As per usual, my lead story this week was John McCain stopping his treatment for brain cancer, alas he never made the week to star in his own pre-death article. However, both Louise and Douglas score 69 points each for his inevitable death. Well done both of you!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Barbara Harris, 83, American actress (The Apple Tree, Freaky Friday, Nashville), Tony winner (1967), co-founder of The Second City, lung cancer.  
• Ed King, 68, American Hall of Fame guitarist (Strawberry Alarm Clock, Lynyrd Skynyrd) and songwriter (“Sweet Home Alabama”), lung cancer.  
• Robin Leach, 76, British writer and television host (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous), complications from a stroke.  
• Lindsay Kemp, 80, English choreographer and actor (The Wicker Man).  
• Stefán Karl Stefánsson, 43, Icelandic actor (LazyTown), bile duct cancer.  
• John McCain, 81, American politician and Navy officer, member of the U.S. Senate (since 1987) and House of Representatives (1983–1987), presidential candidate (2008), glioblastoma.

In Other News

The family of the late US musician Prince is suing his doctor, alleging he failed to properly treat the singer for an opioid addiction. A lawsuit filed in Minnesota, reported by ABC news, alleges that failures by Dr Michael Schulenberg played a “substantial part” in the star’s death. Prince died in 2016, aged 57, from an accidental overdose of the painkiller fentanyl, a powerful opioid. Dr Schulenberg has denied any wrongdoing. Earlier this year, prosecutors said no criminal charges would be brought over Prince’s death. But the family’s lawsuit, filed in Hennepin County District Court on Friday, alleges that Dr Schulenberg’s actions had played a part. “He failed to appropriately evaluate, diagnose, treat and counsel Prince for his recognisable opioid addiction, and further failed to take appropriate and reasonable steps to prevent the foreseeably fatal result of that addiction,” the lawsuit read. The family of the singer – whose real name was Prince Rogers Nelson – is seeking unspecified damages in excess of $50,000 (£39,000). Prince was found unresponsive in a lift at his Paisley Park Studios, Minnesota, on 21st April 2016. Evidence showed Prince had thought he was taking the prescription drug, Vicodin, when in fact he was taking a counterfeit Vicodin pill laced with potentially deadly fentanyl. Prosecutors said there was no evidence that the pills that killed Prince had been prescribed by a doctor.   

Britain’s Got Talent star Antonio Francis has died aged 54. The reality star, also known as ‘Popeye’, passed away after suffering a stroke. Antonio memorably appeared on BGT with his unique routine, which saw him popping his eyeballs out of their sockets in time with the music. Francis’s death was confirmed by his son Dan, who appeared on BGT also, as part of the band Luminites. On a GoFundMe page for his funeral costs, Dan said: ‘He had slowly been losing his memory a years prior and had been in out of hospital with minor stroke, high blood pressure, heart failure and other organ issues but we never knew the full extent of his illness as he wouldn’t ever say the real problem. Last week a family friend realised he had missed an appointment and knew something was up so went to check on him at his flat. When there was no answer the security opened my dad’s door and he was found unconscious on his bedroom floor. He was rushed into hospital where we were told he was in a coma and wouldn’t have much time left. We had worked out that he must have been in a coma for over 5 days so it was a miracle that he was still alive with no food or drink and having a stroke.” Sadly Antonio wasn’t famous enough for a Wiki listing.    

A man who managed to fight off a shark attack has now contracted a severe flesh-eating infection. Blain Shelton, from Texas, was swimming off the shore of Boliver Island in Galveston County when a shark bit into his leg. The 42-year-old managed to escape, but exposure to the seawater left him with a severe flesh-eating infection. Mr Shelton was admitted to hospital for treatment for the shark bite on his lower thigh, but after he was released the severe pain near the wound only worsened. Upon returning to hospital, doctors said that a flesh-eating bacterial infection was leading to his skin rotting away. “I’d heard there was bacteria in the water, I just never treated it serious,” Mr Shelton said. “But to tell you the truth, if you’ve got a scratch on your arm or your leg, I wouldn’t get in that water. And if you do, bring some alcohol with you to clean it the second you get out. It’s nothing to play with.” Mr Shelton is recovering in hospital and has amassed hospital bills of $30,000 (£23,350). 

