(AP photos)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Designing Women” actress Dixie Carter, who used her charm and stately beauty in a host of roles on Broadway and television, died Saturday. She was 70.

Publicist Steve Rohr, who represents Carter and her husband, actor Hal Holbrook, said Carter died Saturday morning. He would not disclose where she died or the cause of death.

“This has been a terrible blow to our family,” Holbrook said in a written statement. “We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy.”

A native of Tennessee, Carter was most famous for playing quick-witted Southerner Julia Sugarbaker for seven years on “Designing Women,” the CBS sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1993.

She was nominated for an Emmy in 2007 for her seven-episode guest stint on the ABC hit “Desperate Housewives.”

Carter’s other credits include roles on the series “Family Law” and “Different Strokes.”

She had been married to Holbrook since 1984.

A public memorial service for Haim has been canceled because his mother too grief stricken.  Haim’s best friend Corey Feldman made the announcement on his blog. 

An excerpt is posted below. 

Now I must be the bearer of some very disappointing news to many of you out there. After weeks of consideration and planning, the ultimate decision has been made by Corey’s mother Judy Haim to not go forward with a public memorial service. Instead we will have a very small private dinner with just a few close friends in LA.

Her reasoning for this is that she is in tremendous grief and feels that to create an event celebrating Corey’s life would be too much for her to bear at this time. She did ask me to convey to you that she has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of your support and wants you to keep Corey alive by visiting his website at www.coreyhaim.us If there are any statements to be made, or events planned, or any other Corey Haim related news it will be posted there at his site.

Although I am very sad I am not able to plan the memorial I had envisioned, which would have given both his friends and fans an opportunity to grieve together as one, I must respect the wishes of his mother, and help her in any way I can through this difficult time. Ultimately that is what Corey would have wanted more than anything. To know that his mother is at peace as much as possible in his absence.

I too understand her not wanting to face the barrage of negative press that comes from the public spectacle. This has been very difficult for me. I am trying very hard to stay positive after losing so much in the last 9 months. I have lost many who were very close to me in a very short time. However that does not stop the press from attacking me. It seems they will not be happy until I’m dead too.

Well I’ve got news for you. I am still standing. I am not going to let them get to me. I stayed indoors crying every day for 2 weeks. The second I leave my house they follow me, then make a spectacle, and then berate me for trying to get out of the house and live my life. Would they rather I hid in a cave waiting for depression to fully encompass my soul? I’m sorry but I choose to live my life and move forward as best as possible. I have a child, therefore I must work. I cannot dwell in misery. Instead I have been planning my future.”

Click here to read the rest of Feldman’s statement on his blog.

The letter is posted below. 

A LETTER FOR THE GRAVE: AN OPEN LETTER TO COREY HAIM (BY COREY FELDMAN)

Dear Corey.,

This is for you on the day of your funeral. First off I am so sorry I am not there with you today. By that I mean my physical body is not with your physical body. However you know that my heart is right at your side. You also know the only reason I am truly not there is out of respect for your mother and her wishes to minimize the media attention as much as possible. I want your family to have a calm peaceful day. Hopefully we will not see one shot of the funeral on the news. Just know I am at home today projecting positive energy for you and your passing.

I miss you so much already. When I think of something funny I don’t know who to tell it to. I find myself trying to call you but then remember your not there. I think about the new movies we will soon be doing together and then suddenly realise that the dream is over. I always feared this day would come, and often rehearsed how to face it. But once confronted with the reality of it, it’s so much more painful than I could have ever imagined. Nobody will ever understand the brotherhood we shared. Nobody will ever get the inside jokes we told. Nobody will understand the magic of 22/222 . Nobody will ever know how to do the secret Corey handshake. Nobody will ever make me laugh as hard as you did. Nobody will ever make me fight as hard as you did. Nobody will ever challenge me the way you did. Nobody will ever need me the way you did.

