HOLLYWOOD—When you are a celebrity, sometimes it’s very hard to deal with the fame and newfound money, especially if you never had money before. It’s so hard to function if every move in your life is being photographed or videotaped. It is not surprising that many celebrities and rock stars go into overload, and if it goes on long enough, anyone can have a serious meltdown, which will lead to their demise.
As we know, some of the greatest musicians of all time became rich and famous, experimented with drugs and died way too young. It is still to be disclosed if it is a mere coincidence or if it’s a curse that some of the greatest musicians and singers died and entered into the Club 27.
The shocking death of Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams, a comic genius, whose energy and wit charmed fans worldwide was found dead of an apparent suicide in his California home on August 11. He was only 63. His death came little over a month after Williams, who had long struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, checked himself back into rehab in a bid to stay sober. He checked himself into the
Hazelden Addiction Treatment Center in Lindstrom, Minn.
His publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said Williams had “been battling severe depression of late.†Times are tough even for actors these days. Williams had returned to the small screen last year after more than 30 years as a movie actor, telling Parade magazine that he needed a “steady job.†CBS recently canceled his comedy “The Crazy Ones,†in May after just one season.
Williams won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in “Good Will Hunting,†co-starring with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Williams’ personal life, however, was full of ups and downs. Through divorces and lawsuits, somehow, he managed to work it out and while his roles either funny or dramatic, he always delivered and made us laugh. He starred in comedies like “Mrs. Doubtfire,†“The Birdcage,†and “Night at the Museum.†He also continued to do hilariously unpredictable standup comedy. Like many comedians, he yearned to be taken seriously as an artist and man. The king of chaotic comedy struggled with quieting the voices in his head. Robin Williams will be truly missed.
It’s hard to believe that 37 years ago, we lost the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. He died on August 16, 1977 leaving the world to mourn his death. It was shocking just as the death of Robin Williams. Thousands of fans will once again grace the gates of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
It is Elvis Week in Memphis, with continuous presentations of Elvis music performed live by various singers and bands, plus other activities.
Morning and evening walks through the Meditation Garden at Graceland, along with the Candlelight Vigil on August 16. It is a full week of his music, movies and life of Elvis Presley. The sold-out “Conversations on Elvis,†will be hosted by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Tom Brown, Vice President of Original Productions. One of the special guests included Priscilla Presley.
Rose’s Scoop: Danielle Staub, the former “Real Housewives of New Jersey†star tells Oprah Winfrey that she “got broken so bad†on the reality show she contemplated suicide.
Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall known for her husky voice and sultry sensuality died at the age of 89, a day after Robin Williams passed.
