Beloved Golden Girls star Bea Arthur has passed away at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 86. She was suffering from cancer. Bea started out performing in musicals and found success on television later in life. She earned a Tony award in 1966 for her role on Broadway as Vera Charles, the best friend to Angela Lansbury’s Mame. Bea went on to star in her own television series in 1972 at the age of 50 as acerbic outspoken Maude, a liberal feminist who faced polarizing issues like abortion, alcoholism and domestic violence, all with biting humor. Arthur is best known for for her Emmy-winning role as Dorothy in groundbreaking NBC series “The Golden Girls,” which aired from 1985 to 1992. She is survived by two sons, Matthew, 47, and Daniel, 44, and two granddaughters.

Beatrice Arthur, an icon of ’70s TV as the star of Maude, and then one of the staples of ’80s TV as one of the leads in The Golden Girls, has died at age 86, according to an Associated Press report. A family spokesman told AP the Emmy and Tony Award winner had cancer, and died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles.

Arthur’s best-known roles came in popular sitcoms that didn’t shy away from the serious issues of the day. On Maude, which aired from 1972-1978, Arthur’s pantsuit-wearing, feminist title character had an abortion, which resulted in a flurry of viewer protests. Arthur scored five Emmy nominations and one win for the role. The ribald, hilarious Golden Girls — which over seven seasons tackled hot-button issues such as menopause, homophobia, suicide, and racism — found Arthur playing gruff, wisecrack-spewing divorcée Dorothy Zbornak, who shared a Miami home with her mother and two loopy friends. Arthur picked up four more Emmy nods and one win as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role.
In a 2005 interview with EW, Arthur recalled she “flipped” when she first read the script for The Golden Girls’ pilot episode. “After all of the crap I’d been sent, here was something so bright and adult and fabulously funny,” she said.

Arthur’s long-time friend Billy Goldenberg, who co-created 2002′s Bea Arthur on Broadway, tells EW.com that the actress was “never afraid to say anything that she believed in. The rest of us always took a moment before we said anything, maybe edited it. But she never did. And that was rather odd, because she was a very shy, private person.” Goldenberg says that while Arthur would often wonder why she inspired such widespread and passionate fandom, he surmised it was the way the actress championed underdogs, “people who felt like second-class citizens,” in both her on-screen and off-screen life.

After exiting Golden Girls in 1992, Arthur worked sparingly. Since 2000, she made guest-starring appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Futurama. She scored yet another Emmy nomination as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for a role as a loopy babysitter on Malcolm in the Middle.

Earlier in her career, Arthur tasted success on Broadway and on the big screen, even winning a Tony Award for her roles as Vera Charles, formidable pal of Angela Lansbury’s title character in Mame. She would go on to play the same role in the musical’s big-screen adaptation, though in that instance opposite Lucille Ball.

[From EW.com]

EW also has some quotes from friends of Arthur that are touching.

From Betty White, Arthur’s co-star in Golden Girls:
“I knew it would hurt, I just didn’t know it would hurt this much. I’m so happy that she received her Lifetime Achievement Award while she was still with us, so she could appreciate that. She was such a big part of my life.”

From Angela Lansbury, Arthur’s co-star in Mame:
“Bea Arthur and I first met when we did ‘Mame’ together in 1965. She became and has remained ‘My Bosom Buddy’ ever since. I am deeply saddened by her passing, but also relieved that she is released from the pain. I spoke to Matt, her son, yesterday and I was aware that her time was imminent. She was a rare and unique performer and a dear, dear friend.”

It’s hard to believe that Arthur was 86 as she seemed so vibrant and young on The Golden Girls. The show has a kind of comic timelessness in reruns and when you watch it you can easily forget that it last aired over 15 years ago. RIP Bea Arthur, you will be sorely missed.

Here is Bea Arthur singing “What’ll I Do” on the Golden Girls:

Photo credit: WENN.com. The most recent pictures are of Arthur with Angela Lansbury on 12/9/09.

It’s been three months since John Travolta and Kelly Preston lost their son Jett. Though the family has not made a public appearance since Jett’s death, caused by a massive seizure, those close to John, Kelly and their daughter Ella say they are coping well – thanks to their friends and their faith in the controversial religion of Scientology.

Just months after the sudden loss of their only son Jett, John Travolta and Kelly Preston are slowly letting the world back into their lives. Friends and family say the Travoltas are coping with the teen’s death as well as they can and leaning on their faith in Scientology to find peace.

