Fox News Co-Founder Ailes Dead at 77

Fox News CEO and Co-Founder Roger Ailes died Thursday morning at 77 years old, the news organization announced.

The network was informed of Ailes’s death by his wife Elizabeth. News anchors struggled to control their emotions as they read a statement written by Ailes’s wife.

“I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning,” the statement said.

“During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions. And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life,” the statement continued.

Ailes spent 20 years as the head of Fox, but he was removed last year amid claims of sexual harassment against him.

(Photo by Sgt. Christopher Tobey: Roger Ailes, president of Fox News and chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group, at the Fox News Headquarters in Times Square, New York, June 14, 2013.)

'Coronation Street' Creator Tony Warren Dies at 79

British writer Tony Warren, who created the long-running soap opera "Coronation Street,'' has died at 79. The show he leaves behind is 56 years old, a national cultural fixture whose fans have included royalty, poets, rappers and millions of TV viewers.

Broadcaster ITV said Wednesday that Warren died Tuesday night, "surrounded by his loving friends,'' after a short illness.

Anthony McVay Simpson — Warren was a stage name — was a 24-year-old actor when he had the idea for a television series set in a working-class street in northwestern England, where he had grown up. He wrote the initial 13-episode run of what was originally called "Florizel Street'' — renamed before it was first broadcast in December 1960.

Some TV executives had their doubts about the program, calling the characters' northern speech "the language of the music halls.'' But its workaday setting, memorable characters, dramatic story lines and tart northern humor was a hit.

"Corrie'' — as it is popularly known — set the model for British TV soaps, which to this day offer grit rather than the gloss of their American counterparts.

"Coronation Street'' still has millions of regular viewers and a surprising range of fans around the world. Prince Charles once made a cameo appearance, and his wife Camilla pulled a pint in fictional pub The Rovers Return during a 2010 visit to the set. The late poet laureate John Betjeman compared "Corrie'' to the novels of Charles Dickens, while Snoop Dogg recorded a message for its 50th anniversary.

For Warren, the show's success had a dark side. He said in a 2010 interview that the pressure of creating it left him addicted to alcohol and morphine for many years.

Warren wrote for the show for many years, and ITV said he remained a consultant on the series until the day he died.

Warren also wrote several novels, other TV shows and the 1960s film "Ferry Cross The Mersey,'' starring the Liverpool band Gerry and the Pacemakers. But nothing else had the impact of "Coronation Street.''

Actress Helen Worth, who has played the often-married, long-suffering Gail McIntyre in the soap since 1974, said Warren was "a genius of our time.''

"He brought real life into our homes for us all to relate to and enjoy. He will, of course, live on forever through 'Coronation Street,''' she said.

Robin Williams Remembered With Heartfelt Accolades

Tributes are pouring in for American actor-comedian Robin Williams, who was found dead of an apparent suicide Monday at his California home. He was 63.

A statement from his publicist said he had been battling depression. Williams' longtime struggle with drugs and alcohol was well-known. Just last month, he admitted himself into a rehabilitation facility to help maintain his sobriety.

During his decades-long career in television and movies, Williams entertained fans of all ages. He won acclaim for numerous films, including Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning, Vietnam and Good Will Hunting, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1998.

President Barack Obama praised Williams as a "one of a kind" performer who touched "every element of the human spirit."

Williams' fellow actors, friends and fans took to Twitter to share their memories. Steve Martin, who co-starred with Williams in Waiting for Godot, wrote that he "could not be more stunned" by the loss, calling Williams a "great talent, acting partner" and a "genuine soul."

Local authorities say they believe Williams killed himself by asphyxia, but the cause of death is still under investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

TV debut

Born in Chicago in 1951, Williams was a stand-up comedian when he made his television debut in the late 1970s, playing an alien in the situation comedy Mork and Mindy.

Williams also acted on Broadway and continued performing stand-up comedy even after becoming a movie star, delighting audiences with his rapid-fire, improvisational routines. 

Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg, who directed Williams in the 1991 film "Hook," described the comedian as "a lightning storm of comic genius."

Outside Williams' home in the town of Tiburon, north of San Francisco, people left flowers, with the entertainer's neighbors praising him for his niceness.

The late actor's wife, Susan Schneider, released a statement saying, "As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."

