Jonathan Demme Passes at 73

Legendary filmmaker Jonathan Demme has died at the age of 73. Per IndieWire, the Oscar-winning director passed away from esophageal cancer and complications from heart disease, for which he was originally treated in 2010 and suffered a recurrence in 2015. He is survived by his wife, the artist Joanne Howard, and their three children.

Lauren Bacall passes away at 89

Another sad tragedy in the cinema world has hit us this week. US film and stage actress Lauren Bacall has died at the age of 89. According to reports, she died after suffering a major stroke at home in New York last August 12, 2014.

She first emerged as a leading lady in the Humphrey Bogart film To Have and Have Not (1944) and continued on in the film noir genre, with appearances in Bogart movies The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948), as well as comedic roles in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) with Marilyn Monroe and Designing Woman (1957) with Gregory Peck. Bacall worked on Broadway in musicals, earning Tony Awards for Applause in 1970 and Woman of the Year in 1981. Her performance in the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination.
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James Rebhorn passes at 65

Character actor James Rebhorn has died at the age of 65.  Rebhorn was best known as a character actor who had roles in over 100 films and TV series including Independence Day, Scent of a Woman, The Game, and Meet the Parents.  He could always be counted on to play an arrogant, patriarchal figure, and a memorable one at that.

Most cinephiles probably know his name, but if you went up to the average person today and told them that James Rebhorn had died, they would probably respond, “Who’s that?”  Personally, he was the first “Hey, it’s that guy!” actor whose name I wanted to know because I kept recognizing him in movies.  And I’m sure if you pointed out that Rebhorn was the sniveling advisor from Independence Day or the guy who kept saying “Jesus, Focker!” in Meet the Parents, an average person could recall the face.  If you read this article, I hope you remember his name, because his presence in movies and TV shows will be missed. 

source: Collider

Roldan Aquino passed away at 65

Veteran character actor Roldan Aquino passed away last Tuesday (March 11). His daughter Patricia posted on her Facebook account a photo of his father with the caption, “Goodbye papa tapos na ang paghihirap mo, makakasama mo na si God mahal na mahal kita.” Roldan underwent an operation on January 20, 2014 after suffering a stroke. Roldan was 65.

Roldan has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies since he joined show business in 1965—most notably in late filmmaker Celso Ad. Castillo’s movies: “Burlesk Queen” (1977), “Pikoy Goes to Malaysia” (1988) and “Lihim ni Madonna” (1997). He had been best known in action movies in playing various unforgettable roles, from villains to police chiefs. He last appeared in the TV show “Wagas” and movie “The Fighting Chefs” last year. [hit the jump to continue]

Harold Ramis Passes Away at Age 69

Director, writer, and actor Harold Ramis, best known for his role as Egon Spengler in the Ghostbuster movies, has died at the age of 69.  In the landscape of film comedies, Ramis will be remembered as one of the giants.  He was the first head writer on Second City Television (SCTV) and then went on to pen classic films Animal House and Ghostbusters.  He also wrote and directed the equally beloved Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Groundhog Day (in a world where the Oscars make sense, he won an award for Best Original Screenplay for Groundhog Day).  As an actor, he’ll probably be best remembered as the deadpan Dr. Egon Spengler.  But these are just some of the snapshots of a career that touched many lives and inspired some of today’s biggest comedy directors including Judd Apatow, Jay Roach, and Peter Farrelly.  There’s no way to undersell Ramis’ overall importance to the history of mainstream American comedies. [hit the jump to continue]

Roy Alvarez Passes Away

Another great Filipino actor has died. Roy Alvarez (whose real name was Leandro Delantar Alvarez) passed away Tuesday February 11, 2014, his death was caused by cardiac arrest. Alvarez was 63.

Roy Alvarez is one of the Philippines' greatest character actors, having appeared in various movies and television appearances spanning from the 70's till recently. Not only was he a great actor, he was also a director and scriptwriter for film, television and theater in the Philippines. He is also a lecturer and speaker on Consciousness Development, Inner and Outer Ecology, Healing Mother Earth and Zero Waste Management. He is also a supernatural enthusiast.

Alvarez has appeared in many prominent Filipino movies, such as "Rizal in Dapitan", "Cordora", "Working Girls", and the American TV Mini-Series "A Dangerous Life" alongside Gary Busey and Johnny Delgado. 

Tado Jimenez dies in bus accident

A tragic bus accident has claimed the life of comedian, media personality, social advocate and one of Rock-Ed's most iconic volunteers, Arvin “Tado” Jimenez. Tado was among the 14 people killed when a tourist bus fell into a ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province on Friday, February 7, 2014.

Jimenez previously posted on his Instagram account that he was going on a long trip to Bontoc town in Mountain province. A twitter post said that Tado went to Bontoc for the “40 Mountains Project.”

His nickname "Tado" comes from a Tagalog expletive he frequently blurts out. Tado is primarily known for the offbeat television program Strangebrew and the U92 radio program The BrewRATs!. [hit the jump to continue]

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman found dead

Oscar-winning American actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has been found dead in New York. The 46-year-old was found in his Manhattan apartment. The New York police department says that he may have died from a suspected drugs overdose. Hoffman was always a fascinating screen presence.  In particular, the actor was Paul Thomas Anderson‘s greatest collaborator, from Hard Eight to Boogie Nights to Magnolia to Punch-Drunk Love to, most recently, The Master.  Hoffman recently took on a role in the Hunger Games series, which is currently filming the final chapter, Mockingjay – Part 2.  Hoffman was also set to star in the Showtime series Happyish.[hit the jump to continue]

Farewell, James Gandolfini

James Gandolfini, the US actor best known for his role as a therapy-seeking mob boss in The Sopranos, has died at the age of 51.According to reports, Gandolfini suffered a possible heart attack while on holiday in Rome. According to the TMZ website, New Jersey-born Gandolfini went to Italy to attend a film festival in Sicily.

He won three Emmy awards for his role as Tony Soprano, a mafia boss juggling his criminal career and family life."It is with immense sorrow that we report our client James Gandolfini passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy," said his managers, Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders, in a statement on Wednesday night.
"Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply."
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Farewell Mario O'Hara

Sad news for the Filipino Film Community. Mario O'Hara, one of the country's most respected award-winning Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter passed away at the age of 68, yesterday June 26, 2012.

O'Hara who had been receiving chemotherapy due to cancer, was rushed to the hospital on June 20. On Tuesday, his sister-in-law, Peewee O'Hara, said Mario died at San Juan de Dios hospital due to complications from acute leukemia.O'Hara is known for his sense of realism often with dark but realistic social messages. A native of Zamboanga, he collaborated frequently with Lino Brocka during the 1970s.