THOSE WE LOST in 2023, PART 4

BURT YOUNG

Date of death:8 October, 2023

Age at death: 83

About:

• Young, was an American actor who played Rocky Balboa's brother-in-law and best friend Paulie Pennino in the Rocky film series, his performance in the first instalment of which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
• Young also appeared in such films as Chinatown (1974), The Gambler (1974), The Killer Elite (1975), Convoy (1978), Uncle Joe Shannon (1978), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), A Summer to Remember (1985), Back to School (1986), Last Exit to Brooklyn (1990), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), Transamerica (2005), Win Win (2011), and Bottom of the 9th (2019).

By the way:

• Served in U.S. Marines from 1957 to 1959.
• Used to be a boxer.
• Young claimed he boxed in the US Marines and posted a record of 32-2-0, 26 Knockouts.
• On July 4, 1972, his wife took their son, Richard Jr., aged 9, to Cunningham Park, Queens, and stabbed him to death with a 9" kitchen knife, In 1974 she was found not guilty by reason of insanity, and committed to Creedmoor psychiatric facility. She died of an overdose at Creedmoor in 1975.

Cause of death: Cardiac arrest, heart attack

MARK GODDARD

Date of death: 10 October 2023

Age at death: 87

About:

• Goddard was an American actor who starred in a number of television programs.
• He is probably best known for portraying Major Don West in the CBS series Lost in Space (1965–1968).
• He also played Detective Sgt. Chris Ballard, in The Detectives, starring Robert Taylor.

By the way:

• Has Masters Degree in Education,
• Taught at the Chamberlain School, Middleboro, Massachusetts, USA, a residential facility for students with behavioral problems. (1998)

Cause of death: Pulmonary fibrosis

BOBBY CHARLTON

Date of death: 21 October.2023

Age at death: 86

About:

• Charlton was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder or centre-forward.
• Widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, he was a member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the year he also won the Ballon d'Or. He finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting in 1967 and 1968.
• He played almost all of his club football at Manchester United, where he became renowned for his attacking instincts, passing abilities from midfield, ferocious long-range shooting from both left and right foot, fitness, and stamina.
• He was cautioned only twice in his career; once against Argentina in the 1966 World Cup, and once in a league match against Chelsea.
• With success at club and international level, he was one of nine players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the European Cup and the Ballon d'Or.
• Born in Ashington, Northumberland, Charlton made his debut for the Manchester United first-team in 1956, aged 18, and soon gained a regular place in the team, during which time he became a Football League First Division champion in 1957 then survived the Munich air disaster of February 1958 after being rescued by teammate Harry Gregg; Charlton was the last survivor of the crash from the club. After helping United to win the FA Cup in 1963 and the Football League in 1965 and 1967, he captained the team that won the European Cup in 1968, scoring two goals in the final to help them become the first English club to win the competition. Charlton left Manchester United to become manager of Preston North End for the 1973–74 season. He changed to player-manager the following season. He next accepted a post as a director with Wigan Athletic, then became a member of Manchester United's board of directors in 1984.
• At the time of his retirement from the England team in 1970, he was the nation's most capped player, having turned out 106 times at the highest level; Bobby Moore overtook this in 1973.
• Charlton was the long-time record goalscorer for both Manchester United and England, and United's long-time record appearance maker – his total of 758 matches for United took until 2008 to be beaten, when Ryan Giggs did so in that year's Champions League final.
• With 249 goals, he was the club's highest all-time goalscorer for more than 40 years, until his record was surpassed by Wayne Rooney in 2017.
• He is also the third-highest goalscorer for England; his record of 49 goals was beaten in 2015 by Rooney, and again by Harry Kane in 2022.

