Barry norman and bill paxton: both sadly missed

Reading Martin Landau's obituary I couldn't help noticing other notices of deaths among actors and TV personalities this year.

I was saddened to see that Barry Norman has also passed away this month as well. Like the old cinema magazine Film Review, for me Barry is synonymous with  the cinema and especially his TV show Film ... I always loved his film show and watched it religiously for years and years, hanging on his every word and taking his advice about what to see seriously. 

Naturally being a horror and sci-fi fan I was always the most interested in these and what Barry had to say. I can also add Kung Fu films as he began the show with Film 1972 just as the martial arts craze was kicking its way onto our screens. He may have even told me about Enter the Dragon that year, one of my favourite flicks of all time.

RIP Barry. Hope you got the best seat.

I was also saddened ... and shocked ... to read of the death of Bill Paxton in February. He was just 61, barely five years older than me. I thought Bill was great and I shall forever associate him with playing Hudson in ALIENS, a role he truly made his own and brought welcome humour and humanity to the unfolding carnage. 

I also loved Bill's role as the new recruit in Danny Glover's precinct from hell in Predator 2. Bill's comic feel was perfect in bringing light relief to the grim proceedings and made him the ideal foil for Glover's highly-strung Harrigan and Gary Busey's menacing Government man.

RIP Bill Paxton. Hope you fly home.