The owner of the most famous blue eyes in movie history, film icon and humanitarian Paul Newman has died at his home in Bridgeport, Connecticut after a long battle with cancer, with his wife Joanne and his family by his side. He was 83 years old.

He is remembered for an astonishing list of brilliant performances in major Hollywood films, as well as for his charitable humanitarian work, his love of auto racing, and his piercing blue eyes and boyish good looks.

Born on January 26, 1925, Newman acted in grade school and high school plays, and then served in the U.S. Navy as a radio operator (he was training to be a pilot, but was prevented from pursuing this interest when it was discovered that he was color blind) until 1946, when he was discharged and then enrolled at Kenyon College. After graduation he studied Drama for a year at Yale and then attended the New York Actors Studio.

Because of his good looks, sex appeal and charm, acting parts came easily to him. He acted in his first Broadway play, “Picnic,” in 1953, and soon afterward was offered a movie contract from Warner Brothers. Surprisingly, his first movie, The Silver Chalice (1954), was so disappointing to him that he took out a full-page ad in the paper apologizing for it to anyone who might have seen it, and continued to poke fun at the movie and his performance for much of the rest of his life. But, in an illustration of his determination to become a great actor, he gave a brilliant performance in his next film, Somebody Up There Likes Me (1954).

He was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and most successful box office draws in the 1960s, starring in films like The Hustler, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and one of the cinema’s most enduring classics, Cool Hand Luke. But unlike many stars whose rise to superstardom flew by with dizzying speed, Newman remained a highly respected and successful actor for decades beyond the 60s, starring in successful films like The Sting, Slapshot, Absence of Malice, The Verdict, The Hudsucker proxy, the intensely sad and romantic Message in a Bottle, and the 2002 film Road to Perdition, in which he starred along side Tom Hanks.

His professional acting career spanned six decades, beginning with a small role in the television program “Tales of Tomorrow” in 1952, and coming to a close in 2006, when he lent his voice to the character of Doc Hudson in the Pixar animated short film Mater and the Ghostlight. He also lent his name to the same character in the charming 2006 Pixar film Cars.

He was nominated nine times for a Best Actor Oscar during his career, and finally took home the award for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s brilliant 1986 film The Color of Money, in which he starred alongside Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio, and John Turturro. On finally winning the Oscar after so many nominations and losses, Newman joked, “It’s like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years. Finally, she relents and you say, ‘I’m terribly sorry. I’m tired.’”

He has always been known as a caring and generous man, He founded Newman’s Own food products, which has to date has grossed several hundred million dollars in sales and donations, all of which Newman donated to various children’s charities and other humanitarian organizations. In 1999 he joked that he was a little embarrassed that his salad dressing was making more money than his movies!

On a interesting side note, the students of none other than Princeton University named April 24th “Paul Newman’s Day,” which they celebrate by attempting to drink 24 beers, one per hour, over the 24 hours of the day. The tradition comes from a quote that Newman supposedly said, “There are 24 beers in a case and 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not.” The university, unsurprisingly, does not sponsor the event, and Newman has said that he would like to end the tradition.

Long-time friend and Sundance co-star Robert Redford remembers Newman’s impact on the world and on his own life:

“There is a point where feelings go beyond words,” he said. “I have lost a real friend. My life — and this country — is better for his being in it.”

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Paul Newman lost his only son, Scott Newman, to an accidental drug overdose in 1978, and he is survived by his wife, Joanne Woodward, his five daughters and several grandchildren.

Novelist David Foster Wallace was found dead in his home on September 12th.  According to Claremont police, Wallace hung himself in his home and he was discovered by his wife Karen.  A statement was issued on DavidFosterWallace.com saying,

We have incredibly sad and shocking news.  According to news sources, David Foster Wallace hanged himself at his home on September 12th, 2008.

David Foster Wallace was an incredibly talented author whose words touched so many people around the world.  Because this news is fresh, it’s hard to know what to make of or to figure why this happened.  In the end, the world has lost a great writer and a great thinker, and that cannot be reversed.  The best wishes of all David Foster Wallace fans go out to his friends and family in this sad time.