By the way:

• On 6 February, 1958, the aeroplane which took the United players and staff home from Zemun Airport needed to stop in Munich to refuel. This was carried out in worsening weather, and by the time the refuelling was complete and the call was made for the passengers to re-board the aircraft, the wintry showers had taken hold and snow had settled heavily on the runway and around the airport. There were two aborted take-offs which led to concern on board, and the passengers were advised by a stewardess to disembark again while a minor technical error was fixed.
• The team were back in the airport terminal for barely ten minutes when the call came to reconvene on the plane, and a number of passengers began to feel nervous. Charlton and teammate Dennis Viollet swapped places with Tommy Taylor and David Pegg, who had decided they would be safer at the back of the plane.
• The plane clipped the fence at the end of the runway on its next take-off attempt and a wing tore through a nearby house, setting it alight. The wing and part of the tail came off and hit a tree and a wooden hut, the plane spinning along the snow until coming to a halt. It had been cut in half.
• Charlton, strapped into his seat, had fallen out of the cabin; when United goalkeeper Harry Gregg (who had somehow got through a hole in the plane unscathed and begun a one-man rescue mission) found him, he thought he was dead. Nevertheless, he grabbed both Charlton and Viollet by their trouser waistbands and dragged them away from the plane, in constant fear that it would explode. Gregg returned to the plane to try to help the appallingly injured Busby and Blanchflower, and when he turned around again, he was relieved to see that Charlton and Viollet, both of whom he had presumed to be dead, had got out of their detached seats and were looking into the wreckage.
• Charlton suffered cuts to his head and severe shock, and was in hospital for a week. Seven of his teammates had perished at the scene, including Taylor and Pegg, with whom he and Viollet had swapped seats prior to the fatal take-off attempt. Club captain Roger Byrne was also killed, along with Mark Jones, Billy Whelan, Eddie Colman and Geoff Bent. Duncan Edwards died a fortnight later from the injuries he had sustained. In total, the crash claimed 23 lives. Initially, ice on the wings was blamed, but a later inquiry declared that slush on the runway had made a safe take-off almost impossible.
• Of the 44 passengers and crew (including the 17-strong Manchester United squad), 23 people (eight of them Manchester United players) died as a result of their injuries in the crash. Charlton survived with minor injuries. Of the eight other players who survived, two of them were injured so badly that they never played again.

Cause of death: Complications of dementia

RICHARD ROUNDTREE

Date of death: 24 October, 2023

Age at death: 81

About:

• Roundtree was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 blaxploitation film Shaft and four of its sequels as well as the eponymous television series (1973–1974). He was also known for his features in several TV series, including Roots, Generations, and Desperate Housewives.
• Considered as "the first Black action hero", Roundtree was credited with having an impact on the rise of African American leading actors in Hollywood projects, thanks to his successful performances in the blaxploitation genre. His portrayal of Shaft as a bold, confident, and charismatic figure also influenced cinematic depictions of Black men and Black masculinity, a contrast to Black men in films prior to Shaft having often been portrayed as mild-mannered or servile.

By the way:

He tried to disassociate himself as a "black action hero" ever since he portrayed his famed role as John Shaft in the three Shaft films, from playing Miles Quade, the motorcycle stuntman in an Evel Knievel mould in Earthquake (1974), to a senior citizen in Soul Food (2000). However, he came to terms with the fact that he would always be known as Shaft.

Cause of death: Pancreatic cancer

MATTHEW PERRY

Date of death: 28 October, 2023

Age at death: 54

About:

• Perry was an American and Canadian actor who gained fame for starring as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom Friends (1994–2004).
• Perry also appeared on Ally McBeal (2002) and received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performances in The West Wing (2003) and The Ron Clark Story (2006).
• He played a leading role in the NBC series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007). He also became known for his leading film roles in Fools Rush In (1997), Almost Heroes (1998), Three to Tango (1999), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), Serving Sara (2002), The Whole Ten Yards (2004), and 17 Again (2009).
• Perry suffered from severe addictions to drugs and alcohol. Through his recovery, he became an advocate for rehabilitation and a spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. In 2013, Perry received the Champion of Recovery Award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. In 2022, he released his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.

By the way:

Was the first one of the six main actors of "Friends" to pass away.

