Paired to Perfection

Ricou Browning, the underwater actor who brought the Gill-Man to life in the original Creature from the Black Lagoon films, passed away on February 27, 2023, at the age of 93. The last surviving performer to portray one of Universal's original classic monsters, Browning spent a lifetime making audiences believe monsters could swim. Born in Fort Pierce, Florida, and read more

raised around the state's crystal-clear springs, Ricou Browning never intended to become a movie monster. After studying physical education at Florida State University, he worked at Wakulla Springs performing underwater demonstrations for tourists, where his ability to hold his breath for four minutes and move effortlessly underwater caught the attention of a Hollywood film crew.

In 1953, Universal Pictures arrived to scout locations for a new monster movie. They needed someone who could wear an unforgiving foam rubber suit underwater, survive long filming days, and somehow make the creature appear graceful. After watching Browning swim, they hired him on the spot.

He became the Gill-Man.

Browning performed all of the underwater scenes for Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Revenge of the Creature, and The Creature Walks Among Us, while another actor handled scenes on land. His fluid, almost balletic movements transformed what could have been a lumbering monster into a strangely elegant and tragic figure. Critics later described his underwater performance as "tortured romantic poetry."

Filming was physically demanding. Browning spent up to nine hours a day submerged in 71-degree water wearing a restrictive suit while outside temperatures hovered around 49 degrees. Despite the challenges, he later remarked, "I forgot I had it on. I became the creature."

When Browning passed away, he was widely recognized as the final surviving actor to portray one of Universal's original Classic Monsters, marking the end of a legendary chapter in horror film history.

His career, however, extended far beyond monsters. Browning co-wrote and co-produced the 1963 film Flipper, inspired by his fascination with dolphins, which later became the beloved television series for which he directed 37 episodes. He also choreographed underwater sequences for the James Bond film Thunderball, served as second-unit director on Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and even directed the unforgettable underwater candy-bar scene in Caddyshack, parodying the opening of Jaws.

Ricou Browning died of natural causes at his home in Southwest Ranches, Florida, on February 27, 2023. He is survived by four children, including his son Ricou Jr., who followed his father into underwater stunt work and marine coordination for film. His wife, Fran, preceded him in death.

Whether beneath the waves as a misunderstood monster or behind the camera creating unforgettable aquatic adventures, Browning forever changed how audiences experienced life beneath the surface.

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Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) DeWitt H. “DH” Ward passed away peacefully on April 29, 2026, at the age of 91. A decorated Green Beret, lifelong soldier, devoted husband, and outdoorsman, DH spent his life serving both his country and the people he loved with quiet strength and unwavering dedication. Born on August 9, 1934, in Midlothian, Texas, DeWitt H. Ward—known read more

simply as "DH" to family and friends, and affectionately as "Darling Husband" by his wife Jane—grew up helping on the family farm and playing football. After graduating high school at just sixteen years old, he attended Texas Tech through the ROTC program while serving in the National Guard.

Upon graduating in 1955, DH accepted a commission into the United States Army, beginning a distinguished military career that would span twenty-five years. His service carried him across the globe, with assignments in Okinawa, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, and two combat tours in Vietnam as both a Green Beret and Special Forces commander.

A qualified paratrooper, DH frequently participated in airborne demonstrations, giving his family opportunities to proudly watch him leap from aircraft in service to his country.

Though military life meant frequent moves and long deployments, DH remained deeply committed to his family. Even while serving in Vietnam, he regularly sent letters, recorded messages, cartoons, and jokes home, ensuring that distance never weakened the bonds he shared with those he loved. Whenever possible, he introduced his family to America's national parks, campgrounds, and scenic landscapes, passing along his lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.

Following his final assignment in Germany, DH retired from the Army in 1977. He and Jane returned to Washington State to operate their 300-acre apple orchard before eventually settling in Bozeman, Montana, in 1990.

Retirement hardly slowed him down. He embraced skiing, hunting, fishing, camping, ranch work, woodworking, and community service. Together, he and Jane volunteered as Big Sky ski hosts for more than twenty years, welcoming visitors from around the world with warmth and hospitality.

Friends knew DH as someone who was always willing to lend a hand, whether repairing equipment in his workshop, maintaining his ranch, or helping neighbors with projects. His life reflected service, resilience, generosity, and an enduring love for family, country, and the outdoors.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Jane; five children; ten grandchildren; and seventeen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandsons, L.J. Clayton and Ted Clayton.

