Deaths: August 27

Jessi Combs was born in the Black Hills of Rapid City, South Dakota. With a lifelong desire to become a race-car driver, this fearless young lady found a love for speed and its machines at a very young age. Her family explored everything around them and gave her a solid appreciation for off-roading as well as racing in many forms. In addition to her love for everything automotive, Jessi is somewhat of an artist and spends as much time as she can creating with her own hands. She loves metal-working, leather-craft, and photography, and can make almost anything anyone can dream up. She is an independent and adventurous spirit.

After turning down a full scholarship to a prominent interior-design school, she traveled North America before settling in Denver, Colorado to pursue a snowboarding career. This proved to be more painfully demanding physically than she had anticipated, and she changed to a career that involved her love for the throttle pedal and showcased her artistic abilities. She moved to Laramie, Wyoming to attend WyoTech, where she studied Collision/Refinishing, Chassis Fabrication, Street Rod Fabrication, and Trim/Upholstery. She graduated at the top of her class with a degree in Custom Automotive Fabrication.

Her time and involvement at the trade school led to her first fabrication job when the marketing department hired her and another student, Ben Bright, to build a car from the ground up in 6 months to debut at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association's (SEMA) show. The car was auctioned for charity and Ms. Combs hasn't looked back since.

While her chosen career path didn't initially include time on television, she found herself on "Overhaulin'" as a guest fabricator and was soon hired as the co-host of Xtreme 4x4, part of the Powerblock on Spike TV, a position she held for four years and 90+ episodes. She and co-host Ian Johnson built everything from race trucks to street trucks, and trail rigs to trailers, for an audience of millions.

In a widely-publicized yet unexplainable accident in 2007, while working in the studio, Jessi was folded in two by a large piece of machinery that had fallen on her and burst, fracturing her spine's L3. The accident should have left her wheelchair-bound, but after 8 months of surgery, bed rest, therapy, and help from God, Jessi was granted full medical release. Appreciative of her health and her time with Xtreme 4x4, Jessi chose to move on with her career and in 2008 she left the show in pursuit of other opportunities.

The next year was full of appearances on shows like "2 Guys Garage", "TruckU", "SEMA Show Special", "DuplicolorTV", "Full Throttle TV", "Pirate4x4 TV Live", and "Bosch 125." Her on-screen personality took shape as she honed her skills as a TV host while maintaining her integrity as a metal fabricator, builder, and industrial artist. In 2009 she appeared as a host and builder on the 7th season of "Mythbusters", filling in while Kari Byron went on maternity leave.

Recently, the Velocity Channel has been her home for television; she could be found on "All Girls Garage" and "Overhaulin'"s 2011 return to TV as a host and 'A-Team'-hybrid member. She can be seen on "The List: 1001 Car Things To Do Before You Die" on AOL's autoblog.com, also airing on the Velocity.

The training associated with these programs has allowed Jessi to become a performance driver for the film and commercial world. She has driven everything from super cars to monster trucks, relics to rally cars, hot rods, two wheels, four wheels and even at times, no wheels. Stunt driving has opened a whole new passion into the arena of possibilities between woman and machine for Jessi.

When it comes to competitive driving, Combs feels right at home in the driver seat. She has raced Ultra4's King of the Hammers in 2010, 2012, 2013, taking home a spec class win in 2014 as the first female to ever place at any Ultra4 event; she pressed on and wrapped up the season with the National Championship. Finishing the Baja 1000 is winning, although in 2011 taking home a class 10 podium finish is a true landmark in her racing resume. The North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger added Jessi to the team for the 2013 attempt to break the 512 mph Women's Landspeed World record made in 1976 by Kitty O'Neil; to date, Jessi is the fastest woman on 4-wheels holding a record of 398 mph with a top speed of 440 mph (the team remains in pursuit for her to become The Fastest Woman on Earth). In early 2015 she competed in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, a 9-day all-female rally race that only uses 1960 hand-drawn maps and compasses; they pulled 10th place overall and a first-place finish in the First Participation category. The Race of Gentleman, held by the longstanding Oilers car club, invited Jessi as the first woman to compete in their carnival event by racing a 1913 twin-engine Model T down the beach; her ability to handle any situation with any car will forever be in the history books.

