Does it not seem that not a day goes by without somebody famous passing away? I try to write about the ones I have met in the course of covering television for over 40 years. Eric Bauza, the modern voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and so many other classic cartoon characters, was a delight to interview on a 2022 podcast. His death at 46 was completely unexpected. (See my more detailed remembrance of Bauza here.)
The passing of actor Tom Skerritt, 93, was less shocking yet also seemed out of the blue. The Detroit native, who died Oct. 21 at 93, racked up over 170 film and TV credits. They date as far back as “M*A*S*H” (1970) and on to big hits such as “The Turning Point” (1977), “Alien” (1979, “Top Gun” (1986), and “A River Runs Through It” (1992). His TV credits are vast. He won an Emmy Award for his outstanding work on TV’s Picket Fences (1992-96) and made a lasting impression on the sixth season of Cheers. Years earlier, he paid his dues on everything from Gunsmoke and The Fugitive to Time Tunnel, Mannix, Cannon, and Baretta.
Skerritt made at least one appearance at the Television Critics Association press tours over the years. in 1977, he was narrating a series called Crimes in Time for The History Channel. During his appearance at the Ritz-Carlton that summer in Pasadena, he explained to reporters why it was he got into acting in the first place.
“I basically fell into it because I was shy, and self-conscious and wanted to overcome that awful feeling of being self-conscious. Well, after 35 years of doing this, I think I’m finally able to talk to you, openly and honestly, without gulping.”
More sad news broke this week that Susan Saint James (Kate & Allie; McMillan and Wife) had passed away at 80 from pancreatic cancer. The talented Los Angeles native started out modeling before landing small roles on films such as “Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows” (1967) and later winning an Emmy for her role on the Tony Franciosa-Gene Berry-Robert Stack rotating “wheel” series The Name of the Game (1969-71).
I never met Saint James, who worked less often in later years, choosing to stay home and raise the children she shared with her NBC executive husband Dick Ebersol. The two met in 1981 when Saint James hosted Saturday Night Live. Six weeks later, they were married.
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In 2022, however, I did a podcast with one who knew her well, writer-producer Bill Persky (The Dick Van Dyke Show). In the ’80s, Persky directed 100 episodes of Kate & Allie, the sitcom which paired Saint James with ex-SNL player Jane Curtin. “It was the best five years I spent working,” said Persky, who also co-created, with writing partner Sam Denoff, That Girl with Marlo Thomas. “I wrote for some terrific women,” said Persky, “Marlo, Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James were pretty special.”
Saint James, of course, is also fondly remembered by fans of the 1979 George Hamilton Dracula spoof “Love at First Bite,” — especially by my neighbour Jim at the cottage.
Speaking of Jim, the two of us once had a cool encounter with one of our hockey heroes, Ron Duguay, the NHL sniper who spent his best years with the New York Rangers before moving on to Detroit, Pittsburgh and LA. The handsome Sudbury, Ont., native died of cancer at 69 on October 22. Famous for his flowing locks in the old pre-helmet days, the centre had a post-NHL career as an in-studio analyst on MSG Network’s coerage of Ranger games from 2007 to 2018.
Me and Jim met “Doogie” at the Real Sports bar in Toronto in 2011 promoting ther HBO Sports series 24-7. The series took a unique night-and-day approach to following several NHL teams. Duguay was working the room with Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, who busted heads for the Broad Street Bullies in their Stanley Cup-winning glory days in the mid-’70s.
Both could not have been more gracious, hanging out, enjoying a beverage, and answering any questions.
Duguay, who one season scored 40 goals with the Rangers, was known for scoring off ice as well. I was at a Ranger alumni event years ago hosted by Toronto Maple Leafs radio colour man Jim Ralph. Cracked Ralphie: “Did you know Ron Duguay was one of the toughest players in the NHL? First year he was in the league, he put six people in the hospital — five maternity!”