A celebration of his life with full military honors was held on June 12, 2026. His legacy of leadership, courage, adventure, and devotion will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.

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Jim Varney, the actor and comedian who brought Ernest P. Worrell to life and voiced several beloved animated characters—including Cookie in Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire—passed away on February 10, 2000, after battling lung cancer. He was 50 years old, leaving behind generations of fans who still smile when they hear, "KnowwhutImean?"... read more

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 15, 1949, Jim Varney discovered his love for performing at an early age. After years of stage work and television appearances, he created the character that would define much of his career: Ernest P. Worrell.

Ernest first appeared in a series of regional television commercials during the early 1980s. With his denim vest, baseball cap, boundless enthusiasm, and trademark catchphrase, "KnowwhutImean?", Ernest quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The character's popularity soon led to television specials and a successful series of feature films.

Between 1987 and 1990, Varney starred in Disney favorites including Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, and Ernest Goes to Jail, with additional Ernest adventures following throughout the 1990s. Audiences loved Ernest because, despite the chaos he constantly created, his heart was always in the right place.

Varney's talents extended well beyond live-action comedy. He voiced Slinky Dog in both Toy Story and Toy Story 2, introducing himself to an entirely new generation of moviegoers. He also provided the voice of Jebidiah Allardyce "Cookie" Farnsworth, the eccentric dirt-loving demolition expert, in Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, one of the standout members of Milo Thatch's expedition.

Throughout his career, Varney also appeared in Hey Vern, It's Ernest!, Roseanne, The Simpsons, and numerous television and film projects that showcased his remarkable range as both a comedic performer and voice actor.

Though many people forever associate him with Ernest's goofy grin and endless optimism, Jim Varney was much more than a single character. His warmth, energy, and unmistakable voice made him one of the most recognizable entertainers of his generation.

Jim Varney passed away at his home in White House, Tennessee, on February 10, 2000, following a battle with lung cancer. He was 50 years old. His performances continue to entertain audiences decades later, proving that genuine kindness and laughter never really go out of style.

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Congressman Leo Ryan never believed investigations belonged behind a desk. Whether posing as a substitute teacher, an inmate inside Folsom Prison, or traveling deep into the jungles of Guyana, Ryan believed the only way to uncover the truth was to witness it firsthand—even when doing so ultimately cost him his life... read more

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on May 5, 1925, Leo Joseph Ryan Jr. built a political career that was anything but conventional. After serving as a city councilman, mayor of South San Francisco, state assemblyman, and eventually a U.S. Congressman, Ryan developed a reputation for personally investigating the issues he was tasked with overseeing.

Following the Watts riots in 1965, while many politicians commented from afar, Ryan quietly took a job as a substitute teacher in the neighborhood to better understand the community's struggles. Several years later, while leading a committee investigating California prison reform, he had himself arrested under a false name and spent ten days incarcerated inside Folsom State Prison. There, he lived alongside inmates, even playing chess with pieces fashioned from toilet paper and toothpaste. When he left, the prisoners gave him the handmade chess set, which he kept for the remainder of his life.

Ryan's willingness to immerse himself in difficult situations drew both praise and criticism. Some dismissed his methods as publicity stunts, while Ryan argued that firsthand experience produced better leadership. He also championed government accountability, co-authoring legislation requiring the CIA to report covert operations to Congress despite fierce opposition.

In November 1978, Ryan learned that several of his constituents feared loved ones were being held against their will inside the People's Temple settlement of Jonestown, Guyana. Reports described abuse, forced labor, and members unable to leave. Ryan invited fellow members of Congress to accompany him on a fact-finding mission. None accepted.

Instead, Ryan traveled with a small congressional staff, journalists, and concerned family members to investigate personally. After several Temple members asked to leave with his delegation, Ryan and his party attempted to depart from a nearby airstrip on November 18, 1978. Before their aircraft could take off, gunmen loyal to Jim Jones opened fire.

Leo Ryan was killed in the attack at the age of 53. Within hours, more than 900 members of the People's Temple died in the Jonestown mass murder-suicide, forever cementing the tragedy as one of the darkest chapters in American history.

Ryan remains the only sitting member of the United States Congress ever assassinated while performing official duties. In 1983, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his courage and public service.

In one final twist of history, Ryan's daughter Shannon Jo later briefly joined another infamous religious movement, the Rajneeshees, before eventually leaving the group.

Leo Ryan spent his life running toward difficult truths while others walked away. He didn't choose easy investigations or comfortable assignments—he chose the places where someone needed to show up, and he did, right up until the very end.

