Actor Harry Morgan Dies at 96

Harry Morgan, who won an Emmy Award playing Col. Sherman T. Potter on “M*A*S*H” died today at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96.

From the New York Times:

On television, he played Officer Bill Gannon with a phlegmatic but light touch to Jack Webb’s always-by-the-book Sgt. Joe Friday in the updated “Dragnet,” from 1967 to 1970. He starred as Pete Porter, a harried husband, in the situation comedy “Pete and Gladys” (1960-62), reprising a role he had played on “December Bride” (1954-59). He was also a regular on “The Richard Boone Show” (1963-64), “Kentucky Jones” (1964-65), “The D.A.” (1971-72), “Hec Ramsey” (1972-74) and “Blacke’s Magic” (1986).

But to many fans he was first and foremost Col. Sherman T. Potter, commander of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit in Korea. With a wry smile, flat voice and sharp humor, Mr. Morgan played Colonel Potter from 1975 to 1983, when “M*A*S*H” went off the air. He replaced McLean Stevenson , who had quit the series, moving into the role on the strength of his performance as a crazed major general in an early episode.

Seinfeld’s Len Lesser Dies

Actor Len Lesser has died at the age of 88 due to complications from pneumonia.

RIP Uncle Leo!

From CNN:

“It was very peaceful,” his daughter, Michele Lesser, told CNN, saying the family had hoped for a quick and painless death. “He was a great grandpa, and an amazing father. He had a heart of gold — and a sense of humor of platinum.”

Best known as Jerry Seinfeld’s Uncle Leo on TV’s “Seinfeld,” Lesser made more than 500 film, television and stage appearances. His TV roles ranged from “Studio One in Hollywood” in 1949 to a 2009 role on “Castle.”

In addition to “Seinfeld,” he had a recurring role as Garvin on “Everybody Loves Raymond.” He also appeared on “ER,” “Mad About You,” “Thirtysomething,” “Falcon Crest,” “Quincy M.E.,” “The Rockford Files,” “Kojak,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “The Mod Squad,” “Green Acres,” “All In The Family,” “The Monkees,” “Get Smart,” “My Favorite Martian,” “Ben Casey” and “The Untouchables.”

Actor Pete Postlethwaite Dies

Actor Pete Postlethwaite, who starred in “Inception” “In the Name of the Father”, “Jurassic Park” and “The Usual Suspects,” has died at the age of 64.

From CNN:

Highly intense, with a bulbous nose, high cheekbones and ruddy complexion, the actor was immediately recognizable in films ranging from the second “Jurassic Park” movie to “Romeo + Juliet.”

It was for his role as Daniel Day-Lewis’s father in the IRA drama “In the Name of the Father” that he got his only Oscar nomination, for best supporting actor. He lost out to Tommy Lee Jones for “The Fugitive.”

He also starred in the British brass band movie “Brassed Off,” and worked with Steven Spielberg on the slave revolt story “Amistad.”

Spielberg reportedly called him “the best actor in the world,” prompting Postlethwaite to respond that what the director actually said was that he “thought he was the best actor in the world.”

Actor Tom Bosley Dies

Actor Tom Bosley, who was most well known from his role on Happy Days, has died at the age of 83.

Check out TMZ below for more information and don’t miss one of my favorite scenes ever on Family Guy where Stewie Griffin thinks he spots Bosley on a train in Switzerland.

From TMZ:

Henry Winkler and Scott Baio — who both co-starred with Tom Bosley on “Happy Days” — tell TMZ they are both shocked by his death … but remember their former castmate as a “great man.”

Winkler tells us, “I saw him before I ever got to Hollywood on Broadway, and he was great. And then I got to act with him for 10 years and he was great.  Tom Bosley was our mentor. He was a true artist … a great husband, and a fabulous father and grandfather. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.”

Actor Tony Curtis Dies

Tony Curtis, an Oscar-nominated actor and father of actress Jamie Lee Curtis, has died at the age 85.

Curtis passed away yesterday due to cardiac arrest at his home near Las Vegas.

From the Associated Press:

His first wife was actress Janet Leigh of “Psycho” fame; actress Jamie Lee Curtis is their daughter.

“My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages,” Jamie Lee Curtis said in a statement Thursday. “He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world.”

Curtis struggled against drug and alcohol abuse as starring roles became fewer, but then bounced back in film and television as a character actor.

Actor John Forsythe Dies

According to a report from the Associated Press, actor John Forsythe, most well known for his role as an oil tycoon on Dynasty and as the voice of Charlie on Charlie’s Angels, has died at the age of 92.

