Jane Russell Dies At 89

Above, Lou Costello, Elvis Presley and Jane Russell in the 1950s.

Sad news to report today. The New York Daily News reports:

Jane Russell, the buxom brunette bombshell who became one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols of the '40s and '50s, died on February 28, 2011 of respiratory failure in her California home. She was 89.

I saw Russell at the Hollywood Collectors Show in Burbank about three years ago and she still looked great, which makes this news all the more surprising.

Russell resided in Santa Maria, California.

1959: Death of Lou Costello

Above, Lou Costello with Elvis Presley and Jane Russell.

1959: Death of Lou Costello

Along with George Reeves, 1959 also saw the passing of comedian Lou Costello on March 3. He died at Doctor's Hospital of a heart attack. He had suffered a prior heart attack the week before and seemed to be getting better.

He was watching television at home when he was hit by the first heart attack. He had a good day on the day of his death. He was in a jovial mood and requested and enjoyed a strawberry ice cream soda that morning.

At around 3:55 PM, he asked one of his nurses to turn him on his side, saying that he'd feel more comfortable. Before she could reach him, Costello slumped back and died. He died three days short of his 53rd birthday.

Here are some of the newspaper articles of Costello's death and funeral rites from the two of the Los Angeles newspapers:

Costello Meets Elvis

Here's an oddity. I came across this photo of Elvis Presley, flanked by comedian Lou Costello and Jane Russell. It was taken on June 28, 1957 at a benefit for the St. Jude Hospital.