DEATHS ; Notable Passings; The Thread to Pay Last Respects

[OldStrummer]

Sad to share the passing of Mike Forslund, aka "Mike McKay." Mike was a combat medic in Vietnam who returned to the States and made the radio business his career. He worked both behind a microphone as "Commander McKay" on Washington, D.C.'s DC-101 FM and then for 30+ years as a board operator and technical director at D.C.'s WMAL AM 630, FM 105.9.

I met Mike when I was coming to the States to complete my college studies at the University of Maryland. Knowing no one, I rented an apartment and met Mike, who introduced himself to me and welcomed me to the area. We would listen to music in his apartment, as his record library was immense! He gave me his copy of the Beatles "White Album," which I still have.

Mike was kind, gentle, thoughtful and generous. His joie de vivre was apparent even through his voice. Most people never saw his face. Heaven has gained a DJ worthy of a command performance. He leaves two sons and their families. R.I.P. Mike!

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Film director, Miloš Forman, has passed away aged 86.

 

[Zombie_61]

Art Bell, best known for hosting the paranormal-themed nightly show "Coast to Coast AM" on hundreds of American radio stations in the 1990s, has died at the age of 72 according to Nye County Sheriff Sharon Wehrly. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

 

[OldStrummer]

R. Lee Ermey, 74. Best known for his portrayal of the Marine Drill Instructor in the movie, "Full Metal Jacket," Ermey was, in fact, a drill instructor during his service in the USMC. He received a Golden Globe nomination for that role.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Oh no..so hard to believe that Ermey is gone.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

This truly saddens me.
Semper Fidelis Gunny.
B

 

[HadleyH1]

RIP.... R. Lee. Ermey, you will be missed.

 

[KY Gentleman]

R. Lee Ermey, 74. Best known for his portrayal of the Marine Drill Instructor in the movie, "Full Metal Jacket," Ermey was, in fact, a drill instructor during his service in the USMC. He received a Golden Globe nomination for that role.

He was really good in Full Metal Jacket, but I’ll always think of him as Sgt. Loyce in The Boys Of Company C.
He will be missed.

 

[Trenchfriend]

R.I.P.

Unforgetable german FMJ-synchronization. Huge part of popculture, here.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

He was a tough old ba***rd, but nobody beats time. It's the Giant's Nurse.

 

[Just Jim]

Harry Anderson, magician, wearer of great hats, and Judge Harry Stone on "Night Court" has passed away.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Harry Anderson, magician, wearer of great hats, and Judge Harry Stone on "Night Court" has passed away.

 

[Formeruser012523]

Knew it'd be a bad night to look in here... ugh...

R.I.P. Harry.

 

[Zombie_61]

Not the best video quality, but this is Harry Anderson performing his "Magic Hat" routine in HBO's Comic Relief special from 1986; I know this because I was there.

R.I.P. Mr. Anderson, and thank you for the entertainment.

 

[LizzieMaine]

"Night Court" was one of the best sitcoms of the '80s, and I tried never to miss it. A great ensemble cast, and Anderson was exactly the sort of absurdist presence necessary to make it work. When I heard about his death, I was surprised that I hadn't thought of him in a very long time -- but in reading the news stories, it seems that was exactly what he wanted. He got out of the racket while the getting was good, and went off to do something he enjoyed. We should all be so lucky.

 

[Formeruser012523]

"Night Court" was one of the best sitcoms of the '80s, and I tried never to miss it. A great ensemble cast, and Anderson was exactly the sort of absurdist presence necessary to make it work. When I heard about his death, I was surprised that I hadn't thought of him in a very long time -- but in reading the news stories, it seems that was exactly what he wanted. He got out of the racket while the getting was good, and went off to do something he enjoyed. We should all be so lucky.

So true and same here. Watched it every time it was on and it's been so long I could probably watch it again.

Also found this after watching that last vid, if you're squeamish, don't watch it, it's great:

 

[Fading Fast]

"Night Court" was one of the best sitcoms of the '80s, and I tried never to miss it. A great ensemble cast, and Anderson was exactly the sort of absurdist presence necessary to make it work. When I heard about his death, I was surprised that I hadn't thought of him in a very long time -- but in reading the news stories, it seems that was exactly what he wanted. He got out of the racket while the getting was good, and went off to do something he enjoyed. We should all be so lucky.

Agreed completely. It does help if your fame allows you to do what you want for $20,000 an hour:

"I am richer than Davy Crockett," Anderson said in the story. "I can settle back and do what I want to do. And what I want to do is card tricks and magic.' That includes magic shows for corporate clients ("Fifty-five minutes with applause," says Anderson) at $20,000 a pop.​

 

[LizzieMaine]

Just how rich *was* Davy Crockett, anyway? Did he get a cut of all that merch in 1955?

 

[Zombie_61]

"Night Court" was one of the best sitcoms of the '80s, and I tried never to miss it. A great ensemble cast, and Anderson was exactly the sort of absurdist presence necessary to make it work. When I heard about his death, I was surprised that I hadn't thought of him in a very long time -- but in reading the news stories, it seems that was exactly what he wanted. He got out of the racket while the getting was good, and went off to do something he enjoyed. We should all be so lucky.

Aside from near perfect casting, I've always thought part of Night Court's brilliance was that Mr. Anderson's Judge Stone was the "straight man" of the group only because he was the least odd. It made perfect sense to me that the Judge--the ultimate authority in the court room--would be that character, but they made him just quirky enough for Anderson to have fun with the role and not be completely "straight".

 

[LizzieMaine]

There were a lot of similarities between "Night Court" and "Barney Miller," which was a big part of why I enjoyed it so much, and for good reason -- "Night Court" creator Reinhold Weege wrote for "Barney Miller," giving the show an impressive pedigree.