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Richard Dawson (born November
20, 1932) is a United Kingdom-born
actor and game show host. He was
born in Gosport, England as Colin
Emm. At the age of 14, he ran away
from home to join the Merchant
Marine, where he pursued a boxing
career. Having married British sex
symbol Diana Dors, Richard moved
to Los Angeles, California, where he
gained fame in the hit show Hogan's
Heroes, which aired from 1965 to
1971. Richard and Diana eventually
divorced, and Richard gained
custody of both their children, Gary
and Mark.
In 1971, Richard became a regular
performer on Rowan & Martin's
Laugh-In. In addition, he appeared
on many numerous game shows
such as Celebrity Dating Game. In
1973, he was freed from contracts.
Mark Goodson, a game-show
producer, immediately grabbed
Richard to appear in the new
revision of Match Game, entitled
Match Game 73. Richard soon
became a regular, with such stars as
host Gene Rayburn, Brett Somers,
and Charles Nelson Reilly.
In 1976, Richard got to host his own
show, Family Feud. Unlike his flop in
1974 with Masquerade Party, Family
Feud became a hit, soon surpassing
his very own number-one daytime
show, Match Game 77. In 1978, he
left the Match Game. After Dawson
became a naturalized citizen of the
United States in 1984, he showed his
passport and photo during the
introduction of an episode of Family
Feud. He continued hosting the
Feud until it was cancelled in 1985.
Dawson's most famous habit was
kissing every female contestant on
the show. Dawson was not a fan of
the "strike" buzzer during the main
game, and in fact asked the
producers to reduce the buzzer
sound to 1/4 of a second, or
sometimes 1/10th of a second.
Dawson co-starred in the movie The
Running Man in 1987, playing evil,
egotistical, dark-sided game-show
host Damon Killian. He hosted an
unsold pilot for a revival of the
classic game show You Bet Your
Life in 1988. In 1994, Richard
returned to Family Feud, but it lasted
only one year (due mostly to the
height of the O.J. Simpson murder
trial). Dawson was considered for the
current version of Family Feud, but
elected not to host.
There was a rumor that spread
claiming that Dawson had
committed suicide after his return to
Family Feud had failed. In actuality,
it was Ray Combs, the man who
replaced him (and whom he in turn
replaced in 1994), who committed
suicide (in 1996). Dawson is very
much alive and currently resides in
Beverly Hills, California, the husband
since 1991 of Gretchen (Johnson)
Dawson, whom he met when she was
a contestant on Family Feud. They
have a daughter, Shannon Nicole
and 3 grandchildren, Lindsay Dors
Dawson, Tyler Emm Dawson and
Emma Rose Dawson, all fathered by
son Gary.
Richard Karn, the current host of
Family Feud, is sometimes referred
to as "Richard Dawson, Jr.," in
reference to the fact that he and
Dawson have the same first name.
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Alexander Arthur Van Halen
(born on 8 May 1953) is the brother
of Edward Van Halen and is the
drummer and founding member of
the hard rock band Van Halen. He
was born in Nijmegen, Netherlands
to Jan and Eugenia Van Halen. The
family moved to Pasadena,
California in 1962.
Both Van Halen brothers were
trained as classical pianists in their
childhood. Although Alex is known
as a professional drummer, he
began his Rock and Roll aspirations
as a guitarist and his brother Ed was
the percussionist. According to Van
Halen lore, while Eddie was
delivering newspapers to pay for his
drum kit, Alex would practice
playing on them. It was when Eddie
heard Alex's mastery of the Surfaris
drum solo in the song Wipe Out that
Eddie decided to switch and begin
learning to play the electric guitar.
Alex graduated from Pasadena High
School in 1971. Afterward, he
attended Pasadena City College for
a brief period of time taking classes
in music theory, scoring and
arranging. Occasionally, he would
pass by Michael Anthony in the
hall—the bassist who would
eventually become the third pillar
of the future band Van Halen.
