In Memoriam
Total 1574 Posts
“Mr. Irresistible” Sweet Daddy Siki was the professional wrestler who wrestled from the 1950s into the 1980s, and helped train world champions Edge and Christian.
Linda Lavin was the actress best known for playing the title role of a waitress at a roadside diner in Alice.
Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States of America. Malaise Forever.
Olivia Hussey was the actress best known for her role in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 version of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet.”
Greg Gumbel was a veteran of CBS Sports who spent more than 50 years in sports broadcasting. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the United States to call play-by-play of a major sports championship.
Rickey Henderson set numerous major league baseball records for stolen bases, including the career mark of 1,406 and the modern single-season record of 130 in 1982. Arguably the greatest leadoff hitter in the history of MLB, of particular interest in these parts is the fact he won the World
David Farrell was the pioneering Canadian music journalist and publisher who co-founded The Record, Canadian Music Week and FYI Music News.
Slim Dunlap joined the Replacements in 1987, replacing its original lead guitarist Bob Stinson and earning him the moniker "the replacement Replacement." Dunlap would go on to record two critically acclaimed albums with the band.
Jim Waters was the son of CHUM co-founder Allan Waters who worked in the company for 35 years, running it after his father's death until its merger with CTVglobemedia. He also owned the Erie Otters OHL franchise.
The Amazing Kreskin, also known as George Kresge, was a mentalist who became famous on television in the 1970s. From 1972 to 1975, Kreskin's television series The Amazing World of Kreskin was broadcast throughout Canada on CTV.
Jim Abrahams was best known for the movies he co-wrote and produced with brothers Jerry Zucker and David Zucker, such as Airplane! and The Naked Gun series.
Rico Carty achieved his greatest fame with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, culminating in a National League All-Star Game appearance and batting title in 1970, but I'll remember him best as a member of my Toronto Blue Jays in 1978 and 1979. He was, and will forever be, The Beeg
Chuck Woolery was the original host of the original daytime Wheel of Fortune, the original incarnation of Love Connection, Scrabble, and during a brief revival, Greed and Lingo. For my generation, he was Mr. Love Connection, and he'd be back in two minutes, two second.
In a career that spanned more than 75 years, Quincy Jones won 28 Grammy awards and was named as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time magazine. He was a musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and many others.
Teri Garr was the actress best known for roles in Young Frankenstein, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Tootsie and Mr. Mom. Her role in Tootsie earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Phil Lesh was a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career. In 1994, he was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead.
Scott Carefoot visited me three years ago for an episode of Toronto Mike'd and we talked about his RaptorsBlog and his foray into sports media with stops at The Toronto Sun, theScore, Bell Media, The Hockey News, and Rogers Radio. Here's a taste: My sincere condolences to all who knew
Fernando Valenzuela was the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981.
Bill Vigars, who accompanied Terry Fox on his 1980 Marathon of Hope, has passed away. 13 months ago, I enjoyed a lengthy conversation with Bill about his time with Terry and the Marathon of Hope.
Luis Tiant, nicknamed El Tiante, pitched in the major leagues for 19 years, primarily for the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox.
John Amos was the TV writer turned Emmy-nominated actor who starred as the stoic father on Good Times.
Pete Rose was a 17-time All-Star who won three World Series championships with the Cincinnati Reds. He holds the major league record for hits (4,256), games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890) and the NL record for the longest hitting streak (44).
Dikembe Mutombo was a legendary shot blocker and humanitarian who was induced into basketball'sHall of Fame.
Kris Kristofferson was the multi-award winner best known for his songwriting, notably credited for Me and Bobby McGee, Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down, and Help Me Make It Through the Night, among others. He also acted in the hit movie A Star Is Born.
Dame Maggie Smith had an extensive career on stage and screen over seven decades and has received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for six Laurence Olivier Awards.