Jessi is proud of the relationships she has fostered throughout her career and she continues to represent many companies as a brand representative as well as a product expert. These relationships coupled with her skills provided her the opportunity to develop a woman's line of welding gear (PPE) with Lincoln Electric in order to fill the demand and growth of ladies in the industry. Jessi has joined 8 years of epic 4-wheeling journeys with Warn Industries and proceeds to spread the word about their proven quality with the rest of the world. As a hands on builder, aligning with establishments such as CRC and Industrial Metal Supply only help her mission to express to others what woman are capable of in the shop.

Not known for sitting still, this fast-paced girl is also working on starting her own metal fab shop.

Beba Bidart was born on 3 April 1923 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was an actress, known for The Beast Must Die (1952), Buenas noches, Buenos Aires (1964) and Nacha Regules (1950). She was married to Cacho Fontana. She died on 27 August 1994 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Best known as publisher and founder of Random House. Published many giants of 20th century American literature, including William Faulkner, James Michener, and Ayn Rand. Published James Joyce's Ulysses in the US after winning landmark Supreme Court obscenity case. Edited compilations of humor and joke books. Appeared regularly on "What's My Line?" and other TV shows.

Bill Shirley was born on 6 July 1921 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. He was an actor, known for Sleeping Beauty (1959), I Dream of Jeanie (1952) and Flying Tigers (1942). He died on 27 August 1989 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Billy Sands was born William F. Sands on January 6, 1911 in Bergen, NY, to Dana Alice (Marboys) and John F. Sands. He began his professional acting career in 1946 when he appeared on Broadway with Spencer Tracy in Robert Sherwood's "Rugged Path", but he eventually became a television character actor who appeared regularly as Pvt. Dino Papparelli on The Phil Silvers Show (in 138 episodes) and as Seaman Harrison "Tinker" Bell on McHale's Navy (also in 138 episodes). Sands later guest-starred in numerous television series, such as Car 54, Where Are You?, All in the Family, Here's Lucy, Happy Days, The Odd Couple, and Webster. He also appeared in an opening scene of Rocky (1976) as a booker for the fighters. He passed away at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA on August 27, 1984 from lung cancer at the age of 73. He was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, CA.

Brandon Tartikoff was a graduate of Yale University, and started his career out at WLS-TV in Chicago. He switched jobs to ABC in New York in the mid-1970s, and moved to NBC in 1977 where he became a programming executive hired by Dick Ebersol. Tartikoff took over programming duties from Fred Silverman in 1980. In 1982, Tartikoff had a second recurrence of Hodgkin's disease, which he was first diagnosed with and beat in the 1970s. Tartikoff was responsible for many programming hits during his years at the helm of NBC. In 1985, he finally got NBC back up to number one. He left NBC in 1991, and moved over to Paramount Pictures and became its chairman. Tartikoff left Paramount eighteen months later to help care for his daughter, injured in a 1991 car accident. He formed his own production company in 1995, and died of a third recurrance of Hodgkin's disease in 1997.

This tall, blond, and handsome actor was successful during the 70s. He played distinguished characters with Gabriela Gili, Rodolfo Beban, and Delfy de Ortega in the soap operas " Malevo" (1972) and "El Cuarteador' (1977).

In movies, he is well remembered for his character in "Carmina" with Maria De Los Angeles Medrano, Arturo Puig y Maria Danelli. Also, he worked with director Enrique Carreras in the successful movie "Los Drogadictos" (1976).

In this last decade, Mr. Vanoni has worked very sporadically.

