Synchromystic June 24th Death: Loren Janes

CNN Entertainment announced the news on June 26th, with high praise: "Legendary stuntman and stunt coordinator Loren Janes, who doubled for Steve McQueen for the actor's entire career, as well as for Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, and even Debbie Reynolds, died Saturday [June 24, 2017] at the age of 85, according to his family."

The Internet Database notes that Loren Janes was "one of the key figures in the development of modern cinematic stunt design, improved safety procedures and co-founder of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures & Televsion."

Loren Janes was a member of the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall of Fame. In 2001, well known western actor L.Q. Jones (coincidence: he was born Justus McQueen) presented Janes with the Golden Boot Award for his lifetime contribution to the western film genre.

Loren Janes "contributed his talents to such spectacular films as The Ten Commandments (1956), Spartacus (1960), The Magnificent Seven (1960), Planet of the Apes (1968), The Towering Inferno (1974) and Beverly Hills Cop (1984)."

Twitter feeds are calling Loren Janes an "acclaimed Hollywood stuntman," "a legend," and a "groundbreaking stuntman."

In terms of waiting for a "celebrity" tied to UFOs who might pass away on June 24, 2017,  Janes might fit the bill.

Loren Janes (also known as Loren James) was the safety stunt coordinator for the UFO cult classic film, Repo Man, which has its fair share of UFO insider jokes about flying saucers, the name game, Men in Black, and conspiracy theorists.

Loren Janes gets a cryptokubrology mention too. In Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (1960), Janes was Kirk Douglas' stunt double ("slave general"). Janes also was a "salt mine slave," and a "gladiator."

Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando had stunts done for them by Loren Janes in Missouri Breaks (1976), which was directed by Arthur Penn.

Synchromystic cinema connections are there, throughout Loren Janes' life. Janes got a credit in Back to the Future (1985), for the stunts. In the closeted UFO story of Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979). In the intriguing Logan's Run (1976) and Ice Station Zebra (1968). 

Planet of the Apes (1968) and Star Trek (1966-1967) - above - where Janes does stunt doubling for William Shatner and others. Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959), The Ten Commandments (1956), and so many more. 

Loren James has 170 stunting credits, 33 acting credits, one miscellaneous crew, 3 thanks, 11 self credits (usually in documentaries about the movie industry), and one appearance in archive footage.

The name game aspect of "Loren Janes" was not lost on me, since I am a "Loren" and I see that Loren Janes played the character "Coleman" in 1966's The Sand Pebbles, which I just wrote about in Neanderthal (2016). 

Loren Janes had a footnote contribution to television, having played the role of Norman Chaney on the TV series L.A. Law. In the first scene of the first episode, Chaney is found dead, though his name appears for years in the name of the law firm. My life was touched by L.A. Law's Richard Dysart, many years ago.

UFO Death on June 24: Former Congressman Mario Biaggi Dies

I mentioned earlier that due to the Anniversary Syndrome, ufo-related deaths do infrequently occur on June 24ths.

In 2015, another one was added to the list.

Former Congressman Mario Biaggi, 97, has died. He was involved in the "UFO disclosure" movement, and was once pictured on the cover of Ideal's UFO MAGAZINE, December 1978, Number 4. 

Within the periodical, there appeared the following, "Interview: Mario Biaggi 'There Is A UFO Cover-Up By The Government.'"

On the cover, an image of Biaggi was shown with President Jimmy Carter. 

Who was Mario Biaggi?

Mario Biaggi (October 26, 1917 – June 24, 2015) was a U.S. Representative from New York (serving from 1969 to 1988) and former New York City police officer. He was elected as a Democrat from The Bronx in New York City. In 1987 and 1988, he was convicted in two separate corruption trials, and he resigned from Congress in 1988. Was he driven from office because he knew too much?

He was born in East Harlem, New York, on 26 October 1917, to poor Italian immigrants. His father, Salvatore Biaggi, was a marble setter. His mother, Mary, worked as a charwoman.In 1942, Biaggi joined the New York City Police Department.

His police career spanned 23 years. He retired from the Department in 1965, with the rank of Detective Lieutenant. Among his many exploits as one of the NYPD's most decorated officers, was the rescue of a woman on a runaway horse, which injured him, causing a permanent limp.

In 1968, the 24th District seat in the U.S. House became open when 8-term Republican incumbent Paul Fino resigned to become a New York Supreme Court Justice. Biaggi ran as a Democrat, and won easily, with 60.5% of the vote in what had been a traditional Bronx Republican stronghold. He was easily re-elected in 1970. From 1972 onward, he was nominated by the Republicans as well, and was effectively unopposed. In 1968, 1970, and 1972, he also got the Conservative nomination, but this support ended after his abortive run for mayor in 1973. From 1978 onward he got the Liberal nomination. In the redistricting after the 1970 census, Biaggi's district was renumbered the 10th, and included part of Queens. In the redistricting after the 1980 census, his district was renumbered the 19th, and included part of suburban Westchester County. In 1975 Biaggi introduced a joint resolution of Congress, Public Law 94-479, to posthumously promote George Washington to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States and restore Washington's position as the highest-ranking military officer in U.S. history. This was passed on January 19, 1976, approved by President Gerald Ford on October 11, 1976, and formalized in Department of the Army Order 31-3 of March 13, 1978, with an effective appointment date of July 4, 1976, the United States Bicentennial.

Biaggi died at his home in The Bronx, New York on June 24, 2015, at the age of 97.

For more biographical details, please see Mario Biaggi's New York Times obituary.