ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MAY 31, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

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Obits

Actor MacLeod dead ‘Hooked on Feeling’ singer Thomas dies LOS ANGELES, May 30, (AP): B.J. Thomas, the Grammy-winning singer who enjoyed success on the pop, country and gospel charts with such hits as “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and “Hooked on a Feeling,” has died. He was 78. Thomas, who announced in March that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, died from complications of the disease Saturday at his home in Arlington, Tex- as, his publicist Jeremy Westby said in a statement. A Hugo, Oklahoma-native who grew up in Hou- ston, Billy Joe Thomas broke through in 1966 with a gospel- styled cover of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and went on to sell mil- lions of records and have doz- ens of hits across genres. He reached No. 1 with pop, adult contemporary and country listeners in 1976 with “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Thomas Wrong Song.” The same year, his “Home Where I Belong” became one of the fi rst gospel albums to be certifi ed platinum for selling more than 1 million copies. Dionne Warwick, who duetted with Thomas, sent out a tweet Saturday with her condolences. “My sincere condolences to the family of one of my favorite duet partners, BJ Thomas. I will miss him as I know so many others will as well. Rest In Peace my friend,” she said. Thomas’ signature recording was “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” a No. 1 pop hit and an Oscar winner for best original song as part of the soundtrack to one of the biggest movies of 1969, the irreverent Western “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” This image released by Netflix shows Michael Douglas, (left), and Kathleen Turner in a scene from the third and final season of ‘The Kominsky Method.’ (AP) Thomas wasn’t the fi rst choice to perform the whim- sical ballad composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David; Ray Stevens turned the songwriters down. But his warm, soulful tenor fi t the song’s easygoing mood, Television immortalized on fi lm during the scene when Butch (Paul Newman) shows off his new bicycle to Etta Place (Katharine Ross), the girlfriend of the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford). ‘Kominsky’ revisits ‘The War of the Roses’ 30 years later Soundtrack “Raindrops” has since been heard everywhere from “The Simpsons” to “Forrest Gump” and was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013. But, at fi rst, Fun reunion for Turner and Douglas not everyone was satisfi ed. Thomas was recovering from laryngitis while recording the soundtrack version LOS ANGELES, May 30, (AP): Near- and watch and had a front-row seat, His reunion with Turner gave both and his vocals are raspier than for the track released on ly four decades ago, “Romancing the which was amazing.” of them a chance to reflect on their its own. Redford, meanwhile, doubted the song even Stone” introduced audiences to the Paul Reiser, who plays Baker’s fi- early careers. belonged in “Butch Cassidy.” crackling chemistry between Michael ance, said he was struck by the unique- Turner recalled first meeting Doug- “When the fi lm was released, I was highly critical Douglas and Kathleen Turner. ness of Douglas’ and Turner’s rela- las over Mexican food before filming — how did the song fi t with the fi lm? There was no Now at 76 and 66 years old, Douglas tionship. “Romancing the Stone.” rain,” Redford told USA Today in 2019. “At the time, and Turner are back on screen together “There aren’t that many pairings “‘Oh, he’s very sexy,’” she recalls it seemed like a dumb idea. How wrong I was.” in the third and final season of Netf- of actors ... There aren’t that many thinking of him. But she didn’t let that Thomas would later say the phenomenon of “Rain- lix’s “The Kominsky Method.” De- that you’ve seen repeatedly,” he said. intimidate her. “He’s quite sure of what drops” exacerbated an addiction to pills and alcohol spite the many years that have passed “You’ve got De Niro and Pesci. Wal- he wants. He’s quite focused and spe- which dated back to his teens, when a record producer since their third and last film together, ter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. ... You cific. So you just kind of go, ‘Uh huh, in Houston suggested he take amphetamines to keep Colin Farrell attends the premiere for their reunion was seamless. subconsciously have this history that uh huh, OK.’ But then when you saw the his energy up. He was touring and recording constant- ‘Widows’ on day 3 of the Toronto In- “Like riding a bicycle,” Douglas the minute you see them. It almost work: ‘I need to be a full partner.’ And ly and taking dozens of pills a day. By 1976, while ternational Film Festival on Sept 8, said over a video call earlier this week. breaks the frame in a good way. It he understood and respected that.” “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done 2018, in Toronto. Farrell turns 45 on “We’d look at each other, and there’s a makes what you’re watching seem a After that, the two of them “went May 31. (AP) Somebody Wrong Song” was hitting No. 1, he felt like lot of memories coming back.” piece of what you’ve been watching through a lot.” he was “number 1,000.” The Los Angeles-set “Kominsky for years. It’s a real treat to have that.” From mountainous muddy roads “I was at the bottom with my addictions and my Method” doesn’t place the pair in the Turner’s presence — along with an in Mexico to oppressive desert heat problems,” he said in 2020 on “The Debby Campbell same exotic locations as 1984’s “Ro- expanded role for Reiser and smaller in Africa, filming their first two films Goodtime Show.” He cited a “spiritual awakening,” mancing the Stone” or its sequel “Jewel parts for Oscar winners Morgan Free- was a true adventure. “The War of the shared with his wife, Gloria Richardson, with helping of the Nile.” But it does include the type man and Allison Janney — helps make Roses” also had its challenges, despite him to get clean. of caustic barbs from their last film to- up for the third season’s absence of 90% of the film taking place in a house. Thomas had few pop hits after the mid-1970s, but gether, 1989’s “The War of the Roses.” Alan Arkin, who left the show after Turner said she and Douglas recent- he continued to score on the country charts with such It was with that in mind that Doug- its second season. His banter with and ly had a laugh about the film’s famous No. 1 songs as “Whatever Happened to Old-Fash- las thought to invite Turner to join needling of Douglas was pitch perfect last scene, in which their warring char- ioned Love” and “New Looks from an Old Lover.” In “The Kominsky Method” in its second acters become precariously stuck on a the late 1970s and early ’80s, he was also a top gospel and earned both men Emmy nomina- season to play his character’s sharp- giant chandelier. The actors had to sit and inspirational singer, winning two Dove awards tions. tongued ex-wife, who’s introduced in the chandelier for hours and hours and fi ve Grammys, including a Grammy in 1979 for Characters best gospel performance for “The Lord’s Prayer.” Jackson Masterson during a phone call. The idea came to over the course of two weeks to get all Fans of the 1980s sitcom “Growing Pains” heard him Douglas immediately when creator/ “He was such an instrumental part the shots. as the singer of the show’s theme song. He also acted in writer Chuck Lorre mentioned intro- of our success,” Douglas said. “It was “It was very painful,” Turner said. a handful of movies, including “Jory” and “Jake’s Cor- ducing an ex-wife to the show. a little bit of a risk ... but I felt strong “Continuity loved it because all you ner” and toured often. Recent recordings included “Liv- Variety “I just smiled and I said, ‘This is ‘The enough for the other characters.” had to do was lie down on the line of ing Room Music,” featuring cameos from Lyle Lovett, War of the Roses’ revisited 30 years lat- Douglas said he’s sad the show is the bruises, you know? The arms, you Vince Gill and Richard Marx. He had planned to record er’,” Douglas said. “We’ve already got ending but that he appreciates what it just lined up the bruises, and then you in 2020 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, but the sessions BRUSSELS: The European Commission our back stories and we’re all set.” has taught him. were in the right position ... That was a were delayed because of the pandemic. said on Friday it has given one month to As in the film, Turner often uses R- “One of the main reasons why I real test of many things.” Thomas married Richardson in 1968, and had three the Chinese-owned video app TikTok rated terms when speaking to Douglas’ did it was just to kind of learn a little Turner also continues to challenge daughters: Paige, Nora and Erin. He and his wife to answer complaints from an European character, which never fails to delight more about comedy and how you do herself with new experiences, develop- worked on the 1982 memoir “In Tune: Finding How consumers group over its commercial her in real life. it and your timing,” he said. “At this ing a one-woman cabaret show, “Find- Good Life Can Be.” His book “Home Where I Be- practices. “It was just such fun. And he takes it point in your career you kind of say, ing My Voice,” which got rave re- long” came out in 1978 and was co-authored by Jerry The EU’s executive arm said it has very well, I have to say.” ‘What have you done? What haven’t views and repeatedly sold out in New B. Jenkins, later famous for the million-selling “Left started discussions involving the plat- Seeing the two of them act together you done’?” York, London and other cities between Behind” religious novels written with Tim LaHaye. form and the national consumer authori- again was “thrilling,” said Sarah Bak- The experience has been “a joy,” he 2017 and 2020. Besides music, Thomas loved baseball as a kid and ties following an alert launched earlier er, who plays Douglas’ daughter in the said, pointing in particular to Reiser’s “I now sing, baby!” said Turner in her started calling himself B.J. because so many Little this year by the European Consumer show. comedic timing and Lorre’s writing. trademark smoky voice. “It’s one more Organisation (BEUC) about alleged “I like to think of myself as the ‘Ro- Douglas is ready for his next acting thing I haven’t done yet, so why not?” League teammates also were named Billy Joe. By his breaches of consumers’ rights. teens, he was singing in church and had joined a local mancing the Stone’ baby,” she joked. challenge. He is about to start filming Turner is currently filming an inde- The Commission