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Mike Barnes

Senior Editor

Mike Barnes is a proud graduate of Brooklyn College who spent his first 11 years in journalism as a globe-trotting sportswriter with United Press International based out of New York and Los Angeles. He began with THR in 1993 as a Copy Editor and has written too many obituaries for the publication for too many years; the first one may have been the great I Love Lucy writer Bob Carroll Jr.

More from Mike Barnes

Piper Laurie, Actress in ‘The Hustler,’ ‘Carrie’ and ‘Twin Peaks,’ Dies at 91

The three-time Oscar nominee and Emmy winner also starred in the original 'Days of Wine and Roses' and in 'Children of a Lesser God.'

Tracy Owen, Industrial Relations Executive at Paramount, Dies at 43

Tracy Owen, senior vp industrial relations for Paramount Pictures and Paramount Television Studios, died Oct. 1 in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke. She was 43. “Since first joining our team over 10 years ago, Tracy has been a bright light who touched the lives of all who had the privilege of working beside her,” […]

Mark Goddard, Actor on ‘Lost in Space,’ Dies at 87

He played Major Don West, the hot-tempered pilot of the Jupiter 2, on the 1960s CBS adventure series.

Phyllis Coates, the First Lois Lane on Television, Dies at 96

Phyllis Coates, the first actress to play Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane on television, only to leave the Adventures of Superman after just one season, has died. She was 96. Coates, who also appeared in Republic Pictures serials and in such films as I Was a Teenage Frankenstein, died Wednesday of natural causes at the […]

Jeff Burr, Director of ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre III,’ Dies at 60

Jeff Burr, the horror specialist who directed Vincent Price in one of his last movies and entries in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Puppet Master, Pumpkinhead and Stepfather franchises, has died. He was 60. Burr died Tuesday in his sleep in Dalton, Georgia, of apparent complications from a stroke, his longtime friend, actor Eric Spudic, told […]

Dates Announced for the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival

After a tumultuous few months at TCM, the network’s Classic Film Festival will return to Hollywood on April 18-21 for its 15th edition with the theme “Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film,” it was announced Wednesday. “Like Turner Classic Movies itself, the TCM Classic Film Festival is a destination for cinephiles, and the 2024 […]

Barry Melrose Retires as ESPN Hockey Analyst After Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Barry Melrose has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and is retiring after nearly three decades as the colorful NHL analyst for ESPN, he revealed Tuesday. “I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game: hockey. It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, […]

Jonathan Dolgen, Longtime Viacom Entertainment Group Chairman, Dies at 78

Jonathan Dolgen, the tough-minded dealmaker and skillful numbers-cruncher who spent a decade at Viacom working for Sumner Redstone and alongside Paramount Pictures head Sherry Lansing, has died. He was 78. Dolgen died Monday evening of natural causes at UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his family, a publicist announced. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in […]

Ron Haffkine, Dr. Hook Producer and Manager, Dies at 84

Ron Haffkine, a Grammy-winning record producer and manager known for his work with Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, has died. He was 84. Haffkine died Sunday at his home in Mexico after a brief bout with leukemia and kidney failure, his friend of 50 years, music executive Joel Diamond, told The Hollywood Reporter. “Ron […]

Dick Butkus, Legendary Chicago Bears Linebacker Turned Actor, Dies at 80

Dick Butkus, the ferocious Chicago Bears middle linebacker who brought his reputation as an NFL barbarian to Hollywood for Miller Lite commercials, sitcoms and films, has died. He was 80. A member of the Screen Actors Guild for more than four decades, Butkus died peacefully in his sleep overnight at his home in Malibu, his […]

Paul Noble, Top Marketing Executive at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Dies at 51

Paul Noble, the London-born executive who spent the past eight years with Sony Pictures Entertainment, the last three as the studio’s co-head of global theatrical marketing, has died. He was 51. Noble died Sept. 9 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles after a two-year battle with bulbar ALS, an SPE spokesperson announced. […]

David McCallum, Star of ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ and ‘NCIS,’ Dies at 90

David McCallum, the Scottish actor who portrayed the enigmatic Russian-born U.S. secret agent Illya Kuryakin on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and the chief medical examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS, died Monday. He was 90. McCallum died of natural causes surrounded by family at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, a spokesperson for CBS announced. McCallum also starred opposite Joanna Lumley for four […]