Ronnie Le Drew obit

Legendary puppeteer and children's TV star dies aged 78

 

He was not on the list.

Legendary children's TV star Ronnie Le Drew has died at the age of 78, it has been confirmed.

The Canadian‑born British puppeteer and actor was best known as the man behind Zippy in the iconic ITV children’s show Rainbow.

His death was announced by the British Puppet Guild this morning (Monday, JKuly 27).

The statement said: "We are saddened to announce the death of our President and friend Ronnie Le Drew, following a short illness.

"Ronnie has been our president for 10 years, possibly the most active and supportive president we have ever had or will have.

"Attending nearly every event, whether it be online or in person, often performing when asked and always willing to chat, tell stories and entertain in whatever way he could.

"Ronnie was, of course, known for Zippy, but his legacy in the puppetry world stretches far more than that, and there will be countless puppeteers mourning the loss of our dear friend.

"He meant so much to so many, and the legacy of his life will live on."

Mr Le Drew had attended Abbey Con, a comic convention in Abingdon, and was due to return to this year's event in autumn.

A statement from Trooper Events UK, the team behind the convention, said: "We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of a dear friend and supporter of our events, Ronnie Le Drew.

"Ronnie was one of the friendliest and kindest people we had the pleasure of knowing.

"He always brought warmth and kindness with him, and he will be missed dearly.

"We send our love and deepest condolences to all of Ronnie’s family and friends who have lost such a beautiful person.

"Ronnie was due to return to Abbey-Con this year, but sadly his health suddenly took a turn for the worse. We will miss him dearly and remember him always.

"Rest in peace, Ronnie. You will never be forgotten."

Other tributes include those from Paul Robertson on X, who wrote: "I was not expecting to wake up to any of this news today.

"Ronnie Le Drew (best known as ‘Zippy’ in Rainbow) has unfortunately passed away.

"Was very grateful to always have chats online with him about Rainbow, Sooty and puppets.

"Condolences go to his friends and family."

Born in Toronto on 23 October 1947, he moved to Britain as a teenager and trained at the Little Angel Theatre in London, becoming John Wright’s second apprentice and learning every aspect of puppetry.

His association with the Little Angel Theatre spanned more than 30 years, first as a performer and later as a director, and he went on to co‑found the London School of Puppetry with his partner Caroline Astell‑Burt.

Le Drew began working on Rainbow in 1973, operating Zippy and later providing the character’s unmistakable voice, and remained with the programme for around 20 years, including spin‑offs such as Rainbow Days.

Away from Rainbow, he appeared on a string of classic children’s shows, including Playdays, Michael Bentine’s Potty Time, The Tommy Cooper Show, Mortimer and Arabel, Utterly Brilliant with Timmy Mallett and multiple versions of The Sooty Show, often performing Sweep and other characters.

His film credits took him into some of the biggest fantasy productions of the last half‑century, with puppetry work on Labyrinth, Little Shop of Horrors, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, Beauty and the Beast and Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Le Drew also contributed to adverts and live events, from operating the original Bill and Ben in an Ideal Home Exhibition commercial to animating “Brains” from Thunderbirds in a memorable Drench water campaign.

In 2019, he published his memoir Zippy and Me: My Life Inside Britain’s Most Infamous Puppet, looking back on six decades in puppetry and the way characters like Zippy, Sweep and others shaped generations of British childhoods.

John Anderson obit

Former Minnesota baseball coach John Anderson dies at 71

 

He was not on the list.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — John Anderson, the former University of Minnesota baseball coach and Big Ten career victories leader, died Sunday. He was 71.

Anderson’s family announced his death through the university, where he first arrived as a pitcher for a failed tryout in 1974 and spent 43 years as head coach of the Gophers until retiring after the 2024 season.

Anderson was hospitalized Wednesday after going into cardiac arrest, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the university did not announce the cause of death.

Anderson is survived by wife Jan and daughter Erin, who were with him when he died. His body was returned to the university for organ donation.

After a arm injury ended his playing career, Anderson became a student manager and was honored as the most valuable player of the 1977 College World Series team by his peers, a squad that featured future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor.

He became the head coach at age 26 entering the 1982 season and amassed 1,390 wins to lead the Big Ten and rank 20th in NCAA Division I. Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson and major league All-Stars Terry Steinbach and Greg Olson and Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer are among the many standouts he coached.

The Gophers had winning records in 38 of 43 seasons under Anderson, who won the Big Ten Coach of the Year award eight times and took them to the NCAA tournament 19 times, including the Super Regional round in 2018.

Anderson was recently named the annual winner of the Wilson Lefty Gomez Award by the American Baseball Coaches Association for contributions to the sport at local, national and international levels.

Anderson had his No. 14 uniform retired in 2024.

“He leaves behind a legacy that will never be matched, and our entire Gopher baseball family is heartbroken by this loss,” current head coach Ty McDevitt said in a statement distributed by the university. “Coach Anderson always reminded us to appreciate the people around us and to take care of one another. That’s how he lived his life, and it’s how we’ll honor his memory.”

Bill Oddie obit

Bill Oddie Dies: British TV Presenter & Birdwatcher Was 85

 

He was not on the list.

Bill Oddie, Britain’s most beloved birdwatcher and wildlife TV presenter, has died aged 85.

His death was confirmed by his agent, David Foster, in at a statement carried by several British news outlets.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder.

“Bill was a multi-talented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued.

“Instead he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment. He taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it. He led the way and people of all ages and backgrounds responded to his call. And such a massive contribution to conservation will never be forgotten.

