Fred Johnson obit

Fred Johnson, The Founding Member Of The Marcels, Dies At 80

 

 He was not on the list.

The founding member of the historic doo-wop group The Marcels, Fred Johnson, has died.

According to his publicist, Johnson died on March 31, surrounded by his family and friends.

Johnson founded the band in 1959 along with Cornelius Harp, Gene Bricker, Ron Mundy, and Richard Knauss here in Pittsburgh.

Sixty-one years ago, on April 3, 1961, the group released the song “Blue Moon” which overtook Elvis’s “Surrender” on the top spot of the Billboard charts.

Since its release, the song has received several accolades including being featured in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll.

Johnson is survived by his sister, his seven children, several grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

He was 80-years-old.

Shirley Burkovich obit

Shirley Burkovich, former Rockford Peaches player and ‘fierce advocate’ for women’s sports, dies at 89

 

She was not on the list.

ROCKFORD — Shirley Burkovich, a trailblazing former Rockford Peaches player from the original All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, died on Thursday at age 89.

The Swissvale, Pennsylvania, native played in the league from 1949 to 1951 with four different teams: the Muskegon Lassies, Chicago Colleens, Springfield Sallies and Rockford Peaches.

She died Thursday at her home in Rancho Mirage, California, according to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association

During her playing days she earned the nickname “Hustle” for her boundless energy on the field, and she filled in at every position except catcher.

Her energy and passion for the sport stayed with her later in life as she became a relentless advocate for girls and women’s baseball, traveling extensively to promote, educate and train a new generation of players, according to the players association.

“Shirley Burkovich was a huge role model for many generations of players and continued to show her support for international women’s baseball right until the very end,” Women’s Baseball UK wrote on Facebook. “Thank you and goodnight Hustle.”

Burkovich was also the founding director of the International Women’s Baseball Center. The center’s future museum campus will be built on the grounds of Beyer Park, where the Peaches once played.

“We are heartbroken and devastated to share the sad news of our friend, Shirley Burkovich, passing away today,” the International Women’s Baseball Center wrote on Facebook. “… as countless people around the world know, she was a fierce advocate of women and girls in sports and one of the loveliest, kindest people you could ever hope to call your friend.”

Burkovich, who started playing in the league at age 16, collected a .229 batting average and a .325 on-base percentage in 37 games, according to stats on Wikipedia. After her time in baseball, she worked for Pacific Bell Telephone for about 30 years and retired in 1983.

She also had an appearance in the 1992 Penny Marshall film “A League of Their Own,” the movie that immortalized the Rockford Peaches on the silver screen. She played the role of the older version of the superstitious Alice “Skeeter” Gaspers. She also had movie appearances in “Throw Like a Girl” and “The Sweet Spot: A Treasury of Baseball Stories,” according to IMDB. She appeared in the movie with stars such as Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Lori Petty, Bill Pullman, Jon Lovitz, Rosie O'Donnell, Garry Marshall, David Strathairn and Téa Leoni.

She made several appearances in Rockford promoting the sport, including attending Baseball for All national tournaments held at Beyer Stadium.

“Since 2015, she has attended every (Baseball for All Nationals) and always brought with her a kindness, a quiet wit, and an unceasing passion to give more opportunities for girls in the game,” Baseball for All wrote on Facebook. “She was a beloved member of our baseball family and has had a tremendous impact on our community.”

Burkovich played three years in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The last year was 1951. That year she was a Rockford Peach. One thing she remembered the most about that time was the crowd support for the team.

“Oh, I would say Rockford had the best fan base that I can remember. They were so supportive.”

She also remembered fondly Peaches’ manager Bill Allington.

“I learned more in that one year with Bill Allington about baseball. The first thing Bill Allington did was give me a rule book and he said, ‘Read it’. That’s the way Bill was. You better know those rules.

Burkovich was a fan of the movie A League of Their Own. She said for the most part it’s an accurate depiction of what the league was like.

“I thought Penny Marshall did an excellent job of portraying the way it was as far as telling the story, the bus rides, the camaraderie of the girls that was all true.”

