Franco Zeffirelli

popular name: Stan Laurel

date_of_death: February 23, 1965

age: 74

cause_of_death: Heart attack

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Stan Laurel was a British-born comic actor, writer, and director best known as one half of the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. Born Arthur Stanley Jefferson, he came from a theatrical family and began performing at an early age. Laurel emigrated to the United States in the 1910s and initially worked in vaudeville and silent films. His partnership with Oliver Hardy began in the mid-1920s and quickly became one of the most beloved acts in film history, blending slapstick with subtle character-driven humor. Laurel was the creative force behind much of their work, contributing to writing and directing duties even when uncredited. The duo's chemistry and timing left a lasting impact on comedy, influencing generations of performers. After Hardy's death in 1957, Laurel retired from show business but remained a cherished figure in entertainment until his own death on February 23, 1965, in Santa Monica, California. Like hundreds of other Hollywood actors and comedians, the grave of Stan Laurel can be found at Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, California.

popular name: William Powell

date_of_death: March 5, 1984

age: 91

cause_of_death: Heart failure

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: William Powell was a premier American actor who personified the suave and sophisticated leading man during Hollywood's Golden Age. A major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the Thin Man series based on the Nick and Nora Charles characters created by Dashiell Hammett. Powell became known for his quick wit and on-screen chemistry with leading ladies such as Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard and Myrna Loy. Powell was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times for The Thin Man (1934), My Man Godfrey (1936), and Life with Father (1947) but never won.

popular name: Carl Switzer

date_of_death: January 21, 1959

age: 31

cause_of_death: Gunshot wounds

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Carl Switzer, the actor who as a child played Alfalfa in the Our Gang comedy film series, was the freckle-faced boy with a warbling singing voice and a cowlick protruding from the top of his head. It was Switzer’s best-known role in his short-lived Hollywood career. Our Gang revolved around a group of ragtag children and their adventures. In addition to Alfalfa, the ensemble of memorable characters included Spanky, Darla, Buckwheat, Froggy, Stymie and Pete the dog. Our Gang was considered groundbreaking in that it featured white and black child actors interacting equally. Switzer played Alfalfa from the mid-1930s to the early 1940s. In 1955, the Our Gang films were turned into a hugely popular TV series called The Little Rascals; however, Switzer never received any royalties from the show. After Our Gang, Switzer found small roles in movies and on television, but his most successful days in Hollywood were behind him. He made money working odd jobs, including stints as a hunting guide and bartender, and had several run-ins with the police. On January 21, 1959, Switzer and a friend went to the Mission Hills home of Moses “Bud” Stiltz, to collect a debt Switzer believed he was owed. A fight broke out, during which Stiltz shot and killed Switzer. A jury later ruled the incident justifiable homicide. Carl was laid to rest at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.