The New York Times – Music:
He was an elite studio musician who played with A-list artists and helped write the Eric Clapton hit “Layla.” But his life was shattered by mental illness and a murder conviction.
Author: Richard Sandomir
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Otis Taylor, Star Receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, Dies at 80
The New York Times – Sports:
An acrobatic player, he was the prototype for the big receivers who succeeded him. He caught a memorable touchdown in the Chiefs’ upset win in Super Bowl IV.
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Jean Faut, Star Pitcher in Women’s Baseball League, Dies at 98
The New York Times – Sports:
She threw two perfect games — something no major league pitcher has done — in the league that inspired the film “A League of Their Own.”
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Tom Sizemore, Intense Actor With a Troubled Life, Dies at 61
The New York Times – Film:
He earned praise for his work in films like “Saving Private Ryan” and “Black Hawk Down.” He also served prison time for drug possession and domestic abuse.
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Richard Anobile, Chronicler of the Marx Brothers, Dies at 76
The New York Times – Film:
He produced many books about film. But Groucho Marx tried to stop distribution of one they worked on together because he didn’t like seeing his salty and insulting remarks in print.
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Sal Piro, ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Superfan, Dies at 72
The New York Times – Film:
Like many others, he was riveted by the film and attended numerous midnight showings. Unlike many others, he made it the focus of his life.
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Hugh Hudson, Director of ‘Chariots of Fire,’ Dies at 86
The New York Times – Film:
His first film — about two runners, one Christian, one Jewish, who compete at the 1924 Summer Olympics — won four Oscars, including for best picture.
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Solomon Perel, Jew Who Posed as a Hitler Youth to Survive, Dies at 97
The New York Times – Film:
His masquerade — a tale recounted in a memoir and in the film “Europa Europa” — saved his life. But “to this day,” he said, “I have a tangle of two souls in one body.”
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Ron Labinski, Who Designed a Cozier Future for Stadiums, Dies at 85
The New York Times – Sports:
An architect, he followed his hunch that teams would abandon ugly concrete multipurpose arenas for fan-friendly single-sport facilities, like Oriole Park at Camden Yards.