RailRoadFan.com

R.I.P. Actor Bernard Hill, who died today at the age of 79. He was known for his roles in "Titanic" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
https://www.wfla.com/entertainment-news ... 8JIJrigTgq

Former Bears quarterback Bob Avellini dead at 70
Avellini helped Chicago reach playoffs in 1977 alongside Hall of Famer Walter Payton
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/former-b ... llini-dead

Obi Ezeh, former Michigan standout linebacker, dead at 36
Ezeh was productive with the Wolverines but went undrafted
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/obi-ezeh ... acker-dead

Revered producer and musician Steve Albini has died suddenly from a heart attack at 61 years old. His death was confirmed by the staff at the music icon’s recording studio, Electrical Audio in Chicago, which he founded in 1997. Known for his profound influence on indie rock both on stage and behind the mixing desk, Albini is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of the American underground rock genre
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/le ... 10#image=1

Former MLB infielder, LLWS star Sean Burroughs dies at 43
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/401 ... hs-dies-43

Ron Ellis, Toronto Maple Leafs legend, passes at 79.

Susan Backlinie, first victim in 'Jaws' film, dead at 77
Susan Backlinie, famously known as the first victim in the 1975 film "Jaws," has died, Fox News Digital can confirm.

Her husband of 30 years, Harvey Swindall, said death was "very unexpected." She died at their California home on Saturday morning from a heart attack. She was 77.

"[She] was the most amazing person I've ever met in my life. And I've never loved anybody like her," Swindall said.

Backlinie earned the role of Chrissie in Steven Spielberg's film not only for her enviable looks but also because she was a nationally ranked swimmer who had worked as a mermaid and animal trainer after graduating from high school in 1964.

"I didn’t want an actor to do it. I wanted a stuntperson because I needed somebody who was great in the water, who knew water ballet and knew how to endure what I imagined was going to be a whole lot of violent shaking," Spielberg recounted in Laurent Bouzereau's book "Spielberg: The First Ten Years," per the Hollywood Reporter. "So, I went to stunts to find her, and Susan was up to the challenge."

In an interview with the Palm Beach Post in 2017, Backlinie spoke about Spielberg's vision for what has now become an iconic scene.

"The first thing [Spielberg] said to me was, ‘When your scene is done, I want everyone under the seats with the popcorn and bubblegum,'" she said. "So, I think we did that."

While appearing on "The Morning X with Barnes & Leslie" show last year, Backlinie described in her own words how they captured that moment in the water.
"What they did was there were some pilings about 50 yards out on the beach, and they ran cables all the way from the beach out to the pilings in two shifts, and then they put me between the two pilings, and they had guys on the beach, about five or six on each cable," she explained. "We marked lines on the beach, and they would pull me right to the edge of the frame on either side. And the guys just ran back and forth from mark to mark," she said of the Martha's Vineyard set.

Backlinie also refuted a rumor that she'd broken a rib while filming but admitted it was an extremely grueling process.

"We would film from anywhere from 6 to 7 in the morning till 9 because of the light. … I was home and exhausted at the end of the day."

Backlinie appeared in a handful of movies, often as a stunt performer. She was also in some television shows.

David Sanborn, Grammy award-winning saxophonist, dead at 78
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/da ... 5fb0&ei=13

Longtime Detroit TV personality Marilyn Turner dies at 93
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/longt ... c1d82&ei=9

R.I.P. Comic actor, Dabney Coleman, who died yesterday at the age of 92.
https://www.wndu.com/2024/05/17/comic-a ... 8IqCZay8dj

R.I.P. CNN Political Commentator Alice Stewart, whose body was found outside of her Northern Virginia home this morning. She was 58.
https://tvline.com/news/alice-stewart-d ... 235243682/

Ex-UFC fighter Herrera dies aged 33
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mma_uf ... 82e4&ei=10

Train Founding Member Charlie Colin Dead at 58 After Freak Accident
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/tr ... 181c&ei=15

Original ‘Staind’ Drummer Jon Wysocki Dead At 56
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/or ... e4f1&ei=24

Morgan Spurlock, filmmaker who made the movie Supersize Me, dead at 53 from cancer: https://variety.com/2024/film/obituarie ... 236015338/

PGA Tour player Grayson Murray, 30, dies after withdrawing from tournament
Murray withdrew on Friday due to 'illness' just before his second round ended, the PGA Tour said
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pga-tour ... tournament

'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's death leaves cast 'sickened': 'He was truly one of a kind'
'General Hospital' alum Johnny Wactor was shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles early Saturday morning
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/g ... d-one-kind

R.I.P. NBA champion and basketball Hall of Famer, Bill Walton, who lost his battle with cancer today at the age of 71.
https://www.wndu.com/2024/05/27/bill-wa ... pAFrYNn5dY

Sean Burroughs, Little League Hero Who Made an Improbable Major-League Comeback, Dies at 43
Watched his biography and it was most interesting (although I am sure slightly embellished)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/se ... 15c5&ei=16