In addition to his wife, Williams is survived by his three adult children.

Entertainment Pioneer Dick Clark Dies at 82

Dick Clark, entertainment pioneer and television host of American Bandstand, has died at age 82. Publicist Paul Shefrin said Clark suffered a heart attack Wednesday and died at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

He was not a singer or musician, but Dick Clark was one of the most famous names in rock and roll.  In the 1950s and ‘60s his afternoon television show, American Bandstand, was a daily staple for teens across the country and it changed the way Americans listened to pop music.

Born in Mount Vernon, outside of New York City, Clark hit the airwaves before he was even out of high school. His career began in the mailroom of a radio station run by his father and uncle. Before long, he was on the air. He continued to work as a disc jockey through college, and returned to the small, family run station after graduation. One year later, in 1952, he hit the “big time,” moving to  WFIL in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and soon was one of the best known radio DJ’s in town. At that time, WFIL also owned a television station that had an afternoon teen dance show called “Bandstand,” and in a few years Clark became the regular host of that program, too.

In 1957, the ABC television network decided to take “Bandstand” national, after Clark convinced them that a teen dance show would be popular all across the country.

“I was a very young fellow," noted Clark. "That show was getting huge audiences in Philadelphia. Sixty-five percent of the people watched Bandstand when it was in Philadelphia. It wiped out all the competition. I said ‘It doesn’t matter. It isn’t just Philadelphia, this is a universal language. It will work everywhere. Trust us, it will work. Give us five weeks.’  And in August of 1957, they did, and, as they say, the rest is history.”

Renamed American Bandstand, the show became one of TV’s longest running series and was a part of network’s lineup from 1957 to 1987. 

Everyone who was anyone in the pop music business performed on Bandstand, from Jerry Lee Lewis and the Jackson Five to Prince and the Talking Heads. Paul Anka launched his career on American Bandstand in 1957 with the song “Diana.”

“I think Dick has been very massive, in that he was the first and one-of-a kind who allowed all of us that conduit [pipeline] to the public," Anka said. "Who not only was a very viable force then, but stayed contemporary through all of these years and uniquely kept everything that he was about very special.”

His initial television success led Dick Clark to diversify.  He soon moved into the music publishing and record business, which the US government later saw as a possible conflict of interest. At the time, payola, or bribery, was widespread in the music industry, with record companies paying DJ’s to play their records. Clark was a prime target of a Congressional investigation into this illegal activity. He was cleared of any suspicions, but was required by ABC to sell his publishing and recording companies in order to keep his television show.

Clark moved to Hollywood in 1963, and “American Bandstand” went with him. Soon, he started up Dick Clark Productions and was cranking out hit television programs. Some of the shows were music related, but many were game shows and award shows. He was also an author, leading some to wonder if Clark was a workaholic.

“People say ‘Why do you work so hard? You made enough money to retire on when you were a kid!’  And I say, everybody should be this lucky to live out the fantasy of their youth," Clark said. "I wanted to be in the radio business when I was 13. I started working on it when I was 17, and I don’t want to stop.”

In 1972, Clark became synonymous with one of the biggest party nights of the year, when he launched Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and watching the show every December 31 was soon a yearly tradition for millions and millions of Americans. Clark continued to host the show until 2004, when he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed and struggling to speak. But a year later, Clark was back and even though his speech was, at times, still difficult to understand, many praised his bravery, including other stroke victims.

Dick Clark earned countless awards and honors during his long career: he has Emmys, Grammys, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Clark was often teased for his eternally good looks, which earned him the nickname “America’s Oldest Teenager.” He always credited his youthful appearance to good genes, and was quoted as saying “If you want to stay young looking, pick your parents very carefully.”

Tributes Pour in for Late Soul Train Creator

Tributes are pouring in to the late U.S. television host and music promoter Don Cornelius, who was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in his Los Angeles home Wednesday.

Cornelius was the founder of the iconic Soul Train television show that helped introduce African-American music and culture to mainstream America from 1971 to 1993.

Police say the gunshot apparently was self-inflicted. It is not clear why Cornelius would have ended his life, although there have been reports in recent years that his health was failing.

The chairman of Black Entertainment Television, Robert Johnson, called Cornelius an “iconic figure” whose achievement was “nothing short of phenomenal.”

