RIP Archives

Grammy and Oscar-winning musician Isaac Hayes died in Memphis, Tenn., at age 65 on Sunday afternoon, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said.

His wife, who found him unresponsive on the floor near a treadmill, immediately called police to the scene. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Hayes co-wrote the hit song “Soul Man” and provided the voice of “Chef” on South Park.

Our prayers and condolences go out to the Hayes friends and family.

RIP.

Comedian Bernie Mac died of pneumonia at age 50 early Saturday morning.

His rep released this statement: “Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago-area hospital. No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family’s privacy continues to be respected.”

Mac, who was nominated for Emmys in 2002 and 2003 for The Bernie Mac Show, was admitted to Northwestern Memorial hospital for pneumonia on August 1 and was expected to make a full recovery.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Bernie, his family and friends.

RIP.

Former Golden Girl star Estelle Getty has died at the age of 84, just three days shy of her 85th birthday.

Getty had been suffering for years with Lewy Body Dementia, reports TMZ.

Her official website, EstelleGetty.com, also had an official announcement:

“To all of Estelle’s Fans,

“Sadly, today July 22, 2008 at 5:35 a.m. Pacific Time, we said our last good-byes to our little friend Estelle, who passed away and made her journey to the great beyond. Although it was a trip that she never wanted to take, she went gracefully, in the comfort of her own home (in Los Angeles), surrounded by her family and her very loving care-givers.

“Estelle’s legacy will live on and on through the comedy and laughter she gave to us all, which will forever keep us laughing out loud.”

Estelle is best known for playing sarcastic, wise-cracking Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls.

RIP.

Comedian George Carlin has died from heart failure, reports ET.

His longtime publicist said Carlin, 71, was admitted into the hospital this afternoon after complaining of heart problems. He passed away at 5:55 p.m. Sunday at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif.

Last year, Carlin celebrated his 50th year in show business and was just tapped last week by the Kennedy Center to receive this year’s Mark Twain Prize, a lifetime achievement award presented to an outstanding comedian.

RIP.

Legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent died Sunday in Paris, France. He was 71.

According to his longtime friend and associate, Pierre Berge, Saint Laurent died Sunday evening following a long illness.

He was “unquestionably the greatest designer” from the 1950s to 2000, Valerie Steele, director of The Museum at FIT (New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology) tells USA Today. “Just as Chanel brought modernism into women’s fashion, you could say Yves Saint Laurent brought fashion up to a kind of contemporary life.”

“Most designers are incredibly lucky if they can contribute one thing to fashion,” Steele continues. “But he was like Picasso: He contributed to so many significant movements. It’s impossible to imagine contemporary fashion without this man.”

RIP YSL.

Cameron Diaz’s father died suddenly early Tuesday morning, reports TMZ.

Emilio Diaz, 58, was in “terrific health” but then he developed the flu, which then turned into pneumonia.

Production was shut down today on Cam’s current film, My Sister’s Keeper.

Emilio was a second generation Cuban-American who worked as a foreman for an oil company.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Cameron and her family.

The husband of soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae was found dead from a suspected drug overdose, reports have said.

The body of 31-year-old musician Jason Rae was found on Saturday and The Daily Mail reports Corinne was not in the apartment when her husband’s body was found.

Mr. Rae was the saxophonist for the Haggis Horns, an eight-piece live funk extravaganza who combine funk, soul, hip-hop and afrobeat with jazz virtuosity.

Another man was arrested under suspicion of supplying the drugs to Mr. Rae but has already been freed on bail.

RIP.

Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella has sadly died, his agent Judy Daish has announced.

He was 54 years old. No cause of death has been given.

Minghella directed the The English Patient, which won nine Academy Awards. Other notable films include The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain.

Minghella is survived by his wife Carolyn Choa and 22-year-old son Max Minghella, who most recently filmed Hippie Hippie Shake.

RIP.

UPDATE: Variety reports that Minghella “suffered a brain hemorrhage at 5 A.M. Tuesday at Charing Cross Hospital in London, where he had undergone a routine operation on his neck.”