Burkovich wasn’t a star. She had a career batting average of .229, but she was versatile. She played every position except catcher. Her biggest contributions came later in life when she traveled around the country making appearances, promoting women’s and girls’ baseball, and helping to keep the memory of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League alive. She made several appearances in Rockford.

Wolf Muser obit

Actor Wolf Muser Has Died 

He was not on the list.

Wolf Muser was born on October 23, 1950 in Esslingen am Neckar, Württemberg-Baden [now Baden-Württemberg], Germany. He was an actor, known for Alias (2001), The Man in the High Castle (2015) and MacGyver (1985). He died on March 30, 2022.

He played the role of Marcello Armonti on the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara in 1985.

Prior to joining Santa Barbara, he also appeared as Kurt Voightlander on the CBS drama Capitol in 1983. In 2015, he played a septuagenarian Adolf Hitler in The Man in the High Castle, giving all the character's dialogue in German.

Muser died on 30 March 2022, at the age of 71.

Actor

Adam Conover in Adam Ruins Everything (2015)

Adam Ruins Everything

8.1

TV Series

Hulko Sponsor

VO Parker Brother 1

CEO ...

2015–2019

5 episodes

 

The Man in the High Castle (2015)

The Man in the High Castle

7.9

TV Series

Adolf Hitler

2015–2016

4 episodes

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.2

TV Series

Dr. Hochman

2016

4 episodes

 

David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel in Bones (2005)

Bones

7.8

TV Series

Abraham Froome

2016

1 episode

 

David Giuntoli in Grimm (2011)

Grimm

7.9

TV Series

Father Eickholt

2016

2 episodes

 

Childrens Hospital (2008)

Childrens Hospital

7.8

TV Series

NATO Chairman

2013

1 episode

 

Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Jim O'Heir, Nick Offerman, Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Retta, Aziz Ansari, and Aubrey Plaza in Parks and Recreation (2009)

Parks and Recreation

8.6

TV Series

Dr. Clipperton

2013

1 episode

 

Enlightened (2011)

Enlightened

7.5

TV Series

Dick Klein

2013

1 episode

 

Liz & Dick (2012)

Liz & Dick

4.0

TV Movie

Swiss Innkeeper

2012

 

Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008)

Breaking Bad

9.5

TV Series

Herr Herzog

2012

1 episode

 

Desperate Housewives (2004)

Desperate Housewives

7.6

TV Series

Mr. Jacobs

2012

1 episode

 

Jonny Lee Miller in Eli Stone (2008)

Eli Stone

7.7

TV Series

Stanley Mills

2008

1 episode

 

U-900 (2008)

U-900

4.2

Admiral Duke

2008

 

Heather Tom, Thorsten Kaye, and Katherine Kelly Lang in The Bold and the Beautiful (1987)

The Bold and the Beautiful

3.4

TV Series

Dr. Seifert

2008

5 episodes

 

Frida Farrell in Contract Killers (2008)

Contract Killers

4.6

Targonsky

2008

 

Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, and Kirsten Vangsness in Criminal Minds (2005)

Criminal Minds

8.1

TV Series

Samuel

2007

2 episodes

 

Candice Bergen, William Shatner, and James Spader in Boston Legal (2004)

Boston Legal

8.5

TV Series

Linwood Winchell

2007

1 episode

 

Cold Case (2003)

Cold Case

7.6

TV Series

Wes Floyd

2006

1 episode

 

Oded Fehr and Michael Ealy in Sleeper Cell (2005)

Sleeper Cell

8.0

TV Series

Graham - Deputy Secretary Homeland Security

2005

1 episode

 

Benjamín Benítez, Gary Cole, Ryan Hurst, Rashida Jones, Lee Tergesen, and Josey Scott in Wanted (2005)

Wanted

7.5

TV Series

Martin Stroebel (uncredited)

2005

1 episode

 

Vanessa Marcil, Tom Selleck, Josh Duhamel, Camille Guaty, James Lesure, and Molly Sims in Las Vegas (2003)

Las Vegas

7.4

TV Series

Hank Davis

2005

1 episode

 

Carnivàle (2003)

Carnivàle

8.4

TV Series

Klaus

2005

1 episode

 

Jill Hennessy in Crossing Jordan (2001)

Crossing Jordan

7.0

TV Series

Defense Attorney

2004

1 episode

 

Michael Rooker and Bas Rutten in The Eliminator (2004)

The Eliminator

3.5

Deitrich Remmel

2004

 

Helter Skelter (2004)

Helter Skelter

6.4

TV Movie

Chief Davis

2004

 

Just Shoot Me! (1997)

Just Shoot Me!

