Gene Barry

Actor Gene Barry starred in "Bat Masterson," where he played a well-dressed frontiersman who bested villians with his wits and gold-handled cane rather than gunplay. He also starred in "Burke's Law" and "The Name of the Game."

As Bat Masterson he used his brain
and he treated his foes with disdain.
If they were still mean
he could often be seen
whacking jerks on the head with his cane.

Soupy Sales

Soupy Sales was a comedian and radio\TV personality. He was best known for his kids' television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales which featured comedy sketches that often ending with Sales delivering or receiving a pie in the face.

The time has come for Soupy to die
He made us laugh, but now we cry
Kids loved him a bunch
Watching him during lunch
Let's hope he's buried with a pie

Captain Lou Albano

"Captain" Lou Albano was a professional wrestler, best known as an antagonistic manager of other wrestlers, for putting rubber bands in his beard, and for his collaborations with rocker Cyndi Lauper.

As a wrestler Lou Albano had clout.
As a rocking' manager he broke out.
He put bands in his beard,
and it made him look weird.
Now Lou Albano has been counted out.

Memento Mori added:

Captian Lou's redoric was full of wind
And news of his passing left his fans chagrinned
He was a wrestling show stopper
With sidekick Cyndi Lauper
But now he's been eternally pinned

Henry Gibson

Henry Gibson was an actor and songwriter, probably best known as a cast member on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In in the 1960's, often reading poetry with the opening "A poem, by Henry Gibson". He was also well known for his recurring role as Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal.

He took his name from Henrik Ibsen
And gained his fame on TV's Laugh-In
His role was Judge Clark Brown
When cancer took him down
No more poems, by Henry Gibson

Mary Travers

Mary Travers was a member of the pop-folk music group "Peter, Paul and Mary," best known for their songs "Leaving on a Jet Plane," "Puff the Magic Dragon," "If I Had Hammer" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

Our love for folk music was hard to explain,
though singers like Mary made it less insane.
With a dragon named puff,
she may have puffed other stuff.
Mary's left us, but not on a jet plane.

Patrick Swayze

Actor Patrick Swayze was best known for his roles in "Dirty Dancing," "Ghost," "Point Break" and "Road House." He died of pancreatic cancer.

In "Dirty Dancing," his pelvis would thrust,
inciting girls in the audience to lust.
Best known as a dancer,
now a ghost (due to cancer)
now it's ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

MEMENTO MORI Added...

Swayze's moves put ladies in a trance
His eyes pierced their hearts like a lance
After starring as a Ghost
His career began to coast
And now he's doing the eternal dirt dance

Senator Ted Kennedy

U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy was a dominating leader of the Democrat Party. He was forced to take the leadership of one of America's most powerful political families after two his two older brothers (President- John, Senator- Bobby) were assassinated in the 1960's.

Many are sad to see ol' Teddy go
His hopes to be prez dashed years ago
He sealed his own fate
When a booze fueled date
Ended the life of poor Mary Jo


Belle Towles adds:

The Liberal Lion has ceased to roar
His sound and fury is heard no more
Laid to rest in pouring rain
Mourning faces showing pain
One more Kennedy on the other shore

Mort Reimer said...

In spending, Ted was known to be deft.
Taxpayers might accuse him of theft.
His tax and spend ways
stuck 'til his final days.
Now he's buried, last grave on the left.

Don Hewitt

News producer and executive Don Hewitt was best known as the creator of the CBS newsmagazine program "60 minutes," which has been on the air since 1968, making it the longest-running prime-time program in American history.

An hour of news may sound looney,
but its ratings have never been puny.
Don contributed much
with his producer's touch,
but also brought us Andy Rooney.

Robert Novak

Robert Novak was a journalist and conservative political commentator. His "Inside Report" column was the longest-running syndicated column in U.S. history. Most recently he was known for his role in revealing the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame, although Novak said it was well known in Washington that she worked for the CIA.

Robert Novak spoke up for the right.
Now he's gone, but he fought the good fight.
As for Valerie Plame,
he was partly to blame
but admit it -- the damage was slight.

Les Paul

Les Paul didn't invent rock and roll music, but he invented two of it's hinge pins- the electric guitar and multitrack recordings. No big deal? Imagine Stairway to Heaven recorded in a single take with acoustic guitars...

He was a legend in music folklore
Electronics was what he'd explore
From recording multi-tracks
to the famed electric ax
when it came to inventions, Les was more