My mission in life became saving yours. I never gave up, I tried …I walked away, but I always came back, to let you know I was there. In a dark and lonely world with spiteful angry people we always understood each others pain. I have been so hounded by the media and barraged with condolences since your death that I have not been given my own time to grief. I was still in shock while cameras were chasing me down the street looking for my feelings on the matter. When I did Larry King I could barely form sentences, but knew I had to be strong to send a message.

I never knew your death would have such a huge impact on the world. I learned something Corey, there are a lot of people out there who really love you, and appreciate the joy you have brough tho their hearts. I only wish you could see the way the world is mourning over your absence. I wish you could see how big the story is. I wish you could see your face finally filling the cover of People magazine and Entertainment Weekly! That would have meant so much to you. It is such a shame they all had to wait until you were gone to give you the respect you were due as an actor which is what you truly were. The great Canadian actor Corey Haim! I love you and I will forever keep that ring close to my heart. I will do my very best to help give you a memorial that is a celebration of your life the way you would have wanted it…..with everybody laughing and rocking out!

My heart is so broken and I know there are so many who feel the same way I do. We will remember your spirit and your fans will help me keep your legacy alive.

I pray that you are safe and warm and finally filled with peace.

I love you

CF Core Feldog DAWG C-DOG KID and every other name you used to call me…..dine!

At one point, it seemed like they were joined at the hip.  They attended parties together, red carpet events, starred in films and hung out at each other’s homes. 

In 2007, they starred in their own reality show together titled “The Two Corey’s.”  It aired on the A&E network. 

But since Haim died Wednesday morning (March 10), the pair will never be seen together again. 

Felman reacted to Haim’s death by releasing a public statement.  The statement is posted below.

Corey Haim, left, and Corey Feldman (AP photo)

“I was awakened at 8:30 this morning by my brother and sister knocking on my bedroom door. They informed me of the loss of my brother Corey Haim. My eyes weren’t even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face.

I am so sorry for Corey, his mother Judy, his family, my family, all of our fans, and of course my son who I will have to find a way to explain this to when he gets home from school.

This is a tragic loss of a wonderful, beautiful, tormented soul, who will always be my brother, family, and best friend. We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference.

Please respect our families as we struggle and grieve through this difficult time. I hope the art Corey has left behind will be remembered as the passion of that for which he truly lived.”

He was 24 years old.  During the past 13 years, many rumors have circulated regarding who killed the rapper. 

Some people say it was gang members, some people say it was a Tupac fan who was angry about Tupac’s violent death.  Some people say it a shady police officer had something to do with it. 

Regardless, the killer has never been brought to justice, and it seems doubtful that he/she ever will. 

Throughout his short life, Notorious B.I.G. made an impact on the music industry.  His smooth lyrical style, combined with his club beats always made everyone race to the dance floor when his songs came on. 

His most popular songs were “Hypnotize” and “Big Poppa.”  My personal favorite song of his is called “(explicative) You Tonight.”  

I can’t play that song here because the lyrics are not family-friendly, and I couldn’t find the clean version of that song.

(AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

Marie Osmond’s son Michael Blosil committed suicide after a battle with depression. 

The 18-year-old son died after he jumped from his apartment in Los Angeles, according to Entertainment Tonight.

Michael suffered from depression for quite some time.  Marie told Entertainment Tonight,

“My family and I are devastated and in deep shock by the tragic loss of our dear Michael and ask that everyone respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Donny and Marie Osmond’s concerts at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas have been canceled so the Osmond family can grieve. 

Marie has eight children.  Michael was born in 1991 to Marie and ex-husband Brian Blosil.

(MySpace)

 ”Growing Pains” actor Andrew Koenig was found dead at Stanley Park in Vancouver. 

Koenig had been missing since Valentine’s Day.  His parents reported him missing after he missed a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles.  

His father, Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov on “Star Trek,” said Andrew took his own life.  He also said Andrew suffered from depression. 