“As Bill’s agent I witnessed close-hand his intelligence and wit. He was my friend and it was an honour and a privilege to represent him for so many years. I will miss him terribly. My thoughts and love are with Bill’s wife, Laura, and his daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie, who have asked not to be contacted at this sad time. Please respect their wishes.”

Oddie is best known for his BBC wildlife programs, especially those tracking the UK’s bird life, but he was also a script writer, composer and comedian.

His BBC shows include Springwatch, Autumnwatch, How to Watch Wildlife, Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.

Oddie’s career in entertainment began, like many others, in the Cambridge Footlights sketch comedy group. While he was there, one revue was so popular that it played in the West End and on Broadway in 1964. Around this time, he also contributed to BBC comedy series That Was the Week That Was.

Oddie went on to form The Goodies with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, whom he had met at Footlights. They worked on various TV and music projects, with Oddie and Garden later spending ten years on IBBC’s The Goodies sketch comedy show between 1970 and 1980. A special later ran in 1981 and the show was revived for another season in 1982 on ITV.

As an avid birder, Oddie behan contributing to BBC wildlife shows in the 1970 and went to become one of the UK’s most well-known and beloved presenters in the genre. He also wrote several books on birdwatching and was a trusted voice in debates about conservation in Britain, and subject on 1985 special Nature Watch Special: Bill Oddie – Bird Watcher.

His BBC2 show, Britain Goes Wild, set a channel ratings record of 3.4 million viewers in 2004. The show was later renamed Springwatch, which remains a staple on the channel. He presented the show until 2008.

Oddie became an unseen fixture in the life Steve Coogan’s fictional TV presenter Alan Partridge, who consistently referred to their unusual friendship, which included Partridge receiving dressing gowns and borrowing binoculars to spy on his estranged wife.

He was an English actor, artist, birder, comedian, conservationist, musician, songwriter, television presenter and writer. He was a member of the British comedy trio The Goodies.

 

A birder since his childhood in Quinton, Birmingham, Oddie later established a reputation as a naturalist, conservationist, and television presenter on wildlife issues. Some of his books were illustrated with his own paintings and drawings. His wildlife programmes for the BBC included Springwatch and Autumnwatch, How to Watch Wildlife, Wild in Your Garden, Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.

 

Oddie since that time hosted a number of successful nature programmes for the BBC, many produced by Stephen Moss, including:[21]

 

The Great Bird Race (1983; Channel 4)

The Great Kenyan Bird Safari (BBC)

Favourite Walks: "A Bird Walk" (1985; BBC; filmed on Fair Isle)

Worldwise: "The Bird Business" (1985; Channel 4)

Oddie in Paradise (1985; BBC)

Wild Weekends (TV AM)

Flight to Eilat (Channel 4)

Bird in the Nest (two series, 1994 and 1995)

Birding with Bill Oddie (three series, 1997, 1998 and 2000)

Bill Oddie Goes Wild (three series, 2001, 2002 and 2003)

Wild in Your Garden (2003)

Britain Goes Wild (2004)

Bill Oddie in Tiger Country (2004)

Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife (two series, 2005 and 2006; also on DVD)

Seven Natural Wonders (London edition) (2005)

The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs (2005; also on DVD)

Springwatch (2005–2008)

Autumnwatch (2006–2008)

Bill Oddie Back in the USA (2007)

Bill Oddie's Top Ten Birds (2007; BBC Four)

100 Years of Wildlife (2007)

Bill Oddie's Wild Side (2008)

Bill Oddie's Top 10 (2008)

Loren Nerell obit

Loren Nerell, Ambient Composer Who Found New Worlds in the Gamelan, Dies at 65 

He was not on the list.

News

Ambient Composer Loren Nerell Gone at 65. R.I.P.

Loren Nerell, Ambient Composer Who Found New Worlds in the Gamelan, Dies at 65

We just got the news from Robert Rich that Loren Nerell has left the planet at age 65.

For those of you who knew the wonderful music or the gentle human named Loren Nerell, it is my sad duty to let you know that he passed away this week, in his home. Jesse Sola contacted me yesterday expressing concern that Loren couldn’t be reached, and after we both made some effort trying to contact him, Jesse called for a welfare check this morning. May we all tread lightly in this world. -Robert Rich

Nerell was an electronic musician, ethnomusicologist and sound designer who created a singular fusion of ambient music and the ceremonial sounds of Indonesian gamelan. News of his death began circulating through the ambient-music community on July 24, 2026. A cause of death has not been announced.

Although Nerell emerged from the Southern California electronic-music scene of the 1980s, his music ultimately traveled far beyond the sequencers and synthesizers that first inspired him. He combined slowly evolving electronic atmospheres with gamelan instruments including bronze gongs, metallophones, drums, flutes, voices and environmental recordings gathered during his studies in Bali and Java. The results could sound ritualistic, subterranean and deeply immersive—less a Western imitation of Indonesian music than a personal sound world transformed by decades of listening, study and performance.

Nerell was born in Long Beach, California, on November 30, 1960. His first revelation in electronic music came through Tangerine Dream’s Rubycon. He later cited the Berlin-school electronics of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze among his early influences, but gamelan and the microtonal instruments of American composer Harry Partch would push him toward a much more individual direction.

He studied analog synthesis at Long Beach City College and tape composition at San Diego State University. While at San Diego State, a friend suggested that he take a gamelan class. Nerell recalled seeing the ensemble’s enormous gongs and immediately thinking, “I have to try this.”

What began as curiosity became a lifelong pursuit. Nerell studied and performed both Javanese and Balinese gamelan, eventually traveling to Indonesia and spending several months in Java and Bali. He earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and geography from Cal Poly Pomona and a master’s degree in ethnomusicology from UCLA. His graduate thesis examined lelambatan, an expansive form of ceremonial Balinese gamelan music.

