Deaths elsewhere

Last update: July 3, 2009 - 10:43 PM

Harve Presnell, 75, whose booming baritone graced such Broadway musicals as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" and "Annie," died of pancreatic cancer on Tuesday in Santa Monica, Calif. An operatic singer, Presnell had the role of Johnny (Leadville) Brown in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" written just for him by composer Meredith Willson in 1960. Presnell earned kudos for his stage performance and later for his screen re-creation with Debbie Reynolds in 1964. Presnell was cast alongside Liberace and the British rock group Herman's Hermits in 1965's "When the Boys Meet the Girls" and with Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood in "Paint Your Wagon" in 1969. Returning to the stage, Presnell landed the role of Daddy Warbucks in the Broadway musical "Annie" in 1979, and he later toured in the role. After more an absence of more than 25 years, Presnell became a viable character player of the big screen after appearing in "Fargo" in 1996. Subsequent film roles included 1998's "Patch Adams" and "Saving Private Ryan" and 2000's "The Legend of Bagger Vance" and "Family Man."

Anna Karen Morrow, 94, an actress who had a regular role on the prime-time soap opera "Peyton Place" and also appeared on Broadway, in films and on numerous other television shows, died Wednesday in Encino, Calif. Her film credits included "The Price of Fear," which starred Merle Oberon, and "The Wrong Man," alongside Henry Fonda. AP

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Deaths elsewhere - July 3, 2009

Deaths elsewhere - Paul (Red) Fay, 91, who met John F. Kennedy when they were both in the Navy, joined his administration as undersecretary of the Navy and then wrote a best-selling book about their friendship, died Sept. 23 at his home in Woodside, Calif. Fay met the future president in 1942 in Rhode Island. Their first meeting, in a story befitting the Kennedy legend, was during a touch football game. Fay was there for torpedo-boat training, and Kennedy was his instructor. They became close friends after both their boats were damaged -- Kennedy's PT-109 was attacked in an event that made him a war hero and Fay's boat was struck by a torpedo, which earned him a Bronze Star. While ashore, they roomed together. Fay became a political supporter and adviser, with a view of Kennedy's life that few other nonfamily members could match. His 1966 book, "The Pleasure of His Company," provided readers still grieving for the assassinated president with new details about Kennedy's life. More