This 63-year-old tenor died onstage at New York's Metropolitan Opera immediately after delivering the line: "Too bad you can only live so long" in Janacek's The Makropulos Case. He was the co-star of the BBC1's television series The Morecambe & . Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise were the most popular performers of their generation, Eric Morecambe's son Gary has shared his belief on what led to his father's death, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise were much beloved comedians. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This professional wrestler lost his life when he fell from a height of 90 feet as he was being lowered into the ring for the "Over the Edge" sports entertainment event in Kansas City, Missouri. As they were topping up the cement, the level suddenly dropped eighteen inches. Even when it's not an act, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. His real surname was Bartholomew. Comments. Millions heard the final broadcast of this traffic reporter for WNBC radio in New York City as the helicopter she was in crashed into the Hudson River. (Perhaps over optimistically, as Eric and Ernie, to their regret, never cracked the US). He was 58 years old. 128. Biography of Eric Morecambe, Oxford, www.biographyonline.net, Published 25/4/2009. He died in hospital in New York City. He was an actor and writer, known for, He collapsed and died on-stage at The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury in May His first major heart attack occurred in 1968. Born John Eric Bartholomew, Morecambe formed a much-loved comedy double act with Ernie Wise on stage and television, with more than 27 million viewers watching their hilarious Christmas special in 1977. At the time, Morecambe was smoking 60 cigarettes a day and drinking heavily. The statue of Comedian Eric Morecambe who died in 1984 after collapsing on stage with a heart attack just after his 58th birthday, the memorial to the late star was unveiled on Morecambe Promenade by. Braben's writing was at the heart of that play, and it is also the basis for the new show, Eric and Little Ern, devised and performed by Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens. Indeed, for visitors to the festival, Morecambe & Wise tribute shows have become almost as expected as experimental student productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream. 'Look at me - I'm dying!' | Theatre | The Guardian This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Actor/comedian Redd Foxx underwent a heart attack on the set of The Royal Family, a new sitcom he was to appear in. 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott, formerly of the metal act Pantera, was shot by a jilted fan while performing with his new group, Damageplan.