That academic grounding distinguished Nerell from many electronic musicians who used non-Western instruments primarily for atmosphere. He understood gamelan as a communal musical practice, not simply a collection of exotic sounds. He was fascinated by the physical sonority of the instruments, but also by the intricate musical relationships between players. In particular, he spoke of kotekan, the rapid interlocking patterns in which musicians divide a melodic line between them, creating a figure that no single player performs alone.

Nerell’s recording career began with Point of Arrival, released on cassette in 1986. The album was rooted in the electronic language of the period, with sequencers, analog synthesis and slowly shifting soundscapes. Yet even then, tuned percussion and alternate tonal systems were beginning to pull his music away from conventional space music.

His second cassette, Book of Alchemy in 1989, moved deeper into sampling, percussion and shadowy electro-acoustic textures. Nerell later described those first two recordings as the work of a musician learning how to move beyond his heroes and locate his own voice.

That voice came fully into focus on Lilin Dewa in 1996 and Indonesian Soundscapes in 1999. The latter was assembled largely from recordings Nerell made in Bali and Java: rehearsals, ceremonies, gamelan workshops, voices, insects and the incidental sounds of daily life. Rather than present them as documentary recordings, he layered and transformed them into an imaginary acoustic geography. Processions seemed to drift through forests, metallophones flickered in the distance and environmental sounds became inseparable from music.

On The Venerable Dark Cloud, first issued as a mini-CD in 2000 and later expanded, Nerell pushed this approach into darker territory. Gongs hung in cavernous spaces, percussion appeared as distant ritual signals and electronic drones seemed to rise from underneath the earth. The music had the immersive scale of ambient music, but it was rarely passive or decorative. Nerell’s environments had weight, depth and an occasional sense of menace.

Taksu, released in 2003, became one of the defining albums of his career. The Balinese word taksu refers to a kind of spiritual or artistic charisma—the quality that makes a performance come alive beyond technique. Nerell’s album drew gamelan sonorities, field recordings and electronics into a continuous dreamscape. Bronze percussion shimmered against immense drones while voices and natural sounds appeared like memories surfacing through darkness.

Nerell also became a valued collaborator. He worked with Steve Roach on Terraform, released in 2006, a descent into subterranean drones, organic electronics and tectonic percussion. Their respective approaches were ideally matched: Roach’s vast, breathing sound environments merging with Nerell’s metallic resonances and Indonesian-inflected textures. In 2011, Nerell collaborated with Los Angeles ambient musician Barry Craig, known as A Produce, on Intangible. The album moved between rhythmic trance music, luminous electronics and darker atmospheric passages. It became Craig’s final recording; he died only weeks after its release. Nerell had been planning to visit Craig on the day he died. The loss gave Intangible an unintended elegiac quality, but it also revealed Nerell’s ability to work within a more melodic and rhythmically propulsive form without sacrificing depth. He could summon an underground temple, but he could also create music that moved with an understated, almost sensual pulse.

Nerell later recorded Tree of Life in 2014 and Cave Dwellers in 2018 with flutist and vocalist Mark Seelig. Those albums expanded his palette with bansuri, overtone singing, whispered voices and influences drawn from multiple spiritual and musical traditions. As with his Indonesian work, Nerell approached the material as an environment to inhabit rather than ornamentation placed on top of electronic tracks.

His final major solo album, The Gong Prophet, arrived in 2021. Its title captured Nerell’s musical identity with almost comic precision. Tracks including “Hare Drum,” “Last Gamelan,” “Reyong” and “Return to Temple of the Frog” revisited the sounds that had occupied him for most of his life: resonant metal, tuned percussion, humid field recordings and electronics that seemed less programmed than summoned

Beyond his own albums, Nerell contributed to recordings by Steve Roach, former Tangerine Dream member Paul Haslinger, progressive instrumental group Djam Karet and Indian violin virtuoso L. Subramaniam. He composed for film, theater, dance and multimedia productions and performed in projects involving the Kronos Quartet. He also worked professionally as a synthesizer sound designer, including a period at Oberheim Electronics, and as a recording engineer and technician at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music.

Nerell never achieved the recognition given to some of his ambient contemporaries. His music occupied an unusual zone between electronic composition, ethnomusicology, field recording and ritual sound. It did not fit comfortably into the softer expectations of New Age music, nor was it purely academic or documentary. Yet, tributes have poured in.

I’m very sad to learn about the untimely passing of ambient composer and soundscaper Loren Nerell when I woke up this morning.  Another great loss fort the ambient community. May he rest in peace.— Feeling sad. -Michael Bruckner

Sad news in the Ambient Music community today. Loren Nerell, a good friend to SomaFM as well as an amazing ambient and world musician, has passed away unexpectedly. We will miss you so much, Loren, but your music will live on. –SomaFM @somafm.com

Across four decades of recordings, Loren Nerell created a music of resonant spaces: forests filled with unseen ceremonies, caves vibrating with distant gongs and temples that might have existed only in his imagination. He understood that a gong is not simply struck and finished. Its sound expands, changes shape and continues long after the initial impact has disappeared.

Loren Nerell’s music will resonate in much the same way.

Composer

Talking with Spirits: Journeys to Balinese Spirit Worlds

Composer

2012

 

Liquid Television (1991)

Liquid Television

8.1

TV Series

Composer (segment "In the Aquarium")

1992

1 episode

 

Sound Department

Match (2003)

Match

9.1

Short

sound designer (uncredited)

2003

 

Richard Brickhouse obit

 

Richard Brickhouse Has Died

He was not on the list.

Richard Fleming Brickhouse, a well-known racecar driver passed away on July 24 , 2026 at the age of 87 at his home in Rocky Point.

