The greatest know-it-all character I remember on TV was Cliff Claven.

One of the stories that goes is John Ratzenberger not making the cut at his audition and just before leaving asked if the show had cast a know-it-all character. The producers liked the idea, decided to hire Ratzenberger, and Cliff was born.

MRI pioneer and Nobel laureate Sir Peter Mansfield dies at 93

From above link:


Sir Peter Mansfield led a team in the 1970s that developed Magnetic Resonance Imaging, one of the most important breakthroughs in modern medicine.

The son of a gas fitter, he left school at the age of 15 before embarking on a career at the University of Nottingham.

Vice-chancellor Professor Sir David Greenaway said his work "changed our world for the better".

RIP Al Jarreau. His ex-wife was a work associate of my Dad's at one point.

Pro Wrasslers are dropping like flies this week

RIP George "The Animal" Steele
RIP Ivan "The Russian Bear" Kolaff

I watched both of these guys a lot back when I was into pro wrestling.

my wrasslin' interest period was in the mid to late 80's when both the animal and the russian bear were in their heyday (maybe koloff was at the end of his heyday). superfly snuka was also in his prime at that time.
at first glance it wouldn't be that surprising that many of the 80s greats have passed because that's the way age, steroids and drugs go...but there seems to be a large percentage that have passed at a very young age.

Andre - 46
Macho Man - 58
Miss Elizabeth - 42
Jimmy Snuka - 73
Roddy Piper - 61
pretty much all of the Von Erichs
Kevin Von Erich - 59
David Von Erich - 25
Kerry Von Erich - 33
Mike Von Erich - 23
Chris Von Erich - 21
Big John Studd - 47
Rick Rude - 40
Ultimate Warrior - 54
Bam Bam Bigelow - 45
Big Boss Man - 41
British Bulldog/Davey Boy Smith - 39
Playboy Buddy Rose - 56
Buzz Sawyer - 33
Chris Benoit - 40
Dr. Death Steve Williams - 49
Junkyard Dog - 45
Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig - 44
Owen Hart - 34
Terry Gordy - 40

You forgot Andrew "Test" don't remember the last name. I think he was still active in the WWE at the time.

Clyde Stubblefield

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...-at-73-w467805

RIP, Clyde. This guy was the very definition of funk.

probably the most sampled drum riff of all time (and he didn't get paid a dime)

Self-described James Joyce popularizer, Frank Delaney, dead at Danbury, Connecticut at age 74, on February 21, 2017. He wrote at least two books assisting in understanding Joyce and did a popular podcast on Ulysses.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/a...e=sectionfront

Wow, great obit. I wish I had heard of this guy sooner. I'm a big Ulysses fan, and have been since being snowbound in a Colorado cabin with my girlfriend when a freak Labor Day storm hit. Somebody had left an unread copy of the book there and we entertained ourselves by reading aloud from it. We gave each of the book's characters their own voice taken from Star Trek characters.

http://people.com/movies/bill-paxton...urgery-age-61/

game over man :-(

That sucks about Bill Paxton. I thought Frailty was awesome, and I liked him in plenty of other things too.

Crazy. His performance in True Lies is comedy gold.

Paxton in One False Move is a truly great performance. RIP. He will be missed.

Oh, that really sucks. One of those actors who's always great in everything he's in.

Yeah Anything he was in was probably better because he was in it.

RIP

I loved him in Aliens. Man I'm annoyed he died.

I'm watching Aliens right now. He's the MVP of the movie. Plays well with every character. He's funny, he's a coward for a few moments, and he goes out like a champ.

Wapner definitely dead. Definitely. RIP

Wapner did not suffer fools lightly.

Paxton, damn 61

Wapner made it to 97. Good job Joe!

Paula Fox, novelist, originally known for writing for young people, died on March 1, 2017, in Brooklyn, NY at age 93. Later, she wrote Desperate People, a novel open to many interpretations and the object of substantial praise. She led an eventful life, see the obituary referenced below or her Wikipedia entry.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/b...=top-news&_r=0

This thread made me realize it's been over a year since David Bowie died