“John is a strong man, but to lose a loved one, it’s the worst time in anyone’s life,” Olivia Newton-John, a longtime pal, told PEOPLE in its new cover story.

On Jan. 2, the Travoltas’ family vacation turned to tragedy when son Jett was found unconscious in bathtub at the family’s resort in the Bahamas. Jett eventually died of a seizure, despite several attempts to save him. Travolta tried to revive Jett using CPR after the teen was discovered unconscious. “He was doing mouth-to-mouth to resuscitate,” Travolta’s attorney Michael McDermott said.

Actress Leah Remini has watched the family tragedy unfold and says they are dealing with the tragedy very well. “How do you deal with the greatest tragedy in your life? I can tell you that they are handling it the best any parent could ever deal,” Remini said.

While they are still trying to stay out of the public eye, friends say the couple haven’t secluded themselves and are making time to see friends and stay strong for their daughter Ella Bleu.

“They aren’t secluding themselves or paralyzed,” a family friend said. “[Seeing them] was like old times. Nothing awkward and no topics to dance around. There were smiles.”

Despite controversy with their religion, friends say Scientology has helped the family find peace with their son’s death. “They’re relying on their faith to get them through this. Their faith is solid, and their family is solid,” said a friend.

[From People]

I certainly can’t condone the principles behind Scientology – it sounds like organized lunacy to me – but I can understand their grief, and their need to cling to some kind of comfort in this nightmarish time. When we lost our baby in January, we really needed to understand why. It didn’t make any sense to us. Maybe people who have religion in their lives can find comfort in leaving the “why” question in the hands of God, Jehovah, Xenu or whatever. For us, that wouldn’t have worked. But one thing I’ve learned is that everyone gets through their grief differently. It’s also a blessing to have other children in your life when something like this happens – they bounce back very quickly and remind you that life goes on, even after something terrible happens.

The outpouring of affection and complimentary tributes to Jade Goody after her death of cervical cancer struck some people as odd. One of those people was Michael Parkinson, who is a retired journalist/talk show host in Britain. For those unfamiliar (I had to look him up too), I’m pretty sure that Parkinson’s old show was something like a combination of David Letterman and Charlie Rose here in America. Lots of interviews with celebrities as well as political and pop culture discussions. Parkinson seems very respected within Britain, but he will probably have to deal with some criticism after his remarks about Jade Goody.

Parkinson acknowledges that yes, Jade Goody’s death was a tragedy, “as sad as the death of any young person, but it’s not the passing of a martyr or a saint, or, God help us, Princess Di.” Parkinson says that Jade “was brought up on a sink estate, as a child came to know both drugs and crime, was barely educated, ignorant and puerile.” The Daily Mail has more:

Sir Michael Parkinson has launched an extraordinary attack on Jade Goody, calling her ‘ignorant and puerile’.

Just days after the reality show star’s funeral, for which thousands of well-wishers lined the streets, Parky, 74, has spoken out to say she represented ‘all that is paltry and wretched about Britain today’.

Writing in the Radio Times, he said Goody, 27, who died of cancer, should not have a ‘martyr’ status and was instead a poor role model who was exploited by the media.

‘Jade Goody has her own place in the history of television and, while it’s significant, it’s nothing to be proud of,’ the veteran TV host said. ‘Her death is as sad as the death of any young person, but it’s not the passing of a martyr or a saint, or, God help us, Princess Di. When we clear the media smokescreen, what we’re left with is a woman who came to represent all that’s paltry and wretched about Britain today. She was brought up on a sink estate, as a child came to know both drugs and crime, was barely educated, ignorant and puerile.’

His words are bound to come under fire from Goody’s legions of fans, who dubbed her the ‘Essex princess’.

Goody died last month after losing her very public battle with cervical cancer. Her funeral at the weekend saw thousands take to the streets to pay their respects. The 27-year-old had first come into the public eye in 2002 on Big Brother and went on to make millions before she was struck down by the disease.

She made the decision to live out her final days in the full glare of the media to raise as much money for her two young sons and possible. Although her very public death was derided by some, it was also credited with prompting a huge rise in the number of women going for cervical smears.

Max Clifford, Goody’s publicist, said today that he was ‘surprised and disappointed’ by Sir Michael’s comments.

