News
[R.I.P.] ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and ‘Krampus’ Actress Conchata Ferrell Has Passed Away
We’ve learned the sad news today that Emmy-winning actress Conchata Ferrell has passed away at the age of 77. Deadline reports that Ferrell passed away on October 12 “as a result of complications following a cardiac arrest.” The site notes, “She died peacefully surrounded by family at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, California.”
Conchata Ferrell was nominated twice for Primetime Emmy Awards in the “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series” category for her role as Berta on “Two and a Half Men,” and she had been nominated in the “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series” category a decade prior for her role as Susan Bloom on “L.A. Law.”
In the horror genre, Ferrell recently played Aunt Dorothy in Michael Dougherty’s Christmas horror movie Krampus, and later appeared in 2016’s The Axe Murders of Villisca.
Ferrell is also known for her roles in Network, “E/R,” Mystic Pizza, Edward Scissorhands, True Romance, “Hearts Afire,” Freeway, Erin Brockovich, K-Pax and “The Ranch.”
Krampus director Michael Dougherty tweeted tonight, “From Network to True Romance to Edward Scissorhands, Conchata Ferrell was an underappreciated acting legend who could bring a smile to your face just by walking into the room. Rest in peace, Aunt Dorothy.”
In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war, but it was a cheerful illustrator from England who helped to define the terrifying war-torn imagery that inspired what we now know as Grimdark (a hybrid genre combining horror with sci-fi/fantasy).
Unfortunately for fans of Warhammer 40,000, Trench Crusade and countless other sources of Grimdark thrills, veteran artist John Blanche passed away this week after struggling with health issues for the past few years.
While the artist retired back in 2023, he leaves us with an enormous legacy of iconic artwork that continues to inspire gamers and storytellers around the world to this very day.
The news is especially gloomy as it was only last year that Daniel Lowman and Napoleon Dynamite himself Jon Heder released The Grim & the Dark: The Search for John Blanche, a documentary following Heder’s exploration of the Grimdark genre culminating in a heartwarming encounter with Blanche in his own home.
Below is one of my favorite pieces by Blanche, his highly influential depiction of Warhammer 40k’s God-Emperor of Mankind on his Golden Throne.
We send our deepest condolences to John Blanche’s family, friends, and fans.
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