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Tobe Hooper, the filmmaker who gave horror audiences Leatherface and forever changed the genre with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, died on August 26, 2017, at the age of 74. Working with a tiny budget, unknown actors, and the unforgiving Texas heat, Hooper created one of the most influential horror films ever made. read more...

Born in Austin, Texas, in 1943, Tobe Hooper worked as a college professor and documentary filmmaker before turning his attention to feature films. In 1974, he directed, produced, and co-wrote the movie that would define his career and permanently alter the landscape of American horror: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Shot on a small budget in Texas with a cast of relatively unknown actors, the film initially struggled to find a distributor because of its violent content. Once released, however, it became one of the most profitable independent films of the 1970s and developed into a horror classic.

The story followed a group of friends who encounter the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface and his cannibalistic family in rural Texas. Its grimy realism, dark humor, and relentless atmosphere introduced elements that would become staples of the horror genre, including power tools as weapons and the terrifying image of a faceless, masked killer.

Hooper understood that what audiences imagined could be more frightening than anything he could put on screen. Speaking about Leatherface's mask decades later, he explained that hiding the killer's face forced viewers to fill in the blanks themselves, creating something more disturbing than what could actually be shown.

Hooper continued shaping horror throughout his career. In 1979, he directed the television adaptation of Stephen King's Salem's Lot, which became one of the most acclaimed adaptations of King's work. Three years later, he directed Poltergeist, written and produced by Steven Spielberg, which became both a critical and box-office success.

In 1986, Hooper returned to the franchise that made him famous with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Rather than simply recreating the original, he pushed the sequel further into grotesque comedy, emphasizing the dark humor that had always existed beneath the surface of his work.

His influence extended far beyond his own films. Directors including Ridley Scott, Rob Zombie, and Wes Craven cited The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as an influence on their work, while generations of horror filmmakers borrowed from the visual language and atmosphere Hooper helped establish.

His later career continued across film and television, with his final feature project, Djinn, released in 2013.

Tobe Hooper died in Sherman Oaks, California, on August 26, 2017. He was 74 years old. More than four decades after Leatherface first stepped onto a Texas backroad with a chainsaw in his hands, Hooper's influence remains embedded in the DNA of modern horror.

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Rachel Wentworth Crandell, lovingly known as “Rainforest Rachel,” devoted her life to protecting the world’s tropical rainforests through education, conservation, and faith. Long before environmental advocacy became commonplace, she believed that every person could make a difference — one child, one tree, and one animal at a time. read more...

For nearly 20 years, Rachel worked as a second-grade teacher at Principia School, where her passion for education and the natural world became intertwined. After retiring from teaching in 2001, she dedicated herself full-time to rainforest conservation and environmental education.

Rachel founded the Monteverde Conservation League, U.S., and devoted herself to protecting tropical forests while teaching others why their preservation mattered. She led educational programs and eco-tours, inspiring countless children and adults to see themselves as stewards of the Earth.

Her work extended into storytelling as well. Rachel authored and co-authored several children’s books, including Hands of the Maya and The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure. Through her writing, she encouraged young readers to appreciate the natural world while developing respect for indigenous cultures and the communities that depend upon these ecosystems.

Rachel approached environmental conservation with optimism rather than despair. Her son Jeremy recalled her philosophy simply: “We can despair, or we can take action.” Guided by her Christian faith, she believed that if something glorified God, then it was always worth doing.

Her dedication earned national recognition, including being named National Firestone Eco-Educator of the Year. But her greatest legacy could be found in the forests she helped protect and the generations of children she inspired.

Among the most enduring symbols of that legacy is the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, preserved through a remarkable international conservation effort and representative of Rachel’s belief that even young people could play a meaningful role in protecting the planet.

Rachel was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Dwight, and her youngest son, Joshua. She is survived by her children Jeremy, Abigail, and Joanna; six grandchildren; her siblings; and the countless people whose lives were enriched by her passion, kindness, and unwavering belief that one person truly can change the world.

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Ed Warren, the world-renowned paranormal researcher, ghosthunter, and demonologist who alongside his wife Lorraine investigated some of America's most infamous alleged hauntings, died on August 23, 2006, at the age of 79. From Amityville to decades spent investigating the supernatural, Warren dedicated his life to things most people would rather never encounter. read more...

Born on September 7, 1926, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Ed Warren became one half of the husband-and-wife paranormal investigation team Ed and Lorraine Warren, known as the Seekers of the Supernatural. Together, the Warrens spent decades investigating reports of hauntings, demonic activity, and other unexplained phenomena.

