So much For Groups of Three

No, this time it is at least four celebrities that have died in cluster fashion. First Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett, then Michael Jackson, and later in the day yesterday, Mark Hamill, 57, died in a car wreck in Malibu.

Hamill became known as, and will forever be, Luke Skywalker, from the Star wars first three (in actual time) episodes. He was only tangentially famous after that, having been in an accident soon after Star wars, which tended to partly derail his career.

from therestrainingorder.com

Mark Hamill has died following an automobile accident near his home, Hollywood Now has confirmed.

Hamill was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:28 PM on Thursday and was transported to West Hills Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif.

He was 57.

Hamill was a passenger in a car making a turn in Malibu, Calif., when it was hit broadside by another car and knocked into a third vehicle, said the Los Angeles County coroner. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Hamill’s son Griffin was the driver of the car when it was struck. Griffin is currently in critical, yet stable condition at West Hills Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif.

“I’m stunned. We’ve lost our heart and soul,” Hamill’s longtime wife, Marilou York, said in a statement to Now. “This is an extremely difficult for me. I am at a loss for words. Mark was a wonderful father and husband. I pray for our son, Griffin. Please be respectful of Mark and his family in this time as we need the time to process this horrible accident.”

The actor, best known for his starring role of Luke Skywalker in the ’70s classic Sci-Fi movie series “Star Wars” and as the voice of The Joker in the DC Animated Universe, was returning from a surfing trip with his son, a source close to Hamill told Hollywood Now at the time of the accident.

Hamill’s death comes just weeks after Hamill had been prompting his work as the voice of the Joker in the upcoming Batman video game, “Batman: Arkham Asylum.”

“Mark was so full of life and loved what he did,” said Hamill’s Star Wars co-star Carrie Fisher when reached for comment. “He loved his family and I’m just proud I was able to know him.” At this time George Lucas has been unavailable to comment.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department told Now that requests for comment would not be honored until an opportunity to investigate the accident fully had been made. No names of the passengers in the other vehicles involved have been released but all appear to be in stable condition after being treated for various minor injuries.

The star was born on September 25, 1951, in Oakland, California. After majoring in drama at Los Angeles City College, Hamill showed a skill for voice acting which garnered him a role voicing the character Corey Anders on the Saturday morning cartoon “Jeannie” by Hanna-Barbera Productions. He made his  acting debut on “The Bill Cosby Show” (1969) in 1970 and continues with small roles on TV series such as “The Texas Wheelers,” “General Hospital,” and “One Day At A Time.” Hamill’s big break came when he won the starring role of Luke Skywalker in George Lucas’ epic space saga “Star Wars” in 1977.

Hamill had previously been injured in a car accident when on January 11, 1977 he fractured his nose and left cheekbone days before finishing his work on Star Wars.

Hamill became an icon for his role in “Star Wars” and was almost instantly thrust into stratosphere of fame. He would follow up his role by starring in the successful Star Wars sequels “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) and “Return of the Jedi”(1983). For his portrayal of Luke Skywalker, Hamill was twice honored with the Saturn Award for Best Actor (given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films).

In recent years Hamill had become a prolific voice actor working most memorably as the Joker on the Emmy Award-winning “Batman: The Animated Series.” Hamill also provided his voice to such works as “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Justice League Unlimited,” “The Tick,” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

Hamill is survived by his parents, Virginia Suzanne and William Thomas Hamill, as well as his wife Marilou York and their three children Nathan Hamill (b. 25 June 1979), Griffin (b. 4 March 1983), Chelsea (b. 27 July 1988).

Sad how these things happen. He was not as young or as famous as MJ, but young and taken too early nonetheless.

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Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.George Bernard Shaw

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