He was born October 27, 1938 in Wilmington, North Carolina, the son of James Albert Brickhouse and Idell Woodcock Brickhouse. In addition to his parents Richard is preceded in death by his son, Richard Gary Brickhouse; daughter, Jennifer McDowell; and his brother, Thomas Brickhouse

Richard is survived by his wife, Sara Lopez; children, Angela Campbell, Cara Salter (Jason), and Richard F. Brickhouse Jr.; stepchildren, Patricia Vazquez, Sarah Vazquez, and Paul Vazquez; grandchildren, Sarah Salter, Savannah Garner (Donald), and Kristi Byers (Scott); three great grandchildren; and many additional family members and friends.

Richard had a true spirit of adventure and embraced life with enthusiasm. Richard stated, “I stayed in trouble with the highway patrol losing my first license three weeks after receiving it. I was racing on Highway 421 with friends.” In 1969, Richard made history by winning the first NASCAR race held at Talladega, Alabama, a memory he cherished throughout his life. Strong-willed and passionate in all he did, Richard carefully considered every decision and lived with purpose and intention. He served in the US Army and considered his service a great honor. Richard deeply loved his family and found great joy in the relationships that meant the most to him. His life was one of zeal, determination, and love, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew him.

A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at Kelley Cemetery near 473 Longview Road, Kelly with Pastor Jason Salter officiating. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service.

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.quinnmcgowen.com

A service of Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel.

Lou Koller obit

Sick Of It All frontman Lou Koller has died, aged 59

"Lou had the power to raise everyone’s spirits at our shows with a smile and a sarcastic comment, and he won people over wherever we played," said his bandmates in tribute

 He was not on the list.

Sick Of It All frontman Lou Koller has died, following a long fight against oesophageal cancer.

His bandmates made the announcement on Instagram, saying, "It’s with unbelievable sadness that we announce to our worldwide hardcore family the passing of our brother Lou Koller. The level of loss that we feel at this time is overwhelming.

"This year would have marked Sick of it All’s 40th anniversary as a band, and Lou’s camaraderie, commitment and enthusiasm were always steadfast throughout the years. We have lost a beloved friend and an iconic frontman. Lou had the power to raise everyone’s spirits at our shows with a smile and a sarcastic comment, and he won people over wherever we played, from every culture and every corner of the world.

"At this time of intense grief, we must again acknowledge the great help and support offered by everyone who donated to Lou’s medical fund. You all helped Lou feel very special and very loved as he battled away these last two years. His battle is over now and he can finally rest. Hopefully he can somehow still see and feel the beautiful, positive mark he left on the world."

Lou had originally reported in May last year that his initial treatment had been successful, before it returned last September.

Kerrang! sends deepest condolences to Lou's family, bandmates and friends.

Hope Clarke obit

Tony Nominated Choreographer and Actor Hope Clarke Dies at 85

Her choreography for George C. Wolfe's Jelly's Last Jam earned her a Tony Award nomination, a Joseph Calloway Award, a Drama-Logue Award, and an NAACP Image Award.

 She was not on the list.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Tony-nominated choreographer and performer Hope Clarke passed away on July 23, 2026 at age 85. Clarke had a long five-decade career across American theater, dance, film, and television.

Born in Washington, D.C. on March 23, 1941, Clarke began her career as a principal dancer with both the Katherine Dunham Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, touring internationally and captivating audiences worldwide. On Broadway, she starred in foundational productions including the original national tour of West Side Story, Purlie, Hallelujah, Baby!, and Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.

As a choreographer and director, Clarke made history. Her choreography for George C. Wolfe's Jelly's Last Jam earned her a Tony Award nomination, a Joseph Calloway Award, a Drama-Logue Award, and an NAACP Image Award. Her extensive creative output spanned over 30 shows on and off Broadway, including Spunk, The Colored Museum, Caroline, or Change, and The Tempest. In 1995, Clarke achieved a historic milestone when she became the first African American, as well as the first African American woman, to direct and choreograph a major production of the classic opera Porgy and Bess for the Houston Grand Opera.

Her screen career encompassed memorable film roles in Sidney Poitier's A Piece of the Action (1977) and Julian Schnabel's Basquiat (1996), along with guest appearances on television series such as Hill Street Blues, Sex and the City, and The Jeffersons.

Beyond her legendary stage and screen credits, Clarke remained a passionate mentor and advocate for the dance community, co-founding the 5 Plus Ensemble to celebrate and showcase dancers over the age of 50.

She is survived by her loving sister, Barbara Clarke; nephew, Joseph Chisolm; great-nephew, Jaydon Chisolm; and great-niece, Jordon Chisolm. Her family, close friends, and loved ones express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, condolences, and support during this difficult time.

A formal Celebration of Life honoring her extraordinary life, career, and enduring legacy will be held on September 5, 2026, with further details to follow.

