Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022)

Olivia Newton-John, beloved actress and singer best known for
her role as Sandy Olsson in Grease and for hits such as 1981’s “Physical,” died on Monday (Aug. 8) at her ranch in California. She
was 73 years old.

It was announced in May of 2017 that Newton-John’s breast
cancer from past years had returned and metastasized to her lower
back. Her back pains had initially been misdiagnosed. She was 
experiencing a great deal of pain from the metastatic bone lesions
and had openly spusing cannabis oil to ease her pain. Her daughter Chloe owns a cannabis farm in Oregon.

William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 – July 31, 2022)

Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest
basketball players of all-time.

On July 24, 1998, the director Steven Spielberg’s World War II
epic, Saving Private Ryan, was released in theaters across the
U.S. The film, which starred Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, was
praised for its authentic portrayal of war and was nominated
for 11 Academy Awards. It took home five Oscars, for Best
Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Film Editing
and Best Sound Effects Editing.

The film’s lengthy opening scene was a bloody re-enactment of
American troops landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France,
on June 6, 1944.

Bob Rafelson (February 21, 1933 – July 23, 2022)

(Hollywood Reporter) – Bob Rafelson, the writer, director,
producer and maverick who set the tone for the swinging,
psychedelic 1960s with The Monkees, then was a pioneer
in one of the most influential eras of independent film, 
history has died.

Rafelson, who collaborated with Jack Nicholson on seven
features, including the classics Easy Rider (1969), Five
Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972),
died Saturday night of natural causes at his home in Aspen,
Colorado.

Rafelson (far right) with The Monkees.

William Hart, better known to his loyal fans as "Poogie",  the
lead singer and co-founder of the Philly soul group The Delfonics,
has died. He was 77.

According to multiple reports, Hart died Thursday at a hospital
in Philadelphia following complications from surgery.

Hart was initially taken to hospital after experiencing difficulties
with his breathing.