The world of show business has been hit quite hard recently with the loss of multiple major stars. James Earl Jones and Maggie Smith are just the latest in a long list of people we have lost this year that also includes Chita Rivera, and Bob Newhart, to name a few.
James Earl Jones was a powerhouse who became one of a small group to have won an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). Whether he was known as the voice of Darth Vader, for his Shakespeare acting, or any of his other numerous roles, his talent shone. His work spanned genres, and he was shown to be accomplished on and off the live stage.
Maggie Smith is known most for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movie franchise. Her prolific career had her working with top names in the industry such as Lawrence Olivier, and she starred in everything from Shakespeare to dramas, to sitcoms, and guest starring on variety shows, including the Carol Burnett Show. There is little doubt that her knighting in 1990 was well earned.
Chita Rivera, known for dancing, originated multiple roles on the Broadway stage, including Velma Kelly in Chicago, and Anita in West Side Story. Her career spanned decades, and she holds the record for the most individual Tony Award nominations for a performer at 10. Her Presidential Medal of Freedom was deserved for her vast contributions to the musical stage.
Bob Newhart was a comedian who had several namesake television shows. The Christmas episodes are a personal favorite, and he also appeared in the movie Elf. Not only that, but he made guest appearances in several other shows as recurring characters, including Arthur Jeffries (Professor Proton) on the Big Bang Theory. He provided comic relief at award shows such as being locked in a box that would run out of oxygen if the speeches took too long.
Kathryn McElfresh
Staff Reporter
