22 September 2011 3:35 PM
Finest kind of upper-class twit

The Londoner is sad to report the death of 72-year-old actor Jonathan Cecil, an Oxford contemporary of Alan Bennett famed for playing upper-class English characters. Cecil, who made his name as Peter Ustinov’s sidekick Hastings in Hercule Poirot films and as narrator of 25 audio books of P G Wodehouse, was dubbed “one of the finest upper-class twits of his era”. He also played Mr Grundy in Richard Wilson’s One Foot in the Grave. Son of Oxford Professor of English Lord David Cecil, he distinguished himself in amateur dramatics at Eton and Oxford. “I was stiff and awkward but this was rather effective for comedy parts, playing comic servants,” he once said.

Jack Neal Sr. VIRGINIA BEACH - Jack Neal Sr., 80, passed away
peacefully with his family and the angels by his side Sept. 22, 2011.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jenny and Dixie B. Neal Sr.;
brothers, Alva Lee, Dixie B. Neal Jr.; and sister, Audrey Doughtie. He
was born in St. Brides, Va. He is survived by his loving wife of 61
years, Betty Neal; son, Jack Neal Jr. of Hampton; daughters, Nancy
Turco and husband John of Summerville, S.C., Jeri Phillips and husband
Michael of Norfolk, Jackie Richelieu and husband Kurt of Kennewick,
Wash.; five grandchildren, Jayna, Nicole, Charlie, Stephanie and
Emily; one great-grandchild, Jake; brother, William Earl Neal and wife
Patsy of Chesapeake; and sister, Georgia Shirley of Virginia Beach. He
retired from Virginia Beach City Schools in 1993, and continued
working for his good friends Teresa and Danny Garcia at Ceramic Arts
Dental Lab. Jack loved all music, rock 'n' roll, country and western
and jazz. He was a talented performer. To his many fans all over the
world who would claim him as the best bass player in the world, he
would say, "keep rockin." He was a member of Salem United Methodist
Church, Virginia Beach. His legacy is found not as much in what he
said, but as in how he lived his life; an unwavering faith in the
Lord, kindness and respect for all he encountered and a dedication and
pride in his family. His quick wit, contagious smile and loving touch
will surely be missed. The family will be having a private memorial
service at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at
www.cremate.org.


Nico Minardos dies at 81
Actor appeared in films, TV
By Variety Staff

Actor Nico Minardos, who appeared in film and television during a three-decade career and was the subject of a 2010 documentary, died of natural causes on Aug. 27 in Los Angeles. He was 81.
Minardos was a contract player at 20th Century Fox, making his first (uncredited) film appearance in 1952's "Monkey Business" with Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant. Film credits also include "Istanbul," with Errol Flynn; 1960's "Twelve Hours to Kill," in which he starred opposite Barbara Eden; "It Happened in Athens," with Jayne Mansfield; and 1977's "Assault on Agathon," which he produced and starred in with Marianne Faithfull and John Woodvine.

Minardos also made appearances on dozens of TV shows starting in 1956. Credits included "Maverick," "The Twilight Zone," "Perry Mason," "The Flying Nun," "Mod Squad," "Mission: Impossible," "Ironside," "Alias Smith and Jones" and "The A-Team."

He was also the subject of Owen Prell's 2010 feature documentary "Finding Nico."

Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Minardos attended the Sorbonne in Paris and graduated from UCLA.

He was briefly married to Deborah Jean Smith, who later married Tyrone Power.

John Larson, trumpet player with the Ides of March, died Wednesday (September 22) of complications from cancer in Warsaw, Indiana. He was 61. John joined the group in the late ‘60s and his playing can be heard on the brass-dominated tunes, such as “Vehicle.” A memorial service is being planned for November. (Oldies Music. Com)

Former Atomic Rooster Member Dies
mdome / News / 22/09/2011 15:27pm

Guitarist John Du Cann has passed away after a suspected heart attack.

He first made his name with Atomic Rooster, playing on hits like Devil’s Answer. Subsequently he was a touring guitarist with Thin Lizzy on their 1974 German tour, worked with Francis Rossi and had a solo hit in 1979 with Don’t Be A Dummy.

Du Cann was also a member of progressive rock bands like Andromeda and Bullet.