Hollywood lost some of its greats in 2008

Charlton Heston's powerful screen presence dominated "The Ten Commandments" and "Ben-Hur." Paul Newman portrayed lovable rogues in smaller-scale films that ref lected changing attitudes toward sex and society.

Moses and Michelangelo. Hud, Butch Cassidy and "Cool Hand Luke." Heston and Newman created indelible roles on screen -- and strove to shape their world as well, through activism that put them on opposite sides politically.

They were two of the fascinating figures in the arts and entertainment world who died in 2008.

Born more than a half-century after them, Heath Ledger had his life cut short by a drug overdose, never seeing the phenomenal success of "The Dark Knight."

Miriam Makeba, Odetta and Yma Sumac were three exotic queens of song, who taught mainstream audiences in America -- and the world -- new ways of hearing and appreciating music.

George Carlin brought a counterculture spin to standup comedy and inf luenced every comedian to follow.

We also said goodbye to Bo Diddley and producer Jerry Wexler, giants of rhythm and blues and rock. Studs

Terkel illuminated the lives of ordinary Americans, weaving their reminiscences into moving best-sellers such as "The Good War." Arthur C. Clarke took us to new worlds with "2001: A Space Odyssey." Alexander Solzhenitsyn heroically challenged the Soviet system by revealing the horrors of the gulag.

Here, a roll call of notable people in arts, entertainment and popular culture who died in 2008.

January

Ken Nelson, 96. Capitol Records talent scout, helped push Buck Owens, Merle Haggard to stardom. Jan. 6.


Source: owensoundsuntimes.com