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.”

Jazz Great George Shearing Dies at 91

George Shearing: Swing Era (Photo: Idem)

Jazz Great George Shearing Dies at 91
Monday, 14 February 2011

Legendary jazz pianist and composer George Shearing has died. He was 91.

Shearing succumbed to congestive heart failure in New York on Monday.

Born blind in London in 1919, he began playing the piano at the age of three. He was already popular in England when he decided to emigrate to the United States in 1947 where he embarked on an extraordinary career.

Shearing wrote more than 300 compositions. But he is probably best known for the 1952 classic Lullaby of Birdland .

Shearing received numerous awards during his six-decade career, including a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 for his contribution to music.