Posts Tagged ‘death’

David Carradine’s Death May Be Accidental

June 5th, 2009

While early reports out of Thailand, where David Carradine died in his hotel in Bangkok yesterday, indicated that the star committed suicide by hanging, officials are now working with a new theory of accidental asphyxiation or suffocation.

 

The police tell reporters that an auto-erotic sex game might have gone wrong, resulting in David’s nude body being found with cords around his neck and genitals. Officials say they found no evidence of a struggle, which means he may have tied himself up or consented to being tied up.

"It is unclear whether he committed suicide or not or he died of suffocation or heart failure," Lt. Gen. Worapong Chewprecha of the Royal Thai Police told reporters. The results of the autopsy are expected to be released on Saturday.

 

David’s manager adds that his hands were found tied behind his back, TMZ reports.

 

DAVID CARRADINE REMEMBERED:

 

Those close to David have been denying the suicide angle ever since he was found.

"All we can say is, we know David would never have committed suicide," Tiffany Smith, a spokeswoman for Carradine’s agents Binder and Associates, told the Associated Press. "We’re just waiting for them to finish the investigation and find out what really happened. He really appreciated everything life has to give . . . and that’s not something David would ever do to himself."

 

Police haven’t ruled out the possibility of murder, but haven’t found any evidence of anyone else in the room before his death.

 

Though he’d worked on dozens of films and TV shows, Carradine is perhaps best known for his role in ’70s martial arts series Kung Fu and its ’90s reincarnation Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. More recently, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for playing the title role in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill movies.

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Martha Plimpton on David Carradine’s Passing

June 4th, 2009

In light of actor David Carradine’s untimely passing at the age of 72 today in Bangkok, Thailand, his niece, actress Martha Plimpton has released a statement on behalf of their family.

 

"My Uncle David was a brilliantly talented, fiercely intelligent and generous man. He was the nexus of our family in so many ways, and drew us together over the years and kept us connected. I adored him as a child, and as an adult I admired and respected him," she writes.

 

"We will all miss him terribly, and are so grateful for everyone’s condolences. The passing of someone so loved is extremely difficult under any circumstances, and I hope that all those in the media who admired David will respect his legacy and allow his family and loved ones to grieve peacefully."

 

DAVID CARRADINE REMEMBERED:

 

Carradine worked on dozens of films and TV shows, but perhaps was best known for his role in ’70s martial arts series Kung Fu and its ’90s reincarnation Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. More recently, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for playing the title role in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill movies.

 

The cause of death has not been officially announced, but after unconfirmed reports out of Thailand claimed the actor committed suicide by hanging himself, his rep told the media, "We can confirm 100 percent that he never would have committed suicide. It was an accidental death. Everybody is in shock."

Jade Goody Tributes Pour In

March 23rd, 2009

Celebrities, fans, politicians and friends are paying tribute to Jade Goody today.
The brave reality TV star lost her fight with cancer yesterday and tributes have since flooded in from all over the world – with mourners already gathering at her house in Essex, England to leave flowers.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown led the messages of condolence, saying: “She was a courageous woman both in life and death and the whole country have admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children. She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her.”

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, who shared the Big Brother house with Jade, said she was “deeply saddened” by her death, adding: “I am glad Jade is out of pain and that she died peacefully with her family around her.”

 

MORE JADE GOODY PICS:

 

 

Model and presenter Danielle Lloyd, who also shared the house with Jade, said: “I have been praying for a miracle these past few weeks and now she has been tragically taken away from us. I know that her boys will grow up to be great men and do their mum proud.”

Journalist Carole Malone, also a contestant, wrote: “Jade Goody showed the world that just because someone has a disastrous start in life, just because they grow up with no money and no hope - don’t dare write them off.”

Big Brother producer Phil Edgar-Jones said Goody “touched a lot of people because she was very real."

Jade’s husband Jack Tweed and her mother Jackiey Budden were by her side when she died in the early hours of Mother’s Day. She was 27 years old.

On Twitter actor Stephen Fry called her “a kind of Princess D from the wrong side of the tracks."

