Tribute 2016

The film and TV world lost a number of beloved and talented individuals in 2016.  Saying goodbye to these remarkable people is not easy, but here is a gallery of the year's lost.

As always, any omissions are not intentional, and I would welcome comments on your memories of those featured here, or those that I may have inadvertently left out of the gallery.

To all we lost in 2016, Godspeed, and rest in peace.

Sylvia Anderson

Kenny Baker

David Bowie

Michael Cimino

Larry Drake

Fyvush Finkel

Carrie Fisher

Bernard Fox

Ron Glass

John Glenn

Florence Henderson

David Huddleston

Steven Hill

Arthur Hiller

Pat Harrington Jr.

Dan Haggerty

Guy Hamilton

Ken Howard

George Kennedy

George Michael

Noel Neill

Bill Nunn

Jon Polito

Prince

Debbie Reynolds

Alan Rickman

Doris Roberts

Nancy Reagan

Theresa Saldana

William Schallert

Angus Scrimm

Garry Shandling

Gareth Thomas

Alan Thicke

Robert Vaughn

Peter Vaughan

Abe Vigoda

Gene Wilder

Van Williams

Fritz Weaver

Alan Young

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Vilmos Zsigmond

Tribute: Robert Vaughn (1932-2016)

The year 2016 has been a terrible one, for a lot of reasons. And to cap off a week that already caused many Americans unexpected anxiety and grief, 2016 decided to take one more icon away from us: Robert Vaughn.

Mr. Vaughn died at the age of 83 yesterday. He will always be remembered and loved for his portrayal of secret agent Napoleon Solo in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968), a pop culture touchstone of the mid-1960s.

Vaughn's debonair and smooth performances on that series, however, only tell a partial story of the man's Hollywood history.  Vaughn's career on television stretches all the way back to 1955.  He was a regular on many programs, including The Lieutenant (1963-1964), The Protectors (1972-1974), and even the last season of The A-Team (1986-1987).

Mr. Vaughn was also a frequent guest star on cult-tv programs. He appeared in an episode of Boris Karloff's Thriller (1961) called "The Ordeal of Dr. Cordell," an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents in1959 -- called "Dry Run" -- and even an episode of Men into Space (1960) called "Moon Cloud."

His film career was illustrious too. Vaughn was unforgettable in The Magnificent Seven (1964), and in The Mind of Mr. Soames (1970).  He also appeared in such genre films as Starship Invasions (1977), Battle Beyond the Stars (1980), Hangar 18 (1980), and Superman III (1983).

Robert Vaughn was TV's handsome, witty version of James Bond to a whole generation of fans, and yet a lot more than that too. His fine work in film and television shall be remembered, and he shall be missed.  

Tribute: Michael Cimino (1939-2016)

The press reported yesterday the passing of Hollywood legend and Academy-award winning director Michael Cimino (1939-2016).

Cimino -- a dazzling visualist -- directed eight feature films in his career.  

Among these are the Oscar-winner The Deer Hunter (1978), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), Year of the Dragon (1985) and The Sicilian (1987).

But Cimino is remembered, primarily, for one of the most notorious box office bombs in movie history: Heaven's Gate (1980).  

That film bankrupted United Artists, and transformed a promising directorial career into, essentially, a meme regarding catastrophic failure. 

To this day, deeply troubled productions are referred to as a new Heaven's Gate.

Cimino was a controversial creative figure to both critics and co-workers, and yet it seems patently unfair to paint the man's career with just one brush: expensive failure.  

To this day, Cimino's films -- even Heaven's Gate -- remain challenging, and visually remarkable. They often gazed at the angst surrounding the American psyche, and tread into uncomfortable territory. 

I hope that the filmmaker's death will prove an opportunity to focus the attention of film scholars and film lovers on Cimino's work -- and an honest evaluation of his art -- rather than simply rehashing stories about lost money, or the man's singular personality.

Rest in peace, Michael Cimino.

Tribute: Alan Rickman (1946 - 2016)

We have lost another great talent in the world of film (and indeed, theater), today.  

The media is now reporting the death of Alan Rickman (1946-2016).  Like David Bowie before him, cancer took Mr. Rickman from us.

Although my son's generation will immediately think of Mr. Rickman's many performances as Snape in the Harry Potter film franchise (2001 - 2011), my generation will be reminded instead, of another role: Hans Gruber. 

Rickman played this most extraordinary thief in Die Hard (1988), and it's the film that made a name for him in Hollywood.  

In a sense, Rickman redefined the action movie villain with this trademark role. Gruber was a fully developed bad guy Thanks in large part to Rickman's efforts, Gruber revealed a sense of humor, rage, irritation and other recognizable human qualities at the same time that he exuded menace. Rickman's Gruber was a perfect foil for John McClane, and the Die Hard franchise has yet to produce a villain (a villainous performance) that is of equal substance.

Rickman brought his considerable wit and skill to other villainous roles, like that of the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), or the interrogator in Closet Land (1991).  

But to simply pigeonhole this great actor as an essayer of memorable "bad guys" does him a great disservice.

Rickman also starred as the acerbic, put-upon Voice of God, Metatron, in Kevin Smith's Dogma (1999), and as the Leonard-Nimoy-like actor saddled with a science fiction role no one will ever forget, in Galaxy Quest (1999). He also appeared in Sweeney Todd (2007) and contributed his unmistakable voice to such efforts as Alice in Wonderland (2010).

Beyond these roles, Rickman's performances in Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Love Actually (2003) showcased his versatility, humanity, and dedication to his craft.

I offer my condolences to Mr. Rickman's family, and mourn his loss today. His work and his life shall not be forgotten.