‘What Michael forgets to mention is that Jade already has saved, and will save in the future, countless lives of young women through her public battle with cervical cancer,’ he said.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Goody’s husband, Jack Tweed, has expressed his wish to be buried next to her when he dies. Goody’s family bought a double plot so he can one day join her. Tweed, who is currently on bail awaiting sentencing for assault, married Jade in February to fulfill one of his girlfriend’s dying wishes.

From The Daily Mail

Even if I happen to agree with some of Parkinson’s statements about the media, perhaps he could have said it in a different way. Right now it just seems like he’s attacking a dead woman rather than participating in a totally legitimate media criticism. Parkinson should be focused on pointing out the insanity of the coverage of Jade’s death and how various newspapers and news programs covered her life and death, rather than just engaging in a litany of insults to Jade.

In any case, I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about Jade and how she lived and died. There will be books coming out, and perhaps even a movie. The British tabloids are still doing breathless coverage of her widower husband and Jade’s children, which also makes me uncomfortable. Just let the kids grieve and live in private, for God’s sake.

Photo of Michael Parkinson is from 3/18/09. Photos are of floral tributes outside Jade’s funeral and fans gathered to sign her book of condolences after the funeral on 4/4/09. (We try not to publish photos of grieving family members or funerals and have not included pictures of her family.) Photo credit: WENN.com

Even in death, actress Natasha Richardson continues to be a class act. A new report in People magazine says that the family of the actress asked that her organs be donated to others in need- an act that, according to friends, was “very Natasha.”

As the loved ones of Natasha Richardson continue to mourn, a family decision made in the wake of the Tony-winning actress’s sudden death March 18 has brought a measure of comfort: After Richardson was taken off life support at Manhattan’s Lenox Hill Hospital, her family requested that her organs be donated to other patients whose lives they might save.

Organ donation “is very Natasha,” a family friend says in the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. “She spent so much time fighting the stigma of AIDS; someone like that would naturally donate her organs. At least by donating her organs something good could come out of [the tragedy].”

Richardson, 45, died after falling during a ski lesson at a Canadian resort on March 16. An autopsy performed in New York City showed that a blow to her head had caused a fatal epidural hematoma, bleeding between her brain and her skull.

‘Liam Doing Okay‘
In the days since Richardson’s death, her husband of 14 years, actor Liam Neeson, 56, and the couple’s sons Micheal, 13, and Daniel, 12, have shown remarkable public poise in dealing with the tragedy. “Liam is doing okay,” says family friend Blaine Trump. “It takes a while to absorb this. But he says the family needs to move forward. They will take it one step at a time.”

The Irish actor was expected to return to work on the Toronto set of his upcoming drama Chloe, and the boys were headed back to school. “With good friends by their side,” says Trump, “they will get through the tough days ahead.”

[From People]

It’s quite easy to become an organ donor- in most states, you can fill out the authorization form when you get your driver’s license renewed- and it’s a wonderful way to help others who are on waiting lists for much needed transplants after you’re gone. Currently, there are more than 100,00 patients in the U.S. awaiting urgently-needed organ transplants. It’s such a great thing that some kind of positive story could come out of such a senseless tragedy.

As for Natasha’s family, all I can say, after experience a sudden loss of my own recently, is that you have to take it one day at a time, and don’t let anyone else tell you how you should be grieving right now. Everyone has a different way to cope. Also, not everyone is going to have the same timetable for their grief. Each family member needs to be free to process this on their own terms. And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Out of respect for the family, we have chosen not to publish any paparazzi photos of people paying their respects at this difficult time. Photo credits: WENN.com

Jade Goody, who died on Mothers Day in Britain, is to be buried on April 4th. Jade’s funeral is expected to be the biggest event of it’s kind since Princess Diana’s funeral – floral tributes have been left outside her home and big screens have been set up to broadcast the service to the public outside of the church.

With her mother, Jackiey Budden, saying her daughter would be “overwhelmed” by the public response to her death, plans are falling into place for British reality star Jade Goody’s April 4 memorial service.

A 21-car funeral procession will leave Goody’s home in Essex, England, at noon that Saturday en route to the service at St. John the Baptist church in Buckhurst Hill, the BBC reports. Thousands of mourners are anticipated to line the route and then watch the proceedings on large, outdoor TV screens set up for the occasion.

The church service is expected to commence with Goody’s favorite hymn, “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” and the 27-year-old will then be laid to rest in Epping Forest Burial Park in North Weald.

