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BLACK CELEBRITIES WHO DIED WITH LITTLE OR NO FANFARE
R&B duo "Damian Dame" (pictured above) consisted of Debra Jean Hurd aka "Deah Dame," and Bruce Edward Brodus aka Damian. They were the first act signed to the "LaFace," label by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A." Reid. They were famous for the following hits, "Exclusivity," "Right Down To It," and "Gotta Learn My Rhythm." Deah would die in an car accident on June 27, 1994. She was 35 years old. Damian would die on the same day (June 27th) two years later of colon cancer.
Singer Richard "Dimples" Fields (pictured above) was famous for the songs, "If It Ain't One Thing, It's Another," and "She's Got Papers On Me." Fields would die of an massive stroke on Jan. 12th, 2000. He was 58 years old.
Edmund Sylvers (pictured above) was the lead singer of the group "The Sylvers." At age 47, he would succumb to lung cancer in 2004, following a 10-month illness. The Sylvers hits include: "Boogie Fever," and "Hot Line."
Actress Teresa Graves (pictured above) appeared on "Laugh-In," and starred in the television series, "Get Christie Love," she popularized the word "sugar," in the series. Graves died in a house fire four years ago. She was found unconscious in a rear addition to the house where a faulty spare heater sparked the blaze and she was pronounced dead at the scene. It took 50 firefighters, 30 minutes to put the fire out.
Dino Connor, 28, (pictured above) was the lead singer of the group "H-Town." He was killed along with his girlfriend in 2003. They had just left the studio when their vehicle was struck by a SUV that ran a red light. The group rose to prominance 12 years ago with their smash hit, "Knockin The Boots."
Renee Diggs (pictured above) was the lead vocalist for the group "Starpoint." Their big hit was "Object Of My Desire." Diggs died last year of heart-related complications and she also suffered from multiple sclerosis. Miss Diggs was 50.
Singing trio "The Jones Girls," (pictured above) were sisters who sung background for Diana Ross. They rose to fame after Ross got them a record deal to go out on their own. Their hits included, "You're Going To Make Me Love Somebody Else," and "Dance Turned Into Romance." Sadly, member Valorie Jones, 45, died in 2001, cause of death is unknown.
Actress Shirley Hemphill (pictured above) appeared in the 70's sitcom "What's Happening." She died in 1999 from kidney failure. She was 50. It was nearly two weeks before her body was discovered in her home.
Lynn Collins (pictured above) who sung with James Brown and recorded the smash hit "Think" in the early 70's died last year of cardiac arrhythmia. She was 56 years old.
Van McCoy (January 6, 1940-July 6, 1979) was a music producer, musician, songwriter, and orchestra conductor most famous for his massive 1975 disco hit "The Hustle," which is still played on dance floors today, almost 30 years after his death. He is also notable for producing such recording artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Stylistics, Aretha Franklin, Brenda & The Tabulations, David Ruffin (Walk Away From Love) and Peaches & Herb, Melba Moore (Lean On Me) and Stacy Lattisaw. McCoy died of a massive heart attack in 1979.
Harry Ray (first photo) was the original lead singer of the "Moments," and "Ray Goodman & Brown." Their hits included, "Love On A Two Way Street," "Special Lady," and "Happy Anniversary." Ray would die of a massive stroke in 1992.
Harold Melvin (above, center) formed the group "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes," with Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocals. The group had numerous hits during the 70's, including "Wake Up Everybody," and "Bad Luck." Pendergrass would leave to pursue a successful solo career. Harold Melvin continued to tour with various lineups of Blue Notes until suffering a massive stroke. Melvin died on March 24, 1997 at the age of fifty-seven.
Singer Gwen Guthrie is best known for her hit, "Ain't Nothing Going On But The Rent," in 1986. Guthrie started her career by moonlighting as a singer of commercial jingles, sometimes with her friend Valerie Simpson (of Ashford & Simpson fame). A songwriting partnership with Patrick Grant resulted in Ben E. King's comeback single, "Supernatural Thing," and "This Time I'll Be Sweeter," covered by numerous artists. She was also the writer of Roberta Flack's "God Don't Like Ugly," and she contributed to the Sister Sledge album, "Circle Of Love." Miss Guthrie died of uterine cancer on February 3, 1999 at the age of 48.
Wylie Draper, the actor who portrayed Michael Jackson in the mini-series, "The Jacksons: An American Dream," died a year after the program aired. Draper died from a rare form of leukemia.
Theodore "Teddy" Wilson (pictured on the bottom half of the above photo with the mustache) was an character actor best known for his recurring role as Sweet Daddy Williams on the CBS sitcom Good Times from 1976 until 1979. Wilson also played the role of Al Dunbar in a popular two-part episode of the 1970s sitcom What's Happening!!. In the conclusion of the two-parter, Wilson's character gets arrested for bootlegging a Doobie Brothers concert. Wilson was married to actress Joan Pringle. He died from AIDS-related complications on July 21, 1991 at the age of 47 in Los Angeles, California.
Vocalist/writer/producer David Townsend (pictured above in the hat) from the '80s vocal trio "Surface," known for such lush ballads as "Happy," "Closer Than Friends," "Shower Me With Your Love" and "The First Time," was found dead inside his Northridge, California home by a close friend. The cause of death was unknown. Townsend was 50. Townsend was the son of the late songwriter/producer Ed Townsend, who was responsible for co-writing "Let's Get It On" by the late great Marvin Gaye and had his own solo hit, "For Your Love" back in 1958.