Donnie Fritts began his career as a musician at the age of 15, playing drums and keyboard.

In 1965 Fritts began writing songs and had songs recorded by Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson and others.

As a songwriter, Donnie's songs were performed and appeared on the national charts by Charlie Rich (You're Gonna Love Yourself In the Morning' (1980), Dolly Parton (We Had It All-1986), and Waylon Jennings (We Had It All-1973).

In 1967, Fritts began playing keyboards for Kris Kristofferson, also a Florence, Alabama native, a relationship that spanned 20 years and in locations both nationally and internationally.

Donnie appeared in several movies with Kris Kristofferson, including 'The Last Years of Frank and Jesse James' (1986-TV), 'Songwriter' (1984), 'Convoy'(1978), and 'A Star is Born' (1976), and two other Sam Peckinpah's movies in addition to 'Convoy'; 'Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid' (1973) and 'Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia' (1974).

In 1998, Donnie released an album 'Everybody's Got A Song' which includes guest appearances by Willie Nelson, Tony Joe White, and Kris Kristofferson and John Prine, as well as many others.

In 2001, Fritts had a kidney transplant that closely followed seven heart operations.

While he was recovering in the hospital after the transplant, a friend asked how he was doing. Fritts responded that he had "one foot in the groove." It became the title of a CD in 2008.

On February 22, 2008, Kristofferson was on hand in Montgomery, Alabma to induct Donnie into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

On March 06, 2008, Donnie Fritts who is active on the Muscle Shoals (Alabama) music scene appeared with Billy Bob Thornton for The Billy Bob Bash: A Muscle Scoals Homecoming at the Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence, Alabama as a part of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. In 2008 Billy Bob and Donnie also began co-writing several new songs.

Though almost completely unknown, this man was one of the originators of a highly popular and groundbreaking new form of comedy and satire.

After working on the Harvard Lampoon as an undergraduate, Douglas C. Kenney co-founded the National Lampoon magazine and the National Lampoon Radio Hour.

Kenney had originally collaborated at Harvard with friend, Henry Beard, and founded the National Lampoon, where the two pooled their talents and created a radical new humor magazine. Humor that was sophomoric, rebellious, off-color, vulgar and just plain laceratingly funny.

The Lampoon's humor was considered radical. Not only was the magazine an all-time best seller - particularly the infamous cover of the gun pointed at the family pet: "If you don't buy this magazine, we'll kill this dog". Kenney had broadened his comic touch all over. He and other members of the Lampoon had written books - the most popular being the "1964 High School Yearbook Parody" in 1974 (co-edited by P.J. O'Rourke). Written like a real yearbook and spoofing all the things that make them almost embarrassing and funny in their own right, Kenney and his cohorts had certainly written a little masterpiece.

Another best-selling classic of his was the cult favorite "Bored of the Rings", a humorous little take on Mr. J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary best-seller. The book was a best-seller and thanks to the release of Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning live-action adaptation of the novel trilogy, the book got another printing. Kenney's legacy was living on.

Another piece of his was "Mrs. Agnew's Diary", that roasted the Nixon administration.

Emma Penella was born on 2 March 1930 in Madrid, Spain. She was an actress, known for Fortunata y Jacinta (1970), The Executioner (1963) and Fedra, the Devil's Daughter (1956). She was married to Emiliano Piedra. She died on 27 August 2007 in Madrid, Spain.

Ernesto Arancibia was born on 12 January 1904 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was a director and production designer, known for The Lady of the Camelias (1953), Romance musical (1947) and La calle del pecado (1954). He died on 27 August 1963 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Fort Worth, Eve Brent began her career in radio and early television and later moved on to the college and little theater stage. Arriving in Hollywood with a husband and infant son in the 1950s, she landed some film (Gun Girls (1957), Journey to Freedom (1957), The Bride and the Beast (1958)) and episodic TV roles. Maverick director Samuel Fuller changed her name to Eve Brent when she appeared in his western Forty Guns (1957), the first of dozens of screen roles for her under that name. She then played Jane opposite Gordon Scott's Tarzan in Tarzan's Fight for Life (1958) and in episodes of a Tarzan TV series. In addition to her big-screen and episodic TV assignments, Brent has appeared in hundreds of commercials.

