The Chicago Journal

Nicki Aycox passes away, Supernatural creator grieves

Jason Robinson Jason Robinson on November 23, 2022

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Nicki Aycox is one of the most underappreciated names in entertainment, having starred in several films and series throughout her career.

She is most associated with Eric Kripke’s CW series, Supernatural, which made her a popular figure among fans.

However, Nicki Aycox passed away last week.

The news

Susan Raab Ceklosky posted the news on Facebook on November 17, revealing Nicki Aycox had passed away.

“My beautiful, smart, fierce, incredibly talented, and loving sister-in-law, Nicki Aycox Raab, passed away yesterday with my brother,” Ceklosky wrote.

“Nicki and Matt had a wonderful life together in California.”

“She was definitely a fighter and everyone who knew her loved her.”

Read also: Jason David Frank confirmed dead over the weekend

Illness

It was only last year that Nicki Aycox revealed to fans that she had been diagnosed with leukemia.

She wrote the announcement online and said:

“I want everyone to know I’m doing incredibly well and fighting my way thru [sic] chemo.”

Additionally, Aycox shared updates on her treatment with her fans after the diagnosis.

The Supernatural actress often exhibited a determined spirit, strength, and sense of humor to ensure her fans were never downtrodden.

Leukemia took her too early at the age of 47 last week.

Reaction to the news

Supernatural creator Eric Kripke expressed his grief on Twitter.

“Gutted to hear the great #NickiAycox, our first#MegMasters, passed away. Too young,” he wrote.

“She was a delight & delivered lines like honey & venom. I marvel at how she made a simple word like ‘lackluster legendary.”

Meanwhile, Bobby Singer actor Jim Beaver also grieved Nicki Aycox on Twitter by saying:

“My first Supernatural episode was with Nicki. She was a terrific actress and a delightful colleague. Im [sic] so sad to hear of her death. Sleep well, my friend.”

Read also: Chris Hemsworth Shares a Shocking Health Discovery in the Production of ‘Limitless’

Memorable works

Nicki Aycox began her career with a role in an episode of the 1996 Weird Science series.

Afterward, she took on several projects.

However, her most notable appearance was in the first season of Supernatural as the demon Meg Masters.

While Aycox has appeared in several projects, she is best known for acting in the horror genre.

Her most well-known works include:

  • Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003)
  • Dead Birds (2004)
  • Perfect Stranger (2007)
  • The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
  • Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead (2008)
  • The X-Files, “Rush” (1999)
  • Dark Angel, “…. and Jesus Brought a Casserole (2001)
  • The Twilight Zone, “Sanctuary” (2002)

Reference:

Nicki Aycox, ‘Supernatural’ actress, has died at age 47

Angela Lansbury, star of Murder, She Wrote, passes away at 96

Jason Robinson Jason Robinson on October 20, 2022

Hollywood is mourning the loss of award-winning film and theater actress Angela Lansbury, who died aged 96 yesterday.

Lansbury is best known for her roles in Murder, She Wrote and Beauty and the Beast, for which she sang the main theme.

The announcement

Angela Lansbury’s death was revealed in a statement her family released to NBC, whose parent company produced “Murder, She Wrote.”

The statement reads:

“The children of Dame Angela Lansbury are sad to announce that their mother died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles at 1:30 AM today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, just five days shy of her 97th birthday.”

Awards & nominations

Lansbury’s talent was unique, so much so that it earned her her first Oscar nomination for her film debut in 1944, before she was 20.

Her second nomination came a year later for The Picture of Dorian Gray.

In 1962, her portrayal of a mother who betrays her son and her country in The Manchurian Candidate earned her not only a nomination but also a Golden Globe.

It was the second Golden Globe after The Portrait of Dorian Gray.

In 2013 Angela Lansbury received an honorary Oscar.

The award was linked to the five Tony Awards she has collected in more than four decades.

During her career as Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote, Lansbury received 11 Emmy nominations, but she never won one of her own.

Early life and career

Angela Lansbury was born in London to actress Moyna MacGill and politician Edward Lansbury.

Her father died when she was nine.

In 1940, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Lansbury and her family moved to the United States and settled in New York.

She studied acting before moving to Los Angeles at the request of her mother, where she briefly worked in a department store before taking on her groundbreaking role.

Her other early works include:

  • The Harvey Girls
  • The Three Musketeers
  • The Court Jester
  • National Velvet
  • Blue Hawaii

Angela Lansbury later made her Broadway debut in 1957 with roles in “Mame”, “Gypsy” and “Sweeney Todd.”

Impact on children

Angela Lansbury has had a few roles in Disney, but her impact has been huge as generations of children have admired her iconic voice.

She first appeared in the 1971 musical “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.”

