Actor and playwright Sam Shepard has passed away at the age of 73.
Sam Shepard wrote more than 40 plays and won the Pulitzer Prize for drama for Buried Child in 1979.
He went on to be nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar for 1983’s The Right Stuff and starred in movies like Black Hawk Down as well as co-writing 1984’s Paris, Texas.
Sam Shepard died at home in Kentucky on July 27, his family have confirmed.
His death came after he experienced complications from motor neuron disease, also known as ALS.
Sam Shepar’s first major acting role was in Terrence Malik’s Days of Heaven in 1978, in which he starred alongside Richard Gere.
Other movie credits include Steel Magnolias, The Pelican Brief and The Accidental Husband.
More recently, Sam Shepard was seen as Robert Rayburn in two series of Netflix thriller Bloodline.
He also appears in psychological thriller Never Here, which had its premiere last month.
Sam Shepard was nominated for two other Pulitzers, for Broadway plays Fool for Love and True West. He was also nominated for two Tony Awards.
His final play was A Particle of Dread, which was first performed in New York in 2014.
Sam Shepard wrote the screenplay for Robert Altman’s big screen adaptation of his play Fool for Love. His novel, The One Inside, was published earlier this year.
A spokesman said Sam Shepard’s family was with him when he died. He is survived by children Jesse, Hannah and Walker Shepard and sisters Sandy and Roxanne Rogers.
According to ALS Association, the Ice Bucket Challenge has funded an important scientific gene discovery in the progressive neurodegenerative disease ALS.
The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral in 2014 and raised $115 million from people, including prominent celebrities, pouring cold water over themselves and posting the video on social media.
The project was criticized as a stunt, but has funded six research projects.
Photo Getty Images
Scientists have identified a new gene contributing to the disease, NEK1.
Research by Project MinE, published in Nature Genetics, is the largest-ever study of inherited ALS, also known as motor neurone disease (MND).
More than 80 researchers in 11 countries searched for ALS risk genes in families affected by the disease.
Lucie Bruijn of the ALS Association says: “The sophisticated gene analysis that led to this finding was only possible because of the large number of ALS samples available.”
The identification of gene NEK1 means scientists can now develop a gene therapy treating it.
Although only 10% of ALS patients have the inherited form, researchers believe that genetics contribute to a much larger percentage of cases.
Social media was awash with videos of people pouring cold water over their heads to raise money for ALS in the summer of 2014.
More than 17 million people uploaded videos to Facebook, which were then watched by 440 million people worldwide.
Toto bass-player Mike Porcaro has died at 59 after a long battle with motor neurone disease (MND), also known as ALS.
The rock band is best known for its hits Africa and Rosanna.
The band’s keyboardist Steve Porcaro said in a statement that his brother had died peacefully in his sleep at home, surrounded by family. Michael Joseph Porcaro passed away on Sunday, March 15.
Toto, which broke up in 2008, reformed in 2010 to raise money for Mike Porcaro and raise awareness of his illness.
Also known for the hit Hold the Line, Toto sold 35 million albums.
Toto guitarist Steve Lukather wrote on Facebook that Mike Porcaro was “now at peace”.
Motor neurone disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare condition which attacks the nervous system.
As the condition progresses sufferers find basic activities such as walking, speaking and breathing increasingly difficult.
Still Alice director and co-writer Richard Glatzer has died at the age of 63 after losing battle with ALS.
Richard Glatzer was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011, soon after he and his husband, Wash Westmoreland, began adapting Oscar-winning Still Alice.
He was too unwell to attend last month’s Academy Awards, when Julianne Moore picked up the best actress Oscar for her leading role in Still Alice.
Wash Westmoreland said Richard Glatzer’s courage “inspired me and all who knew him”.
“I am devastated,” Wash Westmoreland said, in a statement.
“Rich was my soulmate, my collaborator, my best friend and my life.”
“In this dark time, I take some consolation in the fact that he got to see Still Alice go out into the world. He put his heart and soul into that film, and the fact that it touched so many people was a constant joy to him.”
Julianne Moore simply tweeted: “I love you Richard.”
The actress paid tribute to Richard Glatzer in her speech at the Oscars on February 22.
“When Richard was diagnosed with ALS, Wash asked him what he wanted to do. Did he want to travel? Did he want to see the world? And he said that he wanted to make movies, and that’s what he did.”
Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland met in 1995 and married in 2013.
He had previously taught screen-writing in New York and worked as a TV producer on shows including America’s Next Top Model.
It was Still Alice, the tale of a linguistics professor coping with early on-set Alzheimer’s that was to bring the film-makers award glory.
Richard Glatzer told NPR (National Public Radio) that reading Lisa Genova’s novel – on which the film is based – “cut too close to the bone”.
“But once I’d finished it, I felt determined to make Still Alice into a movie. It really resonated with me.”
During the 23-day shoot, Richard Glatzer communicated by typing with one finger on an iPad, but said he “felt very much heard by everyone, every day. And it’s so very important if you’re struggling with a disease like this to feel you still matter”.
