William Asher, who helped birth TV sitcom "Bewitched," co-created "The Patty Duke Show" and directed hundreds of episodes of series including "I Love Lucy" and"Bewitched," the latter starring his then-wife Elizabeth Montgomery, has died in Palm Desert, Calif., according to the Desert Sun. He was 90.
But even if he hadn't worked in television at all, Asher would be remembered for writing and helming the beach movies starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon: "Beach Party," "Muscle Beach Party," "Beach Blanket Bingo" and "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini."

(Amid working on these "Beach Party" films, he developed the pilot of the beach-set comedy "Gidget" for Sally Field and directed a number of episodes.)

He won an Emmy in 1966 for directing an episode of "Bewitched" and was thereafter nominated three more times for his work on the show.

The creation of "Bewitched" was spurred by his desire to see Montgomery keep working as an actress after their marriage in 1963. "She didn't want to do anything, she wanted to have babies," Asher said in a 1999 interview with the Bewitched.net fan website. Asher suggested that they do a TV series together, and he wrote a pilot that was "very close" to 'Bewitched' for Columbia Pictures' Screen Gems unit. But the studio had a similar script on hand from sitcom vet Sol Saks, "The Witch of Westport," featuring more of the Halloween-like trappings of, say, "The Addams Family." Asher blended the disparate visions, emphasizing comedy over cobwebs and boiling cauldrons. Saks, Asher acknowledged, "hated it," even though the show became a staple of ABC's lineup from 1964-72 and a perennial favorite in syndication for generations.

He started out in the mailroom at Universal Studios, co-directed the film "Leather Gloves" in 1948 before beginning work in television in the medium's earliest days, directing episodes of "The Danny Thomas Show" and "The Colgate Comedy Hour" among many others.

A job helming the pilot of the classic sitcom "Our Miss Brooks," adapted from radio, led to his work on "I Love Lucy," for which he directed 100 episodes. He also produced and directed episodes of "Fibber McGee and Molly."

He continued work as a director into the 1970s and beyond, helming episodes of "The Paul Lynde Show," "Operation Petticoat," "Alice," the TV adaptation of "The Bad News Bears" and "Private Benjamin." He helmed the reunion telepics "I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later" in 1985 and "Return to Green Acres" in 1990.

Besides the "Beach Party" films, Asher also directed a number of crime dramas for the bigscreen: "Mobs, Inc.," "The Shadow on the Window" "Johnny Cool," as well as sci-fier "The 27th Day." He took Avalon and Funicello onto the race track for the action comedy "Fireball 500" and returned to the bigscreen in 1985 with the Walter Matthau-Charles Grodin comedy "Movers and Shakers."

William Milton Asher was born in New York. His mother was the actress Lillian Bonner; his father, Ephraim M. Asher, was an associate producer on the 1931 horror classics "Dracula" and "Frankenstein." The family moved to Los Angeles when William Asher was 10.

Asher was married four times, the second time to the late actress Elizabeth Montgomery, the third time to actress Joyce Bulifant.

Asher is survived by fourth wife Meredith; a son and a daughter from his first marriage, Liane and Brian; two sons, William Asher Jr. and Robert Asher, and a daughter, Rebecca Asher, from his marriage to Montgomery; four stepchildren; nine grandchildren; and eight step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Sept. 29 at Desert Springs Church in Palm Desert.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118056655


Actor Morgan Paull dies at 67
Appeared in opening scene of 'Blade Runner'

By Variety Staff

Morgan Paull, the actor best known for his role as the blade runner whom Harrison Ford's character replaces in the seminal science-fiction film of that name, died Tuesday in Ashland, Ore., after having been diagnosed with stomach cancer. He was 67.

The actor was also a candidate for president of the Screen Actors Guild in 1981, though he came in third, with Ed Asner winning the post.

Paull appears in the opening scene of Ridley Scott's 1982 film "Blade Runner," where as a detective he is interviewing a job applicant to make sure he is not a replicant, or genetically engineered human.

Paull had supporting roles in several other high-profile films, including "Patton," John Wayne starrer "Cahill U.S. Marshal," "The Swarm" and "Norma Rae," but he worked more often in television. The actor made his debut in an episode of "The Patty Duke Show" in 1965 and later guested in series including "Ironside," "Emergency!," "Gunsmoke," "Chico and the Man," "Quincy, M.E." and "The Fall Guy."

Paull is survived by longtime companion Jenny Elam; two daughters; two sisters; a granddaughter and grandson; and his stepmother.

Jon Lord of Deep Purple has died at the age of 71.

The co-founder and keyboard player with the metal pioneers passed away today (July 16) after suffering a pulmonary embolism. He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer and was surrounded by his family at the London Clinic.

Lord founded Deep Purple in 1968, and along with drummer Ian Paice was a constant in the band during their existence from 1968 to 1976. Her co-wrote many of the band's songs, including the seminal 'Smoke On The Water' and was responsible for the legendary organ riff on 'Child In Time'. Watch the track below.

He remained with the band when they reformed in 1984 until his retirement in 2002.

Renowned for his fusion of rock and classical or baroque forms, he was perhaps best known for his Orchestral work 'Concerto For Group And Orchestra' first performed at Royal Albert Hall with Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1969 and conducted by the renowned Malcolm Arnold. The feat was repeated in 1999 when it was again performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the London Symphony Orchestra and Deep Purple.

He also worked with Whitesnake, Paice, Ashton And Lord, The Artwoods and Flower Pot Men.

A statement from his representatives reads simply: "Jon passes from Darkness to Light".

http://www.nme.com/news/deep-purple/64953