OT: Happy Joinings and Sad Losses

[RomanceJunky]

I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to speak with Kevin Smith several years ago and was really impressed with his openness and graciousness. My impressions were of a man who openly loved his life, his family and his art. He was very giving with both the other actors performing with him and his audience.

A true artist. A wondefully talented man.

Hi will be truely missed.

RJ

[delany]

this isn't a pleasent thing. i only just read it on this board a few minutes ago and had to go call everyone i knew.

i'm an enormous xenite, and will deeply miss him. having also seen his work outside xena, i know that he is an artist that will deeply missed by the community that embraced him.

deepest sympathies to his family, and especially is sons.

[emily 'first']

I DIDN'T KNOW!!!
****
I just wandered into this thread tonight and read the news...Sad about Kevin and great about Portia...I'm going away for a good cry!

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vive,valeque.

[Kieli]

I read this thread last night and I just couldn't post until today. It felt like someone had just kicked me in the chest! I have been a hardcore Xenite for as long as the show has been in existence and Kevin Smith has always been one of my favourite actors on the show. The world has lost a kind, talented man. No words could possibly express that enough.

Peace and comforting hugs to all,
Toni

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"Sometimes, we just can't make it on our own. We all need someone to love us, to help remind us that there's good in the world, to keep us from going crazy."

Willow from Dacia's The Dreamer Awakes

[tyche]

Very sad news. I didn't know any of Kevin Smith's other work, but he seemed to really have fun in 'Xena' and 'Hercules'.

[Saena]

That's really sad news. I used to watch Xena pretty faithfully until about a season before the finale, and I liked the Ares character. Kevin Smith portrayed him well, and I'm sorry to hear he's gone.

['lucy' moore]

Emily told me about this when I came in tonight.
It's so sad,we were watching Xena on Channel 5 this morning,and,though he wasn't in the episode shown,he was always an integral part of the show,bringing so much to the character.
Any mood he portrayed as Ares was a joy to watch,a personal favorite being the Ares/Gabrielle interaction on the episode "The Quill is Mightier."
To be sadly missed...

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fiat justitia,ruat caelum.

[Cipher]

quote:

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Originally posted by MoKa:
On the happier note first.. I've just heard tonight - and so far it's unconfirmed - that Portia De Rosi (Nell of Aly McBeal) married her girlfriend yesterday. WTG Po

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Well, sorry to "spoil" the good news a bit, but Portia's people are denying it:

quote:

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ALLY McBEAL star PORTIA DE ROSSI has laughed off reports she "married" a woman and refuses to state her sexuality.

Earlier this month (5FEB02) British tabloid THE DAILY STAR claimed the beautiful blonde has tied the knot with her alleged lesbian lover and step-daughter of RINGO STARR, FRANCESCA GREGORINI at Rossi's 29th birthday bash at the end of January (29JAN02).

Rossi's spokeswoman HEIDI SCHAEFER says, "There was no ceremony. There was a cake, Portia blew out the candles. Gregorini was there, but there was no marriage."

When asked whether Rossi and Gregorini are partners, Schaefar answered, "They are friends, yes."

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Of course, that could just be weirdness over the term "married". I hope they don't feel they have to hide their love and commitment (to whatever degree), especially when people pretty much know they're a couple.

But I'm sure Portia and Francesca are happy, married or not.

(BTW, does anyone remember Portia doing an interview on the NBC late-night show "Later" maybe a year or more ago (obviously before it was cancelled)? I remember one show where an actress I wasn't that familiar with (or maybe a singer, I'm really not sure but I'm thinking it was Portia so I'll just say "actress") was asked by the host what she likes most about men (from a pool of standard quick-interest questions for part of the interview), and the actress asked if she could make it about women instead. Very cool way for her to come out, whoever it actually was. Does anyone else remember this and maybe have a better idea who the guest actually was or maybe confirm that my reconstructed memory is right about it being Portia? It's bugging me to think that was her but not be sure. How many semi-out but-didn't-used-to-be-out beautiful famous women are there?)

The loss of Kevin Smith is a shock. Apparently he was finished with the project in China, so it's not at all clear how it happened (fell six stories?), but it wouldn't seem to have been a stunt for the movie if they were already done with it.quote:quote:

[kitten scout]

It's so hard to believe that Kevin Smith is gone. He was a wonderful actor.

[Kalita]

I also recall Kevin Smith from Xena. Great actor with a lot of range and subtlety. He will indeed be missed.

[Kiwiccan]

I am about to out myself as an Enquirer lover. Below are articles from the Enquirer about Portia and Francesca. Yes I know the Enquirer's rep, but sometimes they are right.

Take a look at these: The first link did have pics of them. Yes, I saw them and they looked very cozy.

First article

Second article

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Paula
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May the Amber Force be with you.
Keeper of my own insanity

[This message has been edited by Kiwiccan (edited February 17, 2002).]

