Gordon Waller (right) with partner Peter Asher in the 1960s.

Gordon Waller of Peter and Gordon, one of the top bands of the 1960s British rock groups, died from cardiovascular disease over the weekend. He was 64 years old. In the 1960s, he and Peter Asher were among the most prominent of the British Invasion groups to take America by storm. With their gentle style of warbling love songs, the duo made an immediate hit. Several of their top songs, including their signature tune A World Without Love, had been written for them by Paul McCartney. The duo broke up in 1968 but the parting was amicable and Peter and Gordon were in the midst of their latest reunion concert tour when Waller passed away. For vintage video click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

Walter Cronkite, the most beloved newsman in the history of America TV broadcasting, has died after a long illness. He was 92. Cronkite hosted The CBS Evening News for many years - much to the frustration of rival networks NBC and ABC, who could never make a dent in his sky-high ratings. He was known as "The Most Trusted Man in America" during an era that preceded 24 hour cable news cycles. For decades, Americans pulled their dinner trays near the TV set to listen to Cronkite's half-hour reporting on the day's events, always ending the broadcast with his signature line "And that's the way it is." Cronkite covered the seminal events of his time including, most famously, the assassination of President Kennedy. It was he who first reported the president's death, barely containing his tears. Cronkite was also had a fervent interest in the U.S. space program and became almost giddy reporting on America's triumphs in the space race against the Soviet Union. He was an integral part of CBS' covering of the moon landing - an event that happened almost 40 years previous to the day of his death. 

Cronkite came of age in the news business when it was still considered untoward for an anchorman to inform the audience of his personal feelings. Cronkite broke that practice in 1968 after making a fact-finding trip to Vietnam to cover the war. Upon his return, he informed his audience of his opinion that America was in an quagmire and that the war could not be won on the battlefield. So powerful was Cronkite's broadcast that President Johnson said of it, "If I've lost Walter Cronkite, I've lost middle America." Ironically, Cronkite was forced out of the anchorman spot and into retirement at age 65 by CBS, which wanted the more youthful Dan Rather to take over from him. Cronkite was deeply hurt by this decision, but as a good trooper, wished Rather well and went gracefully into retirement, though he would occasionally contribute to news specials over the years.For more on Cronkite's remarkable career, click here.

The name Mollie Sugden may not be familiar to many readers, but for anyone who watched the BBC during the years 1973-1985, she was a household name. Sugden played the role of Mrs. Slocombe, the pushy underwear saleswoman in a department store on the long-running British TV classic Are You Being Served? Sugden has died at age 86, leaving legions of her fans with fond memories. For more on her life and career click here

Actor Harve Presnell, a star of major Broadway hits like The Unsinkable Molly Brown, has died at age 75. Presnell also sang the famous song They Call the Wind Maria in the film version of Paint Your Wagon. His films include Fargo, The Glory Guys and Flags of Our Fathers. For more click here

Veteran actor Karl Malden, who won the Supporting Actor Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire, has passed away at age 97. One of the industry's most beloved and revered actors, Malden boasted a resume of prestigious films not equalled by many others. Among his acclaimed films: Patton, Nevada Smith, One Eyed Jacks, The Cincinatti Kid and On the Waterfront. He also starred in the long-running hit TV series The Streets of San Fracisco. He also served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Cinema Retro mourns the passing of this great talent. For more click here