Canadian Comedian Irwin Barker who turned his cancer diagnosis into a comedy tour has died

Irwin Barker, June 12, 1956 – June 21, 2010, one of Canada’s most successful comedians who earned the nickname the ‘Professor’ for his scholarly appearance, died at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital. His death came after a three-year battle with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer in the body's soft tissues. He was 58.

As a standup comedian and writer, Irwin Barker has earned nominations for several Gemini Awards and written for such shows as “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” and “The Rick Mercer Report.” Barker also wrote for and appeared in numerous Canadian TV and radio comedy programs. He performed regularly at the Winnipeg and Halifax Comedy Festivals, Montreal's Just for Laughs and has appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.

When Barker was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, he turned the diagnosis into an acclaimed cross-country standup comedy tour. Some of the bit was eventually recorded in the documentary “That’s My Time: A Comedian’s Stand Up to Cancer,” which showed Barker undergoing cancer treatment and performing at cancer research fundraisers.

“There were times I just didn’t feel like it, that’s for sure. But just carrying on no matter what, that’s part of the struggle and part of the battle,” Barker said. “Cancer has my body but it doesn’t have my spirit. And I’m not going to let it go into that domain.”

Barker is survived by his wife, Joanna McCracken.

British Filmmaker Ronald Neame Dies at 99

Ronald Neame, April 23, 1911 – June 16, 2010, prolific British filmmaker and cinematographer, has died at a hospital in Los Angeles. His death comes after falling and breaking his leg at his home last May. The break required surgery and the filmmaker never recovered. He was 99.

He was a filmmaker, cinematographer, producer, screenwriter and director. But Neame was probably most noted for directing “Tunes of Glory,” “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” starring Maggie Smith, and the iconic ocean disaster movie, “The Poseidon Adventure,” starring Gene Hackman and Shelley Winters.

Early in his career, Ronald Neame worked with such talents as Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean and Noel Coward. What followed was nearly 60 years of work that included a total of 70 movies, 3 Academy Award nominations – including two shared with Lean and Anthony Havelock-Allen for Best Screenplay, and an Academy Award win for aerial photography.

Other credits include the 1953 comedy “The Million Pound Note” starring Gregory Peck, “The Man Who Never Was,” “The Horse’s Mouth,” “I Could Go On Singing” with Judy Garland, “Gambit” with Michael Caine and many others.

In 2001, Neame commented in an interview, "I'm just a reasonably good director…I'm a bloody sight better than many making pictures today. But that doesn't make me a Billy Wilder or a David Lean."

Ronald Neame leaves behind his second wife, Donna Friedberg Neame; a son from his first marriage, film producer Christopher Neame; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Christopher Shiffrin Dies at age 65

Christopher Shiffrin, actor, agent and son of tenpercenter William Shiffrin, died in Los Angeles. The cause of death was heart failure. He was 65.

As an actor, Christopher Shiffrin appeared in "ER," "The West Wing" and the movie "Seabiscuit." As an agent, Shiffrin's clients included John Spencer and Robert Blake.

He leaves behind a brother and a sister.

Porn Star Stephen Hill AKA Steve Driver who was wanted for murder dies after a 40-foot fall from a cliff

Stephen Clancy Hill, who only last week went on a rampage with a machete killing fellow porn star Tom Dong is now himself dead. The porn star, who went by the screen name of "Steven Driver", sparked a huge man hunt ending only after an 8 hour police standoff resulting with Hill falling from the edge of a cliff. He was 34.

According to reports, the porn star was surrounded by a SWAT team in a residence located around Azul Drive in West Hills. Hill climbed a nearby hill area and was brandishing a sword which he threatened to use to kill himself. Hill attempted a jump from the cliff, with a police officer firing a taser or beanbag gun at him to attempt to subdue him as he went over the edge.

A "less than lethal munition" was used against Stephen Clancy Hill just before he fell, said police Officer Bruce Borihanh, who had no other details about the weapon that was used.

The editor-in-chief of Adult Industry News, Steve Nelson said he had met Hill at social gatherings and described him: "He seemed like an OK guy who was trying very hard to get recognized and get his name out there…He carried around pictures of himself in hard-core action, and he would always want to show them to me."

Nelson confirmed that Hill appeared in films under the name Steve Driver. The Internet Adult Film Database lists 13 credits for him, including films for Ultima and other companies.

Richard Dunn known almost exclusively on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup dies at 73

Richard Dunn, Sept. 29, 1923 – June 4, 2010, a regular guest on the incredibly fantastic Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, has died at a hospital in Hollywood. The cause of death is not immediately known. He was 73.

The bespectacled and rail-thin actor was known almost exclusively for playing a talk show host on 'Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!

Richard Dunn also had bit parts in various movies and television shows including an appearance on "Nip/Tuck." He appeared in the Three Doors Down music video for 'Kryptonite.' Other credits included “Parks and Recreation,” “Weeds,” and “The Wedding Singer.”

Rue McClanahan dies of a massive stroke at the age of 76

Rue McClanahan, Feb. 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010, popular TV star for over 50 years, died after suffering a massive stroke. She was 76.

Earlier in the year, Rue McClanahan had suffered a minor stroke while recovering from bypass surgery. She also had a history of breast cancer going back to 1997.

Her fans will always know her as the Emmy-winning actress who brought a perfect portrayal to the role of the sexually liberated Southern belle character, Blanche Devereauxe on the hit TV series "The Golden Girls."

In a television career that spanned over 50 years, Rue McClanahan’s credits include standout roles in "Maude" and "The Love Boat." and most recently "Law & Order" and Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns."

