R.I.P Thread.

[Chippy_Tea]

​

OJ Simpson, the former American footballer who was controversially cleared of double murder, has died aged 76, his family says.

Orenthal James Simpson rose to fame as a college footballer before playing in the NFL.
In 1995, he was acquitted of the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown and a friend in a trial that gripped America.
In 2008, he was sentenced to 33 years' imprisonment on charges of armed robbery. He was released in 2017.
Simpson died of cancer on Wednesday, his family wrote on Twitter/X.
"He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren," the statement read.
Before 1994, Simpson was regarded with affection by the public, well known as a professional athlete, actor and million-dollar spokesman for several US companies.
But that year, he was arrested as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. The ensuing trial gripped the nation.
The trial was one of the most notorious in 20th Century America. Prosecutors argued Simpson killed Brown in a jealous fury. Evidence presented in the trial included blood, hair and fibre tests linking Simpson to the murders.
The defence argued Simpson had been framed by police motivated by racism.
In one of the most memorable moments in the trial, prosecutors asked Simpson to wear a pair of blood-stained gloves found at the scene of the murder, but Simpson struggled to put on the gloves. The blunder led to one of Simpson's lawyers, Johnnie Cochrane, telling the jury in his closing arguments: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
The jury ultimately sided with Simpson, who declared he was "absolutely 100% not guilty". The acquittal proved hugely controversial.
BBC News

 

[sifty]

At least he can rest knowing his wife's killer is dead...

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Duane Eddy has died age 86

 

[The Baron]

Bernard Hill has died.
What a character he created in the Boys from the Blackstuff.
RIP Yosser Hughes

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Just heard that B, as you say brilliant actor

RIP Yosser Hughes

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Actor Bernard Hill, best known for roles in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, has died aged 79.
He played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film and King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings.
His breakout role was in BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, where he portrayed Yosser Hughes, a character who struggled - and often failed - to cope with unemployment in Liverpool.
He died early on Sunday morning, his agent Lou Coulson confirmed.
Tributes to Hill have been coming in since the news of his death broke.
Writing on X, Scottish musician Barbara Dickson said he was "a really marvellous actor", adding: "It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x."

Hill, who was from Manchester, was due to return to TV screens in series two of The Responder, a BBC drama starring Martin Freeman, which begins airing on Sunday.
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, paid tribute to him, saying: "Bernard Hill blazed a trail across the screen, and his long-lasting career filled with iconic and remarkable roles is a testament to his incredible talent."
"From Boys from the Blackstuff, to Wolf Hall, The Responder, and many more, we feel truly honoured to have worked with Bernard at the BBC. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time."
In Boys from the Blackstuff, Hill drew praise for his gritty portrayal of Yosser Hughes, an intense and memorable character who pleaded "Gizza job" as he sought work.
That show won a Bafta for best drama series in 1983, and in 2000 it was ranked seventh on a British Film Institute list of the best TV shows ever made.

Another of Hill's memorable BBC TV performances came in the 2015 drama series Wolf Hall, adapted from Hilary Mantel's book about the court of Henry VIII. Hill portrayed the Duke of Norfolk - an uncle of Anne Boleyn and an enemy of Cardinal Wolsey.
Hill was also much loved for his performances in Peter Jackson's epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings.
He joined the cast for the second film, 2002's The Two Towers, and returned to the franchise for 2003's The Return Of The King, which picked up 11 Oscars.
Other roles in his decades-long career included the 1976 BBC TV series I, Claudius, an appearance in 1982's Gandhi, Shirley Valentine in 1989, The Scorpion King in 2002 and 2008 Tom Cruise film Valkyrie.
Hill was meant to be at Comic Con Liverpool on Saturday, but had to cancel at the last minute, the convention said in a post on X. As news of his death broke, the organisers said on the platform they were "heartbroken" at Hill's death, and wished his family "a lot of strength".

BBC News

 

[The Baron]

He was brilliant in my wife's favourite film "Shirley Valentine" a annual re-watch in our house.
But his Yosser Hughes was so good it virtually became a cult figure in its time.
RIP

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Completely forgot he was in titanic.

 

[Clint]

Yosser Hughes was based on a chap who works with me Dad. His dad was a good friend of Bernard Hill and he used his life as a tough Liverpudlian as the template.

 

[Rodcx500z]

RIP Rob Burrows absolute rugby legend

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Sad new Rod.



Burrow, who was 41, had lived with motor neurone disease (MND) since being diagnosed in late 2019.

The diagnosis came just two years after he retired from playing, following a stellar 17-year career that included winning eight Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups.

Burrow's death was announced by Leeds Rhinos, who called their former scrum-half "a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND".

In 2022, Burrow was presented with the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, with his ex-Leeds team-mate Kevin Sinfield also recognised.

Burrow was given the award for relentless fundraising and raising awareness of MND while battling the illness himself.

Burrow spent his entire club career with Leeds and made more than 400 appearances between 2001 and 2017.

One of the most successful rugby league players in history, Burrow was made an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours for his services to the sport and for his work in the MND community.

Burrow and his great friend Sinfield were both made CBEs in the 2024 New Year Honours. The pair have helped to raise more than £15m for MND charities since Burrow's diagnosis.

Leeds said of Burrow: "He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.

"The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole Burrow family have received over the last four and a half years meant so much to Rob.

"In particular, the rugby league family and MND community have rallied around Rob to inspire him, thank you for your support.

"For those who knew Rob throughout his life, his determination and spirit in the face of MND over the last four and a half years came as no surprise.

"Rob never accepted that he couldn't do something. He just found his way of doing it better than anyone else.

"He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity. We must dare to dream."

In February, it was announced that the player of the match award at this year's Super League Grand Final will be renamed after Burrow, the first player to win the trophy twice, in 2007 and 2011.

Tributes flooded in from the rugby league world, with Super League leaders St Helens calling Burrow "a hero in every sense of the word" and Wigan Warriors saying that "his legacy will live on through those whose lives he touched, and his story will continue to inspire all".

A tribute to Burrow from the Rugby Football League said: "Since December 2019, his courage and humanity - allied to that of his family, friends and former Leeds Rhinos team-mates, led by Kevin Sinfield CBE - has transcended sport."

The MND Association, for whom Burrow became a patron in 2021, said it was "incredibly grateful to Rob and his family for helping to raise awareness of MND, and funds for the association, by sharing the details of their journey and by inspiring so many people both within the MND community and the wider public".

"In doing so much, he inspired support from so many," the charity added.

"It is testament to the strength of feeling people have for Rob that the support in his name has never wavered."

BBC News

 

[The Baron]

I sold Rob his first car when he signed for Leeds and his dad Geoff too.
So so Sad his wife is a hero too used to see her take him everywhere in their adapted people carrier.
this is a sad day for Castleford Robs home town RIP