“My son took his own life.  Don’t ignore it. Don’t Rationalize it. Extend a hand,” he said during a press conference. 

Andrew Koenig was 41 years old.  He played Richard “Bone” Stabone on 25 episodes of the sitcom “Growing Pains” from 1985 to 1989, according to Internet Movie Database…. RIP

Justin Mentell, left, in the film "G-Force." (MySpace)

“Boston Legal” actor Justin Mentell died in a car accident Monday in Wisconsin. 

According to the Associated Press, Mentell’s sport utility vehicle ran off an embankment and struck two trees.  Mentell was 27 years old.

I’m not familiar with this up-and-coming actor, so I had to do a little research to find out about him.  Mentell played on “Boston Legal” for the 2005-06 season.  The show stars Candice Bergen and William Shatner. 

Other than than, he had a role in the 2009 animated film “G-Force.”

Reality show contestant Jennifer Lyon died Tuesday after a battle with breast cancer, according to People magazine.

Jennifer Lyon, 37, was contestant on the 2005 season of “Survivor.”  She placed fourth on the show.

Lyon completed two movies that will be released later this year.  They are “Holyman Undercover” and “The Ones,” according to Internet Movie Database Web site.

R&B singerTeddy Pendergrass is dead at age 59.  The music legend died Wednesday evening from colon cancer complications, according to the Associated Press.

Pendergrass’ hit R&B songs include “Close the Door,” “Turn Off the Lights,” “I Can’t Live Without You” “Love TKO” and “Hold Me,” a duet with Whitney Houston.

In 1982, Pendergrass was involved in a vehicle accident that left him paralyzed. 

Pendergrass’ music filled my household on a daily basis during the 1980s while I was growing up.  My parents were huge fans of his songs. 

My favorite song of his is “Love TKO” because my parents used to listen to it fequently, and it was in heavy rotation on their record player. 

Although he’s known as a legend in the R&B music world, he wasn’t given much recognition at award shows.  He was nominated for a Grammy award five times, but he never won a trophy.

(AP Photo/LMartinez)

Casey Johnson, the heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune was found dead at age 30.  Johnson was also the girlfriend of MTV reality star Tila Tequila. The Associated Press story is posted below via NewOK. 

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Casey Johnson, the socialite daughter of New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and heiress to the Johnson & Johnson business empire has died, a spokesman for the family and police said Monday. She was 30.

TMZ reported that Johnson was found dead Monday. Police officers responded to her Los Angeles home around 11:51 a.m. where paramedics had already pronounced Johnson dead, officer Sara Faden said.

Faden said she did not know how long Johnson may have been dead by the time authorities arrived.

She said Johnson’s death may have been from natural causes since a preliminary investigation turned up no signs of foul play. But Faden added that a final cause of death will be determined by coroner’s officials, who will seek toxicology tests. Results of those tests could take six weeks to obtain.

In a statement released through publicist Jesse Derris, the Johnson family says it “is mourning its tragic loss, and asks for privacy during this very difficult time.”

Casey Johnson gained celebrity as the girlfriend of Tila Tequila, a reality TV star best known for “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” which ran for two seasons on MTV.

Tequila’s publicist says the two were engaged.

On her Twitter page, Tequila wrote, “Everyone please pray 4 my Wifey Casey Johnson. She has passed away. Thank u for all ur love and support but I will be offline to be w family.”

Johnson, a high school classmate of fellow socialite Paris Hilton, told Vanity Fair in a 2006 interview that her decision to turn down Hilton’s invitation to be her co-star on “The Simple Life” was “the stupidest mistake of my life.” Hilton eventually chose Nicole Richie. “I kick myself in the butt everyday,” she told the magazine.

Various media outlets are reporting actress Brittany Murphy died Sunday morning in Los Angeles.  She was found unconscious in her restroom.

The 32-year-old actress was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  A coroner is determining the cause of death.

Murphy’s family released a public statement that said “In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and  support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy.”