Some of Al's early bands, all of
which included Eddie, were: The
Broken Combs (who performed
lunchtime concerts at Hamilton
Elementary School and featured
Alex on saxophone), The Trojan
Rubber Company, Genesis, and The
Space Brothers. Among his musical
influences are Buddy Rich, Keith
Moon, John Bonham and Ginger
Baker.
In 1972, Mammoth was formed and
featured Alex on drums, Edward on
lead vocals and guitar and Mark
Stone on bass. By 1974, Mammoth
had a new line-up. Stone had been
replaced by Michael Anthony and
David Lee Roth had taken over as
the lead vocalist. Because of
conflicts with another band by the
same name, Mammoth changed
their name to Van Halen and a
legend was born. The quartet paid
their dues on the Southern
California club circuit: Gazzari's
(the first club to give them a break),
the Starwood, the Whisky a Go-Go,
or Walter Mitty's Rock & Roll
Emporium. Within a few years, Van
Halen was a club scene favorite. In
addition to his musical duties, Al
was busy handling managerial
duties, booking gigs, etc. for the
band. In 1978, the Rock and Roll
epic album Van Halen was released
to much fanfare and the rest is
history.
Alex's powerful and dynamic
drumming style and voice are as
unique and instantly recognizable
as Edward's guitar sound. Alex has
been the recipient of innumerable
accolades and awards and is
recognized by his peers and fans as
one of the eminent percussionists in
Rock and Roll. The term "brown
sound," which is universally linked
with Edward's tone was actually
coined by Alex and refers to the
warmth of his own snare drum
sound. A self described "musician"
who eschews his Rock and Roll
persona, Alex works diligently to
create a very balanced
accompaniment for each song.
However, never underestimate Alex
at a live show; he is always the
entertainer and aims to please the
audience whether it is with his
aggressive drum solos or stage
pyrotechnics.
Finally, the only non–Van Halen
example of Alex's musicianship can
be found on the soundtrack to the
movie "Twister". The instrumental
Respect the Wind (for which the
Van Halen brothers were nominated
for a Grammy Award in 1997 for
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
[1]) features Alex on keyboards (with
Edward on guitar) and demonstrates
this musician's remarkable versatility.
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Ravi Shankar (born April 7, 1920
in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India) is
a Bengali-Indian musician best
known for his virtuosity on the sitar.
A disciple of Allauddin Khan
(founder of the Maihar gharana of
Indian classical music), Pandit Ravi
Shankar is arguably the best-known
Indian instrumentalist, and is well
known for his pioneering work in
bringing the power and appeal of
the Indian classical music tradition,
as well as Indian music and its
performers in general, to the West.
This was done through his
association with The Beatles as well
as with his own personal charisma.
His musical career spans over six
decades and Shankar currently
holds the Guiness Record for the
longest international career.
His ancestral home is the present
day Kalia Upozila in Narail District,
Jessore, Bangladesh. His mother's
name was Hemanginee, and his
elder brother Uday Shankar was a
famous Indian classical dancer. As
a teenager Ravi danced and played
sitar with Uday Shankar's dance
troupe, most notably with Anna
Pavlova in the Soviet Union.
Ravi Shankar gave up a possible
dance career, and starting in 1938
he spent long years of dedicated
study under his guru Allaudin Khan.
His first public performances in
India came in 1939. Formal training
ended in 1944 and he worked out of
Bombay. He began writing scores
for film and ballet and started a
recording career with HMV's Indian
affiliate. He became music director
of All India Radio in the 1950s.
Shankar then became well known to
the music world outside India, first
performing in the Soviet Union in
1954 and then the West in 1956. He
performed in major events such as
the Edinburgh Festival as well as
major venues such as Royal Festival
Hall.
