Gregg Toland

popular name: Totie Fields

date_of_death: August 2, 1978

age: 48

cause_of_death: Pulmonary embolism

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Totie Fields was an American comedian who got her start on the east coast in nightclubs when Ed Sullivan saw her show at the Copacabana in New York Cith and gave Fields her first big break when he booked her on his show. She made multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She also appeared in a 1971 episode of The Carol Burnett Show (Season 4, Episode 21) and a 1972 episode of Here's Lucy (Season 5, Episode 7) starring Lucille Ball. During the last two years of her life, Miss Fields had undergone surgery several times including the removal of her leg, breast and eye surgery, and suffered two heart attacks. Nevertheless, in 1978, during the last year of her life, Fields was voted "Entertainer of the Year" and "Female Comedy Star of the Year" by the American Guild of Variety Artists. Upon the passing of Totie Fields she was laid to rest at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.

popular name: Bill Goodwin

date_of_death: May 9, 1958

age: 47

cause_of_death: Heart attack

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Bill Goodwin was for many years the announcer and a recurring character of the Burns and Allen radio program, and subsequently The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show on television from 1950–1951. In 1945, Goodwin was the "featured comedian" as a regular on The Frank Sinatra Show and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. In 1947, he had his own program, The Bill Goodwin Show, a situation comedy, also known as Leave It to Bill. He was also the announcer for the Blondie radio program. Upon his death, he was laid to rest at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, CA.

popular name: Groucho Marx

date_of_death: August 19, 1977

age: 86

cause_of_death: Pneumonia

claim_to_fame: Show Business

best_know_for: Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was best known as a master of quick wit and widely considered one of the best comedians of the modern era. His rapid-fire, often impromptu delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers and imitators. Marx made 26 movies, including 13 with his brothers Chico and Harpo. The team made their last two Broadway shows—The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers into movies. Other successful films were Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera. He also had a successful solo career, most notably as the host of the radio and television game show You Bet Your Life. His distinctive appearance, carried over from his days in vaudeville, included quirks such as an exaggerated stooped posture, glasses, cigar, and a thick greasepaint mustache and eyebrows. On April 2, 1974, at the 46th annual Academy Awards, Jack Lemmon presented Marx with an honorary Oscar to a standing ovation. The award honored Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo as well. Marx's final appearance was a brief sketch with George Burns in the Bob Hope television special Joys (a parody of the 1975 movie Jaws) in March 1976. His health continued to decline the following year; when his younger brother Gummo died at age 83 on April 21, 1977, Marx was never told for fear of eliciting still further deterioration of his health. Marx was hospitalized at Cedars Sinai Medical Center with pneumonia on June 22, 1977 and died at the age of 86 on August 19, just 4 months after Gummo.