SINGER-ACTOR
"When Steve [Lawrence] came out of the service and we started to work together, we were appearing at the Sands in Las Vegas. Steve had an infection in his throat and couldn't sing. I had the kids dress up in chinos and white shirts and said, 'Come on, do the show with me.' There was a knock on my door, and Frank was standing there, and he said, 'Whatever you need, honey, I'm there.' So we did the show together."
—singer Eydie Gorme
Albert Gore Sr., 90
POLITICIAN
"I liked him because he was an independent senator on most of the critical issues. I respected him for his courage and understanding. To be for civil rights from Minnesota was easy. If you were from Tennessee, there were some risks. I think everyone who was concerned with civil rights was encouraged by it. It was considered a bold stand for Albert [with son Al Jr. in 1952] to take."
—former Sen. Eugene McCarthy
Michael Zaslow, 56
ACTOR
"A lot of actors would have just said, 'Look don't want people seeing me in this condition. I want them to remember me as the matinee idol that I was.' But Michael was a warrior. He took issue with his disease ALS], and he decided to declare war on it."
—One Life to Live castmate Robin Strasser
Wendy O. Williams, 48
ROCK STAR
"She was such a unique and colorful entity in the movement of punk. She was definitely one of a kind. You just didn't see many girls swinging chain saws and axes. She was real sexy and feminine too. There was a period where the women in punk were really grungy, so it was nice seeing this hot babe. She was a role model in the sense that you could look up to her for being herself and doing her own thing. In the punk era everyone was always so angry, but she was someone who had fun with it. It was about liberation and movement."
—punk rocker Joey Ramone
Roy Rogers, 86
SINGING COWBOY
"Roy was never corny. Not in any sense. He was true to, Roy Rogers. He personified the Old West, representing a purer time in American culture. And he personified goodness in the film industry. He was very shy but very warm. He was always the hero, and it breaks my heart that he's gone. It's kind of like losing a parent. You can prepare for it, but you can't really be prepared."
—singer-actor Kenny Rogers
Carl Wilson, 51
MUSICIAN
"Hey, let's face it. Without Carl [far right], the Beach Boys can't be anymore. No one can replace Carl. He was the spiritual center of the group. His voice was the glue that held the harmonies together. You didn't hear it as much as Mike's [Love] lead or Brian's [Wilson] falsettos, but Carl was the linkage that made all those beachy songs sing. The funeral was actually pretty cool. Big hugs all the way around. It was as good as a funeral can be."
—Beach Boys guitarist Al Jardine (far left)
Norman Fell, 74
ACTOR
"I remember my first week on Three's Company. I knew nothing about comedy. I watched Norman's body language and heard the musical beats of his delivery. He was a great teacher. I saw Norman last month, and he did his usual funny shtick—that mischievous little boy thing—and never once mentioned his illness. Norman was a pro to the end. I'll miss him."
—series costar Suzanne Somers
Roddy McDowall, 70
ACTOR
"I last saw Roddy at the Academy Awards last March. I came off the stage and he teased me. 'You had to do it, didn't you?' he said. 'You had to steal the show.' He was a gracious, generous friend to everybody in the industry."
—actress-diplomat Shirley Temple Black
Rob Pilatus, 33
PERFORMER
"When Milli Vanilli made it, Rob finally felt the adulation and success he had been seeking. He always said it was the happiest year of his life. Yet, at the same time, he called it the golden prison. Here he was, living his dream, yet he knew the rug could be pulled out at any moment."
—former Milli Vanilli manager Todd Headlee
Akira Kurosawa, 88
DIRECTOR
"He was a crusty fellow, a tough guy. Like David Lean, Kurosawa could get the epic, and he could also get the intimate. He had that ability. I was influenced by him just by the fact that he was a great filmmaker."
—director Oliver Stone
Shari Lewis, 65
PUPPETEER
"Her success was much more than her talent. She went straight to the heart and mind of a child. She was saying, 'Hey, you're important. I like you. You're my friend.' And that's perhaps the most important message a child can get. Shari touched the humanity of the child."
—Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo)
Barry Goldwater, 89
POLITICIAN
"He used to swing his cane around when he wasn't happy with you. You needed to stay on your toes. If we announced we were going into a night session, he'd say, 'Oh, to hell with it. I'm going home to cook some chili.' "
—former Sen. Bob Dole
Buffalo Bob Smith, 80
TV HOST
"Howdy Doody was broadcast in the days of live TV, and a lot of people grew up watching Bob. He was a role model. We worked together on The Joan Rivers Show, and he was a complete professional. If you knew him, you would love him. He was a nice person, and it showed. He was like someone's father. He loved kids, and that's what it was all about. He also played good piano, but I don't think he played it on the show."
—comedian Soupy Sales
Esther Rolle, 78
ACTRESS
"Working with her was like working with history. I can't explain it, but any black man who grew up with a black Southern mother will understand. She'd say things like, 'Boy, you have all the education in the world, but you have no sense.' She had that kind of vibe—a real witty, sharp-tongued sense of humor."
—actor Ving Rhames
E.G. Marshall, 84
ACTOR
"He was so believable playing a lawyer that people called him for legal advice. He was probably the smartest guy in the world. They say everybody has a price, but as an actor, he didn't. He was just a joy. He was an American classic."—actor Jack Klugman
Tammy Wynette, 55
SINGER
"I had chicken and dumplings at her house one night. I thought it was one of the coolest nights of my life, to just be girls, with our shoes off under the table and listening to Tammy tell old road stories. It was a magical night."
—singer Lome Morgan
George Wallace, 79
POLITICIAN
"I will always remember the last part of his life as a private citizen: his courage in the face of illness and physical handicap, his willingness to question and ultimately to change long-held views, and his desire to make peace with those whom he perceived had been wronged."
—former President Jimmy Carter
Eddie Rabbitt, 56
SINGER
"I always enjoyed recording and touring with Eddie. He had great charisma. He kept us all entertained and kept our spirits up even during long recording sessions. What I loved most was his devotion to his family. They were always center stage in his life."
—singer Crystal Gayle
Linda McCartney, 56
SINGER-ACTIVIST
"Linda always made you feel so comfortable. It is comforting to think that she is there on the other side. So when I walk up to the pearly gates and say, 'Where do I wipe my feet?' she will say, 'Don't bother with that, just come on in,' which is what she always said."
—rocker Chrissie Hynde
Alice Faye, 86
ACTRESS
"It was so mind-boggling to me. I was making a movie [State Fair, 1962] with this woman who was the Marilyn Monroe of her day. She was a major sexy box office star. You felt the attraction. She had this unavoidable, unintentional female allure. She didn't try to look sexy. She didn't act sexy. But she was. She was so down-to-earth in her unassuming way; she made you feel comfortable."
—singer-actor Pat Boone
Jack Lord, 77
ACTOR
"Jack put on this cold front, never socializing with people. He was the boss. And nobody answered him back. I don't know why he put on this sourpuss front for us. Because I always noticed that when the fans came around, Jack loved kids. He showed that weakness in himself. With all the big bravado he had, this man was a soft touch when there were little kids around. When I saw him with these kids, knew that this man was all right. Deep in him there was a nice man. And I loved him for that."
—actor Kam Fong
Henny Youngman, 91
COMEDIAN
"Why do a tribute now? Henny Youngman died plenty of times. When there was no reaction to a joke, he'd still act like a laugh was going on. He was like the kid in the back of the room that always made the class laugh. My favorite Youngman bit: The nurse says to the doctor, 'Doctor, there's a guy in the waiting room who thinks he's invisible.' The doctor says, 'Tell him I can't see him.' "
—comedian Jack Carter
Junior Wells, 63
MUSICIAN
"I look at Junior in Blues Brothers 2000 and say it was worth all the trouble to make the movie. He was among the last of the electric harmonica players. We did looking for a Fox.' I can't think of a more difficult song to put a harp to, and he just nailed it on the first try. His performance was one of blues history. It was a real honor to work with him, and I'm sorry I'll never get to see him or hang out with him again. I would hope that he gets recognized by one of the foundations or even the Rock and Roll Hal of Fame."
—actor Dan Aykroyd
Sonny Bono, 62
SINGER-POLITICIAN
"In his last role, that of a public servant, he used his unique talents as an entertainer—his relaxed style, comfort with the media spotlight, and his rare ability to make people laugh—to bring a much-needed levity to Congress. His cheerful demeanor and general eagerness reminded all of us that what is important is people. Sonny arrived in Washington as an underestimated Hollywood celebrity. In the end, he proved himself a leader."
—departing House Speaker Newt Gingrich
Maureen O'Sullivan, 87
ACTRESS
"Maureen would steal some of my lines [Stranded, 1987], but it was true that they were better when she said them, so I didn't mind. Maureen's features were so petite, so beautiful. There was something otherworldly about her. She had the aura of a movie star but in a more ethereal way. Like [daughter] Mia Farrow, that sort of fairy quality, something untouchable. She didn't seem bitter or tortured; she seemed like a very happy person."
—actress lone Skye
Bella Abzug, 77
POLITICIAN
"Walking through the streets of New York City with her was an experience in itself. Truck drivers would lean out of the window and call out, 'Give 'em hell!' It was like instant affection and friendship, especially for people who were poor, or women, or living in a tough neighborhood. Because she was a whole person and didn't cut off the serious and forceful part of herself, people might be surprised at her warmth and humor and gentleness. She took everyone seriously and listened to everyone and argued if she didn't agree. She cared about what you thought."
—author-feminist Gloria Steinem
Robert Young, 91
ACTOR
"He was a star long before Father Knows Best. I would watch movies of his when he was younger and think, 'Oh, my goodness, that is the man that's playing my father! This is the man I call Daddy off the stage? What a hunk!' But he was very close to [his character] Jim Anderson in many ways. He was one of those people you looked up to. He had this darling little MG, and he would drive me to the studio wearing a corduroy sport coat and a little hat. I think he even lived on Elm Street."
—actress Lauren Chapin (lower right)
Alan Pakula, 70
DIRECTOR
"I went to his apartment in New York City once, and there was beautiful classical music playing, and the walls were lined with books that had obviously been read. He wasn't intimidating; he was a very, very nice man. He was like a college professor, but a relaxed one, very well-read and thoughtful. He was just a special guy, so very courteous and polite to people who worked for him. He was a real gentleman, and there aren't too many of them left in this business, and fewer and fewer with each passing year."
—actor Brian Dennehy
Cleveland Amory, 81
ANIMAL RIGHTS ADVOCATE
"He was very witty. He once claimed that he wanted to protect the right to arm bears. Cleveland was a character. Appearing rather crumpled was part of that role. He looked like an unmade bed, and I don't think he owned a comb."
—ASPCA president Roger Caras
Alan Shepard, 74
ASTRONAUT
"Al was the very epitome of what an astronaut should be. He was very competent, had a lot of confidence in his own abilities. He could be a pretty stern taskmaster. Sometimes we called him the Icy Commander and sometimes we called him Smiling Al. But under that icy facade, he was a very warm individual, a great guy."
—Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell
Lloyd Bridges, 85
ACTOR
"A few years ago, we were in Hawaii together for a charity golf tournament. Someone asked, 'Where's Lloyd?' Next thing we knew, here he comes in a scuba outfit. He must have been 78. He was very much a family man. You could see how content he was by the way he was always smiling. When you're comfortable at home, you're liable to live a long time—though I wish he'd lived even longer."
—actor Leslie Nielsen
Mary Frann, 55
ACTRESS
"Those looks she gave Larry, Darryl and Darryl [on Newhart] stand out in my mind. They just made you laugh. It was like she was saying, 'Where do they come from?' Her look captured the scene. She was such an upper to have on the set. She was always loose and funny and laughing. I'm really going to miss her."