George Harrison, a member of The
Beatles, began experimenting with
the sitar in 1965. The two
eventually met due to this common
interest and became close friends,
and that in turn expanded Shankar's
fame as a pop star and as Harrison's
mentor. This development greatly
expanded his career. He was invited
to play venues that were unusual for
a classical musician, such as the
1967 Monterey Pop Festival in
Monterey, California. He was also
one of the artists who performed at
the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and
The Concert for Bangladesh in
1971. Ravi Shankar & Friends was
also the opening act for Harrison's
1974 tour of the United States.
Shankar has been critical of some
facets of the Western reception of
Indian music. On a trip to San
Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district
after performing in Monterey,
Shankar wrote "I felt offended and
shocked to see India being regarded
so superficially and its great culture
being exploited. Yoga, Tantra,
mantra, kundalini, ganja, hashish,
Kama Sutra? They all became part
of a cocktail that everyone seemed
to be lapping up!" In 1969 he
published an English language
autobiography, My Music, My Life.
Known for his charisma and his way
with the ladies, Ravi Shankar first
married Annapurna, daughter of his
guru Baba Allauddin Khan and
sister of Ali Akbar Khan in Almora,
but the marriage did not last long.
The marriage produced one son
named Shuva Shankar. He became
involved with American concert
promoter Sue Jones but they did not
marry. Their union, however,
produced one daughter, the recent
Grammy winner Norah Jones. He
later married an admirer, Sukanya
Kotiyan (née Rajan) and their
marriage produced a second
daughter named Anoushka Shankar.
Shankar's daughters Anoushka
Shankar and Norah Jones (who are
half-sisters) are also musicians.
Anoushka is a sitarist and performs
frequently with Shankar, in addition
to having her own recording career.
Jones has achieved considerable
professional success, including
several Grammy Awards, by herself
with no assistance from her father.
Shankar is also the uncle of the late
sitarist Ananda Shankar.
Shankar has homes in both
Encinitas, California and New Delhi,
India.
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But mostly,
stay classy.
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Celebrity Death Watch or "What's the line on Michael J. Fox?"
The Bone Pile
February 2, 2006
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:
When Anthony informed me that he and T-Bone were going to do a joint column, I
thought, "Great! That's the best idea since they let Christopher Lambert guest star
on an episode of Highlander! The writers of The Rock Pile shall unite just as the
Clan MacCleod did!"
I was able to get a hold of the original conversation that inspired this week's
column, and I present that to you now. This is how it all started:
T-BONE: Totally inspired by Chris Penn's death and your response, I have
come up with our dual rockpileproductions.com topic for a column...
Celebrity Death Watch.
Anthony Elms: Wow - that one's kinda morbid.
TB: Well, it would invoke some interest, I believe.
AE: Well, don't worry, I'd love to do that one. I'm just not sure I'd want
anyone to see it.
TB: We both pick 5-10 celebrities or athletes who could die this year and
we argue as to why and to what probability. For instance: Whitney
Houston. Crack OD. Probablity--8/10... Discuss.
AE: Hmm... that's not a bad idea, and I don't guess anyone who reads our
stuff will care. Alright, I'll play your game, you rogue.
TB: What, with your Dago mustache and your greasy hair!
AE: I'll just need a couple days to think about different people.
TB: Same here. I just thought of this like an hour ago.
AE: It's like a checklist: random musician, random former athlete, random
wrestler, etc.
TB: Ah, you come up with the checklist and email it to me. Then I'll come
up with a 1st choice and a 2nd choice for each topic, in case you say the
same one.
AE: Don't forget the wild card! That can be any random person, covered
or not covered by the other categories. Maybe you're going out on a limb.
TB: Sweetness. Sounds good
AE: Since we just mentioned a few, you may want to come up with 10
categories. Then we'll agree on it right before we start.
TB: Sounds like a plan.
AE: Alrighty-roo.
TB: It'll be a fun one. And here I was thinking we probably wouldn't come
up with something arguable that would be fun for everyone.
AE: I think you've got something here. I'll leave it to Pup to come up with a
snappy title/name for the endeavour.
TB: Yeah, it's all him there.