TV and Film

Year     Title     Type    Role

2023    LEAP FOR JOY! In Celebration of National Dance Day      Short film, musical      Self

2023    Rustin  Film     Lucille Randolph

2019    Finding Julia   Film     Choreographer[15]

2004    Men Without Jobs       Film     Ms. Jackson

1996–2002      Law & Order   TV Series        Multiple episodes: Mrs. Marbury, Appellate Judge #2, Judge Emma Reynolds

2002    Driving Fish    Short film        Betty

2000    Seventeen Again         TV Movie        Grandma Catherine “Cat” Donovan

2002    Sex and the City          TV Series        Lee

1996    New York Undercover            TV Series        Marilyn Ferris

1996    Basquiat          Film     Matilde

1988    A Father's Homecoming         TV Movie        Doctor

1987    Amen  TV Series        Carol Wilson

1987    Angel Heart     Film     Voodoo Dancer

1985    Into the Night  Film     Airport Cop

1984    Beat Street       Film     Assistant Choreographer

1983    The New Odd Couple TV Series        Beth St. Clair

1982    Hill Street Blues          TV Series        Mrs. Reese

1982    Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal          TV Movie        Chris

1981    Maggie            TV Series        Receptionist

1981    Body and Soul Film     Choreographer

1980    Scout's Honor TV Movie        Mrs. Prewett

1978    The White Shadow     TV Series        Aunt Edna Hayward

1979    Three's Company        TV Series        Second Nurse

1979    Hart to Hart     TV Series        Teacher

1979    Miss Winslow and Son           TV Series        Cast member

1979    The Ropers      TV Series        Dr. Young

1979    Jennifer: A Woman's Story      TV Movie        Annie (secretary)

1976; 1977–1978        What's Happening!!    TV Series        Multiple episodes: Mrs. Watson, Elizabeth Duncan

1974    Good Times     TV Series        Brenda Gordon

1978    King    TV Mini Series            Multiple episodes: Mary

1975    The Jeffersons TV Series        Sherry Barnes

1977    A Piece of the Action  Film     Sarah Thomas

1973    Book of Numbers        Film     Pigmeat Goins

1971    Going Home   Film     Mother at prison

1969    Change of Mind          Film     Nancy

1968    N.Y.P.D.                      Ivy

Asteryth Sloane obit

In tribute: Asteryth Sloane

We are deeply saddened to hear the news that composer and RNCM alum Asteryth Sloane has died at the age of 26.

 

She was not on the list.

Asteryth completed both a Bachelor of Music in Composition, graduating with First Class honours, and a Master’s degree in Composition and Musicology, graduating with Distinction, at the RNCM, studying with Professor Emily Howard. In 2025, they were awarded RNCM Associate Membership in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the music profession.

Their unique compositional methods and creativity led to a number of accolades, including winning the Cambridge Young Composer of the Year Competition in 2016, the senior category of the BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers’ Competition in 2018 for their piece Elegy for Aylan, and a commission from the Royal Philharmonic Society to mark Classic FM’s 25th birthday celebrations.

Performed by ensembles including VOCES8, Paraorchestra, and the BBC Singers, Asteryth’s music is known for its responses to the beauty and fragility of the living Earth, as well as themes of identity and spirituality. Their musicological work explores the power of listening to bring us into more intimate and ethical relationships with sound, as well as the rights of sound and sound sources.

More recently, Asteryth trained as a therapist, focusing on interpersonal and healing contexts.

We send our sincere condolences to Asteryth’s family and friends.

Bill McGlaughlin obit

Bill McGlaughlin, beloved 'Exploring Music' radio host, dies at 82

 He was not on the list.

The composer, conductor, educator and radio host Bill McGlaughlin has died. He was 82.

McGlaughlin hosted "Exploring Music," a syndicated classical music radio program that aired nationwide, including on Classical IPR. He had recently stepped down as host.

In a post on her Facebook page, jazz musician Karrin Allyson wrote, "It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my beloved partner, Bill McGlaughlin. In this season of grief, I am grateful for your kindness, your prayers, and the privacy to honor a life deeply loved and forever remembered."

McGlaughlin had recently announced his departure from "Exploring Music" after 22 years. Produced and distributed by WFMT in Chicago, "Exploring Music" was widely regarded as the heir apparent to "Adventures in Good Music" with Karl Haas.

McGlaughlin also hosted "Saint Paul Sunday" from 1980 to 2007, which during its run was the most widely syndicated classical music radio program in the United States.

Earlier in his career, McGlaughlin was a well-established conductor and served as the music director at organizations including the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and the Kansas City Symphony.

The final episodes with McGlaughlin as host are currently scheduled to air the week of August 17, 2026 with the theme "Curse of the Ninth! Ninth Symphonies." The show continues beyond that date with new host Peter van de Graaff.

"Exploring Music" airs weeknights at 7 p.m. on Classical IPR.

Jordan Devey obit

Former New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion Passes Away at 38

 

He was not on the list.

Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Jordan Devey, a member of the franchise’s Super Bowl XLIX championship team, passed away on Thursday at age 38.

Devey’s wife, Linsey Hodgkiss Devey, announced his death in an emotional Facebook post Friday, a date that would have marked the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary.

She remembered the life they built together, including the arrival of their four children, and the memories, struggles and triumphs that filled their years together.

A GoFundMe established for the Devey family states that he died by suicide. The fundraiser was organized to help his wife and children with medical costs and other financial burdens following his death.

Devey’s Wife Remembers ‘Our Hero’

“Today would have been our 15th year anniversary,” Linsey wrote. “You were our hero and our hearts ache in your absence. We love you. We miss you.”

She also recalled Devey’s final words to her: “We’ll talk soon.”

Linsey wrote that their children inherited his eyes, freckles and compassion.

She included photographs from their wedding and a hospital room before asking those able to help to support the family’s fundraiser.

The fundraiser described Devey as a devoted husband and father whose influence stretched throughout Eagle, Idaho.

He volunteered with his children’s teams and worked with athletes at Eagle High School, where players viewed him as a mentor, role model and friend.

He also served members of his church and regularly offered counsel and support to people around him.

Devey remained close to football after his professional career ended, coaching young athletes and sharing the knowledge he gathered across seven NFL seasons.

His work in Idaho gave another generation of players access to someone who had climbed from a junior college walk-on opportunity to a Super Bowl-winning organization.

Devey Took Unlikely Path to Super Bowl Ring

Devey’s path to the NFL began well after many future professional players establish themselves.

