RIP Tobe Hooper. The original Texas Chainsaw is a fantastic horror movie that still holds up in a lot of ways, and it's easily one of the most disturbing movies that doesn't have a lot of gore. He made it before Halloween and Friday the 13th were even made too. I know there are conspiracies about Spielberg ghost directing Poltergeist, but there's definitely some Hooper in there too, and that's another defining movie in the horror genre from the 80's.

 

Bloody hell.   He was in London not too long ago with a ton of other famous people (including Jon Cleese, Chris Lloyd, the 2 Benedicts: Cumberbatch & Wong, Mads Mikkelsen & loads more) for the London Film & Comic Con at the Olympia!

May he rest in peace.  

 

Although she didn't die in 2017, it was 20 years ago today. RIP.

Man, I must be living in a cave because I missed these two:

Jim Marrs, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author whose book about the JFK assassination lead to Oliver Stones movie and who later on when to become a conspiracy theorist type regarding UFO's and such passed away a few weeks ago. Man, now that guy not only had a great name but looked and lived the part too. Awesome dude. IMO, the Ernest Hemingway of the late-20th/early 21st century.

Jared Martin, played Dusty Farlow on Dallas and Harrison Blackwood on War of the Worlds. One of my favorite actors growing up. Loved everything he did. After he retired from acting he moved back to Philly and helped found and run a theater and acting school for inner city kids. I went out and purposely started using a tuning fork just because of his cool and quirky character on WOTW. He was 75. (BTW, WOTW was about the best damn sci-fi show you've never heard of. Was the inspiration behind much of the X-Files)

He also directed Lifeforce, one of the most unique and underrated sci-fi movies of the 80's.

What started out as a straight sci-fi movie ala' 2001 turned into a naked chick zombie fest with Patrick Stewart. (BTW, Species ripped off on this movie big time. Species wasn't bad but they could have at least given a little bit more credit where it was due)

And, believe it or not, he also directed this too:

 

War of the worlds and life force are severely underrated

 

Lifeforce is pretty awesome

 

I just saw that myself on Facebook. An in honor of his memory, my favorite Steely Dan song.

 

I always LOVED hearing "Reeling in the years". It was about the most damn ironic song (lyrically) that I had heard up to that point...

...and it would be a damn crime if I didn't mention this:

"Go back Jack and do it again!"
-Wreck-Gar, from "The Killing Jar"

Yeah man, Steely Dan were some smooth dudes. Ween did a Steely Dan-esque take with their song "Pandy Fackler" from their 2000 album, "White Pepper", if you ever want to take a listen...

 

Richard Anderson (Oscar Goldman) passed away a few days ago.

Richard Anderson, of ‘Six Million Dollar Man’ and ‘Bionic Woman,’ Dies at 91

 

Country singer "The Gentle Giant" Don Williams passed away today. My parents listened to him quite a bit when I was young, so his voice holds a ton of memories for me.

 

Troy Gentry Of Country Act Montgomery Gentry Killed In Helicopter Crash

 

Awww man. I saw Montgomery Gentry when they performed at my town's fall festival last September. 

 

Damn rough day for Country music.   Troy Gentry and Don Williams

 

'Shiloh' star Blake Heron dies at 35

 

May his soul rest in peace. It's always sad when child actors take a downward spiral.

 

Len Wein, Co-Creator of Wolverine, Dies at 69

 

 

RIP. Wolverine has always been one of my favorite characters (not just in comic books either). My mother still has a picture hanging up of me dressed as the yellow suit Wolverine for Halloween when I was like six or seven. I've followed the character from some of my favorite comics, animated TV shows, and movies for most of my life really, and Logan has become one of my favorite movies in the last few years because it moved me so much emotionally. If he didn't help create Wolverine, I wouldn't have any of these wonderful memories, and I thank him for that.

 

He also helped create my favorite comic character, Swamp Thing. Without his creation, I can honestly say i probably wouldn't be reading comics today.

Bernie Wrightson who was the original artist and co-creater of Swamp Thing also passed away not too long ago.

 

X Atencio, Disney Animator and Imagineer, Dies at 98

Wow, I never knew about him before. He had a great life and lived to a great age.

RIP.

 

I didn't know he was still alive.
He also performed some voices for Disney rides. The skull and crossbones that welcomes you to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride ("Dead men tell no tales!") is voiced by him.

:RIP