Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University’s athletics department reported.
Citing La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote Joe had recently suffered a stoke. The exact cause of death hasn’t been confirmed yet.
La Salle University, where Joe played and coached, said in a statement that he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Just like his famous son, Joe was a renowned basketball player himself. Drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the 14th overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons, the then-San Diego Clippers for three seasons, and the Houston Rockets for one season. He also played in Europe.
The 76ers paid tribute to Joe, calling him “a local basketball icon, whose legacy on the court transcended his journey across Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975-79.”
Joe’s sudden passing comes four years after the tragic death of his son Kobe and his granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash with seven other people.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, wrote on her Instagram story on Tuesday, “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing.
“We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Former Kobe teammate Doug Young praised Joe as the ideal “role model.”
“Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion and I could not have asked for a more positive mentor, teacher, and role model,” Young told ESPN. “It’s difficult to overstate how much he influenced me and my teammates. He made basketball fun and made us all want to be better; he believed in us. I’ll never forget his infectious smile, his bear hugs and the incredible bond he shared with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we loved and admired more than the Bryants, and that started with Joe.”
Arn Tellem, the vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe Bryant’s agent, expressed his sadness over the loss of Joe and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philly hoops legend. “Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always cherish. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
May he rest in peace.
Lynda Wiesmeier: Cause of death, Playboy career, movies
Actress Lynda Wiesmeier gained notoriety for her roles in a few well-known movies.
However, one particular photo of her has drawn notice recently since it seems to offer a window into a bygone period.
Lynda Ann Wiesmeier, a blonde bombshell whose voluptuous form adorned the pages of Playboy Magazine, was born in Washington, D.C., in 1963.Her father was a doctor in the US Air Force, and Bitburg, Germany, was the starting point of her adventure. The family relocated frequently prior to Lynda’s eventual arrival in sunny Los Angeles. She also lived for a while in Bound Brook, New Jersey, where she established herself as a frequent Jersey coast sun worshipper.
Lynda enjoyed working and being active, juggling three professions: acting, modeling, and office clerking in a medical facility.
Playboy was drawn to her attractiveness in 1982, and they featured her as the centerfold of their July edition. Following her Playmate status, Lynda’s career in show business went into overdrive as she starred in movies that highlighted her gorgeous natural body. She starred in films like R.S.V.P. (1984), Teen Wolf (1984), Malibu Express (1984), and Real Genius (1985).
Last motion picture
However, her last movie may have been the one that made people take notice of Lynda Wiesmeier. She was chosen to play Dianne in the zombie horror film Evil Town in 1987.
The film featured the renowned Dean Jagger in the lead role of an insane scientist searching for perpetual youth. His approach? making a medication synthetically from human pituitary fluid, naturally. Things got worse as he was extracting the fluid; the poor donors’ brainless zombies were the product of the process.
In an intriguing turn of events, Keith Hefner, the younger brother of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, was also featured in Evil Town. With Lynda and Keith involved, the movie had a strong Playboy vibe.
Though the movie was scheduled to open in theaters on June 3, 1987, there was so much anticipation that several theaters opened their screens a day early, on June 2. Nevertheless, Evil Town fell short of expectations despite the hype.
It was derided by critics who labeled it a “silly horror film.” Cavett Binion of All Movie Guide noted that the picture was a mash-up of footage from previous movies, including a 1970s unfinished effort, and that former Playboy Playmate Lynda Wiesmeier “spiced it up with some gratuitous nudity.” Hurt!
Fortunately, Lynda Wiesmeier was destined for a little return. In the years after its debut, a specific scene from Evil Town has become extremely popular for unknown reasons.
It’s not, however, for the reasons that one might think.
Scott Hunter, an almost unknown actor, appears on screen with Lynda in this unforgettable scene.
This appears to be your typical 1980s photo at first sight. A young guy and lady are posing in front of a Dodge automobile while wearing iconic ’80s clothing. But if you examine more closely, you might find something surprising!
Lynda is wearing high-waisted white shorts with a bright red blouse that is intricately knotted at the waist, while the man is wearing dark shorts and a gray hoodie with multicolored patterns all over it. Back then, short shorts were all the rage, and Scott wore his with one of those ubiquitous corduroy shirts.
Their vintage attire is a lovely return to the 1980s for many, since it screams ’80s fashion. And it’s just this that makes people swoon over this picture.
The 1980s saw a large, vivid, and dramatic fashion trend that we embraced, including glam rock, punk, and preppy designs.
We could experiment with hair, cosmetics, colors, and an abundance of plastic jewelry along with other wild accessories. And because to Lynda and Scott, we can sometimes be transported back in time to this amazing era with just a simple shot from a lesser-known movie.
departed the field
Following her departure from the film business, Lynda decided to start a family and married her first husband. She went on to have two amazing children, a son and a daughter.
The family made their home in Lafayette, Louisiana, where Lynda started working as a records manager at a legal firm, according to Joyce’s Take.
But then things changed, and in 2004 Lynda, ready to start again, packed her bags and moved to sunny California following her divorce. Lynda loved her relationship with her followers, even as she moved on. She became well-known at several fan events, sharing her experiences and signing autographs, such as WonderCon, Glamourcon, and The Hollywood Collectors Show.
Reason for demise
Sadly, Lynda’s adventure came to an end in December 2012, at the age of 49, after a valiant fight with a brain tumor.
Considering what she could have said about her time in movies like Evil Town, a nostalgic snapshot of a bygone period in movies, is bittersweet.
We can still honor Lynda’s legacy and the happiness she gave her admirers despite her passing. If you too miss the 1980s, please share this article!
Leave a Reply