R.I.P. Mrs. McKluskey

Well, ain’t this just so sad.

Emmy-winning actress Kathryn Joosten has lost her battle with lung cancer.

Joosten you probably know best from TV’s Desperate Housewives, on which she played nosy Wisteria Lane neighbor (with a heart of gold!) Mrs. McKluskey.

She was first diagnosed in 2001 and saw her cancer return in 2009.

Photo: ABCNews.com.

R.I.P. Queen of Disco

Toot toot, uh, beep beep: Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco, is dead.

The seminal Grammy-winning It Girl of 70s disco (and beyond!) passed away today at age 63, reportedly after losing a battle with cancer.

Whaddya say we have us a “Last Dance” in her honor?

Seriously – if you’re not shakin’ your booty to one of Summer’s songs right you shouldn’t ever read this blog again. Bow, beeyotch! And don’t ask me to simma – I am sad right now.

Bye, Donna! I sure love to love you, baby.

Photo: UsMagazine.com.

R.I.P. World’s Oldest Teenager

One of television’s most beloved and consummate hosts, Dick Clark, a.k.a. the world’s oldest teenager, has died from a massive heart attack. He was 82.

Clark shot to fame in the 1950s as the host of the iconic and pioneering and seminal American Bandstand, although I knew him mostly as the man fronting that annual tradition known as New Year’s Eve Rockin’ Eve.

For decades, the guy kept going strong, weathering scandals and diversifying his business and nurturing new talent, like Ryan Seacrest, who paid tribute to his friend on last night’s American Idol.

Clark only began slowing down following a stroke in 2004, but had since returned to doing what he loved doing: hosting and bringing a smile to the faces of his many fans.

Click here to read how other celebs paid their respects to one of their heroes.

Photo: UsMagazine.com.

R.I.P. Mr. Tough But Fair

Journalists everywhere have their lighters up in honor of veteranCBS newsman Mike Wallace who died in his Connecticut home yesterday. He was 93.

The face and soul of 60 Minutes – known for pioneering ambush interviewing and never shying away from asking a tough question while remaining fair to his interviewees – had retired from his regular correspondent work in 2006. He remained active, though, until he really slowed down in 2008 following heart surgery.

Click here to read more about Wallace’s work since I can’t even begin to make it justice here.

Photo: TheModerateVoice.com.

R.I.P. Whitney

Her voice gave me the chills every time I heard her version of “I Will Always Love You,” but they were never like the ones I just felt upon reading the tweets about her passing: Whitney Houston has died.

She was 48.

While her passing has been confirmed, the cause and location of her death were unknown as the news broke.

It’s such a sad ending for one of pop’s greatest. At her best, Houston was a best-selling artist with a golden voice (a multi-hyphenate who also did movies like The Bodyguard and produced TV shows and whatnot), but at her worst, she was one of the industry’s poster children for how bad drugs can be for ya.

Crack, indeed, was whack to her, and although I am not suggesting drugs had anything to do with her death, it is unquestionable they never treated her kind.

So for now, let’s remember the talent that made us love her so, and hope she has found peace:

R.I.P. Ms. James

Soul and R&B legend Etta James has died at age 73.

The “At Last” singer had been battling terminal leukemia and suffering from dementia and Hepatitis C as well.

Among those in the music world mourning the passing of James today was Beyoncé, who actually played the singer in the 2008 movie Cadillac Records.

“This is a huge loss,” she said. “Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed.”

Photo: Spinner.com.

R.I.P. Cheetah

Well, he lived a good life and he made many people smile, but now, sadly, he’s gone: Cheetah, the chimp from the 1930s Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan, has died at age 80.

The Hollywood legend passed away on Christmas Eve after suffering kidney failure the week before.

Cheetah had been living in Florida, where he’d retired in the ’60s.

Photo: CNN.com.

Update: Hold the banana: This may not have been the Cheetah, after all.