Before dedicating his life to the paranormal, Warren served in the United States Navy during World War II, seeing service in both the Pacific and European Theatres. Following his military service, he attended art school and became a painter, frequently depicting haunted houses and winter scenes throughout New England.

Ed and Lorraine's fascination with the supernatural eventually became their life's work. The couple investigated countless claims of paranormal activity and were also called upon to assist in police investigations involving alleged satanic ritualistic murders. Their reputation led to appearances at hundreds of colleges and universities, where they lectured about ghosts, hauntings, and the supernatural.

Among their most famous investigations was the Amityville Horror case. The Warrens were among a small group of paranormal investigators invited into the Long Island home following claims of terrifying supernatural activity there, and they later served as consultants on the first Amityville Horror film.

Warren was described as one of only seven religious demonologists in the United States. Together, Ed and Lorraine co-authored ten books on supernatural phenomena. Two of their books were adapted into made-for-television movies, The Demon Murder Case and The Haunted.

Outside the paranormal world, Warren was an avid animal lover and advocate who rescued numerous animals throughout his life.

When once asked whether he feared death, Warren answered simply: "No, I don't fear it, not one iota." He said he believed he would be going to a beautiful place "so spectacular it defies words."

Ed Warren died at his home in Monroe, Connecticut, on August 23, 2006, with Lorraine, his beloved wife of 61 years, by his side. He was 79 years old.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ed's memory were requested for the Animal Center.

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Jeron Criswell King, better known as “The Amazing Criswell,” was a television psychic, actor, entertainer, and professional predictor of wildly improbable futures. With spit-curled hair, sequined tuxedos, and the delivery of a game-show host announcing the apocalypse, Criswell turned being spectacularly wrong into an art form. read more...

Criswell grew up around his relatives’ funeral home in Indiana, and legend has it that he didn’t speak his first word until he was four years old. When he finally did, during a thunderstorm, it was supposedly a prediction: “the rain will stop.” From there, the man who would become The Amazing Criswell basically never stopped predicting.

By the early 1950s, Criswell had arrived on Los Angeles television and transformed himself into pure spectacle: perfectly styled hair, glittering tuxedos, and a booming voice seemingly designed to announce the end of civilization.

While hosting a local television program originally intended to sell vitamins, Criswell needed something to fill airtime. He began offering predictions about the future, and “Criswell Predicts” was born.

The predictions became increasingly outrageous. He foretold that Denver would be struck by a mysterious space ray capable of turning metal into rubber, resulting in catastrophic amusement-park accidents. He predicted outbreaks of mass cannibalism. Most dramatically, he announced that the entire planet would be destroyed on August 18, 1999 — his own 92nd birthday.

Criswell also claimed that he slept in a coffin, a habit supposedly developed during his childhood around the family funeral home. Whether it was genuine eccentricity or extraordinarily committed showmanship hardly mattered. It was perfectly Criswell.

Despite a career filled with spectacularly inaccurate prophecies, one prediction became particularly eerie. During an appearance on The Jack Paar Show in March 1963, Criswell reportedly predicted that President John F. Kennedy would not seek reelection in 1964 because something would happen to him in November. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22 of that year.

Criswell moved comfortably among Hollywood eccentrics. Mae West became a close friend, reportedly cooking for him and selling him old luxury automobiles for five dollars apiece. His friendship with filmmaker Ed Wood led to perhaps his most enduring screen appearance.

In Wood’s infamous Plan 9 from Outer Space, Criswell appears at the beginning and end of the film, solemnly addressing audiences about “future events such as these.” The movie eventually became legendary as one of cinema’s most celebrated bad films, and Criswell’s wonderfully theatrical performance became inseparable from its cult appeal.

For all the predictions and spectacle, Criswell apparently possessed a healthy awareness of his own act. When asked whether he genuinely had psychic abilities, he reportedly admitted that he once had the gift but lost it when he began accepting money for it.

Criswell died in Burbank, California, on October 4, 1982, at the age of 75 — seventeen years before his predicted destruction of Earth. The planet survived August 18, 1999.

But accuracy was never really the point. Criswell offered audiences something much more dependable: entertainment. And when it came to predicting his own ability to keep people watching, The Amazing Criswell was right every time.

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Hilmar Paul Gudmundsson, a lifelong South Bay waterman and longtime Los Angeles County lifeguard, spent decades watching over the beaches he loved. A competitive swimmer, mentor, teacher, and local legend, Paul was known for his booming laugh, kind heart, and a lifetime spent in and around the water. read more...