On This Day

• 1346 – Hundred Years’ War: The military supremacy of the English longbow over the French combination of crossbow and armoured knights is established at the Battle of Crécy.  
• 1768 – Captain James Cook sets sail from England on board HMS Endeavour.  
• 1883 – The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa begins its final, paroxysmal, stage.

Deaths

• 1930 – Lon Chaney, American actor, director, and screenwriter (b. 1883)   
• 1974 – Charles Lindbergh, American pilot and explorer (b. 1902)  
• 1980 – Tex Avery, American animator, director, and voice actor (b. 1908)  
• 2004 – Laura Branigan, American singer-songwriter and actress (b. 1952)  
• 2017 – Tobe Hooper, American film director (b. 1943)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Alexander Skarsgård (42), Sean Connery (88), Rachel Bilson (37), Tim Burton (60), Tom Skerritt (85), Gene Simmons (69), Claudia Schiffer (48), Billy Ray Cyrus (57), Regis Philbin (87), Rupert Grint (30), Steve Guttenberg (60), Jared Harris (57), Dave Chappelle (45), Stephen Fry (61), Richard Armitage (47), Kristen Wiig (45), James ‘The Cunt’ Corden (40), Honor Blackman (93), Mark Williams (59), Ty Burrell (51), Valerie Harper (79), Hayden Panettiere (29), Carrie-Anne Moss (51), Kim Cattrall (62), Kenny Rogers (80), Amy Adams (44), Ben Barnes (37), Andrew Garfield (35), Jonathan Ke Quan (47), Demi Lovato (26), James Marsters (56), Misha Collins (44), John Noble (70), Ray Wise (71), David Walliams (47), Sylvester McCoy (75), Matthew Perry (49), Jonathan Frakes (66), Kevin Dillon (53), Jim Carter (70), Simon Bird (34) and Diana Muldaur (80).

Last week we sent out the flying monkeys, and they didn’t disappoint. The second they took to the skies the news of Aretha Franklin’s impending death was sent to Dead Pool Towers. We were hoping to lead with the story of her illness, however she didn’t last the week. What is most surprising, none of you listed her. NOBODY!!!! If you only knew how much it costs to feed these flying monkeys and keep their wings supple with Nivea Cream, you’d try harder! Anyhow, a short newsletter this week, the news was slightly overrun by Ms Franklin’s death to notice anyone else. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Jill Janus, 42, American rock and roll singer (Huntress), suicide.  
• Aretha Franklin, 76, American Hall of Fame soul singer (“Respect”, “Chain of Fools”, “A Natural Woman”), pianist and songwriter, pancreatic cancer.   
• Sir Peter Tapsell, 88, British politician, MP (1959–1964, 1966–2015) and Father of the House of Commons (2010–2015).
• Kofi Annan, 80, Ghanaian diplomat, Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997–2006), Nobel Prize laureate (2001).

In Other News

Tesla shares have plunged after founder Elon Musk revealed to the New York Times he works “120 hour weeks” and takes sedatives. In the interview, Mr Musk also said he was not “on weed” when he controversially tweeted about taking the company private. “This past year has been the most difficult and painful year of my career,” he said. “It was excruciating.” At times during the interview he stopped speaking, seemingly overcome by emotion – and that he spent the full 24 hours of his birthday on 28th June working. “All night – no friends, nothing,” he said. Mr Musk also said that he took the sedative Ambien to help him sleep when he was not working: “It is often a choice of no sleep, or Ambien.” According to the paper, his use of the drug has concerned some board members. Just goes to show, money doesn’t make you happy and that Rosanne was right, Ambien does turn you into a knob.    