Another Note from the Editor:
And so that fateful day came when Anthony and T-Bone both sat down at their
respective keyboards and created what follows now. Gentlemen... Place your
bets!
Anthony Elms: Alright buddy, whatcha got for me?
T-Bone: Alrighty then. I figured we'd start with the idea that you had...
SNL actor to die this year. You have one?
AE: Yes I do. When considering a former SNLer, you have to ask yourself,
"Does this guy look like he could possibly have a drug problem that no one
knows about?" and "Could being dead help his career?" After some
consideration, I'm going with David Spade.
TB: I like where you are going with this. You'd have to think he was on
drugs to go from doing movies to doing Capital One commercials.
AE: Yeah, I mean look at his facial hair for crying out loud. And couldn't
you just see people making him out to be a genius if he kicked the bucket?
Even though he hasn't made a good movie yet, I don't care how many
people defend Joe Dirt.
TB: Well, you'd have to agree that he made Tommy Boy as funny as it
was. Farley couldn't handle that one alone. I, however, thought of one
that at first I had to look up to see if he was indeed dead already. Dana
Carvey hasn't really done much of anything since that Comedy special he
had...what...7 years ago?
AE: I think that special was in 1995. I don't see Carvey going - he had his
chance with that botched heart surgery thing a few years back. Golden
opportunity missed.
TB: Still, do you realize how many Best of Dana Carvey things would fly off
of the shelves. Plus, ABC would jump on a re-release of "The Dana
Carvey Show." All 5 episodes.
AE: I think people would start digging around about Carvey. Maybe he'd
be rightly appreciated. It probably would help his career, too.
TB: I agree. Nobody was disappointed in Master of Disguise as much as
I was.
AE: My first category - Heart Attack Waiting to Happen.
TB: Alright. Fire away.
AE: This one took some deliberation, but I'm going with George Wendt. I
mean, he hasn't worked in years. He's old, but not quite old enough to
where it wouldn't be weird. Also, for all I know he may have had stomach
stapling surgery, but I'm betting he has integrity and has girthed it out.
TB: I don't think you are too far off the beaten track there. Though I think
he would have had his a few weeks ago when Da Bears blew it at home
against the Panthers in Da Playoffs. The person I have on my list that
would most probably die of a heart attack is Tim McCarver. Imagine being
one of the better baseball broadcasters today and having to be endlessly
put in the booth with Joe Buck. I'd have a heart attack from anxiety alone.
AE: Hey, I like Buck, his man-crush on the Yankees not withstanding.
Unfortunately, McCarver is too annoying to go away quickly. He'll last until
he's so senile they won't put him on TV. But it was an inspired choice.
TB: Well, my dislike for Buck is relentless. Despite me loathing the
Cowboys, I find Troy Aikman to be a pretty good football broadcaster. The
problem with that is that he barely gets to say anything because of Buck.
Last year during the World Series, I actually heard Buck tell McCarver to
shut up while he finished talking about the important stuff. Buck seriously
talked for like 10 straight minutes.
AE: If they got rid of Joe Buck, then I wouldn't get to quote the line from
Midnight Cowboy about "I don't go nowhere without my friend Joe Buck."
Even though I hated that movie. Whatcha got next?
TB: Drew Rosenhaus says, "Next Question!" Ok, I did my categories a bit
differently, so I used Game Show host to go next. I'm going with Richard
Dawson. He kissed a lot of women throughout the years. There was a girl
in my high school class that said she didn't kiss because that leads to sex.
If that is true, then Dawson had a LOT of sex. Odds are against him that
he wouldn't catch something. So it's about that magical time that he would
pass on from something like that.
AE: So are you saying that Richard Dawson should be the next face of the
abstinence movement? What an unlikely candidate. How many internal
family feuds do you think he's caused over the years? I actually have a
hard time remembering which game show hosts aren't dead already. I
guess I'll go with Wink Martindale. He seems about due.