From the New York Times:

His publicist, Harlan Boll, said the cause was complications of pneumonia, following a yearlong battle with cancer. Mr. Forsythe had earlier received a diagnosis of colon cancer, and in 1979 underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

He may be best remembered as Blake Carrington, the ruthless but dapper silver-haired Denver oil tycoon on “Dynasty,” which ran from 1981 to 1989 and took its place as the symbol of the affluent decade of the Reagan administration. He often expressed amusement that the role, as the object of two women’s fierce affection — that of Joan Collins and Linda Evans — had made him a sex symbol in his 60s.

Mr. Forsythe’s first series character was another dashing, well-dressed, self-possessed man of means. He was Bentley Gregg, the playboy Beverly Hills lawyer in the sitcom “Bachelor Father” (1957-62). Gregg was bringing up his teenage niece (Noreen Corcoran), whose parents had died in an accident.

Actor Corey Haim Dies

According to multiple reports, Corey Haim died this morning from an accidental drug overdose after being rushed to a Los Angeles County hospital.

Very sad. Another life cut far too short. I can remember watching the series of movies he did with Corey Feldman when I was growing up.

From the Associated Press:

Corey Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob for his roles in “Lucas” and “The Lost Boys” whose career was blighted by drug abuse, has died. He was 38.

Haim died at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Los Angeles County coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.

An autopsy will determine the cause of death and there were no other details, she said. Police Sgt. Michael Kammert said there’s no evidence of foul play.

Haim had flulike symptoms before he died and was getting over-the-counter and prescription medications, Police Sgt. William Mann said. The cause of death is unknown, Mann said.

“He could have succumbed to whatever (illness) he had or it could have been drugs. Who knows?” Mann said. “He has had a drug problem in the past.”

Haim was taken by ambulance to the hospital from an apartment in Los Angeles near Burbank. The enormous complex is known as Oakwood and is popular with young actors, Kammert said.

From the Los Angeles Times:

Actor and former teen idol Corey Haim has died at the age of 38, the Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed to KTLA.

Haim died at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday of an apparent accidental overdose, according to the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division.

Coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said an autopsy would determine an official cause of death.

Haim was found unresponsive inside an Oakwood apartment, between Burbank and the Hollywood Hills, police said.

From BBC News:

A spokeswoman said he passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning at Providence St Joseph Medical Centre.

A post-mortem will determine the cause of death and no other details have been released as yet.

The Canadian-born star’s first role was in the 1984 hit Firstborn. In recent years, he appeared in reality TV show The Two Coreys.

The series, which also starred Haim’s friend Corey Feldman, was cancelled in 2008 after two series.

The pair, who both have battled drug problems in the past, starred in the 1988 movie License to Drive together and became well known for their on and off screen partnership.

Actor Ron Silver Dies of Cancer

Award-winning actor and activist Ron Silver, who was Emmy-nominated for his role on the hit U.S. television drama “The West Wing,” died on yesterday of cancer at the age of 62.

From Reuters:

“Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning,” said Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Silver helped found.

Bronk said Silver was with his family in New York City and he had been fighting esophageal cancer for two years.

Bronk called Silver not only a very talented actor, but a champion of free speech and artists’ rights.

New York-based Creative Coalition is an art-oriented political group founded in 1989 by Silver, Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon, among others.

Silver, who won Broadway’s 1988 Tony Award for his work in David Mamet’s drama “Speed the Plow,” had been a longtime liberal activist, but after the September 11 attacks became an outspoken supporter of Republican President George W. Bush.

He was a featured speaker at the 2004 Republican National Convention, sometimes called himself a “9/11 Republican” and switched his party affiliation from Democrat to independent.

Silver said his shift in politics cost him jobs in liberal Hollywood, yet he remained sought out for his skills as a character actor.

His portrayal of White House strategist Bruno Gianelli on “The West Wing” was perhaps his best known part in recent years, but he earned another Emmy nomination for the murder thriller “Billionaire Boys Club.”

He had roles on the TV hospital drama “Chicago Hope” and the comedy “Veronica’s Closet,” and he won acclaim for playing lawyer Alan Dershowitz in the film “Reversal of Fortune.”

Born and raised in New York City, his father worked in the garment industry and his mother was a teacher. He earned a master’s degree in Chinese history from St. John’s University in New York and studied drama at the Actors Studio. Silver and ex-wife Lynne Miller had a son and a daughter.