[MoKa]

When I first posted the news about Portia yesterday I had only heard it thru my girlfriends collegue.. and we didn't know where she heard it... but when we were in out local GLC yesterday afternoon we read in the national gay/les newspaper 'The Pink Paper' that they had got married and had been in the worldwide press. I don't care one way or the other, they looked happy to me down that alleyway

As for news on Kevin... Sword and Staff are collecting donations to go to his wife and kids. There has been talk of the NZ gov setting up a trust fund for them or something. Anyone wanting info can e-mail me if they like... or if they want me to post the info on the board here if that's ok.

Have a good day all and tell your loved ones... you love them.

x

[Caroline]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kieli:
I read this thread last night and I just couldn't post until today. It felt like someone had just kicked me in the chest! I have been a hardcore Xenite for as long as the show has been in existence and Kevin Smith has always been one of my favourite actors on the show. The world has lost a kind, talented man. No words could possibly express that enough.

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Ditto that. He was a top bloke. Always excellent in the show and by all accounts one of life's all round good guys off it. It's devastating to know someone and not know them at all, it still feels like you've been punched when they're not around anymore. Love to his family, his friends and his fandom.
xquote:

[Shaniezak]

Several people have reported in from the Pasadena Xena convention saying that this morning, notices had been placed on all the chairs notifying guests of Kevin Smith's death, and that in the dealer's room, notes were posted saying that all proceeds from sale of merchandise featuring Kevin would be sent to his family.

According to reports, I really wished I'd been there yesterday; seems the con atmosphere was really special due to the tragedy. Fans in the Xenaverse can be amazingly giving. Lucy's sister Josie, who had done a performance on Friday night, auctioned off the flowers that Lucy and Rob had sent her, with the money going to Kevin's family; a woman who had, previously (in the con, I think), either bought or won an outfit worn by Ted Raimi on the show, brought it up on stage, and Ted auctioned it off again, for something around $1000. Alex Tydings brought up on stage with her the Aphrodite costume she'd brought home after shooting her last episode. The top was missing, but the bottom half and jewelry went for $3,500. A joke between Hudson Leick and some audience members about auctioning off a kiss turned into--by agreement between the guests and the fans--Hudson selling kisses for $1000 apiece, the money going to Kevin's family.

KT reports that last night at about 7:15, all the con guests (Renee O'Connor, Hudson Leick, Claire Stansfield, Alexandra Tydings, William Gregory Lee, Ted Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Michael Hurst, Alexis Arquette, Vicky Pratt, and former show writer Steven L. Sears) gathered onstage to share their memories about Kevin with a conference call from Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert, piped in from New Zealand. Missy Good called it "gorgeous," and just KTL's description of the service on the XenaGuard list made me cry.

It's kind of amazing to think of a room full of people who only knew a man through his television role and convention appearances, sharing their sorrow and support not only among each other, but among those on stage who did know him, and work with him. Fandom can be a funny thing, and cons are quite frequently crazy. But every now and then, there's a moment where it all just comes together and crystallizes into an indefinable and special bond between the people who love a show and the people who helped to make it.

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"And if there is a way to find you, I will find you . . . but threads that are golden don't break easily . . ." -- Tori Amos

"Love is lightning, love is ice; it only strikes the lucky twice--once so you will know the price, and once for crazy faith . . ." -- Alison Krauss and Union Station

[RomanceJunky]

Thanks for sharing the news from the con. That really is a special fandom and I'm proud I am a part of it.

RJ...I'm kinda fond of this one too

[MoKa]

Some fandoms get a bad name.. anoraks and trekkies etc and we get some funny looks or folks try and avoid you when they see lines of peops dressed as Klingons or Xenas and Gabbys but I tell ya... there are no better groups of people to be a part of...(I've never really been a trek fan but I know many of them and they are a fine group of people.. I do feel out of sorts tho when they talk in Klingon !) anyhoo, the Xenite family are wondeful 'together' bunch of people from all walks of life and from every curve of the world I'm now finding that to be the same with the Kittens

Keep doing for the greater good.
Battle on !

Mo
x

[lesbianinmaine]

Oh, dear. I was a casual Xena fan, but always enjoyed Kevin Smith as Ares. I find myself in shock and teary eyed, I can't imagine what his friends and family are going through. God Bless them, and may Kevin rest in peace.

[MoKa]

This came from one of my many Xena related lists that I am on. I asked permission of the author to post this here as I think the Kittens would get a kick out of it as well...

_____

Ok I'll start.

I met Kevin at the Armageddon convention last February. He was friendly and approachable, and as there weren't actually many Xena fans there, we got tochat with him and Dean O'Gorman for a good ten minutes or so. I even have a digital camera shot of me and Kevin taken by Dean. Kevin was really
flattered that we (me, my flatmate and our friend Nicole from Australia)wanted pics of him. He said nobody had ever asked him before. He also joked that I wasn't going to get the camera back because Dean loves gadgets.
In his convention speech, he was so natural and unpretentious, speaking fondly of his wife and sons, and how they were Buffy (not Xena) fans, and had even named the family cat Buffy.