Lead singer, Kenny "G-Love," Greene (pictured in the center) of the 90's group "Intro," died of AIDS complications in 2001.
The lead singer (Samuel Brown) of the group "The Intruders," famous for their hits (Cowboys To Girls and I'll Always Love My Mama) committed suicide in 1995. He was allegedly depressed that his wife and mother died within weeks of each other. His body was pulled out of a river.
Actor Jack Baker started off as Cletus in "Good Times," and portrayed "Wonderbug," in "Happy Days." He left mainstream cinema for adult movies in 1984. He died of cancer in 1994.
Actor Steve James (pictured above, on the right) starred mostly in low-budget action films such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force (1986), The Exterminator (1980), and Enter the Game of Death (1978). James also starred as Kung Fu Joe in the 1988 comedy/spoof "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka." His uncle was James Wall, who played Mr. Baxter on Captain Kangaroo. James was also close friends with actor Michael Dudikoff (above left, the two met while shooting American Ninja) and director William Friedkin described him as "One of the most nicest, toughest and professional actors I've ever worked with." Steve James died of pancreatic cancer in Burbank, California, at age 41 in 1993. Eulogies at James' funerial service were delivered by Sidney Poitier and director-writer S.C. Dacy.
Kevin Peter Hall (pictured above) was an actor famous for his roles as Dr. Elvin Lincoln in Misfits of Science (1985), the 'monsters' in Prophecy (1979), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Predator (1987), and Predator 2 (1990). He also had guest spots on shows like Night Court and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was frequently cast in monster roles due to his extremely tall stature-he stood 7' 2½" (2.20 m). His mother stood a top height of 6'2" and his father stood 6'6." He married 227 actress Alaina Reed in 1989 after appearing on the program. In the fall of 1990, Hall was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles and required a blood transfusion, which was later discovered to be contaminated with HIV. He contracted AIDS and died from complications related to the disease shortly afterwards. He and his wife had two children.
Depending on who you talk to, 16-year old actress, Tara McMullen (pictured above with Martin Lawrence) was either bi-racial or part Latino. Regardless, we decided to include her in this segment. Tara Correa-McMullen (May 24, 1989-October 21, 2005) is the stage name of Shalvah McMullen, an actress who was well-known for a recurring role playing a gang member, Graciela Reyes, on the CBS TV series, Judging Amy. In 2005, she co-starred in her first movie, "Rebound," with Martin Lawrence. Correa-McMullen was born in Westminster, Vermont to Devra Correa and Thomas McMullen. She moved to Los Angeles, California and sang in the Venice High School choir. McMullen was also known for her temper, she got into scuffles with high school classmates and she threw furniture. She eventually stopped going to school and started hanging out with a older gangbanger. One day, she arrived on the "Judging Amy," set and said, "I don't want to do this anymore," despite making thousands per episode, she simply preferred hanging out on the corners with gang buddies. Before that, she would arrive on the set with black eyes, claiming, she got jumped in during a gang initiation, she also started dressing in all red. On October 21, 2005, Correa-McMullen was shot to death outside an apartment complex in Inglewood, California. Suspected gang member Damien Watts, 20, was charged with her murder on March 1, 2006. When charged, Watts was already in custody for a separate shooting. While police believe her death was gang-related (mirroring her most well-known role), "she may have just been at the wrong place at the wrong time," claimed Sgt. Steve Overly.
'REAL LIFE DEATHS' OF 3 ACTORS WHO APPEARED IN THE FILM "A SOLDIER'S STORY"
Larry Riley (pictured above on the set of A Soldier's Story) was an actor, best known to screen viewers for his role as C.J. Memphis in the movie "A Soldier's Story," and as Frank Williams in the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing. When Riley wasn't working as an actor, he was a respected craftsman who built Hollywood sets. He died of AIDS in 1992. He was forced to give up his role in "Knots Landing," because of his declining health due to the illness.
Adolph Caesar is best remembered for his role in director Norman Jewison's film, "A Soldier's Story," for which he received a nomination for "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" from both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. He also played the role of "Old Mister," opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover, in Steven Spielberg's film, "The Color Purple." Adolph Caesar was working on the Los Angeles set of the 1986 film, "Tough Guys," when he suffered a heart attack and died a short time later.
Howard Rollins was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series for his role on Another World. Rollins was also nominated for the 1981 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the motion picture, Ragtime. In 1984, he starred in director Norman Jewison's film, A Soldier's Story which led to his role as "Virgil Tibbs" on the In the Heat of the Night television series based on Jewison's acclaimed motion picture of the same name. In 1993, Rollins spent about a month in jail for driving under the influence and reckless driving. Because of continued legal problems, Rollins was ultimately dropped from In the Heat of the Night and was replaced by Carl Weathers. Rollins was invited back as a guest star on several episodes in the seventh season, but further legal problems led to his being totally banned from the county where the series was filmed. During this time, Rollins changed his appearance and appeared on a talk show in feminine looking clothes. Rollins died in 1996 after complications from AIDS-related lymphoma and was interred in the Woodlawn Cemetery in his native Baltimore. He had been diagnosed with the condition approximately six weeks earlier.
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@ Gwen Guthrie. I loved her music.
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