Seven entertainers pass away in six days - we remember...

June 29, 11:50 PMActing ExaminerDeborah Smith Ford

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Ed McMahon                    (Photo/Wikipedia)

The world lost seven celebrity entertainers recently, seven artists within six days.  Here is a short written and photo montage of all in the order of their passing, the date and their age.  I might have missed someone, but hope not, six are more than enough lives to loose in such a short time.  Hopefully this is a small way to help continue their memories. 

June 23, 2009 - Ed McMahon (86) was a decorated war veteran, an American comedian, game show host, announcer, and television personality. Most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's announcer and sidekick on The Tonight Show from 1962-1992.

McMahon was also host of the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983-95, co-host with Dick Clark of TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes from 1982-86, and became well-known as the presenter of the now-defunct American Family Publishers sweepstakes (not, as is commonly believed, its main rival Publishers Clearing House).  McMahon, too, co-hosted the The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon.

Farrah Fawcett                (Photo/Wikipedia)

June 25, 2009 - Farrah Fawcett (62) was an American actress. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the TV series Charlie's Angels in 1976. Fawcett later appeared off-Broadway to the approval of critics and in highly rated television movies in roles often challenging (The Burning Bed, Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story, Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story, Margaret Bourke-White).

Farrah Fawcett was also a pop culture figure whose hairstyle was emulated by millions of young women and whose poster sales broke records, making her an international sex symbol in the 1970s and 1980s. While her impact was particularly strong on the teens of the 1970s, her appeal spreads over multiple generations.

On March 21, 1976, the first appearance of Fawcett playing the character Jill Munroe in Charlie's Angels was aired as a movie of the week. The movie starred Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Fawcett (then billed as Farrah Fawcett-Majors) as private investigators for Townsend Associates, a detective agency run by a reclusive multi-millionaire whom the women had never met.

That same year Farrah became famous with her red swimsuit photo, which is still being sold as posters and on other Farrah items thoughout the world.  Farrah's Story, (2009) is about her battle with cancer.

Michael Jackson              (Photo/Wikipedia

June 25, 2009 - Michael Jackson  (50) was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut on the professional music scene in 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5.

Jackson began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group and was referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years. Jackson's 1982 album Thriller remains the world's best-selling album of all time, and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller."

Michael Jackson was one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records — including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" — 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide. At the time of his death, he was preparing for This Is It, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held in London beginning July 13, 2009.  BET Awards

Sky Saxon                 (Photo/Times Online)

June 25, 2009 - Sky Saxon (71) exerted a cultish influence on several generations of rock musicians. Pioneers of raw, fuzz-drenched “garage rock”, the Seeds enjoyed hits in the mid-1960s with songs such as Can’t Seem to Make You Mine and Pushin’ Too Hard.

In the early 1970s the group broke up. Saxon disappeared to join a bizarre religious cult. But by then they had already made their  mark, leaving behind a legacy that would grow in reputation over the years and which fed into the birth of punk rock.

by Times Online

(Photo/Gale Storm.TV)

June 27, 2009 - Josephine Owaissa Cottle (Gale Storm) (87) was an American actress and singer, who starred in two popular television programs of the 1950s, My Little Margie and The Gale Storm Show.

Storm's television career skyrocketed from 1952 to 1955, with her starring role in My Little Margie. The show was originally a summer replacement for I Love Lucy. It ran for 126 episodes.

Storm's popularity was capitalized upon in The Gale Storm Show (aka Oh! Susanna). This show ran for 143 episodes between 1956 and 1960. Both of her series were shown countless times in reruns.

Gale Storm had several top ten songs. She headlined in Las Vegas and appeared in numerous stage plays.

(Photo/Getty Images)

June 28, 2009 - Fred Travalena (66) was an American entertainer, specializing in comedy and impersonations.

New York-born, Travalena moved to Los Angeles and developing a multi-faceted career with his characterizations of visible public figures.

Travalena's television credits began in the 1970s, as a regular performer on The ABC Comedy Hour and the Dean Martin Roasts. He had several voice credits on cartoons, as well as appearances on nationally-broadcast children's programs. Mr. Travelena made many guest appearances on game shows and dramatic programs in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

In the mid-1980s he hosted the game show Anything For Money, a game where contestants attempted to guess how much money it would take an ordinary, unsuspecting person to participate in a silly stunt. He appeared in the series premiere of the short-lived 1991 sitcom Good Sports with Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett.

Travalena also appeared at casino theaters in Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City, as well as performing arts theaters, cruise ships, and private "in-concert" performances. He took part in a USO tour to entertain troops overseas, and was honored in 2004 by Club Italia with a Merit Achievement Award for his contributions to society.

In 2005 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

(Photo/Wikipedia)

June 28, 2009 - Billy Mays (50) was a television direct-response advertisement salesperson most notable for promoting Oxi Clean, Orange Glo, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products. His distinctive beard and loud sales pitches made him a recognized television presence. 

Mays success as a TV pitchman led him to found Mays Promotions, Inc. On April 15, 2009, the Discovery Channel began airing Pitchmen, a documentary series that featured Mays.