6.9

TV Series

Magnus

2003

1 episode

 

Ethan Embry and Ed O'Neill in Dragnet (2003)

Dragnet

7.0

TV Series

Harmon Szell

2003

1 episode

 

Rebecca Carlton, Brixton Karnes, and William Zabka in Hidden Agenda (2002)

Hidden Agenda

6.3

Marcus Rausch

2002

 

Jennifer Garner in Alias (2001)

Alias

7.6

TV Series

Ramon Veloso

2002

5 episodes

 

Rob Lowe, Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Dulé Hill, Moira Kelly, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, and Bradley Whitford in The West Wing (1999)

The West Wing

8.9

TV Series

Ambassador von Rutte

2002

1 episode

 

Coast Guard (1997)

Coast Guard

4.8

TV Series

Captain Carl Johnson

2000–2002

2 episodes

 

Beauty Betrayed (2002)

Beauty Betrayed

4.5

Chief Watson

2002

 

Patricia Richardson and Rosa Blasi in Strong Medicine (2000)

Strong Medicine

6.7

TV Series

Amos Lapp

2001

1 episode

 

Will Patton, Gil Bellows, Gloria Reuben, and Paige Turco in The Agency (2001)

The Agency

7.3

TV Series

Gerhard Zimmer

2001

1 episode

 

Rocky Road (2001)

Rocky Road

5.5

Bill Johnson

2001

 

Kim Sill in Hollywood Sins (2000)

Hollywood Sins

5.1

David Silverstein

2000

 

Nicht heulen, Husky

2.2

TV Movie

Max Reuter

2000

 

One Man's Hero (1999)

One Man's Hero

6.0

Cpl. Schultz

1999

 

Sophie Marceau and David Spade in Lost & Found (1999)

Lost & Found

5.1

Ubermann

1999

 

Robert Davi and Ally Walker in Profiler (1996)

Profiler

7.2

TV Series

1998

1 episode

 

Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)

Walker, Texas Ranger

5.6

TV Series

Klaus Markham

1998

1 episode

 

Twiggy - Liebe auf Diät (1998)

Twiggy - Liebe auf Diät

5.6

TV Movie

Craig

1998

 

Cristi Conaway and Ted King in Timecop (1997)

Timecop

6.3

TV Series

Scientist #1

1997

1 episode

 

Moloney (1996)

Moloney

7.1

TV Series

1997

1 episode

 

Tamlyn Tomita, James Black, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in The Burning Zone (1996)

The Burning Zone

7.0

TV Series

Nazi Doctor

1997

1 episode

 

Richard Dean Anderson, Jane Leeves, and Robert Guillaume in Pandora's Clock (1996)

Pandora's Clock

6.1

TV Mini Series

Dr. Zeitner

1996

2 episodes

 

The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery (1995)

The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery

8.9

Video Game

Doktor Klingmann

1995

 

Martin Kove and Joe Lara in Final Equinox (1995)

Final Equinox

3.7

Commander Dreg

1995

 

Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (1993)

Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero

6.7

TV Series

1994

1 episode

 

Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Murder, She Wrote

7.2

TV Series

Peter Daniken

1989

1 episode

 

Irene Cara in Caged in Paradiso (1989)

Caged in Paradiso

3.3

Helmut

1989

 

Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

MacGyver

7.6

TV Series

Jonathan

1989

1 episode

 

Andy Griffith in Matlock (1986)

Matlock

7.1

TV Series

Peter Bono

1987

1 episode

 

Dale Robertson and Ben Vereen in J.J. Starbuck (1987)

