The cross-genre singer of hits like “At Last” has died of complications from leukemia.
Miscellany
Johnny Otis, the Greek Godfather of R&B, Dies at 90
His “Willie and the Hand Jive” was a 1958 summer sensation, but this white impresario was prouder of launching Etta James, Hank Ballard, Littlle Richard and other black artists into the musical mainstream
Downton Abbey Returns to America: Writer Julian Fellowes Tells All
During the first season of Downton Abbey, the aristocratic Crawley family and their busybody servants endured a succession crisis and the death of a Turkish houseguest. But during the second season they face an even greater …
2011’s 50 Newest Members of Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven
Along with the widely observed deaths of Amy Winehouse and Gil Scott-Heron, a number of lesser-known musical figures passed away in 2011. They didn’t get as much recognition, perhaps, but they made valuable contributions to …
Q&A: Charlie Brown Christmas Producer Lee Mendelson
This interview originally ran on December 25, 2010.
Lee Mendelson is a first-rate storyteller, which isn’t a surprise seeing as he’s been doing it for more than 50 years. An award-winning television producer, Mendelson is the …
Director Wim Wenders On Filming the Work of Pina Bausch in 3-D
Wenders spent 20 years trying to figure out how he could bring the experience of a live Pina show to the screen. When 3-D returned in popularity, he saw his chance.
Margin Call Director J.C. Chandor on VOD and the Awards Season Hustle
J.C. Chandor nibbled at the edges of the big time for a decade and a half. He directed short movies, commercials, all the things that one days when they’re trying to break through. Then, a few years ago, he found the story he was …
Christopher Hitchens, RIP
Christopher Hitchens, the brilliant, pugilistic essayist and journalist, died Thursday of cancer at age 62. This is not a personal remembrance of Hitchens; I didn’t know him. It’s too bad, because from all accounts knowing “Hitch” was a bracing experience, involving arguments and legendary drinking bouts that Hitchens, inevitably, would …
M*A*S*H’s Harry Morgan Dies at 96
Harry Morgan, best known to TV audiences for playing the gruff, lovable Col. Sherman T. Potter on M*A*S*H, died Wednesday morning. (Given that he died at the age of 96, I think congratulations are in order along with the condolences.)
From Baltimore Cop to English Serial Killer
With his portrayal of hard-drinking, womanizing detective Jimmy McNulty on The Wire, British actor Dominic West established himself as something of a charming rogue. In his new film, West goes fully dark as real-life serial …
Bollywood Bids Farewell to Actor and Icon Dev Anand
Shame Director Steve McQueen on Sex and Silence
After his startling debut feature Hunger, a brutal yet poetic evocation of the 1981 Northern Irish hunger strikes, Turner Prize–winning filmmaker Steve McQueen has returned with Shame, a character study that’s at turns explicit …
Jim Rash On Co-Writing The Descendants and the Future of Community
Earlier this month, the small but rabid fan base of the NBC sitcom Community received some discouraging news: the show will be put on indefinite hiatus after the new year due to low ratings, perhaps never to return. But fans can …