TB: Wink should be an obvious choice. If we go with the next face of
abstinence though, Bob Barker did schnog a lot of beauties, so my
Dawson Theory could hold up here too. Next.
AE: Beloved Black Entertainer.
TB: Entertainer is a loose term with Muhammad Ali, but I'm gonna go with
him anyway. I say he croaks at the screening of Rocky VI. Along with
what's left of Stallone's career.
AE: I hope the obvious choice isn't Sherman Hemsley, but don't you expect
any day to look on E! Online and see that he died suddenly? Like Nipsey
Russell or Rick James, Barry White or Red Foxx, it's never a painful, drawn-
out thing with the BBE.
TB: Would Sherman have died in a freak skating accident or natural
causes?
AE: While doing Jeffersons on Ice?
TB: I'm sorry, I couldn't help it.
AE: Don't worry, that's not the first, nor will it be the last obscure reference.
TB: But you got it, so that made me feel better.
AE: As far as Ali goes, he does seem to go against the BBE standard. I
mean, this thing has been going on for years. I bet he makes it at least 10
more.
TB: Again, I think Rocky VI is what does it.
AE: I think Rocky VI will kill a few people, including Rocky himself. At least I
hope so.
TB: Indeed. Moving on... how about famous public speaker?
AE: Hmm...I could see the real-life Rudy filling this role. He's really been
milking the Rudy thing the last 13 years, hasn't he? But I don't know,
something tells me he'll always be around when we need him, just like Lee
Greenwood.
TB: HAHA. I am actually torn between 2 public speakers. So bear with me
and you be the judge. My causes may be off, but you can help here. First,
I think the Reverend Billy Graham could quite possibly die from laughing at
too many of those Farting Preacher clips. My second choice is Charlton
Heston has his rifle misfire while he's out hunting gorillas. Thoughts?
AE: It's funny that you mention two really old guys, at least one of which
has a serious disease, yet you have them going due to some sort of
outside force. I guess between the two, I could see the reverend going
first. The interesting thing will be seeing what kind of response there will
be from the media and entertainment industry when Heston finally goes.
TB: What's your next category?
AE: Guy Who's Not Quite as Famous as his Brother
TB: Oh wow, this is a great one. Does Marty Jannetty count? I have him
dying this year too!
AE: We'll get to that one. Even though his legendary bro-han has had
some health, personal and professional issues over the past few years, I
could easily see time running out on Alex Van Halen sometime soon. Then
there'd only be 2 guys left from Van Halen, depending on how you count.
TB: I quit holding out for their triumphant return about 12 years ago.
AE: Well, they had the tour last year, which I didn't hear much about other
than I think a donnybrook almost broke out involving Sammy Hagar yet
again. I guess whatever divided them divides them still.
TB: You've given that one some serious thought. I'm drawing a blank, but
I'd imagine if Keith Richards has any siblings, they are all in the nursing
home enjoying a nice jello snack right about now and knocking at the
gates.
AE: You could always go with Don Swayze, Roger Clinton, Ozzie Canseco
or Frank Stallone.
TB: Or John Stamos' brother. "Loving You Is Easy Cuz You're Beautiful!"
AE: "We know where all the talent went in that family!" I bet John could hit
the high F.
TB: In all seriousness, don't you think Clint Howard could go? God has to
have promised him he'd be beautiful in the afterlife, too.
AE: Good one. Hopefully that role won't be a brief cameo, too.
TB: Okay, it is hard to relay this category, but here goes: Two Celebrities
that Die at the Hands of Each Other.
AE: Wow. That's a good one, too. Who would be willing to fight to the
death? You have to go with two golddiggers on this one - I say somehow
Paris Hilton and Tara Reid end up scrapping on the red carpet at the
ESPY's over who gets their picture taken with Ben Roethlisberger,
Celebrity Death Match-style. But then they both drop dead of alcohol
poisoning.
TB: Interesting. I would go with two who already hate each other's guts.
