Dead Pool 27th July 2025

Points! And lots of them! Let’s begin with awarding Dave 53 points for correctly guessing  that Cleo Laine would die this year. Then on to the big one, with the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, I can award 74 points to Emma, Lee A, Archie, Debbie, Martin, Laura, Iwan, Lee U, and Vic. Well done everyone! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Charles Augins, 81, American choreographer (Red Dwarf, Labyrinth, Five Guys Named Moe) and dancer. 
• Tom Troupe, 97, American actor (Kelly’s Heroes, My Own Private Idaho, The Devil’s Brigade). 
• Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 54, American actor (The Cosby Show, Malcolm & Eddie, The Resident) and musician, drowned. 
• Eamon Downes, 56, British DJ (Liquid), brain tumour. 
• Joey Jones, 70, Welsh footballer (Wrexham, Liverpool, national team). 
• Ozzy Osbourne, 76, English musician (Black Sabbath), songwriter (“Paranoid“), and television personality (The Osbournes). 
• Tony Peers, 78, British actor (Emmerdale, Coronation Street, L.A. Without a Map). 
• Hulk Hogan, 71, American professional wrestler (WWF, WCW) and actor (Suburban Commando), cardiac arrest. 
• Dame Cleo Laine, 97, English jazz singer.

In Other News

Erik Menendez has been diagnosed with a “serious medical condition”, his lawyer has told the Flying Monkeys. The news comes weeks before he and his brother, Lyle, are set to appear at a parole hearing after spending decades in prison for the murders of their parents. The lawyer did not provide further details about the medical condition. The Flying Monkeys reckon that Menendez has a kidney issue, although this has not been publicly confirmed. Menendez was taken from a San Diego prison, in which he has been held for years, to an outside medical facility on Friday. The California state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told the Flying Monkeys that Menendez was in a “fair condition”, but that it could not give further details. The brothers, who have been behind bars for 35 years, were resentenced in May to 50 years to life in prison for the killings of Kitty and José Menendez, in 1989. They were previously serving life without the possibility of parole. But earlier this year, a Los Angeles judge determined Erik, 54, and Lyle, 57, did not pose an “unreasonable risk” if they were released. The judge added that the brothers had “done enough” while in prison to merit a change of sentence. The pair’s new sentence made them eligible for parole consideration due to their young ages when their crimes were committed. The brothers’ lawyer Mark Geragos called for Erik Menendez’s release, making reference to his client’s health. “I just think he should be parole furloughed, I think is the proper term, and he could be medically furloughed in advance of the hearing so that he can work with the parole attorney and get up to speed and be ready and do it and give it his best shot,” Mr Geragos said. “I think that it’s the only fair and equitable thing to do.” They have claimed the murders were in self-defence. Prosecutors contended that the brothers were spoilt young men who killed their parents for financial gain.  

A Texan father who uprooted his family to Russia in a bid to escape ‘woke America’ has reportedly been sent to the front lines of the brutal war in Ukraine to fight for Putin. Derek Huffman, 46, moved with his wife DeAnna, their three daughters and the family husky to the small town of Istra, near Moscow, earlier this year after claiming the US had become overrun by ‘woke ideology’. The family took advantage of a Kremlin-backed visa programme aimed at attracting Westerners who reject liberal ideals – something Mr Huffman called ‘a fresh start in a country that respects family values’. But the American expat’s dream of a quieter life in Russia has taken a dramatic turn. Initially promised a non-combat role in the Russian military – first as a welder, then a war correspondent – Mr Huffman now finds himself alarmingly close to the battlefield, according to his wife. DeAnna Huffman said her husband felt he was being ‘thrown to the wolves’ given that he had only received a limited amount of training, and that it was in Russian.  She added that her husband, who only had minimal instruction before being deployed, is ‘leaning on faith’ to survive, as the family awaits news in fear. The last message they received from him came on Father’s Day in June. In a video clip, Mr Huffman appears in full camouflage, speaking directly to his children. Since then, there’s been silence. The family insists he is ‘doing fine’, but a now-deleted link on their YouTube channel directed followers to a Telegram group titled Save that Little Girls where an emotional photo of DeAnna and her daughters crying in the street was posted alongside a plea – ‘We are asking the United States government to save this family.’ The Huffmans’ controversial decision to flee America came after growing frustration with progressive teachings in schools. After a move from Arizona to Texas, Mr Huffman said he was horrified when his daughter Sophia was expected to discuss lesbian relationships at school – a moment he called the ‘final straw’.  

Billy Joel has opened up about his health following the revelation that he’s been diagnosed with a brain related condition. The 76 year old singer-songwriter provided an update during a recent podcast appearance, where he discussed one of the symptoms he’s currently experiencing. Earlier this year, Billy revealed he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. According to the NHS, it’s considered ‘uncommon’ and typically impacts people over the age of 60 and symptoms can include issues with mobility and signs of dementia. Billy has given an update on his health in a newly released podcast episode. Appearing as a guest on the latest instalment of the Club Random podcast, Billy told host Bill Maher that he’s feeling “fine”. He said: “I learned so much about you. First of all, your health. I mean, all your fans want to know … you had something. Did we fix it?” Addressing the question, Billy stated: “It’s not fixed, it’s still being worked on.” After the host remarked that he “looks good” and “sounds good,” Billy responded about his condition: “I feel fine. My balance sucks – it’s like being on a boat.” Billy said that his condition, normal pressure hydrocephalus, was once known as “water on the brain.” When asked what causes it, he said: “Nobody knows. They don’t know.” He added: “I thought it must be from drinking.” Billy then revealed that he doesn’t drink “anymore,” adding: “But I used to, like a fish.” He continued: “I feel good. They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling, y’know.”

On This Day

• 1890 – Vincent van Gogh shoots himself and dies two days later.
• 1940 – The animated short A Wild Hare is released, introducing the character of Bugs Bunny.
• 2002 – A Sukhoi Su-27 fighter crashes during an air show at Lviv, Ukraine killing 77 and injuring more than 500 others, making it the deadliest air show disaster in history.

Deaths

• 1984 – James Mason, English actor (born 1909).
• 2003 – Bob Hope, English-American actor, comedian, television personality (born 1903).
• 2012 – Geoffrey Hughes, English actor (born 1944).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Taylor Schilling (41), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (55), Donnie Yen (62), Jason Statham (58), Sandra Bullock (61), Helen Mirren (80), Kate Beckinsale (52), Kevin Spacey (66), Nana Visitor (68), Eve Myles (47), Mick Jagger (82), Matt LeBlanc (58), Elisabeth Moss (43), Anna Paquin (43), Jennifer Lopez (56), Summer Glau (44), Danny Dyer (48), Lynda Carter (74), Woody Harrelson (64), Daniel Radcliffe (36), Kathryn Hahn (52), Ronny Cox (87), Willem Dafoe (70), Terence Stamp (87), Selena Gomez (33), Rhys Ifans (58), Danny Glover (79), Bonnie Langford (61), and Josh Hartnett (47).