Feliciano Brunelli was born on 7 February 1903. He is known for Waiting for the Hearse (1985). He died on 27 August 1981.

Busy American character actor, renowned for his numerous portrayals of Benjamin Franklin on both stage and screen. Born Fredd Wiener in Akron, Ohio, Fredd worked briefly as a delivery boy at Warner Brothers before being called up for military service during World War II. Being appointed as a 'special service' NCO, he was put in charge of providing entertainment for troops as writer, producer and actor of army productions. After demobilisation, he supported himself by working a daytime job at J. C. Penney's department store in New York while also taking nightly drama classes at the American Theatre Wing (along with fellow alumni Lee Marvin, Martin Balsam and James Whitmore). Fredd's career developed slowly at first. In 1947, he lost out to another Wayne (David, who ended up winning a Tony Award) for the role of Og the leprechaun in "Finian's Rainbow". Undeterred, Fredd eventually landed his breakthrough role on Broadway two years later as Brewster Ames II in the musical comedy "Texas, Li'l Darlin". From there, he went on to appear once more on Broadway (in the 1951 satirical play "Not for Children" by Elmer Rice) and in the original London Theatre Royal cast of "South Pacific" as the 'comic relief' character Luther Billis. Regularly on television from the early 50s -- beginning with live anthology dramas -- Fredd became a familiar presence in popular fare across all genres, including The Twilight Zone (1959) (twice), Perry Mason (1957), 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), The Rockford Files (1974) and (a little more recently) Simon & Simon (1981). Bringing Benjamin Franklin to life he guested in a fondly remembered two-part instalment of Bewitched (1964), appeared in "Go Fly a Kite" at Aldo Tambellini's Gate Theatre in New York and toured nationwide and internationally with his painstakingly researched and hugely successful one-man stage show which he also wrote, produced and directed (audio-taped as "Benjamin Franklin, Citizen" in 1976).

Gail Russell was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 21, 1924. She remained in the Windy City, going to school until her parents moved to California when she was 14. She was an above-average student in school and upon graduation from Santa Monica High School was signed by Paramount Studios.

Because of her ethereal beauty, Gail was to be groomed to be one of Paramount's top stars. She was very shy and had virtually no acting experience to speak of, but her beauty was so striking that the studio figured it could work with her on her acting with a studio acting coach.

Gail's first film came when she was 19 years old with a small role as "Virginia Lowry" in Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour (1943) in 1943. It was her only role that year, but it was a start. The following year she appeared in another film, The Uninvited (1944) with Ray Milland (it was also the first time Gail used alcohol to steady her nerves on the set, a habit that would come back to haunt her). It was a very well done and atmospheric horror story that turned out to be a profitable one for the studio. Gail's third film was the charm, as she co-starred with Diana Lynn in Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (1944) that same year. The film was based on the popular book of the time and the film was even more popular.

In 1945 Gail appeared in Salty O'Rourke (1945), a story about crooked gamblers involved in horse racing. Although she wasn't a standout in the film, she acquitted herself well as part of the supporting cast. Later that year she appeared in The Unseen (1945), a story about a haunted house, starring Joel McCrea. Gail played Elizabeth Howard, a governess of the house in question. The film turned a profit but was not the hit that Paramount executives hoped for.