Singing legend Aretha Franklin, who appeared on Soul Train, called Cornelius' death “sad, stunning and downright shocking.” She called it a “huge and momentous loss.”

Composer-producer Quincy Jones said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of his friend and business partner.

Photo by Jen Knoedl. Fans with Don Cornelius at the 40th anniversary of Soul Train, 30 June 2010.

Legendary Soul Train Host Found Dead

U.S. television host and music promoter Don Cornelius has died. For more than 20 years, his iconic show Soul Train helped introduce African-American music stars to mainstream America.

Police say the 75-year-old Cornelius was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in his Los Angeles home. Officials say the wound apparently was self-inflicted.

It is not clear why Cornelius would have ended his life, although there have been reports in recent years that his health was failing.

Tributes quickly poured in to honor the man who brought “soul music” to a mainstream TV audience from 1971 to 1993. Cornelius, a Chicago native, created the show in his hometown, then brought it to Los Angeles. It went on the air nationally a decade before the MTV network.

Singing legend Aretha Franklin, who appeared on Soul Train, called Cornelius' death “sad, stunning and downright shocking.” She called it a “huge and momentous loss.”

Composer-producer Quincy Jones said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of his friend and business partner.

Photo by Jen Knoedl: Don Cornelius at the 40th anniversary of Soul Train, 30 June 2010.

Final Exits, 29-31 October 2011

The English Disc Jockey, Jimmy Savile, as a host of "Top of The Pops" in 1964. Photo courtesy of the BBC.

Obituaries for 29-31 October 2011

29
* Axel Axgil, 96, Danish gay rights activist.
* Robert Lamoureux, 91, French comedian and film director. (French)
* Sakhat Muradov, 79, Russian-born Turkmen politician, Chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan (1992–2001). (Russian)
* Ram Revilla, 22, Filipino actor, shot and stabbed.
* Sir Jimmy Savile, 84, British disc jockey, television presenter (Top of the Pops, Jim'll Fix It) and charity fundraiser.
* K. Suppu, 70, Indian politician.
* Walter Vidarte, 80, Uruguayan actor. (Spanish)
* Tom Watkins, 74, American football player (Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions), after long illness.
* Mano Wijeyeratne, 54, Sri Lankan politician.

30
* Serge Aubry, 69, Canadian ice hockey player (Quebec Nordiques), diabetes. (French)
* Bob Barry, Sr., 80, American sports commentator.
* T. M. Jacob, 61, Indian politician, member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
* Tom Keith, 64, American radio personality (A Prairie Home Companion).
* Phyllis Love, 85, American actress (Friendly Persuasion, The Young Doctors), Alzheimer's disease.
* Giles McCrary, 91, American art collector and museum owner.
* Jiří Winter Neprakta, 87, Czech cartoonist. (Czech)
* Richard Walls, 74, New Zealand politician and businessman, MP for Dunedin North (1975–1978) and Mayor of Dunedin (1989–1995).
* Abbas-Ali Amid Zanjani, 74, Iranian cleric and politician, President of Tehran University (2005–2008), heart failure.

31
* Flórián Albert, Sr., 70, Hungarian footballer, European Footballer of the Year (1967).
* Alberto Anchart, 80, Argentine actor (Venga a bailar el rock), cancer. (Spanish)
* Liz Anderson, 81, American country music singer-songwriter, mother of Lynn Anderson, complications from heart and lung disease.
* Gilbert Cates, 77, American film director and producer (Academy Awards Telecast, Oh, God! Book II).
* James Forrester, 74, American physician and politician, North Carolina State Senator (1990–2011).
* Alfred Hilbe, 83, Liechtenstein politician, Prime Minister (1970–1974). (German)
* Len Killeen, 72, South African rugby league player.
* Jonas Kubilius, 90, Lithuanian mathematician. (Russian)
* Bořivoj Navrátil, 78, Czech actor. (Czech)
* José Reyez Meza, 86, Mexican muralist, stomach cancer. (Spanish)
* Ali Saibou, 71, Nigerien politician, President (1987–1993).

