Former New York Mets Hall-of-Fame catcher Gary Carter died Thursday at age
57."I am deeply saddened to tell you all that my precious dad went to be
with Jesus today at 4:10 pm.," his daughter Kimmy Bloemers, wrote on the
family's website. "This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to write in
my entire life but I wanted you all to know. He is in heaven and has reunited
with his mom and dad. I believe with all my heart that dad had a STANDING
OVATION as he walked through the gates of heaven to be with Jesus."The
Carter family has granted ESPN access to the family website to inform the
public.Carter originally was diagnosed with four brain tumors last May.
In recent months, the family hoped that, with chemotherapy and other treatments,
the tumors were in check. But in January, the family revealed that doctors found
several new tumors on Carter's brain.Carter made a public appearace at
the beginning of the month, going to Opening Day for the college baseball team
he coached.Last spring, after experiencing headaches and forgetfulness,
Carter underwent an MRI that revealed four small tumors. Carter, an
11-time All Star, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 after
retiring in 1992. He finished his 19-year career with a .262 average, 324 home
runs and 1,225 RBIs."Gary's enthusiasm, giving spirit and infectious
smile will always be remembered in Cooperstown," said Jane Forbes Clark,
chairman of the board of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. "Our
thoughts are with Sandy, Christy, Kimmie, DJ and the entire Carter family on
this very sad day."The effervescent Carter, nicknamed "Kid," is perhaps
best known for helping the New York Mets win the 1986 World Series. He had 24
homers and 105 RBIs that season, then drove in 11 runs in the
playoffs."When you think of the great baseball field generals, you think
Gary Carter," Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson said in a statement. "He ran
the game from behind the plate with strong leadership and passion. The Kid's
contribution to our national pastime is big, but his heart was even bigger.
We'll always remember his caring way, ever-present smile and strong devotion to
family, community and the Baseball Hall of Fame."
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7583267/hall-fame-catcher-gary-carter-dies-age-57

Original 'Night of the Living Dead' zombie Bill Hinzman dies at 75 By Gael
Fashingbauer Cooper He wasn't the first-ever movie zombie, but he
was the first to appear in George A. Romero's 1968 classic, "Night of the
Living Dead." Actor Bill Hinzman has died of cancer at 75, horror
site Dread Central is reporting. His character, dubbed the Graveyard Zombie, makes an appearance early in the film, staggering towards brother and sister Barbara and Johnny in a cemetery, and killing Johnny. The line, "They're coming to get you, Barbara" is famously delivered by Johnny just before Hinzman comes after the siblings. Other creatures called zombies had been depicted in film, but it was Romero who introduced the slow-walking, flesh-eating undead that we now think of when we hear the term. The movie is a cinema classic, and thousands of variously decaying zombies have attacked humans in films since then, but Hinzman was the first. Dread Central had high praise for Hinzman. "Afixture on the convention circuit, Bill was always there with a smile for fans, often
appearing in costume as the famed ghoul we all grew up with," site contributor Uncle Creepy (!) wrote. Hinzman later acted in other horror films, and wrote, produced, edited, directed and starred in 1988's "Flesh Eater," in which he appears to play the same zombie from "Night of the Living Dead." He continued to represent the film that made him famous, even answering questions at a Chicago production of "The Musical of the Living Dead."

NCIS star Mark Harmon's mother, actress and fashion designer Elyse Knox Harmon, passed away on Wednesday at her Los Angeles home surrounded by family. She was 94. A contract player who starred in close to 40 films for such studios and 20th Century Fox, Columbia and Universal, Knox played the lead opposite Lon Chaney Jr. in 1942's The Mummy's Tomb, worked with Abbott and Costello and in several Joe Palooka movies based on the famed comic strip. She was also a pin-up
girl during World War II, appearing in Yank magazine.Born in Hartford,
Connecticut, Knox studied fashion in Manhattan and pursued a career in fashion
design, modeling some of her own creations in Vogue magazine before her good
looks found Hollywood calling in the late '30s.Knox married football
star Tom Harmon in 1944, and her wedding dress was made from the silk of the
parachute that saved his life after his plane was shot down over China during
WWII. The couple settled in Los Angeles and had three children: Mark and his
older sisters Kristin and Kelly. Happily married for 46 years, Knox established
herself as an accomplished impressionist painter.In lieu of flowers, the
family asks that donations be sent to The Lange Foundation in honor of Knox's
enduring love for animals.
http://www.etonline.com/news/119180_Mark_Harmon_s_Mom_Passes_Away/