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This is the one to hit me the hardest in recent memory.
Reading this part of the family's statement just gets me:
“The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him ‘there’s Willy Wonka,’ would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world,”
Willy Wonka is one of my favorite movies. I want to watch it now to honor him, but I also know I just wouldn't be able to make it all the way through just yet.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/08/29 23:29:25
"Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see.
One chants out between two worlds: Fire, walk with me." - Twin Peaks
"You listen to me. While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and hatchetman in the fight against violence. I pride myself in taking a punch and I'll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King. My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method... is love. I love you Sheriff Truman." - Twin Peaks
Gene Wilder passing hits me hard. Don't know how accurate the reports are yet, but I have heard it was do to complications due to alzheimers (know I butchered that). I can relate, my grandma had alzheimers when she passed. Took care of her for a year. That was probably the hardest year of my life.
Twinkle, Twinkle little star.
I ran over your Wave Serpents with my car.
I was listening to an interview with his family today, and it appears that Gene wanted to keep the Alzheimers secret from anybody else. They said that he really wasn't that concerned about himself if other people found out about it, but that whenever they went out in public children would still recognize him as Willy Wonka and would light up with smiles. He was worried that their parents would act differently around their children, and he didn't want to take any smiles away from this world.
Tannhauser42 wrote: This is the one to hit me the hardest in recent memory.
Reading this part of the family's statement just gets me:
“The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him ‘there’s Willy Wonka,’ would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world,”
Willy Wonka is one of my favorite movies. I want to watch it now to honor him, but I also know I just wouldn't be able to make it all the way through just yet.
Yeah this one is sorta up there with Robin Williams. Gene Wilder was a big childhood icon. I still won't miss that boat ride in the Willy Wonka movie though.
Twitter user Joe Scaramanga writes, “Lovely Gene Wilder story in the Grauniad comments…”
I met him sometime in the early 1990s – I can’t pinpoint the year – when he came with a friend to visit the Turner Study Room at the Tate Gallery, which I was in charge of at the time.
He was strikingly shy, but as polite as could be, and tremendously appreciative of the experience that the Study Room offered.
It was only later in the day that I found out a bit more about his visit.
Before coming to the Study Room, he had taken time to have a conversation with a sweet- natured and approachable Irish attendant called Catherine, who told me what happened.
She had asked for, and received, his autograph – “Oh, to Catherine, please – thank you”.
On leaving the Study Room, he and his friend explored new areas of the Gallery – and, since the attendants rotate their positions, he unexpectedly saw Catherine again up ahead.
Whereupon, shyness banished and now in performance mode to the astonishment of visitors nearby, he yelled “Catherine!! How are you?? You don’t write, you don’t phone…!”
She was thrilled – wouldn’t you be?
RiP.
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
This one is hitting me hard. Its like a little bit of light just went dark.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
2016/08/30 23:06:22
Subject: 2016 Strikes Again : Kenny Baker and Gene Wilder
"Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see.
One chants out between two worlds: Fire, walk with me." - Twin Peaks
"You listen to me. While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and hatchetman in the fight against violence. I pride myself in taking a punch and I'll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King. My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method... is love. I love you Sheriff Truman." - Twin Peaks
2016/09/04 22:41:47
Subject: 2016 Strikes Again : Kenny Baker and Gene Wilder
Can't believe Willy Wonka is gone. My roommate told me today. He truly brought joy to my childhood, he was an awesome actor, and truly will be missed. This year sucks so hard for famous deaths. It's unnatural.
Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.
Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.
Due to work, I can usually only ship any sales or trades out on Saturday morning. Please trade/purchase with this in mind.
2016/09/05 08:11:46
Subject: Re:2016 Strikes Again : Kenny Baker and Gene Wilder
Director/Screenwriter Curtis Hanson passed away at 71. Movies you might know him from: Hand That Rocks the Cradle, 8 Mile, Wonder Boys, and LA Confidential. His first screenwriting project was an adaptation of The Dunwhich Horror by HP Lovecraft for Roger Corman. He also directed an episode of Greg The Bunny.
I always loved his version of LA Confidential. While it did not have the breadth of the book it was able to capture the essence and feeling it evoked; it was a good example of how properly adapt a work from a different medium.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
2016/09/21 13:30:38
Subject: 2016 Strikes Again : Kenny Baker and Gene Wilder
Just saw today that Alexis Arquette died too. You might remember him/her from Adam Sandler's Wedding Singer movie. She/He was one of the first transgender people in Hollywood that I knew of.
Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.
Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.
Due to work, I can usually only ship any sales or trades out on Saturday morning. Please trade/purchase with this in mind.
2016/09/24 17:34:02
Subject: Re:2016 Strikes Again : Kenny Baker and Gene Wilder
"Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see.
One chants out between two worlds: Fire, walk with me." - Twin Peaks
"You listen to me. While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and hatchetman in the fight against violence. I pride myself in taking a punch and I'll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King. My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method... is love. I love you Sheriff Truman." - Twin Peaks
2016/09/26 02:00:33
Subject: 2016 Strikes Again : Kenny Baker and Gene Wilder
Not sure how many baseball fans are here, but a young super star pitcher for the Florida Marlins, Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident this weekend.
kronk wrote: Not sure how many baseball fans are here, but a young super star pitcher for the Florida Marlins, Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident this weekend.
He was quite the phenom. It is hard to say if he would have a long career since he already had to undergo shoulder surgery. He missed most of the 2014 and 2015 seasons, because of it. However, he was rookie of the year (rare for a pitcher) in 2013, and this year, was leading all of baseball in strikeouts at the time of his death, and was on pace for a 20 win season despite playing for a below average team (Marlins).