Final Exits, 15-21 October 2011

Pete Rugolo, circa December 1946. (Photograph by William P. Gottlieb, courtesy of United States Library of Congress's Music Division)

Obituaries for 15-21 October 2011

15
* Betty Driver, 91, British singer and actress (Coronation Street), pneumonia.
* Sir Donald Dunstan, 88, Australian military officer, Governor of South Australia (1982–1991).
* Pierre Mamboundou, 65, Gabonese politician, leader of the Union of the Gabonese People (since 1989), heart attack.
* Matthew G. Martínez, 82, American politician, U.S. Representative from California (1982–2001).
* Earl McRae, 69, Canadian journalist (Ottawa Sun), apparent heart attack.
* Sue Mengers, 79, American talent agent, pneumonia
* Franko Strmotić, 67, Croatian actor. (Croatian)

16
* Henry Bathurst, 8th Earl Bathurst, 84, British aristocrat and politician.
* Elouise Cobell, 65, American Native American rights activist.
* Miguel Ángel Granados Chapa, 70, Mexican journalist.
* Rick Huseman, 38, American off-road racer, plane crash.
* Pete Rugolo, 95, Italian-born American film and television composer (Kiss Me Kate, The Fugitive).
* Henning Sjöström, 89, Swedish defense attorney, long illness. (Swedish)
* Elisabeth Tankeu, 67, Cameroonian politician, Minister for Planning and Regional Development (1988–1992).
* Dan Wheldon, 33, British IndyCar driver, racing accident.
* Don Williams, 80, American baseball player (Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Athletics).

17
* Barney Danson, 90, Canadian politician, MP for York North (1968–1979), Minister of National Defence (1976–1979).
* Manfred Gerlach, 83, German politician, last Chairman of the State Council of East Germany (1989–1990).
* Poul Glargaard, 69, Danish actor. (Danish)
* Osvaldo Guidi, 47, Argentine actor, suicide by hanging. (Spanish)
* Carl Lindner, Jr., 92, American businessman (United Dairy Farmers, Cincinnati Reds), cardiac arrest.
* Elaine Nile, 75, Australian politician, member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (1988–2002), cancer.
* Piri Thomas, 83, American writer (Down These Mean Streets) and poet, pneumonia.

18
* Bob Brunning, 68, British blues musician (Fleetwood Mac), heart attack.
* George Chaloupka, 79, Czech-born Australian historian of indigenous art.
* Mofya Chisgena, 28, Zambian pageant winner, complications from childbirth.
* Ramaz Chkhikvadze, 83, Georgian actor, People's Artist of the USSR, long illness.
* Norman Corwin, 101, American radio writer, director and producer.
* Paul Everac, 87, Romanian writer, cancer. (Romanian)
* Tommy Grant, 76, Canadian football player (Hamilton Tiger-Cats).
* Kent Hull, 50, American football player (Buffalo Bills), liver disease.
* Friedrich Kittler, 68, German literary scholar and media theorist. (German)
* Merritt Ranew, 73, American baseball player (Chicago Cubs)
* Lee Soo-Chul, 45, South Korean football manager, suicide.
* Michael Staikos, 65, Greek-born Austrian Orthodox hierarch, Metropolitan of Austria (since 1991). (German)
* Jacques Thuillier, 83, French art historian. (French)
* Andrea Zanzotto, 90, Italian poet. (Italian)

19
* Édison Chará, 31, Colombian footballer.
* Earl Gilliam, 81, American blues pianist, lung disease.
* Ken Meyerson, 47, American tennis agent.
* Bohdan Osadchuk, 91, Ukrainian historian and journalist. (Polish)
* Hollis E. Roberts, 68, American politician, Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (1978–1997).
* Keith Williams, 82, Australian property developer (Hamilton Island, Sea World), stroke.

20
* John Bosco Manat Chuabsamai, 75, Thai Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Ratchaburi (1985–2003).
* Barry Feinstein, 80, American photographer and photo journalist.
* Moatassem Gaddafi 34, Libyan Army officer, fifth son of Muammar Gaddafi, shot.
* Muammar Gaddafi, 69, Libyan leader (1969–2011), shot.
* Gale Gillingham, 67, American football player (Green Bay Packers).
* Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabr, 59, Libyan defence minister, shot.
* Dennis Hall, 54, American cinematographer (Franklin & Bash, Burn Notice), heart attack.
* Robert Hunter, 36, Australian rapper, cancer.
* Sue Lloyd, 72, British actress (The Ipcress File, Crossroads).
* Iztok Puc, 45, Slovenian handball player, lung cancer.
* Abdullah Senussi, 61, Sudanese-born Libyan intelligence chief, shot. (death reported on this date)
* Morris Tabaksblat, 74, Dutch Former CEO of Unilever. (Dutch)
* Roger Tallon, 82, French industrial designer. (French)