Cause of death:

On December 15, 2023, Perry's death was revealed to have occurred due to "acute effects of ketamine". Other circumstances that contributed to his death included the effects of buprenorphine, drowning, and coronary artery disease. The LA County medical examiner said in a statement that "at the high levels of ketamine found in his post-mortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression," while "drowning contributes due to the likelihood of submersion into the pool as he lapsed into unconsciousness; coronary artery disease contributes due to exacerbation of ketamine induced myocardial effects on the heart".

FRANK BORMAN

Date of death: 7 November, 2923

Age at death:95

About:

• Borman was an American United States Air Force (USAF) colonel, aeronautical engineer, NASA astronaut, test pilot, and businessman.
• He was the commander of Apollo 8, the first mission to fly around the Moon, and together with crewmates Jim Lovell and William Anders, became the first of 24 humans to do so, for which he was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
• In 1966, he set a fourteen-day spaceflight endurance record as commander of Gemini 7. He served on the NASA review board which investigated the Apollo 1 fire, and then flew to the Moon with Apollo 8 in December 1968.

By the way:

The Apollo 8 mission is known for the Earthrise photograph taken by Anders of the Earth rising above the lunar horizon as the Command/Service Module orbited the Moon, and for the reading from Genesis, which was televised to Earth from lunar orbit on Christmas Eve.

Cause of death: Stroke

ROSALYN CARTER

Date of death: 19 November, 2023

Age at death: 96

About:

• Carter was an American writer, activist and humanitarian who served as the first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981, as the wife of President Jimmy Carter.
• Throughout her decades of public service, she was a leading advocate for women's rights and mental health.
• Carter was politically active during her husband's presidency, though she declared that she had no intention of being a traditional first lady. During his term of office, Carter supported her husband's public policies as well as his social and personal life. To remain fully informed, she sat in on Cabinet meetings at the invitation of the President. Carter also represented her husband in meetings with domestic and foreign leaders, including as an envoy to Latin America in 1977. He found her to be an equal partner. She campaigned for his re-election bid in the 1980 election, which he lost to Republican Ronald Reagan.
• After leaving the White House in 1981, Carter continued to advocate for mental health and other causes, wrote several books, and became involved in the national and international work of the Carter Center.

By the way:

She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom alongside her husband in 1999.

Cause of death: Natural causes

TERRY VENABLES

Date of death: 25 November, 2023

Age at death: 80

About:

• Venables was an English football player and manager who played for clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers and won two caps for England.
• As a manager, Venables won the Second Division championship with Crystal Palace in 1979. He reached the 1982 FA Cup Final with Queens Park Rangers and won the Second Division in 1983. With Barcelona, he won La Liga in 1985 and reached the 1986 European Cup Final.
• He guided Tottenham Hotspur to victory in the 1991 FA Cup Final.
• He also managed Middlesbrough and Leeds United.
• As the England national team manager from 1994 to 1996, he reached the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championships.
• His tactical style was modern and innovative, which was a contrast to the rigid tactical style that dominated English football at the time.

By the way:

Venables became manager of Australia in November 1996, following the resignation of Eddie Thomson. In the 1997 Confederations Cup, Venables led Australia to the final before defeat to Brazil. His side swept through the Oceania World Cup qualifiers, but were beaten in November 1997 in a play-off by Iran. The teams drew the first leg 1–1 in Tehran. Australia led the second leg 2–0 early in the second half, but they conceded two late goals to miss out on qualification for the 1998 World Cup on the away goals rule. Venables' tenure as Australia coach ended the following June. While Australia had never made the top 50 in the FIFA Men's World Ranking before his tenure, they reached the top 30 under him.