If you like strike outs, he was an exciting young player to watch. Darn shame.
Jean Alexander, who played Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden and Auntie Wainwright in Last of the Summer Wine, has died aged 90.
Alexander portrayed Hilda Ogden, a sharp-tongued, put-upon housewife who was one of Coronation Street's best known characters, from 1964 to 1987.
She appeared as shopkeeper Auntie Wainwright, the "absolute favourite part" of her career, for 22 years.
She died peacefully in hospital on Friday, her niece said.
Alexander had been admitted to Southport hospital, Merseyside, for tests but was discharged after a couple of days and allowed to return to her nursing home, her niece Sonia Hearld said.
But on Tuesday she was readmitted to hospital, three days before her death.
"My aunt died sadly earlier today," Mrs Hearld, of Selby, North Yorkshire, said on Friday.
With her curlers, headscarf and piercing voice that could not be ignored (no matter how much fellow Coronation Street character Annie Walker tried), Hilda Ogden was, to many, the most iconic character in Coronation Street's 56-year history.
Jean Alexander ensured we always rooted for the downtrodden cleaning lady, who embodied classic-era Coronation Street's perfect balance of drama and comedy.
In the hall of Alexander's home in Southport, pride of place was given to a signed photo of Laurence Olivier - a big fan.
Soap stars do not often get much credit, but Olivier's recognition showed how highly Alexander was regarded by the very best - and that, perhaps, if Hilda had not kept her so busy, Alexander could have held her own in roles alongside some of them.
So she should not be thought of as "just" a soap star - she was one of the finest British actresses of her time.
Cast members of the show have been paying tribute to Alexander on Twitter.
Sally Dynevor, whose character Sally Webster first appeared in the soap in January 1986 almost two years before Alexander left, wrote: "Jean Alexander, RIP. What a wonderful woman, and such an amazing and talented actress."
Jennie McAlpine, who has played Fiz Brown since 2001, tweeted: "So sorry to hear about Jean Alexander. I would have loved to work with her. Thankful to have met her though. Rest in Peace Jean x."
And Antony Cotton, who has played Sean Tully since 2003, said Alexander was "magnificent", adding: "My favourite episode of Coronation Street ever, was Hilda singing 'Wish Me Luck...'"
Daran Little, Coronation Street script writer from 2000 to 2010, said Alexander "reached into the hearts of viewers - she was everyone's nan, everyone's nosy neighbour".
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "I think the great thing about Jean playing Hilda is that Jean was absolutely nothing like Hilda - she was sophisticated and quiet, she was an ex-librarian, she used to love doing crosswords and she used to pad up coat hangers for charity.
"And when she put the curlers on, she became something else."
'Playing against the script'
Prior to her role as Hilda, Alexander had a brief appearance in Coronation Street in 1962 as a landlady who rented a room to a disturbed young woman.
Eighteen months later Alexander, who was born in the Toxteth area of Liverpool, started her role as Hilda, forming a comedy double act with her on-screen husband, Stan, who was played by Bernard Youens.
Speaking about Hilda, Alexander said: "The character was originally written as a rather stereotyped character, as Stan was, you know, big fat man and lazy husband and little nagging wife.
"After a few weeks we thought this was going to get a bit boring so we started playing against the script - same words but trying to give them a bit more character, rounding them out a bit."
Mr Little said that Alexander began to draw out Hilda's hen-pecking of Stan, moving away from being a battered wife.
"She used to talk regularly about how Stan used to wallop her and she was very much in his shadow and then she just, they decided together to turn it around - not that Hilda ever hit Stan but she certainly did with her vocal chords."
After Youens died in 1984 Stan's character was written out.
Following Stan's death, a scene in the soap showed Hilda silently unwrapping a parcel of his belongings and breaking down when she opened his glasses case.
Alexander left the soap three years later.
HILDA OGDEN'S GREATEST SCENES
The muriel In 1976, a proud Hilda acquired her "muriel" - the wallpaper with a mural of a mountain range to which she pinned her famous flying ducks.
Woman, Stanley Hilda won a night in a luxury hotel for a second honeymoon in 1977. After kissing Hilda, Stan asked what her lipstick tasted of. The reply came: "Woman, Stanley. Woman."
Stan's death After actor Bernard Youens died in 1984, his character Stan was written out. Hilda was seen silently unwrapping a parcel of his belongings and breaking down when she opened his glasses case.
Hilda's departure Hilda decided it was time to move in 1987, and half the nation tuned in to watch as her neighbours finally showed some affection for her by throwing a surprise party in the Rovers Return.
She later joined Last of the Summer Wine in 1988 as the junk shop owner Auntie Wainwright, a role she would play for 22 years.
But Hilda Ogden was the character she remained best known for.
In 2005 a TV Times poll voted her the nation's favourite soap character.
I cannot honestly claim to be a fan as such but -- perhaps subject to age -- one cannot deny she was quite iconic in her day.
And even though I was naught but a bairn myself, and therefore basically "forced" to watch what my parents were watching -- I do remember being moved by the scene they mention with regards to the death of her characters husband.
.. RIP mamzel
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/10/22 15:33:11
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2016/10/22 19:29:47
Subject: 2016 Strikes Again : Steve Dillon, artist
Steve Dillon is dead? Holy crap! He wasn't very old, either. He was still a teenager when he started doing Judge Dredd in 2000 AD and the Abslom Daak backup strips in Doctor Who.
Emperor's Eagles (undergoing Chapter reorganization)
Caledonian 95th (undergoing regimental reorganization)
Thousands Sons (undergoing Warband re--- wait, are any of my 40K armies playable?)
2016/10/22 22:32:53
Subject: Re:2016 Strikes Again : Steve Dillon, artist