Knee problems kept him from playing high school football, and he instead pursued baseball and music.

He played the tuba and considered a future teaching music before serving a two-year church mission in Costa Rica.

After returning home, Devey walked on at Snow College and later transferred to Memphis.

He started all 24 games during his two seasons with the Tigers, played every offensive snap during that stretch and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors in 2012.

Devey went undrafted in 2013 and initially signed with the Baltimore Ravens. After his release, he joined the Patriots’ practice squad and earned a place on the active roster the following year.

He appeared in seven regular-season games and started four during New England’s 2014 championship season.

Although inactive for Super Bowl XLIX, Devey received a championship ring when the Patriots completed their title run.

The championship win culminated an ascension that began without high school football and ended with a place in Patriots history.

New England traded Devey to the San Francisco 49ers in August 2015.

He later spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders and the Buffalo Bills, appearing in 44 regular-season games with 21 starts across his career.

Personal information

Born    January 11, 1988

American Fork, Utah, U.S.

Died    July 23, 2026 (aged 38)

Listed height   6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)

Listed weight  320 lb (145 kg)

Career information

High school     American Fork

College           

Snow College (2009–2011)

Memphis (2011–2013)

NFL draft        2013: undrafted

Career history

Baltimore Ravens (2013)*

New England Patriots (2013–2014)

San Francisco 49ers (2015)

Kansas City Chiefs (2016–2018)

Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders (2019)

Buffalo Bills (2020)

* Offseason or practice squad member only

Awards and highlights

Super Bowl champion (XLIX)

Second-team All-C-USA (2012)

Mitch Byrd obit

Mitch Byrd, Guy Gardner Artist, Passes Away

 

He was not on the list.

Mitch Byrd, longtime comic book artist probably best known for his run on Guy Gardner: Warrior with writer Beau Smith and inker Dan Davis, has passed away at 63, following a recent illness.

Byrd's big break into comics came with the independent series, Cat and Mouse, about a pair of vigilante heroes in Louisiana, with writer Roland Mann and inker Steven Butler (the first issue had a cover by the great Paul Gulacy, so I'm using a later issue with cover art by Byrd), that was first published by EFGraphics, and then at Aircel Comics (when it was a Malibu Comics imprint. Mann maintained the rights to the characters, and has revived them in recent years at his Silverline Comics)...

Byrd did other work for Malibu, but soon did what is likely his most famous run, his stint on Guy Gardner: Warrior. Byrd first did some various DC projects, like some Darkstars fill-in issues, and he co-created the Bloodlines character, Nightblade, in Green Lantern Annual #2...

Byrd's tenure on Guy Gardner: Warrior was a strange one. He joined the book with writer Chuck Dixon, who was challenged to come up with a superhero name for Guy Gardner other than, you know, Guy Gardner (this was back when Guy Gardner was using Sinestro's yellow power ring after leaving the Green Lantern Corps).

However, Emerald Twilight then came about, and Guy lost his ring. Beau Smith became the new writer on the book, and paired with Smith and inker Dan Davis, the book was fascinating, in that Smith and Byrd both clearly wanted to tell classic action adventure stories, which they DID...

But they were also forced to give Guy Gardner superpowers, and thus he was revealed to be part-alien, and he had morphing powers, where he could create weapons out of his body...

This was all during the Zero Hour crossover event, so the title got a lot of attention (Guy played a major role in the crossover). Still, Smith, Byrd and Davis managed to keep the book fantastic outside that strange conceit, and they maintained that basic action style that they had established earlier on. Byrd's dynamic yet grounded art style was a major factor in this working so well.

After Byrd left the book, he did work for Marvel, Chaos Comics, Valiant Comics, and Dark Horse, including a Predator one-shot set in Louisiana called Predator: Strange Roux (with writer Brian McDonald)....

The late 1990s saw the comic book industry go through a major bust period, and suddenly many excellent comic book artists who would normally be drawing regular titles for Marvel and DC suddenly had no gigs, and Byrd was one of those artists who had to turn to other avenues to pursue his art career, doing work for gaming companies and even some design work for HBO. He, of course, still did plenty of independent comic book work, as well.

He was always active on the convention circuit, especially Pensacon. Byrd was really what you would call an "artist's artist," as while his mainstream comic book work was mostly centered in the 1990s, his work was so well-regarded that he released MULTIPLE art books over the years. Anyone who knew Byrd's work was impressed by his art.

Byrd was particularly known for how much he loved to draw dinosaurs, and back in 2013, Bobby Hickey crowdfunded a sketchbook called Mitch Byrd: Women, Dinosaurs Sketchbook vol. 1

Byrd recently contributed a piece of art for the local Mississippi horror anthology, Mississipi Macabre, alongside his fellow Mississippi artist (and longtime friend), the great Steven Butler.

Butler and Byrd would often be found sketching at the Biloxi, MS comic book store, Three Alarm Comics.

CBR offers our condolences to Mitch Byrd's friends and family.

Chuck Russell obit

Chuck Russell Dies: Director Of ‘The Mask’ & ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors’ Was 74

 He was not on the list.

Charles Russell, the director of such 1980s and ’90s films and cult favorites as A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Mask, The Blob and Eraser, died at his San Diego-area home Wednesday, July 22. He was 74.

His death has been reported by TMZ, and was confirmed by Deadline’s sister site Variety. Russell was pronounced dead after the local fire department responded to his home on a reported medical emergency and an unconscious man. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Russell, who was also a screenwriter and producer, made his feature film directing debut in 1987 with A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, the third (and at that point most successful) installment of the Freddy Krueger horror franchise. Written by Wes Craven, Bruce Wagner, Frank Darabont and Russell, Dream Warriors starred Robert Englund in his continuing role as Freddy, along with Craig Wasson, Patricia Arquette, Laurence Fishburn and others.

