Navy Vet’s death
Going to start off with ALF – Alien Life Form (if you didn’t know) – the old TV sitcom which starred a cat-loving (well, if properly cooked) critter from Planet Melmac.
The actor who played Brian,Benji Gregory, 46, the young son of the family, just died last week. He was one of us.
After his early career in acting, Gregory stepped away from Hollywood and pursued other interests, including a stint in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in 2003 and graduated to become an aerographer’s mate, specializing in meteorology and oceanography. He used his expertise to provide forecasts and warnings for aviation and nautical safety.
Gregory was assigned to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during his naval career. In 2005, he received an honorable medical discharge from the Navy and married Sarah Gregory shortly after completing his military service in 2006.
Not a long career, but not everyone is a lifer and he sounds like he did his job.
His sister, Rebecca Hertzberg-Pfaffinger, told the New York Times that Gregory and his service dog were both found dead in his car on June 13 at a bank’s parking lot in Peoria, Ariz. Hertzberg-Pfaffinger also announced the news in a Facebook post on Wednesday, saying that the family believes Gregory had fallen asleep and “died from vehicular heatstroke.” Arizona Republic
He suffered from depression and bipolar disorder and in later years served as an advocate for those causes. His medical discharge was uncharacterized but one might assume was related.
Category: Fair Winds and Following Seas, Navy
Making the transition from child star to adult is often difficult. There are a few who successfully move up in Hollywood as successful actors without the baggage of substance abuse, criminal activity and financial ruin; others who crash and burn to provide content for The National Enquirer and TMZ, and then those who just leave show business completely, accepting that the door on that part of their life is no longer open. Jay North, who portrayed Dennis Mitchell (Dennis The Menace) enlisted in the US Navy in the early 1970’s to assume a “normal life”, but that was not meant to be. He was continually harassed throughout his enlistment by his fellow Sailors, and I think he was separated early from his contract due to that harassment.
Prayers for his friends and loved ones.
Mrs. GB has struggled with clinical depression. It’s hard at times.
Looking at the lives of child stars of the past, I’m thoroughly convinced that putting one’s child in movies is child abuse.
I have a little mental disorder known as Disthymia. That is chronic, long term depression that, while treatable with drugs and therapy, is one of the hardest forms of depression to handle.
Every single day is a struggle for me. I have to fight with my own brain, and my own consciousness. Add to that that I may also be Autistic [I’m looking for somewhere to get a proper diagnosis], and you can see why I am the fucked up little beagle you all know me to be.
Fair winds and following seas…
Terrible way to go, for him and his pup.
Prayers to his family!
^This^. Saw a blurb on a news feed the other day where a group of Fire Fighters showed how hot, and quickly, the inside of a vehicle can get. They baked a cake on the dash, inside temps were in excess of 220 degrees F.
RIP, Good Sir.
May he rest in peace
His sister, Rebecca Hertzberg-Pfaffinger
Hey, lady, pick a fucking name!
– George Carlin.