Paul was born on August 5, 1954, in Winnipeg, Canada. His family settled in Hermosa Beach, California, in 1956, and it was there that he began becoming the local waterman so many would later know and love.

His involvement in competitive swimming, water polo, and the Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard program eventually led him to become an LA County Lifeguard in 1972. Paul was known as a fast and dependable guard who spent years working around the Manhattan Beach Pier, making countless rescues and mentoring generations of younger lifeguards.

Even late in life, Paul remained connected to the beach and the lifeguard community. During his final summer working the beach, his granddaughter Genevieve joined him there, happily playing in his foot bucket while he remained surrounded by the place and people he loved.

Competition was woven into Paul's personality. His name appears four times on the Judge Taplin Bell for lifeguard relays, and getting older never did much to slow him down. He continued swimming laps almost every day and even raced his own children during the annual recheck swims required for lifeguarding.

In 2014, Paul completed the Iceland Half-Marathon alongside his wife, despite openly complaining about how boring running was.

Paul also loved teaching. Whether the subject was Apple products, coffee, swimming, or almost anything else, people tended to walk away knowing more than they did before the conversation began. He spent three years as a Junior Lifeguard instructor in Torrance and Hermosa Beach, helping prepare and mentor future generations of guards.

A true South Bay local, one of Paul's most cutting insults was simply to call someone a “flatlander.”

His family remembered him as vibrant and funny, with a contagious booming laugh, a kind heart, and a deeply loving personality. His life was built around family, competition, teaching, service, and the ocean.

In lieu of flowers, donations were requested for the LA County Jr Lifeguard Trust Fund, continuing Paul's lifelong connection to the program that helped shape him and so many others.

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Dolly Rebecca Parton, country music’s rhinestone-covered patron saint, died August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Born one of twelve children in the mountains of East Tennessee, she went from singing in church to becoming one of the most beloved songwriters, performers, philanthropists, and gloriously bedazzled human beings America ever produced. read more...

Born on January 19, 1946, in East Tennessee, Dolly Parton grew up as one of twelve children in a family with very little money and an abundance of music. She began singing in church as a child and, almost immediately after graduating high school, headed for Nashville with a suitcase, a pile of songs, and apparently no interest whatsoever in having a backup plan.

It worked out.

Dolly became one of the defining voices and songwriters in country music, writing classics including Jolene, Coat of Many Colors, and I Will Always Love You. The last of those was written after she decided to leave Porter Wagoner’s television show, because Dolly Parton apparently couldn’t even quit a job without accidentally creating one of the most successful songs in music history.

Her career eventually expanded far beyond country music. She became a movie star through films including 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, built businesses, opened Dollywood, and accumulated enough rhinestones to potentially create a measurable change in the Earth’s albedo.

But Dolly’s legacy reached much further than entertainment.

Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, she helped put free books into the hands of children around the world. She donated generously to disaster relief, medical research, education, and the communities of Tennessee that she never stopped considering home.

Through all of it, Dolly always seemed to understand the joke before anybody else could make it. She exaggerated the hair, the nails, the clothes, and the curves, laughed right along with everyone, and then quietly walked away owning the publishing rights.

She was funny without being cruel, glamorous without forgetting where she came from, and enormously successful without ever seeming to take herself too seriously.

Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80.

Country music lost one of its greatest songwriters. Tennessee lost its rhinestone queen. And the rest of us lost one of those rare people almost everybody seemed to agree was pretty damn wonderful.

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James “Jim” Groth lived by two basic workplace philosophies: “careers are for the unimaginative,” and “surround yourself with great people and stay the hell out of their way.” Over 52 years, Jim worked, coached, traveled, laughed inappropriately, and collected just enough questionable life choices to make for one hell of an obituary. read more...

James “Jim” Groth was born in March of 1963 to John and Joan Groth and, according to his obituary, was immediately dubbed “our favorite child.” Their constant love, support, and care, it continued, far exceeded anything Jim deserved.

His employment history was anything but conventional. Over the years, Jim worked as a college recruiter, oyster shucker, YMCA executive director, and, for the final 16 years of his career, in industrial construction project management.

He carried two basic philosophies into the workplace: “careers are for the unimaginative,” and “surround yourself with great people and stay the hell out of their way.”