In 1946 Gail was again teamed with Diana Lynn for a sequel to "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay"--Our Hearts Were Growing Up (1946). The plot centered around two young college girls getting involved with bootleggers. Unfortunately, it was not anywhere the caliber of the first film and it failed at the box-office. With Calcutta (1946) in 1947, however, Gail bounced back with a more popular film, this time starring Alan Ladd. Unfortunately, many critics felt that Gail was miscast in this epic drama. That same year she was cast with John Wayne and Harry Carey in the western Angel and the Badman (1947). It was a hit with the public and Gail shone in the role of Penelope Worth, a feisty Quaker girl who tries to tame gunfighter Wayne. Still later Gail appeared in Paramount's all-star musical, Variety Girl (1947). The critics roasted the film, but the public turned out in droves to ensure its success at the box-office. After the releases of Song of India (1949), El Paso (1949), and Captain China (1950), Gail married matinée idol Guy Madison, one of the up-and-coming actors in Hollywood.

After The Lawless (1950) in 1950 Paramount decided against renewing her contract, mainly because of Gail's worsening drinking problem. She had been convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and the studio didn't want its name attached to someone who couldn't control her drinking. Being dumped by Paramount damaged her career, and film roles were coming in much more slowly. After Air Cadet (1951) in 1951, her only film that year, she disappeared from the screen for the next five years while she attempted to get control of her life. She divorced Madison in 1954.

In 1956 Gail returned in 7 Men from Now (1956). It was a western with Gail in the minor role of Annie Greer. The next year she was fourth-billed in The Tattered Dress (1957), a film that also starred Jeanne Crain and Jeff Chandler. The following year she had a reduced part in No Place to Land (1958), a low-budget offering from "B" studio Republic Pictures.

By now the demons of alcohol had her in its grasp. She was again absent from the screen until 1961's The Silent Call (1961) (looking much older than her 36 years). It was to be her last film. On August 26, 1961, Gail was found dead in her small studio apartment in Los Angeles, California.

Germán Lorente was born on 25 November 1932 in Vinaroz, Castellón, Spain. He was a writer and director, known for Antes de anochecer (1963), Hold-Up, instantánea de una corrupción (1974) and Special Killers (1973). He died on 27 August 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

Gracie Allen was born on 26 July 1895 in San Francisco, California, USA. She was an actress and writer, known for The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939), A Damsel in Distress (1937) and Honolulu (1939). She was married to George Burns. She died on 27 August 1964 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Born in Cleveland, Morris came to Hollywood in the early 1960s. His acting experience at that time consisted of a few minor roles on the Seattle stage. He found work appearing on Television series such as The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) and The Twilight Zone (1959) before being cast in Mission: Impossible (1966). Morris played quiet, efficient electronics expert Barney Collier from 1966-1973. After the show ended, Morris continued to appear in other Television series and a couple of Television movies. In 1979, he went to Las Vegas to film the television series Vega$ (1978) in which he played Lt. David Nelson. He liked the city so much he decided to stay. This series lasted 2 years. In 1981, Morris survived a serious road accident and did not reappear on television for years. In 1989, he appeared in a short-lived remake of Mission: Impossible (1988). In 1990, he was diagnosed with cancer.

Gustav Wiklund was born on 26 May 1934 in Helsinki, Finland. He was an actor, known for Aleksis Kiven elämä (2001), Jean-Paul Marat förföljd och mördad så som det framställs av patienterna på hospitalet Charenton under ledning av herr de Sade (1967) and Dagmar's Hot Pants, Inc. (1971). He was married to May-Britt Helga Wiklund. He died on 27 August 2019 in Helsinki, Finland.

Helli Stehle was born on 6 December 1907 in Basel, Kanton Basel Stadt, Switzerland. She was an actress, known for Emil, mer mues halt rede mitenand (1941) and De Tod uf em Oepfelbaum (1966). She died on 27 August 2017 in Basel, Switzerland.

Jinx Falkenburg was born on 21 January 1919 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. She was an actress, known for Sing for Your Supper (1941), Lucky Legs (1942) and Talk About a Lady (1946). She was married to Tex McCrary. She died on 27 August 2003 in Manhasset, New York, USA.

