Actor best known as John Travolta's sidekick Kenickie in Grease, and Bobby Wheeler in the Us sitcom Taxi
In the late 1970s and early 80s, Taxi was one of the best American sitcoms. It won 18 Emmy awards and its stars, among them Jeff Conaway, who has died in hospital aged 60, became household names. Conaway played the narcissistic, "resting" actor Bobby Wheeler, one of the characters working for the Sunshine cab company, all hoping for better jobs to turn up. In a way, the role mirrored Conaway's own struggle for greater recognition as an actor, which was not helped by his having been addicted to alcohol, cocaine and analgesics since he was a teenager.
In Taxi, the handsome Conaway , sporting the feathered hairstyle popular in the 1970s, had to compete with more fascinating characters in the avuncular Alex Reiger (Judd Hirsch), obnoxious Louie De Palma (Danny DeVito), sexy divorcee Elaine...
In the late 1970s and early 80s, Taxi was one of the best American sitcoms. It won 18 Emmy awards and its stars, among them Jeff Conaway, who has died in hospital aged 60, became household names. Conaway played the narcissistic, "resting" actor Bobby Wheeler, one of the characters working for the Sunshine cab company, all hoping for better jobs to turn up. In a way, the role mirrored Conaway's own struggle for greater recognition as an actor, which was not helped by his having been addicted to alcohol, cocaine and analgesics since he was a teenager.
In Taxi, the handsome Conaway , sporting the feathered hairstyle popular in the 1970s, had to compete with more fascinating characters in the avuncular Alex Reiger (Judd Hirsch), obnoxious Louie De Palma (Danny DeVito), sexy divorcee Elaine...
- 5/29/2011
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Sad news today as actor Jeff Conaway has died from complications from pneumonia and sepsis, after being placed in a medically-induced coma. Conaway was 60 years-old when he died. Conaway was a staple of 1970s sitcom "Taxi," playing the street savvy charismatic taxicab driver Bobby Wheeler, along with Christopher Lloyd, Marilu Henner, Judd Hirsch, Tony Danza, Danny DeVito and the late Andy Kaufman. He also appeared in "Grease" with Olivia Newton-John. Conaway came from an acting family and won his first role he auditioned for which was a Broadway play called "All The Way Home", starring Lillian Gish, Colleen Dewhurst and Arthur Hill. Conaway, who had a history of chemical addictions, was hospitalized earlier this month after...
- 5/27/2011
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Jeff Conaway, the long-troubled actor from Grease and TV's Taxi who waged a public battle with cocaine, painkillers and alcohol, died Friday at age 60. The Celebrity Rehab alum had been in a medically induced coma in critical condition after he was found unconscious earlier this month. "Our beloved client Jeff Conaway passed away at 10:30 a.m.," his manager, Phil Brock, Tweeted. "We loved him as a person, respected him as an artist and he will be always remembered."Dr. Drew Pinsky, who had seen Conaway during the recent hospitalization, said the actor had suffered pneumonia and the effects of too much prescription medication.
- 5/27/2011
- by Stephen M. Silverman
- PEOPLE.com
London, Sep 30 – Director Arthur Penn has died, a day after his 88th birthday.
The legendary director’s daughter Mollu Penn confirmed that the legendary director, who was best known for making ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ and ‘Little Big Man’, died at his Manhattan home of congestive heart failure, reports the BBC.
Penn made his name directing Tony-award winning Broadway shows such as ‘The Miracle Worker’ and ‘All the Way Home’.
He began to carve out a career in film in the 1960s with his work, which was inspired by the decade’s political and social.
The legendary director’s daughter Mollu Penn confirmed that the legendary director, who was best known for making ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ and ‘Little Big Man’, died at his Manhattan home of congestive heart failure, reports the BBC.
Penn made his name directing Tony-award winning Broadway shows such as ‘The Miracle Worker’ and ‘All the Way Home’.
He began to carve out a career in film in the 1960s with his work, which was inspired by the decade’s political and social.