Jim also spent more than 30 years volunteering as a soccer coach, working with players from kindergarten through high school. In that time, hundreds of children and parents were exposed to what his family affectionately described as his unique personality. His obituary estimated that perhaps half a dozen of them might even speak fondly of him if sufficiently pressured.

Jim died firmly convinced that Monty Python and the Holy Grail was the greatest movie ever made, Bruce Springsteen was the greatest recording artist, Clint Eastwood was the baddest man on the planet, and chicks dig El Caminos.

His regrets were few, but memorable. They included eating a rotisserie hot dog from a convenience store in the summer of 2002, failing to train his faithful dog Rita to detect cancer, and the unfortunate absence of video evidence documenting his supposed prowess on both the soccer field and in the bedroom.

Although his life was shorter than average, Jim’s family made clear that he did not live an average one. He traveled where he wanted to travel, laughed inappropriately whenever the opportunity presented itself, learned what he wanted to learn, fixed what he wanted to fix, and loved who he wanted to love.

Cremation was to take place at the family’s convenience, with his ashes kept around for as long as they continued to match the décor.

His memorial service was held on August 1, 2015, at Hixson Funeral Home in Moss Bluff, Louisiana. The obituary included two final instructions for attendees: “Don’t be late!” and, perhaps more importantly, anyone wearing black would not be admitted.

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Dame Angela Lansbury spent more than seven decades moving effortlessly between Hollywood, Broadway, and television, becoming everything from a murderous mother to a singing teapot to the world’s most suspiciously crime-adjacent mystery writer. Through it all, she became one of Britain’s most beloved and enduring exports. read more...

Angela Brigid Lansbury was born in London on October 16, 1925. With the outbreak of the Blitz, her mother moved the family to New York, beginning a journey that would eventually carry Lansbury into one of the longest and most varied careers in entertainment.

As a teenager, she found work entertaining at a nightclub after telling management she was 19 when she had, in fact, only recently turned 16. By 1942, she had joined her mother in Hollywood, where an MGM executive noticed her at a party and cast her as the saucy maid in the 1944 film Gaslight.

Her first film role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Despite the immediate success, Lansbury later felt MGM never quite knew what to do with her. As she once put it, “I was all talent and no looks.”

By the early 1960s, she was already a veteran of two dozen films. She played Elvis Presley’s mother in Blue Hawaii, a role she later admitted she accepted largely because she needed the work. In The Manchurian Candidate, she memorably portrayed Laurence Harvey’s manipulative mother despite being only three years older than him.

Broadway would eventually give Lansbury some of her greatest triumphs. Her first musical, Anyone Can Whistle, was a spectacular failure, closing after only nine performances. Two years later, however, Mame opened to ecstatic reviews and earned her a Tony Award.

Her portrayal of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd further cemented her reputation as one of Broadway’s great leading ladies. Film audiences also knew her from productions including Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and later generations would recognize her unmistakable voice as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast.

But for millions of viewers, Lansbury would forever be Jessica Fletcher.

Beginning in 1984, she starred for twelve seasons in Murder, She Wrote, playing the genteel mystery novelist who somehow encountered an extraordinary number of murders wherever she went. Described as something of a cross between Miss Marple and Mary Poppins, Jessica Fletcher made Lansbury a television institution and one of the most recognizable actresses in America.

Lansbury married twice. Her brief first marriage to actor Richard Cromwell ended after less than a year. In 1949, she married Peter Shaw, and their marriage lasted more than five decades until his death in 2003.

Even well past the age when most performers might have retired, Lansbury continued working. Asked why she never seemed interested in slowing down, she explained, “I’ve never been particularly aware of my age. It’s like being on a bicycle — I just put my foot down and keep going.”

Angela Lansbury died on October 11, 2022, just five days before her 97th birthday, leaving behind a career that stretched from Hollywood’s Golden Age to modern television, Broadway, animation, and generations of audiences who somehow never grew tired of watching Jessica Fletcher stumble across another body.

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Valerie Fennell Aiken Boles was a beautician, mother, grandmother, Baptist church member, and Lowcountry root doctor whose life found its way into one of the South’s most famous stories. Known to her family as “Granny,” she became the real-life inspiration for Minerva in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. read more...

Valerie Fennell Aiken Boles was born November 8, 1932, in Islandton, South Carolina. Known affectionately by her family and friends as “Granny,” Valerie lived a life deeply rooted in the South Carolina Lowcountry — one that would eventually become intertwined with one of the region’s most famous stories.

Valerie was a Lowcountry root doctor, practicing traditions that made her well known far beyond her immediate family and community. Her longtime partner, fellow root doctor Percy Washington, practiced under the name “Dr. Eagle.”

