2010 Necrology - Celebrity Edition PART 2 of 3

Zelda Rubinstein
Born: May 28, 1933 (Pittsburg, PA)
Died: Jan. 27, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 76

She is best remembered as the ghost-hunting psychic from the "Poltergeist" movies of the 1980s. The 4'3" Rubinstein, who preferred the designation "little person", attended the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to work as a blood bank technician. She lived for a number of years in London. Returning to the United States, she made the decision, at age 47, to switch to an acting career. She died of a combination of cardiac and respiratory problems. Of coming to terms with her short stature, she said: "I just decided it was a very interesting variation".

Corey Haim
Born: Dec. 23, 1971 (Toronto, Canada)
Death: Mar. 10, 2010 (Burbank, CA)
Age: 39

Best known for his 1980s Hollywood career as a teen idol. He starred or co-starred in a number of films such as "Lucas", "The Lost Boys", "License to Drive" and "Dream a Little Dream". He also collaborated numerous times with actor Corey Feldman, most notably appearing together on the reality TV show "The Two Coreys", which aired on the A&E Network from 2007 to 2008.

Gary Coleman
Born: Feb. 8, 1968 (Zion, IL)
Died: May 28, 2010 (Provo, Utah)
Age: 42

As a child he appeared in episodes of "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times" before attaining celebrity status as a star of the NBC situation comedy "Diff'rent Strokes", where his character's usual retort to his brother (played by Todd Bridges) "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" became a national catchphrase. He suffered from a congenital kidney disease which halted his growth at an early age, leaving him with a small stature (less than five feet tall) and a childlike appearance even as he grew into adulthood. He underwent two kidney transplants, one in 1973 and one in 1984, and required daily dialysis. Coleman died at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center after being removed from life support following a brain hemorrhage he suffered at his home.

John Forsythe
Born: Jan. 29, 1918 (Penns Grove, NJ)
Died: Apr. 1, 2010
Age: 92

John Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning three decades, as single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the 1950s sitcom Bachelor Father (1957–1962); as the unseen millionaire Charles Townsend on the 1970s crime drama Charlie's Angels (1976–1981), and as ruthless and beloved patriarch Blake Carrington on the 1980s soap opera Dynasty (1981–1989).


Jean Simmons
Born: Jan. 31, 1929 (London, England)
Died: Jan. 22, 2010 (Santa Monica, CA)
Age: 81

A leading lady of captivating beauty, she appeared in British and American motion pictures. During the 1950s and 1960s, she achieved star status with an abundance of memorable roles in such popular pictures as "The Robe" (1953), "Guys and Dolls" (1955), "The Big Country" (1958), "Elmer Gantry" (1960) and "Spartacus" (1960). She received an Emmy for her role in the mini-series "The Thorn Birds". She died from lung cancer. *she was one of my favorite actresses*

Lynn Redgrave, OBE
Born: Mar. 8, 1943 (London, England)
Died: May 2, 2010 (Kent, CT)
Age: 67

She had a long career on stage, television, and film. The child of a distinguished British theatrical family, she was raised within the show-business milieu and studied at the London School of Speech and Drama before making her professional stage debut in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Ill with breast cancer since 2002, Redgrave continued her work on such shows as "Desparate Housewives" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", making her final appearance in "Ugly Betty" (2009). A naturalized American citizen, she was named Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002.

Peter Graves
Born: Mar. 18, 1926 (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Died: Mar. 14, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 84

Peter Aurness participated in athletics and was an accomplished musician before beginning his career as a radio announcer, where he utilized his robust speaking voice. After studying drama at the University of Minnesota, he followed his older brother James Arness into the entertainment industry, when he broke into films with his motion picture debut in "Rogue River" (1951). It would be the role of 'Jim Phelps' on the popular series "Mission: Impossible" (1967 to 1973), for which TV audiences would most identify him with. A later generation would fondly remember him for his comical performance in the movie "Airplane!" (1980), its sequel in 1982, and for his narration work in the "Biography" series with the Arts and Entertainment Network.He died from natural causes.

Patricia Neal
Born: Jan. 20, 1926 (Whitley County, KY)
Died: Aug. 8, 2010 (Dukes County, MA)
Age: 84

Striking, husky-voiced leading lady of stage and screen. She won a Best Actress Academy Award for "Hud" (1963). In 1965 Neal nearly lost her life to a series of crippling strokes, but fought back and triumphantly resumed her career.