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

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...

In memoriam

Chicago’s beloved architect Helmut Jahn has died

By Reel Chicago May 11, 2021

AIA Chicago's Lifetime Achievement Award winner Helmut Jahn, a prominent German modernist/postmodernist architect who designed an Illinois state government building (James R. T...

In memoriam

Michael Apted prolific director, producer, writer has died

By Reel Chicago Jan 12, 2021

Michael Apted, producer, writer and actor, and one of the most prolific film directors of his generation has died at age 79. Born in 1941 in Aylesbury, England, Apted had an...

In memoriam

Dirk Wales author/founder of Rainbow Productions dies

Dec 8, 2020

Dirk Wales 1931 - 2020 In true dramatic fashion, on November 27th Dirk Wales moved on to his next great adventure. He was 89 years young. Dirk was born in New York c...

In memoriam

Bill Murray’s brother, Caddyshack inspiration has died

By Barbara Roche Nov 25, 2020

Ed Murray, Bill Murray's oldest brother and the inspiration for the film Caddyshack has died. Ed, the oldest of the Murray boys, was born in Evanston, Illinois, to Luci...

In memoriam

Chicago P.D., The Chi, Director & Producer dies

By Reel Chicago Nov 1, 2020

David Rodriguez, a director and producer for series such as TNT's Animal Kingdom, Showtime's The Chi and Starz's Power, has died. He was 50. Rodriguez died on Oct. 29 from c...

In memoriam

WLS news legend Joel Daly passes away at 86

By Reel Chicago Oct 22, 2020

2020 has taken so many legends from us. Reel Chicago is sad to report that iconic newsman Joel Daly, who spent nearly 40 years at ABC affiliate WLS, died today at around 5:30 ...

In memoriam

Chicago Bears’ legend Gale Sayers dies at 77

By Reel Chicago Sep 23, 2020

Gale “Kansas Comet” Sayers, Legendary Chicago Bears running back who’s book the 1971 movie Brian’s Song was based on, died today. He was 77. His death was announced ...

In memoriam

Chicago film community mourns loss of Andrew Biesen

By Katharin Mraz Sep 15, 2020

It is always difficult to hear of a fellow filmmaker passing, especially someone as wonderful and influential as Andrew Beisen. Those who knew him best say that Andrew was tale...

In memoriam

Jim Mahoney founder of Film & Tape Works passes at 71

By Reel Chicago Jul 29, 2020

James A. Mahoney, the founder of Film & Tape Works and dear friend of many in the Chicago film community, has died at age 71. Film and Tape Works at 237 E. Ontario, was...

In memoriam

Chicago broadcasting icon Hugh Downs passes at 99

By Reel Chicago Jul 7, 2020

He was a pioneer of broadcasting whose career would span a century. On July first, we lost 99-year-old TV News legend Hugh Downs. Downs passed away peacefully at his home in Sc...

In memoriam

Memories of director Joel Schumacher who has died at 80

By Barbara Roche Jun 23, 2020

Acclaimed Hollywood director Joel Shumacher who hit the big time after directing a string of successful movies including Flatliners (1990), The Lost Boys (1987) and St. El...

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