There is that old superstition and saying that bad things come in threes. The past four days sure seems to bear this out with three Hollywood deaths.
June 23, 2009
The "Heeeere’s Johnny" guy and American Family Publishers spokesman, Ed McMahon died on June 23, 2009. Born Edward Leo Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. (March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009) was an American comedian, game show host, announcer, and TV personality.
He was born in Detroit to Eleanor (née Russell) and Edward Leon McMahon, a fund-raiser and entertainer. Raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, he was once a bingo caller and carnival barker in Maine.
During World War II, McMahon was a fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps serving as a flight instructor and test pilot. He was a decorated pilot (six Air Medals) and was discharged in 1946, remaining in the reserves.
A great guy and patriot, we have lost one of our best.
June 25, 2009
Farrah Fawcett (February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009) was born Ferrah Leni Fawcett in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her mother, Pauline Alice (née Evans), was a homemaker, and her father, James William Fawcett, was an oil field contractor.
Mainly known for her famous poster (pictured), she spent one season as a Charlie’s Angel. She also won critical acclaim for her 1983 role in the off-Broadway stage production of the controversial play Extremities, written by William Mastrosimone.
Fawcett was married to Lee Majors, star of TV’s The Six Million Dollar Man, from 1973–1982. Afterwards, she was involved romantically with actor Ryan O’Neal, producing a son, Redmond O’Neal, born in 1985.
An eerie coincidence (if you believe in coincidences – both sisters died at age 62.
Diane Fawcett Walls, died from lung cancer just before her 63rd birthday, on October 16, 2001.
Farrah died at 9:28 a.m. PDT in L.A.
June 25, 2009
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) seventh child of the Jackson family was born in Gary, IN and as a Jehovah’s Witness by his devout mother. He later converted to Islam.
Sadly, he was physically and emotionally abused by his father, enduring incessant rehearsals, whippings and name-calling. Michael Jackson first spoke openly about his childhood abuse in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey and admitted crying from loneliness and getting physically ill whenever he saw his father.
This horrible abuse as a child affected him throughout his grown life. Brother Marlon Jackson recalled Joseph (the father) holding Michael upside down by one leg and "pummeled him over and over again with his hand, hitting him on his back and buttocks". One night while Michael was asleep, Joseph climbed into his room through the bedroom window while wearing a fright mask. Joseph said he wanted to teach his children not to leave the window open when they went to sleep. For years afterwards, Jackson suffered nightmares about being kidnapped from his bedroom. wikipedia
[Why was that man never prosecuted for all this? And now the three children might go to that family? Are they nuts?]
Michael Jackson titled himself the "King of Pop" and it stuck. Best remembered for his 1982 Thriller album, the world’s best-selling record of all time and songs like "Beat It" and "Billie Jean."
His death is speculated to be cardiac arrest from from an overdose of prescription drugs that he was hooked on. Jackson began taking painkillers, Valium, Xanax and Ativan to deal with the stress of the pedophelia allegations made against him.
Sadly and ironically, Jackson had just announced a 50 date sell-out This Is It comeback tour in London, England. I wish he would have made that tour.
