31 March

Maurice Jarre Dead at 84

Composer Maurice Jarre, father of Jean-Michel Jarre, died at age 84. Jarre won Oscars for the scores of Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and A Passage to India.

Cronenberg to Be Honored with France's Highest Award

David Cronenberg has been selected to receive the Legion d'honneur, France's highest distinction. The ceremony will be held April 1 in Toronto, with consul general Jerome Cauchard to host. Cronenberg will be presented the Medal of Knight to the French National Order of the Legion of Honor. Francois Delattre, France's ambassador to Canada, will bestow the honor on behalf of French Republic president Nicolas Sarkozy. The award is meant to recognize Cronenberg's accomplishments and the services he rendered to French culture and to enhance the cultural relationship between France and Canada. Cronenberg's films have played well in France, where he has won numerous awards that include the 1996 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for "Crash." This isn't just France's highest award for a filmmaker -- but France's highest award. (Thanks to Paola)

19 March

Natasha Richardson Dead at 45

Actress Natasha Richardson, wife of actor Liam Neeson and daughter of Vanessa Redgrave, died Wednesday of a critical head injury resulting from a skiing accident; she was 45. Richardson had been taking a beginner's skiing lesson at the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec when she fell in what appeared to be a minor mishap. The actress was reported to be laughing and joking as she walked back to her room with assistance from her ski instructor. She began to complain of headaches within an hour of the accident, and was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to Montreal's Sacre Coeur Hospital. Her husband, Liam Neeson, was in Toronto filming the movie Chloe when he heard of the incident, and rushed to her side. After being pronounced brain dead in Montreal, Richardson was later transferred by plane to New York where she was met by family and friends, who held a vigil at her bedside at Lenox Hill hospital. She was later taken off life support, and passed away early Wednesday evening.

16 March

Ron Silver Dead at 62

Actor Ron Silver died at age 62, after fighting cancer for 2 years.