said some contrac- “The chemistry is just there, that tim- on the third “Ant-Man,” which will be pendent musical romance called “The rock band, the Triumphs, whom he would stay with tual terms in TikTok’s policies could be into his 20s. ing, the rapport between them. It’s the his first time performing in a movie us- Swearing Jar” in Canada. considered misleading and confusing for kind of thing, it’s very difficult to fake, ing a green screen. As for her time on “The Kominsky Also: consumers, adding that concerns relating to issues including hidden marketing and so when you have that just inherently “I wanted to see what it was like,” Method,” Turner said it was a no- LOS ANGELES: Gavin MacLeod, the veteran sup- advertising strategies targeting children between you, we just got to sit back he said. brainer. porting actor who achieved fame as sardonic TV news were raised. writer Murray Slaughter on “The Mary Tyler Moore In February, the BEUC fi led a com- Show” and stardom playing cheerful Capt Stubing on plaint with the European Commission him up to 45 years in prison. for suffi cient evidence is signifi cantly “The Love Boat,” has died. He was 90. and the network of consumer protection prosecution of a Hollywood fi gure in the MacLeod died early Saturday at his home in Palm authorities against TikTok. It argued She said she found the women’s lower than it will be at the forthcom- #MeToo era despite dozens of investi- Desert, California, said Stephanie Steele Zalin, his that several terms in TikTok’s ‘Terms of testimony credible for the purposes of ing trial. gations by police and the Los Angeles Service’ are unfair and said the platform, the preliminary hearing, where the bar That trial will represent the rare district attorney, most of which have stepdaughter. She attributed his death to his age, say- ended without charges. ing he had been well until very recently. which is particularly popular with youngsters, failed to protect children and Masterson, 45, has pleaded not guilty. “He had one of the most amazing, fun blasts of a life His lawyers said they would prove his of anybody I know. He enjoyed every minute of it,” teenagers from hidden advertising and potentially harmful content. innocence, and during the hearing repeat- Steele Zalin said. “I don’t even think in his wildest edly challenged the women on discrepan- dreams he dreamt of the life that he ended up having “The current pandemic has further accelerated digitalization,” said Didier cies in stories they alleged the accusers and creating.” had coordinated in the years since their She called him the “best, sweetest, purest guy.” Reynders, the Commissioner for Jus- tice. “This has brought new opportuni- alleged rapes. The lawyers said the age Ed Asner, who played opposite MacLeod on “The ties but it has also created new risks, of the incidents, which date from 2001 Mary Tyler Moore Show,” said on Twitter that “my in particular for vulnerable consumers. and 2003, made accurate memories heart is broken. Gavin was my brother, my partner in In the European Union, it is prohibited impossible. crime (and food) and my comic conspirator.” to target children and minors with “Memories fade and memories Known to sitcom fans for his bald head and wide disguised advertising such as ban- change,” Masterson attorney Sharon smile, MacLeod toiled in near anonymity for more than a ners in videos. The dialogue we are Appelbaum said. decade, appearing on dozens of TV shows and in several launching today should support TikTok The actor had no visible reaction to the movies before landing the part of Murray in 1970. in complying with EU rules to protect judge’s decision as he sat in court, with a He had originally tested for Moore’s TV boss, Lou consumers.” (AP) small group of family and friends behind Grant, the role that went to Asner. Realizing he wasn’t ❑ ❑ ❑ him. Masterson’s lead attorney Thomas right for playing the blustery, short-tempered TV news- Mesereau, who also defended Michael room leader, MacLeod asked if he could try instead for LOS ANGELES: After three days of Jackson and Bill Cosby in their sexual the wisecracking TV news writer, his jokes often at the dramatic and often emotional testimony misconduct cases, declined to comment expense of the dimwitted anchorman Ted Baxter. from three women who said “That ’70s outside court. “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” was a smash from Show” actor Danny Masterson raped During the hearing, Mesereau sug- them nearly 20 years ago, a judge on gested that police, prosecutors and the start and remains a classic of situation comedies. Friday found that he must stand trial. witnesses were tainted by anti-religious It produced two spinoffs, “Rhoda” and “Phyllis,” star- Los Angeles County Superior Court In this May 10, 2018 file photo, Gavin MacLeod, a cast member on the TV series bias against the Church of Scientology. ring Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman, respec- Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo ordered ‘The Love Boat,’ salutes the crowd as he speaks at a Friends of Hollywood Walk Masterson is a prominent Scientologist, tively, who had portrayed Mary’s neighbors. Masterson to trial on three counts of rape of Fame honorary star plaque ceremony for the cast and Princess Cruises in all three women are former Scientolo- by force or fear, charges that could get Los Angeles. (AP) gists. (AP)