Celebrities Lost in 2008

Photo from source, PopEater

I've covered some of the celebrity deaths of the last year, and wasn't sure if I wanted to post this piece. But year-end lists are one of the few interesting things going on this past week, and this stuff always interests me, so it might interest you too. For me, I'd say that Paul Newman is the most famous, Majel Barrett and George Carlin were the most personally affecting, and Tim Russert the most surprising. See if there are any you didn't know about.

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In Memoriam ... Celebs Lost in 2008

It's time to look back at the familiar faces we lost in 2008. In Hollywood, there was the passing of icons forever linked to characters named 'Luke' and 'Moses' ... and the heartbreaking, early exit of a movie joker. In music, a guitar icon who marched to his very own beat and another, a funk-soul man, who was one of the baddest mother-- (shut your mouth!). And in TV, a king of comedy and one wisecracking golden girl.

Read more at: Popeater

Paul Newman Dead at 83

Photo from source, CNN

You don't want to believe those "So-and-so's Final Days" stories you see on The National Enquirer, but they usually turn out to be true. Such is the case with legendary actor, Paul Newman, about whose health the tabloids have been buzzing for weeks.

Paul Newman was frankly not in many of my favorite movies. I guess I took less of a fancy to Butch Cassidy, and paid more attention to The Sundance Kid. But Newman sure did make up the background of my early pop culture knowledge. And he was one of a small group of actors (another being Gene Hackman) who was excellent in every part, even if the movie wasn't so good. RIP, Mr. Newman, and condolances to the (also legendary) Joanne Woodward.

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Paul Newman dies at 83

Paul Newman, the legendary actor whose steely blue eyes, good-humored charm and advocacy of worthy causes made him one of the most renowned figures in American arts, has died of cancer at his home in Westport, Connecticut. He was 83. . .

Read more at: CNN