I'm not sure how much you watched of "The Surreal Life" this past year,
but if you caught one episode, you know enough. Omarosa and Janice
Dickinson, in the kitchen, with the knife. It would be a bloodbath.
AE: Didn't watch it, but I heard. As long as Omarosa got it, I'd be all for it.
TB: Speaking of Surreal Life, I want to point out that Sherman Hemsley will
be in the 2006 season of it.
AE: If he makes it that far....
TB: HAHAHA. True. I believe the next category is to you.
AE: The Cartoonishly-Ripped Pro Wrestler, current or former
TB: The obvious choice would be Superstar Billy Graham, but he's
brushed death so many times, that I will go with Big Pappa Pump, Scott
Steiner. That guy blew up 3 times in size to become The Big Bad Booty
Daddy. He could never stay healthy either. Vince likes his big guy
wrestlers, but he had to ditch Steiner because that was an investigation
waiting to happen. That guy's heart has be be working in some sort of
11th gear, so I don't give him much time.
AE: He was definitely on my radar about a potential coronary incident, but
I'll go with Vader. I'm sure he's got some lingering injuries from his football
days, not to mention that he hasn't been heard from in years. Given that
he must weigh 400 pounds, the clock must be ticking. Does he still
wrestle? If so, insert your own hotel room situation here.
TB: Actually, they brought him back for one night to interfere in a match
that Undertaker was fighting in. He's so fat, when he climbed out of the
ring, he busted his ass. And he's so big, the camera couldn't possibly pan
away from him enough. So yeah, both are great possibilities. Okay,
Celebrity Most Likely to Commit Suicide?
AE: Norm MacDonald. I mean, I'm a Norm MacDonald fan, but his career is
really in the tank. I hope he isn't into drugs or something.
TB: I got dibs on Katie Holmes. She's gonna come out of a trance or
something, see video of everything she's done over the past year, and
there's no turning back.
AE: Well I'd really hate to see that, with her being with child and all. Still,
you have to admit this hasn't been a banner year for Ms. Cruise, other
than from a publicity standpoint. And to top it all off, she's just received a
Razzie Award-nomination for her work in Batman Begins. I hope this
baby finds the cure for cancer or something.
TB: Hahaha. I forget, is a Razzie the same type of award that J-Lo and
Ben Affleck won for Gigli?
AE: Yeah, the worst-of awards
TB: Oh wow. Drew says,"Next question.""
AE: And finally, because I'm running out of stuff here, let's go with the Wild
Card. Anybody, for any bizarre reason.
TB: Ravi Shankar gets lethally bitten by a cobra.
AE: Isn't that the sitar player?
TB: Why yes it is! Shankar is like the B.B. King of India.
AE: He's Nora Jones' dad, too.
TB: And Axl Rose gets bludgeoned to death by an underwear model.
AE: Okay, that was even wilder than I was thinking. I'll say that Elizabeth
Taylor will fall off the Ferris wheel at the Neverland Ranch, where she will
land on Macaulay Culkin.
TB: I actually have Elizabeth Taylor on my list. But I figure that won't
happen, she'll just get married again. But I like the way you think. I still
have Whitney Houston being the first to die on a reality TV show.
AE: Will it directly or indirectly involve Bobby Brown?
TB: Well, Bobby introduced her to drugs, so I'd guess indirectly. I'll say
she OD's right around the time Danny Bonaduce does. Hell, maybe they'll
be together.
AE: Wouldn't that be a shame if she was reduced to dying on a reality TV
show? I mean, she was one of the biggest pop stars in the world in 1987.
I can't think of many places I'd less rather die than on reality TV - Red
Chinese prison would be worse. But I guess that's the direction it's
headed. And you will be thrilled.
TB: I don't think I can top that assessment. Nor will I try. Okay, I have just
a few more on my list. Not necessarily categorized, but I think they've got
a shot at kicking the bucket this year. Fidel Castro... it's gonna happen.
AE: I'll see that. I'll go with Gerald Ford (who didn't see that one coming?).
