From the Ridiculous to the Courageous: Notable People Who Passed On in 2011 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Peter Falk: Born September 16, 1927, died June 23, 2011 - pictured above as Columbo.
   Character Actor Peter Falk, best known for his television role of the crumpled, chronically disheveled, Detective - polite to the point of annoyance - Columbo. Columbo "always got his man," but moreover, he won the hearts of multitudes of fans for his authentic character study of a regular guy, who was very good at what he did in life.

   My father, Robert Earle Deatherage, who was very much like the detective in many ways, loved this show.

   Falk played the homicide detective, Lieutenant Columbo, from the 1971s until he completed 68 episodes. Actor Falk won part of his 5 emmies for this role.

    The versatile actor also portrayed the grandfather who told a reluctant Fred Savage the story of 'The Princess Bride' in the 1987, which is one of my many favorite films.

   Falk won five Emmy Awards during his career, as well as a Tony award for his part in the 1971 Neil Simon play, 'The Prisoner of Second Avenue.' Falk was nominated for Oscars for his roles in the 1960 movie 'Murder, Inc.' and in the 1961 film 'Pocketful of Miracles.'

   Falk also starred in movies such as 'A Woman Under The Influence' in 1974 and 'Wings of Desire.' His last on-screen acting project was the 2009 film "American Cowslip.'

    Falk, who reportedly suffered from Alzheimer's disease, was 83, which became noticeable in the venerable actor in 2007.
Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite: Born February 7, 1946, died January 2, 2011 - picture here above with his "The Usual Suspects," 1995, co-stars, Stephen Baldwin (left) and Gabriel Byrne (right). Pete Postlethwaite played the Kobayashi to Kevin Spacey's Keyser Söze.
   The British character actor, best known for his roles in The Usual Suspects, Amistad and In the Name of the Father, for which he earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, was one of the best in his time at what he did.

   The man possessed an unrelenting work ethic, and played memorable roles, such as in "The Town," right until the end.

   Pete Postlethwaite passed away from cancer at the age of 64.
James King Arness: Born May 26, 1923, died June 3, 2011 - pictured above as Marshall Matt Dillon.
   The actor, who played Marshall Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke for 20 years. James Arness, the older brother of Actor Peter Graves, 1926–2010, was the iconic Marshall Dillon, who set the standard for always playing fair, while serving up a heaping pile of Western justice.

   The good natured actor, of Norwegian heritage, and measured 6 feet, 6 inches in his prime, self-eulogized his life this way, "I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends."

   James Arness died of Natural Causes.
Clarence Anicholas "Big Man" Clemons, Jr.: Born January 11, 1942, died June 18, 2011 - pictured above with great friend and band leader Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen (right).
   Clarence "Big Man" Clemons played a wailing saxophone for nearly 40 years in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. He was saxophones riffs were a huge lead instrument, and usually denoted both moments of contemplative reflection in "The Boss's" songs and exhilaration, when it was, of course, time to dance.

   Clarence Clemons legendary band leader and friend, Bruce Springsteen eulogized his good friend's life in these words:

   "Clarence lived a wonderful life, ' Springsteen said in a message posted on his official website. 'He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 years.

   He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

   Clarence "Big Man" Clemons passed away due to complications stemming from a stroke he had a week prior to his death.

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel: Born October 15, 1936, died December 18, 2011 - pictured above.
   Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, a dissident playwright jailed by Communists who then became Czech president and a symbol of peace and freedom after leading the bloodless "Velvet Revolution," was an inspirational leader in the last days of the Cold War against Soviet totalitarianism.

   To date it is believed that the former Czech President died of natural causes.
Steven Paul Jobs: Born February 24, 1955, died October 5, 2011 - pictured above.
   The cofounder of Apple Computers, former head of Pixar Animation Studios, and technological innovator of inordinate abilities always found a way to confound his critics and enthrall his loyal fans and exactly the same time. He was a capitalist of consummate skills and showed the world at what level of creativity, we should strive to achieve in the years to come.

   Steve jobs eventually succumbed to his seven year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Andrew Aitken "Andy" Rooney: Born January 14, 1919, died November 4, 2011 - pictured above.
   The crusty curmudgeon of 60 minutes fame spent a lifetime in journalism even as a World War II correspondent for the "Stars and Stripes." Andy Rooney actually flew over Germany, in the Eighth Army Air Corps's B-17 (the Flying Fortress), as a contingent of 6 correspondents to the Air Corps's 2nd raid into Nazi enemy airspace. It was 1943 and casualties for the Eight Army were extremely high at that time.

   The legendary 60 Minutes commentator died in a New York City hospital due to complications following minor surgery.