People

Jade’s death is causing as much controversy as her life did, with at least one opinion writer in the UK suggesting that ‘a saint she ain’t’, and the BBC received calls complaining about the level of coverage they gave her death. Harper Collins publishers are planning a third installment of her life story, following her previous two autobiographies. A biopic is also said to be in the works.

Jade set up these ventures in order to give her boys Bobby, 5, and Freddie, 4, the opportunities that she never had in her childhood. I think any mother would be desperate her see her children taken care of in the event of their death. Some feel that Jade, who was a reality TV star and known for her racist comments and dumb questions, is being given too much attention and should have died with dignity in private. However, the Daily Mail says that the ‘Jade Effect’ has led to a 20% increase in cervical smears since her diagnosis in August. If she can gain financial resources for her kids and raise awareness that encourages women to get a pap sear then she’s done an admirable thing in her last days, even if you didn’t always agree with her in the past.

Jade Goody has lost her battle with terminal cervical cancer. Jade passed away in her sleep on Sunday morning with her mother and close friends around her. She was 27 years old. The UK reality show star had lived out her final months quite publicly, with the hopes of raising awareness of cervical cancer screenings and prevention. She leaves behind two sons, Freddie, 4, and Bobby, 5.

The reality TV star passed away at her home in Upshire, Essex, at 3.14am.

Her mother Jackiey Budden, who was at her side when she died, said: ‘My beautiful daughter is at peace.’

Jade’s husband Jack Tweed and close friend Kevin Adams were also at her bedside during her final moments.

‘I think she’s going to be remembered as a young girl who has, and who will, save an awful lot of lives,’ her publicist Max Clifford said, referring to how her public battle with cancer has raised awareness of the disease.

‘She was a very, very brave girl,’ he said.

‘And she faced her death in the way she faced her whole life – full on, with a lot of courage.’

He said it was ‘ironic’ that the 27-year-old – who had two young sons, Bobby, five, and Freddie, four – had died on Mother’s Day.

Mr Clifford added he hoped Jade’s family would be left to grieve in peace.

TV presenter Jeff Brazier, the father of Jade’s two sons, said: ‘I’m grateful the boys were able to say their goodbyes and spend that precious time with their wonderful mother.

‘Bobby and Freddie are my absolute priority and I will be doing everything I can to be their rock and to give them all my love and support to get them through a confusing and upsetting time.’

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news.

He described Jade as ‘a courageous woman’.

‘The whole country has admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children,’ he said.

‘She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer, which will benefit thousands of women across the UK.’

The Big Brother star’s body was taken out of her home shortly before 8am. She was placed in the back of an estate car and driven away.

Jade’s devastated mother then left the house to speak to reporters gathered outside. She was wearing pyjamas with a coat over the top.

She said: ‘Family and friends would like privacy at last.’

Jade’s friend Kevin, who was dressed all in black, was visibly upset and declined to comment to reporters outside the home.

Mourners bearing floral tributes started arriving at the house within minutes of the news breaking. Two police officers also arrived at the property.

The dying star had been in a coma-like state for two days prior to her death, according to Sunday newspapers.

Jade had reportedly been drifting in and out of consciousness since Friday.

She rose to prominence on the third series of Big Brother in 2002 by revealing a startling lack of general knowledge.

When she entered the house shortly before her 21st birthday she was facing legal action for an unpaid council tax bill. Six years later she was reputedly worth £2million.

She lived her life in public view through the pages of newspapers and glossy magazines and via a series of ‘fly on the wall’ programmes.

But Jade hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in 2007 when she was accused of racism and bullying towards Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty when the pair appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.

Shilpa traveled to the UK from India earlier this month to visit Jade, who unfortunately was too ill to accept her visit.

Jade’s stormy relationship with TV presenter and fellow reality star Jeff Brazier provided almost daily material for tabloid newspapers. The relationship ended after two years although the couple remained friends as they cared for their two children.

A second match with model Jack Tweed proved no more stable when he was jailed last year for assaulting a teenager.

The death of such a young woman and mother would be heartbreaking at any time, but Jade’s death carries a special poignancy coming as it did on Mother’s Day.

All thoughts are now turning to her two sons Bobby and Freddie. The boys had always been first in Jade’s mind.

As she clung to life yesterday her new husband Jack left her bedside to buy a moving Mother’s Day card.

It carried the message: ‘A mum is like a tea bag. Only in hot water do you realise how strong she is.’ A teacup on the card bore the message: ‘Love you, Jade’.