Hopefully they'll whip out the old Dana Carvey-Ted Koppell SNL sketch.
TB: Hell, most people thought he was dead already. But I know a guy from
Guatemala that swears up and down that there is more than one Fidel
Castro. It is the Cuban idea of Castro that is powerful. There are many
look-a-likes so when one dies, another takes over and the Americans don't
even notice.
AE: Okay, well I'll say that at least one Castro will bite the dust this year. If
it's a good year, maybe 2.
TB: Deal. Ok, wishful thinking, Eminem will die this year. The cause, he's
getting remarried to Kim. She'll listen to an old song on the radio and
poison his dinner.
AE: Michael Moore. He's fat, plus he'll piss off the wrong person.
TB: Team America will F’ him up.
AE: Durka Durka Durka, Mohammad Jihad. Well, I think we've got enough
here.
TB: I'm laughing my butt off right now. Kitty is staring at me like I'm mad.
AE: Oh, I didn't realize Kit-ty was paying attention.
TB: She hasn't been reading this. She's on the other side of the room.
Anyway, all in all, somebody on this list will DIE this year.
AE: Yeah, at least one will. And in the cases of most of these people, we
can hope. Well man, it was fun, maybe in a month or two we can do
another one.
TB: Sounds good man. You stay classy. And thanks for dropping by.
AE: You too, Broseph. Later.
Josh 'T-Bone' Pigott Anthony Elms
Christopher Ryan Penn (October
10, 1965 – January 24, 2006) was an
American film actor. He was the son
of noted director Leo Penn and
actress Eileen Ryan, and the brother
of actor Sean Penn and musician
Michael Penn. He dated and lived
with Steffiana De La Cruz from 1993
to 1999.
Born in Los Angeles, California,
Penn started acting at the age of 12
at the Loft Studio and made his film
debut in 1979's Charlie and the
Talking Buzzard. In 1983, he was
featured in Francis Ford Coppola's
youth drama Rumble Fish and
appeared in a small role in the high
school football drama All the Right
Moves starring Tom Cruise. He also
appeared in the hit dance musical
Footloose in 1984, played a villain
in the Clint Eastwood western Pale
Rider (1985), and co-starred with his
brother, Sean, and mother Eileen
Ryan in At Close Range (1986).
Penn was typically cast as a
supporting actor, featured as a
villain or a working-class lug, or in a
comic role. Two of his more
memorable performances came in
Reservoir Dogs and True Romance.
In 1996 he won the best supporting
actor at the Venice Film Festival for
The Funeral. In Robert Altman's
ensemble film Short Cuts, Penn
played a troubled pool cleaner who
is disturbed by his wife's profession;
she is a telephone sex worker who
takes calls from clients at home,
which Penn's character is obliged to
listen to. The dramatic ending of the
film features the climactic response
of Penn's character to this pent-up
sexual frustration and feeling of
powerlessness.
Penn was featured on Law and
Order: Criminal Intent during the
2004-2005 season. During that time,
he was featured on the 2004 video
game Grand Theft Auto: San
Andreas as the voice of Officer
Eddie Pulaski and played himself on
a 2005 episode of Entourage. He
also appeared in The Darwin
Awards, which premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival one day
after his death.
The actor was found dead in his
Santa Monica condominium on
January 24, 2006.
Investigators suspect Penn's death
was the result of natural causes or an
accident. Penn had suffered from an
illness and used multiple drugs in
the past, said David Smith, a Los
Angeles County coroner's spokesman
on January 26. He declined to
release details of the illness or say if
the drugs were prescribed. Medical
examiners performed an autopsy on
January 25 but won't know what
caused Penn's death until toxicology
tests are completed.
There is conflicting information
about Penn's age at time of death.
His birthdate has been officially
indicated as October 1965, which
would mean he was 40 at the time of
his death. However, several sources
have also reported his age as 43.
He is interred in the Holy Cross
Cemetery in Culver City, California.
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