r/deathannouncements

From Consequence of Sound:

A statement from the band’s publicist reads, in part, “It was announced today that Frank Beard, ZZ Top’s drummer for the past 56 years, has died. He was in hospice care when he passed away at his ranch in Richmond, TX with family members at his side. Beard, together with guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill were one of music’s most enduring line-ups continuing until 2021 when Hill’s passing saw Elwood Francis join the band, who have continued to tour throughout North America, Europe and South America to this day.”

Beard, known as the one ZZ Top member without a beard, was the galvanizing force for the little band from Texas that formed in 1969 in Houston. The drummer, along with singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill, made up the classic lineup that would record and tour together for 50 years until Hill’s death in 2021.

Beard’s steady beat was an integral part of the band’s vitality, but it was his self-realized sobriety that played a crucial part in the trio’s longevity and their 1980s success.

1949-2026

From Deadline:

Mark Rydell, the Oscar-nominated director of 1981’s On Golden Pond and two of Bette Midler’s signature films – The Rose and For The Boys – died Thursday of natural causes in Los Angeles. He was 97.

His death was announced by Midler on Instagram today.

“Mark Rydell, the director or my first film, The Rose, died this morning. He was an actor of note before he became a director, and I was so lucky to have met him when I did; he taught me so much on The Rose and later on For The Boys. Two Oscars nominations both because of him. He was the actor’s whisperer; just a few words was all it took to understand what was needed.”

Born Mortimer H. Rydell on March 23, 1929, in New York City, Rydell studied music with the intention of becoming an orchestra conductor but pivoted to acting after attending The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City and landing roles on in the mid-1950s and early ’60s on New York-based soap operas The Edge of Night and As the World Turns.

A busy acting career was launched, with guest appearances over the next decade on episodes of such primetime series as The Phil Silvers Show, Robert Montgomery Presents, The Big Story, Naked City and Wanted: Dead Or Alive.

By the mid-1960s, though, Rydell was increasingly pivoting toward directing, with such early TV credits as episodes of The Virginian, Mr. Novak, 10 episodes of Ben Casey, I Spy, The Wild Wild West, The Fugitive and Gunsmoke.

Rydell directed Steve McQueen in 1969’s The Reivers, John Wayne in 1972’s The Cowboys and James Caan and Marsha Mason in 1973’s Cinderella Liberty. He would reteam with Caan on 1976’s Harry and Walter Go To New York and, that same year, directed the pilot episode of the hit ABC domestic drama Family.

His highest profile film to date came in 1979 with Midler’s movie debut, The Rose. Based loosely on the life and death of rock star Janis Joplin, The Rose made a movie star of Midler, earning her an Oscar nomination as well as one for co-star Frederic Forrest.

The Rose‘s success led to Rydell’s hiring to direct the much anticipated On Golden Pond, the film adaptation of playwright Ernest Thompson’s 1979 play. The movie would star Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda in one of the most celebrating casting coups of its day. Rydell was nominated for an Oscar, as was Jane Fonda. Both Henry Fonda and Hepburn won their Academy Awards, as did Thompson for his adapted screenplay.

Rydell was married to actor Joanne Linville (Guiding Light, The Goddess, 1976’s A Star Is Born) from 1962 to 1973. The couple had two children, daughter Amy and son Christopher. A second marriage to documentarian and producer Esther Rydell produced a son, Alexander, before ending in divorce.

Survivors include his three children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren."

1929-2026

From Wikipedia:

"Christy Knowings was an American actress and comedian who served three seasons on the Nickelodeon sketch-comedy series All That...

Knowings joined the cast of All That after she had been a performer on a Rosie O'Donnell sketch-comedy special produced by Nickelodeon entitled, And Now This.

Knowings remained on the show until the end of Season 6 in 2000. Her characters included Penny Lane (inheriting the role from Alisa Reyes, who herself had inherited the role from Angelique Bates), the dental assistant for Dr. Bynes, Lieutenant Fondue, Jessica from Whateverrr!!!, Yoko from CJ and the Cloudy Knights, Brenda Stone from Channel 6 1/2 News, and Winter Wonders from What Do You Do?...

From 2008 to 2011, she made three appearances on episodes of Sesame Street, alongside her real-life twin brother Chris Knowings. In 2020, she released the folk single "To the World"."

From TMZ:

"Former "All That" star Christy Knowings is dead after suffering an asthma attack that left her with brain damage... Christy was hospitalized Friday after the attack and placed on life support...We're told Christy remained on life support through Tuesday, when her family made the difficult decision to take her off it. She died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles-area hospital."

Rest in peace.

1980-2026

From BBC:

"EMF, known best for their hit Unbelievable, said their original keyboardist Derran "Derry" Brownson died on Thursday following a brain tumour diagnosis.

Derry spoke to the BBC about his diagnosis in July 2025, the month he and his bandmates returned to their hometown of Cinderford to play at Cindyfest, which he said was "very, very special".

Ian Dench, Derry's bandmate, said: "I can't think of anyone who embodied lust for life like Derry did. I mean, he was beautiful inside out."

In the early days of EMF, Gloucester-born Ian said it was "fun-loving" Derry that made him feel at home in the Forest of Dean as an outsider...

Ian said one of his favourite memories of Derry involved him throwing a television out of a hotel room window with another musician after negative comments were broadcast about Wolverhampton Wanderers - Derry's favourite football team.

"I don't want you to think that Derry was all craziness because he did have a very sensitive side," he said.

"He was very active in looking after the hedgehogs where he lived in Devon... underneath all that excitement and laughter he was a sensitive soul and, as I said, a beautiful person inside and out."

1970-2026