[From The Daily Mail]

Whether you liked Jade Goody or not, this situation is terribly sad. A 27-year-old woman with two little boys should not have to die like this. Especially from a disease that is largely preventable and if caught in time, treatable! That’s why it’s so important to get your HPV screening every year. And if you have a preteen or teen daughter, make sure she gets the cervical cancer vaccine.

With the news that 45-year-old actress Natasha Richardson had succumbed to a brain injury sustained during a fall on a Montreal ski slope, Broadway decided to pay tribute by dimming the lights on the Great White Way last night to commemorate Richardson’s accomplished stage career. Her husband, Liam Neeson, attended the touching ceremony and was seen being hugged by fellow Broadway vets Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. It’s becoming clear that Natasha Richardson touched a lot of lives during her short time here, evidenced by an outpouring of grief and support for her family that we haven’t seen since Heath Ledger died over a year ago.

Grieving Liam Neeson was held in a comforting embrace by actress Sarah Jessica Parker as the actor attended a touching tribute by New York’s theatreland to his late wife Natasha Richardson.

The Sex And The City star was among the luminaries of stage and screen who lined Broadway as theatres dimmed their lights in a minute long tribute to Neeson’s actress wife.

The star was hugged by SJP, and husband Matthew Broderick who both came out to show their support to one of theatreland’s own.

And despite Natasha’s strong British roots, the location of the tribute proved all the more fitting, as it was on Broadway that Neeson, 56, first met his wife of 15 years, when they appeared on stage together in 1992.

Liam and his wife’s family, including mother Vanessa Redgrave, arrived to witness the moving tribute to the actress.

At 8pm the lights of New York’s Broadway theatre district were dimmed for a minute in her honour.

The solemn crowd applauded as Broadway’s theatres dimmed their lights one by one.

The 45-year-old actress and mother of two died died two days after a fall on Monday on a beginners’ ski slope at the Mont Tremblant resort in Canada where she was holidaying with her two sons.

Neeson seen leaving his New York apartment last night to the tribute

The tribute to the British actress, who made her home in New York with her film star husband was a fitting reflection of the affection and the respect both she – and the theatrical dynasty she was a part of – was held in.

Miss Richardson appeared in more than 30 films but was best known for her stage work, winning a Tony Award for her performance in the musical Cabaret in New York.

She had been due to appear with her mother in a Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.

Miss Richardson’s uncle, Corin Redgrave, led the tributes to his ­’adorable’ and ‘generous’ niece.

‘I’ve been very, very sad all day and all night,’ he said.

‘She was adorable, Natasha, she really was, besides being, as we know, a marvellous actress. We shall miss her terribly.’

Stars of stage and screen paid tribute to Miss Richardson following her untimely death.

Sam Mendes, whose 1998 Broadway production of Cabaret saw Natasha win a Tony award for her portrayal of Sally Bowles said: ‘Natasha combined the best of Redgrave and Richardson: the enormous depth and emotional force of a great actor on the one hand, and the intelligence and objectivity of a great director on the other.

‘She was one of a kind, a magnificent actress.’

[From The Daily Mail]

Actor Jeremy Irons was asked about the tragedy while appearing on The Today Show yesterday, and seemed to be blindsided by the question. Irons knew both Richardson and Neeson well and broke down in tears on the broadcast.

Jeremy Irons struggled to hold back the tears as he paid tribute to actress Natasha Richardson last night.

The veteran actor could not hide his pain as he spoke of the death of his friend following a skiing accident.

Asked about the tragedy, Irons – who knew Richardson after twice working with her husband Liam Neeson – initially just stared into the camera, seemingly at a loss for words.

He then said: ‘It’s … it’s… absolutely terrible.

‘It just reminds us how fragile life is. As a father and as a husband I feel for him [Neeson] – for the family – so, so much.

‘I suppose what I have to remember is that could happen to any of us at any time – so make the most of it.’

[From The Daily Mail]

Good advice for all of us.

Natasha Richardson, who fell during a skiing lesson at a Quebec resort, has passed away after suffering severe brain trauma. She left the lesson laughing off her injury, but later complained of a headache and was rushed to the hospital, where her injury caused her to lose brain function. Her family chose to take her off of life support at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, and she passed away a few hours later. She was 45 years old. The family has released this statement:

“Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

[from TMZ]

Natasha was named after a character in Tolstoy’s War and Peace, and had her acting debut at 4 in her father’s movie The Charge of the Light Brigade. Her acting credits are varied and include those on the stage, in film, and on television. She was a versatile and talented actress as well as activist – she became very involved in charity work to find a cure for AIDS after her father died of the disease.

