Don Cornelius Dead: Don Cornelius Commits Suicide in Sherman Oaks CA

Don Cornelius — who famously created “Soul Train” was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, CA home this morning … and law enforcement sources tell us it appears he committed suicide.
We’re told cops discovered the body at around 4 AM PT. Law enforcement sources tell us … Cornelius died from a gunshot wound to the head and officials believe the wound was self-inflicted.
We’re told Cornelius was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“Soul Train” changed the landscape of television when it debuted in 1971 and ran until 2006.
Officials have notified Don’s family.
Cornelius was 75.
During Don’s bitter divorce proceedings in 2009, he told an L.A. judge he was suffering from “significant health issues” and wanted to “finalize this divorce before I die.”
Cornelius was arrested in 2008 for beating up his wife. He pled no contest to misdemeanor domestic violence and was placed on 3 years probation. His probation just terminated.
The divorce was granted in 2010.
Sources close to Don tell us … the TV icon was plagued with health issues for years … including a stroke and a condition that required brain surgery.
Shawn Holley — Don’s lawyer and good friend — tells TMZ, “This is devastating news. Don was a kind, funny and brilliant man. Even though his many health battles had left him frail, he remained vibrant, courtly and always sharp as a tack.”

Nicol Williamson Died: Excalibur Actor Nicol Williamson Died Of Cancer

Another great actor has passed away. Nicol Williamson, the Scottish actor whom playwright John Osborne described as “the greatest actor since Marlon Brando”, died of esophageal cancer on December 16, 2011 in Amsterdam, where he had lived for more than two decades.
Breaking the sad news to fans was Nicol’s son Luke. He wrote on the 75-year-old’s website on Wednesday, January 25, “It’s with great sadness, and yet with a heart full of pride and love for a man who was a tremendous father, friend, actor, poet, writer and singer, that I must bring news of

Excalibur Actor Nicol Williamson Died Of Esophageal Cancer

Nicol’s passing.” “Dad died peacefully in the early hours of the 16th of December after a two year all out, balls to the wall struggle against esophageal cancer,” Luke went on. “He gave it all he had: never gave up, never complained, maintained his wicked sense of humor to the end. His last words were ‘I love you’. I was with him, he was not alone, he was not in pain.”
Luke additionally mentioned, “Before he died Nicol was able to finish the CD he had been working on, albeit slightly shorter than it might have been. In the coming month i hope to have it up here on his website.” He also asked fans to “make a donation” in his father’s name “to a charity for children suffering from cancer or other life threatening illnesses”.
Nicol was known for his role as Merlin in 1981 film “Excalibur” and for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in 1976 movie “The Seven Per-Cent Solution”. He earned BAFTA nominations for his work in “The Bofors Gun” and “Inadmissible Evidence”. Throughout his career, he also received two Tony Award nominations.
In addition to Luke, Nicol was also survived by wife Jill Townsend.