Whitney Houston was found dead in a bathtub in 2012 — and three years later, her daughter died in tragically similar circumstances. Now another death is a final tragic twist. The friend who discovered Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown in her bathtub has died of an apparent drug overdose. Max Lomas was discovered unconscious in a friend’s bathroom with a syringe near his body after his pal grew concerned when he didn’t come out for a long time. Lomas was reportedly rushed to a nearby Mississippi hospital, where he later passed away. Lomas was the one who pulled Brown out of the bathtub and administered CPR with her partner, Nick Gordon, until help arrived. No charges were ever filed against Lomas, though Brown’s family won a $36 million wrongful death civil suit against Gordon for her death. Perhaps we should put Gordon up as a Maverick, everyone he comes into contact with dies, maybe it’s his turn next! 

On This Day

• 1612 – The “Samlesbury witches”, three women from the Lancashire village of Samlesbury, England, are put on trial, accused of practicing witchcraft, one of the most famous witch trials in British history.  
• 1692 – Salem witch trials: In Salem, Province of Massachusetts Bay, five people, one woman and four men, including a clergyman, are executed after being convicted of witchcraft.  
• 1839 – The French government announces that Louis Daguerre’s photographic process is a gift “free to the world” This is the day that the selfie was born.   
• 1987 – Hungerford massacre: In the United Kingdom, Michael Ryan kills sixteen people with a semi-automatic rifle and then commits suicide.

Deaths

• AD 14 – Augustus, Roman emperor (b. 63 BC)  
• 1977 – Groucho Marx, American comedian and actor (b. 1890)  
• 2005 – Mo Mowlam, English academic and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (b. 1949)  
• 2012 – Tony Scott, English-American director and producer (b. 1944)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Robert Redford (82), Edward Norton (49), Christian Slater (49), Madeleine Stowe (60), Roman Polanski (85), Denis Leary (61), Robert De Niro (75), Sean Penn (58), Donnie Wahlberg (49), Belinda Carlisle (60), Steve Carell (56), James Cameron (64), Julie Newmar  (85), Evanna Lynch (27), Madonna (60), Jennifer Lawrence (28), Ben Affleck (46), Natasha Henstridge (44), Debra Messing (50), Jim Dale (83), Tony Robinson (72), Mila Kunis (35), Halle Berry (52), Steve Martin (73), Joseph Marcell (70) and Sarah Brightman (58).

Another relatively quiet week, I think we should send out the flying monkeys again, we could do with the demise of a high ranking Dead Pool star to spice things up.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Charlotte Rae, 92, American actress (The Facts of Life, Diff’rent Strokes, 101 Dalmatians: The Series), bone cancer.  
• Joël Robuchon, 73, French chef and cookbook author, Meilleur Ouvrier de France winner 1976, complications from pancreatic cancer.  
• Nicholas Bett, 28, Kenyan hurdler, world champion (2015), traffic collision. 
• V. S. Naipaul, 85, Trinidadian-born British writer (A House for Mr Biswas), Nobel Prize laureate (2001).

In Other News 

Friends star Matthew Perry has undergone surgery after suffering a ruptured bowel, according to reports. A representative for the actor said that he was taken to an LA hospital to repair the perforation. Perry has been a vocal advocate of addiction recovery after struggling with alcohol abuse himself during his time on the show, admitting he has little memory of shooting three seasons. In 1997 and 2001 he completed time in rehab to recover from his use of Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines and alcohol. In 2013 he told ABC News: “Mostly it was drinking, you know, and opiates. I think I was pretty good at hiding it, but eventually people were aware. I honestly recoil. It’s scary to look at that. I was a sick guy.” 