Murphy became famous in 1995 when she starred alongside Alicia Silverstone in the teen movie “Clueless.” 

She also starred in “8 Mile,” “Don’t Say A Word,” “Girl, Interrupted,” “Sin City,” “The Groomsmen” and “Just Married,” among others. 

She has three movies scheduled for release in 2010, according to IMDB. A photo gallery is posted below.

Chris Henry, from right, with his children and fiancee. (AP Photo/Jeff Swinger)

NFL player Chris Henry died Thursday morning after he fell out off a pickup truck during an dispute with his fiancee.  The Associated Press story is posted below via NewsOK.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry has died, one day after falling out of the back of a pickup truck in what authorities described as a domestic dispute with his fiancee.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. Henry was 26.

“It is with great sadness to learn Chris has passed away,” Henry’s agent, Andy Simms said in a statement. “For those who knew Chris, he was nothing like his public perception. A loving and caring individual, he was thankful for what he had in life, and proud of what he had overcome.”

Henry was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after being found on a residential road. Police said the dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee was driving away from the residence.

Police said at some point when she was driving, Henry “came out of the back of the vehicle.” They wouldn’t identify the woman, and no charges were immediately filed.

Police spokeswoman Rosalyn Harrington said homicide detectives have been assigned to the case but had no further information. Police have not released the 911 tapes, and Harrington wouldn’t say if the woman was present at the scene when police arrived.

Authorities have not announced the cause of death. Mecklenburg County medical examiner investigator Carol Cormier said they were expecting to receive the body later Thursday.

Henry is engaged to Loleini Tonga, and the couple has been raising three children. Tonga’s MySpace page identifies herself as “Mrs. C. Henry” and has a picture of her next to a person who appears to be Henry. She also has a post from Tuesday talking about buying wedding rings. A neighbor said Wednesday that the Tonga family owns the home where police say the incident began. Charlotte is home to his fiancee’s parents.

“We ask that you keep Chris’ family — especially the young children he leaves behind — in your prayers,” Simms said. “It is tragic when a life is taken so young. He was a man just realizing his potential, not just in football, but in life”

Henry was away from the team after breaking his left forearm during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 8. He had surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve following the game.

Throughout his career, his temper and poor decisions got him in trouble.

He was ejected from a game and suspended for another at West Virginia, where former coach Rich Rodriguez told Henry that he was an embarrassment to himself and the program. His reputation was already costing him — the Bengals were the only NFL team to bring him in for a pre-draft visit in 2005.

They found that his demeanor didn’t match his reputation. Henry was shy and spoke in a quiet voice. They warned him that he had to stay in control if he was going to stay in the NFL. Then, they picked him in the third round.

In a sense, it was already a second chance.

“I’m worth the chance,” Henry said, when he showed up the following weekend for a rookie minicamp. “I’m just happy they took me.”

Henry become a vital part of the offense as a rookie, helping the Bengals reach the playoffs in 2005 with his ability to run past defenders to grab long passes. In the final month of the season, he also showed his other side, getting arrested for marijuana possession. After a playoff loss to Pittsburgh, he was arrested on a gun charge in Florida.

Henry and former Tennessee cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones became the league’s two most trouble-bound players. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended both in 2007 — Jones for a full season, Henry for half of it — as part of a toughening of the league’s conduct policy.

When Henry was arrested for a fifth time following that season on an assault charge, the Bengals decided they’d had enough. At his arraignment on April 3, 2008, Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard called Henry “a one-man crime wave.” He was released by the Bengals the same day.

It was a jolt to Henry, who had dreamed of an NFL career since high school, when he got the NFL logo tattooed on the back of his right hand. No team showed an interest in bringing him back. His career seemed finished.

Then, Bengals owner Mike Brown — who refers to himself as “a redeemer” — changed his mind and gave him another chance.

