As a Child of Television I am saddened to see so many people who came into our homes week after week leave us. I seem to be writing more and more eulogies lately. I love writing about what the departed meant to me or even tell a personal story if I had a chance to meet them. I also feel the need to write these eulogies because the entertainment news shows would rather cover a celebrity break-up than honor the life of someone who made a contribution to the entertainment industry. (See My Entertainment Shows RANT.)
Last Saturday afternoon I heard about Don Knotts' passing. That evening I wrote about what Mr. Knotts meant to me. Yesterday (Sunday) I heard the news of Darren McGavin's passing. To the younger generation he was the father, AKA "the Old Man", in the movie A Christmas Story but to classic TV fans he was Mike Hammer, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and starred in Riverboat, Crime Photographer and The Outsider. He even did a Disney movie with Don Knotts called No Deposit, No Return.
When I was trying to figure out what to say about Mr. McGavin, I'd talk to friends who were fans of his and I kept hearing everyone say, "Who's the third going to be?" I don't joke about the fact that celebrities tend to die in groups of three. Back in 1987 I was with a comedy improv group. We were talking and joking about John Huston and Lee Marvin dying one day after the other. Someone asked, "Who's the third going to be?" and a ditsy blond said, "I hear Lorne Greene is not doing well". The next day Lorne Greene died. I'm normally not a superstitious person, but I don't like to tempt fate. I also don't believe in coincidence. There must be a reason for why celebrities die in groups of three and I believe that we will learn that reason in the next life.
Article comments
1 - TS
Some of Don's movies are priceless. The Incredible Mr. Limpet and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken are classics. I could watch them over and over again and laugh at Don's ability to be such a Nervous Nilly. We'll miss you Barney!!
2 - David M. Brown
Other questions occur. What level of fame enables a person to count as a celebrity for purposes of the analysis? For that matter, what's the evidence for a "next life"?
One problem with inferring more than can actually be inferred from coincidences is that there's an observation bias. People who tend to credit this sort of thing notice the coincidences that are unusual (however they may define "unusual"), while ignoring the more unremarkable coincidences. This is how we get people who believe in astrology.
Meanwhile, actual evidence of actual causal connection goes by the board. If there "must be a reason," i.e., a cause, for the specific statistical pattern of the deaths of certain celebrities, what can that cause be but malevolent intention? In which case we're talking about murder. After all, the documented natural causes of the individual deaths would not then be sufficient to explain the deaths. They must have been precipitated somehow in order to be presented to the world as a trio. Which means we need to do a murder investigation whenever we see this allegedly inexplicable three celebrity deaths in a row.
3 - Tony Figueroa
Did people talk about the rule of three before the plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson?
4 - David M. Brown
Yes. I believe, Christ, Judas, and Mary Magdalene were all killed in the same automobile accident.
5 - rockin rick connick
All I have to do is think of the scene in "Ghost and Mr. Chicken" when "Luther" boasts to the crowd in the old Simpson place after cathing the ghost, karate,made my whole body a weapon. 'nuff said.
6 - Aaron Ballard
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7 - Billy Ray Cirus
To David M. Brown
Hes referring a study that you should go find. No he hasnt done a statistacal analysis of the frequency of celebrity deaths hes writing a column not trying to disprove an urban legend, dont ask stupid questions that you know that answer to smart ass. It seems like up to 12 months apart is the range. Yes if a fourth dyes it does invalidate the 3 unless the 3 were the same age or are more obviously connected and no this isnt some scientific answer deal with it. No god is not punished If 10 celeberties die in a plane crash. They have to be at least as well known as don knotts or else it is a reach. The evidence for the after life is out there you just need to change your personality. Good point at the end though very true.