Saluting Icons
Three icons, important especially to baby-boomers, passed away yesterday. Ladies first:
RIP Honor Blackman, 94, who thrilled young males as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger (1964). She’d done a lot before that, and even more after. There are 115 titles under her name at IMDb. She was the original sidekick of John Steed in The Avengers. She did a four episode arc of Dr. Who. She matched wits with Columbo in an episode set in London, and with the crew of Brit mystery series New Tricks. She was perfectly cast as Hera, queen of the gods, in Jason and Argonauts (1963). Her character was aboard the Titanic in A Night to Remember (1958). She played the blind heroine of Wait Until Dark on the London stage. She sang in productions of A Little Night Music, The Sound of Music, On Your Toes, and Nunsense. She studied judo extensively and was so proficient she did many of her own stunts. She is mentioned fondly at the end of one of my novels, Killing. Here’s a telling quote from her: “Most of the Bond girls have been bimbos. I have never been a bimbo.” Awesome, madam. Thank you. Here she is in the role for which she will be remembered most:
RIP TV icon James Drury, 84, a small screen mainstay who was especially at home in westerns, although he was born in NYC, his dad an NYU professor. He played the eponymous character in 249 episodes of The Virginian. There are 71 other titles under his name at IMDb. He made guest appearances on many popular series before and after his breakout success as a series star. In 1966 he fronted a band, the Wilshire Buffalo Hunters, that toured Vietnam for three weeks as part of the USO. He also was a successful businessman, co-owner of a ranch raising Appaloosa horses, his mount on The Virginian; as proprietor of a company recycling asphalt; and in the oil and gas industry. He was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Appropriately, he voiced a series of novels by acclaimed western author Kirby Jonas for a books-on-tape company. Of the role for which he will always be remembered, he said: “Nobody knows the name of my character. Not even me.” Well done, sir. Thank you.
RIP MLB legend Al Kaline, 85. He played all 22 of his seasons with the Detroit Tigers, and had 3007 hits, 399 homers, and a career batting average of .297. The stellar rightfielder was named to 18 AL All-Star teams, earned 10 Gold Glove awards, won the 1955 batting title and was a member of the 1968 world champions. He batted .397 in the series. After retiring in 1974, he moved to the broadcast booth, where he spent two decades. He was named a special assistant to the franchise in 2002. Well done, sir. Thank you.
I was relieved this morning when I woke without the slight discomfort I’d felt in my chest last night. I don’t know if what I’ve been experiencing is mild symptoms of Corona or simply the nuisances of aging — or reaction to tree pollen. I remind myself that many have not been as fortunate as I… Dr. Oz has been on Sean Hannity’s radio show for several days running immediately after the four o’clock news. He is a proponent of the use of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of Corona. The drug has been around since the 50’s and no one has ever died from it. It is used by those who suffer lupus and rheumatoid arthritis — and so far not one of those people have contracted the virus. Dr. Oz has asked anyone of those who have contracted it to message him.
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