“If you only knew him by hearsay, you’d think he’s some kind of ogre,” Brown said, during the Bengals’ appearance on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series this summer. “It’s not true. He’s a good person. When you see him up close, you’ll find that you’ll like him. He’ll be a soft-spoken, pleasant person.”

This time, Henry seemed determined to stay out of trouble. After only 19 catches and two touchdowns in 12 games in the 2008 season, he set about making himself a topflight receiver again. He got into top shape and worked out with teammates in the offseason, showing more resolve than at any point in his career.

Henry also changed his personal life, spending more time with his fiancee and the three children they are raising. Teammates noticed a pronounced change in his demeanor.

“He’s a great kid with a great heart,” quarterback Carson Palmer said as training camp started. “He’s changed his life around. He ran into some trouble, made some bad decisions, and realized that. He’s sorry for them, apologized for them, and has done everything he can to make himself a better person. I’m just proud of him.”

Before the 2009 season, Henry got a new tattoo that matched his new outlook. Below his left ear, in flowing one-inch script, was the world “Blessed.”

“I kind of felt like I dug myself out of the hole and started doing the right things,” Henry said in an interview with The Associated Press as training camp opened. “People say, ‘How you feeling now Chris? You doing all right?’ I just tell them I’m blessed. That’s why I got it.”

He caught a touchdown pass in each of Cincinnati’s four preseason games. A thigh injury slowed him early in the season, and he had 12 catches for 236 yards — his 19.7-yard average per catch leads the team — when he broke his left arm during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 22, ending his season.

When he showed up in the locker room for the first time since surgery to fix the fracture, Henry sounded confident he could get through the latest setback.

“It just comes with time, you know?” he said. “I learned to handle all situations, so I’ll be all right.”

FROM NEWSOK

Oral Roberts, arguably the most well-known evangelist from Oklahoma, has died. He was 91.

U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City: I am saddened by the passing of Oral Roberts. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. He touched many lives not only in Oklahoma but throughout the world. I had the privilege to know Mr. Roberts personally and remember praying with him on ORU’s campus. He signed a note in my Bible that will always remind me of his strength and devotion to God and Country.

Gov. Brad Henry: Oklahoma and the nation have lost a truly remarkable man of God. The influence and impact of Oral Roberts and his ministry are beyond measure. His faith, compassion and charity have left a legacy that will be felt for generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rev. Roberts’ family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Mark Rutland, Oral Roberts University president: “The Oral Roberts University family was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our dear Chancellor, Oral Roberts. Chancellor Roberts was one of the brilliant spiritual lights of the 20th century and a giant of the Christian faith. At the core of his legacy is a great university that bears his name. Like millions world wide, I am mourning his passing and am grateful for his visionary life and contributions.”

Kenneth Hagin Jr., Broken Arrow evangelist, head of Kenneth Hagin Ministries, Rhema Bible Church and Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow: Oral Roberts has always been a role model for me and other ministers. He was a great man of God and only eternity will reveal all the great influence he has had on the kingdom of God. He had a powerful, anointed ministry. He was a powerful man of God who obviously had an anointing.

U.S. Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa: I am personally saddened by the death of Oral Roberts. Rev. Roberts was not only an Oklahoma icon, but an icon of the modern Christian movement in the United States.

Roberts and his ministry advanced the teachings of Christ in ways we will never fully understand. Rev. Roberts was a pioneer in Christian higher education and his namesake university has become an Oklahoma landmark.

I know that Oral Roberts University will persevere as it has in recent years, and take the life lessons of Oral Roberts to heart. While Oral Roberts leadership, wisdom and faith in God will be missed, they will live on everyday in the hearts and minds of countless ORU students, alumni and so many other Oklahomans.

May God Bless Oral Roberts, his family and the generations he has touched.