Ant and Dec have postponed next year’s Saturday Night Takeaway, with the show not set to return until 2020. Dec Donnelly will also front November’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’ alone, while Ant McPartlin continues to take a break from all TV presenting until 2019. They said it was a joint decision to postpone a new series of Takeaway. Ant stepped down from his TV work in March following his arrest on drink driving following a car crash. He was fined £86,000 and given a 20-month driving ban after pleading guilty to drink driving and announced he would immediately be taking time out from presenting and seeking treatment for addiction. In a statement Ant said his recovery is going “very well” and “for that to continue, having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off”. He added: “I’d like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.”    

A coroner has ruled Superman actress Margot Kidder’s death was suicide. The 69-year-old actress was found dead at her home in Montana on 13th May. Park County Coroner’s office said she died “as a result of a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose”. A joint statement from the coroner’s office and her family urged “those suffering from mental illnesses, addiction and/or suicidal thoughts to seek appropriate counselling and treatment”. The actress found fame starring as Lois Lane alongside Christopher Reeve in the Superman films of the 1970s and 1980s. The actress, who had bipolar disorder, told People magazine in 1996 about her mental health problems and revealed that she had taken an overdose at 14 and suffered badly from mood swings. She gave the interview following her high-profile disappearance for several days in 1996 where she ended up living on the streets, paranoid that people were out to get her. 

On This Day

• 1865 – Joseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs 1st antiseptic surgery.  
• 1883 – The last quagga dies at the Natura Artis Magistra, a zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  
• 1953 – The first testing of a real thermonuclear weapon (not test devices): The Soviet atomic bomb project continues with the detonation of “RDS-6s” (Joe 4), the first Soviet thermonuclear bomb.  
• 1981 – The IBM Personal Computer is released.  
• 1985 – Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashes into Osutaka ridge in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, killing 520, to become the worst single-plane air disaster.

Deaths

• 30 BC– Cleopatra, Egyptian queen (b. 69 BC)  
• 1964 – Ian Fleming, English spy, journalist, and author (b. 1908)  
• 1982 – Henry Fonda, American actor (b. 1905)  
• 2009 – Les Paul, American guitarist and songwriter (b. 1915)  
• 2014 – Lauren Bacall, American model, actress, and singer (b. 1924)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Cara Delevingne (26), Sam J. Jones (64), Jim Beaver (68), Pete Sampras (47), Chris Hemsworth (35), Anna Gunn (50), Ian McDiarmid (74), Hulk Hogan (65), Antonio Banderas (58), Rosanna Arquette (59), Rhona Mitra (42), Anna Kendrick (33), Gillian Anderson (50), Sam Elliott (74), Eric Bana (50), Melanie Griffith (61), Audrey Tautou (42), McG (50), Dustin Hoffman (81), Charlize Theron (43), Abbie Cornish (36), Michael Shannon (44), David Duchovny (58), Tobin Bell (76), M. Night Shyamalan (48), Michelle Yeoh (56), Barbara Windsor (81) and Geri Horner (46).

Welcome fellow poolers, ’tis a sad day indeed where we can no longer  say “To me, to you.”  It’s now ‘To me, to… um…’ It’s been a terrible week if you’re a fan of wrestling too, they seem to be falling like flies. Anyhow, no points this week, better luck next time! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Brickhouse Brown, 57, American professional wrestler (SCW, WCWA, USWA), prostate cancer.  
• Brian Christopher, 46, American professional wrestler (WWF, TNA, USWA), suicide by hanging.   
• Nikolai Volkoff, 70, Yugoslav-born American Hall of Fame professional wrestler (WWF).  
• Tony Bullimore, 79, British sailor and nightclub owner, stomach cancer.  
• Sir Alex Fergusson, 69, British politician, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (2007–2011).   
• Mary Carlisle, 104, American actress (College Humor, Doctor Rhythm, Dead Men Walk).
• Rick Genest, 32, Canadian fashion model and actor (47 Ronin), suicide.  
• Barry Chuckle, 73, English children’s entertainer (ChuckleVision).

