Famous and Gravy

This person died in 2015 at age 82. When he moved to California in the early 1960s, he befriended the poet Thom Gunn, began entering weight-lifting competitions, and joined the Hells Angels on motorcycle trips to the Grand Canyon. As a medical doctor and a writer, he achieved a level of popular renown rare among scientists. He first won widespread attention in 1973 for his book “Awakenings”, about a group of patients with an atypical form of encephalitis or “sleeping sickness” who experienced a partial rebirth. In the film adaptation, his character was played by Robin Williams. Today’s dead celebrity is Oliver Sacks.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Evan Sherer, and features guest co-host Nicholas Weiler. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 26 “Wild Thing” (Maurice Sendak) and Episode 52 “Electric Vanities” (Tom Wolfe)LINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Oliver SacksLive interview with Radiolab’s Robert KrulwichFrom Our Neurons to Yours podcast from Stanford Neuroscience1989 PBS Newshour Profile of Oliver SacksDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2022 at age 94. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Although often simmering with repressed anger, his characters responded to injustice with quiet determination. He once wrote “I felt very much as if I were representing 18 million people with every move I made.” In a departure from acting, he directed the 1980 comedy “Stir Crazy”, starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. He was the first black performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. His acting credits include “Blackboard Jungle”, “The Defiant Ones”, and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”. Today’s dead celebrity is Sidney Poitier.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 43 “Poetic Justice” (Maya Angelou) and Episode 31 “The Greatest” (Muhammad Ali)LINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Sidney PoitierTrailer for ‘The Defiant Ones’“How many African Americans have won an Oscar in all of history”“Level 5 Leadership: The Triumph of Fierce Resolve”“When Sidney Poitier Risked His Life For Civil Rights”Dead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Special crossover episode! Imagine this: You’re on a desert island, and you can choose one actor or actress – and ONLY ONE – for whom you get their entire IMDb catalog to pass the time. It’s just you, a palm tree, a DVD player (streaming hasn’t reached this desert island), and the IMDb catalog of a single performer. Who would you choose? This thought experiment was first proposed by co-host Michael Osborne in our Bill Paxton episode, and now we take the experiment live. Today we bring you a crossover showdown between the hosts of the “Surely You Can’t Be Serious” podcast and the Famous & Gravy hosts. Moderated by Jeff Johnson of the podcast “A Film By”, we humorously debate, argue, and ultimately find out who is in fact the IMDb MVP.Our nominees in this special episode were inspired by Episode 58 “Best in Show” (Fred Willard) and Episode 51 “Goofball Stud” (Bill Paxton)LINKS:Samuel L Jackson’s IMDbFred Willard’s IMDbGary Oldman’s IMDbBill Paxton’s IMDb“Surely You Can’t Be Serious” podcast and on Facebook, Twitter“A Film By” podcast and on Facebook, Twitter, InstagramDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2022 at age 65. In his last year of college, he won a student Academy Award for a documentary. After his sister died of a rare autoimmune disease called systemic scleroderma, he became a board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation. He was cast in the 1987 Richard Pryor film, “Critical Condition.” He directed “Dirty Work”, a comedy starring Norm Macdonald and Artie Lange. He said he was drawn to jokes with foul language and raw anatomical references because he wasn’t supposed to talk that way in his youth. He played Danny Tanner on the long-running sitcom “Full House” and was the host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos”. Today’s dead celebrity is Bob Saget.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 53 ”Heartwarming Humor” (Louie Anderson) and Episode 47 “Love and OJ Jokes” (Norm Macdonald) LINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Bob SagetBest moments from the Comedy Central roast of Bob SagetJohn Posey as Danny Tanner in ‘Full House’ pilot“Inside John Mayer's Incredible Friendship With Bob Saget”“The Duality of Bob Saget is What Made Him Special” from The RingerDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carrie Fisher, known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars, offers wry commentary on the entertainment industry. Topics include her iconic role, relationships with Dan Aykroyd and Paul Simon, and her insightful writings. The podcast delves into her legacy, mother-daughter relationships, and complex emotional moments in her performances.

