Obituary
Traci Braxton, Singer and ‘Braxton Family Values’ Star, Dies at 50
Traci Braxton, a singer, actor and television personality who was the sister of Toni and Tamar Braxton, has died. She was 50. Traci passed away on Saturday morning (March 12) following a battle with esophageal cancer, her husband Kevin Surratt told TMZ. “We have come to a time where we must inform the public that after a year of privately undergoing a series of treatment for esophageal cancer our beloved Traci Braxton has gone on to glory,” Surratt said. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Traci’s older sister, R&B singer Toni, took to social media on Saturday to share a heartfelt tribute on behalf of the Braxton family. “It is with the utmost regret that we inform you of the passing of our sister, Traci,” Toni wrote alongside a black-and-white photo of the Braxton family on Ins...
R.I.P. Bobbie Nelson, Founding Member of Willie Nelson’s Family Band Dead at 91
Bobbie Nelson, Willie Nelson’s older sister and an original member of his Family Band, died on Thursday (March 10th) at the age of 91. A quiet, yet steadying, presence on the piano at live shows, Nelson passed away while surrounded by family. “Her elegance, grace, beauty, and talent made this world a better place. She was the first member of Willie’s band, as his pianist and singer,” reads a statement from the Nelson family. “Our hearts are broken and she will be deeply missed. But we are so lucky to have had her in our lives. Please keep her family in your thoughts and give them the privacy they need at this time.” Born on New Year’s Day in 1931, Nelson was two years older than her more famous brother, but he still referred to her as his “Little Sister Bobbie” on stage. They played togeth...
Bobbie Nelson, Willie Nelson’s Sister and Longtime Bandmate, Dies at 91
Bobbie Nelson, the singer, pianist, and a regular collaborator with her younger brother Willie Nelson, has died at the age of 91. Nelson was the first member of the Willie Nelson and Family Band, and devoted more than 50 years to touring and recording with her brother. Music was in the family’s DNA. Raised in Abbot, Texas, it was Bobbie and Willie’s grandparents who inspired the youngsters to take up instruments and pursue a career in music. “My grandfather had said to me when I was learning to play the piano: You know, if you really work at this, you could earn your living playing music one day,” Bobbie once said. “And I never forgot that.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The siblings caught on quick. By their teens, they were cutting their te...
R.I.P. Emilio Delgado, Actor Who Played Luis on Sesame Street Dead at 81
Emilio Delgado, the actor who portrayed Luis on Sesame Street for over 40 years, has died, TMZ reports. He was 81 years old. Delgado’s wife, Carol, told TMZ the actor passed away Thursday (March 10th) at his home in New York City. He was diagnosed with the blood cancer multiple myeloma in December 2020 and had been in hospice care. Delgado portrayed Luis, the owner of Sesame Street’s Fix It Shop, from 1971 to 2015. Luis married Maria (Sonia Manzano) in Season 19, and the couple later had Gabi( Desiree Casado), who bared witness to much of Elmo and Rocco’s storied beef as the show went on. Advertisement Related Video As a Mexican-American actor, Delgado’s Luis helped break Latino stereotypes in 1970s television. In 1972, Delgado was named the coordinator of the Sesame Worksho...
Ukrainian Actor Pasha Lee Killed by Russian Forces While Defending Country
Ukrainian actor Pasha Lee was killed on Sunday in attack by Russian forces, according to a statement from the Odesa International Film Festival. He was 33 years old. Lee (also referred to as Pavlo Li and Pasha Li) was a well-known actor in his home country. He joined the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country, and was killed when Russian forces shelled Irpin, a city west of Kyiv. Lee was born in Yevpatoria, Crimea to a Korean father and Ukrainian mother. His credits include the 2019 comedy Meeting of Classmates, the 2017 sports action film The Fight Rules, the 2016 action comedy Selfie Party, and the 2012 comedy/drama Zvychayna Sprava. Advertisement Related Video Lee also dubbed beloved English-language films like The Lion King ...
Johnny Brown, Comedian, Singer & ‘Good Times’ Actor, Dies at 84
Johnny Brown, the easygoing actor, comedian and singer best known for portraying the housing project superintendent Nathan Bookman on Good Times, has died. He was 84. Brown died Wednesday (March 2), his daughter, actress Sharon Catherine Brown, announced on Instagram. “Our family is devastated. Devastated. Devastated. Beyond heartbroken. Barely able to breathe,” she wrote. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Further details of his death were not immediately available. Brown also recorded songs and performed in a band with saxophonist Sam “The Man” Taylor, appeared twice on Broadway in the 1960s and was a regular performer for three seasons on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Brown, who did a mean impression of Louis Armstrong and others, was a leading contender to play Lamont opposite...