In Other News

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says he has survived an assassination attempt involving explosive drones!!! Mr Maduro was speaking at a military event in Caracas when the alleged attack occurred. Live footage of his speech shows the president suddenly looking upwards – startled – and dozens of soldiers running away. Mr Maduro has blamed Colombia for the attack – something denied by Bogota as a “baseless” accusation. Seven soldiers were injured, and several people were later arrested, the Venezuelan authorities said. The incident happened when Mr Maduro was speaking at an event to mark the 81st anniversary of the national army. Two drones loaded with explosives went off near the president’s stand, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said. Mr Maduro later said in a national address: “A flying object exploded near me, a big explosion. Seconds later there was a second explosion.” Photos on social media showed bodyguards protecting Mr Maduro with bulletproof shields after the alleged attack. To add further to the confusion, firefighters at the scene disputed the government’s version of events. Speaking on condition of anonymity, three of them said the incident was actually a gas tank explosion inside an apartment, but did not provide further details.       

Three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda is recovering in hospital after a lung transplant. The 69-year-old Austrian had been suffering from “severe lung disease”, Vienna General Hospital said in a statement. “The transplant was successfully carried out,” the statement added. Lauda won three world drivers’ titles in 1975, 1977 and 1984 with Ferrari and McLaren. He had cut short a holiday in Ibiza last week and returned to Vienna after developing a lung infection. Lauda was appointed as Mercedes’ non-executive chairman in 2012 and was involved in the signing of Lewis Hamilton to the team. In 1976, Lauda crashed into an embankment at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany. As flames engulfed his car, Lauda had to be rescued by his fellow drivers but despite suffering horrific burns and being given the last rites, he returned behind the wheel six weeks later.    

The coroner investigating the death of TV presenter Dale Winton has found he died of natural causes, the late star’s agent has revealed. The Supermarket Sweep and Hole in the Wall host was found dead in April at his north London home. He was 62. Scotland Yard previously said the star’s death was being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. 

On This Day

• 1305 – William Wallace, who led the Scottish resistance against England, is captured by the English near Glasgow and transported to London where he is put on trial and executed.   
• 1620 – The Mayflower departs from Southampton, England on its first attempt to reach North America.   
• 1926 – Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping.

Deaths

• 1063 – Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, King of Gwynedd    
• 1955 – Carmen Miranda, Portuguese-Brazilian actress and singer (b. 1909)   
• 1962 – Marilyn Monroe, American model and actress (b. 1926)   
• 1984 – Richard Burton, Welsh-Swiss actor and producer (b. 1925)  
• 2000 – Alec Guinness, English actor (b. 1914)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Meghan Markle (37), Billy Bob Thornton (63), Barack Obama (57), Evangeline Lilly (39), Martin Sheen (78), John C. McGinley (59), Stephen Graham (45), John Landis (68), Steven Berkoff (81), Martha Stewart (77), Tony Bennett (92), Kevin Smith (48), Sam Worthington (42), Edward Furlong (41), Jason Momoa (39), Michael Biehn (62), Wesley Snipes (56), Dean Cain (52), Emilia Fox (44), J.K. Rowling (53), Christopher Nolan (48), Arnold Schwarzenegger (71), Lisa Kudrow (55), Hilary Swank (44), Laurence Fishburne (57), Jean Reno (70), Carel Struycken (70), Frances de la Tour (74), Wil Wheaton (46), David Warner (77), Elizabeth Berkley (46), Taylor Schilling (34) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (41).

A surprised welcome to this weeks issue. Surprised because nobody had listed the world’s oldest living person, now dead. Never mind, she’d have only scored you 33 points anyway and she only became the oldest person on April, so maybe I’ll forgive you.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Chiyo Miyako, 117, Japanese supercentenarian, world’s oldest living person.  
• Lucy Ferry, 58, British model and socialite, apparent suicide by gunshot.  
• Mary Ellis, 101, British WWII era transport pilot (R.A.F., A.T.A.).  
• Ellie Soutter, 18, British snowboarder (Team GB), suicide.   
• Alastair Yates, 66, British news anchor (BBC News, Sky News, About Anglia).