21
* Rudolph Byrd, 58, American academic, multiple myeloma.
* George Daniels, 85, English horologist.
* Thomas Dillon, 61, American serial killer.
* Freddie Ferrara, American rhythm and blues singer (The Del-Satins, The Brooklyn Bridge), cardiac arrest.
* Yann Fouéré, 101, French Breton nationalist. (French)
* Anis Mansour, 86, Egyptian writer and columnist, pneumonia.
* Tone Pavček, 83, Slovenian author and translator.
* Edmundo Ros, 100, Trinidadian bandleader.
* Wang Yue, 2, Chinese hit-and-run victim.
* Scott White, 41, American politician, member of the Washington House of Representatives (2009–2011) and State Senator (since 2011).

Final Exits, 15-21 August 2011

Gun Hägglund (March 2, 1932 – August 19, 2011), Swedish television host and translator. Hägglund is sometimes recognized as the first female television news anchor in the world, hosting the Swedish national evening news show Aktuellt in 1958. Source: Filmarkivet.

Obituaries for 15-21 August 2011

15
* Ralph D. Albertazzie, 88, American pilot (Air Force One) and writer.
* Vasilis Andreopoulos, 88, Greek actor and author. (Greek)
* Russell Armstrong, 47, American investment banker and venture capitalist, television personality (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), suicide by hanging.
* Nenad Bijedić, 51, Bosnian football manager, cancer. (Turkish)
* Pap Dean, 95, American political cartoonist.
* Mark Fowler, 35, British kickboxer, head injuries.
* Michael Legat, 88, British author and publisher.
* Peter Mair, 60, Irish political scientist.
* Solomon Mujuru, 62, Zimbabwean military officer and politician, injuries from a fire.
* Hugo Perié, 67, Argentine politician, MP (since 2003), Montoneros militant, lung disease. (Spanish)
* Sif Ruud, 95, Swedish actress. (Swedish)
* Rick Rypien, 27, Canadian ice hockey player (Vancouver Canucks), suicide.
* Tōru Shōriki, 92, Japanese baseball team owner (Tokyo Giants), sepsis. (Japanese)
* Betty Thatcher, 67, British lyricist (Renaissance), cancer.

16
* Andrej Bajuk, 67, Slovenian politician and economist, Prime Minister (2000), stroke.
* Mihri Belli, 96, Turkish politician and writer, respiratory failure. (Turkish)
* Creed Black, 86, American newspaper publisher (Lexington Herald-Leader).
* Huw Ceredig, 69, Welsh actor.
* Joel Chin, 35, Jamaican record producer, shot.
* Akiko Futaba, 96, Japanese ryūkōka singer. (Japanese)
* Kampane, 33, American rapper, shot.
* Ahmet Kıbıl, 58, Turkish Olympic alpine skier. (Turkish)
* Frank Munro, 63, Scottish footballer (Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.), heart attack.
* Pete Pihos, 87, American Hall of Fame football player (Philadelphia Eagles), Alzheimer's disease.
* Ramesh Saxena, 66, Indian cricketer, brain haemorrhage.
* Aud Talle, Norwegian social anthropologist.
* Bernard William Schmitt, 82, American Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston (1989–2004).

17
* Augustus Aikhomu, 72, Nigerian admiral and politician, Vice President (1986–1993).
* Claudio Castiglioni, 64, Italian motorcycle entrepreneur (MV Agusta, Cagiva, Ducati, Husqvarna).
* Vasyl Dzharty, 53, Ukrainian politician, Prime Minister of Crimea (since 2010), cancer.
* Gualtiero Jacopetti, 91, Italian documentary film director. (Italian)
* Larry Johnson, 78, American radio personality, pneumonia.
* Michel Mohrt, 97, French writer, member of the Académie française (since 1985). (French)
* Pierre Quinon, 49, French pole vaulter and Olympic champion, suicide.
* Firmin Van Kerrebroeck, 88, Belgian professional cyclo-cross racer. (Dutch)
* Nikita Yemshanov, 28, Russian actor, car accident.

