Jennifer Heyser

A photo of Valerie Kathryn Harper.

Known professionally as Valerie Harper and born (a Catholic) to a lighting salesman and a nurse in Suffern, New York, Valerie was the middle of three children.

She trained as a dancer and began her career in NYC as a chorus girl. She moved on to the comedy group Second City, where she met and married comedian Dick Schaal. They were married in 1964 and divorced in 1978.

In 1970, while living in Los Angeles. she auditioned for the role of "Rhoda" on the Mary Tyler Moore Show - and starred on the show for 4 years. Her spin-off from the Mary Tyler Moore Show, "Rhoda", was on tv for another 4 years, making her a fixture on 1970s tv.

A popular actress and comedian, she appeared in numerous television shows, movies, and theater productions and was nominated for Emmys (won 4), Golden Globes (won 1), and a Tony . She was also an activist for the E.R.A. and the Women's Liberation Movement and co-founded a charity that feeds the needy in L.A.

In 2009, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and in 2013, with brain cancer, both of which she courageously fought for several years.

On August 30, 2019, Valerie succumbed to her illnesses at age 80. She was survived by her husband, Tony Cacciotti, her husband since 1987, and their (adopted) daughter, actress Cristina Cacciotti.

Self-portrait of Charles Elliott Gill with rifle and dog in a wooded area. Going hunting

Missouri, 1900 -- 1910

A photo of Rip Torn taken early in his acting career.

Born in Temple TX in 1931, Elmore Rual Torn Jr was the son of "Tiger" Torn Sr. and Thelma Mary (Spacek) Torn (aunt of Sissy Spacek). His nickname Rip was a traditional family nickname.

Rip studied acting at the University of Texas in Austin and went on to be an MP in the Army. After the Army, he moved to Hollywood and in 1956 had a part in his first movie, "Baby Doll."

Moving to New York, he began his stage career - studying at the Actors Studio. (While he was there, he helped his cousin Sissy enroll at the Actors Studio.)

A very long career on stage, in films, and on television followed. (Remember him as "Zed" in Men in Black?) But many conflicts were also involved - he, himself, said: ""I have certain flaws in my make-up. Something called irascibility. I get angry easily. I get saddened by things easily." These conflicts went beyond just the set - in 2010 he was arrested in Lakeport CT (his hometown) for trying to break into a bank while intoxicated and carrying a gun (he claimed that he thought it was his house). He plead guilty and was sentenced to 3 yrs probation.

Rip may have had some personal demons, but his talent provided us all with many hours of entertainment (and often laughter). He died at home at the age of 88, survived by his wife, 6 children (from 3 marriages), 4 grandchildren, and his sister.

RIP Elmore Rual Torn Jr.

A photo of Arte Johnson, actor and comedian.

He was best known as a versatile comedian on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, which ran from 1968 through 1973. This photo of him is as the character "Wolgang" - a "cigarette-smoking German soldier" who believed that World War II was still raging. His recurring comment was "verrrry interesting".

He also played a dirty old man - "Tyrone F. Horneigh" - to Ruth Buzzi's prim old spinster and the man who rode the tricycle, always falling over, as well as numerous other characters.

Before retiring in 2006, Arte performed in numerous guest spots as well as doing voice overs. Dying of cancer on July 3, 2019, he is survived by his wife and brother.

A photo of Carol Channing performing on stage in 1971.

Carol Channing was born in Seattle WA in 1921 and, after her parents moved when she was 2 wks old, raised in San Francisco CA. (Her mother was of German Jewish descent and her father was African-American and German.) Attending Bennington College at the age of 16, she majored in drama. Moving to New York, she began a storied stage, movie, and tv career that lasted until (almost) her death.

She was married four times (her only child, a son, was the product of her second marriage) - the last time to her junior high school sweetheart, who died at the age of 92, eight years into their marriage.

Ms Channing died on January 15, 2019, 16 days before her 98th birthday.

A photo of writer Neil Simon. Born in The Bronx in 1927, he was a playwright, author, and screenwriter. Beginning with writing for early comedy tv shows, he went on to be a prolific and succesful comedy writer for stage, movies, and television. From "Come Blow Your Horn" to "Barefoot in the Park" to "The Odd Couple" - and numerous others - his style entertained generations.

Growing up during the Depression in an emotionally unstable household, Simon turned to movies (and comedy) for relief during his childhood. He said that this inspired him to turn to writing comedy as an adult.

He was born to Jewish parents and had one brother who was 8 years older. He was married 5 times (to 4 women) and had 3 children. And he left us with a wonderful body of work.

A photo of sisters Ruth and Elizabeth Nash.
People in photo include: Elizabeth Nash

A photo of the Capitol building in Washington D.C. in the 1930's.

A photo of my parents - Heysers- visiting the memorials in the 1930's

A photo of Ruth Nash and her mother - Gramam.

A photo of Ruth Nash Heyser and the cherry blossoms - Visiting the Capitol

A photo of my parents visiting D.C. in the 1930s parents - visiting monuments