Gary Kates, the Dean of Pomona College, where Wallace taught creative writing said, “I know a great novelist has left the scene, but we knew him as a great teacher who cared deeply about his students, who treasured him.”

Wallace was 46 years old.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wallace family.

Former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner was found dead on Monday, September 8th.  Tanner was reportedly on a camping trip in the Palo Verde Mountain area near San Diego, California when he went missing on Friday, September 5th.  According to TMZ.com,

Tanner sent a text message to a friend that he was out of water and needed help.  There was a massive search that ended abruptly (Monday).

Tanner had blogged about his trip to the desert on his Spike TV blog, saying that he was going to the desert because his friends had been talking about “treasure hunting and lost gold, and my own insatiable appetite for adventure and exploration… I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment could cost me my life.”

He later wrote another message downplaying the danger of his adventure saying,

It seems some (mixed martial art) websites have reported on the story, posting up that I might die out in the desert, or that it might be my greatest opponent yet, etc.  Come on, guys.  It’s really common down in Southern California to go out to the off-road recreation areas in the desert about an hour away from L.A. and San Diego.  So my plan is to go out to the desert, do some camping, ride the motorcycle, and shoot some guns.  Sounds like a lot of fun to me.  A lot of people do it.  This isn’t a version of Into the Wild.  I’m not going out into the desert with a pair of shorts and a bowie knife to try to live off the land.  I’m going fully geared up, and I’m planning on having some fun.”

The cause of death is still unknown.  Evan Tanner was 37 years old.

You may not know his name, but you definitely know his voice. Don LaFontaine is the man with the distinguished voice behind movie trailers. Sadly, LaFontaine passed away in LA yesterday at the age of 68, due to complications from Pneumothorax, the presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity, the result of a collapsed lung. However, the official cause of death has not yet been released.

Over the past 25 years, Don’s extraordinarily unique voice has appeared on over 5,000 movie trailers and 350,000 commercials. He is most famous for the introductory line, “In a world where…”

LaFontaine most recently appeared in a Geico Insurance commercial, where he was referred to as “that announcer guy.”

He is survived by his wife, singer/actress Nita Whitaker, and three children Christine, Skye and Elyse.

This is super sad news. I know he’s not an actor, but I can’t imagine what movie trailers will sound like without him. He has an awesome voice like none other!

Dr. Dre’s 20 year old son, Andre Young Jr., was found dead at his family’s Woodland Hills, California, home Saturday morning.

Young Jr. was unresponsive when his mother went to check on him around 10 A.M. She immediately called 911 to alert paramedics, who pronounced him dead on the scene.

Young Jr.’s cause of death is not known at this time. Officials are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination, including a toxicology report, which could take up to 6 weeks.

It was said that Andre was out the previous night and returned home at 5.30 A.M.

The poor kid was only 20. It is so sad when someone is in the dawn of their life to have it just end like that. I cannot imagine what Dr. Dre must be going through to loose a son.

Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, rose to stardom in the 1980s with rap group N.W.A’s controversial album Straight Outta Compton. Dr. Dre later went on to produce and perform solo, winning a Grammy award in 1992 for The Chronic album’s single “Let Me Ride.”

He founded both Death Row Records and Aftermath Records and is recognized for bringing many rap phenoms into the mainstream, including Eminem, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Dre and his entire family.

Gene Upshaw has passed away at the age of 63 from pancreatic cancer. Upshaw was best known for the work he did as executive director of the NFL Players Association and for winning millions of dollars for NFL players as a Union leader.  Even though he was a Hall of Fame player as a guard for the Oakland Raiders.  Upshaw played with the Raiders for 15 years and was on the team when they won two of their three Super Bowls.

Gene had just learned about the cancer on Sunday after he became ill and his wife took him to the hospital.  He died at his home near Lake Tahoe, California with his wife Teri and his three son’s, Eugene Jr., Justin, and Daniel by his side.

