He passed away at age 81 may 3 2014

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=170965563

will be most known for A Christmas Story as the tree man who haggles with Darren McGavin. 

Horror fans will remember him from Black Christmas, Deranged and he was great as the villain in Videodrome

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http://tinyurl.com/l7cuhzp

Influential cinematographer Gordon Willis, whose photography for “The Godfather” series and Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan” helped define the look of 1970s cinema, has died, according to his close associate Doug Hart’s Facebook page. He was 82.

Willis was known as the Prince of Darkness for his artful use of shadows, and was DP on seminal 1970s films including “Klute,” “The Paper Chase,” “The Parallax View” and “All the President’s Men.”

He received an honorary Academy award in 2009 at the first Governor’s Awards ceremony.

Among the other Woody Allen films he shot were “Interiors,” “Stardust Memories,” “Broadway Danny Rose,” “The Purple Rose of Cairo” and “Zelig,” for which he was Oscar-nommed. His other Oscar nomination was for “The Godfather III.”

Regarding his work on “The Godfather,” Variety wrote in 1997, “Among “The Godfather’s” many astonishments, the photography by Gordon Willis — a rich play with light and shadow — confirmed Willis’ genius but was especially striking as an extension of Francis Ford Coppola’s creative intelligence. “

Born in New York City, his father worked as a make-up artist at Warner Brothers, and though Willis was originally interested in lighting and stage design, he later turned to photography. While serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, he worked in the motion picture unit and then worked in advertising and documentaries. His first feature was “End of the Road” in 1970, and his last, Alan Pakula’s “The Devil’s Own” in 1997.

http://www.kesq.com/news/singer-jerry-vale-dies/26045480

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. -

KESQ and CBS Local 2 learned singer Jerry Vale passed away Sunday morning in hospice care with family by his side. 

At the age of 15, he started singing professionally in supper clubs. Known for singing primarily love songs, Vale went on to record more than 50 albums.

Vale received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars on December 5th, 1998. His star is at 255 S. Palm Canyon Drive. 

Vale and Rita, his wife of over 40 years, resided in Palm Desert. 

Vale was 81 years old.

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