Is this an obituary/eulogy or an advertisement? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

CityOfAngels · 12-31-2005, 11:48 PM

Article found at http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...512310484/1012

Quote:

'Patrick' Cranshaw, 86, character actor
By Dennis McLellan
Los Angeles Times
===
Joseph "Patrick" Cranshaw, a veteran character actor who unexpectedly attained pop-culture status playing "Blue," the elderly fraternity brother in the hit comedy "Old School," has died. He was 86.

Cranshaw died of natural causes Wednesday at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, said his personal manager, Jeff Ross.

After launching his screen career in 1955 playing a bartender at a dance in the western "Texas Lady," Cranshaw played everything from a bank teller in "Bonnie and Clyde" to a hobo in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" to the demolition derby owner in "Herbie: Fully Loaded."

But Cranshaw was well into his 80s when he was cast in the small part that gave him the kind of public recognition rarely afforded to a low-in-the-credits character actor: his scenes-stealing role as white-haired and bearded Joseph "Blue" Palasky in "Old School," directed by Todd Phillips and starring Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn.

In one of his key scenes, a long-johns-clad Blue is supposed to mud-wrestle with two topless girls, but he never gets a chance to get down and dirty: He looks at them and is so excited that he keels over dead an apparent heart attack.

Ferrell's character delivers the eulogy for Blue, who is seen with angel wings in the closing credits, playing a piano and singing "Dust in the Wind."
After the movie's release, Cranshaw was frequently recognized by fans of the film, who couldn't resist calling out Ferrell's signature line, "You're my boy, Blue."

Cranshaw also was invited to meet with the Texas Rangers when they were playing the Angels in Anaheim, Calif.

"A lot of the ballplayers loved that movie," said Ross, who accompanied Cranshaw to the stadium. "When we got there, the Angels wanted him to come to their locker room, too."

Born in Bartlesville, Okla., in 1919, Cranshaw became interested in acting while entertaining the troops with the Army Air Forces during World War II.
In addition to small parts in films such as "Bandolero," "Best in Show" and "The Hudsucker Proxy," Cranshaw appeared frequently on television and had recurring roles on "Alice," "Mork & Mindy," "The Ted Knight Show," "Dukes of Hazzard" and other series.

Cranshaw had recently returned home to Fort Worth after shooting the movie "Air Buddies," due for release in 2006.
Survivors include his children, Jan Ragland, Joe Cranshaw and Beverly Trautschold; his sister, Billie Vi Gillespie; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Am I just crazy or is this article using the death of an actor to advertise Old School?

macmanmike6100 · 01-01-2006, 08:10 AM

hmm, well the fact that it's dated dec 31 '05 would indicate to me that it's not an advertisement for old school, it's just noting (thoroughly) what he's most remembered for. old school is, at this point, too old to get a second-coming. paranoia? probably :-)

Gatorade Frost · 01-01-2006, 08:25 AM

I'd say that when you're writing a eulogy for some one that's not too terribly interesting, you end up with something like what we just read.

rlynnm · 01-03-2006, 04:01 PM

It doesn't seem to be a plot for Old school, rather a point of reference of where he would be remembered most. It probably shows a livelier side of him.

Bauh4us · 01-28-2006, 05:18 PM

Nah it's not a advertisement, Old School just happens to be the thing that he got the most reconigtion for.

01-01-2006, 08:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gatorade Frost Rookie	I'd say that when you're writing a eulogy for some one that's not too terribly interesting, you end up with something like what we just read. __________________ I got in a fight one time with a really big guy, and he said, "I'm going to mop the floor with your face." I said, "You'll be sorry." He said, "Oh, yeah? Why?" I said, "Well, you won't be able to get into the corners very well." Emo Philips

01-03-2006, 04:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
rlynnm Psycho Location: so cal	It doesn't seem to be a plot for Old school, rather a point of reference of where he would be remembered most. It probably shows a livelier side of him. __________________ The hardest thing is to be honest with yourself, especially if that means completely redefining the world you've come to know. Don't look too hard, I'm right in front of you.

01-28-2006, 05:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bauh4us Tilted	Nah it's not a advertisement, Old School just happens to be the thing that he got the most reconigtion for. __________________ "I aint got time for pain! The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!" - Terrible Terry Tate

01-01-2006, 08:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
macmanmike6100 High Honorary Junkie Location: Tri-state.	hmm, well the fact that it's dated dec 31 '05 would indicate to me that it's not an advertisement for old school, it's just noting (thoroughly) what he's most remembered for. old school is, at this point, too old to get a second-coming. paranoia? probably :-)