Those Dearly Departed…
Who passed on in 2008

By: Dee Miyamura

In early 2009, during a “web search”, I made a list of famous personalities who died during the year, 2008, which stood out to me. They are listed not in any particular order.

MAJEL BARRETT RODDENBERRY. I wrote an article just on Ms. Roddenberry. This woman has been a part of my life since I turned on the television at a young age to watch the original “Star Trek” series. majelbr.htm

ARTHUR C CLARKE. I read several of his books and enjoyed them all.

CHARLTON HESTON. Who could forget Moses in the classic film, “The Ten Commandments”?

CYD CHARISSE. A famous dancer in her day, and the fact that “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” actress Nana Visitor was her niece!

DAVID GROH. “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” co-star, Valerie Harper, spin-off into a show of her own. “Rhoda”. He portrayed Rhoda's television husband.

ESTELLE GETTY. Extremely funny, Ms. Getty was on “The Golden Girls”! Both she and the show were a classic!

EARTHA KITT. Ms. Kitt was amazingly talented!

GEORGE CARLIN. I had been a long-time fan of this man. His humor took no prisoners and was cutting-edge during his entire lifetime. Who could forget his trademark “7 Dirty Words”?

HARVEY KORMAN. My entire family spent many nights watching “The Carol Burnett Show”. Harvey’s wonderful comedy timing was always top-notched!

HEATH LEDGER. I remember this young actor from television. He played Connor a young Celtic Warrior Chieftain in the short-lived television show, “ROAR”. This was years ago. There is no telling where his career could have gone.

LOIS NETTLETON. I cannot tell you how many shows I’ve seen Ms. Nettleton on and did not know her name. I recognized her voice and her face. In the 1960’s she was everywhere!

OLLIE JOHNSTON. I am a life-long, die-in-the-wool Disney animation fanatic! Mr. Johnston had a hand in many of my favorites as an animator working with Mr. Disney himself.

PAUL BENNETT. Remember “All In The Family” television show spin-off “The Jeffersons”?? When they moved on-up to that high-rise apartment, their neighbor was the very British Harry Bentley played by Mr. Bennett!

ALEXANDER COURAGE. He wrote the music score for the original “Star Trek” series. He also made several Science Fiction Convention appearances through the years.

PAUL NEWMAN. That says it all.

PAUL SCOFIELD. In the classic movie, “A Man For All Seasons”, Mr. Scofield was Sir Thomas More. More was among many who lost their heads to King Henry’s (The VIII) displeasure.

SUZANNE PLESHETTE. Ms. Pleshette was best known as the television wife of Bob Newhart.

ROY SCHEIDER. “JAWS” actor. I watched him on the short-lived series by Steven Spielberg, “Seaquest DSV”, portraying the captain.

MICHAEL CRICHTON. The very tall former doctor became a writer of some renown. Dr. Crichton graduated from Harvard “Summa Cum Larde” and Harvard Medical School. “Andromeda Strain” was published while he was still a med student!! Michael taught Anthropology at Cambridge University, and Writing at MIT. In 2002, a prehistoric Ankylosaur was named after him! Crichtonsaurus Bohlini. Let us NOT forget, Dr. Crichton was the creator of the long-running show: “ER”.

The names above were just a few that we lost that year. Many were controversial; others made us laugh or cry with their acting, their music, or their writing.