Eiko Ishioka, the celebrated Japanese designer whose fantastical and dreamlike
creations spanned the fields of graphic arts, costume design and more, has died
at 73. She died Saturday from pancreatic cancer in Tokyo.Ishioka became
famous for her strange, otherworldly designs that drew from various cultures. In
the U.S., she was best-known for her costume design, creating the colorful
outfits for Broadway's "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," Cirque du Soleil's
"Varekai" and the 1992 movie "Bram Stoker's Dracula," directed by Francis Ford
Coppola, for which she won an Oscar.In 2003, Ishioka spoke to The Times
about her work on "Varekai." As a designer, "my perspective comes not just from
knowledge of what happens behind the scenes or backstage but also from the
perspective of the audience," she said. "That dual perspective led me to the
idea: 'Why don't I design costumes that look dangerous but are actually
safe?'"Ishioka also designed the costumes and sets for the 1988 Broadway
production of "M. Butterfly" by David Henry Hwang. More recently, she designed
the outlandish costumes for singer Grace Jones for her 2009 "Hurricane"
tour.Producers of Broadway's "Spider-Man" announced that they will
dedicate Thursday's performance to Ishioka.Ishioka worked for many years
in graphic arts and advertising in her native Japan. Her work has been compiled
in the books "Eiko on Eiko" and "Eiko on Stage." She won a Grammy Award for her cover art for the 1987 Miles Davis album "Tutu." Her first major film work
was as the set designer for Paul Schrader's "Mishima," the fractured
biographical account of writer Yukio Mishima.

Her most recent work was for the director Tarsem Singh for the films "The Cell," "The Fall" and "Immortals." A full obituary will appear later at latimes.com/obits.

Vadim Glowna (26 September 1941 – 24 January 2012) was a German actor and film director.

He appeared in over 150 films and television shows since 1964.He directed the 1983 film Dies rigorose Leben, which won an Honourable Mention at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival. In 1989, he was a member of the jury at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival. Three years later, his film Rising to the Bait was entered into the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.Selected filmographyCuore di cane (1976) Cross of Iron (1977) Group Portrait with Lady (1977) Bloodline (1979) Death Watch (1980) Dies rigorose Leben (1983 – director) The Year of the Quiet Sun (1984) Rising to the Bait (1992) Viktor Vogel –
Commercial Man (2001) Mein Name ist Bach (2003; as Johann Sebastian Bach)
Agnes and His Brothers (2004) Hitler's Grave (2011)

Actor James Farentino dies of heart failure at 73(AP) – 9 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A family spokesman says actor James Farentino, who
appeared in dozens of movies and television shows, has died in a Los Angeles
hospital. He was 73.Family spokesman Bob Palmer says Farentino died of heart failure after a long illness at Cedars-Sinai Hospital on Tuesday.

Farentino starred alongside Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen in the 1980 science fiction film "The Final Countdown."Farentino also starred opposite Patty Duke in 1969's "Me, Natalie."He also had recurring roles on "Dynasty," ''Melrose Place," ''The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" and "ER," playing the estranged father to George Clooney's character.A four-time divorcee, Farentino's tumultuous personal life made headlines, too.In March 1994 he pleaded no contest to stalking his ex-girlfriend Tina Sinatra, daughter of Frank Sinatra.