Prince Azim, the son of the Sultan of Brunei, had struck up an unexpected friendship with Jade and said: “Jade was a warm and lovely lady. My condolences to Jack and her family.”

CLICK HERE for OK!’s Jade Goody gallery

 

Jade’s battle with cancer is thought to have saved thousands of lives as the number in smear tests dramatically rose when she went public with the disease.

The Rev. Jonathan Blake, who officiated at Jade and Jack’s wedding, called the bride “a saint from Upshire and a princess from Bermondsey” who had “laughed in the face of death and given us a completely different approach to the way we deal with cancer."

Mourners arrived at Jade’s house within minutes of the news of her death breaking, leaving floral tributes at the gates of her home.

Marjorie Loftus, 78, from Barnet, north London, left a card which read: “You may not have known where East Anglia was but you knew the way to our hearts.”

She said: “It seems to me that Jade Goody has saved hundreds of lives because of the publicity her cancer has had, who would have thought that?”

 

 

Friends & Family Attend Wake for Natasha Richardson

March 20th, 2009

Friends and family held a wake for the late Natasha Richardson on Friday in NYC.

ABC News is reporting that a hearse carrying the 45-year-old Broadway star’s body arrived at the American Irish Historical Society earlier today. The late actress’s husband Liam Neeson, and their two sons arrived shortly after. Richardson’s mother Vanessa Redgrave and sister, Joely Richardson also attended.

Celebrities including Uma Thurman, Lauren Bacall and Diane Sawyer attended the wake as well.

Richardson’s body was moved to the society this morning from the Greenwich Village Funeral Home in Manhattan. Richardson will be buried Sunday during a private funeral service in Millbrook, NY, where she belonged to St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.

Jade’s Early Mother’s Day

March 18th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

Sons gathering around their moms on Mother’s Day is a common and much-loved family tradition.

Jade Goody, the British reality TV star whose imminent death from cancer has made headlines around the world, enjoyed such a moment after leaving the hospital and going home for her final days.

The boys, Freddy, 4, and Bobby, 5, were taken by their father, Jade’s ex-boyfriend Jeff Brazier, to bring flowers to their mom at home on March 14 as part of an early Mother’s Day party in the UK, a week earlier than the actual day.

When Freddy asked his mom why she looked so drowsy, Jade replied, “Because the angels are calling for Mommy.”
 
Jade, under heavy sedation to handle the pain, struggled to stay awake during her sons’ visit.

Jade’s publicist, Max Clifford, said, “She was aware of them for a brief moment or two. She saw them and she smiled. She has put her house in order and faced up to everything in an incredibly brave way.”

OK!’S EXCLUSIVE JADE PHOTOS:
<a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/1" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23720.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/2" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23719.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/3" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23718.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/4" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23716.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/5" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23715.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a>
<a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/6" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23714.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/7" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23713.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/8" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23712.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/9" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23711.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/12587/10" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/23710.gif" width="74" height="100"/></a>

Jade, 27, had discharged herself from the London hospital a few days before so she could be more comfortable for her final moments.

The former dental nurse was brought home from the Royal Marsden Hospital dressed in pajamas, wrapped in blankets and accompanied by two nurses.

Her husband, Jack Tweed, 21, was by her side for the journey. Clifford said, “It means so much to her to be close to the boys. Home is where she wants to be.”

While at home, Jade, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer last August, has been planning her funeral. It will be held at the church of St. John the Baptist, Buckhurst Hill near her home in Essex and will be broadcast on jumbo TV screens outside the church.

“The funeral will be a celebration of Jade’s life, a reflection of how she’s lived the last seven years,” added Clifford.

“She wants to spend as much time as she can with Jack and the boys,” Clifford explained. “If they can train the local nurses, they will keep her pain free by topping up the epidural.”

He added that Jade, whose cancer has spread to her liver, groin and bowel, wanted to be “at home surrounded by love — and having as many kisses and cuddles from the boys as she can get before she goes.”

Heath Ledger Snubbed at SAG Awards?

January 26th, 2009

One might think that the entertainment community would be unable to ignore the death of Heath Ledger – and they’d be right.