In 1900, Le Corbusier trained as a painter, engraver and goldsmith at the École d'Art in his birthplace. From 1904 he began studying architecture there. Between 1907 and 1911 he traveled through Europe. During this time he was employed in well-known construction offices in different cities. In 1914 he succeeded in developing a skeletal system made of reinforced concrete called "Domino", which was intended for use in multi-story buildings. In 1917 the painter and architect settled in Paris. The following year, Le Corbusier created his first oil painting. This was followed by further pictures in which he painted his preferred motif, the structured still life, such as in the works "Vertical Guitar" or "Still Life with a Stack of Plates".

In 1919 he published the magazine "L'Esprit Nouveau". In it he published his avant-garde architectural concepts. For the first time during this time he marked his contributions with the pseudonym "Le Corbusier". In the same year he published his "Manifesto of Purism", in which he propagated elementary, geometric shapes. Le Corbusier's "Radiant City", an urban planning concept for a city with three million inhabitants, was published in 1922. The outstanding and groundbreaking features were the separate traffic routes for cars and pedestrians as well as large residential units in combination with retail and commercial businesses. He also designed these architectural concepts in basic geometric shapes. The reaction among experts to Le Corbusier's designs was divided.

Le Corbusier devoted himself to painting until 1922. His images are technical objects that he created in a mixture of cubist, neo-plasticist and dadaist styles. After that he only occasionally returned to painting. His work also included furniture designs and groundbreaking theoretical writings. In 1923, Le Corbusier's work was published under the title "Vers une Architecture" as a collection of his specialist writings. In this, the master builder sees architecture as "a clever, correct and wonderful play of united bodies in the light". He used both functionalist and artistic elements in his architecture. In the same year he took part in a Bauhaus exhibition in Weimar.

He had contacts with fellow architects Walter Gropius and Bruno Taut. In 1927, Le Corbusier was involved in the construction of the Weissenhof Estate in Stuttgart with some designs. The following year he was one of the co-founders of the "Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne", or CIAM for short. Le Corbusier became a sought-after urban planner who worked worldwide from 1929 onwards. He designed important buildings everywhere, such as the Salvation Army night shelter in Paris, which was completed between 1929 and 1933. Or he planned the Swiss House of the Cité universitaire in Paris, which was built from 1930 to 1932. In 1930, Le Corbusier married Yvonne Gallis. From 1936 to 1945 he delivered the design for the Ministry of Education in Rio de Janeiro. The provocatively new thing about it was the use of sun protection elements as a facade design.

With this, Le Corbusier set groundbreaking accents in design according to functional specifications. As a supporter of the French Vichy government, the architect returned to Paris in 1943. There he founded the "Association of Designers for Architectural Renewal". The aim of this institution was to help with reconstruction together with young architects after the end of the Second World War. From 1946 onwards, Le Corbusier built in a style that approached sculptural forms. The Unité d'habitation in Marseille is an example of this. Between 1950 and 1954, the pilgrimage church of Notre-Dame-du-Haut in Ronchamps was built according to his plans. From 1961 to 1964, the building he planned for the Carpenter Center for Visual Art at Harvard University in Cambridge was completed.

Le Corbusier died on August 27, 1965 near Cap Martin in France.

Leonard J. Waxdeck was a biology teacher at Piedmont High School in Piedmont, CA. In 1963, at the suggestion of a student, he started an annual bird calling contest. Contest winners have appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Leopoldo Pomés was born on 17 November 1931 in Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. He was a director and actor, known for Ensalada Baudelaire (1978), Le fils de Marie (1973) and La rentadora (2006). He died on 27 August 2019 in Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

Martín Karadagián was born on 30 April 1922 in San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an actor, known for El hombre invisible ataca (1967), Reencuentro con la gloria (1962) and Las aventuras del Capitán Piluso en el castillo del terror (1963). He died on 27 August 1991 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.