Gregg Toland

popular name: John Wayne

date_of_death: July 11, 1979

age: 72

cause_of_death: Stomach Cancer

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: John Wayne was a major American motion-picture actor who embodied the image of the strong, taciturn cowboy or soldier and who in many ways personified the idealized American values of his era. Sadly since is passing his long held opinions of supporting white supremacy, fierce supporter of the McCarthy witch hunts of the 1950s, his stand against civil rights and his denying African-Americans and native American Indians their heritage has been, to say the least, disconcerting.

popular name: Buster Keaton

date_of_death: February 1, 1966

age: 70

cause_of_death: Lung Cancer

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Along with Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton was one of the three big stars of the Hollywood silent film era. Keaton was an American silent film actor, comedian, and director renowned for his physical comedy, deadpan expression, and innovative filmmaking. He began performing in vaudeville as a young child alongside his parents, developing a remarkable knack for slapstick and stunt work. Keaton rose to prominence in the 1920s with a series of short films and feature-length classics like The General (1926), Sherlock Jr. (1924), and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928), which showcased his daring stunts, inventive visual gags, and impeccable comic timing. Often referred to as “The Great Stone Face” for his stoic on-screen persona, Keaton was also a pioneering director who pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling and physical comedy. Despite a career downturn in the 1930s, he experienced a resurgence later in life, earning recognition for his contributions to film history. The grave of this giant of Hollywood's silent film era can be found at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, California.

popular name: Nicholas Colasanto

date_of_death: February 12, 1985

age: 61

cause_of_death: Heart attack

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Nicholas Colasanto was a well-loved actor and television director who achieved his greatest success as "Coach" on the TV series Cheers (1982). After serving his country during World War II, at the age of 28, he saw Henry Fonda perform on Broadway and was infected by the acting bug. He joined a theater company in Phoenix, Arizona before moving back to New York, where he performed in off-Broadway productions and appeared in TV commercials. He relocated to Hollywood in 1965 and began to appear on TV, were he also made his mark as a TV director. Eventually, he directed over 100 episodes of series TV in the 1960s and 70s, including episodes of Bonanza (1959), Columbo (1971), S.W.A.T. (1975) and Starsky and Hutch (1975). His two most memorable film roles were the the boxing manager in John Huston's Fat City (1972) and the mob boss in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980). Colasanto was primarily a dramatic actor but the producers of the TV comedy Cheers (1982) cast him as Ernie "Coach" Pantusso, the absent-minded and dumb but lovable bartender. The role made him famous and he earned an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series each of the three years that he appeared on the show. Sadly, at the height of his fame, he died from a heart ailment at his home in Studio City, California on February 12th, 1985.