasionally given as Mickey Dee or Michael Dee) to conceal his Marvel work from his primary employer, DC.[7][8] He also occasionally worked under the pseudonym Joe Gaudioso for the same reason.[8][9]
When John Romita, Sr. succeeded artist co-creator Steve Ditko on The Amazing Spider-Man, beginning with issue 39 (Aug. 1966), Esposito, initially as Demeo, was the first inker on what would become Marvel's flagship series. After three issues, Romita inked himself for the next half-dozen before Esposito returned — uncredited for issue 49 (June 1967),[10] then as Mickey Demeo until finally taking credit under his own name with issue #56 (Jan. 1968). Except for one issue (#65) inked by his successor, Jim Mooney, the Romita-Esposito team continued through issue #66 (Nov. 1968),[4] establishing the new look of Spider-Man. Esposito continued to use the "Demeo" creidt sporadically, including on the debut story "Guardians of the Galaxy" in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (Jan. 1969), and on The Amazing Spider-Man #83 (April 1970), his last recorded use of the pen name.
During this period as well, for DC, the Andru-Esposito team segued from Wonder Woman to The Flash, drawing the super-speedster superhero's adventures from issue #175–194 (Dec. 1967 – Feb. 1970). All the while, Esposito regularly inked such artists as Irv Novick and Curt Swan on the Superman family of comics, including Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, Superboy, and Superman, and numerous Superman-Batman team-ups penciled by Andru in World's Finest Comics. The Kanigher-Andru-Esposito trio introduced the Silver Age version of the split-personality superheroine feature "Rose and Thorn" in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #105 (Oct. 1970).[4] For the black-and-white comics-magazine publisher Skywald in 1971, Andru & Esposito contributed many stories across the line, including to the horror titles Nightmare and Psycho and the Western titles Wild Western Action, The Bravados and Butch Cassidy, and with writer Gary Friedrich created the motorcycle-riding superhero Hell-Rider.[11]
Andru and Esposito formed the publishing company Klevart Enterprises in 1970.[citation needed]

Spider-Man

The Andru-Esposito team first drew the flagship Marvel Comics character Spider-Man in the premiere (March 1972) of that superhero's first spin-off comic book, Marvel Team-Up, nearly every issue of which featured Spider-Man paired with another hero. While Andru did not remain on the series, Esposito would go on to ink several issues, often those penciled by Gil Kane.[12] He and Andru eventually took over the flagship title The Amazing Spider-Man. Esposito inked the vast majority of a nearly four-year run on the title, encompassing issues #147-150, 152-171, 177, 179-182, 185-186, 188, and 191 (Aug. 1975 - April 1979), all penciled by Andru except for three issues Sal Buscema and two by Keith Pollard.[13] He inked the feature stories in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #4-5 (1967–1968), over Larry Lieber's pencils, with the latter's issue introducing Peter Parker's parents; Annual #10 (Nov. 1976), over Gil Kane; and Annual #22, over Mark Bagley. Esposito additionally inked several issues apiece of The Spectacular Spider-Man; the children's comic Spidey Super Stories; and a host of Spider-Man miscellanea, such as Spider-Man Giveaway: AIM Toothpaste Exclusive Collectors' Edition (1980), and Spider-Man Giveaway: National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse #1 (1984).[4][14]
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Esposito inked virtually every major Marvel penciler on virtually every major Marvel title, from The Avengers to X-Men.[4] By the mid-1980s, however, his Marvel work had tapered to a trickle. Among his final Spider-Man work, he was co-inker on the story "Moving Up", penciled by Alex Saviuk, in Web of Spider-Man #38 (May 1988); inker of the following issue's cover; and inker of the 11-page partial origin retelling "My Science Project, penciled by Bagley, in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23 (1989). His final Spider-Man story was also his last with Andru, who died in 1993: the graphic novel Spider-Man: Fear Itself (Feb. 1992). Esposito's final Marvel tale was Last Marvel the 11-page Darkhold story "Skin", penciled by Dan Lawlis, in the horror comics title Midnight Sons Unlimited #2 (July 1993).[4]

Later life and career

By this time, however, Esposito was well-ensconced at Archie Comics, inking hundreds of teenage-humor stories starring Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper and the other high-schoolers of Riverdale, U.S.A., generally over the pencils of fellow former longtime Marvel artist Stan Goldberg. His final Archie work was inking four Goldberg stories in Betty #56 (Dec. 1997).[4]

Personal life

Esposito's first wife, Mary, died when he was in his 40s. He later married his second wife, Irene. Esposito had two children: Mark, who predeceased him, and Michelle.[1] Esposito lived in Lake Grove, New York, on Long Island, in his later years, and died October 24, 2010, at age 83.[1]

Awards

Esposito was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2007.

Legacy

An Andru-Esposito drawing of Wonder Woman appears on one of the 10 character stamps issued in the U.S. Postal Service's 2006 commemorative stamp series "DC Comics Super Heroes".[15]
A paparazzo character was named after him on the Smallville episode "Trespass."
In 2007 Esposito and Andru were the subjects of a biography titled Andru and Esposito: Partners For Life, published by Hermes Press (ISBN 978-1932563849).

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Lamont Johnson, American actor and television director (The Twilight Zone, The Execution of Private Slovik), died from heart failure he was , 88



 Lamont Johnson  was an American actor and film director who has appeared in and directed many television shows and movies died from heart failure he was , 88. He won two Emmy Awards.
Johnson was born Ernest Lamont Johnson, Jr. in Stockton, California, the son of Ruth Alice (née Fairchild) and Ernest Lamont Johnson, who was a realtor.[1] Johnson began his career in radio, playing the role of Tarzan in a popular syndicated series in 1951.[2] He then turned to films and television, first as an actor, then as a director.

(September 30, 1922 – October 24, 2010)

Johnson also directed productions of the operas The Man in the Moon (1959), Iphigénie en Tauride (1962), and Orfeo (1990).
Johnson was nominated for eleven Emmy Awards, winning twice, for Wallenberg: A Hero's Story (1985) and Lincoln (1988), and for eight Directors Guild of America Awards, winning four times, for Profiles in Courage (1965), My Sweet Charlie (1971), That Certain Summer (1972), and Lincoln.

 Filmography

Actor

Director





















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Dickey Betts died he was 80

Early Career Forrest Richard Betts was also known as Dickey Betts Betts collaborated with  Duane Allman , introducing melodic twin guitar ha...