After "The Golden Girls" was canceled in 1992, McClanahan continued working in television, on stage and in film. She appeared with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in "Out to Sea" and as the biology teacher in "Starship Troopers."

On Broadway, she portrayed Madame Morrible, the headmistress, in "Wicked," the popular long-running "Wizard of Oz" prequel.

More recent roles include parts appearances in "Law & Order," “Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns," and in the Logo comedy "Sordid Lives: The Series," where she played the slightly addled, elderly mother of an institutionalized drag queen.

Rue McClanahan was married six times. She had a son, Mark Bish, with husband, Tom Bish and was married to actor Norman Hartweg, then Peter D'Maio, Gus Fisher and Tom Keel. She married Morrow Wilson on Christmas Day in 1997.

She wrote her memoir "My First Five Husbands ... And the Ones Who Got Away" in 2007.

Her death now leaves Betty White as the only surviving regular cast member of "Golden Girls."

One of the last surviving Little Rascals Dorothy DeBora dies at 85

Dorothy DeBora, March 28, 1925 – June 2 2010, hair-bowed child actress of the 1930s, has died. She was 85.

Her career as a child actress spanned only three years, but during that time Dorothy DeBorba starred in over fifteen feature films and gained mainstream success while she was on the screen.

DeBora was only five year old when she joined “Our Gang,” also known as “The Little Rascals,” the iconic group of children who acted in a series of comedic short films. With her elaborate hair bows and curly hair she quickly became a fan favorite.

She appeared in some of the best of the “Our Gang” feature comedies such as “Pups Is Pups” in her first year, “Dogs Is Dogs,” “Little Daddy,” and “Love Business” in her second and, in her third and final year, she appeared in “Free Wheeling” and “Birthday Blues.”

Porn actor Herbert Wong, stage name Tom Dong murdered at age 30

Herbert Wong, known in the world of porn movies under his stage name Tom Dong, has died. The porn actor was killed in a Samurai style sward attack allegedly by fellow actor Stephen Hill, aka Steve Driver. Wong was 30.

Stephen Hill (a.k.a. Stephen Driver), was living and working at the Van Nuys, California offices of Ultima DVD Inc with Wong and several others. According to police reports, Hill had been told he was fired and was being evicted from the premises. The incident escalated, resulting in Hill attacking a man in the back of the building. Two others, including Wong, rushed to the victim’s aid and were cut with repeated swings of a movie prop Samurai-style machete. All three victims were rushed to Northridge Hospital Medical Center where Wong was pronounced dead.

Movie credits include “Kristina Rose: Dirty Girl” (2008), “Hookers and Blow 3” (2008), “Cum Coat My Throat 5” (2008) and “Perverted Planet 4” (2009).

Indie Filmmaker Joseph Strick dies at 86

Joseph Strick, July 6, 1923 – June 1 2010, indie filmmaker, director, producer and screenwriter, has died at a hospital in Paris. The cause of death was congestive heart failure. He was 86.

He brought James Joyce's "Ulysses" to the big screen and won an Academy Award for best documentary short subject for "Interviews with My Lai Veterans."

One of his earliest works was the 1948 “Muscle Beach,” a documentary filmed with an Army surplus movie camera about bodybuilders in Southern California. From there, Joseph Strick turned entrepreneur, building hi-tech companies in order to raise money to make his own movies.

In 1960, Strick made a low-budget doc called “The Savage Eye.” The film won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' Robert J. Flaherty Award for best documentary.

When he made “Ulysses” in 1967, the film was plagued with censorship. At a screening at the Cannes Film Festival, several of the French subtitles were cut.

According to his son, David, "He hadn't been told this was going to happen…He stood up and yelled out that this film had been censored. He went upstairs to the projection booth and turned off the switches. He was then pushed down a flight of stairs by festival goons, basically. My father and his associates withdrew the film immediately from the festival."

Despite the controversy, Joseph Strick and James Joyce earned an Oscar nomination for their screenplay.

Among Strick’s other credits are a 1970 adaptation of the Henry Miller novel "Tropic of Cancer," which he was director, producer and co-writer, a 1977 adaptation of Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," also produced and directed. More recently, Strick produced "Never Cry Wolf" in 1983.

In addition to his son David, Joseph Strick is survived by his wife, Martine; his other children, Jeremy (the former director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles who is now director of the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas), Betsy, Terence and Helene Strick-Marchand; his brother, Jack; his sister, Maida Gordon; and five grandchildren.

Six-Time Nominated Cinematographer William A. Fraker Dies at 86

William A. Fraker, Sept. 29, 1923 - May 31, 2010, six-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer, has died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The cause of death was cancer. He was 86.

He was nominated for six Academy Awards in cinematography including for "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (1977), "Heaven Can Wait" (1978), "1941" (1980), "WarGames" (1983) and "Murphy's Romance" (1985). William Fraker also earned visual effects mention for "1941."

It was during the 1960s that William A. Fraker first emerged as one of America’s most influential cinematographers for crafting such movies as "Bullitt," "Rosemary's Baby," and 1969's "Paint Your Wagon."

He also served as A.S.C. president three times and, in 2000, he received the ASC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Past A.S.C. President Richard Crudo described him as: "… the epitome of a Hollywood cinematographer…He was immensely talented, handsome and charismatic, and he has a body of work that was the envy of us all. We are always going to miss him."

William A. Fraker is predeceased by his son William A. Fraker, Jr. He leaves behind his wife, Denise.