However, she was nominated for an Oscar in 1991 for “Beauty and the Beast,” which made her a beloved figure for children.

“Oddly enough, children recognize my voice,” she said in 2012. “They’ll hear me and say, ‘Mom, that’s Mrs. Potts!’”

Lansbury recently appeared in a small role in the 2018 sequel, Mary Poppins Returns.

Personal life

Lansbury was briefly married to Richard Cromwell before marrying British actor Peter Shaw in 1949, with whom she had two children: Anthony and Deirdre.

Anthony then directed many episodes of Murder, She Wrote, working with his mother.

Shaw became her manager throughout her career and helped secure the deal that made them the show’s producers.

The two remained together until Peter Shaw’s death in 2003.

Murder, She Wrote

Angela Lansbury’s greatest success in the 1960s was her starring role as a crime-solving mystery writer in “Murder, She Wrote.”

According to the actress, Jessica Fletcher was the closest character she felt was closest to her.

“I had a lot of say in it, and I didn’t want the character to be quirky,” she said in 2009. “I wanted her to be real.”

“I didn’t have to have to put on any kind of veneer for 24 hours a day, which is what a television schedule sometimes feels like.”

Although the show was successful, CBS’s decision to move the series to Thursday nights in 1995 to compete with NBC’s “Friends” angered the actress.

“I really feel angry for all the people who watched us,” she said as the show delivered big ratings after “60 Minutes.”

Despite the show’s concluding after 1995, Lansbury continued to appear in made-for-TV films for Murder, She Wrote.

Reference:

Angela Lansbury, beloved star of ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ dead at 96

Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather passes away not long after finally receiving an apology from the Academy Awards

Edward Anderson Edward Anderson on October 6, 2022

On Monday morning, the world lost another treasure when Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American actress and activist, died aged 75.

The news was revealed on Monday when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences shared a message on Twitter.

The announcement

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts released a photo of the Apache and Yaqui actress on Monday, writing:

“Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American civil rights activist who famously declined Marlon Brando’s 1973 Best Actor Academy Award, has died at the age of 75.”

Littlefeather’s cause of death wasn’t announced immediately, but in January 2021 she shared via Facebook that she had metastatic breast cancer.

The actress and activist’s death came weeks after she finally received the long-awaited Academy Awards apology.

The 1973 Oscars

Almost half a century ago, Marlon Brando boycotted the ceremony in protest against Hollywood’s negative image of Native Americans.

Littlefeather wore a buckskin dress and moccasins and gave a short speech on behalf of Brando.

Many members of the audience mocked and mocked the speech, and only a few applauded it.

At the time, Littlefeather was still a budding actress with work in films such as ‘Winterhawk’, ‘Shoot the Sun Down’ and ‘The Trial of Billy Jack’.

The speech’s reception unfairly blocked her career and she was quickly blacklisted by the film industry and shunned by the entertainment world.

The apology from the Academy

Sacheen Littlefeather finally got a long-overdue and much-anticipated apology from the Academy in August.

The letter of apology was written by former Academy president David Rubin, who said the abuses suffered by the actress and activist were “unwarranted and unjustified.”

The letter reads:

“The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost of your own career in our industry is irreparable.”

“For too long, the courage you have showed has been unacknowledged.”

“For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”

Littlefeather’s response to the apology

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sacheen Littlefeather was “stunned” when she received the formal apology.

“I never thought I’d live to see the day I would be hearing this, experiencing this,” said Littlefeather.

“When I was at the podium in 1973, I stood there alone.”

After the Oscars incident, Littlefeather claimed she was discriminated against and personally attacked.

On Sunday, the academy shared a quote from her that reads:

“When I am gone, always be reminded that whenever you stand for your truth, you will be keeping my voice and the voices of our nations and our people alive.”

Sacheen Littlefeather’s family has requested donations from the American Indian Child Resource Center in Oakland, California.

References:

Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American activist who decline Marlon Brando’s Oscar, dies at 75

Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American activist and actress, dead at 75

Artist, Actress and Humanitarian Sara Alavi Drops Collab with NYC’s Da Poloman

danielruiz danielruiz on October 2, 2020

Sara Alavi, BMI songwriter, commercial model, and actress, drops her latest music collab with New York talent Da Poloman. The song Love at First Sight has already become an overnight sensation dubbed as bringing the ole’ ‘90s R&B love back to life. 

Many know Alavi for over 15 years as a musical theatre performer and singer/songwriter, later transitioning into commercial modeling and now acting on film. Being in the music industry, her career in modeling and acting came naturally as a result of her experience with performing on stage and for various publicity efforts. After gaining fame in the music industry, Sara ventured into television and commercial jobs, where she was hired to star in commercial campaigns and films. 

