In memoriam Archives · | Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production

In memoriam

Linda Jefferson, senior vice president at Burrell has passed

By Reel Chicago May 18, 2022

With profound sadness, Burrell Communications Group announces the sudden and untimely passing of one of the agency's cornerstones. Linda Jefferson, senior vice president of Gr...

In memoriam

Chicago native, longtime character actor Mike Hagerty, has died at 67

By Reel Chicago May 7, 2022

Mike Hagerty, longtime character actor, best known as Mr. Teeger the building manager on Friends, passed away suddenly at 67. Hagerty was born in Chicago and got his start i...

In memoriam

Power Book IV: Force pays tribute to beloved crew member Mike Zobel

By Reel Chicago Apr 19, 2022

Power Book IV: Force paid tribute at the season finale to beloved crew member Mike Zobel who passed away suddenly during the filming of the show. For those fans of Power Boo...

In memoriam

The theater world mourns the passing of Chicago actress Hollis Resnik

By Reel Chicago Apr 19, 2022

Hollis Resnik, the Chicago based actor known for her theatre roles in Sunset Boulevard and Les Misérables, and a host of critically acclaimed performances, passed away at the ...

In memoriam

Merri Dee Chicago’s homegrown broadcasting legend has passed at 85

By Reel Chicago Mar 17, 2022

American philanthropist and former WGN-TV (Channel 9) television journalist, who survived a kidnapping and murder attempt, Merri Dee passed away at age 85. Her death was confir...

In memoriam

Chicago broadcaster Bob Ramsey passed away suddenly at age 65

By Reel Chicago Mar 12, 2022

Retired Chicago broadcaster and Southern Illinois University alum Bob Ramsey passed away suddenly at age 65 on Tuesday at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California...

In memoriam

Chicago mourns the death of actress Lindsey Pearlman

By Reel Chicago Feb 22, 2022

Chicago friends, family and co-workers were shocked to hear of the sudden passing of actress Lindsey Pearlman last week when she was found deceased in her car near a popular Lo...

In memoriam

Legendary Chicago marketing and advertising ‘GOAT’ Joel Goldsmith passes

By Reel Chicago Feb 17, 2022

Legendary Chicago Marketing and Advertising “GOAT” and Producer Joel Goldsmith passed away earlier this week at age 84, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's Disease. ...

In memoriam

Go Fund Me created to support the family of Tamiko Talbert-Fleming

By Barbara Roche Jan 28, 2022

Teamsters Local 727 asks for your support for the family of Tamiko Talbert-Fleming, wife of Local 727 Pepsi member Alfonzo Fleming, who lost her life on Friday, January 16, 20...

In memoriam

Memorial services for producer Katie Hoban today

By Reel Chicago Jan 18, 2022

The Chicago production family was stunned and saddened to learn that 44-year-old Producer and Post-Production Supervisor, Katie Hoban passed away suddenly at the beginning of t...

In memoriam

Jeff Dickerson longtime ESPN Chicago Bears reporter passes away at 44

By Reel Chicago Dec 29, 2021

Chicago native and longtime ESPN Chicago Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson passed away on Tuesday of colon cancer complications at age 44. Dickerson’s wife, Caitlin, die...

In memoriam

Legendary Director/Producer, Richard J. Kutok passes at age 79

By Reel Chicago Nov 16, 2021

Director/Producer Richard J. Kutok passes at age 79. His talents span over three decades in working with a wide spectrum of companies through TV production and marketing. Hi...

In memoriam

Video Journalist Scott Jacobs passes suddenly at age 71

By Tom Weinberg Nov 10, 2021

Story submitted by Tom Weinberg (Founder, Media Burn) I handed Scott Jacobs his first portable video camera at Videopolis in 1974. He was on leave from reporting at the Chic...

In memoriam

Nine time Emmy award winner Allison Payne has passed at age 57

By Reel Chicago Sep 15, 2021

Nine time Emmy award winner Allison Payne, the former anchor at WGN, passed away earlier this month at age 57, her former employer announced over the weekend. Payne was wit...

In memoriam

Veronica Wolski, COVID-19 vaccine critic, dies of COVID

By Reel Chicago Sep 14, 2021

Veronica Wolski, a Chicago activist and well-known QAnon supporter who spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, died of the virus early Monday. The Chicago woman, at ...

In memoriam

Chicago Entertainment Lawyer, Linda Mensch dies in tragic accident

By Barbara Roche Sep 7, 2021

Linda Mensch, Chicago entertainment attorney at the firm Mandell Menkes LLC, and board member with A Safe Haven, the homelessness prevention organization, died last week in a h...

In memoriam

Chicago’s original madman Joel Raphaelson has died

By Reel Chicago Jul 16, 2021

He played a pivotal role in Chicago's advertising resurgence in the 1980s when he helped open the office for Ogilvy. We cheered him then, now we mourn his loss. Former advertis...

In memoriam

Chicago film community mourns loss of Jeff Marpé

By Barbara Roche Jul 16, 2021

The Chicago film community is sadden by the loss of film pioneer Jeff Marpé, executive producer, director and founder of Line 9 Productions who passed away suddenly on July 14...

In memoriam

Kevin Clark, drummer in School of Rock, dies at 32

By Reel Chicago May 26, 2021

Kevin Clark, who played high-strung drummer Freddy Jones (aka “Spazzy McGee”) in the 2003 comedy School of Rock, was killed in an accident earlier this morning. He was 32.�...

In memoriam

Charles Grodin iconic straight-man passes at 86

By Joia DaVida May 18, 2021

Emmy Award winner Charles Grodin has passed away at age 86 in his home in Wilton, Connecticut. His death, from bone marrow cancer, was confirmed to NPR by his son, actor Nichol...