October 20, 1978 - Gig Young (4) - S. Silino
The Game's first murder-suicide, and a sudden solo for the stylish and acutely perspicacious S. Silino. Oscar-winner Gig Young was an alcoholic and a sadly insecure star when he married for the fifth time, taking as his bride Kim Schimdt, a German actress 33 years his junior who he met in Hong Kong while filming the aptly named "The Game of Death." Three weeks after the wedding, at their New York apartment, Young shot his bride in the head with a .38 and then turned the gun on himself. "The Game of Death" was Young's last film, and also that of its star, Bruce Lee. (Young had been cast to play The Waco Kid in "Blazing Saddles;" after his death, he was replaced with Gene Wilder.)
May 28, 1998 - Phil Hartman (6) - Canada Dry Bones
Canadian-born actor Phil Hartman had it all -- fame from his roles on "Saturday Night Live" and "NewsRadio," loads o' dough, a pretty wife, two kids and a big house in Encino. But his wife was plagued by demons of alcohol and cocaine, and after an evening argument with Hartman she went drinking with a friend, returned at 2 a.m., and shot Hartman in the head as he slept. Later that morning, she shot herself as police led her children out of the house. Making the call on a healthy, famous, and sudden pick, was Canada Dry Bones, who lists only those born north of the U.S. border.June 1, 2001 - King Birendra (5) - Passing Fancy, Teen Angel, Yo! Rick!
In Nepal, a family spat turned ugly when the parents of Crown Prince Dipendra disapproved of the woman he sought to marry. The angry (and by some accounts intoxicated) Prince left a family banquet and returned with an automatic weapon with which he shot and killed King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and several other family members before turning a handgun on himself. Passing Fancy, Teen Angel and Yo! Rick! were there (but hiding under the coats) for five points on the King in one of the Game's most colorful scores ever.
On to Close Shaves.
Back, please, to Greatest Hits.
No, there's no place like Home.