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.

Farewell Francis Xavier Pasion

A very sad news for the Pinoy Cinema Community this week. Independent film and television drama director Francis Xavier E. Pasion was found dead in his home in Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City last March 6, 2016. His lifeless body was found by the parents inside the bathroom of Pasion's house. Initial findings by the PNP-Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) showed that Pasion died due to heart attack. The director also reportedly, suffered chest pains. [hit the jump to continue]

Mike Nichols Rests at the Age of 83

Very sad news this week in the world of cinema. Legendary director (behind movies like "The Graduate", "The Birdcage", "Closer", among several others) Mike Nichols has died at the age of 83. Several sources report that Nichols died of a cardiac arrest. The writer-director’s work spanned several decades of movies, television, and Broadway. In the mid 1960s, his feature directing debut "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" revolutionized mature themes and highly relevant topics in cinema. His second film "The Graduate" was a film that transitioned Old Hollywood into New Hollywood. And ever since then, his various works had been great thought-provoking masterpieces. His diversity earned him awards in various fields. He won 8 Tony awards, he won Emmys for "Angels in America" and "Wit", and a Best Director Oscar for "The Graduate". Nichols and fellow University of Chicago student Elaine May became skilled improvisers and the duo’s act eventually resulted in three best-selling comedy albums, one of which won a Grammy.  Although his filmography ended with 2007′s Charlie Wilson’s War, he continued to direct for the stage, and his recent productions included 2012′s Death of a Salesman starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield, and Betrayal starring Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz. He is survived by his wife, ABC News Anchor Diane Sawyer, as well as three children and four grandchildren. The legendary Mike Nichols will live with us through his various masterpieces forever.

Richard Attenborough passes away at 90

Oscar-winning British film director Richard Attenborough has died at the age of 90. He died at lunchtime on Sunday, his son told BBC News. In 2008, Lord Attenborough suffered a stroke that resulted in a coma lasting several days. He had been in a wheelchair following a fall at his home.

Attenborough was one of Britain's leading actors, before becoming a highly successful director. In an impressive career that spanned six decades, he appeared in films including Brighton Rock, The Great Escape and Jurassic Park. He also directed A Bridge Too Far, and Cry Freedom, about the death of South African anti-apartheid campaigner Steven Biko. His later films as director included Chaplin, starring Robert Downey Jr, and Shadowlands, an adaptation of the stage play treating the relationship between Narnia author CS Lewis and Joy Gresham. In 1993, Queen Elizabeth II awarded a life peerage to the British filmmaker. He was the President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Richard Attenborough was an icon who will be remembered.

H.R. Giger passes away at 74

Swiss surrealist artist H.R. Giger who designed the monster and revolutionary sci-fi sets for the film "Alien" has died on Monday May 12, 2014, in Zurich from injuries he obtained after suffering a fall, an employee of the H.R. Giger Museum said, confirming reports in Swiss media.. He was 74. [hit the jump to continue]

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]

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]

Will Philip Seymour Hoffman's death affect The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 2?

As you all know, Philip Seymour Hoffman had tragically passed away.  In addition to leaving behind friends, family, and an astounding body of work, Hoffman was also in the middle of multiple projects.  His half-hour comedy series Happyish had just been ordered to series by Showtime, and he was filming on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.  According to sources close to the production, Hoffman had mostly completed his work as Plutarch Heavensbee on Mockingjay – Part 1, but still had seven days left to film on Mockingjay – Part 2.

We don’t know what scenes he had left to shoot, nor do we know the importance of those scenes to the picture.  In the book, Heavensbee is an important character, but he’s not a major one.  Whatever the case may be, the production has found a way to continue, and Mockingjay – Part 1 and Mockingjay – Part 2 will still meet their original release dates of November 21st and November 20, 2015, respectively.

Fast and Furious 7 Production May Be Scrapped and Start Over in Wake of Paul Walker's Death

When actor Paul Walker tragically died this past weekend, it put the production of James Wan's Fast and Furious 7 in a difficult place. The movie is currently only halfway through production, and Walker's character, Brian O'Conner, plays a crucial role in the plot. Surely the filmmakers and folks over at Universal Pictures have been meeting over the last few days to figure out exactly how to move forward, and while many options are being weighed, according to sources at The Wrap one possibility is that the production will scrap everything that has been done so far and start from scratch. [hit the jump to continue]

Actor Paul Walker dies of Car Accident

Shocking and tragic news to end November; Actor Paul Walker has died in a car accident Saturday afternoon (US time, November 30, 2013). He was 40. Walker was a passenger in a friend's 2005 Porsche Carrera GT and both were attending a charity event for his organization, Reach Out Worldwide, in the community of Valencia in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of Hollywood. The website for the charity said the Saturday event was intended to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
[hit the jump to read more, details of the accident, Walker's career]

Farewell, Tom Clancy

Author Tom Clancy Passes Away at Age 66
Author Tom Clancy has passed away at the age of 66, after a brief illness. The popular writer wrote such bestselling espionage books as The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and The Sum of All Fears, all of which were adapted into highly-successful movies which feature these series' main protagonist Jack Ryan (which were previously portrayed by Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck, and Harrison Ford). This January 2014 we'll be expecting the release of the relaunch/reboot of the film series with a brand new Jack Ryan series with "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit", directed by Kenneth Branagh, and with Chris Pine portraying the title character (the film is released in the US December 25, 2013, but since it will conflict with the MMFF, the release of this movie is automatically moved to January 2014). [hit the jump to continue]

Farewell, Bella Flores

Showbiz's queen villainess Bella Flores died at 84
Bella Flores, the iconic actress known for her villainess roles in movies and in television, died at 1:27 a.m., May 19. She was 84. Flores, whose real name is Remedios Papa Dancel, was declared dead at the Quezon City General Hospital where she was rushed after she complained that she couldn't breathe.

Imelda Papin, a friend of the actress, said that when they rushed Flores to the hospital, the latter was still breathing. Papin said doctors tried but failed to revive Flores three times. Papin said that Flores' daughter Ruby Arcilla called her up to say that her mother's blood pressure had gone down. It was at that point that they rushed the veteran actress to the hospital, but to no avail.

Flores' first movie was Balaraw which was shown in 1950. Her first big break was with Sampaguita Pictures, who gave her a four-year contract and a role in the move Roberta (1951). In the movie, she played the role of a cruel stepmother to then child actors Tessie Agana and Boy Alano. That role set the path and typecasted Flores as villainess in almost all projects she would undertook later on.

Farewell Dolphy Quizon

Dolphy is dead at 83
source: ABS-CBN

Dolphy, dubbed the country’s “King of Comedy,”whose body of work on stage, movies and television mirrors the history of Philippine entertainment, died on Tuesday night. He was 83.

With his lean physique and humble demeanor, Dolphy’s memorable characters, notably as the down-on-his-luck family man John Puruntong in the long-running sitcom “John and Marsha,” effectively captured the travails of the common Filipino who is able to find humor even in the direst situations.

Dolphy died after a five-year battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to his long-time partner, actress and singer Zsa Zsa Padilla.
"We would like to inform the public that Mr. Rodolfo 'Dolphy' Quizon, passed away today, at 8:34 p.m. due to multiple organ failure, secondary to complications brought about by severe pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute renal failure," the Makati Medical Center said in a statement.

"We join the entire Filipino Community in praying for the soul of Mr. Quizon and his dearly beloved family and friends. To the Quizon Family, we extend our deepest condolences," the hospital said.

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.