Jake LaMotta–
Boxer, comic, hard-headed bastard.
July 10, 1922 – September 19, 2017.
Aged 95 years.
Most recognized for: Jake’s turbulent life was chronicled in the Oscar winning biopic “Raging Bull.” Not only was he known for doling out savage punishment in the ring, but he he could also take it like no other. In the end, it was pneumonia that got the last 10 count on the ol’ Bronx Bull.
Selected by: T. Cronin, J. Kaplan
Bobby “The Brain” Heenan –
Wrestling manager, commentator, heel.
November 1, 1944 – September 17, 2017.
Aged 72 years.
Most recognized for: Consummate showman and perpetual bad guy, Mr. Heenan was the man you loved to hate. As patriarch of “The Heenan Family,” he was the loudmouthed manager for pro-wrestling’s biggest assh0les. He later donned a headset, seemingly for the sole purpose of making life miserable for co-commentator Gorilla Monsoon.
Selected by: The Kim Reaper
Harry Dean Stanton –
Actor, musician, haggard old fukker.
July 14, 1926 – September 15, 2017.
Aged 91 years.
Most recognized for: He built a helluva career from dozens of bit parts & supporting roles. “The Godfather II,” “Alien,” “Repo Man,” “Escape From New York,” “Red Dawn,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas,” “The Green Mile,” and HBO’s “Big Love.” In his final screen performance, he played Lucky, a 90 yr. old smoker with 1 foot in the grave… so he did what came naturally.
Grant Hart –
Musician, songwriter, dentist’s nightmare.
March 18, 1961 – September 14, 2017.
Aged 56 years.
Most recognized for: He was the co-songwriter/vocalist and barefoot drummer in hardcore/alternative/punk band Hüsker Dü. Hart-penned tunes such as “I Don’t Want to Know If You are Lonely” have been cited as having a major influence on the development of bands such as Green Day, Nirvana, and Foo Fighters. Fortunately, his oral hygiene habits weren’t as catchy as his music.
Frank Vincent –
Actor, musician, Hollywood wiseguy.
April 15, 1937 – September 13, 2017.
Aged 80 years.
Most recognized for: Similar to what Danny Trejo did for Mexicans in cinema, Mr. Vincent was a cartoonish amalgam of Italian bad-guy stereotypes… and it totally worked for him. His distinguished appearance and gruff demeanor made him the easy choice in Hollywood when somebody said “get me some mean old mafioso guy.” “Raging Bull,” “Goodfellas,” “Casino,” “The Sopranos,” etc. It must’ve been an easy career… playing the same character 1000 times.
Mark LaMura –
Actor, Jersey boy, soap stud.
October 18, 1948 – September 11, 2017.
Aged 68.
Most recognized for: His character Mark Dalton had a 25 year run on the ABC daytime soap opera “All My Children.” “As the World Turns” and “One Life to Live” also gave him screen time. Between soap gigs, Mr. LaMura also made appearances on “The Sopranos,” “L.A. Law,” “Matlock,” “Kojak,” and “Star Trek: TNG”… then the lather dried out.
Abdul Halim of Kedah –
Malaysian monarch, Sultan, gilded grandpaw.
November 28, 1927 – September 11, 2017.
Aged 89 years.
Most recognized for: Malaysia is a federal representative democratic constitutional monarchy. In short, they elect their monarchs. Old what’s-his-name here was their elected “king” twice. And since he still held title in his state, was considered the second longest-reigning living monarch in the world after Queen Elizabeth II. Stupid monarchs.
Blake Heron –
Child actor, Disney kid, smack addict.
January 11, 1982 – September 8, 2017.
Aged 35 years.
Most recognized for: In 1996, he played lead character Marty Preston in the sappy boy-and-his-dog flick “Shiloh.” He was also in Disney’s “Tom & Huck,” fought alongside Mel Gibson in “We Were Soldiers,” and recently appeared in a documentary called “A Thousand Junkies.” Take a wild guess what he was doing in that one… and how it got him here.
Rick Stevens –
Singer, murderer, parolee.
April 2, 1940 – September 5, 2017
Aged 77 years.
Most recognized for: Oakland 1972… Rick had it all. A bitchin’ band, broads, bellbottoms, and an afro that would make Colin Kaepernick green with envy… and then came the dope. In a drug deal gone south, he blasted three fellow degenerates and then got sent to the slammer for 3 life sentences. 36 years later, he got paroled and reunited with his soul/funk brethren in Tower of Power. Redemption…. then cancer.
Don Williams –
Singer/songwriter, Country Music HOF’er,
May 27, 1939 – September 8, 2017
Aged 78 years.
Most recognized for: His large frame and deep, warm voice earned him the nickname “Gentle Giant of Country music.” Don started out with folk-pop group The Pozo-Seco Singers before going solo in 1971. 27 albums, 62 singles, and 21 number one hits later, emphysema showed up & slayed the giant.
Troy Gentry –
Musician, KY boy, canned hunter.
April 5, 1967 – September 8, 2017.
Aged 50 years.
Most recognized for: He was the “Gentry” in the radio-friendly country duo Montgomery Gentry. They made lots of hit records.. and money… money Troy used to purchase domesticated bears from wildlife organizations… to “hunt” inside a 3 acre electrified enclosure. After his body was pulled from a fatal helicopter crash in New Jersey, coroners failed to recover his testicles… eventually coming to the conclusion: “sounds like he never had any to begin with.”
Gene Michael –
MLB Shortstop, manager/exec, “stick”man.
June 2, 1938 – September 7, 2017.
Aged 79 years.
Most recognized for: He turned a mediocre 10 year stretch as a player into a fairly-successful career as a team manager & scout. Gene laid the foundation for what would become the Yankees dynasty team of the late 90’s, having signed all members of the “core four.”