- 9/30/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
Theatre and film director Arthur Penn died in his Manhattan apartment Tuesday night of congestive heart failure, reports A.P. Penn died a year after his brother, photographer Irving Penn. Penn was a star director on Broadway, winning Tonys for All the Way Home and The Miracle Worker, which he later made into an Oscar-winning movie; he went on to score in Hollywood, forging a strong rapport with the demanding Warren Beatty as a star in Mickey One and star-producer of Bonnie and Clyde, which was Penn's crowning achievement. Bonnie and Clyde holds up extraordinarily well: it feels fresh, smart and very indie. It's hard to imagine how bold and violent the film was at the time. Dede Allen's stacatto editing and the brutal action was too ...
- 9/29/2010
- Thompson on Hollywood
Arthur Penn, the stage and film director whose iconic Bonnie and Clyde ushered in the post-classical age of Hollywood, has died. He was 88.
Penn died Tuesday — the day after his 88th birthday — his friend and accountant, Evan Bell, told The New York Times. Bell said Penn had been sick for a year, but did not disclose the cause of death.
See other celebrities we've lost this year
A Philadelphia native and brother of the late still photographer Irving Penn, Penn first made his name directing television dramas and Broadway plays in the 1950s and '60s. He earned Tony nominations for his stage productions of Two for the Seesaw, The Miracle Worker and All the Way Home, winning for The Miracle Worker. Star Anne Bancroft also won a Tony.
Penn first directed ...
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Penn died Tuesday — the day after his 88th birthday — his friend and accountant, Evan Bell, told The New York Times. Bell said Penn had been sick for a year, but did not disclose the cause of death.
See other celebrities we've lost this year
A Philadelphia native and brother of the late still photographer Irving Penn, Penn first made his name directing television dramas and Broadway plays in the 1950s and '60s. He earned Tony nominations for his stage productions of Two for the Seesaw, The Miracle Worker and All the Way Home, winning for The Miracle Worker. Star Anne Bancroft also won a Tony.
Penn first directed ...
Read More >...
- 9/29/2010
- by Joyce Eng
- TVGuide - Breaking News
British-born film star known for her roles in Great Expectations and Spartacus
Jean Simmons, who has died aged 80, had a bounteous moment, early in her career, when she seemed the likely casting for every exotic or magical female role. It passed, as she got out of her teens, but then for the best part of 15 years, in Britain and America, she was a valued actress whose generally proper, if not patrician, manner had an intriguing way of conflicting with her large, saucy eyes and a mouth that began to turn up at the corners as she imagined mischief – or more than her movies had in their scripts. Even in the age of Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor, she was an authentic beauty. And there were always hints that the lady might be very sexy. But nothing worked out smoothly, and it is somehow typical of Simmons that her most astonishing...
Jean Simmons, who has died aged 80, had a bounteous moment, early in her career, when she seemed the likely casting for every exotic or magical female role. It passed, as she got out of her teens, but then for the best part of 15 years, in Britain and America, she was a valued actress whose generally proper, if not patrician, manner had an intriguing way of conflicting with her large, saucy eyes and a mouth that began to turn up at the corners as she imagined mischief – or more than her movies had in their scripts. Even in the age of Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor, she was an authentic beauty. And there were always hints that the lady might be very sexy. But nothing worked out smoothly, and it is somehow typical of Simmons that her most astonishing...
- 1/24/2010
- by David Thomson
- The Guardian - Film News
In the upcoming film “The Virgin of Las Vegas,” Liam Neeson portrays an Irish showband singer with a dead end career who heads to Las Vegas to turn things around. Now reports say the Irish veteran actor will sing his own songs in the movie. Ex-Horslips musician Barry Devlin of County Tyrone wrote the screenplay for the film, and tells the Belfast Telegraph: "Liam is a good singer. He'll be doing his own vocals." According to an insider, Neeson’s character will also be an alcoholic, but he’ll "find his life turned on its head following the arrival of a mysterious stranger.” The Irish showbands film will be produced by U2 star Bono, and American actress Eva Mendes is rumored to be co-starring alongside Neeson. Producers are also in talks with several famous Irish actors, including Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy and Gabriel Byrne, who would potentially play Neeson’s backup band members.
- 10/12/2009
- IrishCentral
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