Produced by New Line Cinema, Dream Warriors grossed $44.8 million domestically, by far the most successful of the Elm Street films to that point.

With that success on his resume, Russell went on to write and director the 1988 remake of the classic 1958 horror film The Blob, a box office disappointment and critical failure.

The director rebounded, and then some, with 1994’s The Mask, a superhero comedy starring a green-faced Jim Carrey, then riding high from In Living Color and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The film was a massive box office success, and scored an Oscar nomination for the visual effects created by George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic.

Next for Russell came the hit 1996 action film Eraser starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, followed by the commercially disappointing horror film Bless The Child starring Kim Bassinger and Jimmy Smits.

Another success followed soon enough, with The Scorpion King arriving in 2002 and launching the acting career of WWE star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Following an eight-year hiatus, Russell emerged to direct an episode of TV’s The Fringe before taking on what would be a widely panned John Travolta vengeance vehicle I Am Wrath in 2016. Neither Junglee, an Hindi-language action film from 2019 nor Paradise City starring Travolta and Bruce Willis in 2022 matched the success of Russell’s peak years, nor did his 2024 remake of ’80s cult classic Witchboard.

In addition to writing and directing, Russell was a producer on such films as Hell Night and Girls Just Want To Have Fun, among others.

According to TMZ, Russell is survived by wife Ania and children Logan, Riley and Carlyn, and sister Anne Jacob.

 

Director

White House Demon

Director

Pre-production

 

Hyperia

Director

Pre-production

 

b

director

Pre-production

 

Charlie Tahan, Madison Iseman, and Aaron Dominguez in Witchboard (2024)

Witchboard

5.1

directed by

2024

 

John Travolta and Bruce Willis in Paradise City (2022)

Paradise City

3.7

Director

2022

 

Vidyut Jammwal in Junglee (2019)

Junglee

5.6

Director

2019

 

John Travolta in I Am Wrath (2016)

I Am Wrath

5.4

directed by

2016

 

Anna Torv in Fringe (2008)

Fringe

8.4

TV Series

Director

2010

1 episode

 

Michael Clarke Duncan, Kelly Hu, Steven Brand, and Dwayne Johnson in The Scorpion King (2002)

The Scorpion King

5.5

Director

2002

 

Bless the Child (2000)

Bless the Child

5.1

Director

2000

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vanessa Williams in Eraser (1996)

Eraser

6.2

directed by (as Charles Russell)

1996

 

Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994)

Jim Carrey: Cuban Pete

7.7

Music Video

Director

1994

 

Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994)

The Mask

7.0

Director (as Charles Russell)

1994

 

The Blob (1988)

The Blob

6.7

directed by

1988

 

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

6.7

Director

1987

 

Producer

b

executive producer

Pre-production

 

Charlie Tahan, Madison Iseman, and Aaron Dominguez in Witchboard (2024)

Witchboard

5.1

produced by

2024

 

Tom Cruise in Collateral (2004)

Collateral

7.5

executive producer

2004

 

Patrick Muldoon, Amelia Heinle, and Russell Means in Black Cat Run (1998)

Black Cat Run

5.7

TV Movie

executive producer (as Charles Russell)

1998

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vanessa Williams in Eraser (1996)

Eraser

6.2

executive producer (as Charles Russell)

1996

 

Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994)

The Mask

7.0

executive producer (as Charles Russell)

1994

 

Back to School (1986)

Back to School

6.7

produced by

1986

 

Helen Hunt, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Lee Montgomery in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

6.0

produced by

1985

 

Lorenzo Lamas and Michelle Nicastro in Body Rock (1984)

Body Rock

3.8

associate producer

1984

 

Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, Christopher Plummer, Cory 'Bumper' Yothers, Larry Cedar, Redmond Gleeson, Peter Jason, David Patrick Kelly, and Chris Mulkey in Dreamscape (1984)

Dreamscape

6.3

associate producer

1984

 

Morgan Fairchild in The Seduction (1982)

The Seduction

5.1

executive producer

1982

 

Linda Blair in Hell Night (1981)

Hell Night

5.6

executive producer

1981

 

The Hearse (1980)

The Hearse

4.9

line producer (as Charles Russell)

1980

 

Kristine DeBell and Jason Williams in Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend (1979)

Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend

4.7

producer

1979

 

Writer

The Birthright

created by (2018)

Pre-productionTV Series

 

Charlie Tahan, Madison Iseman, and Aaron Dominguez in Witchboard (2024)

Witchboard

5.1

screenplay by

2024

 

John Travolta and Bruce Willis in Paradise City (2022)

Paradise City

3.7

written by

2022

 

Vidyut Jammwal in Junglee (2019)

Junglee

5.6

Writer

2019

 

The Blob (1988)

The Blob

6.7

screenplay

1988

 

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

6.7

screenplay

1987

 

Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, Christopher Plummer, Cory 'Bumper' Yothers, Larry Cedar, Redmond Gleeson, Peter Jason, David Patrick Kelly, and Chris Mulkey in Dreamscape (1984)

Dreamscape

6.3

screenplay

1984

 

Production Management

Back to School (1986)

Back to School

6.7

production manager

1986

 

John Lansing, Stacey Pickren, and Joey Travolta in Sunnyside (1979)

Sunnyside

5.2

production manager

1979

 

Mike Mazurki in Incredible Rocky Mountain Race (1977)

Incredible Rocky Mountain Race

7.0

TV Movie

unit manager

1977

 

Steve Forrest and Ned Romero in Last of the Mohicans (1977)

Last of the Mohicans

6.1

TV Movie

unit manager

1977

 

Melanie Griffith, Robert Carradine, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Anne Lockhart in Joyride (1977)

Joyride

5.7

unit production manager

1977

 

Lynda Carter and Marjoe Gortner in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976)

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

5.4

production supervisor

1976

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Lisa Hartman and Chris Lemmon in Just Tell Me You Love Me (1978)

Just Tell Me You Love Me

6.1

assistant director

1978

 

Supervan (1977)

Supervan

3.9

first assistant directorsecond unit director

1977

 

Larry Gelman, Candice Rialson, and Rip Taylor in Chatterbox! (1977)

Chatterbox!

