Fond Farewell - Jack Klugman (1922 - 2012)

Beloved actor, Jack Klugman, has died of complications from prostate cancer. Klugman was best known for his long-time roles on the television series, as Oscar Madison in "The Odd Couple" with Tony Randall (1970 - 1975) and in the title role as "Quincy, M.E." (1976 - 1983).

 In a career that spanned 64 years, Mr. Klugman earned one Golden Globe Award (1974), three Emmy Awards (1964, 1971, 1973), received two Stars on the Walk of Fame (1988 and 1959), acted in 9 Broadway shows, 18 films and over 50 television shows. Klugman was 90 years old.

Did you know?

• Jack Klugman was born in Philadelphia.

• Klugman's title role as Quincy, M.E. was inspired by real-life medical examiner in Los Angeles County, Thomas T. Noguchi, known as "Coroner to the Stars". (Noguchi performed the autopsies on some of Hollywood's top celebrity deaths including Natalie Wood, Marilyn Monroe, Sharon Tate, William Holden, John Bleushi as well as Robert F. Kennedy.)

• Jack  loved thoroughbred racing and his horse "Jaklin Klugman" finished 3rd in the 1980 Kentucky Derby.

• Mr. Klugman helped get the Orphan Drug Act passed in 1983 by speaking before Congress.

• Klugman's final resting place is Mt. Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.

Fond Farewell - Larry Hagman (1931-2012)

Television legend and Texas native, Larry Hagman has died at age 81. In a long, successful television career that spanned 62 years, Hagman was well known for his diverse roles. Two of his most famous roles were as J.R. Ewing on "Dallas" for over 13 years (357 episodes), and Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson on "I Dream of Jeannie" for 5 years.

From 1952 - 1956, Hagman served in the Korean War in the U.S. Air Force and he spent most of his time entertaining the troops.

In 1995, Hagman underwent a life-saving liver transplant. His organ transplant inspired him to work to promote healthy living. He served as the chairman of the American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout for several years. He also worked to promote the National Kidney Foundation.

Although Hagman's largest successes were on television, he also played roles on the stage and in film. He continued working through 2012 on a new revision of "Dallas" which was filmed on site in Dallas, Texas for TNT.

Hagman’s final wishes were slightly unconventional. He asked to have his remains scattered over a fields of wheat and marijuana so that in a couple of years, a marijuana cake could serve up to 300 people. He wanted to share himself with those who remained behind.

Fond Farewell Lucille Bliss (1916–2012)

American television cartoon voice actress Lucille Bliss’ pioneering voice career brought joy and laughter to millions of children. She voiced television’s very first animated character, Crusader Rabbit (1949), and famously played the popular “Smurfette” character through nine seasons of “The Smurfs” through the 1980’s. She hosted popular bay area kids program. “The Happy Birthday Show” and took roles for Walt Disney in Alice In Wonderland, and our favorite 101 Dalmatian’s where she was dubbed for the "Canine Crunchies" commercial and all pup voices. Her career spans generations from Hanna Barbara favorites like “The Flintstones”, to Don Bluth’s “The Secret of Nimh” and most recently “Miss Bitters” on Nickelodeon’s “Invader Zim” animated series. We thank you Ms. Bliss for your creativity and undying love for the child in all of us.

Happy 100th Birthday Lucy!

Today Lucille Ball would have turned 100 years old. It's hard to believe she's been gone over 22 years, having died at age 77 in 1989. Lucy still seems very much 'with' us. She has remained with us throughout the years due to the success and syndication of her and husband Desi Arnaz's television series 'I Love Lucy' which originally ran from the fall of 1951 to Spring of 1957.

I grew up watching 'I Love Lucy' in re-runs, and later on purchasing the entire series on DVD. I've memorized most (if not all) of the dialogue and often (almost daily) refer to different portions of episode story lines when reflecting on things that happen in my own life. I believe the success of 'I Love Lucy' was not only due to the extraordinary talents of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley, or to the brilliant foresight of Desi Arnaz to film the episodes with 3 cameras simultaneously on durable 35mm film, but to the quality of the show to accurately depict American life.

Although the show was in actuality fictional, many of the story lines were simply an exaggeration of real life. They poked fun at the ups and downs of life in America. I've often wished I'd been alive during the run of 'I Love Lucy.' The 1950's era society of 'I Love Lucy' detracts nothing from the messages we see in the show. Society is still society, and people in it still contend with all the ups and downs portrayed so many years ago in the series, making 'I Love Lucy' a timeless piece of work. It remains the longest-running show to continually air in the Los Angeles area, for over 50 years after it ended. Thus, we can only expect that Lucille Ball 'Lucy' will continue to 'live' on through this show for many years to come.