So farewell then...

**Eminence Grise** · 31/12/2016, 11:34 PM

2016, a miserable, sadistic old ba5tard with an over-fondness for collecting icons, all too often before their time.

Unloved and unlamented, it was bumped off by its offspring, 2017, from whom we hope for better (though it’s welcome to keep company with Messrs Trump and Putin if it feels nostalgic for last year).

**Eminence Grise** · 03/01/2017, 10:35 AM

Art critic and writer John Berger, best known for 'Ways of Seeing'.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38492516
https://www.theguardian.com/books/20...om-being-alive

**Eminence Grise** · 08/01/2017, 4:23 PM

Two for those with memories of an older era...

Singer, Peter Sarstedt
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38548507

And one that passed me by at the tail end of 2016, William Christopher, best known as Fr Mulcahy in the TV series of MASH.
http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/mash...hy-1201950747/

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 09/01/2017, 10:33 PM

T.K. Whitaker.

**nigel-harps1954** · 12/01/2017, 12:19 PM

First major footballing casualty of 2017. Graham Taylor dead at 72.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/footb...-Villa-England

**SkStu** · 12/01/2017, 3:34 PM

Do i not like that.

**Seagull** · 13/01/2017, 7:51 PM

William Peter Blatty, author of 'The Exorcist' RIP http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38613928

**KrisLetang** · 13/01/2017, 8:13 PM

Originally Posted by Seagull

William Peter Blatty, author of 'The Exorcist' RIP http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38613928

Did anyone read the article from the guy who directed the Exorcist about the exorcism he went to in Italy? I think it was in Vanity Fair last month..it was fascinating. Blatty believed some were real, the director didn't...until now.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 15/01/2017, 2:53 PM

Philly mafia Don, "Little" Nicky Scarfo.

http://www.bigtrial.net/2017/01/repo...s-died-in.html

**tetsujin1979** · 15/01/2017, 11:14 PM

former wrestler Superfly Himmy Snuka: http://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-hall-...ka-passes-away

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 16/01/2017, 2:09 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

former wrestler Superfly Himmy Snuka: http://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-hall-...ka-passes-away

He murdered a woman and got away with it. Good riddance.

**tetsujin1979** · 16/01/2017, 2:21 PM

Allegedly, although recent evidence suggests he did. Was declared unfit to stand trial last year.

**OwlsFan** · 23/01/2017, 4:20 PM

... Gorden Kaye, aka Rene, Le Cafe owner, from "Allo Allo" to "Adieu Adieu" !! http://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2017...ye-dies-at-75/

**Eminence Grise** · 28/01/2017, 8:00 PM

John Hurt, 77 after pancreatic cancer.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/201...dnight-express

Edit - somehow ironic in a week when sales of 1984 rocketed.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...-a7548666.html

**TheBoss** · 29/01/2017, 2:23 PM

I think you mean coincidence rather than ironic

**Eminence Grise** · 29/01/2017, 4:28 PM

No, I meant ironic: the coincidence is self-evident The irony is, firstly, commentary on where we find ourselves 30-odd years after the film, and, secondly, because I'm sure there will be screenings of the film on various channels both because of his death and the increased sales, and some people who only know him from Harry Potter or Doctor Who may realise too late just how brilliantly he played that kind of role. Now, if you want to point out that I'm conflating the book and film, I couldn't argue with you there.

**TheBoss** · 29/01/2017, 5:03 PM

I still don't see it from your explanation, to me its more of an apt coincidence than irony. Irony implies an event that is opposite to what is expected, I just don't see what is that opposite?

**OwlsFan** · 30/01/2017, 1:22 PM

Brunhilde Pomsel, the former secretary to Nazi Germany's propaganda boss Joseph Goebbels, has died aged 106. Like Manuel in Fawlty Towers, she knew nothing
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38793048