Bill Paxton Passes Away

[Yukari]

Man, 2017 is starting off where 2016 left off...

https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2017-02-26/actor-bill-paxton-known-for-roles-in-big-love-titanic-dies-at-61

Condolences to his family.

[iacas]

He didn't look great in Training Day (the TV series), but that was also his character. I wonder what will happen to that show now.

Bummer.

I also just wonder if two things are happening:

• We're more aware of celebrity deaths because we're of the age when we started to learn about "celebrity" and follow careers of people. None of us cared when someone died when we were 8.
• The Internet makes it easier for more people to learn about the death of a celebrity.

I wonder if that's why it seems like more celebrities have died in 2016/2017 lately.

Complications from surgery, eh? I wonder what surgery.

Quote

Paxton is also one of only two actors to have been killed onscreen by an Alien, a Predator, and a Terminator, an honor he shares with Lance Henriksen. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

Small bit of movie trivia there.

[Shindig]

IMDB says he caddied for Ben Hogan. Anyone know if there's truth to that story?  Paxton is from Fort Worth TX, but not everyone from Fort Worth could have caddied for Hogan.

13 minutes ago, iacas said:

I also just wonder if two things are happening:

• We're more aware of celebrity deaths because we're of the age when we started to learn about "celebrity" and follow careers of people. None of us cared when someone died when we were 8.
• The Internet makes it easier for more people to learn about the death of a celebrity.

 

Are there more celebrities now?  My (not great) knowledge of old movies and sports was that there weren't as many stars back then as there are today.  A movie star who isn't a top-10 star but has a following might be a celebrity today but have a much more limited following 30 years ago.  I'm not saying Paxton fits or doesn't fit this category.  

[iacas]

24 minutes ago, Shindig said:

Are there more celebrities now?

That makes a great third bullet point. Or a first bullet point, bumping my two down.

[nevets88]

1 hour ago, Shindig said:

IMDB says he caddied for Ben Hogan. Anyone know if there's truth to that story?  Paxton is from Fort Worth TX, but not everyone from Fort Worth could have caddied for Hogan.

Are there more celebrities now?  My (not great) knowledge of old movies and sports was that there weren't as many stars back then as there are today.  A movie star who isn't a top-10 star but has a following might be a celebrity today but have a much more limited following 30 years ago.  I'm not saying Paxton fits or doesn't fit this category.  

Great point. Plus the whole celebrity culture thing is (if you ask me, get off my lawn) crazy ubiquitous. Can you imagine 40 years from now, given how many actors/musicians/artists there are today?

[saevel25]

I would say the Internet has created more celebrities. It is easier to check up who are movies now than ever. It's easier to remember actors and actresses and follow their careers. Before I think most quote, "Celebrities" needed to be big name movie stars. 

[Gator Hazard]

We were on course this morning, first time I have played in a month due to back problems when my friend told me. So sad, always liked him, especially in Weird Science and Twister. 

[stealthhwk]

Paxton's passing was far too soon. From all accounts he was a good man and a talented actor and director. He directed The Greatest Game Ever Played. My personal favorite and a great golf flick for those of you who haven't seen it. He was a good guy, a great artist, and a great Texan. God bless his soul and God bless his family. Raising a Ziegenbock to you bud. You were one of my favorite actors and directors! You will be missed!!! 

[boogielicious]

Bill Paxton will be missed. He was in one of my all time favorite movies, Apollo 13. He also made cinematic history. It wasn't a special effect. He really puked and was really floating. They filmed scenes in NASA's vomit comet plane to get weightlessness effect.  He got nauseous, which is common.

[Warren Zevon]

If you've never seen it, check out Frailty.