Natasha’s mother is the legendary Vanessa Redgrave; her husband is Liam Neeson and her sister is actress Joely Richardson. Natasha is also survived by her two sons, Micheál Richard Antonio, 13, and Daniel Jack, 12.

Out hearts and thoughts go out to her family and friends after this terrible tragedy.

Natasha Richardson is shown with her mom, Vanessa Redgrave, in the header on 1/12/09. She is also shown with her husband, Liam Neeson, on 10/17/08. All photos are from 2006 – 2009 and are credit WENN.com

In yet another example of media outlets rushing to be the first with a story, OK! Magazine has published its “Farewell to Jade Goody” issue- complete with “Final Words!” from the dying reality show star, and “In Loving Memory” sprawled across the cover. They even feature the star’s two little boys looking all sad, and Jade herself looking up to the skies. The problem? Jade’s still alive.

British former reality TV star and current terminal cancer patient Jade Goody is a national obsession. She will die soon. But not soon enough for OK! magazine.

OK’s UK edition this week: the “Jade Goody Official Tribute Issue.” “Final Words”! I guess “1981-2009″ is a fair guess, but uh, patience is a virtue? Jade Goody remains annoyingly alive.

Whether alive or dead, she’s fully owned by OK! The mag bought the rights to her wedding last month for an estimated 700,000 pounds, and then refused to allow her friend and biographer to attend it, because she worked for a different magazine. No word on whether Jade can sell the actual moment of her death separately, but if so, OK! is sure to snap it up for a(nother) final edition. Shame and repugnance do not exist!

But she moves a lotta magazines, alive or otherwise!

[From Gawker/Defamer]

It’s true that Jade basically sold herself to the media – she even got the results of her cervical cancer screening on live television. And it’s also true that Jade doesn’t have much time left. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay for the magazine to publish an “In Memoriam” issue while Goody is still alive! It’s also interesting that prior to Jade’s cancer ordeal, OK! published mostly negative articles about her. I agree that Jade Goody is a grown woman and was certainly free to say no to OK’s offer to pay her for rights to exclusive coverage of her treatment, wedding and death vigil- but from everything I’ve read, she did so in order to provide for the two young sons she is leaving behind. The whole thing just seems incredibly opportunistic on the magazine’s part. Whatever OK! is paying Jade for this kind of humiliation, I hope it’s worth it.

Above: OK! Magazine’s pre-emptive “Farewell” cover, slated for release on March 24. Below: Jade Goody on her wedding day in February, 2009. Photo credit: WENN.

Oprah with some of her dogs on the cover of an on old issue of O Magazine.

Ophrah Winfrey is mourning the loss of another dog. This time she lost her new puppy Ivan, who she just adopted from a PAWS shelter in Chicago. Oprah actually adopted two puppies from the shelter: Ivan and Sadie. Ivan passed away from a parovirus common to dogs.

Oprah adopted the puppies after mourning for a year after the loss of her beloved Sophie. She had dedicated an episode of her show to Sophie’s passing. The other puppy, Sadie, has survived the virus thus far. PR Inside has more:

US TV talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is mourning the loss of her new adopted puppy Ivan – one year after her beloved 13-year-old dog Sophie died.

The media queen recently took in cocker spaniel puppies Ivan and Sadie from the PAWS Shelter in Chicago, Illinois – and even introduced Sadie to her viewers on the 6 March (09) episode of her daytime series.

But Winfrey lost Ivan last Wednesday (11Mar09) after the pooches both came down with parvovirus, a virus common to dogs which is fatal in nearly 80 per cent of cases.

Now Sadie is being treated by animal specialists in a bid to cure her of the canine disease, reports the New York Post.

The star says in a statement: “I’m saddened by his passing, though we had him for only a weekend. I remain hopeful that Sadie will pull through.” Winfrey’s cocker spaniel Sophie died in March 2008 of kidney failure.

From PR Inside

This is so sad, and I would imagine that Oprah is just devastated. She waited nearly a year after Sophie died to adopt again, and then this happens just a week after getting two new puppies. It sounds like they may have already been sick when she adopted them though. Most of the time, puppies don’t just magically come down with a virus and die within days. They’re usually sick for a little while. I wonder if the PAWS shelter knowingly gave Oprah puppies that were in sketchy health.