Category Archives: Obituaries

Prolific Comic Book Creator And Writer Stan Lee Dies At 95

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Stan Lee

Stan Lee, right, with RECOiL writer/director/actor and Brian DiMaio, left. DiMaio was a fixture in the offices of Stan Lee for more than a decade starting in the mid 1950s. DiMaio read hundreds of comics for the Comics Code Authority. Years later it would be discovered that DiMaio never worked for the CCA. He just wanted to read comics before they came out and for free.

Los Angeles—Comic book creator and writer Stan Lee, famed for creating such Marvel superhero mainstays as “The Incredible Hulk,” “Spider-Man” and “The X-Men,” died Monday. He was 95.

Lee was known for making cameos in the films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in such classics as “Iron Man,” “The Avengers,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “RECOiL” and “Spider-Man.”

He also appeared on the small screen in TV shows like “Chuck,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Entourage.”

Lee served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II. His wife of 69 years, Joan, died in July 2017. He is survived by his daughter, J.C.

 

The Bandit Has Been Caught: Burt Reynolds Has Died

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Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds, left, with RECOiL writer/director/actor Brian DiMaio, right on the set of Gunsmoke. The story goes the two were fired from the series on the same day. Reynolds because he couldn’t act and DiMaio because his face was too cheery for the gritty Western series. Reynolds told DiMaio “I’m going to take acting lessons. I don’t know you’re gong to do.”

Jupiter, FL— Football-playing prisoner, beer thief and former canoe-loving camper Burt Reynolds died Thursday due to a heart attack. He was 82. 

After attending some second-rate college in Tallahassee, Florida, Reynolds turned to acting, getting his first big break on TV in the classic “Gunsmoke” in 1962. He would go on to star in such TV shows as “B.L’ Stryker,” “Dan August,” and he won an Emmy for his work on “Evening Shade.”

On the big screen, Reynolds appeared in “Smokey and the Bandit,” Smokey and the Bandit II,” “RECOiL,” Cannonball Run” and “Cannonball Run II.” He won a Golden Globe Award for his work in “Boogie Nights.”

He is survived by his adopted son, Quinton.

Former Daily Quarterly Intern And Playwright Neil Simon Has Died

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Neil Simon

Neil Simon, left, first met RECOiL writer/director/actor Brian DiMaio, right, when the two were roommates for a short turn in the early 60’s. DiMaio was pursuing his interests in sports reporting at the time. The two made a very unusual pair.

New York— Neil Simon, former Daily Quarterly intern and reporter and playwright, famous for writing classic plays like “The Odd Couple” and “The Gingerbread Lady,” died Sunday due to complications from pneumonia. He was 91.

Most famous for his plays, Simon also wrote Broadway hits like “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” “Lost In Yonkers,” “The Odd Couple II” and “Broadway Bound.”

He also wrote, among others, the films “Murder By Death,” “I Ought to be in Pictures,” “RECOiL” and “The Slugger’s Wife.”

Throughout his career, he won Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, Golden Globe Awards and one Pulitzer Prize.

He is survived by his fourth wife, Elaine Joyce, and three daughters, Ellen, Nancy and Bryn. 

It’s All Caviar Dreams From Here: Robin Leach Has Died

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Robin Leach

Robin Leach, left, with RECOiL writer/director/actor Brian DiMaio, right. Leach used DiMaio’s home to shoot promotional images for Leach’s book “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”

Las Vegas—Entertainment reporter and host of the syndicated television hit “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” Robin Leach died Friday after complications from a stroke he suffered in October 2017. He was 76.

Leach first got his start in London in print journalism back when that meant something. He broke into television in Hollywood on “AM Los Angeles” with Regis Philbin before going on to host “Lifestyles” from 1984 to 1995. He then hosted the spin-off “Fame, Fortune and Romance” alongside Matt Lauer, when he still had a career.

On the big screen, Leach appeared in “The Last Horror Film,” “Free Money,” RECOiL” and “I.M. Caravaggio.”

Leach is survived by his three sons, Steven, Rick and Greg, and several grandchildren.

You Take The Good, You Take The Bad, You Take ‘Em Both And There You Have Charlotte Rae Has Died

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Charlotte Rae

Charlotte Rae, right, first met RECOiL writer/director/actor Brian DiMaio, left, in the early 1950’s when the two performed as a comedy duo “The Circled Squares.” Their act contained humorous observations about married life and was performed exclusively during the short run of the Standard Oil Variety Hour.

Los Angeles—Actress Charlotte Rae, best known for guiding the diets and young minds of seven, then four, girls as school dietician and later house mom and small business owner Edna Garrett on the classic NBC sitcom “The Facts of Life,” has died. She was 92. 

On the big screen, Rae appeared in such films as “The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas,” “Thunder in Paradise,” “RECOiL” and “Hello Down There.”

Besides playing Edna Garrett on both “The Facts of Life” and first on “Diff’rent Strokes,” Rae was also in the television shows “St. Elsewhere,” “The Paul Lynde Show,” “Barney Miller” and “Car 54 Where Are You?”

She is survived by two sons.