Despite fan protests online after the Dark Knight actor’s passing wasn’t included during the Screen Actors Guild Awards’ In Memoriam piece, Heath wasn’t snubbed – his death was marked during last year’s awards tribute.

Heath, who won Best Supporting Actor at last night’s SAG Awards for his brilliantly creepy portrayal of the Joker, died just before last year’s awards and was added at the last minute to the tribute reel.

"The unfortunate news of Heath Ledger’s death came just prior to the 14th Annual SAG Awards last year. Deeply saddened at the news, we included Mr. Ledger in last year’s memorial package," said SAG publicist Rosalind Jarrett.

Three Arrested in Travolta Extortion Case

January 23rd, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

Police in the Bahamas have arrested three suspects they say are connected to an alleged $20 million extortion plot against John Travolta and his family.

According to TMZ, Obie Wilchcombe, the former minister of Tourism, was one of the three people taken into custody. Wilchcombe was a very close friend of the Travolta family and even spoke about how they were coping with Jett’s death on Larry King Live.

Even more unsettling, Wilchcombe told reporters just yesterday, "I thought it was a despicable act. One person should not destroy the character of the country."

 

On Larry King’s show, Wilchcombe revealed intimate details about the funeral home and Jett’s cremation. He said no politician was involved in the plot and there was only one suspect behind it. However two of the three people arrested were politicians–Wilchcombe, a senator in Parliament named Pleasant Bridgewater and an ambulance driver.

Wilchcombe is a current member of Parliament.

Paula Abdul’s Stalker Overdosed

January 20th, 2009

A coroner has confirmed that Paula Abdul’s stalker died from a drug overdose.

TMZ reports that L.A.’s Assistant Chief of Coroner says Paula Goodspeed–who was found dead in her car outside of Paula’s home in November–committed suicide by ingesting prescription drugs.

No word yet on what drugs Goodspeed took. Abdul revealed recently that Goodspeed had been stalking her for 17 years and had attempted to take her own life once before.

Of the tragedy, Paula said last month, “It was extremely tragic. I was at the Kodak Theater doing Hollywood Week for American Idol when it happened. It was devastating and tragic, and there aren’t enough feelings that I can articulate without getting into a whole plethora of things.”

Heath Ledger’s Friends Get Candid

January 16th, 2009

Jan. 22 will mark the one year anniversary of Heath Ledger’s death from an accidental overdose of prescription medications. To memorialize their friend, the late actor’s closest friends are finally speaking up about him.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ledger’s pals open up about his last days, how he was as a father to Matilda and his fear of fame.

"I haven’t talked about it until now. I’m really nervous," says Wes Bentley, one of Heath’s closest friends. The two co-starred in 2002’s The Four Feathers. "Heath’s fun clouded it’s way through a room. It was infectious…Some people think he’d party too much and take drugs. That wasn’t the case. It was young energy. He was high off life."

Heath’s c0-star in 10 Things I Hate About You, Julia Stiles, recalls the actor’s aversion to becoming Hollywood’s "it-boy."

"Heath always seemed so mature," she says. "I got the sense that he was averse to becoming any kind of teen idol. I think he felt like 10 Things had more substance, but he anticipated that if he did more movies like this, he’d get stuck doing teen romantic comedies."

Skip ahead to 2007–Heath had scored big with his controversial and acclaimed role as a gay cowboy in BrokeBack Mountain, he’d met, fallen in love and become engaged to his co-star in the film, Michelle Williams and the two now had a daughter, Matilda.

It was during this time, when his relationship with Williams began to fall apart, that friends say they became worried about the actor.

"All of us who were close to Heath knew what was going on, and it was not the most pleasant experience," says Terry Gilliam, who directed Heath in Brothers Grimm. "He was obsessed with his daughter. She became the center of his thoughts. The insomnia was really getting to him. He’d arrive in the morning looking really shattered. I’d say, ‘Let’s take it easy because you’re knackered.’ And he’d say, ‘No, let’s go.’"

Director Catherine Hardwicke adds, "The pressure he was under, with his family, his daughter, everything, would stress out any yogi," she say. "You’re being buffeted and pulled and tempted and flown across the ocean back and forth–how does anybody survive that? Obviously a lot of people don’t."

 

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