This person died in 2021 at age 99. During World War II she drove a truck delivering soap, toothpaste and candy to soldiers. She began her career in radio by saying one word on a popular comedy show. In the early 1960s she was best known as a busy freelance guest with game shows as her specialty. She had a longstanding interest in animal welfare. Her television career spanned seven decades and holds the Guinness World Record as the longest ever for a female entertainer. One of her best known roles was as Rose on the television hit “The Golden Girls”. Today’s dead celebrity is Betty White.This episode originally published May 17, 2023Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss and includes a guest appearance from Jennifer Keishin Armstrong. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 61 “Dame Detective” (Angela Lansbury) and Episode 47 “Proud Mary” (Mary Tyler Moore)LINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Betty WhiteBetty White’s Opening Monologue on SNL in 2010Tina Fey and Betty White ‘census’ skit on SNLBetty White Snickers Super Bowl CommercialForest Service makes actress Betty White honorary rangerGuest Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s websiteDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2022 at age 83. She amassed number 1 hits, chart-topping albums, and four records that sold more than two million copies each. Her consistently benign music and initial squeaky-clean image caused many to compare her to Doris Day. More than anything else, she was likable, even beloved. For years she was a prominent advocate for cancer research, starting a foundation in her name.  She played Sandy in the musical “Grease” alongside John Travolta and had a massive hit in the 1980s with the song “Let’s Get Physical”. Today’s dead celebrity is Olivia Newton-John.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 38 “A Lovely Lady” (Florence Henderson) and Episode 32 “Hot Stuff” (Donna Summer). LINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Olivia Newton-John“Mystery billionaire returns auctioned Grease Jacket”“The wild Peruvian experience that changed Olivia Newton-John’s life”“What made Olivia Newton-John 'horrified' about ‘Let’s Get 'Physical’” and music videoDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2018 at age 87. He wrote his most famous screenplay while teaching creative writing at Princeton University. Eight of his films each grossed more than $100 million domestically. He was called the world’s greatest and most famous living screenwriter. Even so, he was an outspoken critic of the movie industry, and made headlines when he declared, “Nobody knows anything.” He wrote ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Today’s dead celebrity is William Goldman.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 52 “Electric Vanities” (Tom Wolfe) and Episode 23  “Book Rancher” (Larry McMurtry)LINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for William Goldman“The Five Defining Lines of William Goldman” from The RingerDiscussing “nobody knows anything” on Charlie Rose‘The Princess Bride’ movie trailerDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2022 at age 88. He was once described by his coach as “the single most devastating force in the history of the game.” He took part in the 1963 March on Washington and was seated in the front row for Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. In 2011, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is remembered for his ability to enhance the talents of his Boston Celtics teammates even as he dominated the action, and to do it without bravado.  He holds the record for most NBA championships won with 11 titles. The trophy for the MVP of the Finals is in fact named after him. Today’s dead celebrity is Bill Russell. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 49 “Hammer Time” (Hank Aaron), Episode 33 “October Error” (Bill Buckner), and Episode 31 “The Greatest ” (Muhammad Ali)LINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Bill RussellWall Street Journal Obituary for Bill RussellPolitico Obituary for Bill Russell“The Unparalleled Legacy of Bill Russell” from the Ringer“Boston’s Checkered History with its Greatest Sports Icon” from CNN OpinionESPN’s list of Top Athletes in 20th Century5 celebrities the late Bill Russell gave the middle finger toDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2018 at age 82. His early passion was for football, and he played halfback at Florida State University. He was part Cherokee. He had an often turbulent career that spanned some 100 films and countless television appearances. He had a volatile temperament, but he himself projected an air of nonchalance and professed not to take his career too seriously. He was a self-mocking charmer with laugh-crinkled dark eyes, a distinctive mustache, and a hairy chest. He had box-office success with films like “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Cannonball Run”. Today’s dead celebrity is Burt Reynolds.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 55 “Pure Imagination” (Gene Wilder) and Episode 51 “Goofball Stud” (Bill Paxton)LINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Burt Reynolds“46 years of Burt Reynolds’ Glorious Mustache” in The Washington PostBurt’s ‘Cosmopolitan’ centerfold in 1972Clip of Burt Reynolds vs Mark Summers on ‘The Tonight Show’“Burt Reynolds on Toupees, Trump,...” in GQDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.