R.I.P. Alan Ladd Jr, Legendary Film Exec Behind Star Wars, Braveheart, Blade Runner Dead at 84
Alan Ladd Jr., the legendary film executive who greenlit Star Wars and produced such films as Braveheart and Blade Runner, has died at the age of 84. Via Variety, his daughter Amanda Ladd-Jones confirmed the news in a Facebook post. “With the heaviest of hearts, we announce that on March 2, 2022, Alan Ladd, Jr. died peacefully at home surrounded by his family,” she wrote. “Words cannot express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on films and filmmaking will live on in his absence.” Born October 22nd, 1937, Ladd Jr. grew up in the shadow of his famous father, the actor Alan Ladd (Shane). While he never became a household name like his dad, his mark on the film industry is undeniable. Advertisement Related Video Ladd Jr. began his career as an agent, workin...
R.I.P. Chuck Criss, Freelance Whales Member Dead at 36
Chuck Criss, a multi-instrumentalist who performed in the indie rock band Freelance Whales, has died by suicide at age 36. News of Chuck’s death was announced by his brother, Darren Criss, on Wednesday. “The last several years were increasingly difficult for Chuck as he struggled to find stability during an unfortunate rough patch in his life,” Criss wrote in a note posted to Instagram. “Despite our very vocal concerns about his well-being, and his protestations that everything was fine, it’s crushing to say now that Chuck clearly had had a severe depression welling up in him for some time, a depression that was only worsened by a lifelong struggle he had with expressing his feelings – a dangerous combination truly outmatched by his all-too-incredible ability to conceal it. Not just f...
R.I.P. Sally Kellerman, M*A*S*H Star Dead at 84
Sally Kellerman, the veteran actress known for portraying U.S. Army Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in Robert Altman’s 1970 film M*A*S*H, has died at age 84, Deadline reports. She passed away at an assisted living facility in Woodland Hills, California from complications of dementia. Born in Long Beach, California, Kellerman grew up in Los Angeles and attended Hollywood High School. Soon after, she studied acting at Los Angeles City College, where she performed in a stage production of Look Back in Anger alongside Jack Nicholson, Dean Stockwell, and Robert Blake. Kellerman is perhaps best known for her turn as Major Houlihan in M*A*S*H (the film, not the television series), though she also appeared in several other Altman films, Brewster McCloud, Welcome to LA, ...
Jane ‘Nightbirde’ Marczewski, ‘America’s Got Talent’ Contestant, Dies at 31
Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski, a contestant on season 16 of America’s Got Talent, has died following a battle with cancer. She was 31. The singer passed away on Sunday (Feb. 20), TMZ reports. “We are saddened to learn about @_nightbirde’s Passing,” AGT host Terry Crews wrote on Instagram Monday. “Our Condolences goes to her Closest Family & Friends in such of This difficult time. We Love you, Nightbirde.” Judge Heidi Klum also shared a tribute to the singer on her Instagram Story. “We love you. Rest in peace @nightbirde,” Klum wrote alongside a photo of the Zanesville, Ohio, native. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Marczewski soared on America’s Got Talent in June 2021 with a heart-warming, golden buzzer-winning audition featuring her origina...
Jamal Edwards, Trailblazing British Music Entrepreneur, Dies at 31
Jamal Edwards, the trailblazing founder and CEO of SBTV, the British youth media platform with hip-hop at its heart, died Sunday (Feb. 20) at the age of 31. Edwards, who grew up on a council estate in Acton, West London, was a teenager when he started SBTV in 2006, a venture that has helped guide the careers of Dave, Skepta, Stormzy, and many others. In those early days, Edwards, an early-adopter of YouTube, used his channel to give exposure to his talented friends. It still does, only Edwards’ circle of friends grew. Over time, he’d work with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Today, the broadcaster he built from the ground up is a multi-million pound business with the strapline “Connecting Worlds,” while operating with the same c...
Dallas Good, Singer and Guitarist of The Sadies, Dies at 48
Dallas Good, the singer and guitarist of Canadian rock band the Sadies has died of natural causes, the group confirmed on social media. He was 48. The Sadies shared the sad news in an emotional post to Facebook on Friday (Feb. 18). “It’s with unfathomable sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Dallas on Thursday, February 17th. Forty eight years old, he died of natural causes while under doctor’s care for a coronary illness discovered earlier this week, the band wrote.” The Sadies added, “A son, a brother, a husband, a friend, a bandmate, a leader, a force to be reckoned with, we have no words for the shock we are all feeling. We join the rest of our music community and fans in grief. The stage is dark today with the all too soon passing of one of music’s brightest lights. We love ...
