Category Archives: Obituaries

Obit: Shirley Temple

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Actress Shirley Temple is dead at age 85.

The legendary former child star appeared in such classic movies as Bright Eyes, Curly Top, Heidi and The Littlest Rebel. She also had a TV series, Shirley Temple’s Storybook, which aired from 1958-61.

After leaving Hollywood, Temple got involved in politics. She ran for political office in California, then later served as U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

Shirley Temple Black passed away Monday in California, surrounded by her family.

Here’s a rare episode of Shirley’s TV show. The House of the Seven Gables is based on the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel and stars Shirley Temple, Agnes Moorehead (Bewitched), Robert Culp (I Spy), Jonathan Harris (Lost in Space) and Martin Landau (Mission: Impossible). It was produced by William Asher (Bewitched) and originally aired on NBC on December 11, 1960. Enjoy the show as we remember Shirley Temple.

Obit: Richard Bull

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Veteran character actor Richard Bull has died at age 89.

Bull’s seven-decade career included appearances on countless classic TV shows from the 1950s onward, including Barnaby Jones, Felony Squad, Gomer Pyle USMC, Highway Patrol, Mannix and Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea.

Richard Bull had a recurring role in James Garner’s early 70s western, Nichols. He is best remembered as Nels Olesen on the long-running family drama Little House on the Prairie.

According to IMDB, Bull’s last credited role was a 2011 appearance on the Kelsey Grammer series Boss.

Obit: Arthur Rankin Jr.

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The co-creator of classic Christmas cartoons Frosty The Snowman and Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer has died.

Arthur Rankin Jr. and his partner Jules Bass launched their animation production company in 1960. Their first series was released the same year, The New Adventures of Pinocchio. Later series included Tales of the Wizard of Oz, King Kong, Jackson 5ive and Thundercats.

Rankin-Bass Productions was best known for their classic holiday specials featuring a unique stop-motion style. In addition to 1964’s Rudolph and 1969’s Frosty, the company produced such classic TV favorites as Here Comes Peter Cottontail, The Little Drummer Boy, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town and The Year Without a Santa Claus.

Rankin passed away last Thursday at age 89.

Obit: John Cacavas

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Longtime film and TV composer John Cacavas has died at 83.

Cacavas wrote music for such classic series as Hawaii Five-0, Mrs. Columbo and Quincy. He also composed a new theme for the final season of Kojak.

Mr. Cacavas worked on the music for the Airport 1975 and ’77 big screen pics, as well as some made-for-TV movies. His later works included The Equalizer and Matlock.

Cacavas passed away Tuesday in Beverly Hills.

Obit: Pierre Jalbert

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Former Canadian champion skier turned actor Pierre Jalbert has died at age 89.

Jalbert was captain of the 1948 Canadian Olympic team and later worked as a ski instructor. He then turned to acting, guesting on such classic series as Mission: Impossible, The Name of the Game and Night Gallery.

Pierre Jalbert’s best known role was as PFC Paul (Caje) Lemay on the 1960s war drama Combat! The show ran on ABC for 5 seasons. He also worked behind the scenes as a film and sound editor.

Obit: Luis Avalos

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Actor Luis Avalos passed away on January 22. He was best known for his roles as Roberto and Dr. Doolats on the 1970s PBS children’s series The Electric Company.

The Cuban-born Avalos also guested in numerous classic TV series including Barney Miller, The Jeffersons and Kojak.

Avalos was 67.

Obit: Ben Starr

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Veteran TV comedy writer and producer Ben Starr has died at 92.

His writing career began on early TV shows like Duffy’s Tavern and I Married Joan, later working on such classics as Mister Ed, The Brady Bunch, All In The Family and Diff’rent Strokes. He went on to become co-creator of The Facts of Life and Silver Spoons.

Starr passed away January 19 in Los Angeles.

Obits: Dave Madden, Russell Johnson

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Two classic TV supporting actors passed away on Thursday.

Dave Madden was best known for playing band manager Reuben Kincaid on The Partridge Family (ABC 1970-74). It currently airs nationally on the Antenna TV network. Madden died of congestive heart and kidney failure…he was 82.

The last surviving male cast member of Gilligan’s Island, Russell Johnson, died of natural causes. Johnson played Professor Roy Hinkley on the show, which aired on CBS from 1964 to 1967. Gilligan’s Island currently airs nationally on MeTV and just recently returned to TV Land after a long hiatus. Russell Johnson was 89.

Our sympathies to their families, friends and fans.