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore: Oral Roberts was a man who was profoundly committed to his faith, family and community throughout his lifelong ministry. He touched more people than any other Oklahoman of his generation. While he changed lives for the better one at a time, he also founded great institutions like Oral Roberts University that contributed to the well-being of the wider community. He was loved and will be missed by millions of people across the country and around the world. Certainly my sympathies and the sympathies of every Oklahoman go out to his family and many friends during this time of bereavement.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa: Everybody I met while serving in the U.S. Army in the mid-1950s knew about Tulsa because of Oral Roberts. Oral Roberts was better known than Will Rogers. He was just on everyone’s pedestal. He put Tulsa, Oklahoma on the map at that time

State Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa: Today the world mourns the passing of a great man, a great leader and a great mentor, who leaves behind an indelible legacy of ministry and service. His impact stretched beyond the boundaries of our state to every corner of the world. Age never diminished his passion for the gospel. He finished the race with zeal, and in a manner befitting a man of his tremendous character and unwavering faith.

I was privileged to know Dr. Roberts personally and his words of wisdom will be with me forever. He was always ready to give words of encouragement and direction. Dr. Roberts took the time to hear from God and conveyed the message with passion, such as ‘God is a good God’, ‘Something good is going to happen to you’ and ‘Expect a miracle’, words that are still relevant today. I can never adequately convey my gratitude for the legacy he leaves and he will be greatly missed.

Mart Green, Oral Roberts University board chairman: Chancellor Oral Roberts was a true disciple of Christ and his contributions to the kingdom of God will live on for many years to come. Just 10 days from Christmas, we know Oral will celebrate the birth of Christ with his heavenly father. The Oral Roberts University family grieves his loss yet celebrates the legacy he leaves behind.

B.> Billy Graham, evangelist: Oral Roberts was a man of God, and a great friend in ministry. I loved him as a brother. We had many quiet conversations over the years. I invited Oral to speak at one of our early international conferences on evangelism held in Berlin in the 1960’s. Oral was preceded in death by his wonderful wife Evelyn, who I also knew and loved. She was a woman of God, and a powerful prayer warrior. Just three weeks ago, I was privileged to talk to Oral over the telephone. During the short conversation, he said to me that he was near the end of his life’s journey. I look forward to the day that I will see Oral and Evelyn Roberts again in Heaven — our eternal home.

NewsOK Related ArticlesDecades ago, Roberts made a name for himself as an itinerant minister, holding tent meetings which drew many people to hear his fervent preaching. He was especially known for his healing ministry.

A televangelist and author, he is best known as the founder of Oral Roberts University, a private Christian university in Tulsa.

Roberts was born Granville “Oral” Roberts on Jan. 24, 1918, in Bebee, Oklahoma.

He was the fifth child of the Rev. Ellis M. Roberts and his wife, Claudius Priscilla. His mother was of American Indian descent and he was reportedly proud of his American Indian ancestry.

Roberts married schoolteacher Evelyn Lutman (now deceased) who came from the same Pentecostal Holiness background. The Roberts had four children: Rebecca (now deceased), Ronnie (now deceased), Roberta and Richard.

Oral Roberts came from a poor family and developed tuberculosis. He said he was healed of the disease by a traveling evangelist who held one of the tent meetings that were popular at the time.

Roberts himself became known for his healing ministry, and he and his wife traveled throughout the country holding tent revivals and prayer meetings focusing on healing the sick. He was the pastor at churches in Oklahoma and Georgia, while studying at Oklahoma Baptist University and Phillips University, now Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa.

In 1947, he founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and began conducting evangelistic crusades. He conducted more than 300 crusades on six continents.

In 1954, Roberts brought television cameras into his healing services to give TV viewers a “front-row seat to miracles.” He began a television program “Oral Roberts Presents” years later.

Roberts founded Oral Roberts University on 500 acres in 1963 in Tulsa. His longtime friend, the Rev. Billy Graham, officially dedicated the university four years later. Roberts founded the City of Faith Medical and Research Center in 1981. It closed after eight years.

A private family internment is planned. Arrangements for a public memorial service in Tulsa are pending.