5.1

second assistant director

1977

 

Lynda Carter and Marjoe Gortner in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976)

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

5.4

second assistant director (uncredited)

1976

 

Actor

The Blob (1988)

The Blob

6.7

Theater Patron (uncredited)

1988

 

Lynda Carter and Marjoe Gortner in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976)

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

5.4

Deputy

1976

 

Shot (1973)

Shot

5.6

Wilson (as Charles Russell)

1973

 

Production Department

Cannonball! (1976)

Cannonball!

5.5

production assistant: second unit

1976

 

Thanks

I Killed The Strawberry Jam - Chuck Russell on Shooting The Blob (2019)

I Killed The Strawberry Jam - Chuck Russell on Shooting The Blob

Short

thanks

2019

 

It Fell From the Sky! Chuck Russell on the Road to The Blob (2019)

It Fell From the Sky! Chuck Russell on the Road to The Blob

Short

thanks

2019

 

Farhan Akhtar, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Zaira Wasim, and Rohit Saraf in The Sky Is Pink (2019)

The Sky Is Pink

7.6

special thanks

2019

 

Directing the Blob: Interview with Chuck Russell

Short

special thanks

2016

 

George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino in Horror Talk Movie Reviews (2013)

Horror Talk Movie Reviews

4.8

TV Series

very special thanks

2014

1 episode

 

Jim Carrey and Laurie Holden in The Majestic (2001)

The Majestic

6.9

special thanks

2001

 

Point of Seduction: Body Chemistry III (1994)

Point of Seduction: Body Chemistry III

3.9

Video

special thanks

1994

 

Self

The Thing Expanded (2026)

The Thing Expanded

8.6

Self - Interviewee

2026

 

Talks from the Crypt (2021)

Talks from the Crypt

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2025

1 episode

 

Casser la baraque

Self

2021

 

I Killed The Strawberry Jam - Chuck Russell on Shooting The Blob (2019)

I Killed The Strawberry Jam - Chuck Russell on Shooting The Blob

Short

Self

2019

 

It Fell From the Sky! Chuck Russell on the Road to The Blob (2019)

It Fell From the Sky! Chuck Russell on the Road to The Blob

Short

Self

2019

 

Post Mortem with Mick Garris (2017)

Post Mortem with Mick Garris

7.8

Podcast Series

Self

2018

1 episode

 

Wolfman's Got Nards (2018)

Wolfman's Got Nards

7.2

Self

2018

 

Directing the Blob: Interview with Chuck Russell

Short

Self

2016

 

Fear Himself: The Life and Crimes of Freddy Krueger

6.9

Video

Self

2012

 

FEARnet's Movies with More Brains (2011)

FEARnet's Movies with More Brains

3.6

TV Special

Self

2011

 

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

8.5

Video

Self - Director & Co-Screenplay

2010

 

The House That Freddy Built (2006)

The House That Freddy Built

7.2

Video

Self

2006

 

Cartoon Logic (2005)

Cartoon Logic

6.9

Video

Self

2005

 

Introducing Cameron Diaz (2005)

Introducing Cameron Diaz

6.2

Video

Self

2005

 

Return to Edge City (2005)

Return to Edge City

5.9

Video

Self

2005

 

Biography (1987)

Biography

7.7

TV Series

Self

2004

1 episode

 

Ancient World Production Design: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Ancient World Production Design: 'the Scorpion King'

7.4

Video

Self

2002

 

Costume Design: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Costume Design: 'the Scorpion King'

7.6

Video

Self

2002

 

Preparing the Fight: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Preparing the Fight: 'the Scorpion King'

7.2

Video

Self

2002

 

Special Effects: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Special Effects: 'the Scorpion King'

6.7

Video

Self

2002

 

'The Scorpion King': A Warrior's Journey

5.8

Video

Self

2002

 

The Fiery Swords Scene: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

The Fiery Swords Scene: 'the Scorpion King'

8.0

Video

Self

2002

 

The Rock and Michael Clarke Duncan: 'the Scorpion King'

7.3

Video

Self

2002

 

Working with Animals: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Working with Animals: 'the Scorpion King'

6.7

Video

Self

2002

 

Headliners & Legends with Matt Lauer (1998)

Headliners & Legends with Matt Lauer

4.5

TV Series

Self

1998–2008

1 episode

 

HBO First Look (1992)

HBO First Look

6.3

TV Series

Self

1996

1 episode

 

Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1993)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

7.9

TV Series

Self

1995

1 episode

 

Cybermania '94: Ultimate Gamers Awards (1994)

Cybermania '94: Ultimate Gamers Awards

6.3

TV Special

Self (as Charles Russell)

1994

 

Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story (1991)

Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story

8.0

TV Movie

Self

1991

 

The Media Show (1987)

The Media Show

4.8

TV Series

Self

1989

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Minty Comedic Arts (2015)

Minty Comedic Arts

8.6

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2024

1 episode

 

Bad Music Video Theatre (2020)

Bad Music Video Theatre

6.8

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2021

2 episodes

 

Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1993)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

7.9

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1995

1 episode