—comedian Bob Newhart
Gene Autry, 91
SINGING COWBOY
"Gene was my second dad. He was a huge inspiration to me—my mom and dad taught me how to sing his first hit song, 'That Stiver-Haired Daddy of Mine.' Singing and songwriting were his first love. Gene treated everyone well. He always shook everyone's hand and was polite. That was a great lesson. We'll miss Gene Autry."
—singer Glen Campbell
Jerome Robbins, 79
CHOREOGRAPHER
"He was a true genius. He captured modern life in a way that nobody had ever done. Nobody, nobody couid make you laugh the way he did. The humor of his dances was wonderful. Very often ballet humor is either a bit embarrassing or a bit arch. Jerry's was funny."
—-lyricist Betty Comden
Phil Hartman, 49
COMEDIAN
"He was a good and true person. His humor was so infectious. He could take today's Los Angeles Times Calendar section and recite it on the air, and everybody would be laughing hysterically. The soundstage has been our home, but it's not home without Phil. We feel like a big part of us is missing."
—NewsRadio actress Vicki Lewis
Eldridge Cleaver, 62
ACTIVIST-AUTHOR
"Eldridge was a rebel with a cause. He wrote Soul on Ice in jail. He had the capacity to articulate his pain and he sought to turn his pain into power. Cleaver was in the middle of that war to make America better and more sensitive."
—Rev. Jesse Jackson
Betty Carter, 68
SINGER
"Everything about the way she approached music was real. She was a real jazz singer. She believed deeply in the music itself. There is no opportunity for fakeness in the type of music she was trying to sing. I would put her on the same level as Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. She used to sing the way many horn players played. Lionel Hampton called her Betty Bebop. It was a term of great affection and respect."
—musician Sonny Rollins
John Derek, 71
ACTOR
(with fourth wife Bo Derek) "In Dynasty there were scenes where Blake and Crystal would sit and have champagne and grapes coated with this sugar-and-egg-white thing. That was from my life. I used to come home from work, and John would do all of this for me, and we would sit in front of the fire. He was romantic. Very few men will love a woman like that."
—third wife Linda Evans
Bob Kane, 83
A BATMAN CREATOR
"He loved his fans. He would always write his signature. At the drop of a hat he would also draw a quick Batman sketch for anyone who asked. He was that wonderful. Bob was definitely an artist—a painter, a cartoonist and a writer. He's probably up there now, drawing cartoons, amusing the good Lord."
—Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee
Dr. Benjamin Spock, 94
PEDIATRICIAN
"In Puerto Rico, we drove up a mountain, and we were all sweating. We saw a swimming pool, but it was in a hotel, and a sign said Guests Only. We were ready to leave when the manager rushed out and said, 'Dr. Spock, Dr. Spock! I have 13 children, and you helped me raise all of them! You can swim whenever you want.' "
—pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton
Flip Wilson, 64
COMEDIAN
"He was a pioneer. And that means so much more than a word. He broke down a lot of barriers. Flip made us laugh at ourselves, which was unique for the time. When someone blazes a trail as Flip did, it puts us so far ahead as a race, and as people in general."
—singer Gladys Knight
Carl Perkins, 65
ROCKER
"I got some blue suede shoes for him and covered them with glitter after the song became a hit. Carl came out at the Big D Jamboree in Dallas one night, with a spotlight shining on those shoes. People stood and gave him an unbelievable ovation. He was just beside himself."
—Sun Records founder Sam Phillips
Florence Griffith Joyner, 38
OLYMPIAN
"What Florence did was let people know it's okay to get out there and sweat. She let them know, 'I can get my hair done, right before I go on the track. I can paint my nails to the color of my outfit and put lipstick on and put on some perfume and smell like a female, and I can still get out there and beat you. I'm still all woman.' "
—Olympian Gail Devers
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
