Willie Ritchie, sitting at DC Thomson editor Morris Heggie’s desk in DCT Meadowside, Dundee with his beloved “Baby Crockett” in October 2009. Photo courtesy Morris Heggie We’re sorry to report the passing of the popular comics artist William Ritchie, who… Read More ›
Obituaries
Tributes to comic creators, actors and others
Ricardo Garijo: The Commando List
A checklist of the Commando comics drawn by Ricard Garijo, first compiled by Vic Whittle in 2009
In Memoriam: Ricardo Garijo, Commando Artist
We’re sorry to report the passing of Argentinian comic artist Ricard Garijo, aged just 55
In Memoriam: My Hero Director John Stroud
We’re very sorry to report that My Hero and producer and director John Stroud has died aged 54 of a brain tumour. John, who was also co-founder of Big Bear Films with Marcus Mortimer and is probably best known for… Read More ›
In Memoriam: David Carradine
downthetubes is very sorry to report the death of actor David Carradine, star of 1970s cult TV show Kung Fu, whose career saw a huge revival in recent years with an appearance in Quentin Tarrantino’s Kill Bill. As a teen… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Adrian Kermode
We’re sorry to report the death of British journalist and comics writer Adrian Kermode
TV Magician Ali Bongo Dies
downthetubes is sorry to report that TV Magician Ali Bongo — described by friends as “the most influential and respected man in magic” — has died following a stroke, after being taken ill in France last month during a lecture…. Read More ›
In Memoriam: Patrick McGoohan
downthetubes is sorry to report the passing of legendary American actor, writer and director Patrick McGoohan, star of the 1960s secret agent series’ Danger Man, playing John Drake, and. later, The Prisoner, starring as the rebellious Number Six — a… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Oliver Postgate
“Once upon a time, not so long ago, there were two overgrown boys called Oliver and Peter. And Peter lived on a farm. It was a rather unusual farm because it didn’t grow any crops and there were no sheep… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Les Barton
(via Lew Stringer and Steve Bright): downthetubes is sorry to report the death of cartoonist Les Barton, the artist who originally drew DC Thomson’s Sparky comic’s brilliant I-Spy character. Les, who lived in Uxbridge, Middlesex, passed away in a nursing… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Pink Floyd’s Richard Wright
I was sorry to hear that founding Pink Floyd member and keyboardist Richard Wright has died at the age of 65 after losing a short struggle with cancer. Wright performed with the legendary rock outfit from their very early beginnings… Read More ›
Goodbye, Ken, and thanks for all the fun…
Updated (earlier picture from Doctor Who audition tapes was not, apparently, Ken Campbell): The brilliant Ken Campbell — improv actor, writer and man of experimental theatre — has died, aged just 66. His stage shows were simply incredible, always full… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Pauline Baynes
by John Freeman I’ve just been catching up with some recent email and read that Pauline Baynes, whose illustrations gave life to Narnia, as well as appearing in books by J.R.R. Tolkien, Mary Norton, Richard Adams and countless others, passed… Read More ›
In Memoriam: “Hot Shot Hamish” writer Fred Baker
Comics writer and editor Barrie Tomlinson has been in touch with sad news that prolific British comic script writer Fred Baker died earlier this month. He had been ill for some time with Alzheimer’s and died of pneumonia on 4th… Read More ›
Fred Baker: A Tribute
Writer and former Tiger and New Eagle editor Barrie Tomlinson pays tribute to Fred Baker, one of British comics unsung heroes, who died on 4 June 2008. He had been ill for some time with Alzheimer’s and died of pneumonia…. Read More ›
In Memoriam: Beryl Cook
Artist Beryl Cook, a painter with a cartoonists’ sensibility for accurate observation from life, has died aged 81. Her official biography on her web site indicates she was born in 1926 in Surrey, one of four sisters. She left school… Read More ›
Mike Western: 1925 – 2008
Following the death of British comics artist Mike Western, reported earlier this week, we’ve published two new features on the main downthetubes site to celebrate his life and work. In Mike Western Remembered, Ian Wheeler pays tribute to the late,… Read More ›
Mike Western: A Personal Tribute
For a little over five years, John Freeman and I produced Eagle Flies Again, a fanzine dedicated to British boy’s comics with a bias towards 1980s Eagle and other comics of that era. John and I were blessed to have… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Mike Western
Sad news via Steve Holland’s Bear Alley: one of the giants of British comics, Mike Western, has laid down his pen for the last time. Mike, who suffered a heart attack in 2007 and was laid low by it for… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Terry Maloney
Over on Bear Alley, Steve Holland has just paid tribute to writer and illustrator Terry Maloney, who died on 16 March 2008, aged 90. In the 1930s, Maloney joined the Communist Party and renounced his Catholic upbringing and the church… Read More ›