In Other News

Pop singer Demi Lovato is being treated in a Los Angeles hospital after a suspected drug overdose. The Los Angeles Police Department responded on Tuesday to a medical emergency in the Hollywood Hills, where the Sorry Not Sorry singer lives. The 25-year-old was reportedly found unconscious and treated at the scene with naloxone, an anti-opioid medicine. She is awake and breathing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a family spokesman has said. “Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers and support,” the spokesman told us at Dead Pool Towers. Lovato has struggled with substance abuse for years, and was feared to have relapsed in recent weeks. Her fans say the singer’s battles with bipolar disorder, bulimia and addiction – often documented in her music – have helped them with their own entitled little struggles. It is unclear what drugs Lovato overdosed on. Early reports said it was heroin but this was later contradicted.      

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he would “not be sitting here today” without the “great care” of hospital staff after his surgery for a brain haemorrhage in May. Ferguson, 76, has spoken publicly for the first time since going home from hospital in a video on social media. The Scot also thanked well wishers “for the support you have given me”. “It has made me feel so humble, as have all the messages I have received from all over the world,” he added. Ferguson had emergency surgery on 5th May and was in intensive care for several days at Salford Royal Hospital. If any of you  give a  shit, Ferguson retired as United manager in May 2013 after winning 38 trophies during 26 years in charge. The most successful manager in the history of the British game, his trophy haul at Old Trafford included 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups.    

Lightning strikes have forced Sir Tom Jones to cancel his comeback concert in York. The 78-year-old star had been due to return to performing on Friday, with a show at York Racecourse after a series of cancelled concerts due to illness. York Racecourse apologised and said it took the decision to cancel “given the atrocious weather conditions”. Singer James Arthur also had to cancel his open-air gig in Scarborough on Thursday because of lightning. Perhaps Mother Nature has a good music taste  after all…. Sir Tom pulled out of five shows this month after a bacterial infection, for which he was admitted to hospital. York Racecourse said it “shares the disappointment of the thousands of fans” for the last-minute cancellation and offered a “50% refund”. Fans took to social media to voice their frustrations over the cancellation and “poor” repayment offer. 

On This Day

• 1921 – Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party. We all know that went well…. 
• 1967 – During the fourth day of celebrating its 400th anniversary, the city of Caracas, Venezuela is shaken by an earthquake, leaving approximately 500 dead. 
• 1981 – A worldwide television audience of over 700 million people watch the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. We all know that went well… 

Deaths

• 796 – Offa of Mercia (b. 730) 
• 1890 – Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter and illustrator (b. 1853)  
• 1982 – Harold Sakata, American wrestler and actor (b. 1920)  
• 1983 – David Niven, English military officer and actor (b. 1910)  
• 2007 – Mike Reid, English comedian, actor, and author, Rrrrrriccccckey!!! (b. 1940)    

Last Week’s Birthdays

Daniel Radcliffe (29), Woody Harrelson (57), Charisma Carpenter (48), Ronny Cox (80), Slash (53), Jo Brand (61), Selena Gomez (26), Willem Dafoe (63), Rhys Ifans (51), Terence Stamp (80), Danny Glover (72), Louise Fletcher (84), Kate Beckinsale (45), Jason Statham (51), Sandra Bullock (54), Helen Mirren (73), Kevin Spacey (59), Eve Myles (40), Nana Visitor (61), Mick Jagger (75), Matt LeBlanc (51), Iman (63), Tera Patrick (42), Lynda Carter (67), Jennifer Lopez (49), Anna Paquin (36), Summer Glau (37), Danny Dyer (41), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (48), Taylor Schilling (34) and Donnie Yen (55).