Writer/Artist Richard Sala passes away at 61

Cartoonist, and creator extraordinaire of creepy comics, Richard Sala passed away last week, at the age of 61. We present this gallery of his drawings, as well as some pages excerpted from his "The Bloody Cardinal" graphic novel in his memory.

TRAIL OF THE CARDINAL

Richard Sala's 2017 graphic novel "The Bloody Cardinal" opens with was is presented as pages from the journal of the notorious and murderous madman know as the Cardinal. We offer those pages below. We encourage everyone who enjoys the sorts of mystery and horror films that are covered in this blog to get copy of this very excellent work by clicking here.

For more about Richard Sala, his works, and many more samples of the great art he has left behind for us to enjoy, you can visit his blog and his Tumblr pages. (You can also enjoy pages of the series he was working on when he passed away, "Carlotta Havoc versus Everybody".)

Mort Drucker passes away at 91

The great cartoonist and caricaturist Mort Drucker died on April 9, 2020, at the age of 91. Although best known for his strips and cartoons in MAD Magazine, he also illustrated children's books, drew a couple coloring books, did cartoons for a host of publishers and purposes ranging from advertising to T-shits... and he even did some "serious" comic book artwork and covers along the way.

In honor of Drucker's great talent, and in memory of all the joy and amusement he brought to readers over the years, here's a small selection of cartoons that are especially relevant to the topics touched on here at Shades of Gray. (Click on the drawings to see larger versions.)

Honor Blackman passes away

British actress and author Honor Blackman, best known for her roles as Cathy Gale on the first two seasons of "The Avengers" and Pussy Galore in "Goldfinger", passed away on April 6, 2020, at the age of 94.

Born on August 22, 1925, Blackman began her screen career in 1947, first appearing in historical dramas, but quickly transitioning into mysteries, spy thrillers, and action/adventure pictures. Recognized as one of TV's original ass-kicking women, and an icon of feminism during the 1960s, Blackman purposefully avoided roles that would turn her into a "sex symbol". She stated in interviews that she'd rather play the secretary than the vamp, and that she never viewed herself as particularly sexy.

Blackman's career spanned eight decades and almost every film genre in addition to the action/adventure roles she is best know for--with "Jason and the Argonauts" (1963) and "Cockneys vs. Zombies (2012) being perhaps the most extreme detours for her.

Here's a small gallery of pictures in her memory.

Kenny Rogers passes away at 81

On March 20, 2020, singer, song writer, and actor Kenny Rogers passed away from natural causes. He was 81.

Rogers was a huge star in the 1970s and 1980s, with songs topping both the country and pop music charts. He began his professional music career in the mid-1950s and recorded in genres ranging from jazz, to psychedelic rock, and, the country music genre for which he will forever be remembered. In 2015, after one final tour and 60 years spent on stages. Rogers retired.

In addition to his musical career, Rogers published a book of photographs he took--a hobby that became a passion, an autobiography, and he starred in several movies.

On a personal note, Rogers' 1978 hit, "The Gambler", has been a favorite song of mine since I first heard it as a little kid. As I've grew up and grew older, my love for this song has remained, even as the reasons for that love have evolved.

Thank you, Mr. Rogers, for a life spent enriching existence for the rest of us.

Here's a link to a video of Rogers performing "The Gambler."

Carol Lynley has passed away

Carol Lynley, who over the course of her long career appeared in movies and TV series of almost every genre, passed away on September 3, 2019 at the age of 77. Here's a gallery of pictures in her memory.

A few of the films Lynley appeared in are "Bunny Lake is Missing" (1965), "Harlow" (1965), "The Shuttered Room" (1967), "The Maltese Bippy" (1969), "Once You Kiss a Stranger" (1969), "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972), "The Night Stalker" (1971), "The Four Deuces" (1973), "The Shape of Things to Come" (1979), "The Cat and the Canary" (1979),   and "Spirits" (1990). She also played 11 different characters over the seven-year run of ABC's "Fantasy Island".

Peggy Lipton has passed away

Actress Peggy Lipton, best know for her roles on the legendary TV shows "Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks", passed away on May 11, 2019, at the age of 72. Here are some photos in memory.

Doris Day has died

On May 13, 2019, actress and singer Doris Day passed on at the age of 97. Here are a few photos in memory.