Together, the pair would become the real-life inspirations for two unforgettable characters in John Berendt’s bestselling book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Valerie inspired Minerva, while Washington became the basis for the legendary Dr. Buzzard.

When Clint Eastwood adapted the book into the 1997 film of the same name, the fictionalized version of Valerie was portrayed by actress Irma P. Hall, bringing a piece of Valerie’s life and Lowcountry root-working tradition to audiences around the world.

But the woman behind the story was more than the mysterious figure who would eventually appear in a bestselling book and Hollywood film.

Valerie was a baptized member of Deep Creek Missionary Baptist Church. She attended Mather Junior College during the early 1960s and became a licensed beautician in Beaufort County. She was the mother of one son, Anthony Ray Fennell, and later married Edward Boles.

Valerie was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and three sisters. She left behind her son, five grandchildren, eight sisters, one brother, and a large extended family.

Valerie Fennell Aiken Boles died May 8, 2009, at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. She was 76 years old.

She was laid to rest in Jerusalem Cemetery in Cummings, South Carolina, leaving behind a life that became part of the folklore, history, and mystery of the Lowcountry — and eventually part of one of the South’s most famous stories.

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Tony Todd, the towering actor whose voice and presence transformed Candyman from an urban legend into one of horror’s most unforgettable icons, died November 6, 2024, at the age of 69. Across four decades, Todd became a horror legend himself — though his remarkable career stretched far beyond the genre. read more...

Tony Todd built a prolific career spanning more than four decades, but for generations of horror fans, saying his name immediately summons one character: Candyman.

In the 1992 film Candyman, Todd portrayed the terrifying title character, the ghost of an artist and son of an enslaved man who was brutally murdered by a lynch mob for an interracial relationship. With his commanding voice, imposing presence, long coat, hook, and the swarms of bees associated with his death, Todd helped transform Candyman into one of modern horror’s most enduring figures.

Todd understood immediately that there was something special about the character. Years later, he recalled reading about the use of real bees in the film — this was before CGI could simply create them — and realizing that Candyman had the potential to live on in cinematic history. He saw the character as a powerful and demented force of nature, but also insisted that Candyman retain an elegance and pride that made him more than a conventional movie monster.

Todd returned for Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and Candyman: Day of the Dead during the 1990s and later reprised the role in the 2021 continuation of Candyman.

His place in horror history expanded again in 2000 with Final Destination. Todd played William Bludworth, the mysterious funeral director who seemed to understand the rules of Death better than anyone unfortunate enough to encounter him. He became one of the franchise’s few recurring characters, appearing across multiple installments.

Horror may have made Todd an icon, but it represented only part of an enormous body of work. A theatrically trained actor, he appeared on stage throughout his career and accumulated roles across film and television in virtually every genre.

One of his notable early film appearances came in Oliver Stone’s 1986 Vietnam War drama Platoon, where Todd played Sergeant Warren. He later appeared in films including Colors, Lean on Me, The Crow, The Rock, and The Man from Earth.

Television audiences encountered him just about everywhere. Todd appeared as CIA Director Langston Graham on Chuck and provided the voice of Zoom on The Flash. He also became a familiar presence within the Star Trek universe, playing Kurn on The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, an adult Jake Sisko in one of Deep Space Nine’s most acclaimed episodes, and an Alpha Hirogen on Voyager.

His extensive television credits also included appearances on The X-Files, Murder, She Wrote, Xena: Warrior Princess, Angel, Boston Public, 24, Riverdale, and many others.

Tony Todd died on November 6, 2024, at his home in Marina del Rey, California, following a long illness. He was 69.

Todd spent decades bringing monsters, soldiers, villains, heroes, and mysterious figures to life, but Candyman remained his defining creation. Urban legends survive because people keep telling their stories. With that unmistakable voice and unforgettable presence, Tony Todd ensured that generations would keep telling his.

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Betty Jean Lewis, known to many as “Grammy” and “Aunt Sis,” survived four strokes, a heart attack, raised a family on grit, Diet Coke, Reese’s Cups, and Misty Menthols, and apparently had one final request for her obituary: she wanted everyone singing “Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead”. read more...

Betty Jean Lewis was born August 31, 1944, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, to E. Ralph and Margarett Ann “Lowe” Cunningham. Known affectionately by many as “Grammy” and “Aunt Sis,” Betty spent 81 years building a life around hard work, family, humor, and enough grit to survive four strokes and a heart attack.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, E. Larry Cunningham; her special granddaughter, Ashley Nichole Moore; and her cherished Yorkies, Baby, Abby, and Dennis.

