Nicholas Sand –
Clandestine chemist, LSD pioneer, dope man.
May 10, 1941 – April 24, 2017.
Aged 75 years.
Most recognized for: He was responsible for “turning on” millions of people around the globe in the 60’s & 70’s with his signature brand of acid called “Orange Sunshine.” Having overseen the manufacturing of an estimated 140 million doses in his career, this dude clearly liked to party.
Geoffrey Bayldon –
Actor, Brit, coulda-been Dr. Who.
January 7, 1924 – May 10, 2017.
Aged 93 years.
Most recognized for: Found in more British garbage than a gypsy scrapper, this guy’s list of BBC TV credits makes one wonder: did they ever make a fukking TV show without him? His biggest hit was as a creepy old codger named “Catweazle” in a bizarre 70’s kids show. Film credits include “Q” in the original “Casino Royale”… which makes 2 Casino Royale alum corpses within a week.
Michael Parks –
Actor, singer, bit role guy.
April 24, 1940 – May 9, 2017.
Aged 77 years.
Most recognized for:
He had his own show in the late 60’s called “Then Came Bronson” where he played a vagabond motorcyclist who got himself into random predicaments. Later, he became the go-to guy that Robert Rodruiguez, Kevin Smith, and Quentin Tarantino would cast as creepy clutch characters.
Steven Holcomb –
US Olympian, pro bobsledder, wanna-be Kryptonian.
April 14, 1980 – May 6, 2017.
Aged 37 years.
Most recognized for: The Holkster – along with his 2 & 4 man sled teams – racked up loads of world championships and a few Olympic medals since turning pro in 1998. Strangely enough, his career was put on ice by a mysterious pulmonary disorder while training for the next winter olympics.
Daliah Lavi –
Actress, model, Heeb.
October 12, 1942 – May 3, 2017.
Aged 74 years.
Most recognized for: Fluent in 5 languages, she acted in films for various markets throughout Europe… eventually becoming a German pop singer. However, it was her role in the original 1967 James Bond film “Casino Royale” that we remember her for… and that ridiculous football helmet hairdo.
Sabath Anthony “Sam” Mele –
MLB player, coach, chaw spitter.
January 21, 1922 – May 1, 2017.
Aged 95 years.
Most recognized for: Sam played for 6 major league clubs over his 9 year career as a player. After a stint of scouting, he turned manager/coach in Minnesota… and led a rag-tag group of suck-holes to an American League championship in 1965. After that, it was all downhill.
Col. Bruce Hampton –
Musician, actor, party pooper.
April 30, 1947 – May 2, 2017.
Aged 70 years.
Most recognized for: Referred to as “The Grand Daddy of the Jam Scene,” he played with Zappa, Widespread Panic, and several projects of his own. He also played band manager and “modern day poet” Morris in “Sling Blade.” At a star-studded concert commemorating his 70th birthday, the Colonel collapsed & died onstage during the night’s encore performance…. thusly setting the example for aging musicians who might say, “man… that’s the way I wanna go out.”
Dick Contino –
Actor, accordionist, draft dodger.
January 17, 1930 – April 19, 2017.
Aged 87 years.
Most recognized for: Ol’ Dick made the ladies swoon in the 1950’s as a hot-shot accordion player, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show a record 48 times. He made the jump to the silver screen by starring in Daddy-O, a notoriously campy piece of shit that got special treatment from the Mystery Science Theater 3000 crew.
Michael Mantenuto –
Actor, hockey guy, dirtbag.
May 13, 1981 – April 24, 2017.
Aged 35 years.
Most recognized for: He played US olympic hockey star Jack O’Callahan in that Disney movie about The Miracle on Ice. You know… the one with Kurt Russell in it? Remember? Well perhaps he was trying to forget it when he decided to ventilate his noggin.
Jonathan Demme –
Director, producer, Go-Go banger.
February 22, 1944 – April 26, 2017.
Aged 73 years.
Most recognized for: Although he directed several feature films, documentaries, and even a few episodes of Saturday Night Live, one work overshadows them all: 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs.” The scarring Buffalo Bill dance scene introduced Joe 6-pack to the practice of “tucking”… and haunts us all to this day.
Robert M. Prisig –
Author, philosopher, greasemonkey.
September 6, 1928 – April 24, 2017.
Aged 88 years.
Most recognized for: He penned “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” a semi-autobiographical novel steeped in philosophical deconstruction and deep metaphysical analysis. If you’ve read it, good for you…. and why are you currently reading this garbage?
Erin Moran –
Actress, party chick, Shortcake.
October 18, 1960 – April 22, 2017.
Aged 56 years.
Most recognized for: Erin played Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days” and its short-lived spin-off “Joanie Loves Chachi.” Child star turned Hollywood casualty, she wound up living in an Indiana trailer park… from which she was evicted for her “hard partying ways.” Atta girl, Joanie… you do you.