Cause of death: Not disclosed, died after a long illness

HENRY KISSINGER

Date of death: 29 November, 2023

Age at death: 100

About:

• Kissinger was an American diplomat, political scientist, geopolitical consultant, and politician who served as the United States secretary of state and national security advisor in the presidential administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford between 1969 and 1977.
• Born in Germany, Kissinger came to the United States in 1938 as a Jewish refugee fleeing Nazi persecution. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and, after the war, was educated at Harvard University, where he excelled academically. He later became a professor of government at the university and earned an international reputation as an expert on nuclear weapons and foreign policy. He frequently acted as a consultant to government agencies, think tanks, and the presidential campaigns of Nelson Rockefeller and Richard Nixon before being appointed national security advisor.
• Kissinger pioneered the policy of détente with the Soviet Union, orchestrated an opening of relations with China, engaged in "shuttle diplomacy" in the Middle East to end the Yom Kippur War, and negotiated the Paris Peace Accords, which ended American involvement in the Vietnam War. For his role in negotiating the end of the Vietnam War, he was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize under controversial circumstances. A practitioner of a pragmatic approach to politics called Realpolitik, he has been widely considered by scholars to be an effective secretary of state.
• Kissinger has also been associated with controversial U.S. policies, including its bombing of Cambodia, involvement in the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, support for Argentina's military junta in its Dirty War, support for Indonesia in its invasion of East Timor, and support for Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War and Bangladesh genocide.
• He was accused of war crimes for the civilian death toll of the policies he pursued, his role in facilitating U.S. support for dictatorial regimes, and wilful ignorance towards human rights abuses committed by the United States and its allies.
• After leaving government, Kissinger founded Kissinger Associates, an international geopolitical consulting firm. He authored over a dozen books on diplomatic history and international relations. His advice was sought by American presidents of both political parties.

By the way:

Kissinger and Lê Đức Thọ were jointly offered the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for their work on the Paris Peace Accords which prompted the withdrawal of American forces from the Vietnam war. Lê Đức Thọ declined to accept the award on the grounds that peace had not actually been achieved in Vietnam. Kissinger donated his prize money to charity, did not attend the award ceremony and later offered to return his prize medal after the fall of South Vietnam to North Vietnamese forces 18 months later.

Cause of death: Not disclosed

SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR

Date of death: 1 December 2023

Age at death: 93

About:

• O'Connor was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 to 2006.
• O'Connor was the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
• A moderate conservative, O'Connor was known for her precisely researched opinions.
• Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, she was considered a swing vote for the Rehnquist Court and the first four months of the Roberts Court. Before O'Connor's tenure on the Court, she was an Arizona state judge and earlier an elected legislator in Arizona, serving as the first female majority leader of a state senate as the Republican leader in the Arizona Senate.
• Upon her nomination to the Court, O'Connor was confirmed unanimously by the Senate.

By the way:

• In 1992 was one of three co-authors of the lead opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that preserved legal access to abortion in the United States.
• In 2009, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

Cause of death: Complications from dementia

RYAN O’NEAL

Date of death: 8 December, 2023

Age at death: 82

About:

• O'Neal was an American actor.
• Born in Los Angeles, he trained as an amateur boxer before beginning a career in acting in 1960.
• In 1964, he landed the role of Rodney Harrington on the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place. It was an instant hit and boosted O'Neal's career.
• He later found success in films, most notably in the romantic drama Love Story (1970), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama; Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up, Doc? (1972); Paper Moon (1973), which earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy; Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1975), in which he portrayed the titular character; Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far (1977); and Walter Hill's The Driver (1978).
• From 2005 to 2017, he had a recurring role in the Fox television series Bones as Max, the father of the show's eponymous protagonist.

By the way:

Ryan O'Neal is credited with an 18-4, 13 knockouts amateur boxing record. Muhammad Ali commented that O'Neal was definitely a good boxer.

Cause of death: Congestive heart failure, with cardiomyopathy listed as a contributing factor.

TOMMY SMOTHERS

Date of death: 26 December, 2023

Age at death:86

About:

Smothers was an American comedian, actor, composer, and musician, widely known as half of the musical comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, alongside his younger brother Dick.

By the way:

Smothers and John Lennon played acoustic guitar during the live recording of Lennon's 1969 song "Give Peace a Chance".

Cause of death: Lung cancer