Upshaw’s former coach and NFL legend John Madden issued a statement saying,

Gene was a great player.  He was an All-Pro.  He was a Hall of Famer.  If you look at the history of the NFL you’re going to find out that he was one of the most influential people that the league has known.  He did so much, not only for the players, but also for the owners, the teams, and the game of pro football.

Gene Upshaw will surely be missed.

LeRoi Moore the saxophonist and founder of the Dave Matthews Band passed away yesterday, August 19th.  Moore had been hospitalized due to complications from an ATV accident that occurred back in June.  Moore punctured a lung and broke several of his ribs in the ATV accident.  A rep for the Dave Matthews Band issued a statement to TMZ saying,

LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19th, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia.  Moore had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.

LeRoi Moore was 46 years old.

Over 7,000 people filled the House of Hope Church in Chicago on Saturday, August 16th, to celebrate the life of comedian Bernie Mac.  Cederic the Entertainer was the first person to speak at Saturday’s funeral saying, ” This dude is a very, very popular guy.  You know y’all were like, ‘Let me get four tickets to the funeral!’  He’s still the hottest ticket in town.”  And Mac’s funeral was the hottest ticket in town.  Most of the 7,000 guest waited in line for hours at a chance to get in to the funeral and pay their last respects. 

Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle and Sali Richardson, Chris Rock, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Mayor Richard Daley were just a few of the celebrities that attended the services and those that couldn’t attend, like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama, sent their condolences.  The condolence letters were read aloud as a slideshow of pictures played on the big screens.

The event was best summed up by Chicago resident Pamela Gordon, who waited in line for hours to get into the funeral, when she said, “This shows support….from the whole Chicago area and how much he will be missed.”

Bernie Mac’s friends and co-stars are speaking out about the loss of one of Hollywood’s funniest comedians.

George Clooney, who co-starred with Mac in the Ocean’s films, told Entertainment Tonight, “The world just got a little less funny.  He will be missed dearly.”

Brad Pitt, who also co-starred in Ocean’s, told E!, “I lament the loss of a ferociously funny and hardcore family man.  My thoughts are with Rhonda and their family.  Bernie Mac ,you are already missed.”

Fellow comedian George Lopez said, “As comics, we’re all brothers and I’ll miss him a lot.  He was a good friend of mine.”

Chris Rock stated, ” Bernie Mac was one of the best and funniest comedians to ever live, but that was the second best thing he did.  Bernie was one of the greatest friends a person could have.  Losing him is like losing 12 people, because he absolutely filled up any room he was in.  I’m gonna miss the Mac Man.”

Bernie has truly left his mark on Hollywood and will always be remembered.

Some tragic and unexpected news for everyone today: the comedian known as Bernie Mac, has died.  His real name was Bernard Jeffrey McCollough.  His publicist confirmed that he died from complications due to pneumonia early Saturday morning.

Mac, who was only 50 years old, had been hospitalized for about a week at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago.  Several years ago, Mac revealed that he suffered from sarcoidosis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in tissue, most often in the lungs.

Even though we all know him as a hilarious comedian, movie superstar and TV regular, that wasn’t always the case.  Mac didn’t get his big break in show business until his 30s.

When he was 32,  he won the Miller Lite comedy search and that performance took him to the standup stage.  After his entertaining performance, he started landing gigs like his regular performances on popular shows like HBO’s Def Comedy Jam.

He was also one of The Original Kings of Comedy in the 2000 documentary of that title that brought a new generation of black standup comedy stars to a wider audience.

I would venture to say that most people will recognize him from his roles in the Ocean’s movies.  In those three movies, he shared the screen with Hollywood’s leading men- George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon- to name a few.

Last spring, Mac said that he was retiring from standup, and instead would focus more on movies.  In 2007, he co-starred in Ocean’s Thirteen, Pride and had a role in the blockbuster Transformers. He also had starring roles in Bad Santa and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and will be in a few movies scheduled for future release: Soul Men, with Samuel L. Jackson, which will be released this year, and Old Dogs, with Robin Williams, which is due next year.

Mac is survived by his wife Rhonda McCullough, and their daughter, Je’Niece

The entertainment industry has indeed lost a talented man, who I am sure would have starred in many more films.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.