Herb Lazarus, Veteran TV Distribution Executive, Dies at 88

Bill Saluga, whose trademark lines that began with “You can call me Ray” cracked up a generation of comedy fans, died in Los Angeles on March 28, according to his friend, Eric Brenner.

Veteran reporter Tony Valdez, who covered Los Angeles for more than 30 years for the Fox 11 television station, has died at 78. His son confirmed the death and said his father had been battling end-stage kidney failure before dying at home on Friday morning.

A former Los Angeles television news producer was indicted today on federal charges alleging he distributed more than 100 videos and images of child pornography online.

Fans have been paying tribute to M*A*S*H star Eileen Saki in the wake of the news of her death at the age of 79. Eileen died on Monday, May 1, in Los Angeles after a reported battle with cancer. She was best known for starring as Rosie in the hit American comedy series, and was the longest running actress to star as the role.

McKinley Franklin editor Eileen Saki, known for her role as bar owner Rosie in “M*A*S*H,” died on Monday in Los Angeles after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 79. Saki’s rep confirmed her death to Variety. The actor was featured on nine episodes of “M*A*S*H,” the television series based on the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital that cared for patients during the Korean War. The TV series aired from 1972 to 1983.  Saki played the role of Rosie, the local bar owner of “Rosie’s Bar.” She was the third actor to take over the role and the longest to do so. Her career in acting continued on with roles featured in other projects such as Dr. Fujimoto in the 1984 film “Splash” with Tom Hanks, “CHiPs” and “History of the World: Part I.” 

Eileen Saki, who appeared in several iconic late-’70s television shows and for years played the owner of Rose’s Bar on “M*A*S*H,” has died, her rep confirmed Tuesday. She was 79.Saki, who was born and raised in Japan, “passed away peacefully in Los Angeles yesterday, May 1,” her rep Camilla Pines told TheWrap on Tuesday.

Gordon Lightfoot, the honey-voiced Canadian singer-songwriter who had giant U.S. hits with “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” died today at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. He was 84.

Rapper MoneySign Suede has died after he was stabbed in a shower at a California prison, authorities and his attorney said. Jaime Brugada Valdez, 22, of Huntington Park, was found in the shower area of the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad shortly before 10 p.m.Tuesday, according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Katherine Tulich Australian music legend Colin Hay, who was part of 1980s hitmakers Men At Work (“Down Under”) was Thursday awarded the honorary Ted Albert Award for outstanding services to Australian music at the 2023 APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Music Awards held in Sydney. The annual awards recognize song-writing, sales and airplay performances. The award, named after music producer behind The Easybeats and AC/DC, was shared with the late trailblazing tour promoter Colleen Ironside who set the groundwork for a Pan-Asian touring network and produced scores of tours in the region. Hay who has based himself as a solo artist in Los Angeles after Men at Work split in 1986, was in attendance and was feted with video tributes from friends, actor Zach Braff and Ringo Starr.

Keke Palmer is sharing her advice for her fellow new moms.

Robert Patrick, a pioneering playwright in the Off Off Broadway movement who later won wider acclaim for the 1975 Broadway staging of his play Kennedy’s Children, died in his sleep at home in Los Angeles on Sunday, April 23. He was 85.

Duane Earl Poole, a writer and producer for Aaron Spelling, Hanna-Barbera and Sid & Marty Krofft whose credits include Hart To Hart, The Love Boat, The Smurfs and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, died of cancer on April 1 in Studio City, CA. He was 74.

Two-term Mayor of Los Angeles Richard Riordan “passed peacefully this evening at his home in Brentwood, surrounded by his wife Elizabeth, family, friends and precious pet dogs,” according to a family statement released Wednesday night. He was 92.

The official trailer has dropped for “Fast X”, giving fans an extended sneak peek at the long-awaited 10th film in “The Fast Saga”.

McKinley Franklin editor Duane Earl Poole, writer of “Hart to Hart,” died on April 1 due to cancer. He was 74. Poole worked under Aaron Spelling’s team of writers and producers on television programs including “Hart to Hart,” “The Love Boat,” “Lottery!,” “Glitter” and “Hotel.” He also worked with Hanna-Barbera’s production team alongside Sid and Marty Kroft, where he contributed to children’s programs such as “The Great Grape Ape,” “A Flintstones Christmas,” “The Smurfs,” “Electra Woman and Dyna Girl,” “Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and “C.H.O.M.P.S.”

Blair Tindall, the concert oboist whose 2005 memoir Mozart In The Jungle was adapted into a hit 2014 comedy-drama series on Amazon Prime, died of heart disease in Los Angeles on April 12. She was 63.

Anne Perry, whose crime writing was shadowed by her role in a murder that was spotlighted in Peter Jackson’s 1994 film, Heavenly Creatures, has died at 84.

Charna Flam Entertainment reporter Francesca Cappucci died on March 30 in Pasadena, after a nine-month battle with stage four metastatic lung cancer. She was 64. Known for her entertainment and music reporting at KABC-TV in Los Angeles, Cappucci’s death was announced on Legacy.com. The reporter also inspired filmmaker Quentin Tarantino to name a “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood” character, the Italian movie star wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton, after her. Cappucci began her career in public affairs, making public service announcements for the KIQQ radio station (K-100). Eventually, she joined Jay Coffey for KIQQ’s morning drive show, and throughout her time, Cappucci gained fans all over Los Angeles.

Francesca Cappucci, a former Los Angeles music and entertainment reporter for KABC-TV and a popular morning drive radio host at KIQQ, died of cancer March 30. She was 64.

McKinley Franklin author David Finfer, the Academy Award-nominated film editor of “The Fugitive,” died on Monday following complications that resulted from a heart attack. He was 80. Finfer was nominated for the Oscar as well as the American Cinema Editors and BAFTA awards for editing the 1993 film “The Fugitive,” which starred Harrison Ford. He worked with Albert Brooks on several movies including “Real Life,” “”Lost in America,” “Modern Romance” and “Defending Your Life.” Finfer’s career as a film editor took off with his first feature credit on “Ya Gotta Walk it like You Talk it or You’ll Lose that Beat.” He continued to work on a number of comedy and teen/family movies including “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion,” “Snow Day,” “Waiting…” and “The Tooth Fairy.”