Ms. Alavi has appeared in numerous TV commercials, films, billboards, and print ads for Space Center Houston at NASA, Methodist Hospital, Academy Sports and Outdoors, and H.E.B., to name a few. She has been featured in advertisements for Fortune 500 companies such as Samsung, Exxon Mobil, and Mercedes Benz. During Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway at Jones Hall, she performed for former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush alongside other N.Y.C. Broadway stars.

Alavi is getting back into the music scene while continuing her acting career. Alavi opens the movie Narco Sub this Fall 2020 in a global premiere. Sara plays in the opening scene alongside Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore and sister actress Lisa Alavi. Sara is also titled as the lead actress in the film The I Ching Lawyer, filming 2021 in N.Y.C. Reports suggest further that the film script is praised for being the “Lawrence of Arabia of Court Dramas.” Ms. Alavi is additionally joining the cast of Mr. Blue alongside sister Lisa Alavi, and actors Robert Lasardo, Noel Gugliemi, Jessica Morris, and Richard Riehle. Filming dates undetermined.

Sara is “stoked” about the recent release of her music collab with New York City’s Da Poloman. Alavi explained that Da Poloman reached out to her to take a quick look at a song he wrote for a possible collab. She said that she listened to a mini clip, read the chorus lyrics, and was immediately on board. Ms. Alavi mentioned that she couldn’t turn down this remarkable collab, as Da Poloman is truly a rapper lyricist phenomenon, she explained. They then teamed up with Sara’s long-time industry lead, Nova Scotia’s best Dave Lowe. Dave is agreed to be one of the best instrumentalists in Canada.  

Check out this latest hit Love at First Sight on iTunes here. Also available and distributed on all major global digital stores. 

 Sara is not limited to music, film, and the arts. Her passion for volunteerism far exceeds. She uses her strong social media presence and supports a plethora of advocacies. Alavi is Ambassador for non-profit Peace Worldwide Organization (P.W.O.), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The organization publishes annual civility reports to review all countries in the United Nations and provide democracy, civility, and peace scores for all countries. You may download the e-book HERE. All proceeds benefit P.W.O. and the mission to promote freedom and peace for all humanity. 

Ms. Alavi additionally advocates for (United Nations Children’s Fund) UNICEF, UNHCR, and Epimonia. She passionately supports children, women’s rights, and refugees worldwide. Sara reminds us all to be safe with COVID-19 this October and Halloween season, and consider opting to compassionately choose to Trick or Treat for UNICEF with your children to aid children worldwide. 

To know more about her advocacies, latest films, and music, or visit her website, or follow her on Instagram.

Beyond Being a People Person, Layla Michaels Is All About Love

Jason Robinson Jason Robinson on September 14, 2020

As a 42-year old woman who is passionate about God, his Son, Yeshua, and the love that God shows the world daily, Layla Michaels is someone who cares about fixing broken things. She is a singer, model, actress, and an all-round creative person who views success in life as beyond a constant quest for money and material things.

Layla is a strong proponent for love and service to others, and she believes strongly that those are sustainable and can last for many generations. She values loyalty, and she extends that to her romantic relationship as well as the relationships she has with other people. All of these motivated her to build her brand, which is all about love and ensuring that everyone is enjoying their time in the world. 

We are currently at a time in the world that many people are feeling left out. From racial inequality to sexual discrimination, Layla Michaels aims to look at what people represent beyond face value. In her words, “I take the broadest possible view of diversity. I value the visible and invisible qualities that make an individual or an entity for who they are and what they represent. My belief is that every person brings a unique perspective and experience to advance our mission and progress our fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.” 

For her, every community member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and employee must have equal access to solving community problems. She strives to include diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at the center of her daily work. “My commitment to using these practices for my business, my brand, and our communities will help achieve my goals.” she adds.

With her brand, Layla Michaels is trying to establish a culture where everyone can feel included effortlessly. A culture where race, role, language, or business unit does not get in the way of achieving excellence and social progress. Everyone should feel valued, respected, and included. And Layla hopes to ensure that by teaching lessons on loyalty and love.To further lend credence to her desire to serve people and share love, her goal for the next five years is to be in charge of at least seven homeless shelters. She wants to play a direct role in rebuilding, uplifting, housing, and feeding people who are trying to get on their feet so they can become contributing members of society.

Layla Michaels wants everyone to replicate God’s love on earth and genuinely serve those with fewer opportunities. She is not only all about preaching love, but she also demonstrates it for everyone to see. And she doesn’t mind doing it one person at a time, as long as everyone comes to the realization that God loves the world, and they should show love to everyone too. Layla is always projecting her brand and values as much as she can on different platforms. Indeed, there is so much to learn for a woman who loves God as much as everyone around her.

To know more about Layla Michaels and her initiatives, visit her website.