Stan Chambers, 91

KTLA is reporting that the legendary Los Angeles journalist, Stan Chambers, who worked at the station for over 60 years, has passed away at the age of 91. Chambers retired from KTLA in 2010.

For more, please read the story at KTLA's web site.

Chambers was a class act and his passing is a sad moment when journalism appears to be in a free fall of ethical lapses and failure to do it's appointed role as a check on government and society.

Perhaps we will have another Stan in the future. We send our condolences to the Chambers family.

Peggy Stevenson, 90

Peggy Stevenson

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that former Los Angeles City Council Member Peggy Stevenson has passed away at the age of 90.

Stevenson represented the Hollywood area and assumed the Council seat in 1975 when her husband, longtime Councilman Robert Stevenson passed away. She was later defeated by Mike Woo, who held the seat for several years.

According to her son, Stevenson passed away in October, but her death was not announced until today.

Harry Morgan, 96

Actor Harry Morgan, best known for his role as the stern but lovable Colonel Sherman Potter on the hit 1970s TV series M*A*S*H, has died.

Morgan died of complications from pneumonia at his home, Wednesday. He was 96.

Though Morgan appeared on several television shows and movies over a career that spanned more than 60 years, besides Colonel Potter, many Mayor Sam readers might know the actor from his role as LAPD Detective Bill Gannon, partner to Sgt. Joe Friday, on the venerable 1950s and 60s crime drama, Dragnet.

Morgan is survived by his wife and several children/grandchildren.

Keith Richman, 56

Former San Fernando Valley Assemblyman Keith Richman has died at the age of 56 of brain cancer.

Richman, who was also a physician, was active in the Valley Secession movement.  He earned the highest number of votes for Mayor of the San Fernando Valley and would have been elected such had the effort been passed by voters in other parts of the City.

Richman was also a leader on pension reform years before anyone thought it was an issue and also led on efforts for health care reform.

Dennis Hopper, 74

Legendary actor Dennis Hopper, star of classics such as Easy Rider and many others, and one of the few out Republicans in Hollywood has died at the age of 74.

Gary Coleman, 42

Gary Coleman, the star of TV's "Diff'rent Strokes" has died as a result of complications from a fall.

Art Linkletter, 97

From USA Today

Art Linkletter, host of the long-running TV show "People Are Funny" and the radio/TVshow "House Party," has died in Los Angeles. He was 97.

Billy Mays, 50

CNN is reporting that TV pitchman Billy Mays was pronounced dead at his home, according to police in Tampa, Florida.

Mays was well known for his TV commercials and infomercials for various cleaning products such as OxyClean. Ironically, he was a month older than recently deceased pop star Michael Jackson.

Mays had been aboard US Airways Flight 1241 from Philadelphia to Tampa that blew out its front tires as it landed at Tampa International Airport on June 27, the day before his death. None of the 138 passengers and five crew members were reported to be seriously injured immediately following the incident, but several passengers reported having bumps and bruises from falling objects.Mays told a local Tampa TV station that some of the objects "hit me on the head, but I got a hard head." It is unclear whether Mays' death was related to the incident.

Ed McMahon, 86

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ed McMahon, the loyal "Tonight Show" sidekick who bolstered boss Johnny Carson with guffaws and a resounding "H-e-e-e-e-e-ere's Johnny!" for 30 years, died early Tuesday. He was 86.

McMahon died shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family members, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.

Bragman didn't give a cause of death, saying only that McMahon had a "multitude of health problems the last few months."

Ron Silver, 62

NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Ron Silver has died in New York City after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer.

The Creative Coalition Executive Director Robin Bronk says the 62-year-old, who co-founded the nonprofit, died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning.

Silver won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" and did a political about-face from loyal Democrat to Republican activist after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Silver earned an Emmy nomination for a recurring role as a slick strategist for liberal President Jed Bartlet on "The West Wing." And Silver himself had a long history of balancing acting with left-leaning social and political causes.

---

Great tribute to Ron by Roger Simon.

Ricardo Montalban, 88

Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island," died Wednesday morning at his home, a city councilman said. He was 88.

Montalban's death was announced at a city council meeting by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. Garcetti did not give a cause of death.

And of course - he was Khan in Star Trek!

Philip "Flip" Smith, 61

The San Fernando Valley Business Journal reports that business owner and community volunteer Philip “Flip” Smith died June 23 following a short illness. He was 61.

Smith was long-time owner of Flip’s Tire Center and Flip’s Performance Concepts on Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys.

In the 90s, Smith led a successful effort to clean-up Van Nuys and was a pioneer in community empowerment.

Smith twice served as chairman of the Mid-Valley Chamber, now known as the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce.

He also participated in organizations such as the Mid Valley Community Police Council and the Community Police Advisory Board, Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, Rotary Club of Van Nuys, the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Committee, and the board of directors of the Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

Stu Nahan, 81

A television veteran since the 1950s, Stu Nahan (1926 - December 26, 2007) is best remembered for his role as a boxing commentator in all of the Rocky films as well as being a longtime sportscaster in the Los Angeles market. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 25, 2007. Nahan had battled lymphoma, a form of cancer, since being diagnosed in January 2006.