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Timothy West, Icon Of British Stage And Television, Is Dead At 90

"(He) brought a commanding presence to historical figures like Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and King Edward VII, and to notables of classic theater like King Lear, Macbeth and Willy Loman. He was perhaps best known to American audiences for his performances in British television imports." - The New York Times

Lou Donaldson, Master Jazz Saxophonist And Walking History Lesson, Has Died At 98

"An alto saxophonist with a supple, earthy style, (he) was a key figure in the development of three styles of jazz" — bebop, hard bop, and soul jazz — "from the 1940s to the 1960s and sustained a career for almost seven decades." - The Washington Post (MSN)

Painter Frank Auerbach, 93

The child of Auschwitz victims, he was sent to Britain by the Kindertransport project and studied in London. After years of hardship, he got a major solo show in 1978, won the Golden Lion at the 1986 Venice Biennale and became one of his generation's leading painters. - The Guardian

When Garfunkel And Simon Met Up A Few Weeks Ago, For Lunch

“Paul mentioned an old interview where I said some stuff. I cried when he told me how much I had hurt him. Looking back, I guess I wanted to shake up the nice guy image of Simon & Garfunkel. Y’know what? I was a fool!” - The Sunday Times (UK)

A Tribute To Author Dorothy Allison, Dead At 75

Allison, author most famously of Bastard Out of Carolina, “taught the world about Southern and queer identity, abuse and feminism. She was a trailblazer, known for weaving the written word into powerful lessons that proved that we are not defined by where we come from.” - Deep South Magazine

Tony Todd, Actor In Many Movies But Was Best Known For Being The Candyman, Has Died At 69

His manager said that the actor - who worked consistently across TV, video games, and movies, but whose first love was theatre - “gave his time and resources to aspiring actors, consistently advocating for greater representation and authenticity within the industry.” - The New York Times

Udo Kier, German Actor And Cult Favorite, Is Basking On His 80th Birthday

Kier has worked with Andy Warhol, Lars von Trier, Madonna, Gus van Sant, Rainer Maria Fassbinder - and nearly everyone else. "Of his work, he estimates ‘100 movies are bad, 50 movies you can see with a glass of wine and 50 movies are good.’”  - Variety

Judith Jameson, Who Danced With Ailey And Later Led The Company Out Of Debt, Has Died At 81

"She was a performer of great intelligence, warmth and wit” who became an international star, and later built the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater "into the most successful modern dance company in the country.” - The New York Times

King Tut’s Iconic Funerary Mask Was Probably First Made For Someone Else, Say Researchers

How could anyone tell this after all this time? The answer, say Egyptologists at the University of York, has been right in front of us. It's all about the ears. - Artnet

How Quincy Jones Became The Ultimate Artistic Collaborator

Even when letting a singer loose, he knew that rhythm would always end up having its say. - The New Yorker

Joseph Rykwert, Architectural Historian Who Fought Bland Functionalism And Pushed For Good Urban Design, Is Dead At 93

"His books and his teaching changed the understanding of his discipline and helped to move the design and planning of cities and buildings away from the functionalist mindset that dominated postwar building." The concept of "placemaking" might not exist if not for his work. - The Guardian

How Quincy Jones Helped Redefine Pop Music In The 80s

The pairing of Jones, a noted composer, arranger and producer for jazz and R&B acts, and Jackson, the child star looking for a breakout sound, over three albums remains a career-defining arc that transformed pop music in the 1980s. - The New York Times

Can Kehinde Wiley’s Career Survive Abuse Allegations?

Wiley’s strategy for dealing with the allegations has been to publicly fight back. He hired Marathon Strategies, a crisis-PR and investigative firm that has been helping him highlight unflattering information about his accusers. - New York Magazine

Sarah Cunningham, Fast-Rising Artist Who Went Missing In London, Is Found Dead At 31

She was reported missing this past Saturday, and on Monday her body was found on the tracks of the London Underground. Police said her death "is not thought to be suspicious." - ARTnews

Dissident Filmmaker From Belarus Released From Prison In Serbia

"A noted Belarusian film director and dissident who was held in Serbia for a year while Belarus sought his extradition has been released and gone to Germany. ... Belarus issued an international warrant for Andrei Hniot on charges of tax evasion, which he claims are false." - AP

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