MATTHEW Perry’s memoir – Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing – came out to admiring reviews in Britain in early November, 2022. The ‘big terrible thing’ of the title referred to his alcoholism and addiction to painkillers. It was a harrowing read at times, and critics praised Perry's candid look at his career and his health issues.
Just over a year later, the book could again be found in bookstores. The one difference was that the inside back flap of the hardback referred to the author in the past tense. “Matthew Perry”, it said, “was a Canadian American actor, executive producer and playwright”.
Perry’s death at the age of just 54 on October 28 came as a genuine shock to the millions who adored him for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends and for his performances in other TV shows and in films. His Friends colleagues were united in their grief.
His effortless charisma was recently recalled by his friend, Minnie Driver, in a tribute in The Observer. Twenty years ago they acted in a play in London’s West End. She invited him to lunch with her family. “The restaurant put us in the back away from people”, Driver wrote, “but when he walked in … the whole place lit up. The whole place smiled”.
Tina Turner, who died on May 24, aged 83, was a powerhouse singer and one of the world’s biggest stars in the Eighties. Her long run of chart hits included River Deep, Mountain High (1966) and Nutbush City Limits (1973), both with her then husband, Ike Turner; and, later, What’s Love Got to do with It? (written by Scots-born Graham Lyle and colleague Terry Bitten), Private Dancer, The Best, and I Don’t Wanna Lose You. There was even, in 1995, a James Bond theme song – Goldeneye.
Glenda Jackson, who died aged 87, after a brief illness, on June 15, was an outstanding actor whose stage, screen and television performances over six decades were rewarded with two Oscars (for Women in Love (1970) and A Touch of Class (1973)), three Emmys, two Baftas and a Tony. Along the way she played both King Lear and Elizabeth I. She had recently completed a film with Sir Michael Caine - The Great Escaper (now available on DVD).
In its tribute the Royal Shakespeare Company described her as "a tour de force in acting and politics, dedicating her life to both. We're proud her extraordinary talent was seen on RSC stages early in her career in ground-breaking productions".
Raquel Welch, who died on February 15 at the age of 82, was a notable US actor and model who shot to international fame after appearing in a deerskin bikini in fantasy adventure film, One Million Years BC, in the mid-Sixties. Her many other film and TV credits included Fantastic Voyage, The Three Musketeers (for which she won a Golden Globe).
Jeff Beck, who died on January 10, aged 78m was the guitarists’ guitarist, a man whose innovative fretboard skills had graced The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group, the Beck, Bogert & Appice supergroup, and numerous, critically-acclaimed solo albums.
At his memorial service in Edinburgh recently – attended by politicians from across the spectrum - the Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, spoke for many when she said of Alistair Darling: “Alistair, through his decency and his honesty and shrewd judgment, represented the very best of our politics”.
Dr Henry Kissinger, who died, aged 100, on November 29, was a supremely well-connected and influential diplomat and statesman. He served as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and advised 12 presidents in total. His secret talks with the Chinese paved the way for Nixon's landmark foreign-policy achievement.
Two outstanding figures from the world of showbiz, both in their 90s, passed away this year.
Burt Bacharach, the debonair, peerless co-composer of such timeless songs as Walk on By, The Look of Love, Alfie, and (They Long to be) Close to You, died on February 8, aged 94. His partnership with the lyricist Hal David yielded many enduring classics for Dionne Warwick.
He won three Oscars, including, in 1970, Best Original Score for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Best Original Song, shared with Hal David, for "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head".
Tony Bennett, who died on July 21 at the age of 96, was an incomparable pop and jazz singer, whose many hits included The Way You Look Tonight and (I Left my Heart) in San Francisco. To Frank Sinatra, no less, Bennett was the "best singer in the business". There could be no higher accolade.
Martin Amis, who died on May 19, aged 73, was one of Britain's finest novelists, renowned for his dark wit and linguistic daring. His 'London trilogy' - Money, London Fields, and The Information - remains among his finest achievements. Reliably prolific, he published 15 novels in all, as well as numerous works of non-fiction and collections of essays and short stories.
Shane MacGowan, who died aged 65 on November 30, was the charismatic singer with The Pogues, and the writer of such songs as Fairytale of New York, and A Pair of Brown Eyes. His voice, Nick Cave wrote in The Observer, "was the perfect vehicle for his chaotic, poetic soul ... He wrote a bunch of songs that are truly great. That's a hell of a lot more than most songwriters manage".
Sir Bobby Charlton's biography on the Manchester United website puts it simply: Nobody embodies the club's values better than he did.
His career was remarkable for the trophies he won: the 1966 World Cup with England (he was capped 106 times by his country and scored 49 goals); the 1968 European Cup, three league titles and the FA Cup. After retiring as a player he became a distinguished director at United. Throughout it all, he remained polite and self-effacing, admired far beyond the confines of Old Trafford.
* Continues tomorrow.
Share