It's a memory I'll always treasure, especially now. New Zealand has lost
one of her finest and most loved actors. I feel deeply sorry for his wife (they have been together since he was 16, so 22 years now) and his three sons, the youngest of whom is only three and may not even remember his father in years to come. He will probably only have vague memories, pictures and videos to help him know the Dad that so obviously adored them.

Donna
Who still can't seem to stop crying whenever she thinks about this.

_______

LOL what a fun bloke, and what taste the family had in tv shows... working on Xena and liking Buffy

Like Donna, I'm still reading stuff about Kevin and finding myself working thru yet another box of kleenex. Can't really say a loss of a celeb has had this reaction on me before. It really has surprised me. Maybe because he was so young and it was so sudden. It kinda makes ya think.

Have a good night/day everyone.
Be safe and be well.
xx

[Legs]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kiwiccan:
Take a look at these: The first link did have pics of them. Yes, I saw them and they looked very cozy.

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I saw some pics of them about a month or so ago and they seemed to me like girlfriends walking around.... I have the pics here on my computer, but I'm clueless about how to put them here (that is if there's a way to put them here).

It looks weird to me that these rumors about Portia being gay have been going for almost 2 months and just now with the marriage story, her people have decided to say they're just good friends...

:-** & [ ]s
Legs

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Things doesn't exist merely because they're stablished. Look at Santa's example: we know what he looks like, what he does, where he lives... we can even name his deers. Unfortunately, it doesn't prove his existence.quote:

[MoKa]

quote:

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Originally posted by Legs:

It looks weird to me that these rumors about Portia being gay have been going for almost 2 months and just now with the marriage story, her people have decided to say they're just good friends...

:-** & [ ]s
Legs

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Ohh they have been going on a lot longer than that Legs. Try a year at least... you just don't read the right magazines She was pictured in lesbian bars a long time before this girlfriend came along.

IP: Logged

quote:

[angelus]

quote:

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Originally posted by MoKa:
This came from one of my many Xena related lists that I am on. I asked permission of the author to post this here as I think the Kittens would get a kick out of it as well...

_____

Ok I'll start.

I met Kevin at the Armageddon convention last February. He was friendly and approachable, and as there weren't actually many Xena fans there, we got tochat with him and Dean O'Gorman for a good ten minutes or so. I even have a digital camera shot of me and Kevin taken by Dean. Kevin was really
flattered that we (me, my flatmate and our friend Nicole from Australia)wanted pics of him. He said nobody had ever asked him before. He also joked that I wasn't going to get the camera back because Dean loves gadgets.
In his convention speech, he was so natural and unpretentious, speaking fondly of his wife and sons, and how they were Buffy (not Xena) fans, and had even named the family cat Buffy.

It's a memory I'll always treasure, especially now. New Zealand has lost
one of her finest and most loved actors. I feel deeply sorry for his wife (they have been together since he was 16, so 22 years now) and his three sons, the youngest of whom is only three and may not even remember his father in years to come. He will probably only have vague memories, pictures and videos to help him know the Dad that so obviously adored them.

Donna
Who still can't seem to stop crying whenever she thinks about this.

_______

LOL what a fun bloke, and what taste the family had in tv shows... working on Xena and liking Buffy

Like Donna, I'm still reading stuff about Kevin and finding myself working thru yet another box of kleenex. Can't really say a loss of a celeb has had this reaction on me before. It really has surprised me. Maybe because he was so young and it was so sudden. It kinda makes ya think.

Have a good night/day everyone.
Be safe and be well.
xx

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i was at the convention saturday night and there were many glowing testimonials about kevin smith. he was loved and admired by every one who worked with him. if anyone wants to offer condolences to kevin's family write to lori@actorsdownunder.com

[This message has been edited by angelus (edited February 19, 2002).]quote:

[Legs]

quote:

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Originally posted by MoKa:
Ohh they have been going on a lot longer than that Legs. Try a year at least... you just don't read the right magazines She was pictured in lesbian bars a long time before this girlfriend came along.

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WOW, really?! I had no idea!! Well, it only makes the story more weird to me.

I guess I have to buy more american gossip mags! I like to know what's up in everybody's life lol

:-** & [ ]s
Legs

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Things doesn't exist merely because they're stablished. Look at Santa's example: we know what he looks like, what he does, where he lives... we can even name his deers. Unfortunately, it doesn't prove his existence.quote:

[MoKa]

quote:

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Originally posted by Legs:

I guess I have to buy more american gossip mags!

:-** & [ ]s
Legs

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Who said anything about buying the mags, just read them in the store. Heck, even Borders supplies comfortable seats and nice hot coffee for you.

IP: Logged

quote: