Al Ruscio (June 2, 1924 – November 13, 2013)
(The Hollywood Reporter) – Al Ruscio, an often-seen character
actor who appeared on TV, in films and on stage for more than
a half-century, died Tuesday, according to his daughter Elizabeth.
His film résumé includes Fever Heat (1968), Any Which Way You
Can (1980), The Hunter (1980), Jagged Edge (1985), Guilty by
Suspicion (1991), The Silence of the Hams (1994) and The
Phantom (1996).
Todd Jay Christensen (August 3, 1956 – November 13, 2013)
Salt Lake City, Utah (FoxNews) – Todd Christensen, the brawny tight
end whose sure hands helped lead the NFL’s Raiders to two Super
Bowl championships in the 1980s, died of complications following
surgery in a Utah hospital.
Christensen’s son, Toby Christensen, said his father passed away
Wednesday morning at Intermountain Medical Center near his home
in Alpine, Utah.
Christensen was a devout Mormon who didn’t drink, and his family
believes his liver problems started 25 years ago after a "botched"
gall bladder operation, his son told The Associated Press.
The five-time pro-bowler, who amassed 461 receptions and 41
touchdowns in a 12-year career, most of which was spent with the
Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders, had battled liver disease in
recent years, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
The Oregon native became one of the league’s top pass-catching
tight ends after starring as a 6-foot-2-inch fullback at BYU. He was
drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1978, and later traded to the
Raiders.
Steve McQueen
(FoxNews) – No one will ever be as cool as Steve McQueen, but owning his Harley-
Davidson might be the next best thing.
McQueen’s 1938 Harley WLD Solo Sport (above) will be sold at a Mecum Auctions
event in Anaheim, California. The bike still wears its original factory paint, and its
odometer shows 21,000 miles.
The Harley’s pedigree is fully documented, including a certificate of authenticity
from McQueen’s 1984 estate sale. It also comes with a few of McQueen’s own
tools, which were found in a frame-mounted tool box when the bike was first
sold.
From left: Scott Baio and Garry Marshall
(The Hollywood Reporter) – Happy Days fans are in for a treat: Legendary TV creator/actor/producer Garry Marshall guest stars in Scott Baio’s new Nick at
Nite series, See Dad Run, on Sunday night.
In the episode, airing at 8 p.m., sitcom star-turned-stay-at-home father David’s
(Baio) TV dad, Bernie (Marshall) visits, but the reunion sours when he runs off
and leaves his new baby. David must convince Bernie that being a real dad will
be his best role.
Baio and Marshall say they’ve kept in touch over the years since Happy Days
ended its 10-year run in 1984. And when the writers were working on this episode,
in the need arose to cast Baio’s TV dad, the actor says Marshall was one of the
names brought up.
High School photo
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013)
Southampton, N.Y. (AP) – Lou Reed, the frontman of the rock band the Velvet Underground, has died at age 71 from an ailment related to his recent liver
transplant, his literary agent says.
Andrew Wylie told the Associated Press that Reed died Sunday morning in
Southampton, N.Y.
The Velvet Underground became one of the most influential bands in rock
music by fusing art and music through its collaboration with Andy Warhol in
the 1960s, Reuters reports. The magazine did not say how Reed died and his representatives could not immediately be reached.
Reed had undergone a liver transplant in May. He was hospitalized in July for
severe dehydration, Variety reports.
