2008: A Celebration of Some Amazing Lives

As the year draws to a close, I think it's time to celebrate a few of the lives that ended in 2008. Not in a maudlin way, but in a spirit of celebration and joy. This is not an exhaustive list by any stretch, 2008 seemed to be a year when we said goodbye to many icons and famous names, but a more idiosyncratic art fag(ish) list of my own, stacked heavy with entertainers, artists and those who have somehow contributed to the cultural zeitgeist.

If you believe in reincarnation as I do, it's comforting to think that they are probably out there preparing to be fabulous all over again!

Miss Eartha Kitt, with kittehs (Chanteuse).


Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (actress, intergalactic nurse, spouse of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and the voice of the computer in numerous Star Trek incarnations).


Ted Lapidus (fashion designer, former dresser of the Beatles & Bardot, largely credited with democratising fashion by concentrating on affordable ready to wear, including unisex styles, flares and military style jackets).


Van Johnson (matinee idol, closeted gay actor).


Paul Newman (actor, humanitarian, devoted husband, good sort).


Bettie Page (pin-up).


Jorn Utzon (architect, great Dane).


Christie Allen (Singer, she gave us 'goosebumps, heart thumps, she made our motor run' for a brief while in Oz in the 1980s).


Pauline Baynes (illustrator, most famous for her illustrations for the C.S. Lewis "Narnia" novels and various Tolkein works).


Dorian Leigh (model, fashion icon).


Cyd Charisse (dancer, actress, leggy brunette).


David Brierly (actor, voice actor who was the voice of K9 in Dr Who).


Yves Saint Laurent (couturier).


John Phillip Law (actor, sexy angel Pygar from "Barbarella" amongst other roles).



Gary Gygax (Dungeons & Dragons game inventor, Supreme OverNerd, childhood hero).