Betty spent 40 years working as a beautician. Her decision to retire came after doing the hair of her final customer — for the customer’s funeral. Feeling that her career had quite literally come full circle, Betty decided her tired hands had finally earned the right to put down the scissors.

Naturally, she then continued working for another 15 years.

To her family, Betty was the person who seemed capable of fixing just about anything. There was no problem she couldn’t tackle and few situations she couldn’t somehow make better. She was raised on two pieces of wisdom that continued through the generations after her: “You gotta have some grit” and “Can’t died in a cornfield.”

Betty worked hard, loved hard, and expected the people around her to do the same.

Anyone who knew her also knew about her fondness for Reese’s Cups, Diet Coke, and Misty Menthols. She was apparently as comfortable with a hammer as she was with a frying pan, capable of cooking a meal, pounding a nail, or handling electrical work depending on what the day required.

Her family remembered the reassurance of holding her hands and somehow knowing everything would work out. Betty taught those around her to have an empathetic heart — something her family lovingly described as both a blessing and a curse.

She loved the wind in her face and the sun on her skin, especially while driving back roads, laughing and reminiscing about years gone by.

Betty wanted no traditional funeral service or visitation and certainly didn't want everyone standing around looking over her. Instead, she asked for a celebration of the woman everyone actually knew and the memories they had made with her.

And because Betty apparently intended to leave this world entirely on brand, she had one final request for the ending of her obituary.

She wanted everyone singing:

“Ding Dong the witch is dead, the wicked witch, the witch is dead... Ding Dong the wicked witch is dead....”

And, as her family wrote, “we all laugh…”

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Guess who died! Father James Joseph McEnery. Finally. At the ripe old age of 95, this Wisconsin priest departed the earthly realm after nearly seven decades of ministry, a lifetime of questionable timing, and enough dry humor to make even the Lord a little nervous. Naturally, his obituary was anything but conventional. read more...

Father James Joseph McEnery, affectionately known as Fr. Jim, died on May 5, 2022, in Madison, Wisconsin, at the age of 95.

Or, as his obituary so eloquently announced: "Guess who died! Fr. Jim McEnery. Finally."

And that's "finally" with an A.

Jim was born on March 19, 1927, arriving two days too late for St. Patrick's Day and instead making his grand entrance on St. Joseph's Day. This unfortunate scheduling decision apparently set the pace for everything that followed and explains why his middle name was Joseph.

He grew up in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, mostly in a house built by his grandfather. After attending Our Lady of Grace for grade school and St. Philip's for high school, Jim eventually decided that perhaps the priesthood was worth a try.

Following the end of World War II, he casually mentioned to his mother, Ann Louise, that he was considering entering the seminary.

Being the good Catholic woman she was, his mother responded with a single word that perfectly captured her heartfelt reaction:

"You?"

His father, James Hamilton McEnery, was considerably less surprised. His younger brothers, Bob and Mike, both of whom would precede him in death, apparently declined to offer an opinion on the matter.

Despite his mother's initial skepticism, Jim went on to become a priest, serving communities throughout the Diocese of Madison for nearly 69 years.

His longest assignment was as pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Milton, Wisconsin, where he dedicated many years to his congregation. Even after officially retiring, Fr. Jim continued serving at various parishes, particularly Holy Redeemer in Palm City, Florida.

But a lifetime devoted to the Church apparently did little to diminish his sense of humor.

According to his obituary, Fr. Jim would be fondly remembered for a little while before being completely forgotten, because, as it explained, "there's nothing deader than a dead priest."

At least here on Earth.

Bishops, the obituary helpfully clarified, tend to be remembered a bit longer.

In lieu of flowers, his family encouraged donations to St. Peter Parish in Madison, St. Mary Parish in Milton, or Agrace HospiceCare.

And as for that opening declaration that Fr. Jim had finally died, his obituary made one final theological distinction.

That's "finally" in the earthly sense.

Fr. Jim didn't believe in reincarnation.

He didn't last time, either.

Resurrection, however? Well, that was another matter entirely.

As his obituary concluded, that was the Good News: "Follow me and I will give you eternal life." — Jesus

After 95 years of life, nearly seven decades of priesthood, and one spectacularly irreverent farewell, Father Jim McEnery left behind a reminder that faith and a wicked sense of humor don't necessarily have to be mutually exclusive.

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