Very sad to read that the great Karen Black has died at age 74, from complications of cancer. The prolific actress is best remembered for roles in counterculture classics like "Easy Rider," ''Five Easy Pieces" and "Nashville," but to me she will always be Joanne in the film adaptation of "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean." Only Black, with her God-given larger-than-life feminiity, could have played a comely transsexual so perfectly. I also rewatched "The Great Gatsby" recently and had forgotten her Myrtle was one of the film's high points, a classic case of her being the best thing in nearly everything she was in. With more than 100 film credits to her name, she will liveo n forever. But there will never be another Karen Black.
“It is with great sadness that I have to report that my wife and best friend Karen Black has just passed away, only a few minutes ago. Thank you all for all your prayers and love, they meant so much to her as they did to me.”
5 comments:
While everyone else I went to college with had the ubiquitous Farrah Fawcett swimsuit poster on their wall, I had a Karen Black poster. Her run in the 70s was unparalleled for authentic femininity. Nashville remains one of my all time fave movies, and her turn in Day of the Locust should not go unmentioned either. She truly was the best thing in almost everything she appeared in.
How can no one have mentioned "Trilogy of Terror," the TV movie with that creepy little snarling doll that chased Karen Black around her apartment with a kitchen knife??? That was the movie that introduced me to her, and it scared the crap out of me!!
Eileen Brennan, Karen Black...somewhere out there is a Best Supporting Actress nominee who needs to watch her back.
A few years ago I emailed to Karen my remake of that great TV movie "Trilogy of Terror." I even used the real prop doll from the movie. She loved it and responded so kindly. I thought that was cool of her.
http://youtu.be/P5jIohcuXI4
I have never watched many of her films, but I think it's time to pull out Hitchcock's Family Plot, and have a little smile, and shed a tear.
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