“It’s ironic that in my deteriorated state I’d be able to make a film that was creatively everything I’d ever wished for,” he told the Associated Press last year.
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, of Sony Pictures Classics – which distributed the film, called the death of Richard Glatzer “a profound loss for all of us who worked with him and know him as an exceptional human being”.
Orlando Thomas, ex-Minnesota Vikings safety, died on November 10 after a long battle with ALS at the age of 42.
Orlando Thomas was living in his native Crowley, Louisiana, just a half hour west of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette campus where he starred for four seasons before being selected by the Vikings in the second round of the 1995 NFL draft.
He spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the Vikings before retiring after the 2001 campaign at age 29.
Orlando Thomas was a key starter on the Minnesota teams of the late 1990s, including the 1998 group that went 15-1 in the regular season before losing to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game.
Orlando Thomas spent all seven of his NFL seasons with Minnesota Vikings before retiring after the 2001 campaign at age 29 (photo Jonathan Daniel/Allsport)
He led the league with nine interceptions as a rookie.
“The Vikings are deeply saddened by the loss of Orlando Thomas,” the team said in a statement on November 10.
“Orlando was an outstanding player for the Vikings for seven years, but more importantly, he represented the franchise and the state of Minnesota with the utmost dignity and class. While his outgoing personality made him a favorite among his teammates, Orlando’s involvement in the community made him a favorite outside of Winter Park.”
Orlando Thomas is one of several former NFL players affected by ALS, including ex-New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason, ex-Baltimore Ravens linebacker and current front office executive O.J. Brigance, ex-Oakland Raiders fullback Steve Smith and retired journeyman Tim Shaw.
The Robertson women accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challange after being nominated by the Junk Gypsy Company.
Duck Dynasty’s Korie, Missy, Jessica and Lisa Robertson took the challenge to raise awareness of ALS with the help of their husbands Willie, Jase, Jep and Alan.
Missy Robertson shared the moment with her fans via Facebook, saying: “Thanks to @junkgypsycompany for nominating us. And please, everyone who takes this challenge, donate!”
The Robertson women accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challange after being nominated by the Junk Gypsy Company (photo Facebook)
Hundreds of celebrities and sports stars across the US are getting soaked in the name of a good cause.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is aimed at helping strike out ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
People who participate are getting doused with ice water and then challenge other to do the same to raise awareness for the disease.
The eldest son of Duck Dynasty stars Willie and Korie Robertson, John Luke, accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from his father.
Hundreds of celebrities and sports stars across the US are getting soaked in the name of a good cause.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is aimed at helping strike out ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
John Luke Robertson accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from his father Willie (photo Twitter)
People who participate are getting doused with ice water and then challenge other to do the same to raise awareness for the disease.
Willie Robertson and his trademark beard are the latest to take the challenge. Friends dumped water on him from the roof of his West Monroe, Louisiana, business, Duck Commander. He challenged his son, John Luke, professional baseball player Adam LaRoche and NFL player Matt Light to go under the bucket.
John Luke Robertson accepted the challenge and nominated his friends.
Duck Dynasty’s Jase Robertson accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) after being nominated by Tim Tebow and Joba Chamberlain.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joba Chamberlain took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge targeting Jase Robertson, Braves outfielder B.J. Upton, and his own manager, Brad Ausmus.
Jase Robertson accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge after being nominated by Tim Tebow and Joba Chamberlain (photo Facebook)
Missy Robertson’s husband has nominated his fellow reality stars John Godwin and Justin Martin.
Jase Robertson posted his Ice Bucket Challenge video on Facebook, saying: “Thanks to Tim Tebow and Joba Chamberlain for the challenge to raise awareness of ALS. Godwin and Martin are on the clock!”
Photographer Anthony Carbajal, who was recently diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), has posted a hilarious video of himself as part of his very own Ice Bucket Challenge.
However, the rest of the video, where Anthony Carbajal explains his story and addresses the “haters” of the challenge sparked his call to arms to go viral.
“ALS is so, so f***ing scary,” Anthony Carbajal says.
“That’s probably why nobody talks about it. No one wants to see a depressing person that’s dying.”
ALS runs in the wedding photographer’s family – his mother has the disease and his grandmother passed away from it.
Anthony Carbajal, who was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year, had to stop working and is already experiencing lack of muscle control
The disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, slowly breaks down the motor neurons that send signals to the spine and brain. When all the motor neurons are broken down, the ultimate result is death.
Anthony Carbajal was diagnosed with ALS on January 27, 2014.
“Eventually I won’t be able to walk, talk or breathe on my own” he says.
The video shows Anthony Carbajal caring for his bed-ridden mother.
According to his YouCaring crowd-funding page, Anthony Carbajal also had to stop working and is already experiencing lack of muscle control. His message has spread, because so far, the page has raised over $100,000 – a little over half of his goal.
Despite arguments against the challenge, Anthony Carbajal is grateful for the support: “You have no idea how every single challenge lifts my fears, lifts every single ALS patients’ fears.”
“You are making a difference.”
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