The Elder Smothers Brother

 

Comedian/actor/singer/songwriter Tom Smothers has passed at 86. One half of the famed brotherly duo, The Smothers Brothers, theirs was a standup comedy act sprinkled with songs highlighted by Tom accusing, "Mom always liked you best!" Their partnership carried on gloriously in primetime CBS with The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in the late sixties which won huge ratings, critical acclaim, Emmy Awards, and controversy by its fearless tackling of political subject matter. The show was subsequently cancelled, and 40 years later Tom was awarded a special Emmy - after leaving his name off the eventual, Emmy winning writers (including Steve Martin) to avoid hurting their chances. Roles followed like the satire, Serial, but his place in TV pantheon was secure.

TV Top Cop

Actor Andre Braugher has passed at 61. He made a splash in films like Primal Fear and Glory. His signature role was his Emmy winning, Detective Frank Pembleton on the prestigious TV show, Homicide: Life on the Street. Other TV roles followed including a recent run as Captain Raymond Holt on the comedy hit, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He brought authority and commitment to his characters.

Heartthrob of the 1970s

 

Actor Ryan O'Neal has passed at 82. This handsome leading man began in guest roles in film and TV like Peyton Place and exploded to stardom in Love Story in 1970 and never looked back. He starred in some of the biggest films of the 1970s like What's Up Doc?, Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, and A Bridge Too Far.  He continued to make films and TV appearances up to a few years ago. His daughter Tatum is an Oscar winning actress.

Groundbreaking Producer

Producer Norman Lear has passed at 101. This all time giant of extremely popular TV shows particularly comedies in the 1970s not only constantly broke the top 20 ratings but garnered countless Emmy Awards and critical acclaim for his challenging themes and subject matter that often embraced the social discourse of the day. Think of these shows, All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, Good Times, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, and One Day at a Time among so many titles.
He was unafraid of dealing with topics such as feminism, racism, politics, and sexuality at a time when TV shows stayed safe as sitcoms. He recently did updated one offs of his greatest show episodes with A list guest stars to Emmy winning success.
He worked in the Golden Age of television, and was also a major writer (Oscar nominated for screenplay  Divorce American Style) and executive producer of films such as The Princess Bride, Stand by Me, and Fried Green Tomatoes. He won every major artistic award including Peabodys and Kennedy Center Honors. And how many producers can boast having 5 shows in the top ten at the same time?! (He did in 1974-1975.)