18
* John Abley, 81, Australian football player, cardiac arrest.
* Kamal al-Nairab, 45, Palestinian militant commander (Popular Resistance Committee), air strike.
* Samir Chanda, 51, Indian art film director, cardiac arrest.
* Simon De Jong, 69, Canadian politician, MP for Regina East (1979–1988) and Regina—Qu'Appelle (1988–1997), leukemia.
* Immad Hammad, 39, Palestinian militant leader (Popular Resistance Committee), air strike.
* Johnson, 58, Indian film music composer, cardiac arrest.
* Paul Lockyer, 61, Australian journalist, helicopter crash.
* Scotty Robertson, 81, American basketball coach (New Orleans Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons), cancer.
* Anatoly Savchenko, 87, Russian animator. (Russian)
* Jerome J. Shestack, 88, American human rights activist and attorney, President of American Bar Association (1997–1998).
* Jean Tabary, 81, French comic strip artist. (French)
* Edie Wasserman, 95, American philantrophist, wife of Lew Wasserman, natural causes.
* Norm Willey, 83, American football player (Philadelphia Eagles).

19
* Gil Courtemanche, 68, Canadian journalist and novelist (Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali), cancer. (French)
* Gun Hägglund, 79, Swedish television personality, after short illness. (Swedish)
* Janusz Kierzkowski, 64, Polish track cyclist, after long illness. (Polish)
* Manolis Pagomenos, 63, Greek footballer, cancer. (Greek)
* Kerima Polotan Tuvera, 85, Filipino author and journalist.
* Brian Pope, 100, English rugby union player.
* Raúl Ruiz, 70, Chilean film director (Three Lives and Only One Death, Time Regained), pulmonary infection.
* Jimmy Sangster, 83, British director and screenwriter (Hammer Films).
* Vilem Sokol, 96, American conductor and music professor, cancer.
* Yevhen Yevseyev, 24, Ukrainian footballer, car accident.

20
* Reza Badiyi, 81, Iranian-born American television director (Mission: Impossible, The Six Million Dollar Man).
* Ross Barbour, 82 , last founding member of The Four Freshmen, lung cancer.
* Jon Egging, 33, British aviator (Red Arrows), air show crash.
* Rafael Halperin, 87, Israeli businessman and professional wrestler.
* Bryan Jensen, 50, American aviator, air show crash.
* José Eduviges Nava, 56, Mexican politician, Mayor of Zacualpan. (Spanish) (body found on this date)
* Nikos Themelis, 64, Greek author, cancer. (Greek)

21
* Christine Cole Catley, 88, New Zealand journalist, publisher and author, lung cancer.
* Ines Fančović, 86, Croatian actress. (Croatian)
* Sir Donald Farquharson, 83, British jurist.
* Brian Harrison, 89, Australian-born British politician and businessman.
* Budd Hopkins, 80, American artist and UFO researcher, liver cancer.
* John R. Hubbard, 92, American diplomat, President of University of Southern California (1970–1980), United States Ambassador to India (1988–1989).
* John J. Kelley, 80, American long-distance runner, winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon.
* Ezra Sued, 88, Argentine footballer (Racing Club de Avellaneda), infection. (Spanish)
* Muga Takewaki, 67, Japanese actor, cerebrovascular disease. (Japanese)
* Edith Tiempo, 92, Filipino author, National Artist of the Philippines, myocardial infarction.

Top British Sitcom Writer John Sullivan Dies

Top British Sitcom Writer John Sullivan Dies
Saturday, 23 April 2011

British comedy writer John Sullivan, the creator of the much loved Only Fools and Horses television sitcom, has died. He was 64 years old.

British media say Sullivan died Saturday at a hospital in Surrey, south of London, battling viral pneumonia. He leaves behind wife Sharon, three children and two grandchildren.

Sullivan also wrote classics of the 1970s and 1980s including Citizen Smith and Just Good Friends, but it was his work on Only Fools and Horses that made him a much loved writer in television circles.

Actor David Jason, who played Del Boy in the sitcom, said, “Britain has lost the greatest comedy writer, but he also leaves us a great legacy — the gift of laughter.”

BBC Director General Mark Thompson said, “John Sullivan had a unique gift for turning everyday life and characters into unforgettable comedy.”