J.J. Starbuck

7.3

TV Series

Rutger Kruger

1987

1 episode

 

Victoria Principal in Mistress (1987)

Mistress

6.5

TV Movie

Hans

1987

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

Hunter

6.9

TV Series

Max Crain

1987

1 episode

 

Shadow Chasers (1985)

Shadow Chasers

7.7

TV Series

Spy #2

1986

1 episode

 

Falcon Crest (1981)

Falcon Crest

6.2

TV Series

David

1986

1 episode

 

Anne Baxter, James Brolin, and Connie Sellecca in Hotel (1983)

Hotel

6.4

TV Series

Gordon Flynn

1986

1 episode

 

Courteney Cox, Kevin Peter Hall, Dean Paul Martin, and Mark Thomas Miller in Misfits of Science (1985)

Misfits of Science

7.3

TV Series

Albert

1986

1 episode

 

Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Constance McCashin, John Pleshette, and Ted Shackelford in Knots Landing (1979)

Knots Landing

6.9

TV Series

Steven Kirby

1985

2 episodes

 

Lee Majors and Heather Thomas in The Fall Guy (1981)

The Fall Guy

7.1

TV Series

Savenik

1985

1 episode

 

Robin Wright, Judith Anderson, Valorie Armstrong, Melissa Reeves, Robert Alan Browne, Paul Burke, Ismael 'East' Carlo, Margarita Cordova, Nicolas Coster, Lane Davies, Richard Eden, Gina Gallego, Linda Gibboney, Andrea Howard, Ava Lazar, A Martinez, Todd McKee, John Allen Nelson, Rupert Ravens, Julie Ronnie, Kerry Sherman, Louise Sorel, Jonna Leigh Stack, Marcy Walker, and Dane Witherspoon in Santa Barbara (1984)

Santa Barbara

5.7

TV Series

Marcello Armonti

1985

62 episodes

 

Code Name: Foxfire (1985)

Code Name: Foxfire

6.6

TV Series

Briggs

1985

1 episode

 

Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly in Hardcastle and McCormick (1983)

Hardcastle and McCormick

6.6

TV Series

Mike Shotwell

1985

1 episode

 

Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker in Simon & Simon (1981)

Simon & Simon

7.0

TV Series

Eric Speer

Hijacker

1983–1984

2 episodes

 

Lee Van Cleef, Shô Kosugi, and Timothy Van Patten in The Master (1984)

The Master

4.4

TV Series

John Palin

1984

1 episode

 

Masquerade (1983)

Masquerade

6.8

TV Series

Dort

1983

1 episode

 

Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft in To Be or Not to Be (1983)

To Be or Not to Be

6.8

Desk Sergeant

1983

 

Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson in Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

7.0

TV Series

Jameson

1983

1 episode

 

Bruce Boxleitner, Clyde Kusatsu, and Cindy Morgan in Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982)

Bring 'Em Back Alive

7.1

TV Series

Kurt Zimmer

1983

1 episode

 

Debrah Farentino, Nicholas Walker, and Jess Walton in Capitol (1982)

Capitol

7.2

TV Series

Kurt Voightlander

1982

1 episode

 

Jeff Bridges, Sally Field, and James Caan in Kiss Me Goodbye (1982)

Kiss Me Goodbye

5.9

Mark

1982

 

Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless in Cagney & Lacey (1981)

Cagney & Lacey

6.8

TV Series

Gunnar

1982

1 episode

 

Romance Theatre (1982)

Romance Theatre

5.9

TV Series

Jerzy

1982

5 episodes

 

Yes, Giorgio (1982)

Yes, Giorgio

3.8

Surgeon

1982

 

Gary Busey and Willie Nelson in Barbarosa (1982)

Barbarosa

6.3

Floyd

1982

 

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams in Laverne & Shirley (1976)

Laverne & Shirley

7.0

TV Series

Heinrich

1982

1 episode

 

Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

6.7

TV Series

Plainclothes Cop #2

1981

1 episode

 

Frozen Scream (1975)

Frozen Scream

2.8

Tom Girard

1975